THE OLD ANTECEDENT. THE PRECEDING. THE ANCIENT HUNGER. THE KNOWER.
NAME: While it's true name is unknown, Hermaeus Mora (or Hoermius, Hormaius, Herma-Mora, Hyrma Mora) are widely accepted
ALIASES: Demon of Knowledge, One Who Knows, Master of the Tides of Fate, Gardener of Men, Prince of Fate, Lord of Secrets, Keeper of Forbidden Knowledge, The Golden Eye, The Great Eye, Ur-Daedra, Abyssal Cephaliarch, Old Antecedent, Scryer, He Who Records All Knowledge, Inevitable Knower, Lord of Fate and Knowledge, Woodland Man, That Which Speaks in the Wastes, The Keeper of Whispers,
SPECIES: Belief of others and statement itself leaves all to believe it is daedra, but it is only Daedric Prince by terminology. Unlike the other Daedra, it is not an original spirit, for it was created by them; in the form of being the scrapped original design of creation. In non elder scrolls verses, it is an outer god but still the original draft of creation.
AGE: Ur-Daedra, older than Et'ada- born of the tossed out ideas of creation. Hermaeus Moras age is a contradiction- it is older than their birth, for upon creation it slipped essence of self into time before itself. It is both incredibly old, but quite new in comparison to the other original spirits / gods. It is the first Daedric Prince, but that is because it was the first that fit the specifications; for that which was tossed cannot aid in creation. (It's around 5000 in TES verse, and as old as mortal creation in others)
SIZE: Flexible. True size that of a city and still growing with every piece of knowledge consumed.
IDENTITY: Genderless, does not care about how perceived. Others can use masculine or feminine, androgynous or whatever wide variety of ways to refer to the Prince of Knowledge. It will not correct any. Blog default is it/its with others occasionally, but any are acceptable and welcomed!
Panromantic, Pansexual
DOMAINS: Knowledge, Memories, Secrets, Fate, Destiny, The horrors of the Sea.
RESIDENCE: Apocrypha; both the realm it melded, and another aspect of the primordial tools of creation that was meant to be discarded as well and survived via Mora's existence in it.
APPEARANCES
GENERAL: Hermaeus Mora is a creature of the formless and the inconstant- much like knowledge it is constantly shifting and changing. General appearance is that of a shapeless mass of ooze and tentacles, covered with eyes and a large one usually situated at the center. Matter is constantly moving and rarely seems to still, tendrils curling and swaying and eyes blinking and shifting. There are instances where claws can be seen, pinchers similar to that of crustaceans in numerous amounts. There are aspects of Mora that have never been seen by the eye, such as the beings maws and other qualities currently unknown. No mortal has ever seen the true whole of Hermaeus Mora, and it is stated by the Prince that it is 'multiple' in some regards. There is a chance that Moras true form hasn't even been observed by other Daedra or even Princes, at least since its initial creation which they have long since grown beyond.
Beyond this, they are free to shapeshift if the desire arises. Mora sees little use in assuaging mortal eyes with a humanoid or more 'understandable' form, but there have been occasions where that which is more natural upon the world has been taken.
VESSELS: Most often, if Hermaeus Mora presents itself in means beyond its typical manifestations, it is through the use of vessels. It can vessel near any creature; the issue is, its matter is incredibly corruptive. The original host is rendered 'dead' for lack of a better term in as short as thirty minutes- the soul dragged into its clutches and sitting within realm. Beyond that, the more true power of itself that is used, the more the vessel physical changes and mutates. Tendrils, extra eyes, limbs, aquatic aspects, black rotten flesh and dripping ink; all of this is typical of that which has been touched by Hermaeus Mora. Additional factor; most vessels of its, if it is to stay in them for prolonged period, do tend to develop more weight to them.
BACKGROUND
MENTAL: Hermaeus Mora cannot be pinned to mental states similar to mortals, but aspects of it can be compared to ADHD.
PHOBIAS: None.
BIRTHPLACE: The pieces of it tossed into the Infinite Abyss and Indeterminate Sea, intended to be nothing but the byproduct of design. There, it grew and developed like a discarded embryo.
PARENTS: Hermaeus Mora is the concepts never meant to gain sentience. A planning book torn apart. Magnus was its main architect, Akatosh the last whoms claws were inside the mold before it was decidedly unfit.
SIBLINGS: Ithelia and Mephala
CHILDREN: The denizens of Apocrypha are often claimed to be Daedra. However, most are creations of Moras own. The Seekers, Lurkers, and Hushed are mortals changed by Mora, but cannot be considered true children of its. Watchers and Watchlings, however, are 'born' from the shed eyes of the Prince of Knowledge. Individual, but exhibit often one main personality trait of their progenitor. There are true Daedra in Apocrypha, but most merely mock the form of its true creations.
