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Lore:Malacath

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"Bow? Never bow! Only show the top of your head when you smash in your enemy's face! Do you think I require supplication? Do you mistake me for Molag Bal?"
—Malacath[1]
An emblem representing Malacath

Malacath, the Daedra Prince of Lies, Deception, and Hypocrisy,[2] the God of Curses,[3][4] Daedric Prince of the Bloody Oath,[5] Lord of Ash and Bone,[6] Lord of Monsters,[7] Oathbreaker,[8] Creator of Curses,[9]:293 He Who Speaks Sideways,[10] the Furious One, the Keeper of the Bloody Curse, the Daedric Prince of Vengeance[1] the Defender of the Betrayed,[11] also known as Mauloch[12] (or Malauch)[13] to the Orcs,[14] Orkey in Nordic tradition,[13] Orkha to the Khajiit,[15] Malooc to the Giant Goblins and Redguards,[3][16] Malak to the Dunmer,[17] and Muluk the Blue God of the Goblins and Ogres,[18][19][20][21][22] is a Daedric Prince whose sphere is "the patronage of the spurned and ostracized, the keeper of the Sworn Oath, and the Bloody Curse",[23] as well as conflict, battle, broken promises, and anguish.[24] Malacath has been described as a "weak but vengeful" Daedra by some,[3] and he fittingly (given his sphere) is allegedly not recognized as a Daedra Lord by his peers;[13]. Despite this, however, Azura considers him among the most powerful Princes,[25] as he was one of the eight to sign the Coldharbour Compact.[26] In addition, Sheogorath includes Malacath among his "siblings", the Daedric Princes, and has described Malacath's artifact, Volendrung, as a "true Daedric artifact".[27] Other sources claim that, whatever his origin, Malacath is now a Prince of Oblivion and the equal of the other Princes. And that, while it is possible he came into existence in a different way than the rest, nowdays he is powerful and is invoked whenever someone has felt betrayed, which is quite often.[UOL 1]

The Prince rules over a realm of Oblivion known as the Ashpit,[28] and he counts the oversized but dull-witted Ogrim as his servants.[29] Goblinkind worships the "Blue God", whom they venerate with sacred idols of Malacath, painted blue.[20]

Malacath is considered the first of the Four Corners of the House of Troubles in Morrowind,[30][31] though other sources say he is an ally of Mephala, and an enemy of Ebonarm.[32] His summoning day is the 8th of Frost Fall.[33] Troll fat is a consistent element in rituals intended to summon Malacath.[34][35][36]

By his own account Malacath loves very few things, vengeance being one of them. The Prince has described destructive vengeance as a beautiful act, the beauty of which the perpetrator shouldn't lessen by attempting to claim its consequences were unintended.[37]

Mythic OriginEdit

Many variations of the origin of Malacath exist, with the truth ultimately being unclear. The Prince is commonly believed to have been created when Boethiah ate the Aldmeri ancestor spirit, Trinimac,[3][13][17][38] while Trinimac's most devout Elven followers are said to have been transformed into the Orsimer ("Pariah Folk" in Aldmeris), or Orcs, in that same event.[13][39] However some Orcs believe that Trinimac still exists and Malacath is a separate entity.[5] While Malacath himself has said that this tale is far too "literal minded".[37] In addition, the Mazken information broker of Fargrave, Madam Whim, has claimed that no living being can truly claim to understand how the Aedra and the Daedric Princes relate to one another, and that no information she's ever come across in her long life indicates stories of the Aedra to be more than stories. According to Whim, much like a "backwater village bully who falls in with a bandit gang", a Daedric Prince might go out of their way to avoid questions or quash rumors that claim they were once "an all-powerful Aedra". Whim finishes her comment by noting the "peculiar and particular cruelty" with which the written histories of Nirn treat the Orsimer, and asking, which is more likely, that an all-powerful Aedra found itself consumed by a Daedric Prince and recast in the mold of a pale shadow of itself, or that mortal scholars with a bias eagerly leapt on the metaphor that the Daedric Prince most associated with the Orc people was quite literally the excreted remains of a once-great god?[40]

According to some sources the popular origin of Malacath is more of a traditional belief than anything else and, whatever his origin, there are none alive who could say what the truth is for certain. It is also said that, whatever his origin, Malacath is a Prince of Oblivion and the equal of Azura, Boethiah, Sheogorath, Mehrunes Dagon and all the others. And that, while it is possible Malacath came into existence in a different way than the rest, nowdays he is powerful and evoked whenever someone has felt betrayed, which in Tamriel is quite often.[UOL 1]

The Devouring of TrinimacEdit

According to popular legend, Malacath was once Trinimac, the most powerful of the Aldmeri ancestor spirits,[13] the "greatest knight of the Ehlnofey".[37] During the Merethic Era, Boethiah began appearing in visions to the prophet Veloth, instructing him to create a new sect, who would eventually become the Chimer. This was blasphemous to the priests of Trinimac, who threatened to exile the dissidents.[39]

The more popular versions of the tale says that Boethiah than ate Trinimac.[13][38][39] One version in particular says Boethiah appeared as a beautiful lass, and asked Trinimac for a kiss. When he obliged, Boethiah swallowed him whole.[41] As the priests prepared to pass judgment on the Velothi dissidents, Boethiah appeared before them in Trinimac's form.[39] "Trinimac" burped, farted, and spoke foolishly.[41] And when the crowd grew large enough, Boethiah told them what had been whispered to Veloth and demonstrated the "lies" of Trinimac's teachings, all in Trinimac's voice.[38][39] When the priests were sufficiently shamed and broken, Boethiah "squeezed out a great pile of dung" before the crowd, all that remained of the once proud knight, as proof that this was the truth.[38][39][41] Some accounts state the followers of both Boethiah and Trinimac are said to have rubbed the dung upon themselves and "changed their skins";[30] others claim that the dung pile "slunk away in shame".[41]

These tales say that after being swallowed by Boethiah, Trinimac was tortured within her bowels, twisting and transforming him.[13][39] After being released, Boethiah banished Trinimac to what would become his realm of Oblivion, the Ashpit. There, Trinimac faded away and Malacath, an enraged being bent on revenge, was born.[39] And with Trinimac's transformation, so changed his devoted followers; thus were born the Orsimer, the "Pariah Folk", who follow Malacath to this day.[13][39][41]

Orcish Origin MythsEdit

Views on Malacath and his possible relationship to Trinimac vary among the Orcs.

