Azura

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Azura
Religious information
Pantheon	Daedric Princes
Type of deity	Dusk and Dawn
Artifacts	Azura's Star Ring of Azura
Chronological and political
Era(s) of worship	First Era Second Era Third Era Fourth Era

For the cat in Online, see Azura (Cat).

"Azura is the Anticipation of Sotha Sil, but female to his male. Azura was the ancestor who taught the Chimer how to be different from the Altmer. Her teachings are sometimes attributed to Boethiah. In the stories, Azura is often encountered more as a communal progenitor of the race as a whole rather than as an individual ancestor. She is associated with Dusk and Dawn, and is sometimes called the Mother Soul. Azura's Star, also called the Twilight Star, appears briefly at dawn and dusk low on the horizon below the constellation of the Steed. Azura is associated with mystery and magic, fate and prophecy."

―Anonymous

Azura (in Daedric script, ) is the Daedric Prince of Dusk and Dawn, the magic between Day and Night, also given titles such as Mother of the Rose and Queen of the Night Sky. Her sphere is the period of transition and change, as seen in the constant twilight of her realm of Oblivion, Moonshadow. Nocturnal has been referred to as her sister, though it is unknown if this is in the literal or metaphorical sense. She is known to be one of the more merciful and benevolent Lords, though her wrath is swift and painful when it is brought about. She oversees the Daedric Realm of Moonshadow, a beautiful world of blurred colors, streaming together, cities of silver, and air like perfume. The ones who visit this realm are mostly of either the Dunmer of Morrowind or the Khajiit of Elsweyr as both revere Azura, though in different respects. Azura can be summoned on the 21st of First Seed, or during the times of dawn or dusk at her shrine in Cyrodiil.

Appearances

The prisoner hears Azura during a 'dream' at the introduction of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, then she speaks to the Hero again during another 'vision' later on, to guide them further, and finally appears, along with more 'visions', as Azura's Spirit to speak to the Nerevarine at the completion of the main quest. Azura speaks again to the Nerevarine during "Azura's Quest."

The Hero of Kvatch speaks with her during a quest in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

Azura speaks to the Last Dragonborn in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, if they chose to repair Azura's Star and did not turn it into the Black Star.

Invocations

File:Azura.jpg

Azura as she appeared in Daggerfall.

Azura may be summoned on Hogithum, which falls on the 21st of First Seed. This holiday is revered by the Dunmeri, who invoke her for guidance and support. If thunderstorms strike during Hogithum, Azura must not be invoked, as these are the nights of the Madgod, Sheogorath.

History

Azura is known to be one of the three Good Daedra in Morrowind, along with Boethiah and Mephala. They were worshipped by the Chimer prior to the apotheosis of the Tribunal and their becoming the Dunmer. The Tribunal recognizes them as the anticipations of themselves, Azura being the Anticipation of Sotha Sil. She taught the Chimer the ways to be different from the Altmer.

Relationship with the Dwemer

The concept art of Azura's Shrine.

Azura may have harbored a hatred for the Dwemer race before they gained access to the Heart of Lorkhan, following a possible event where she was tricked by a Dwemer into showing she was not omniscient.

Nerevar

After Nerevar's defeat of the Dwemer, he summoned Azura to ask what to do with Kagrenac's tools: Sunder, Wraithguard, and Keening. She told him how to separate the power of Lorkhan's Heart from the Dwemer, and, in doing so, Nerevar caused the Dwemer to all simply disappear. However, there are many controversies surrounding this, such as the belief that the Dwemer caused their own disappearance. Azura then instructed Nerevar and the Tribunal to never use the Heart's power for themselves. However, Dagoth Ur, Sotha Sil, Almalexia, and Vivec did just that and became like gods, killing Nerevar in order to do so unopposed. As punishment, Azura cursed the golden-skinned Chimer to become the ash-skinned, red-eyed Dunmer. She then prophesied Nerevar's reincarnation who will end the Tribunals' godhood. This prophecy became known as the Nerevarine Prophecy.

Third Era

Azura's spirit as it appears in Morrowind

During the third era, Uriel Septim VII released an unknown prisoner, born of uncertain parents, to Vvardenfell, an island in northern Morrowind, believing the prisoner may have had a chance of being the Nerevarine, the reincarnation of Nerevar. Azura somehow blessed the prisoner and guided him along the way of their destiny. After being named Nerevarine by the four Ashland tribes and Hortator by the three great houses, and with Vivec's help, the Nerevarine destroyed the resurfacing House Dagoth and Dagoth Ur, who planned to create and animate the giant golem, Akulakhan. In the process, the Nerevarine destroyed the Heart of Lorkhan, severing the Tribunal from their source of godhood, making them merely very powerful mortals, finally fulfilling Azura's prophecy.

