User:Mankar Camoran/Quotations

List of my favourite quotations from Oblivion and its Official Plug-ins.

Brother Martin

As a young man, I grew impatient with Mages Guild restrictions, as did many of my fellow apprentices. We threw ourselves into the riddles of daedric magic. We hungered for forbidden secrets. Knowledge and power were our gods. You can guess the rest. We got in over our heads. People died. My friends died. I've put those days behind me. But the bitter wisdom that one has been a fool is not without value.

I put aside the dark arts when I became a priest. But the workings of fate may be seen in this, too. 'The gods can turn anything to good', or so I piously told those who came to see me for advice. Perhaps I may yet come to believe it myself.

I haven't always been a priest. In my youth, I followed a different path. I know more than I want to about the seductive power of daedric magic. Let's just leave it at that.

Perhaps you were sent by Akatosh. Perhaps not. But I of all people should know that the gods work through us, not for us.

I'm having trouble understanding the gods right now. If all this is part of a divine plan, I'm not sure I want to have anything to do with it.

Remember when we first met in Kvatch? I told you that I didn't want any part of the gods' plan. I still don't know if there is a divine plan. But I've come to realize that it doesn't matter. What matters is that we act. That we do what's right, when confronted with evil.

This evil book was written by Mehrunes Dagon himself, and given by him to Mankar Camoran. I believe Mankar Camoran used it to create his Paradise. It should give us the means to open a gate there ourselves.

I've learned that the Mysterium Xarxes is both the gate and the key to Camoran's Paradise. In some sense, the book IS Camoran's Paradise. Mankar Camoran bound himself to the Xarxes when he created his Paradise, using dark rituals which I will not speak of further. A gate can be opened from the outside, however. It will be more difficult, as I will have to temporarily bind myself to the book. But I believe it can be done.

I never thought to see a Great Welkynd Stone! As beautiful as all the old tales tell... But of course its beauty is a mask for its deadly power, like everything crafted by the Ayleids.

All practitioners of daedric magic are familiar with the almost impenetrable barrier between our world and Oblivion. What the Emperor told you implies that the Amulet is the key to the preservation of that barrier. What I saw at Kvatch... everything I know about daedric magic says that such stable portals are impossible. Yet those gates to Oblivion existed. The old rules no longer apply. Kvatch is only the beginning of what Mehrunes Dagon will do. If the Amulet is truly the key to restoring the barriers between our world and Oblivion, you must waste no time in recovering it.

Tampering with dark secrets, even just reading them, can be very dangerous. I'll have to proceed carefully.

Mortal weapons may hurt him, but now that he is physically here in Tamriel, they have no power to actually destroy him.

I won't ask what you went through to obtain this, my friend. I know all too well the depravity of the princes of Oblivion. Are you ready to give me the artifact? Remember, the ritual will consume its physical form. It won't be seen again on Tamriel for many years.

The pinnacle of Ayleid magic. Once every Ayleid city had its Great Stone, but they've all been plundered over the centuries. All but one. The Great Stone of Miscarcand is reputed still to shine in the deep darkness of its ruined halls. But no one has ever done more than glimpse it from a distance. It is said to be guarded by the ghost of the last king of Miscarcand.

I have everything in place for the ritual. I'll open the portal whenever you're ready. I don't know what you'll find in Camoran's Paradise. I do know the portal I create through the Mysterium Xarxes ritual will close behind you. You'll have to find another way back. I believe that Mankar Camoran acts as the "anchor" for Paradise, just as a sigil stone anchors an Oblivion Gate in place. Kill Mankar Camoran, and you will unmake his Paradise.

We're too late... Mehrunes Dagon is here! Lighting the Dragonfires will no longer save us... the barriers that protected us from Oblivion are gone... I do what I must do. I cannot stay to rebuild Tamriel. That task falls to others. Farewell. You've been a good friend, in the short time that I've known you. But now I must go. The Dragon waits.

Daedric artifacts are known to be formed from the essence of a Daedric Lord, from whence they derive their great power. Not an easy thing to come by, obviously.