In one Orcish telling, Trinimac confronted Boethiah for creating the dissident movement and challenged her to a battle. During the fight, Trinimac was about to strike down Boethiah when Mephala appeared; the Webspinner stabbed Trinimac in the back. As Trinimac kneeled helpless, Boethiah invoked a ritual to scar and twist Trinimac's appearance, then banished the Aedra to a place of ash. In a rage, Trinimac cut open his chest and "[tore] the shame from his spirit", being reborn as Mauloch.[42]

Some Trinimac cultists believe the Aedra fooled Boethiah, and rather than being transformed by his ordeal, he instead absorbed a portion of Boethiah's power and gave it to his followers, thus making the Orsimer "improved Elves."[12] Others believe that Malacath is actually an agent of Boethiah who has somehow imprisoned Trinimac,[43] a wholly separate entity, and lies to keep them as pariahs under his thumb.[5]

Reflecting these disparate viewpoints, "Mauloch" is seen by some as an Aedra like Trinimac, whereas "Malacath" is a Daedra.[16][44]

KhajiitEdit

In Pre-Riddle'Thar Epiphany Khajiit texts, the demon Orkha was a spirit that followed Boethra back through the Many Paths and spoke only in curses of affliction, knowing no other words. Lorkhaj, Khenarthi and Boethra battled Orkha, but the demon could only be banished and would not die.[15]

Other Origin MythsEdit

According to the myth recounted in From Exile to Exodus by Tarvyn Aram, during the Velothi exodus, the Velothi encountered the followers of Trinimac, who outnumbered them three to one. While Trinimac remained silent, his followers called the dissidents rebels, traitors, and filth. Boethiah then intervened, revealing the truth about the followers' identity as Ornim that had forgotten their days of iron and wood, sea and fire, and become convinced they were elves. Boethiah revealed that they had been deceived by the curses of a demon, who'd made it so that when they looked upon him they saw Boethiah herself. But it was Boethiah who'd brought them the Orichalc, who'd taught them the benefits of war, how to hold their blades, and how to reach beyond. Boethiah then gestured with her hands, forming a triangular sign that could only be true, and walked in a way that revealed the path to achieve an Exodus. Thus the curse was lifted from their eyes. Where they once saw Trinimac, Greatest of All Warriors, they now saw Malak, the King of Curses. And where they once saw Boethiah, Daughter of Blades, they now saw Trinimac, as she had always been. The Warrior of East and West and of the Starry Heart, who once bore the burden of separating divinity from her beloved. Enraged, Malak uttered an unknown curse and jumped into Boethiah's, into Trinimac's, throat, entering her very being and causing her to collapse in agony, retching blood and ichor. Thus Boethiah-Trinimac collapsed, seemingly lifeless and her followers despaired.[45]

However, Mephala and Azura intervened, for though Malak had forgotten, to contend with Boethiah was to contend with the Triangular Gate. The two cast their own spell that echoed the music of Dawn, aiding Boethiah in casting out Malak and his curse. Malak rose covered in Boethiah's blood and bile. Yet he now appeared different, not as the wretched Malak King of Curses, but as something more akin to the Trinimac his followers had loved. He now wore new armor and held a gleaming red axe, and his helm bore a tusked visage of the spurned and the opressed.[45] From beneath his new helm Malacath growled that Boethiah had forgotten what it meant to be an exile, and uttered a new terrible curse that had never been spoken. The sky split open with thunderous rain, the wind howled with a killing gale, and the very earth beneath them was sundered as fire and death rose from the pits. In the triangular field of divine chaos, Azura took a third of the followers and brought them to the star-wounded east, while Mephala took another third and took them to the southeast, for she alone did not fear the Hist.[45] Boethiah than tore out the last of her guilt under the sun and transported the third of the followers that remained to Oblivion. The land they had previously occupied drifted into the sea, but was not wholly destroyed, as it still had stories to tell.[45]

The followers found themselves in a deadened realm of smoke and ash. It was here that the worst of Malacath's fatal curse had been diverted by Boethiah. Malacath laughed that Boethiah had let him destroy her gift from the king that had been an idyllic paradise, but Boethiah responded her spheres were many and houses innumerable, and so she had no need of it.[45]

Malacath attacked once more, claiming he'd never stop hunting Boethiah. But, with a single precise strike, he was cleaved into the ashen wastes, his bones forming a new foundation. His blood mingled with the ash and soon the realm was his. Boethiah then spent time with the surviving followers, their skins changing under her teachings and the influence of the realm. When Malacath's spirit reappeared, Boethiah addressed him, urging him to stop trying to enforce his will through curses both he and his followers knew to be untrue, but instead to seek glory through struggle and to understand the Will Against Rule. In this way Malacath could come to learn the proper tendencies of the hero and know something of [Love. She then formed a powerful sign with her hands, encapsulating Malacath and his followers into a singular sphere, casting it back onto the mountains of Nirn. Thus emerged the god Mauloch and the great Orcs, who would from than on build strength through adversity. Together, Boethiah and Mauloch tested and hardened their chosen peoples against one another, therefore guiding them further toward an Exodus.[45]

The Accords of MadnessEdit

Many accounts paint Malacath as a Prince who is very protective of his followers, and who becomes vindictive when they are wronged. Among the tales of the Madgod Sheogorath found in the Sixteen Accords of Madness is a story about Malacath and his demiprince son, Emmeg Gro-Kayra. Sometime before the founding of Orsinium, Sheogorath (in disguise) had given Emmeg, a renowned Orcish warrior, the Neb-Crescen. When drawn, the sword set off a bloodlust within Emmeg, and he murdered a young Orc girl in his frenzied haze and ran away. Sheogorath then summoned Malacath to where the slaughtered Orc girl was and instigated his vengeance. Sheogorath persuaded Malacath to avenge the Orc girl's death using the weapon of Sheogorath's choice and banish the murderer to his plane of the Shivering Isles. Malacath manifested in the direction the killer was fleeing, and drew the blade, which further fueled his rage. The prince quickly crossed the distance, and cleanly lobbed Emmeg's head off his body, and what followed was a sudden silence. Seeing the severed head, Malacath realized what he had done; he had damned his biological son to the realm of the Mad God. To further exacerbate the pain, Sheogorath came to the scene of the infanticide to claim the still sentient head of Emmeg and the Neb-Cresen. Malacath stayed behind and mourned as he heard the pleas of his son being carried off into the distance.[46]

