Lore:Udhendra Nibenu

This article is about the original epic. For the translation by Florin Jaliil, see Father Of The Niben.

Topal the Pilot

The Udhendra Nibenu (Aldmeris for "Father of the Niben") is an epic depicting Topal the Pilot's journey charting Tamriel and its waterways, as well as his many discoveries along the way. It remains the only written record of him and his ship; the Niben's voyages. All that is left, however, are four fragments, which detail moments across his travels, including his journey through the Niben River and his discovery of the Heartlands, where the Imperial City would eventually be build.

History

The origins and nature of this text are unknown, as is the identity of its writer. Based on the fragments, it is a third-hand account of the journey from someone other than Topal or a Niben crewmate. It was penned sometime after their return to the Summerset Isles in the middle Merethic Era. It is considered some of Topal's lasting legacy left on Tamriel, along with his ancient maps held in the Crystal Tower. How it has survived over the eras and how it became fragmented are also unknown.

In the late Third Era, the scholar Florin Jaliil decided to translate the Udhendra Nibenu's fragments in Tamrielic for the sake of "simple coherence". Not only does he provide his translation but gives his own interpretations of the text. Through his translations, people were able to read it and vicariously live through Topal's journey. Some people have grown up on the stories. Scholars have referenced it over the years, like in their treatises and observations of the Argonians.

The Four Fragments

The Iliac Bay

The Imperial City and Lake Rumare

The first fragment mentions two of three ships that had left Firsthold to find the lost continent of Aldmeris, the third of which was Topal's ship, the Niben. It begins by referencing the second ship; the Pasquiniel helmed by Illio, whose waystone pointed south to where it is presumed to be Pyandonea. It further explains how the Niben was the only ship to return after "eighty moons", and with a wealth of goods and curiosities. After sixty-six days and nights, he reached the mouth of a great bay and landed on a "sun-kissed meadow of gentle dells" where he was attacked by Orcs.

Considering that the second fragment is presumed to take place in eastern Morrowind on the Padomaic Ocean, the time difference is believed by Florin Jaliil to be eighty months. At this point, Topal is trying to find his way back to Firsthold when he could not find Aldmeris. The cliff coastline provided no westward passage for the Niben so they kept traveling south. They found harborage on a sandy, forested island but were attacked by a great "bat lizard" believed to be ancient cliff racers. Topal successfully brought it down with his bow and arrow, and for another forty days and nights, the Niben kept sailing south.

The third fragment is set on the southern Black Marsh coast, where he witnessed the ancient Argonians and eventually discovered the Topal Bay. The fourth fragment tells the tale of how they sailed through the Niben River and witnessed "cat demons" that Florin Jaliil believed were ancient Khajiit. This fragment, in particular, is important because it is the only text that mentions the lost bird beastfolk of Cyrodiil. In the fragment, Topal provides them with the gift of literacy, and in exchange, they name him their lord and offer the eight islands as a gift. It ends with Topal's promise to return and the Niben's departure.

Gallery

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  Firsthold

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  Eastern Morrowind

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  The Niben River

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  Topal Bay

Notes

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  The Udhendra Nibenu is the only "known" written record of Topal's travels, whereas his personal sea logs are still intact, albeit to an unknown capacity. These logs, The Southern Coast as Far as the Eastern Sea are one of several rare books stored in the Library of Dusk, a compound located in Coldharbour; the daedric realm of Molag Bal.

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  The original version of the text featured in Oblivion makes reference to Third Era figures, such as Waughin Jarth and his historical-fiction series, The Wolf Queen but the version in ESO removes them. It is explained in-game that many books from across different times were transported back into the Second Era because of the magic in Gandranen, an Ayleid ruin previously dedicated to Hermaeus Mora.

See Also

• For the book that translated it, see the Father Of The Niben.