Fourth Era

By the Fourth Era following the eruption of the Red Mountain, a new religious movement for the Dunmer people arose, dubbed the Reclamations. This new doctrine declared the downfall of the Tribunal and the rise of their previously named Anticipations as the objects for worship. These Reclamations included Azura, Mephala, and Boethiah, who were "reclaiming their status from the Tribunal."

Azura and the Khajiit

Shrine of Azura in Cyrodiil.

The Khajiit also worship Azura, spelled Azurah in Khajiit mythology. According to their legends, Azurah was one of the many children of Fadomai, and the only of her children who did not abandon her as she neared death. Fadomai gave Azurah three secrets as reward for her loyalty, telling her to choose one of the children of Nirni, the mortal races, and change them and name them Khajiit. The Khajiit were given the three gifts: to be the most beautiful, clever, and fastest creatures in the world; to be the best climbers in the world; and to be the best deceivers in the world.

Creation of the Khajiit

Azurah waited as Nirni gave birth, and as Lorkhaj created a place for them to live. Nirni saw many of her children die and many fled to the stars, and of the rest, Nirni was most sad for the forest people (presumably, the Bosmer), whom she felt had not found their place. Azurah came forth and changed some of the Bosmer into the various forms of the Khajiit, and bound their birth and growth to the moons, Masser and Secunda.

Quests

Morrowind

Statue of Azura in the Cavern of the Incarnate.

Main article: Main Quest (Morrowind)

The main quest of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind is entirely instigated by Azura, she is heard during the introduction, provides the Nerevarine with guidance and later more help. Finally appears again at the conclusion of the main questline, as Azura's Spirit, offering the Ring of Azura.

Azura's Star as it appears in Morrowind

"You no longer bear the burden of prophecy. You have achieved your destiny. You are free. The doomed Dwemer's folly, Lord Dagoth's temptation, the Tribunal's seduction, the god's heart freed,the prophecy fulfilled. All fates sealed and sins redeemed. If you have pity, mourn the loss, but let the weeping cease. The Blight is gone, and the sun's golden honey gilds the land. Hail savior, Hortator, and Nerevarine. Your people look to you for protection. Monster and villains great and small still threaten the people of Vvardenfell. Enemies and evils abound, yet indomitable will might rid Morrowind of all its ills. For you, our thanks and blessings; our gift and token given. Come; take this thing from the hand of god."

―Azura

During "Azura's Quest," the Nerevarine will acquire Azura's Star.

Oblivion

Shrine of Azura in Oblivion.

Main article: Azura (Quest)

Azura has a shrine in Cyrodiil, located in the Jerall Mountains to the north of Cheydinhal. In her quest, she sends the Hero to a nearby mine where some of her worshippers have locked themselves inside. The worshippers had been turned into vampires, and Azura requests that the Hero put them out of their misery. As with most of Azura's quests, the Hero receives Azura's Star as a reward.

Skyrim

Main article: The Black Star (Quest)

Upon locating the Shrine of Azura, the Last Dragonborn may speak with Aranea Ienith, the last priestess of Azura in Skyrim. Before coming to Skyrim, her people were cultists in Morrowind. Azura sent them visions of the eruption of the Red Mountain and they fled to Skyrim to rebuild their shrine. Sometime after Aranea became a priestess, Azura's Star was stolen by Malyn Varen, a necromancer who wished to exploit the artifact in order to preserve his soul immortally within. The Dragonborn may agree to seek the star and recover it at Ilinalta's Deep. They may choose to take it to Nelacar, who will turn the star black, or bring the star back to Azura, who will purge it of Varen's spirit and cleanse it. If she is given the artifact, she will dub the Dragonborn her champion.

Online

Statue of Azura in the Cavern of the Incarnate in Online.

Azura appears in a number of side quests in Online, as well as the main quest of Online: Morrowind. [?]

Trivia

• The Adoring Fan, from The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, mentions the daedra's name several times, in amazement of seeing the Grand Champion.
• Several Dunmer in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim wish the Dragonborn a prayer regarding Azura, such as "Azura's Wisdom to you, Friend". There is also a random encounter with a dark elf named Faldrus, who is on his way to the Shrine of Azura, for worshiping purposes and remarks it is a "sight to see" then marks it on the map.
• Azura was voiced by Lynda Carter in Skyrim and The Elder Scrolls Online.

Appearances

• The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
• The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
  • The Elder Scrolls V: Dragonborn