WorshipEdit

OrcsEdit

God of curses, hear my prayer!
Lord of the betrayed, give me strength!
Keeper of the grudge, harden my heart!
Holder of the broken promises, ignite my anguish!
Master of the sworn oath, grant me the ferocity to overcome my enemies!
Malacath, hear my prayer! — Prayer to the Furious One
 
Orcish Malacath Cult Style

While the Orsimer believe many gods exist, they only venerate one.[12] Malacath, whom they also call Mauloch, the Orc-Father[42] the Great Chief, the First Orc,[12] the Daedric Lord of the Orcs, the keeper and Lord of the Sworn Oath and the Bloody Curse,[47][48] and Ashpit's Lord.[49] Curiously, "Mauloch" is seen by some as an Aedra like Trinimac, whereas "Malacath" is a Daedra.[16][44] While some consider the Aedric Mauloch to be a different being altogether, others believe that Mauloch and Malacath are one and the same, a Pariah God who has been rejected by both the Aedra and Daedra.[50] Orcs that live in the strongholds choose to live by the Code of Mauloch (or Malacath), a set of unwritten rules which instructs them on how to deal with matters like honor and vengeance, but also covers daily life.[12][14]

However, there are some Orcs who continue to venerate Trinimac. Some Trinimac cultists believe the Aedra fooled Boethiah, and was not actually transformed by his ordeal, and instead absorbed a portion of Boethiah's power and gave it to his followers, thus making the Orsimer "improved Elves."[12] Others instead believe that Malacath is an agent of Boethiah who has somehow imprisoned Trinimac.[43] The latter cultists believe that Malacath and Trinimac are actually wholly separate entities, and that Malacath lies to keep them as pariahs under his thumb.[5] Trinimac worship was known to be prevalent in the Second Era when it was adopted by King Kurog of Orsinium,[24][51] and was also advocated by King Gortwog gro-Nagorm of Nova Orsinium following the Warp in the West in the late Third Era. Gortwog's policies on Malacath and Trinimac worship angered Orcs both within and outside of his territory, and some worried about the consequences of abandoning Malacath.[5] While Gortwog's city would soon fall in the early Fourth Era, the belief in Trinimac's imprisonment would endure, though now considered extremely heretical by most Orcs. [43]

Orcish cults to Malacath include the Wrathful Flame, a religious order tasked with relighting Malacath's pyre in Old Orsinium every ten years,[52] and Malacath's Brutal, a cult that arose after the fall of Orsinium and was dedicated to wiping out all Bretons and Redguards for all their slights, real or imagined, against the Orcs.[53]

 
The Oathsworn Pit
 
Dulzush Forgefire, leader of the Oathsworn in 2E 582

The Oathsworn are an Orcish warrior sect dedicated to Malacath. Operating out of the training grounds of the Oathsworn Pit in the Reach, they are said to be among the most fearsome warriors in all of Tamriel and masters of multiple forms of combat. The Oathsworn have been said to attribute all comfort to their god, and to use the fiery heart of their sacred home to light their forges. Oathsworn do not reside solely in the Oathsworn Pit itself. Being among the greatest warriors in Tamriel, they seek out real enemies to test themselves against. Orcish clans are forbidden from attacking the Oathsworn, as doing so goes against the code. For a long time, the Oathsworn had been tasked with guarding the Staff of Many Paths, an artifact of Ithelia, until its theft during the Interregnum[54][55][56][57][58]

Some of Malacath's Orc followers attribute a number of teachings to him. Members of this Cult of Malacath claim that Malacath considers honorable combat to be hand to hand and chest to chest. They also believe that, to Malacath, a bow is the weapon of a hunter, not a warrior, and to attack from a distance does not honor him. Malacath is claimed to warn against enemies speaking fair before they act foul, and to expect his followers to keep going even in harsh conditions. The Cult of Malacath believes that betrayal is inevitable and so they must always be looking askance. Lastly, their god is said to call for a layered defense and for arms and armor crafted to the highest standards. They decorate their armor and weapons with various symbols thought to be sacred and to represent protective properties.[10]

The Code of MaulochEdit

 
A carving of Malacath at his shrine in Old Orsinium

The Code of Mauloch contains many simple precepts, which are mostly tacit[12] and include prohibitions on theft, murder, and assault, though ample exceptions are made to these rules.[14] More explicitly, the Code encourages respect for forging and blacksmithing, requiring vengeance for insulted honor, and recognizing that death in combat is pleasing to Mauloch.[12] Orcs believe if something is not worth fighting for, it is beneath the Code.[14]

The Code sets rules for how to select a stronghold's chief through challenge and combat, and the "traditional roles" of the chief and his wives.[12] The Chief is normally the strongest male, and it is he who makes decisions for the clan and decides when the Code of Mauloch has been satisfied. Nearly all the women of the stronghold are the Chief's wives or daughters; the exception being the stronghold's wise woman, who handles healing and spiritual matters. Disputes are settled through short, violent fights. Orcs who displease the Chief are normally banished from the stronghold, being forced to live amongst the other races.[14]

Orc strongholds have no jails.[14] If someone commits a crime, the penalty is the "Blood Price", to be paid to the victim or their surviving relatives.[12] This involves payment in goods as restitution, or bleeding "enough" to satisfy the victim that punishment has been met.[14]

NordsEdit

The traditional Nordic belief system contains two deities that are seen as being connected to Malacath. The first is Mauloch, who is known by the Nords as the God of Orcs and the "Mountain Fart". He is clearly identified with Malacath, and tests the Nords through warfare. He is considered a testing god.[59]

