Lore:Shade of the Grove

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Shade of the Grove
ON-creature-Shade of the Grove.jpg
Shade of the Grove
Race Nature Spirit Gender Unknown
Resided in Vateshran Hollows
Appears in ESO
Hunter's Grove
"Death only continues the great cycle" —Shade of the Grove[1]

Shade of the Grove, also known as Hunter's Grove is an ethereal being that represents the essence of life itself.[1] They inhabit the Hunter's Grotto, a section of the Vateshran Hollows where the Reach meets the Hunting Grounds of Hircine.[2][3][4] They are the first champion of Hircine within the Vateshran's Rites trial.[5]

History[edit]

Saagranth, one of Shade of the Grove's hosts
A creature protected by the Shade of the Grove

Reachfolk hold reverence for numerous spirits, both large and small.[6] While the precise connection between the participants of the trials and Shade of the Grove was unclear, they played a significant role in the sacred trials, granting blessings and presenting challenges to young hunters.[1][2][3]

Little is known of Shade of the Grove's past and the duration of their role as a challenge for the warriors of the Spiritblood Clan remain largely unknown. The Shade of the Grove was safeguarding the fauna and flora of the Grotto from challengers, permitting only those who received its blessing to engage in hunting within its domain. To successfully complete the trial, participants were required to seek the blessing of the entity in one way or another. The blessing could also be obtained through cunning and by slaying one of their revered spriggans. However, this blessing could also be taken away.[1][2][3]

Those who ventured into the Hunter's Grotto within Vateshran's Hollows, fought against the Shade of the Grove, as their first challenge.[3] They spirit was acknowledged as the first champion of Hircine within the trial.[5] This ethereal being represented the essence of life itself,[1] engaging in battle through the bestowal of blessings and the commanding of local fauna,[7][8] and nature spirits.[9][10] During the challenge they used a trio of lurchers called Marbana, Rofsuta, and Saagranth as their host.[11][12][13] Each lurcher wielded a different elemental force, representing nature, fire, and water.[14] Although those who pass the trial must defeat them, the Shade of the Grove does not truly meet its end, asserting that death is but a continuation of the grand cycle of existence.[1][3]

In 2E 582 a foreign challenger participated in the trials. The presence of the outsider coincided with the intrusion of the Void Lich Maebroogha, who had consumed the spirit of the creator of the rites Aydolan. Despite the interruption during their trial, the challenger successfully defeated the Shade of the Grove, completed the remaining trials, and ultimately emerged victorious over the Void Lich intruder.[3][4]

See Also[edit]

For game-specific information, see the Elder Scrolls OnlineMarkarth article.

References[edit]