This thread will give the player background on the pantheons of Gods in Skyrim, as well as the general political themes of the region.
It will also give brief overviews on the Jarls who rule each of the Holds in Skyrim. These overviews were compiled by the Imperial Army's spies and may contain inaccuracies or be outdated.
Politics and Religion in Skyrim
Re: Politics and Religion in Skyrim
Religion
There are a group of gods called the Aedra or the Nine Divines. Most races worship the same gods, even if they give them different names. Eight of the Nine Divines existed since the creation of the universe but one, Talos, was believed to be Tiber Septim, the first Emperor who somehow ascended to godhood rather than dying.
Akatosh - Dragon god of time and chief god of the Aedra
Arkay - God of funerals and burial rites
Dibella - Goddess of beauty and sexual desire
Julianos - God of wisdom and logic
Kynareth - God of nature, wind, and the sky
Mara - Mother-Goddess and goddess of love
Stendarr - God of mercy and justice
Talos - God of war and governance
Zenithar - God of work and commerce
While there are priests and priestesses for each of the Divines, many citizens of the Empire venerate them all as a pantheon and pray to one or another as the situation dictates.
There are a group of gods called the Aedra or the Nine Divines. Most races worship the same gods, even if they give them different names. Eight of the Nine Divines existed since the creation of the universe but one, Talos, was believed to be Tiber Septim, the first Emperor who somehow ascended to godhood rather than dying.
Akatosh - Dragon god of time and chief god of the Aedra
Arkay - God of funerals and burial rites
Dibella - Goddess of beauty and sexual desire
Julianos - God of wisdom and logic
Kynareth - God of nature, wind, and the sky
Mara - Mother-Goddess and goddess of love
Stendarr - God of mercy and justice
Talos - God of war and governance
Zenithar - God of work and commerce
While there are priests and priestesses for each of the Divines, many citizens of the Empire venerate them all as a pantheon and pray to one or another as the situation dictates.
Re: Politics and Religion in Skyrim
Races of the Empire
There are several races in Skyrim.
There are several races in Skyrim.
- Argonians (lizard men). We'll treat them like Thrassians. They are considered second-class citizens because of their animal-like appearance and the typical Nord xenophobia.
- Bretons (half elves). The Breton homeland is west of Skyrim but some of them had lived in The Reach and briefly took over Markarth, kicking out the Nords. When Ulfric Stormcloak retook Markarth, some Bretons turned into guerrillas and call themselves the Forsworn. They fight to regain the Reach and kick out the Nords.
- Dunmer (dark elves). Dunmer are not all evil and don't live underground. They are shunned by Stormcloak Nords in Skyrim but it's a racial purity thing, not a good/evil thing.
- Altmer (high elves). There are "unaffiliated" Altmer that live in Skyrim but most Nords dislike them and the Stormcloaks will usually attack on sight. The Thalmor are the Altmer representatives of the Aldmeri Dominion. Under the terms of the WGC, the Thalmor are allowed to move freely around the Empire and hunt down Talos worshipers. So most Nords assume all Altmer are Thalmor and act accordingly.
- Imperials (humans) are the native race of Cyrodiil, which is the most civilized province of the Empire.
- Khajiit are cat people. They are considered second class citizens, like the Argonians, because of their animal-like appearance. They are also stereotyped as thieves and drug dealers, which is sometimes but not always true.
- Nords (humans) are the native race of Skyrim. They're like Vikings, essentially. Many Nords in eastern Skyrim dislike the Empire because of the Talos worship thing and the racial purity thing. This is where the Stormcloak rebellion comes from, at least from outside appearances.
- Orsimer (orcs) come from the mountains of Skyrim. They generally are hated/feared by the other races of the Empire but are slowly becoming accepted. They are citizens of the Empire and fought bravely in the Emperor's army against the Aldmeri Dominion. The Nords still hate them tho...
- Redguard (human) are the native race of Hammerfell, which is a desert province. They are fearsome fighters and actually left the Empire to continue fighting the Aldmeri Dominion, and won! There are few Redguards in Skyrim, as you might expect considering the difference in climate.
- Bosmer (Wood Elf) come from a province called Valenwood, which was conquered by the Aldmeri Dominion in the war against the Empire. Most Bosmer who remain in the Empire do so because they dislike the Dominion.
- Dwemer (Dwarves) are a dead race. No one knows what happened to them. They were powerful stonecutters, engineers, and magicians. Their underground cities are scattered around Skyrim.
- Falmer (kinda Drow) are a sub-race of elves that have been living underground for so long, they've evolved into blind creatures with heightened senses of smell, hearing, and touch. Legend has them enslaved and subverted by the Dwemer and they live mainly in the former Dwemer cities.
Re: Politics and Religion in Skyrim
Holds of Skyrim
There are nine Holds in Skyrim. Holds are like the provinces of Skyrim. Each is ruled by a Jarl, who in theory swears allegiance to the High King of Skyrim, who in turn swears allegiance to the Emperor.
It's an open question as to who the current High King of Skyrim is. Some claim it's Ulfric Stormcloak. He is supported by the four "Old Holds", so called because they were the home of the original Nords of antiquity. These are Winterhold, Eastmarch, The Rift, and The Pale.