LANGUAGES: Hermaeus Mora knows every language in existence, including those that have long since been lost or those that have yet to be made in current timelines. It does, however, have one language native to it. That which is not Daedric; seen on its books and various other areas of Apocrypha. It may merely be deemed 'creation text'; the only other instances of its existence are in items connected to Magnus.
BIRTHDAY: The day of creation for Hermaeus Mora rests in the unknown and due to 'being before their own birth', one cannot be assigned. We will associate summoning date, 5th of the First Seed, instead. (March 5th)
PERSONAL FILES AND SCRIPTS
MORAL ALIGNMENT: Born true neutral, but over time its dissatisfactions, boredom, and hunger surmounted in such a way that it can only be compared to Neutral Evil now.
FAVORITE COLOR: Mora can perceive colors well outside the visible color range for any known creature. However, it can be assumed due to Apocrypha and other essences of its creation that the color green is a preference of Moras, as well as black. Or that all the colors chosen by the Prince are visible only in the green or black spectrum for mortals.
DIET: It consumes memory and knowledge as its source of substance. While can technically consume other matter, there is little need or desire to. Though sometimes Hermaeus Mora will indulge in the consumption of unnecessary fates too.
ASSOCIATED ANIMALS: Octopi, Squids, Cuttlefish, Cephalopods in general, Crustaceans, Crabs- the sea and many of its more 'grotesque' creatures are often the ones most keenly associated with Hermaeus Mora.
ASSOCIATED ARTIFACTS: The Black Books, Oghma Infinium, Firstblade, Mora's Whispers, Glyphics, Discourse Amaranthine, A Treatise on Necromantic Emanations, The Diadem of Stolen Memories, various other items of forbidden knowledge or crafts by the Princes hand
LIKES: Knowledge, Information it does not have, Worship, Creating, Feasting, Obtaining and Hoarding,
DISLIKES: Rejection, Ignorance, Knowledge it does not have, Rejection, Denial, Stupidity, Rejection
THE HISTORY OF KNOWLEDGE
Rarely are things perfect upon the first draft. Creation was no different-- - the first blueprint of Magnus, it had proceeded far enough that the Dragon of Time had been called upon to provide the initial steps of test. Alas, the design was imperfect; the workbook tossed, save for pages torn from it that held the glimpses of hope to provide more to a new craft.Within Infinite Abyss and Indeterminate Sea did the discarded sink; it cradled the riddled carcass of creation, and the Indefinite Limits welcomed. For in time the creators would seek its disposal, when the absolute would be put in place and there was no purpose for the 'what could have been' and 'what never would be'. The book unreadable.The architects plucked from the expanse, unaware of what swam within until the ink had long since dried-- - unremovable. With it had the Creation that Wasn't burrowed within the Creation that Was, its removal to create festering wounds grander than merely leaving it within. The Awoken had barely blinked, and before it stretched the Infinite.The Creation that Wasn't sought not but to feed the ache within it; to know, to understand was what it place it as. And it fed; happily, contently was there so much to be claimed. The barren Infinite Abyss and Indeterminate Sea made itself a repository, welcomed once more for the Creation that Wasn't to its expanses; it shall be its home, and in turn the Indefinite Limits shall not be lost to the Limits Set.It sought to understand. 'What am I', a riddle. 'Prince to Nothing, for you have no place to put', an answers. Creation that Wasn't once more blinked-- - for it had seen the outcome of those that built. Creation was a hungry beast, for this was shared; those that gave were consumed, either in full or in part. It sought not to be consumed but to do so. Youngest of what was, the first of the Princes of Nothing.Creation that Was settled into place, Daedra and Aedra given name and purpose; and Daedric Prince it shall be. It slotted not true within sections, not Original Spirit amongst the masses-- - but a spot must be determined, and so it was. It collected, its purpose unguided. From the Indefinite Limits did Knowledge that Was, Would Be, Would Never Be, The Apocryphal drip from; this was its inheritance. Before its eyes did Fate unravel itself, the Tapestry a favored piece of its to gaze upon; this was its journal. To it did the Waters of Memory seep into its unstable, oozing flesh; this was its vice. But it could mere view; for it was the disconnected. It could hoard and take and spin the tongue to watch the pieces move to their places, but it could not truly touch the Was. That door was unopenable. It did not matter, it consumed. There was so much to taste.But to watch the Was grew thin-- - there was only so much to gather from what was readily presented. From watching seasons change, the growth of reality, to observing the actions of Mortal proceedings. There is only so much to be gained from the natural flow. To see something work was only one section of Knowledge; to break it apart to discover how it did was a new possibility. Why should it not break its toys? It knew not such a lesson, thought the echoes of it a burden and a restraint. They were ever so small, ever so menial and temporary. They were not its, so why should it care?The One that Wasn't, The Old Antecedent, The Great Eye, The Abyssal Cephaliarch-- - it grew, and so too did it change. It grew and changed and changed and changed-- - but the banquet grew thin, for the Was did not change. It was the set design; new things may evolve, may become, but they were predetermined. Everything was predetermined; sometimes, sometimes there was the glimpse of that which was not set. Mortals were often the hosts of these fragments of the 'What Wasn't', and from it too could it gain something... new. Frustratingly New, for it could not own all to feed its becoming Want. Temptingly New, for it fed that Ancient Hunger. And it hungered, oh so endlessly. Where once it fed constantly, now it mere plucked upon scraps. 'Once I have it all, I shall be full.' So why does the hunger only grow, not abate the closer?'Why do I hunger?'
