Lore:Nathari

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Clan Matron Nathari
ON-npc-Nathari.jpg
Clan Matron Nathari
Race Reachman
(later Voidmother)
Gender Female
Born 2nd Era
The Reach
Died 2E 582
Lost Valley Redoubt, The Reach
Resided in Lost Valley Redoubt
Reign 2nd Era-
2E 582
Previous Ruler Arana
Next Ruler Bradan
Appears in ESO
"The clan chose me, Arana! The Spirit Queen demands death and I shall give it to her!" — Nathari of the Ghostsong Clan

Nathari of the Ghostsong Clan was a Witch who was Matron of her people as of 2E 582. She took over the leadership from her older sister Arana by promising Namira's blessing to her clan members if they followed the old ways.[1] She led the clan until her death in 2E 582. Under her leadership, the clan made an alliance with the Gray Host.[2]

History[edit]

Early life[edit]

Lost Valley Redoubt - a sacred ritual site of the Ghostsong Clan

Nathari was born at some point in Second Era to the Matron of Ghostsong Clan of the Reach. She was the younger sister of Arana. Sometime in her youth her mother oversaw the concealment of the entrance to the barrow in the Lost Valley Redoubt which was an ancient ritual site of the clan. The barrow led to the ancient cavern known as the Dark Descent.[1]

During her youth, the Ghostsong clan was visited by the vampire matron of the Nighthollow Clan, Belain. She arrived under the guise of mortal and asked Nathari's mother, the Clan Matron, and her fellow witches about the prophecy of the Dark Heart. Officially, Belain received only generalities, though Arana suspected her and Nathari's aunt of providing more specific information.[1]

Rise to Power[edit]

Before 2E 582, she became a Witch. Her older sister Arana succeeded their mother as Matron. Arana wanted to stop some of the clan's old ways, such as dark magic and blood sacrifice. Nathari had always been drawn to these rituals and thus she vehemently opposed her sister in how she led the clan. She promised Namira's blessing to the Ghostsong if they followed the old ways. Eventually Nathari managed to convince the Ghostsong Clan to follow her and took over the position of the clan's Matron. Her older sister Arana left the clan soon afterwards, although whether it was her decision or forceful banishment is unclear.[1][3]

Nathari after her transformation

Gray Host[edit]

Prior to 2E 582, some members of the Ghostsong under Nathari's command were already working with the Gray Host in order to take part in a dark prophecy. Nathari made a deal with Belain and agreed to assist the Gray Host since their goals aligned.[4] As the Gray Host moved its operations to the Reach, they forged an alliance with Nathari and the Ghostsong Clan. Their interests coincided as both wanted to complete the prophecy of the Dark Heart, which dooms all but Namira's faithful to being devoured by the Heart.[5]

In the 2E 582 Nathari ordered the Ghostsong Clan to relocate to their sacred shrine at Lost Valley Redoubt.[3] It was there where Nathari arranged the ritual sacrifice of her clan's hunters, whose souls would awaken the Dark Heart from its slumber and fulfill the prophecy.[6] While she promised the hunters that they could choose whether to be sacrificed, this was a lie; she ordered her loyal followers to kill them anyway.[7] The weaker members of the clan were sacrificed first and the strongest members were ordered to oversee the process before being sacrificed themselves.[8]

Gray Host forces led by Pentarch Draljura assisted in the plot to ensure the activation of the Dark Heart[4]. Eventually, that plan came to pass as several members of the Clan were sacrificed while others allied with Nathari were killed by the Vestige and Arana, who sought to stop the prophecy from being completed.[2]

Nathari fought Arana and the Vestige personally at the ritual site and called upon the power of the Dark Heart to aid her in combat. She assumed the form of the Voidmother[2] and obtained the power to consume the souls of her victims.[9][10] Nathari lost the battle, but got her wish in the end: the energy of the sacrifices stirred the Heart from its slumber, though not quite to the degree Nathari planned. According to Count Verandis Ravenwatch, the souls were enough to prime the heart and opened a path between Nirn and the Void.[11] Arana then prayed for her fallen clansmen and hoped to free her sister's soul from the darkness that had taken her, offering her some measure of peace. However, it is unclear if she was successful.[1]

Following her death the clan split in two. The survivors who were meant to be sacrificed asked the werewolf Bradan to become their new chieftain; however, he believed was better to start a new clan with a new name in order to leave the old traditions behind, with possible clan names being Longfangs or Wolfrunners. It is unknown if he went ahead with those plans.[3] What remained of Nathari's followers remained active and were branded as a rogue clan by Markarth.[12]

See Also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Arana's dialogue in ESO: Markarth
  2. ^ a b c Events of The Awakening Darkness in ESO: Markarth
  3. ^ a b c Bradan's dialogue in ESO: Markarth
  4. ^ a b Letter to Pentarch DraljuraLady Belain
  5. ^ Events of ESO: Markarth
  6. ^ Nathari's dialogue in ESO: Markarth
  7. ^ Senan's NoteSenan
  8. ^ Overheard Dialogue of generic Ghostsong Clansmen
  9. ^ Rites Matron's dialogue in ESO: Markarth
  10. ^ Gwenyfe's dialogue on Voidmother Elgroalif related quests in ESO
  11. ^ Count Verandis Ravenwatch's dialogue in ESO: Markarth
  12. ^ Events of Namira's Perversions in ESO