The other is Orkey, also called Old Knocker, who is the god of mortality.[13][59] Orkey is a primal Atmoran death god,[60] a "loan-god" whose worship stems from the days when the Aldmeri ruled Atmora.[59] He is said to be a fusion of aspects of Mauloch and Arkay,[59] though others suggest that Arkay is a fusion of Orkey and the Aldmeri god Xarxes.[60] Whatever the case, Orkey is also the Nordic god of the dead.[60] His priests oversee the Halls of the Dead of Skyrim, and ensure that the remains of the departed are properly consecrated and cared for.[61] The earliest Atmoran beliefs involved the worship of totemic animals, which evolved into the Nordic pantheon.[62] Orkey's animal totem is the snake.[63]

Numerous Nordic myths involve the Old Knocker; it is said he has attempted to "ruin" the Nords since the days of Atmora,[64] and his battles with Ysmir Wulfharth are "legendary".[13] The Nords believe that Orkey "stole their years away".[64] It is said that the ancient Atmorans were once as long-lived as Elves, until Orkey, through "heathen trickery", fooled the Atmorans into a bargain that "bound them to the count of winters."[59]

Another tale says that during the reign of King Wulfharth, Orkey summoned the ghost of Alduin, and the Nords were "eaten down to six years old" (some interpretations say their lifespans were simply reduced to six years).[59][64] Wulfharth asked for Shor's help, and his ghost fought Alduin's ghost on the spirit plane.[64] Shor defeated the Time-Eater, then removed the curse from the Nords and "[threw] most of it onto the nearby Orcs", Orkey's folk, and they were "ruined".[59][64]

Nords keep small statues of testing gods in their households and try to keep them appeased.[65]

DunmerEdit

 
A shrine to Malacath in Morrowind

In Morrowind, Malacath is occasionally called Malak, the God-king of the Orcs.[3][17] With the advent of the Tribunal around 1E 700, four Daedric Princes (Malacath, Molag Bal, Mehrunes Dagon, and Sheogorath) refused to swear loyalty and their worshippers were banished. These "Rebel Daedra" became the Four Corners of the House of Troubles.[17][30] In this capacity, Malacath is said to test the Dunmer for physical weakness.[3] Malacath has a large statue located in the hills of Sheogorad, directly west of Dagon Fel and Mzuleft. Since Malacath is the first corner of the House of Troubles, the shrine is the first stop on the Pilgrimage of the Four Corners. Diviners of the Tribunal Temple would donate four daedric hearts and recite Vivec's poem, the Four Corners of the House of Troubles.[66]

RedguardsEdit

Malooc, the Horde King, is an enemy god of the Redguards. Some scholars believe Malooc is merely Malacath in disguise, as they appear "similarly boorish" and share many "graceless aspects".[3][67] These beliefs caused tensions within Hammerfell in the Second Era, as some clerics began to question their alliance with the Orcs as part of the Daggerfall Covenant.[16]

Malooc was first encountered by the Ra Gada in the First Era.[3] The Warrior Wave reportedly encountered an immense horde of goblins who revered Malooc as their deity.[67] It is said that Malooc retreated to the east when the army of the HoonDing routed the horde.[3] Hammerfell celebrates the Festival of Blades on the 26th of First Seed to commemorate this victory.[68]

Lending some credence to a connection between Malooc and Malacath, goblins in later history have been observed to worship Muluk, a "Blue God", thought to possibly be an aspect of Malacath.[21][22] Totems of this Blue God are simply statues of Malacath painted blue.[20]

KhajiitEdit

The demon Orkha is known through ancient khajiiti texts that predate the Riddle'thar Epiphany, it is a demon sharing similarities to Malacath. It followed Boethra (the Khajiit interpretation of Boethiah) back through the Many Paths, and spoke in curses of affliction and knew no other words. Lorkhaj, Khenarthi, and Boethra battled the demon, but Orkha could only be banished and would not die. Khajiit understand that Orkha and others of his ilk serve as tests along the Path, and nothing more.[15]

ReachfolkEdit

Malacath, also known under the name of The Lord of Ash and Bone is one of many Spirits that are part of Reachfolk religion has a following among some of the clans in the Reach. Winterborn Clan of the Western Reach is one of the known clans that venerate Malacath. According to them Malacath's true chosen people is the Reachfolk. They believe that he is responsible for creation of Orcs, Ogres, and Trolls in order provide hardships and test the Reachfolk.[6] He is not a popular spirit among the Reachfolk of Markarth.[69]

HistoryEdit

First EraEdit

During the First Era, Mauloch was long a thorn in the side of High King Harald's descendants in Skyrim. Mauloch reportedly fled east after being defeated at the Battle of Dragon Wall, believed to have been fought around 660. It is said that Mauloch's rage "fill[ed] the sky with his sulphurous hatred". This event later came to be known as the Year of Winter in Summer,[3] a result of the eruption of Red Mountain in 1E 668.[70]

Second EraEdit

"You wish the Daedric Prince of Vengeance to help you open a door? "Jiggle the handle?" Life is a struggle, mortal. Use what little sense you have and surpass this mighty ordeal. Or bite out your tongue and bleed to death.''
—Malacath to the Vestige[1]
 
The Exile of Mauloch in the ruins of Abamath
 
A manifestation of Malacath

In 2E 582, the Worm Cult attempted to summon Mauloch to Nirn at the Ayleid ruins of Abamath, once a shrine which housed the "Blood of Mauloch", a type of war paint, formed of red water and mud, that Malacath had given to the local Orcs to make them strong. The Cult believed that, once summoned, Mauloch would wreak havoc across Valenwood, allowing them to raise an army of undead from the corpses the slaughter would leave behind and thus serving as an unwitting pawn of Molag Bal. The Vestige broke into the ruin's sanctum with the aid of Boethiah, who wished to prevent the summoning, and of a former Worm Cultist named Arithiel. Despite the taunts of the "Exile of Mauloch", an apparent aspect of the deity, the Vestige succeeded in slaying the Worm Cult leader, Cassia Varo, and preventing the summoning of Mauloch.[71][72][73]