Others say it's Jarl Elisif the Fair. She is the widow of the last High King, Torygg (who was murdered by Ulfric). She is a strong supporter of the Empire, although some say she has no choice since the Imperial military HQ in Skyrim is in her Hold, Haafingar. The other Holds that support the Empire (but perhaps not Elisif) are Falkreath, Hjaalmarch, and The Reach.
Whiterun is currently neutral in the Stormcloak rebellion. Its Jarl, Balgruuf the Greater, is widely considered a strong pro-Nord figure and is commonly suspected to be a Talos worshipper. Still, it's speculated that he either does not get along with Ulfric, or harbors ambitions to be High King himself, or both. He currently does not allow either Imperial soldiers or Stormcloak rebels in his capital, also called Whiterun.
There are nine Holds in Skyrim. Holds are like the provinces of Skyrim. Each is ruled by a Jarl, who in theory swears allegiance to the High King of Skyrim, who in turn swears allegiance to the Emperor.
It's an open question as to who the current High King of Skyrim is. Some claim it's Ulfric Stormcloak. He is supported by the four "Old Holds", so called because they were the home of the original Nords of antiquity. These are Winterhold, Eastmarch, The Rift, and The Pale.
Others say it's Jarl Elisif the Fair. She is the widow of the last High King, Torygg (who was murdered by Ulfric). She is a strong supporter of the Empire, although some say she has no choice since the Imperial military HQ in Skyrim is in her Hold, Haafingar. The other Holds that support the Empire (but perhaps not Elisif) are Falkreath, Hjaalmarch, and The Reach.
Whiterun is currently neutral in the Stormcloak rebellion. Its Jarl, Balgruuf the Greater, is widely considered a strong pro-Nord figure and is commonly suspected to be a Talos worshipper. Still, it's speculated that he either does not get along with Ulfric, or harbors ambitions to be High King himself, or both. He currently does not allow either Imperial soldiers or Stormcloak rebels in his capital, also called Whiterun.
Re: Politics and Religion in Skyrim
Powerful groups in Skyrim
Thieves Guild - It's unclear if there are one or many Guilds in Skyrim. It is strongly suspected that the strongest (or only) Guild has its HQ in Riften.
Dark Brotherhood - Assassins Guild active in Skyrim. There appears to be a tacit agreement with the Thieves Guild(s) that the Dark Brotherhood handles assassinations and the Thieves do not.
The Blades - The Blades were once bodyguards to the Emperor, in a former age. Rumor has it they turned to either dragon hunting or dragon control. The Thalmor hunted them down to near extinction during the Great War, and the White Gold Concordat which ended the war formally banned them. They are rumored to be operating in Skyrim.
Penitus Oculatus - The current bodyguards of the Emperor, as well as a sort of Empire-wide law enforcement agency (think FBI). Their agents can be encountered anywhere in the Empire, often hunting Dark Brotherhood assassins.
College of Winterhold - It's a mage college based in Winterhold. Good source for magic spells and has the largest research library in Skyrim (as far as you know). Almost all non-adventuring mages in Skyrim are associated with the College.
The Companions - There are many mercenary guilds in the Empire, and in Skyrim. The largest and best known is The Companions. They are based in Whiterun. They own the Skyforge, which is capable of forging armor and weapons of great power.
The Greybeards - Not much is known about them. They are a group of monks who live in a monastery atop Skyrim's highest mountain, Monahven or The Throat of the World. All high level monks meditate in complete silence, attempting to contemplate the mysteries of the Voice of the Sky.
The Silver Hand - Private group dedicated to the destruction of lycanthropes.
Vigilants of Stendarr - Demons/devils in the Empire are known as daedra. This militant order of Stendarr (the Divine of Mercy) seeks to destroy daedra and other unnatural creatures that prey on men, like vampires, werewolves, and witches.
Thieves Guild - It's unclear if there are one or many Guilds in Skyrim. It is strongly suspected that the strongest (or only) Guild has its HQ in Riften.
Dark Brotherhood - Assassins Guild active in Skyrim. There appears to be a tacit agreement with the Thieves Guild(s) that the Dark Brotherhood handles assassinations and the Thieves do not.
The Blades - The Blades were once bodyguards to the Emperor, in a former age. Rumor has it they turned to either dragon hunting or dragon control. The Thalmor hunted them down to near extinction during the Great War, and the White Gold Concordat which ended the war formally banned them. They are rumored to be operating in Skyrim.
Penitus Oculatus - The current bodyguards of the Emperor, as well as a sort of Empire-wide law enforcement agency (think FBI). Their agents can be encountered anywhere in the Empire, often hunting Dark Brotherhood assassins.
College of Winterhold - It's a mage college based in Winterhold. Good source for magic spells and has the largest research library in Skyrim (as far as you know). Almost all non-adventuring mages in Skyrim are associated with the College.
The Companions - There are many mercenary guilds in the Empire, and in Skyrim. The largest and best known is The Companions. They are based in Whiterun. They own the Skyforge, which is capable of forging armor and weapons of great power.
The Greybeards - Not much is known about them. They are a group of monks who live in a monastery atop Skyrim's highest mountain, Monahven or The Throat of the World. All high level monks meditate in complete silence, attempting to contemplate the mysteries of the Voice of the Sky.
The Silver Hand - Private group dedicated to the destruction of lycanthropes.
Vigilants of Stendarr - Demons/devils in the Empire are known as daedra. This militant order of Stendarr (the Divine of Mercy) seeks to destroy daedra and other unnatural creatures that prey on men, like vampires, werewolves, and witches.