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Lore Article: The Shezarrine

  • Tom
    Member
    October 17, 2014

    The matter of the Shezzarine is frequently mentioned in these forums; who and what they/it are, what it means, and why they’re important. Thus I present my first Lore article.


    “The children of Fadomai tore out the Heart of Lorkhaj and hid it deep within Nirni. And they said, "We curse you, noisy Lorkhaj, to walk Nirni for many phases." - Words of Clan Mother Ahnissi

    “After the world is materialized, Lorkhan is separated from his divine center, sometimes involuntarily, and wanders the creation of the et'Ada.” - Varieties of Faith in the Empire

    Shezzarine

    The Shezzarine are the reincarnated spirits of Lorkhan, cursed to wander Nirn until the end of time. Who they are can be questionable, but the one certainty is that the Shezzarine have always been champions of Men. Shezzarine comes from the Cyrodiilic name for Shor, Shezzar and suffix –ine meaning something along the lines of “reincarnate” (see Nerevarine).

    Suspected Shezzarine:

    From Before the Ages of Man,

    “Also during the Late Merethic Era the legendary immortal hero, warrior, sorcerer, and king variously known as Pelinal Whitestrake, Harrald Hairy Breeks, Ysmir, Hans the Fox, etc., wandered Tamriel, gathering armies, conquering lands, ruling, then abandoning his kingdoms to wander again.”

    Pelinal Whitestrake: The champion who fought with Saint Alessia during the Slave Rebellion of the First Era, freeing men from their Ayleid overlords. Known for being a brutal, sometimes mad, slayer of elves.

    From The Adabal-a, a conversation between a dead Pelinal and Morihaus (an Aedric spirit and servant of Kyne, Shor’s Widow).

    And Morihaus, confused, snorted through his ring, saying, "Your crusades went beyond her counsel, Whitestrake, but I am a bull, and therefore reckless in my wit. I think I would go and gore our prisoners if you had left any alive. You are blood-made-glorious, uncle, and will come again, as fox animal or light. Cyrod is still ours."

    Another hint, from the Song of Pelinal: Volume 6,

    And it is said that he emerged into the world like a Padomaic, that is, borne by Sithis and all the forces of change therein. Still others, like Fifd of New Teed, say that beneath the Pelinal's star-armor was a chest that gaped open to show no heart, only a red rage shaped diamond-fashion, singing like a mindless dragon, and that this was proof that he was a myth-echo, and that where he trod were shapes of the first urging.

    Hans the Fox: One of Ysgramor’s 500 Companions. Very little information is available on him, but the title is recurring throughout the tales of Men and Shor. As seen above in the quotation of Morihaus, he refers to Pelinal as being a fox in a previous life, or becoming a fox yet. There are tales of Shor appearing to men as a fox as well.

    From Fragmentae Abyssum Hermaeus Morus, the story of Ysgramor while still in Atmora hunting a greatstag, lost its trail and was approached by Hermaeus Mora in the guise of a hare attempting to trick Ysgramor into becoming an elf, only to be killed by a fox.

    And the Fox spake, saying, "Know thou, mortal, that I am Shor, and this was nary Hare, but indeed, Herma Mora, who did nearly trick thee into becoming of Elvenkind. Rely you hereafter, mortal, upon the forthright methods of Man, and eschew the tricks of the Elves, lest ye become one. Now, go—for the White Stag awaiteth thee in the vale."

    Ysmir: This is curious because as a title, it has belonged to multiple Shezzarine throughout history.

    Wulfharth/Tiber Septim: I’m combining these two together because they are literally joined together, along with Zurin Arctus, into one soul. King Wulfharth was born in Atmora and became High King of Skyrim in First Era 480. From The Five Songs of King Wulfharth: Shor’s Tongue,

    The first song of King Wulfharth is ancient, circa 1E500. After the defeat of the Alessian army at Glenumbria Moors, where King Hoag Merkiller was slain, Wulfharth of Atmora was elected by the Pact of Chieftains. His thu'um was so powerful that he could not verbally swear into the office, and scribes were used to draw up his oaths. Immediately thereafter the scribes wrote down the first new law of his reign: a fiery reinstatement of the traditional Nordic pantheon. The Edicts were outlawed, their priests put to the stake, and their halls set ablaze. The shadow of King Borgas had ended for a span. For his zealotry, King Wulfharth was called Shor's Tongue, and Ysmir, Dragon of the North.

    Notably, he is known for dying at least four times. Once while returning the lifespans of Men when Orkey stole them, another at the Battle of Red Mountain, by the Greybeards shouting at him, and finally as his soul was absorbed into the Mantella used to activate Numidium.

    Recall as well the events at Red Mountain and the achievements of King Wulfharth, wherein he rejects the Alessian pantheon of Elvish-influenced gods, wars with the Chimer and Dwemer over the Heart of Lorkhan (Five Songs of King Wulfharth), and answers the call of the Greybeards when hearing the prophecy of a great savior of men who will lead them into a new era (The Arcturian Heresy).

  • Member
    October 17, 2014

    This is a brilliant reference piece Tom and I think we should put this as a link in the FAQ as well as in the Directory.

    As your first act as Lore Host, how about adding a couple of official tags and selecting a suitable place for this article to live in the Directory?

  • November 30, 2014
    Props on this piece, well done. I really like the note of "suspected." Although one of my favorite stories is Alkosh himself came down to stop Whitestrake from slaughtering the Khajiit(not necessarily true but a good story nonetheless).
  • Member
    December 1, 2014

    So why do Nords worship Shor if he was Lorkhan, didn't they dislike Lorkhan since he tricked the divines?

  • Member
    December 1, 2014

    No. The reason you state is actually the generally-accepted belief of Elves. Shor/Lorkhan sided with men after the creation of the world to fight against Elven oppression. (Varieties of Faith in the Empire).

  • December 1, 2014
    What?
  • Member
    December 1, 2014

    OK, thank you theirs such so much to keep track of.

  • December 10, 2014
    Pelinal Whitestrake was a creation of the eight, he has no affiliation with Lorkhan.
  • Member
    December 10, 2014

    I have to disagree with you. Give this chart a once-over:

  • Tom
    Member
    December 11, 2014

    Yes, I'd really like your reasoning for this.