- "You will walk through the Hall of Heroes and find your way to the eternal sands of the Far Shores.
- It has been this way and will be this way for all Ra Gada who walk under the watchful eye of Tu'whacca." — When We Pass
Tu'whacca (or simply Tuwhacca),[1] the Tricky God, is the Yokudan God of Souls (or Shepherd of Souls), and the Caretaker of the Far Shores.[2][3][4] Before the creation of the world, he was the god of Nobody Really Cares.[2] When Tall Papa undertook the creation of the Walkabout, Tu'whacca found a purpose: he became the caretaker of the Far Shores, and continues to help Redguards find their way into the afterlife. His cult is sometimes associated with Arkay in the more cosmopolitan, Forebear regions of Hammerfell, where the names Tu'whacca and Arkay are basically interchangeable.[2] Crowns detest this Imperialization, considering it a betrayal of their heritage.[5] Nevertheless, scholars cannot help but note the clear similarities between them, as well as the similarities they both share with Xarxes of the Altmer, in both the etymology of their names and the divine roles they fill.[6]
Culture and WorshipEdit
Being an integral part of the Redguard belief system, they have developed many customs related to him. A sneeze may prompt a Redguard to say something like "Tu'whacca bless you", as ancient writings suggest a sneeze is a sign of the presence of an evil spirit.[7] The dead or dying are often referred to with the adage "may Tu'whacca have mercy on [their] soul" or "may Tu'whacca escort [their] soul to the Far Shores".[8][9] When mummifying a body, the first step Redguard priests perform is to consecrate the body with the Blessings of Tu'whacca.[10]
Tu'whacca was once considered the patron of mages, and some adorned their staves with his sacred ibis.[11]
Elaborate, oversized ibis-head masks with emerald eyes are worn by priests of Tu'whacca in the March of Wisdom.[12]
The black sphynx cats of the Alik'r, dubbed "Tu'whacca's Sphynx Cats", are said to bring the blessing of Tu'whacca to their household. For this reason, they are honored. They have also been observed sleeping with those who near death, giving them a reputation as guides to the Far Shores.[13]
NotesEdit
- As part of a covenant with Tu'whacca, three Ansei warriors sacrificed their souls to create the Ansei Wards - magical relics that prevented even the most powerful necromancers from raising their dead.[14]
- Throne Keeper Farvad, a priest of Tu'whacca, regularly passed on wisdom that allegedly came from the god himself.[14]
GalleryEdit
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Brazier used in the worship of Tu'whacca
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A priest of Tu'whacca
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Tu'whacca's Sphynx Cat (ESO)
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Tu'whacca's Throne, a Yokudan temple
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Tu'whacca's Pillars in a family tomb
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A bas-relief door of Tu'whacca (left) and Satakal (right)
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A Yokudan lion-ibis statue
See AlsoEdit
- Monomyth: Lorkhan and Satakal — Excerpt of a theological book containing the common creation myths
- Tu'whacca's Prayer — A traditional Redguard prayer
- Tu'whacca, Arkay, Xarxes by Lady Cinnabar of Taneth — A discussion on the similarity of gods
- Varieties of Faith, The Forebears by Brother Mikhael Karkuxor of the Imperial College — A summary of the pantheon of the Redguard Forebears
- When We Pass — A Redguard creed
ReferencesEdit
- ^ The Monomyth
- ^ a b c Varieties of Faith, The Forebears — Brother Mikhael Karkuxor of the Imperial College
- ^ Tu'whacca's Prayer
- ^ Reverence for the Dead — Brother Opilio Congonius
- ^ A Betrayal of Our Heritage — "Nworc at-Traeh"
- ^ Tu'whacca, Arkay, Xarxes — Lady Cinnabar of Taneth
- ^ Threat of the Baandari Pedlars — Zuladr, High Priest of Satakalaam
- ^ Lord Jaren's Journal — Lord Jaren
- ^ Sacrilege and Mayhem in the Alik'r — Doctor Tazhim of the Bureau of Outlander Affairs
- ^ The Eight Steps of Mummification — Fezmani of the Steady Hand, Priest of Tu'whacca
- ^ Crafting Motif 28: Ra Gada Style — Lady Cinnabar of Taneth
- ^ Oversized Tu'whacca Mask contraband item in ESO
- ^ Tu'whacca's Sphynx Cat pet description in ESO
- ^ a b Throne Keeper Farvad's dialogue in ESO