Unlike the Daedra Lords, the gods have no artifacts, and do not physically manifest themselves in our world. How then to obtain the blood of a god? But Jauffre solved it. The blood of Tiber Septim himself, who became one of the Divines. This is a secret remembered only by the Blades, passed down from one Grandmaster to the next.

The Mysterium Xarxes is the most dangerous daedric sorcery I've ever encountered. I can't escape the Xarxes, even in my dreams. I wonder if my warding spells will be enough. I'll have to proceed cautiously with the Mysterium Xarxes. It is exceedingly dangerous.

You have a rare gift, to know when desperation is the path of wisdom.

Emperor, Amulet, and Dragonfire--with these divine gifts, the daedra of Oblivion have been kept at bay for thousands of years. While the Dragonfires burned, the divine barriers kept the daedra from making more than fleeting visits to our world. But the Dragonfires can only be relit by an heir of the Septim blood wielding the Amulet of Kings. This was the essence of Mankar Camoran's plot. He was undone only by the merest... chance... but his complete victory remains perilously close. We must recover the Amulet of Kings and relight the Dragonfires, before it is too late to stem Dagon's invasion.

Something has changed to make these stable portals to Oblivion possible. Jauffre believes that the death of the Emperor and the darkening of the Dragonfires is the key. They are stable portals between our world and Oblivion. They violate the most basic principles of daedric magic. They should be impossible. Something fundamental must have changed to make them possible.

After all, this is my destiny. No man can deny his destiny.

The Amulet was given to mortals by Akatosh... it contains His divine power...

Welkynd stones contain the concentrated power of Mundus; their counterparts are Sigil stones, which are used to hold open Oblivion Gates.

Uriel Septim VII

What path can be avoided whose end is fixed by the almighty Gods?

Men are but flesh and blood. They know their doom, but not the hour.

I can go no further. You alone must stand against the Prince of Destruction and his mortal servants. He must not have the Amulet of Kings! Take the Amulet. Give it to Jauffre. He alone knows where to find my last son. Find him, and close shut the jaws of Oblivion.

Jauffre

Mehrunes Dagon topic:

The daedra Prince of Destruction. An inveterate foe of all mortal races. He was involved with Jagar Tharn's plot against the empire years ago. It doesn't surprise me to find his hand in the current calamity.

Sheogorath

Time. Time is an artificial construct. An arbitrary system based on the idea that events occur in a linear direction at all times. Always forward, never back. Is the concept of time correct? Is time relevant?

Daedra are the embodiment of change. Change and permanency. I'm no different, except in the ways that I am.

If Order has entered my army's stronghold, things have taken a disturbing turn. It means Order has tried subterfuge... not its strong suit. Amazing! Perhaps things aren't going as poorly as I'd imagined.

The Great Torch shines brightly above New Sheoth, a beacon of hope for all the citizens. Except it doesn't! It's gone out. Happens every time the Greymarch begins. Which it has. Makes all of my subjects uneasy. Tense. Homicidal. Some of them, at least. We need to get that Torch relit, before the place falls apart.

Well, well. So you've experienced both shades of madness. Wonderful. You seemed fulfilled. Full of fill. Bursting at the seams. Seamless.

You're talking to me. You should be talking to the Priests. You can't be doing both, can you? Neat trick if you could.

The details aren't important. At least not right now. Eternity is on a rather tight deadline. We'll get back to that later.

For all intents and purposes, you'll be Me. A Me to fight the Him. Since I won't be around. It's simple, really. If you don't think about it.

Why not? Something has to work. Once, I dug a pit and filled it with clouds. Or was it clowns? Doesn't matter. It didn't slow him down. To be honest, it wasn't the best idea. And it really began to smell. Must have been clowns. Clouds don't smell bad. They taste of butter! And tears. But, this is all new! A fresh idea! Something I hadn't thought of, until I did. It's sure to work, even though it might not.

Cat's out of the bag on that one, isn't it? Who puts cats in bags, anyway? Cats hate bags.