Around that time, in the Bloodtoil Valley, the last dedicated followers of the god Z'en , and the Mauloch-worshipping Drublog Clan Wood Orcs, who had long been at odds,[74][75] went to war with with one another. Z'en, grew impatient and sent his emissary to deal with his follower Mathragor, a Bosmer who threatened to unleash a curse upon the Drublog, as the curse would only feed Mauloch's fury.[76] The Vestige may have persuaded him to not unleash the curse, but it is unknown what course of action he took. In the end, Z'en turned away from the world until the time that the scales would tip once more.[77][76]

In 2E 582, Malacath was summoned by an Orc, Lashgikh, who wanted vengeance for her dead husband, Esmaeel. Malacath then summoned Esmaeel's killer, who was slain by Lashgikh and the Vestige.[78] This is a particularly interesting case where the Code of Malacath was invoked against an Orc (himself worshipper of Malacath) for the murder of a non-Orc (and non-worshipper of Malacath, but husband to an Orc woman who swore to avenge his death.)

During that same time, Malacath oversaw the Vestige's efforts to relight his pyre within the ruins of Old Orsinium which was normally the task of the Wrathful Flame cult. An act meant to bind Malacath's anger to the failures of the Orcs and show him the mistakes of the past would not be repeated. During this event, Malacath expressed praise for the clans that had founded Orsinium, but also scorn for those among them who'd brought about its eventual downfall[52][79][1]

When the Vestige retrieved the Vengeful Eye, Malacath's voice urged them to wear it on their chest and splatter it with the blood of their foes, feeding it hatred and vengeance until someone even stronger came to claim it.[80][1]

Third EraEdit

 
Shrine of Malacath in Cyrodiil (Oblivion Remastered

Around 3E 405, Malacath was summoned by an agent of the Blades. The Prince told of a Daedra Seducer, a "little panikosa" to whom Malacath had given the beauty she always wanted. The Seducer had then betrayed him and fled to a nearby dungeon. Malacath wanted her dead. The agent obliged, and once the deed was done discovered the Seducer's part in a local murder. This evidence was brought before the local ruler, thus solving the case and boosting the agent's fame. Malacath rewarded the hero with Volendrung.[81]

The Nerevarine also summoned Malacath in Morrowind in 3E 427. Malacath asked the hero to seek revenge on behalf of an Orc adventurer, Kharag gro-Khar, who was denied his rightful fame and glory. After vanquishing a great threat, Kharag's Dunmer partner, Oreyn Bearclaw, took all the credit.[82] Though both Kharag and Oreyn were long dead, Malacath's ire was so great that he requested the Nerevarine slay the Dunmer's last remaining descendant, Farvyn Oreyn. When confronted, Farvyn admitted the whole story was a lie, and attacked. The Nerevarine prevailed, and received the Helm of Oreyn Bearclaw as a reward.[83] The Nerevarine later sold the Helm to the Museum of Artifacts in Mournhold.[84]. Malacath, however, was mistaken; Farvyn Oreyn was not the last of his bloodline [85].

In 3E 433, Malacath commanded the Hero of Kvatch to free a group of ogres from enslavement in the mines of a noble on the Gold Coast of Cyrodiil. Once the Prince's "little brothers" were released from their bonds, the Hero was given Volendrung as a reward.[36]

Fourth EraEdit

"How I laughed when you betrayed them, turned your homeland into no less an ash pit than my realm. The proud issue of the Velothi, humbled at last. By one of their own. And still there is the curse you made, unfulfilled."
—Malacath to Sul regarding the Red Year[37]
 
A slain orc at the base of a forgotten shrine

Around 4E 48, a gravely wounded Prince Attrebus Mede and his companion Sul found themselves in the Ashpit while on a quest to stop the floating city of Umbriel. Fled there from the Scuttling Void while on the brink of death. Attrebus's wounds were tended to by an Altmer woman with pale skin, rosy gold hair, and green eyes named Silhansa. Silhansa questioned Attrebus on their circumstances, and the Imperial prince explained their quest to stop Umbriel. It was than that Silhansa revealed herself to be Malacath in disguise and grew to take on a different form, gray haired and gray eyed, and a hundred feet tall. Malacath claimed he had no interest in Attrebus, but he'd healed their wounds, and ultimately agreed to help the pair, due to his interest in Sul, whose motivation was revenge. Sul had made an oath of vengeance to Malacath himself, and the Prince had been delighted by the wizard's destruction of Morrowind, now no less an ashpit than Malacath's own realm, something which delighted the Prince. After extracting a promise from Attrebus that he'd call on him one day if he had use for him, and warning the pair to not disappoint him, Malacath teleported them to Solstheim, where they'd seek the Umbra Sword.[37]

In 4E 201, the Last Dragonborn arrived at the Orc stronghold of Largashbur in Skyrim while it was under attack by giants. According to Atub, the wise woman, the tribe was cursed by Malacath. The Dragonborn helped Atub summon the Prince, who proceeded to berate the Chief, Yamarz, for being so weak that giants would openly attack Largashbur. Malacath demanded Yamarz kill the leader of the giants and return with his warhammer as an offering.[35]

Yamarz was perturbed by this development, and demanded the Dragonborn "assist" him in getting to the giants' lair. Once there, Yamarz asked the Dragonborn to kill the giant and let him take the credit. It is not clear what happened next, but the Dragonborn killed the giant and Yamarz was slain—either by the giant or at the hands of the Dragonborn. Regardless, the Dragonborn returned to the stronghold with the warhammer, and Malacath appeared once more. The Prince named a new chief and transformed the warhammer into Volendrung, which he gave to the Last Dragonborn as a reward.[35]

Around the same time, goblins from Cyrodiil began appearing near Riften, not far from Largashbur.[86] Troublingly, it was rumored they were being led by the Blue God himself.[21] The Last Dragonborn investigated the matter and found that the "Blue God" was merely an exiled Orc from Largashbur, covered in blue mushroom paste, whom the goblins mistook for their deity.[22][86]

ArtifactsEdit

Brutal BandsEdit

 
A Brutal Band

Brutal Bands, are heavy iron rings. When a Brutal Band is worn, the wearer's hands instinctively curl into fists and the sound of distant drums and crashing steel fills the ears of the wearer, imbuing them with all the bitterness of Orckind and all the strength of Malacath. The Orsinium codex states that the Brutal Bands are from Malacath himself and that they were forged in the Ashpit.

