u/VenusAnnounced

tl;dr ahead of time: the Aedra didn't "become" weaker - rather their temporal and non-Padomaic (Daedra embody Change and Eternity/Permanence) nature is being tested (time - which is their Anuic nature conflicting with itself, ergo Dragon Breaks etc - showcasing their weaknesses) so they can achieve 'higher being', and only their version of the narrative implies that they were 'weakened' as that one is 'temporal'. In the Daedric version, the Anu are weak and dependent on stasis while assuming 'perfection', and time 'entraps them and shows them their weakness' - they get lost in Madness (Akatosh representing the Anuic-Through-Time is said to share in on Lorkhan ergo Sheogoraths madness). In other words, the Anu are exhaustible and only do well if they can indefinitely prepare, but the more the stability of that which they 'prepared' is tested, the more it falls apart (which is manifest as the 'present' relative to 'history'). The Daedra are 'inexhaustible' 'eternal' and 'infinitely flexible' and because of that, embody the principle of metaphysical 'Buddhahood'. This is why the Daedra can easily be their own realm, while the Aedra (who may collectively be trying to 'embody' Lorkhan) who are many make up 'one' realm (some equate it as 'Lorkhans realm' - a motif visually paralleled by the Amulet of Kings 'red Jewel sorrouned by 8 small jewels') and do so with great difficulty.

...A common myth about Lorkhan, from the orthodoxy of the exoteric view is that

>Lorkhan "tricked" the Anuic soon-to-be-Daedra into creating Mundus, weakening them and binding them to it.

But this is only one side of the story. On the flip side, the Daedra version of this myth implies

>The Padomaic Daedric Princes (who embody Change and Permanency and are CHIM aka Royalty) "forced" the Anuic that assumed they were perfect "Jyggalag" into Sheogorath (who is an archetype of Lorkhanic transformation into a Daedric Prince). This way, Jyggalag was constantly aware of his flaws as Sheogorath, and the madness (which Akatosh aka the Aedra of time shares in, embodying its scope on Nirn) as it contradicted him - thus creating one of the Lorkhanic archetypes by which the Dreamer self-reflects.

A nice callback to the ideas of 'madness' and open-mindedness, a very common historic trope in Initiatory and Mystical rites. Obviously this starts with 'reluctance' due to the 'shame' of what they had witnessed, but with the moving of the Anuic pantheon to the Eight (and then Nine) they seem to become more capable of managing and accepting of the Padomaic aspect. With Arden Sul variant stories implying notions like

>Arden Sul was so happy and blissful of Mania that his heart exploded after he did Greenmote

or

>Arden Sul plucked out his heart to discover he was his own traitor, destined to take his own life

The Aedra are often considered the weaker and loftier of the Gods who are 'dependent' on Mundus. The Daedra on the other hand are the more distant, yet powerful Gods who are self sufficient, complete, Royal Princes. If you've been reading my other posts on the topic of Anu and Padomay, this should all resonate.

But the notion of this topic is the idea that the 'history' of the Aedra is from the 'Aedra' centered perspective. But that is because the Aedra embody cosmic consistency, order and stasis (and Judgement). Instead:

>The Aedra assumed they were 'perfect' and that Lorkhan tricked them. Instead, as Lorkhan brought them into Mundus to show them their own reflection, they realized just how imperfect their stasis was and began their journey towards CHIM (as being Anu-Padomaic entities at that point)

>the Aedras cognitive dissonance on the nature of their own inferiority is present itself through the history of the many interpretations of the Gods themselves, and the reason they're seemingly 'stuck' is that some of those interpretations of the self-conflicting Aedra keep them in there? Think back to 'Madness' and the head with many faces.

In other words, the Aedra are weak and doing their best, and just failing miserably, ergo why they're 'trapped'. They basically got fumbled into a cosmic egg by the Daedra so that they can grow and become more powerful to eventually become pure Padomaic entities. This 'literary egg' motif is often used for Mundus and the nature of its growth through overcoming (in part, it is a motif for Oblivion when Mehrunes Dagon threatens Mundus with a 'reset' until Mundus learns to fend for itself)

And with the inrepretation of Arden-Sul:

>The Anuic pre-Aedra had the Lorkhanic aspect thrust upon them (Anu-Padomaic self reflection and initiation) which in their confusion made them realize their imperfection and converted them into Anu-Padomaic

In this view, the Heart of Lorkhan symbolizes some kind of 'learning toy' meant for self reflection for the 'baby' Aedra Gods, and with things like the disappearance of the Heart being a tantrum of the Aedra or possibly the shame of self reflection. With the Amulet of Kings and Alduin (who was meant to end the world) it seems the implication is some sort of 'test' that Mundus is passing by 'solving its own weaknesses and external dependencies' becoming 'inherently more powerful'. It's possible that Hearts embody purpose and stability, but it is currently hard to see as to what it might exactly imply.