Seen them about, have you? Odd things. They've always been here, but they're not OF here, if you take my meaning. You'll see those Knights of Order around them during the Greymarch. Drawn to them, like flies to honey. Or rotting flesh. Ever wonder why flies like both? Best not to ask.

It's essential. Simply essential! If only it were essentially simple... but it's not.

Change will preserve us! It is the lifeblood of the Isles. It will move mountains! It will mount movements!

The Isles, the Isles. A wonderful place! Except when it's horrible. Then it's horribly wonderful. Good for a visit. Or for an eternity.

A change is coming. Everything changes. Even Daedric Princes. Especially Daedric Princes.

You'll be stopping the Greymarch. Altering the course of events, breaking the cycle. A fly in the ointment. A new cause for a different effect. We're going to change things. No... things will be different this time around. You'll be my champion. You'll grow powerful. You'll grow to be me. Prince of Madness, a new Sheogorath. Or you'll die trying. I love that about you.

A little busy here! I'm trying to decide what to have for dinner. Oh, how I love eating. One of my favorite things to do. Talk to Haskill if you need more information. He's got more brains than a brain pie. Oh... Brain pie! Perfect!

Wonderful! Time for a celebration... Cheese for everyone! Wait, scratch that. Cheese for no one. That can be just as much of a celebration, if you don't like cheese. True? You've run a maze like a good little rat, but no cheese for you yet. Well, maybe a little. I've granted you a new spell - the ability to summon Haskill, my Chamberlain, to aid you in your travels. He knows a lot. More than he knows.

Yes? Speaking to me? I'm he. He's me. And others, as well. Or, they were. Weren't they?

I've been waiting for you, or someone like you, or someone other than you, for some time. I need a champion, and you've got the job. Time to save the Realm! Rescue the damsel! Slay the beast! Or die trying.

The long-reigning Duke of Mania. A Master of Merriment, if you will. Or if you won't; I suspect it wouldn't matter to him.

Jyggalag topic:

The Daedric Prince of Order. Or biscuits... No. Order. And not in a good way. Bleak. Colorless. Dead. Boring, boring, boring. And not a fan of My work, I can tell you. Hates it. Hates Me. A bit single minded, if you take My meaning. You've seen his Knights. Not the warm and cuddly sort. Not a bit of original thought in their lifeless husks. So, you're going to help Me stop him.

Another Daedric Prince. Not a nice one. I don't think ANY of the other Princes like him, actually. I mean, Malacath is more popular at parties. And Malacath is NOT popular at parties.

He'll be here soon, and I'll be gone. Can't say I like the sound of that. I like the sound of other things, though. Like birds. And bones cracking.

He's on his way, so I'm on my way out. It's terribly inconvenient, don't you think?

Relmyna Verenim topic:

A powerful Sorceress. Maybe a genius. And a complete lunatic. All in all, my kind of person. I brought her to my Realm so she could continue to study her "sixth element." Honestly, I didn't know there were five already. She's a bit obsessed with it. And with Me. Makes dealing with her difficult. You shouldn't have any problems, though. No one likes you that much.

Haskill

There are always choices to be made. The Realm of Madness is no different in that regard. Your choices are your own. No choice is without consequence.

Really, sir, you'll need to start thinking for yourself. It is one of the basic requirements of godhood.

Ah... silly me. The book has no pictures. Can't really expect you to read that, now can I?... You have the Attenuator, the Manual, and a map. I'm certainly not going to carry you there, so I'd suggest you get to it. Place one foot in front of the other... you know how it goes.

The Shivering Isles is the Realm of Lord Sheogorath. It is what He wills it to be. The trees bloom according to His whim, and the wind blows at His command.

While not the source of the Daedric Princes' authority, each Daedric artifact provides that Prince with a measure of power. Lord Sheogorath chose you to sit on His throne. With the Staff, you may be able to do just that.

My Lord seeks a mortal to act as His Champion. As for His intent... to attempt to fathom it is a foolish endeavor. His will is His own; His reality follows suit.