Ritual dust from the Ashpit was given to the most devout followers of Malacath in the Brutal Breed by Malacath himself, these followers would place their Brutal Bands in the dust while they slept, believing that it would charge the Band with energy from the Ashpit. Ritual oil was also carried in urns that bore the symbol of the Brutal Breed, with this oil being carried and used on the Brutal Bands by every cultist as a form of prayer and as a request for perseverance in the face of endless adversity. The Brutal Bands of the supplicants have portions of Malacath's true name on them. The upper hoops on the Bands represent the blessing of Scourge.

 
Helm of Oreyn Bearclaw (Skyrim)

Helm of Oreyn BearclawEdit

The Helm of Oreyn Bearclaw, also known as the Helm of Kharag gro-Khar, is a prized artifact with a history of conflicted attribution. The helm itself is an engraved skull, which is enchanted to improve the wearer's agility and endurance.

Those that claim it is a Bosmeri artifact know it by the former name, and attribute it to the legendary Dunmer hunter of Valenwood, Oreyn Bearclaw of the Oreyn bloodline. Legends claim that Bearclaw single-handedly killed Glenhwyfaunva, the witch-serpent of the Elven wood, and thus brought peace to his clan. He would bring the helm and his name further reverence by performing many more great deeds, until he lost his life to the Knahaten Flu. After Bearclaw's demise, his helm stood as a monument of his stature, although it was eventually lost after his clan split.

Those that call the helm by its latter name believe that Oreyn was falsely credited, and that the feats were actually performed by his Orc friend, Kharag gro-Khar, hero of the Shatul Clan. Thus they consider it an Orcish artifact, and the relic has been claimed by Malacath himself. Those that believe the former story however, state that Kharag stole both Oreyn's helm and reputation, and thus both camps have tried to claim it.

 
The Savior's Hide (Skyrim)

Saviour's HideEdit

Savior's Hide, also known as Scourge of the Oathbreaker, and Hircine's Hide, is a Daedric artifact commonly associated with Hircine. Savior's Hide once referred to a full set of armor, known as the Armor of the Savior's Hide (boots, cuirass, gauntlets, greaves, helmet, and pauldrons). Over time, the term Savior's Hide would become predominately used to refer to the Cuirass of the Savior's Hide, as the rest of the armor set have not been seen since 3E 399. The Cuirass makes the wearer resistant to magic.

There are three creation stories to the Hide, with two crediting Hircine and the third crediting Malacath. The more widely known tale involving Hircine holds that the Daedric Prince rewarded the first mortal to escape his Hunting Grounds with his peeled Hide. The mortal then had the Hide tailored into the Cuirass for use in their adventures. This version of the story also claims that the Cuirass gave the wearer a resistance to magic. Another version claims that it was Hircine himself who sewed the Savior's hide from the hide of a werewolf.

The third tradition which credits Malacath is lesser known and contains an inaccuracy, stating that it made the wearer vulnerable to magic. It claims that the Hide is a "captive servant of Malacath". Despite the conflict between the stories, they agree on the points that the Hide would protect from the blows of an oathbreaker, and would protect the wearer from the sting of the Spear of Bitter Mercy.

 
Scourge (Skyrim)

ScourgeEdit

Scourge (also known as Mackkan's Hammer, Bane of Daedra, the Daedric Scourge, or Scourge, Blessed of Malacath) is a legendary Daedric artifact. It was forged from sacred ebony in the Fires (or Fountains) of Fickledire, and is associated with Malacath. It is a fierce weapon, and takes the form of a steel or ebony mace. Malacath dedicated it to mortals, and any Daedra who attempts to invoke its power will be sucked into a voidhole and banished to the Outer Darkness of Oblivion's voidstreams. It also has the ability to banish them to Oblivion with a single blow, and can summon Daedra such as Dremora and Scamps from Oblivion to do the wielder's bidding. The summons are said to be those that it has previously "killed", and its victims are said to be poisoned. It has been described as a "bold defender of the friendless", which could be related to Malacath's role as the Daedric Prince of outcasts.

Vengeful EyeEdit

The Vengeful Eye is an amulet associated with the Daedric Prince Malacath; it is a relic sacred to both the Orcs and Reachfolk of the Winterborn clan. It is a plain amulet carved with the symbol of an eye. Dried blood appears to be caked inside the etching. Those who have it in their possession are said to carry Malacath's favor. It was first given by Malacath to his mortal followers, and this artifact would be passed down by combat, the one who slain the bearer claiming the artifact. It is capable of influencing those who have it in their possession. Two Orcish brothers once attempted to destroy the relic, only for it to whisper to one of them, and influencing one brother to betray the other. Soon after, the relic fell into the possession of Mercedene, one of the Winterborn and Beast of the Reach.

It would eventually be buried within the tomb of Honor's Rest. In 2E 582, the Winterborn attempted to retrieve the relic from the tomb, so they could march upon Orsinium and the Orcish Strongholds, in what was referred to as the Vengeful March. Due to the intervention of one of the Winterborn, Kyrtos and his ally, the Vestige it would be secured before that could happen. Its unclear if the relic was given to the Priests of Malacath in Orsinium, destroyed, or if the Vestige took it to a shrine of Malacath and received Malacath's favor and blessing to keep the amulet.

 
Volendrung (Legends)

VolendrungEdit

Volendrung, also known as the Hammer of Might, is an ancient artifact created by the Dwarven Rourken clan. It is known to manifest as a warhammer of Dwarven Metal. For unknown reasons, Volendrung became a Daedric artifact of Malacath. Therefore, it is culturally linked to both the Dwemer and the Daedra. It earns its name with its capability to demolish even the walls of enemy keeps with ease. It is enchanted with the ability to paralyze foes to an extent that is comparable to that of a Medusa's gaze. It is also known for draining those it strikes of their strength, conferring it to the wielder. The hammer is prone to disappearing like its Dwarven creators, sometimes resurfacing in days, sometimes in eons.

