The Time God’s Whiskers

Ever since my return from seclusion, I have found myself overwhelmed by news of things I’d all but shut my eyes and ears to. So entrapped in my own designs and philosophies that the world’s vastness had escaped me, much more so its far larger culture. As I rediscovered the world and my own place in it, I found myself more often than not on the trail of a new library or some other repository of knowledge. While my own knowledge of the higher workings of our world is not insubstantial, many are the things I had not given thought during my time in seclusion. And so, many are the topics that have surprised me, especially since at the time, I thought that very few had the knowledge and wisdom required to see through the webs of misunderstanding and lies wrapped around the world. I would like to apologise, for I was wrong. Topics ranging from the tower, the wheel, aetherius and various others from all tiers of existence. So, in continuation with Nirn’s growing enlightenment, I shall humbly submit my thoughts surrounding the yet mysterious aspect of the time god, Alkosh, as well as the khajiit’s place in the world (along with that of the Bosmer). Some information regarding towers and stones shall be briefly presented, however it is all still speculation.

Who is Alkosh? Where is his place amongst the other pantheons? Much is obscured, much is unknown. I believe, however, that the answers are not as simple (I use that term loosely, mind you) as the other pantheons would put it. Following the Khajiiti creation myth, Alkosh is a product of the union of both Anu and Padomay (known to the Khajiit as Ahnurr and Fadomay), as is every other god (or at least those mentionned in the myth). Now where does that lead us? Both Anuic and Padomaic? Lets look at Elsweyr:

We have a province that is half desert, half jungle. The nomads and the sedentaries, the poor and the rich. They have fought for time beyond our knowing. One accuses the other of decadence, then he in turn accuses the first of being savage. Does this sort of relationship not strike a familiarity?

Following the fact that the Khajiiti creation myth continues on the elven road of portraying Lorkhan as a trickster (even if his birth and location of would see him somewhat sympathetically), I would describe Alkosh as his first incarnation, both Anuic and Padomaic before his alteration by the Marukhati Selectives’ ploy. For indeed Alkosh was affected by their dance, as the Khajiit say themselves. Undeniably one will look at the story of their creation myth and think that their gods are more Padomaic in nature. Perhaps it was true once, then not, but today it seems that it is true. For some. The Marukhati sought to remove Anuic aspects, thus elven, of Akatosh, and so they did. To the Khajiit, Alkosh, Akatosh, at the time undivided, became sundered of its elven aspects. Then a new deity appears: The Riddle’thar.

–It should be noted that the Khajiit view the Padomaic more in the fashion that others see the Anuic, therefore certain things must be regarded cautiously–

The Riddle’thar seems to have taken over a great part of the worship once attributed to Alkosh. He was introduced by one of the Manes: Rid-Thar-ri’Datta. He seems to act as Anuic gods generally do. To quote “some of his avatars like to appear as humble messengers of the gods”. Were I to deduce certain facts from general knowledge, I would surmise that the Riddle’thar is mainly worshipped in the south, the jungles, while Alkosh, as it is said “he still enjoys immense popularity in Elsweyr’s wasteland regions” is mostly venerated in the north, the desert. I assume this since the Riddle’thar seems now more popular than Alkosh, and would assume most of the population of Elsweyr lies in the south seeing as it is the richer part and more travelled path (for, indeed, the south possesses most, if not all, of the port cities). The Riddle’thar may very well be the sundered aspect of Alkosh under a new name.

Now, the Khajiit, who are they, where do they come? The origins of the Khajiit are shrouded in mystery, they exist since beyond written time. I sha’n’t tackle the means by which they came to be, how long have they truly been on Nirn, for it has far less information of note than their creation myth. What we do know: they were of the same kin as the wood elves, who are no true mer. Both have been changed from their original unknown forms. I do not doubt Azura was responsible for their present form, her abilities to so drastically influence a people is evident enough on my own ashen skin. Her capacity to tie the Khajiit’s physiology to the moons however, leads me to believe she may be tied in some way to Lorkhan. The same thought I have had for Y’ffre, who turned the Bosmer into their current forms, elves, interesting choice. It is worth noting that the “human” aspects of Khajiit are in fact elven, as their children can almost be mistaken for young elves if not for their tails. Were I to speculate wildly, I would say the Khajiit may have at one time been related to elves, but have since been tied by Azura to Lorkhanic elements. (side-thought: It is said the Khajiit are the only people capable of putting the moons back into proper aligment, and that this aligment protects Nirn from the wrath of Ahnurr, what might that be…)

Now on to the elements pertaining to the Tower and their Stone. First and foremost, while I do believe certain Towers were created by the elves, most, like Adamantine, Snow-Throat, Red Mountain, and so on are older than mer. Now, it has been speculated that the Stone of the Khajiiti is the Mane, their spiritual leader. As all Stones have to do with Lorkhan, and certain sources point to the Mane being the third moon, I am strongly inclined to believe this to be true. Now what about the Tower? The Khajiit of course, their very kin, but only when united. Why else would the Thalmor seek to deceive them for their allegiance and then split them once again into Anequina and Pelletine? If they had simply tried exterminating the Khajiit, they might have all banded together in defence of their homeland, and then all hope of terminating their Tower would be gone, for exterminating a race as clever in desperation as the Khajiit in its entirety is not likely.

On the Thalmor it is to be said, they are liars in purpose and in action. They proclaim themselves “saviors of mer” when they have only allied with two races that were never “true” mer, and utterly ignored their brethren, Orsimer and Dunmer. If there is a reason behind this I shall pursue it until it unveils its secrets before me. Until then I shall endeavor to go through Bosmeri lore surrounding Y’ffre. So far I am lead to believe he may be an aspect of Lorkhan, as a prophet mentions his return it seems to match the idea that Lorkhan is secretly working to move the gears beneath the world to engineer some sort of event, be it his return or otherwise. If such a thing reveals true, then my belief that the forests of Valenwood are the stone of Falinesti may reveal plausible. The great migrating tree did only root after the oblivion crisis, when trees once protected by the wood elves were inevitably damaged by the ongoing Daedra onslaught.

I would speak more of my thoughts but the riddles and possible truths are infinite and sleep has eluded my troubled mind for long and it seems to now finally call. I must admit my weariness grew as I wrote and I apologise if the quality of the work lessened. I encourage any that wish to give thoughts on my work to do so, I could well use the points of view of others. May night and dream bring you all counsel.

With hopes to hear from you all soon

—Voryn, Dunmeri sorceror and scholar.