When the Dwemer Were Removed, the Tribunal Ate Their Ashes

An alchemist is not like other practicers of magic. All magic users are forced to probe the nature of reality to gain power, but most of these methods are fundamentally involve illicit deals with powerful demons from Oblivion. Some scholars have argued that destruction magic is applied Alteration, but I would argue that Mehrunes Dagon is at the root of sorcerous abilities. Conjuration and its bastard cousin Necromancy aren’t even subtle about hiding their connections to the foul planes of blasphemy which creep incessantly into our world, probing at the borders. Alchemy is the only form of magic which is completely removed from all Daedric studies.

When the Dwemer disappeared from the Mundus, they left behind only their ruins and a few scraps of untranslatable text with drawings. However, based on ancient stories about them that have been preserved by the other races, we know that they were fearsome warriors and parsimonious traders, who were masters in the arts of blacksmithing and alchemy. We know they spat on the religion of the “lower” races, although it must be remembered they lived in a time when Daedra and Dragon worship was the most common form of religion around them, even before the Chimer exiles invaded and built Houses. I think the three virtues of blacksmithing, alchemy, and tonal architecture (the magic of song) was the original ALMSIVI. When the Dwemer died, their religion was much too powerful to die with them. It invaded the nearest host, the Chimer, and changed their religion forever. It gave them some of the power of the vanished race, and it also infected them with the same weaknesses. The Nerevarine Prophecy was the only thing that prevented the Sixth House from marching on Tamriel with Akulakhan and the Corprus at their backs. To remove the infection, Nerevar-incarnate also had to remove the artificial strengths of his people.