The gods ofThe Elder Scrollscarry a lot of mystery and intrigue in various ways. With them, it is often the case that their histories and identities are not what they initially seem. This is the case with the god of mankind, Lorkhan, as he may be hiding something from the players that few may know about.
The Elder Scrolls' Lorkhan has long been dead, after being killed by his fellow gods for his apparent betrayal. But despite his death, there have been quite a few unsolved mysteries surrounding it. Though he is said to have died at their hands, he seemingly continues to live on in peculiar ways.
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Signs of Lorkhan’s Continued Existence
Many believe that Lorkhan was killed by Trinimac and Auriel, the latter of whom would shoot his heart away via a bow and arrow far off into the sea. This would come as a result of Lorkhan convincing other gods to help create Nirn, while not telling them it would take large portions of their power to do so. For this, he would be killed, and his heart cast into the sea. Today, there is even a popular theory that one ofThe Elder Scrolls' moonsis actually his corpse. For those reasons, it’s hard to believe that Lorkhan could be alive. Despite that, there is much evidence to suggest that he continues to live on.
One piece of evidence is his heart, the one Auriel cast into the sea. The Dwemer would find this heart and utilize it for its power. After the Dwemer’s infamous disappearance, it would fall into the hands of the Tribunal and laterThe Elder Scrolls' Dagoth Ur. The main story ofThe Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowindfinds the player getting rid of the heart so that Dagoth Ur can finally be at rest. However, many players assume that the heart was destroyed, but it in fact was not. According to Vivec’s “Plan to Defeat Dagoth Ur,” he says that the player would “destroy Kagrenac’s enchantments on the Heart,” not Lorkhan’s heart itself. The heart simply does not exist in a corporeal form anymore, but it continues to pump divine power.
Another big indicator that Lorkhan still exists is that some of his aspects seemingly continue to live on after his supposed death. For example,Skyrim’s Nords know Lorkhan as Shor, and have recorded his continued existence long after Lorkhan’s death, and Shor was said to be present in the Battle of Red Mountain. While this could be a somewhat inaccurate version of history, it does strike an interesting question of who exactly this figure may have been. But if Shor was really an aspect of Lorkan, then that would mean there is still some part of Lorkhan that continues to linger out there.
What this all likely points to is that Lorkhan’s death wasn’t exactly an end to his existence, but rather a change to it. For example, inThe Elder Scrollscommunity, there exists a concept known as a “shezzarine.” Shezzarines are essentially thought to be mortal incarnations of Lorkhan that act with greater but limited power due to being separated from the divine spark that is his heart.The Elder Scrolls' infamous Pelinal Whitestrakewas thought to be one, and it might stand to reason the Shor that was present during the Battle of Red Mountain was another. In that sense, Lorkhan’s spirit lives on, doomed to reincarnate a number of times before eventually reuniting with his heart.
For those reasons, it can be said that Lorkhan still continues to live on, in a fashion. He may not hold the power he once had, but his shezzarines have continued to change the trajectory ofThe Elder Scrolls’history. Whether he will ever reunite with his heart will remain one ofThe Elder Scrolls' greatest mysteries.
