| Moonshadow | |
|---|---|
| Type | Plane |
| Realm | Oblivion |
- "Too much beauty [...] I am half blind. I see flowers and waterfalls, majestic trees, a city of silver, but it is all a blur. The colors run like water. It's raining now, and the wind smells like perfume. This surely is Moonshadow, where Azura dwells." — Morian Zenas, from Seif-ij Hidja's The Doors of Oblivion
Moonshadow is a realm of Oblivion created and ruled over by the Daedric Prince Azura, Queen of Dawn and Dusk.[1][2] The realm is said to hold "too much beauty", so much so it can render mortal visitors "half-blind". It contains flowers, waterfalls, pink trees,[3] and a city of silver. Azura herself resides in a rose palace, and is welcoming to mortal travelers.[1]
To the Khajiit, Moonshadow is where Azurah tends the Gates of the Crossing—the bridge between Nirni and the afterlife beyond.[4][5] It is there where they are guided to the Sands Behind the Stars if they are worthy.[6]:152
According to myth, as Azurah wept in the Great Darkness after the death of her mother, the light from her tears chased away the Darkness and eventually left a "place of moonlight and shadow".[7] Khajiiti mythology also writes that when Magrus fled from Boethra and Lorkhaj after the former had plucked his eye out,[8] he fell into the Moonshadow. There, Azurah judged him as too fearful to rule a sphere, and tore out his other eye. The blinded Magrus fled to the heavens, and Azurah made of his eye a "stone to reflect the Varliance Gate".[9]
During the Second Era, the Ashlander inhabitants of Ald'ruhn had come into possession of several Crimson Shards of Moonshadow, large red crystals which glow with a powerful red light.[10] Rose foundation is made from the pink petals of flowering trees in the realm and imported to Tamriel.[3] Several pieces of armor of Daedric quality found in Tamriel are thought to have originated from Moonshadow; they are enchanted with a strong magical light enchantment, but are otherwise unremarkable.[11]
HistoryEdit
During Morian Zenas and Divayth Fyr's experiments to travel to Oblivion between 2E 418 to 2E 431, they managed to figure out a ritual to open a gate to Oblivion. Zenas decided to try going to Moonshadow as it was a safe option and visited the realm,[12] but then went on to various other realms before settling in Apocrypha.[1][13] He described Moonshadow to his assistant, Seif-ij Hidja.[14]
A rift to Moonshadow opened within Scrivener's Hall on 2nd Hearthfire, 2E 571, and closed two years later on 25th Evening Star, 2E 573.[15]
Following Vivec's indecent acts toward Azura at Hogithum Hall in the Imperial City, Azura had made the regular gateways to the realm inaccessible by 3E 432.[UOL 1]
GalleryEdit
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Azure Eyes
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A Winged Twilight, the spawn of Azura
.jpg)
NotesEdit
- "Moonshadow" is also another name for Azura.
- Mortals born under the sign of The Shadow are known to have the ability to turn invisible. This ability is called "Moonshadow", although it is unclear if there is any connection to Azura's realm.
- In a speech to the Hero of Kvatch, Mankar Camoran incorrectly names Mephala's realms the "ten Moonshadows".[16]
ReferencesEdit
- ^ a b c The Doors of Oblivion — Seif-ij Hidja
- ^ Modern Heretics — Haderus of Gottlesfont
- ^ a b Rose Foundation description
- ^ Mazza-Mirri's dialogue
- ^ Shando-ri's dialogue
- ^ The Elder Scrolls: The Official Survival Guide to Tamriel — Tori Schafer
- ^ The Favored Daughter of Fadomai — Amun-dro, the Silent Priest
- ^ The Wandering Spirits — Amun-dro, the Silent Priest
- ^ The Sky Spirits — Amun-dro, the Silent Priest
- ^ Ald'ruhn daily quests in ESO
- ^ Moonshadow gauntlets and shield in Oblivion
- ^ Crafting Motif 8: Orc Style — Doctor Alfidia Lupus
- ^ Crafting Motif 10: Imperial Style — Doctor Alfidia Lupus
- ^ Crafting Motif 14: Daedric Style — Seif-ij Hidja
- ^ Mazandi's Rift Tracking — Mazandi
- ^ Mankar Camoran's dialogue in Oblivion
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.