In fact, Dagons realm of 'restarting' and 'infinite possible RE-Begginings' is something only Padomaic nature could manifest, and would be impossible with the Anuic - ergo he makes a great 'antagonist'

In other words, the Aedra didn't "become" weaker - rather the temporal and non-Padomaic (Daedra embody Change and Eternity/Permanence) nature they have is also being tested (and the illusion of time makes them seem weaker), and only their version of the narrative implies that they were 'weakened' as that one is 'temporal'. One could relate this to the question of Talos in Skyrim - why is the Dominion trying to push him out, what is it's implication on Talos' divinity etc. Essentially, transcending its own crutches or something?

This also hearkens back to the notion of Dwemer building Mecha-Gods (ANUmidium) who instead end up making them disappear (the Mecha Gods were shown to be easily destroyed) because those are only 'powerful' configurations, but not Padomaic nature.

In fact, Magic itself in the setting stems from the Magna-Ge, the light from the Heart of Anuic entities which are uncorrupted - echoing the notion that the Anu assumed they were stronger than they were because in a way that was unstable.

This is also the reason the Daedra embody more 'demonic' concepts - they represent the notion of 'repressed possibility' for the Dreamer which are needed for true 'infinity', while the Aedra embody safe concepts of selection.

This could also be why after the Dragon triumphs over Dagon (who could be said to embody 'indecision' of origin) in Oblivion, that the plot of Skyrim becomes killing the World Eater (and that with the disappearance of the Amulet/Septims, that Talos is being tested). Just as Mankar Cammoran temporarily wore the Amulet of Kings, so did Dagon 'temporarily' walk Mundus as if it was his own realm - only for this Archetype of Troubles to be defeated by the avatar of Akatosh. The Aedra and Mundus are being prepared for 'eternity' and 'immortality' through what is essentially a time-based 'medical cast'

The goal for the Aedra may be for them to be able to defeat their 'perfect Anuic' self with their 'Padomaic immortal' nature, similar to Sheogorath killing Sheogorath-Jyggalag in the Shivering Isles. The 'Jyggalag' in this case is the Thalmor, and the Sheogorath is Talos in Skyrim.

In the Shivering Isles, the invasion of Order happens through very characteristic Order Crystals. Jyggalag and Sheogorath parallel aspects of Anu and Padomay (order, perfection) vs Change and Permanence. Yet Sheogorath 'disappears'/transforms.

Well, in Xedillian, the Grummites take possession of power sources of the "Resonator of Judgement" which is part of Xedillian and treat it as a religious object.

What do the Power Sources and the Resonator of Judgement look like? Order Crystals. The ones you destroy by inserting a Heart into them (a call back to Lorkhan and his heart).

After you fix that, you have a quest - adventurers are driven in. Either drive them mad and accept them into the isles (mania) or harm them physically (dementia). Afterwards, the forces of Order barge in and you have to defeat them - they are YOUR test, representing the conflict with the Hero, his test, embodying Anu and foretelling the conversion of Sheogorath to Jyggalag (which is a major mystery in and of itself). Either you win (become Madgod) or they kill you.

Throughout my analysis of TES, the focus of CHIM, truth and eternity was always on the side of Daedra while the Aedra were always the victims, cast out due to inferiority. BUT I think that the Xedilian quest highlights what Anu is meant to be in the games explicitly in a way that properly parallels Padomay. That is - Anu is EXPLICITLY Judgement and 'the antagonist'. The padomaic forces that initially defeat Anu are Daedra - immortal, with Lorkhan the disappearing one embodying the nature of bringing others up to divinity (like Sheogorath). The very Anu-Padomay myth isn't just embodying the natures of Anu and Padomaic force separately, but also Anu's role in the whole thing - Judgement, by virtue of their defeat. Lorkhan 'defeats' them and becomes a secret God that people embody to attain Divinity. Similarly, Lorkhan did not only make himself a God, his actions made the Daedric princes into Gods by having them embody different archetypes - echoing Lorkhans ability to grant others Divinity (for example, the House of Troubles of the Dunmer all embody the process of attaining CHIM in different ways).

Similarly, in the Shivering Isles, the new Sheogorath defeats the forces of Order (the previous Sheogorath) and becomes ironically Sheogorath (echoing the process by which Lorkhan uses his 'defeating of the Anuic' to become a God), the Madgod who can clearly grant other people Divinity by letting them become him.

Anu is "Judgement". To see if someone is worthy and to raise them to Apotheosis if they are. This fits the Kabbalah and Abrahamic parallel closer as that is what Anu normally represents, but also it explains why Talos/Lorkhan and the nature of Apotheosis and reaching CHIM is so important to the settings Anuic pantheon (which are Anu-Padomaic in the Anu/Padomaic world). The Anuic are the 'Antagonist' and the 'Judgement' meant to be overcome.

A common paralel/motif in the Heroes journey is slaying the Dragon to complete the Hero's journey and come out above. But in TES, the literal and metaphoric 'Dragon' is in the realm of Anu - and a common motif of the Aedric pantheon is either 'slaying' or 'taming' or 'breaking' the Dragon.

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsteamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net%2Fugc%2F612773448380637070%2F2EBC9232BC39281D716595BDBFE6550A0961E6C5%2F&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=aa6fbf4cc2132d276e02e4cc6df21f5fd653fdd6aafa7e95b1bc935032b830f6

PS Don't believe Vivec's lies.