The AshpitEdit

Ashpit is a realm of Oblivion ruled over by Malacath, the Daedric Prince of Outcasts. The exact manner and time in which the realm came to be, and whether and how it might be tied to the commonly believed transformation of Trinimac into Malacath, are not known. Orcish spellwrights call for boons from the Ashpit and rarely any other realms. That included conjuring Flame Atronachs. The Ashpit is hard to access, as the pathways to his domain take on a characteristic level of concealment to protect the disenfranchised and cast out.

The realm mostly consists only of dust, palaces of smoke, and vaporous creatures; anguish, betrayal, and broken promises like ash fill the bitter air. Few mortals manage to reach the realm, where levitation and magical breathing are necessary to survive. The Mages Guild have been known to bottle this thick, roiling vapor.

The Spine of Ashpit is a surprisingly light skeletal spine found in the realm. It is made from a grey dust, and fragments of bone have been known to be taken from it and brought to Tamriel. Sheogorath claims that the spine is the metaphorical "backbone" of the realm, which he looks down upon.

However, some areas of the realm are safe for mortals. In 4E 48, Malacath chose to bring Sul and Prince Attrebus Mede to the Ashpit, where they found a garden of slender trees, and "vines festooned with lilylike flowers" wound about the trunks; a "multitude of spheres moved, deep in the colorless sky, as distant and pale as moons". This garden seems to have some emotional significance to Malacath, who describes it as a "shadow of a garden", and an "echo of something that once was".

The Ashen Forge sits at the center of Malacath's own stronghold in the Ashpit. For the Orcs that revere Malacath, the afterlife promises rewards of immortality, abundant food and drink, and constant battle deep within the Ashen Forge. It is also said that, as the ultimate expression of the Orc stronghold, the Ashpit bastion stretches endlessly across the planes, extending even behind the stars to Aetherius, granting access to every worthy Orc who crosses from this life into the next. In Malacath's stronghold, every Orc is a chief, every chief has a thousand wives, and every wife has a thousand slaves to cater to their every need. The stronghold's walls rise one hundred feet into the smoky sky, constructed of polished steel and worked iron. Inside the walls, stone keeps, iron towers, and massive longhouses surround the central square that houses the Ashen Forge.

The endless space within Malacath's smithy is filled by the Ashen Forge, a massive hearth which burns with a fire hotter than the Sun, said to be kept alive by the adherence of the Orcs to the Code of Malacath. The heat powering the forge comes from white hot coals said to be the very manifestation of the Code of Malacath, it is described as a flame of emptiness, betrayal, and broken promises, which imbues each newly forged orc with a foundation of resentment that will take them far in the mortal world.

ServantsEdit

Malacath's servants include Ogrim[29], Dremora of the Doomdriven Clan[87], and Orcish spirit legions formed of the souls of the Orcs that enter his realm as their afterlife.[88] The Doomdriven Dremora serve in the spirit-legions as marshals and commanders. Orcish spirits affiliated with Malacath have been known to summon Flame Atronachs that also inhabit the Ashpit.[89] Vaporous creatures are also said to inhabit Malacath's realm,[90] as do strange small pariah scamps.[91]

GalleryEdit

  • A Dremora of the Oathbound Clan, worshippers of Malacath

  • A dremora in service to Malacath guarding Coldwind's Den

  • Bolg of Wicked Barbs, an Orcish spirit affiliated with Malacath

  • Grubduthag Many-Fates, an Orcish spirit affiliated with Malacath

  • Sluthrug the Bloodied, an Orcish spirit affiliated with Malacath

GalleryEdit

  • Malacath (Daggerfall)

  • A statue of Malacath (Morrowind)

  • A statue of Malacath (Skyrim)

  • A shrine to Malacath in Cyrodiil

  • A statue of Malacath in (ESO)

  • A bust of Malacath in Wrothgar (ESO)

  • A statue of Malacath with a rubedite sword and spikes protruding from his chest (ESO)

  • The Blue God, sacred to Goblin-kind (Blades)

  • Malacath Concept Art (Daggerfall)

  • Malacath Concept Art (ESO: Morrowind)

NotesEdit

  • Sheogorath claims that Malacath is "not popular at parties".[92]
  • Malacath is said to have once plucked the Mad God's Lost Button from Sheogorath's doublet. Though unassuming, it is said the button might hold great power, and the followers of Malacath consider it an abomination.[93]
  • In Lord of Souls Malacath's presence is described as being painful by Attrebus Mede. It is said that his gaze is "eldritch", his eyes look empty but, when Attrebus looks at them, "crooked things" than "shimmer into his mind and try to eat his thoughts", and when Attrebus meets his gaze directly, it feels as if "hot brass is being poured in his skull". Malacath's voice too is described as akin to beams of wood rending.[37]
  • Some sources describe Mauloch as having some sort of connection or similarity to the god Z'en. It is said that both gods demand a 'blood price' and 'payment in kind' and thus both demand retribution against the other. It is also said that Zen's presence fades from the world as that of Mauloch grows stronger.[94][95]
  • While Mauloch has always appeared as a very uncommon name for Malacath in literature (it only appears in books in Morrowind and Oblivion, never in dialogue), it appears that Skyrim originally wanted to alter this, as many of its early lines for Orcs refer to the former name, rather than the latter, although this would get altered by the time of release. Mauloch wouldn't become a commonly-used name for Malacath until The Elder Scrolls: Online.[96]

