The Draugr are actually cursed living people. They are ancient Nords that were cursed by the dragons after the Humans revolted against them. They are the Dragon Worshippers damned with eternal life, forever guarding the tombs in which they rest. Also, Skyrim-wise, the draugr in dungeons with Dragon Priests are what keeps the priests alive. Supposedly, they were cursed followers of the priest who gave their life energy nightly to them (the Dragon Preists), and when they slept their life was restored (but not their appearance, which is why they look like preserved bodies). This kept the Dragon Preists alive (or undead?), and was an attempt at immortality.
Yeah I read into the lore alot more since then- realized I am wrong. xD
I think, and this is just a thought, that the skyforge was made by kynareth which could explain why it is so well preserved and it has an eagle on.
I'm coming in really late to this party, but I find this whole discussion fascinating and entertaining. I'm agreeing with the last entry before mine, which connects to a few others as well ( yes, I read EVERY entry on this subject ) in attributing the origin of the Skyforge to Kynareth, except in her earlier incarnation as Kyne. Anyone else do the ' Kynes Sacred Trials ' quest ? Did you pay attention to what the old man said ? Combine that with the Hircine quest and Companions quests, and I feel a picture emerges of very ancient Divine magics being involved with participation by the most ancient ancestral gods of the Nordic people; Shor and Kyne. I feel the Eagle symbolism probably does relate directly to Kyne. Think about the symbolism of the Divine Heat of Shor percolating up through the womb of Kyne, giving ancient mankind the means to forge weapons capable of conquering both beasts and Mer, fueled by the ashes and spirits of Heroes !
I find it quite poetic and beautiful.
BTW : Why doesn't anyone from Bethesda ever weigh in on these discussions ? Are they too busy getting stoned, dropping acid, and/or working on ' Elder Scrolls VI ' ?
Bethesda is too busy to participate on a wiki, unfortunately. I'm hoping they're already coming up with TESVI.
Your naivete is amusing.
Now, on to theories: Skyforge is obviously the landing site of the extraterriestrial beings that are responsible for the technological superiority of the Dwemer. This is evidenced by the shrine beneath it: It's used to bestow the blessings of Hircine, who was the antagonist of BloodMOON. As in, beings from the moon.
Honestly, I'm just surprised I'm the first to think of it.
It's Werevultures I tell you! They came to Skyrim to find shelter. It's the last place anyone would look. They built this forge as a gift to the dragon cult, for letting them live on the hill, which is now called Whiterun!
Alright. I belive that the skyforge is non-directly related to kyne as well as Whiterun. Whiterun has a temple for the being, as well kyne's symbolic animal is an eagle or hawk. On the skyforge there is just that, an eagle or hawk. And kyne has relations with hircine, which would explain the underforge, also the underforge might be a figure to represent the higher power. Hircine is below Kyne.
Maybe...
The Rift in Cardiff.......
That's a Whovian/Torchwood reference..........
Love your thinking mate...
The Skyforge predates the Mer or elven and in an earlier post they were arguing about the dwemer who if you play the main quest line were it meets up with this one quest (I forgot the name of them both) you learn that all elves have dwemer blood in them. I play many rpg games and elves are usually considerd wise and skilled in the art of magic (unless you play Dragon Age wich them there the only race without magic). In the companions quest line it is said that the Skyforge is powerd by the ashes of fallen heros. There is thise one article on this very wiki that speaks of an ancient race that ouce lived and they are mentioned up above I believe they were the first to discover the land there were the ones that made a safe haven for there kind and kept it hidden for a long time. Then there were the ones that travelled the lands in small bands and when these small bands met up the joined together. Well these roaming ones found the hidden sancturay but were not allowed to live there becuase they lost touch with there ancient religion this cuased a great war. I believe that the Skyforge was created by the wanders to make strong weapons and armor that could defend them agianst the ancient magics of there race. If you read the page it says that the wanders won the war and during this great war new oceans were formed and that this is how the continent caim into shape.
Sorry about the length I'm aggitated and bored out of my mind and if there are speeling errors I'm sorry to those that hate them I suck at spelling.
For you to mention the Winterhold Great Collapse & wonder why the Winterhold College was spared (mostly spared) , you didn't ask Arch-Mage Aren anything about it then did you?.......
If you did, you mustn't of paid much attention to him...................
I'll leave that statement right here for you to think about ..........
(Basically it = your next playthrough , ask around, you'll be told how the College held up against the Storm(s))