I'd suggest you make haste and get to Xedilian. My Lord Sheogorath does not like those who lollygag. Or maybe He does? Bah! Just get going.

Conviction can drive men mad. They will even kill to uphold the mistaken belief that only they see the world truly.

Here in this Realm where secrets are power, Dyus is a being of great might. He has knowledge of events beyond even that of the Daedric Princes. Fortunately, Dyus has such an intimate knowledge of things to come that he sees no purpose in taking any action, since the outcome is written. Of course, that point is infinitely debatable by those of us who prefer to believe in the value of personal choice. He is kept locked away to prevent curious beings from using his knowledge to subvert the personal choices of other creatures. He is all that remains of Jyggalag's great library.

Dyus

Individuality is an illusion. The details of my existence are no more important than the history of a stone.

This day, as all days before and after, is well known to me. There are no surprises to Dyus of Mytheria.

The great library was the height of logic and deduction. Contained within its walls were the logical prediction of every action ever taken by any creature, mortal or Daedric. Every birth. Every death. The rise of Tiber Septim. The Numidium. Everything. All predicted with the formulae found within Jyggalag's library. When Sheogorath discovered the library he had it burned, insisting that it was an abomination and that personal choice defied logical prediction.

Following each cycle of the Greymarch, Sheogorath has cast out or killed every aspect of Order found in the Shivering Isles. I alone have survived. Sheogorath cannot bring himself to destroy the knowledge that I possess. Instead, he has confined me to this place and forbidden me to die. I have not seen another creature until fate, predictably, sent you to me.

Knifepoint Hollow is my prison. Hewn from the stone by Sheogorath for the sole purpose of containing my knowledge. As the Great Library, it once contained all the knowledge in creation. However, spare me your grief. My imprisonment is as meaningless as my immortality.

Time and place are nothing. Constructs of a feeble mortal mind attempting to categorize and understand the world around it. If you were one of the fortunate few, you would one day understand and accept this. However, you are not and you will not.

Your predecessor cursed me with immortality and placed me in this remote location in order to "protect His Realm from my knowledge." In truth, I was Jyggalag's trusted chamberlain and the keeper of the great library. He could not bring himself to destroy the knowledge that I represent, which is to say, precise predictions of all that is, has been, and will be. And so, here I remain until the day that Sheogorath -- or rather, you -- choose to release me. And we both know when that will be...

How I loathe the idea of personal choice. It makes things so... imprecise.

The Staff of Sheogorath contains a portion of the divine power of the Daedric Prince. It is the embodiment of Sheogorath and of this land. Should you succeed, you will be the first mortal to have a dedicated Daedric artifact in your possession. This will be most interesting, indeed...

Knights of the Nine

The Prophet

The gods grant insight to those they deem worthy. Why and how they act is not predictable.

Times change and even the shape of the divine itself must change with it.

Let the gods be the judge of that. I cannot see into men's hearts. I see only their words and deeds. A humble heart is a good starting point. The gods will decide if you are worthy to seek the Relics. Perhaps, perhaps not. What men value is not always what the gods look for in a champion.

Sir Gregory

In matters of faith, one cannot be bogged down in the affairs of this world. Learn from us. Cast aside your treasures and serve the Nine.

Sir Juncan

The wars of men undermined the service of the Nine. Do not follow in our mistakes.

Sir Ralvas

Our greed for the relics overshadowed our faith in the Nine. I can only hope that you are stronger than we were.

Sir Torolf

Complacency proved to be our greatest enemy. The service of the Nine requires eternal vigilance.

Mankar Camoran

In Dagon Shrine:

The Dragon Throne is empty, and we hold the Amulet of Kings!

Praise be to your Brothers and Sisters! Great shall be their reward in Paradise!

Hear now the words of Lord Dagon.

'When I walk the earth again, the Faithful among you shall receive your reward: to be set above all other Mortals forever.'

'As for the rest: the weak shall be winnowed; the timid shall be cast down; the mighty shall tremble at my feet and pray for pardon.'