See AlsoEdit

BooksEdit

ReferencesEdit

  1. ^ a b c d e Malacath's dialogue in ESO
  2. ^ NPC dialogue about Malacath in Daggerfall
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Varieties of Faith... — Brother Mikhael Karkuxor of the Imperial College
  4. ^ 2920, Rain's Hand — Carlovac Townway
  5. ^ a b c d e Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition: Orsinium — Imperial Geographical Society, 3E 432
  6. ^ a b Malacath and the Reach — Kyrtos
  7. ^ Modern Heretics — Haderus of Gottlesfont
  8. ^ Seryn's dialogue in ESO
  9. ^ The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: Prima Official Game Guide — David Hodgson
  10. ^ a b Crafting Motif 23: Malacath Style — Forge-Wife Gurzbog gra-Gulog
  11. ^ Path of the Faithful
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Varieties of Faith: The Orcs — Brother Mikhael Karkuxor of the Imperial College
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k The True Nature of Orcs
  14. ^ a b c d e f g The Code of Malacath — Amanda Alleia, Mercenary
  15. ^ a b c The Adversarial Spirits — Amun-dro, the Silent Priest
  16. ^ a b c d Discussion with Abal at-Inzil, priest of Tava — Abal at-Inzil
  17. ^ a b c d The House of Troubles
  18. ^ Sacred Rites of the Stonechewers — Nellic Sterone
  19. ^ Children of Muluk quest in Blades
  20. ^ a b c The Blue God item appearance in Blades
  21. ^ a b c Letter to Clexius — Avanessa Calladius
  22. ^ a b c Blue God's Journal — Blue God
  23. ^ The Book of Daedra
  24. ^ a b Malacath and Trinimac — Ugdorga, the King's Scribe
  25. ^ Azura's dialogue in ESO
  26. ^ The Coldharbour Compact
  27. ^ Sheogorath's dialogue during Chaos Magic in ESO
  28. ^ On Orcs and the Afterlife — Erisa Moorcroft, Scholar, Comparative Religious Studies
  29. ^ a b Darkest Darkness
  30. ^ a b c The Anticipations — Anonymous
  31. ^ Tholer Saryoni's dialogue in Morrowind
  32. ^ Oblivion Faction data in Daggerfall
  33. ^ Holidays in Daggerfall
  34. ^ 101 Uses for Troll Fat
  35. ^ a b c Events of The Cursed Tribe quest in Skyrim
  36. ^ a b Events of Malacath's quest in Oblivion
  37. ^ a b c d e f Lord of Souls — Greg Keyes
  38. ^ a b c d The Changed Ones
  39. ^ a b c d e f g h i The Fall of Trinimac — The Faithless One
  40. ^ Malacath and Maelstrom
  41. ^ a b c d e Lord of Souls Lore Notes, The Imperial Library
  42. ^ a b Mauloch, Orc-Father — Ramurbak gro-Abamath
  43. ^ a b c Villager Dialogue from Blades during The Heretic questline
  44. ^ a b Obsidian Scar loading screen in ESO
  45. ^ a b c d e f From Exile to Exodus — Tarvyn Aram
  46. ^ 16 Accords of Madness, v. XII
  47. ^ Sharamph dialogue in Skyrim
  48. ^ Skyrim, Generic Dialogue
  49. ^ Rivenspire Skyshard Hunter
  50. ^ Shrine of Mauloch loading screen in ESO
  51. ^ Events of ESO
  52. ^ a b Nashruth's dialogue in ESO
  53. ^ Malacath's Band of Brutality codex entries in ESO
  54. ^ Oathsworn Pit loading screen in ESO
  55. ^ Chief Bazrag's dialogue in ESO
  56. ^ Faenalir's Letter in ESO
  57. ^ Dulzush Forgefire's dialogue in ESO
  58. ^ Events of Victory Through Strife in ESO
  59. ^ a b c d e f g Varieties of Faith: The Nords — Brother Mikhael Karkuxor of the Imperial College
  60. ^ a b c Tu'whacca, Arkay, Xarxes — Lady Cinnabar of Taneth
  61. ^ Hall of the Dead loading screens in ESO
  62. ^ Divines and the Nords — High Priest Ingurt
  63. ^ The Song of Gods
  64. ^ a b c d e Five Songs of King Wulfharth
  65. ^ Nord House God item description in ESO
  66. ^ Malacath of the House of Troubles faction quest in Morrowind
  67. ^ a b The Improved Emperor's Guide to Tamriel: Elsweyr — Flaccus Terentius, 2E 581
  68. ^ The 26th of First Seed is Upon Us!
  69. ^ Rulfalash's dialogue in ESO
  70. ^ Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition: Morrowind — Imperial Geographical Society, 2E 864
  71. ^ Events of the Arithiel (quest) in ESO
  72. ^ Arithiel's dialogue in ESO
  73. ^ Exile of Mauloch dialogue in ESO
  74. ^ The Founding of Bloodtoil
  75. ^ Drublog Shaman's Journal — Drublog Shaman
  76. ^ a b Emissary of Z'en's dialogue in ESO
  77. ^ Events of Payment In Kind in ESO
  78. ^ Events of the Foul Deeds in the Deep quest in ESO
  79. ^ Flames of Forge and Fallen quest in ESO
  80. ^ Events of Those Truly Favored in ESO
  81. ^ Malacath's quest in Daggerfall
  82. ^ Malacath's dialogue in Morrowind
  83. ^ Events of Malacath's quest in Morrowind
  84. ^ Events of The Museum quest in Morrowind: Tribunal
  85. ^ Modryn Oreyn's dialogue in Oblivion
  86. ^ a b Events of Blue in the Face in Skyrim
  87. ^ On Dremora Clans — Divayth Fyr
  88. ^ On Orcs and the Afterlife — Erisa Moorcroft, Scholar, Comparative Religious Studies
  89. ^ Grubduthag Many-Fates's dialogue and abilities in ESO: Scions of Ithelia
  90. ^ The Doors of Oblivion — Seif-ij Hidja
  91. ^ Naryu's Journal/Wrothgar — Naryu Virian
  92. ^ Sheogorath's dialogue during the Oblivion Crisis
  93. ^ Alvur Baren's dialogue during Madness in Tamriel in ESO
  94. ^ Spinner Sandaenion's dialogue in ESO
  95. ^ Events of Z'en and Mauloch in ESO
  96. ^ Numerous earlier iterations of lines used by Orcs, as seen in the DialogueViews files

Note: The following references are considered to be unofficial sources. They are included to round off this article and may not be authoritative or conclusive.

  1. ^ a b Ted Peterson Interview
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