General:Ted Peterson's Book Prompting

Ted Peterson's Book Prompting
(link)
Medium/Format	Online Forum
Date	September 2004
Interviewee(s)	Ted Peterson
Hosted By	Elder Scrolls Forum

From a thread created by Xanathar titled "Historical question", which evolved into book prompts for Ted Peterson to consider for The Elder Scrolls IV. Many of these prompts made it into the final game.

Ted Peterson plays both Tedders and S'reddit in this thread.

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Xanathar: A historical question that probably only Tedders that can answer this.

You know that in early First Era, "Camoran Dynasty of Valenwood is founded by King Eplear." Then, in the Third Era, "The Camoran Usurper leads an army of daedra and undead on a rampage through Valenwood, conquering kingdom after kingdom."

Now, my question: Are these two Camoran the same? If so then it is probably the known longest ever kingdom in Tamriel.

S'reddit: Not the same, but clearly the Usurper was referencing the early dynasty with his name, just as the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths inspired gothic architecture, neogothic architecture, and eventually the non-barbaric but certainly gloomy Goths of today. The word comes to symbolize something different generation by generation.

Eplear and the Camorans, though, clearly need a book, or even a series ...

Xanathar: Yes, that would be great to read a series of the kingdom who started the First Era. For the Usurper himself, a series kinda like Wolf Queen would be great as well. Currently we don't know who is this guy, why he revolted again the Septim's Dynasty and how he could amass a daedric and undead armies. That would be a dramatic series, no?

S'reddit: Yup, sure would. A classic epic.

B: I guess that means you should start writing, Tedders, if you haven't already. read.gif

Tedders: Absolutely. I've taken notes over the years since MW about what people responded to and seemed curious about. Of course, the more obscure, the better. There'll be plenty written about the here and now, but any suggestions about historical stuff that needs detailing I'll take ...

And, hey, I'm Tedders again! Thanks, Michael!

B: It's good to have you back.

I've always wanted to know a little more about the Direnni clan. It's not a very obscure topic, though.

Tedders: Not very obscure, but that's all right. They're about as ancient and influential as families get, from Aiden Direnni in the 1st era to Medora Direnni in the 3rd ... shy of doing a Brief History Of The Dirennis might have to focus on one time period ... hmm ...

Xanathar: This is going off topic, but that's fine. Glad to see that "Tedders" back. It's more suitable than that Argonian name. smile.gif

Direnni clan would be very interesting topic. Btw, I am interested also on Argonian. Very little book in TES2 and TES3 talk about Argonian and the lore. But, perhaps this is not your part in TES4.

Tedders: Yeah, glad to be Tedders again.

You're right. Well, there's hardly any race that has enough lore, is there? wink.gif

But the Argonians are neglected, even if some of their now-extinct Black Marsh neighbors -- the Kothringi and the Orma -- had small but important roles in 2920. I'll work on that.

Loranna: Hello,

I admit I've been interested in the histories of various artifacts, such as the Umbra Sword and the Chrysamere. I know Tamrielic Lore lists some basic background on many of the artifacts, but it would be neat, to me at least, to know more of the actual back stories of these legendary items - what major events they may have played a part in, who their weilders were at the time, etc.

If nothing else, it could make for some interesting stories about various heroes and their downfalls, as their powerful artifacts suddenly disappeared on them right when they really needed them smile.gif

Loranna

Tedders: True, and they all have a dollop of lore already that just needs expanding. It's fun to write about heroes, but there's also some pleasure in writing about "real people" -- cowards, idiots, greedy little cretins ... people I identify with. Like Decumus Scotti.

And on the opposite side of the spectrum, villains are fun to make into heroes. Like Potema, the Wolf Queen.

B: I was just proud of myself for not suggesting the Psijic Order. . . again. heee.gif

I enjoy unlikely heroes. Oh, and don't forgot the irony!

Tedders: I can guarantee more stuff about the Psijics. They seem to work their way into everything.

B: I kind of figured that would be the case. I cannot wait!