Your reward, Brothers and Sisters! The time of Cleansing draws nigh. I go now to Paradise. I shall return with Lord Dagon at the coming of the Dawn!

In Paradise:

So, the cat's-paw of the Septims arrives at last. You didn't think you could take me unawares, here of all places? In the Paradise that I created? Look now upon my Paradise. Gaiar Alata, in the old tongue. A vision of the past... and the future.

Behold the Savage Garden, where my disciples are tempered for a higher destiny: to rule over Tamriel Reborn. If you are truly the hero of destiny, as I hope, the Garden will not hold you for long. Lift your eyes to Carac Agaialor, my seat at the pinnacle of Paradise. I shall await you there.

How little you understand! You cannot stop Lord Dagon. The Principalities have sparkled as gems in the black reaches of Oblivion since the First Morning. Many are their names and the names of their masters: the Coldharbour of Meridia, Peryite's Quagmire, the ten Moonshadows of Mephala, and... and Dawn's Beauty, the Princedom of Lorkhan... misnamed 'Tamriel' by deluded mortals.

Yes, you understand now. Tamriel is just one more Daedric realm of Oblivion, long since lost to its Prince when he was betrayed by those that served him. Lord Dagon cannot invade Tamriel, his birthright! He comes to liberate the Occupied Lands!

Ask yourself! How is it that mighty gods die, yet the Daedra stand incorruptible? How is it that the Daedra forthrightly proclaim themselves to man, while the gods cower behind statues and the faithless words of traitor-priests? It is simple... they are not gods at all. The truth has been in front of you since you first were born: the Daedra are the true gods of this universe. Julianos, Dibella and Stendarr are all Lorkhan's betrayers, posing as divinities in a principality that has lost it's guiding light. What are Scholarship, Love, and Mercy when compared to Fate, Night, and Destruction? The gods you worship are trifling shadows of First Causes. They have tricked you for Ages.

Why do you think your world has always been contested ground, the arena of powers and immortals? It is Tamriel, the realm of Change, brother to Madness, sister to Deceit. Your false gods could not entirely rewrite history. Thus you remember tales of Lorkhan, vilified, a dead trickster, whose heart came to Tamriel. But if a god can die, how does his heart survive? He is daedroth! TAMRIEL AE DAEDROTH! "This Heart is the heart of the world, for one was made to satisfy the other." You all remember this. It is in every legend. Daedra cannot die, so your so-called gods cannot erase him from your minds completely.

Well done, champion! Your progress is swift and sure. Perhaps you will reach me after all. You think I mock you? Not at all. In your coming, I hear the footsteps of Fate. You are the last defender of decadent Tamriel. I am the midwife of the Mythic Dawn, Tamriel Reborn. I welcome you, if you truly are the agent of Fate. I tire of the self-styled heroes who set themselves in my path, only to prove unworthy in the event.

I have waited a long time for you, Champion of Old Tamriel. You are the last gasp of a dying age. You breathe the stale air of false hope. How little you understand! You cannot stop Lord Dagon. The walls between our worlds are crumbling. The Mythic Dawn grows nearer with every rift in the firmament. Soon, very soon, the lines now blurred will be erased. Tamriel and Oblivion rejoined! The Mythic Age reborn! Lord Dagon shall walk Tamriel again. The world shall be remade. The new age shall rise from the ashes of the old. My vision shall be realised. Weakness will be purged from the world, and mortal and immortal alike purified in the refiner's fire. My long duel with the Septims is over, and I have the mastery. The Emperor is dead. The Amulet of Kings is mine. And the last defender of the last ragged Septim stands before me, in the heart of my power. Let us see who at last has proved the stronger!

Ruma Camoran

You did not expect to see me again, did you? You have no grasp of the power that my father has at his command. You think you can stop us? Soon Mehrunes Dagon will walk upon Tamriel for the first time since the Mythic Age, and our victory will be complete.

Why do you delay? Do you fear to face Mankar Camoran himself? As well you should. Come, my father is waiting to welcome you to Carac Agaialor.

