In Morrowind, the Tribunal Temple once reigned supreme. Consisting of Vivec, Almalexia, and Sotha Sil, the triumvirates ruled with an even hand for thousands of years. Their influence, however, came to an end with the fulfillment of the Nerevarine prophecy. Vivec, who played a role in his own demise, cuts a pretty interesting figure in The Elder Scrolls lore.
Vivec plays a significant part in the main quest of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Examples of his just and benevolent leadership can be found all throughout the landscape. With a game as old as Morrowind, players may think they already know everything there is to know about Vivec. These are some of the more lesser-known facts concerning this enigmatic figure.
10 The Anticipation Of Mephala
Since they weren’t originally gods the Tribunal worked hard to convince people of their divine status. Part of their teaching involved the idea of the “Anticipations.” Each triumvirate was represented by a so-called “Good Daedra.” These Daedric Princes supposedly granted the Tribunal their permission to rule over the Dunmer people.
In Vivec’s case, his Anticipation is represented by Mephala, the Webspinner. It serves to illustrate Vivec’s dual nature. On the one hand, he is compassionate as well as generous. Conversely, he can be coldly pragmatic and even deceitful when the situation demands it. All of it is done in order to further the best interests of the Dark Elves.
9 He Broke His Oath To Nerevar
Before his transformation into a god, Vivec was a trusted companion and servant to Indoril Nerevar. When Nerevar and the Chimer went to war with the Dwemer it was discovered that the Heart of Lorkhan lay beneath Red Mountain. Nerevar, fearful of the Heart’s power, forbade his three companions from ever touching it.
Vivec, along with Almalexia and Sotha Sil, went back on their word after Nerevar’s death. Tantalized by the potential of the Heart’s power the trio unlocked the secrets to divinity. They would continue to utilize the Heart of Lorkhan for generations to maintain their new, almighty status.
8 He May Have Murdered Nerevar
The details concerning Indoril Nerevar’s death are sketchy. Dialogue exchanged with Vivec himself in The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind fails to shed much light on the subject. The only fact the people of Tamriel agree on is that Nerevar did die at some point shortly after the war with the Dwemer.
It’s interesting to note that Vivec did actually possess a motive to see Nerevar dead. The latter had forbade him from tapping into the Heart of Lorkhan’s power. It could be that Vivec regarded Nerevar as an obstacle to his goal of achieving godhood. It’s a mystery that likely will never be solved (unless The Elder Scrolls VI takes a crack at it).
7 His Appearance Is Deliberate
When the Daedric Prince Azura discovered the Tribunal’s treachery, she cursed them. The Chimer people’s distinctive golden skin was replaced with ashen gray and their eyes were turned red. Thus, the Chimer were transformed into the Dunmer. Collectively, they would pay the price for their leaders’ betrayal.
Vivec decided to embrace the new change. As such, his appearance consists of both gold and gray colors across his body. His people’s past as well as their present is depicted in his physical form in a show of solidarity and illustrates their shared experiences.
6 Possesses Many Teachings
As gods, the Tribunal continued to work on their own personal projects they deemed important. For Vivec, poetry and philosophy formed the core of his teachings. A book titled “The 36 Lessons of Vivec” is one such example and can be found in The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind.
A few other in-game books authored by Vivec also include personal histories. In “The Battle of Red Mountain” Vivec admits to using Kagrenac’s Tools on the Heart of Lorkhan to transform himself into a god. Interestingly, he’s silent on the details surrounding Nerevar’s death.
5 Can Be Killed & Soul Trapped
Taking on a full-fledged god in combat isn’t an easy proposition. But, for players that are prepared (and feeling lucky), it’s actually possible to kill Vivec inside his palace. It won’t be easy considering he possesses some fairly devastating attacks that can end the fight quickly. Nevertheless, the task can be achieved with enough perseverance.
In addition, if the player also has Azura’s Star in their inventory, Vivec’s soul can be trapped. He possesses one of the largest souls in the game and can potentially serve as an enchanter’s dream. Vivec also drops Wraithguard after he is defeated, which is needed to complete the main quest.
4 An Ally Of Tiber Septim
The gods of the Tribunal, although immensely powerful, were never invulnerable or wholly omnipotent. They weren’t always able to do whatever they pleased in order to accomplish a goal. Diplomacy was often a necessary strategy whenever Morrowind dealt with the rest of the continent.
Vivec was one of the first to recognize the might of Tiber Septim. The two reached an agreement whereby, in exchange for some partial autonomy, Morrowind would officially join the Third Empire. It was due to this arrangement that Barenziah became Queen of Morrowind and titular ruler of the province.
3 Baar Dau Kept At Bay
In The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and The Elder Scrolls Online players who look up at the sky may see a floating meteor by the name of Baar Dau. How the giant rock got there is a matter of debate, with some attributing it to Sheogorath.
It was only through Vivec’s intervention that the meteor was initially stopped. Using his divine power Vivec was able to suspend the rock above Vvardenfell. However, when Vivec was stripped of his godly status at the end of Morrowind, the meteor resumed its descent. It eventually crashed and resulted in the eruption of Red Mountain, forcing thousands of Dark Elves to flee to other lands. The results of this migration are depicted in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
2 His Ultimate Fate Is Obscure
Out of the three Tribunal members, Vivec’s is the only one that is left somewhat undetermined. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim failed to shed any light on Vivec’s fate after the defeat of the Sixth House. Players do, of course, have the option of killing him in the third title. That particular ending remains unconfirmed as canon.
Most likely, the developers left Vivec’s fate open-ended on purpose. Players naturally possess a ton of freedom in Elder Scrolls games. The choice of whether or not Vivec died is left up to the player. If spared, it’s also left to the player’s interpretation of what happened to him after the end of the main quest.
1 He Knew The End Was Near
When Dagoth Ur returned to Morrowind the triumvirates’ access to the Heart of Lorkhan was severed. Unable to replenish their godly powers, their influence and effectiveness gradually waned. Only the reincarnated Nerevarine stood a chance of defeating the forces of the Sixth House.
Vivec aids the Nerevarine throughout his quest, despite knowing that the fulfillment of the prophecy will spell the end of his divine rule. The Nerevarine is, after all, supposed to punish his former friends for disobeying him centuries ago. Vivec is the only one to accept his fate with pragmatism and grace.
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