I was thinking that a diary would be fun to read. Perhaps a Direnni family diary. One that was passed down for one generation to the next.

Or better yet, how about Iachesis' diary?!

Tedders: I like the family diary idea. For some reason, though, Iachesis's diary makes me think of Bridget Jones's Diary ...

"I wonder if I can use the Old Ways to melt off these extra ten pounds of flabbiness ..."

slap.gif

Homru: I'd love to know more about the Cult of the Ancestor Moth and early Cyrodiil but I'd also like to see a new story by Waughin Jarth something set in the Abecean Sea and some of its islands. Maybe even have a terrifying encounter with Thras and the Sload.

Edit: I'd also like to see an official Biography for Occato and maybe Fal Droon.

Gleb: Oh. Another good one would be a book detailing magick in it's various forms, such as Reach Magick, Snake Magick and Dawn Magick, etc. etc.

Love_From_Above: I'd like to see some more stuff concerning the beast races. Their mythologies, historical takes, and intrigue. They seem to be the most enigmatic of the races yet at the same time simple in a beastly sort of way, which is maybe why there hasn't been a whole lot in the past dedicated to them. Jobasha needs to stop sellin books and start writing them. Give the old kitty a pen for his birthday and set him to work! fing34.gif

Tedders: Glad you like Waughin Jarth, Homru. There are many more of his books in circulation, as well as some other prolific writers of Tamriel, like Carlovac Townway and Tavi Dromio, who you'll be able to read in Oblivion (the game, not the place, of course).

When you're talking magic, Gleb, you mean books about things other than the official Schools? There's certainly a suggestion that there are other ways to cast a spell outside of the official Mages Guild methodology. Witches and Psijics, for example, don't do it quite the same way. But before going down that path, I'll have to talk to Todd about what if anything they have planned in that direction. I wouldn't want to write about how one could theoretically bring rain by running around in circles naked in the moonlight, and have players try it and it not work ... happy.gif

And, yes, L.F.A., you're right, there's not enough on the beast races in lore, like I said before on the inquiry about Argonians. I would love to drop Decumus Scotti or some little pathetic character like him right in the middle of Black Marsh. evillol.sml.gif

mafafu: Hmmm, I'm starting to look forward to Oblivion more for the new books than anything. read.gif Although, I'm sure the rest of it will be good too. tongue.gif

Tedders: Thanks! And isn't awfully sweet of all those designers, programmers, and artists to work so hard to create a decent game to frame my stories? wink_smile.gif

Heh heh heh.

mafafu: Yeah, they're nice like that. heee.gif

I knew there would be lots of new books and lore info coming from the new game, but with all the hype recently, I was more concerned with things like gameplay, setting, graphics, etc. When you started to mention the books ahead with some certainty, I started dancing. dance.gif Yeah, I'm a bad dancer. And by "bad", I mean "not good". tongue.gif

Tedders: Thanks, you dancin fool. laugh.gif

Xanathar: Any chance to drop Decumus Scotti to Akavir? Some business with Tang-Mo or Tsaesci perhaps?

Tedders: What a suggestion. Poor Scotti barely survived the Bosmer! Throw him in with immortal vampire snake thingies? That's too sadistic even for Waughin Jarth, who, between The Asylum Ball, The Wolf Queen, Feyfolken, and A Dance In Fire, is pretty well-known for his dark humor ... If Uriel V's army was decimated in Akavir, what are the chances of Scotti lasting five minutes?

On the other hand, I'm pretty sure Jarth did write a series about him in Black Marsh ... if I can find a copy of it to translate it into Cyrodilic ...

Homru: Why what language does Waughin Jarth speak? huh.gif

Tedders: I misspoke. I meant I need to translate it from Cyrodilic.

One87xe: ...sorry to be a suggestion hound, but how about an account of what happens to the Bosmer after the Wild Hunt...if they have covens or clans or are just freelance...

Homru: To english..? huh.gif

Tedders: Of course. That's how the books appear in TES games, don't they?

I like the suggestion about the Wild Hunt too, One.