Raven Camoran

So here you are at last. The lackey of the Septim pretender. You still think you have a chance, don't you? We knew you would find your way here eventually. But it is of no consequence. You should not keep my father waiting any longer. He expected you hours ago. Come, you came here to see him, did you not?

Mythic Dawn

Mankar Camoran topic:

The Master knows the secret mind of Lord Dagon. He speaks with Him and teaches us from His holy book, the Mysterium Xarxes. You are fortunate indeed, to have heard the Master preach at your initiation!

Mehrunes Dagon topic:

We have been preparing for the coming of Lord Dagon for many years. You come to us at a fateful time. The Master has promised us that the Time of Preparation is almost over! The Time of Cleansing is almost here!

Cleansing topic:

It is very near, don't worry. We await only the Master's word before we throw open the gates to Oblivion. When Lord Dagon Himself walks the earth, our victory will be complete. He will rule over Tamriel and the Mythic Age will be restored.

Mysterium Xarxes topic:

Lord Dagon wrote it with his own hand, and gave it to the Master as a sign of His favor. None but the Master may touch it or read from it. You were fortunate to have heard the Master read from its sacred pages.

Eldamil

I was one of Mankar Camoran's chief lieutenants. I helped plan the Emperor's assassination. I opened the Great Gate at Kvatch. We were the Chosen. We saw more clearly than ordinary mortals. We would destroy the world and remake it. Mankar Camoran was our leader, our teacher, our Master. He had the secret knowledge. He dealt with Mehrunes Dagon as an equal.

I was at the sack of Kvatch. They had no chance. We took them by surprise, and we carried the walls in the first assault. But they fought on anyway. Desperately. They seemed to think this decadent, mundane world of theirs was worth defending.

Mankar Camoran lives in his palace, Carac Agaialor, which overlooks the Savage Garden from the top of the mountain. He never comes here. He stays in Carac Agaialor with Ruma and Raven. But these caves eventually lead to the Terrace of Dawn in front of his palace.

Tar-Meena

Mankar Camoran topic:

The supposed leader of the Mythic Dawn cult. He wrote the infamous "Commentaries on the Mysterium Xarxes." The "Commentaries" are contemporary with Tiber Septim, over 400 years ago. So he is unlikely to still be alive, although you never know.

Mankar Camoran certainly is a fascinating writer. Undoubtedly insane, but fascinating.

Mythic Dawn topic:

One of the most secretive of all the daedric cults. Not much is known about them. They follow the teachings of Mankar Camoran, whom they call the Master. A shadowy figure in his own right. They worship the daedra lord Mehrunes Dagon, according to the teachings of their leader, Mankar Camoran. No one knows how widespread the cult is, or where their shrine to Mehrunes Dagon is located.

A secretive cult devoted to the Daedra Lord Mehrunes Dagon, the Prince of Destruction. They follow the teachings of Mankar Camoran, who calls for the return of the Mythic Age when Oblivion and the mortal world were not separate. The usual daedric claptrap of the purifying power of Destruction. They hope to bring Mehrunes Dagon back to Tamriel and give us all a good Cleansing.

Mysterium Xarxes topic:

The holy book of the Mythic Dawn. Supposedly written by Mehrunes Dagon himself. If it exists, it would be an artifact of great -- and evil -- power.

Irlav Jarol

You know, of course, the Imperial Palace is Ayleid. White Gold Tower, they called it, back in the Middle Merethic, when the Aldmeri ruled Tamriel.

Ontus Vanin

I spent 40 years at the Arcane University. Good years, but I don't miss it. Now I'm completely useless, and proud of it.

Worshippers of Hermaeus Mora

Between the seen and unseen, the seeming and the being, lies the gulf of ignorance.

Blessed are you, who walks his true path. Enlightened are you, who learns of himself.

Herminia Cinna

My own research into the Late Ayleid Period suggests that there was not a single Ayleid ruler, but many. They were a bitterly divided people, with many warlords vying against each other for power. Their ultimate demise was wrought by their own civil strife at least as much as by the rebellion of their human slaves.