Corpus Tamrielicum - The Imperial Library

162 2. THE ELDER SCROLLS CHAPTER 2: DAGGERFALL
"But the gods must have worshippers, Akatosh" said Aliera, "That's how they get their ...
sustenance, or whatever it is that allows them to continue ... to be godly. Husband, you must
know more about this subject. After all, you made a god of your brother S'ephen."
"I did no such thing!" Moraelyn responded, with a touch of indignation. "His godhood is
between him and his worshippers, among whom I am numbered. I did establish a temple cult
in his memory. Anyone with the worldly means could do as much for anyone, living or dead.
That alone is not enough. Maybe it helps -- facilitate matters, but I think it's not really
necessary. I know no more of it, but if you want my opinion--" he paused politely for
confirmation that it was indeed still solicited, as elven etiquette demanded if one were giving
opinion at length.
He continued. "There must be something, well, godly, in the person's soul or essence or
whatever part it is that does not die with the body. I know not whether that capacity is innate
in the person, from birth or conception, or quickening ... whene'er it is that soul and body are
wedded for a life span, or whether great deeds and great generosity might breed it, enlarging
the soul and transmuting it, so to speak. We all change and grow with each passing day, with
every breath, some more than others. What else is life about?"
He went on without pausing for an answer to his rhetorical question, probably for fear that he
might get one. "In other cases, gods seem to arise from a locality, a mountain, or a spring, or
wood, or a collection of localities, such as Tamriel itself. Places, like persons have souls,
some greater than others. This place might produce a god or a daedra -- or maybe it already
has one or more. As it changes, so do its gods and daedra, I think. Maybe they can choose to
resist the change or aid it, if propitiated."
He looked at Akatosh inquiringly. The dragon had stopped fighting the new gods, he said, but
would he go so far as to worship them? "That speaks to the question of whence gods arise, but
source is not nature: of that I know as little as the rest of you, maybe less, since the question
does not truly interest me. The gods are; my worship of them benefits me and mine. It is
sufficient."
Akatosh did not respond immediately and Aliera refused to be distracted, "But suppose such a
cult were established and worshippers provided for one of small and mean spirit. Would that
spirit not become a god?"
"I suppose it might be done, if one were determined enough and had a sufficiency of means to
pay worshippers to perform rituals without -- spirit -- behind them. Maybe that's where small,
mean gods come from, wife. Or maybe daedra? Maybe I'll raise a cult to thee and see what
happens."
"Are you calling my spirit small and mean?" Ali glared at him.
"Only by comparison -- you don't fancy yourself a goddess, do you? You might make a
daedra, though. The experiment might be a bit too chancy. Could I just mourn you for a
century or two instead?"
"Mm. I'll think on it. What about you? You've deeds enough already to qualify for godhood,
surely ... although if you plan on many more such you may not outlive me."