Throughout the history of TES discourse, in part thanks to Amaranth-expansion by Michael Kirkbride in non cannon sources (including C0DA which is non cannon yet makes everything cannon) Vivec and ALMSIVI has had his/their ego blown up at the cost of the 'understanding' of the Daedric tribunal. Vivecs manipulations, as the plot of Morrowind, wherein he runs the Ministry of Truth which censors, alters history and falsifies records, has led to overexaggerations of ideas such as 'TES is all about unreliable narrators' 'the Daedra are petty and only care about worship' and 'there is no truth in TES'.

All of these are ideas that only exist around Vivec in Morrowind, and are not mainstay facets in the setting, as they get mixed up with other topics like Dragon Breaks and the Alessian Order's efforts.
Instead, I propose that there is a different current of ontological theory at play in Morrowind

1. Vivec is not just the God of lies, he is the God of lies exclusively. His lies are, outside the context of Morrowind given 'Divine Meaning' when in reality Vivec is just a good liar, with it being very possible that his status on CHIM and Amaranth is also just a lie, as per his diminishing of the meaning of the topics, his inability to gain anything from the two (both in regards to power and virtue) and even in-setting there are those disputing this.

Vivec preaches Amaranth which per conformation is the idea of 'everyone mantling the dreamer and pure Anuic nature' - this is associated with C0DA, a non cannon piece that says "EVERYTHING IS CANNON" as it implies that nothing and everything is true. Yet in the cannon setting, any attempt at pure Anu-ism ends in failure, and the nature of transcendence is in the realm of Padomay, while Anu is concerned with Stasis. This contradicts the metaphysics of life regarding Anu-Padomaic entities steering towards pure Padomaic (self manifest, immortal, transcendental) through CHIM, yet Vivec who claims to know CHIM preaches Amaranth.

The main subplot of C0DA is essentially implying that Lorkhan, and everything Padomaic were essentially 'wrong' and that the dreamer embodies Anu as truth. Why I'm highlighting this is that it seems to primarily exist to play appeasement to Vivec, who can't handle conflicting truths as everything he knows is based on a lie, and that C0DA is ultimately not the truth of the setting but rather just a branch of Occult Anuism that's also embedded in lies, in hopes that the lie will eventually be big enough to overtake the Natural truths, something Vivec did throughout Morrowind and failed spectacularly in.

2. Morrowinds plot has been whitewashed to imply that Azura, Goddess of Prophecy, was just randomly pushing things into motion until her prophecy was fulfilled, lying about Nerevarine being Nerevar incarnate. What actually happens in Morrowind:

Vivecs power comes from worship, which stems from lies, which started thanks to betrayal. Vivec has MADE everything AMBIGUOUS in Morrowind, due to selling out and manipulating the Dunmer just to keep power. Vivec is essentially spreading a 'Virus' amongst his people to participate in double-think and selective truths, which is why so many people were, through uncertainty, convinced they were Nerevar, with even the PC Nerevarine being able to tell Dagoth-Ur he is not certain what is true or not - Vivec disrupted the natural ecosystem of Vvardenfell.

Note that Azura is the Goddess of Dawn and Dusk - what she sets in motion happens. She is also considered a wise and nurturing mother and teacher of mysteries as per everyone except Vivec. The idea of her being a petty liar who is a narcissist who only cares about worship no matter what is literally what VIVEC is. Note that the only accounts for what Azura actually said is from Vivec too.

Vivec is literally projecting.

3. Boethiah, Azura and Mephala saw the Chimer as their children, teaching them their secrets and ways to establish an Empire. All the scopes that the 3 Gods covered, they taught the Chimer in how to participate in it and use those tools. It makes sense they were called CHIMer at the time, being favored by the Padomaic.

Vivec not only sold this out but subverted those teachings. The Tribunal needs worship for power, the Good Daedra did not. The House of Troubles tested the Tribunal, the Tribunal failed their people, sold them out and cast genocide upon them.

4. We know that Vivec had not achieved 'Padomaic' quality as unlike the Daedric prince and even Mankar Cammoran, Vivec is not his own realm, nor is he embodying Change and Permanency like Daedra do. CHIM, associated with the Blood and Heart of Lorkhan implies a Padomaic nature, usually attained from the Anu-Padomaic world. Vivec has not displayed knowledge that holds up to scrutiny in anything outside of Vivecism.

The Tribunal also has no permanent power, a facet of Daedric nature and the whole subplot of Alchemical integration and eternalization present in the conflict of Anu and Padomaic nature.

tl;dr Vivec is the antagonist of Morrowind, he plunged the Chimer race into a dystopian era of anti-spirituality based on lies and brought forth immeasurable suffering not just to the Dunmer but also to TES players understanding of the lore. The Tribunal are not simply 'flawed', they are straight up frauds and failures to an extreme degree, and the only thing going for them is just a fanciful attempt at justifying their extraordinary degeneration of the Chimer.

The entire setting of Morrowind's ambiguities are the result of the Tribunal, not the TES setting as a whole, and the central conflict (obviously) doesn't actually stem from Dagoth Ur, who is basically roadkill on the Nerevarines journey.