THIS QUESTION IS UNANSWERABLE
1: I'm Jackalope! Though, honestly you can call me any nickname or version of that. I'm a full time worker, and I do tend to play video games a lot on my free time. So please don't be surprised by slow replies and while I try not to do it without warning, it does occur that disappearance and random semi-hiatus may happen. Please bear with me. Patience is a requirement. However, if you do wish to contact me the IM and Askbox are always open! Discord is available for those mutuals that ask.2: Warning for BODY HORROR, EYE HORROR, GORE, VIOLENCE, ABUSE, and MORE on this blog.
Now content that will NEVER EVER APPEAR on this blog or any of my blogs are; SEXUAL ABUSE, RAPE, PEDOPHILIA, ZOOPHILIA, RACISM, TRANSPHOBIA, HOMOPHOBIA, SEXISM, or GENERAL BIGOTRY or BEING AN ASS
I will roleplay smut, but under no circumstance underage smut. I also prefer writing it with people I am comfortable with, and generally off of tumblr. Any smut will be under the read more tags.
I HAVE NO TRIGGERS TO TAG3: I do not involve myself with drama. I am here to write, not to get into fights. Do not try to drag me into any.4: If you unfollow me, soft block me. I have bad ADHD, so I may end up refollowing you; if I do not get a follow, I usually unfollow within a week and make a note of it.5: I do whatever I want with Mora. I have developed it over the years, and have taken the lore presented for it in my own angle. If it is not your preference, you can unfollow me.6: I post quite a bit of ooc, headcanons, and generally can be a bit silly quite often. RP is my escape from IRL stuff and I'm to old to be caring about treating this like a job. I like joking around with mutuals. If you want someone who only is ic all the time, this blog is not for you.7: Please reblog prompts from source, unless you are going to send one in. I tend to reblog prompts from old or inactive blogs of mine. Feel free to reblog from them; it's just disappointing to get notifications that are just someone using you as a source.8: Please feel free to dm / im at me at any time! I won't ever get annoyed, and actually really enjoy it. I'm a nervous person and do tend to think over my words a lot- so if I'm wordy I apologize. I also, like I said, am not quick at responding.9: Just in general please be kind, have patience, and communicate with me is all I can ask. Thank you!
LAWS
THE TIDES OF FATE
ELDER SCROLL BASED VERSES
MAIN VERSE: This verse follows the canon of TES, in which Hermaeus Mora is the Daedric Prince of Knowledge. Most interactions take place around Skyrim or later, but interactions with earlier instances in other games or outside of what is directly seen can be done upon request!VESSELED VERSE: This verse sees Mora ""punished"" for various crimes and or worries of its power and overstepping by the other Princes (more often than not, an excuse to make it easier to erase). The intent was to make it a "silent anchor", disconnected from its realm but keeping it alive more akin to an organ than an individual-- - even forcing it to erase the memories of itself as an individual from reality. Mora, foreseeing this event, took to putting a chunk of itself within an Orc vessel and fleeing onto Nirn. In most instances, it seeks the aid of others to return to former power.VERUM LEVIATHAN: Seeing potential within its Champion after he proves capable and willing, while also finding loyalty that gives it reason to loosen restriction upon Miraak. Through this freedom and joint cooperation, Moras influence spreads more greatly upon Nirn in various cults orchestrated by the First Dragonborn. It is a more active presence upon the plane, and more interested in increasing this fact. ft. @bendwillDIVINE / AEDRA AU: In which instead of Mora being pigeonholed into being Daedra simply due to the fact it could not aid in creation due to it being born from what was denied from it, it was allotted the opportunity to take place besides the Aedra and perhaps even the Divines. It is not limited like most Aedra, for it is likely it was still not allowed to aid in creation due to its "birth". However, it enacts as something of a messenger and also a protector of forbidden knowledge so it does not end up within wrong hands. Though it will still toy with mortals that try too hard to get that, to either teach them or see undone a potential danger.
OTHER VERSES
THE OLD ONE (BG3 / DND): Hermaeus Mora is an ancient God of Knowledge with very little known about its origins or nature other than it being a capricious entity of whom should be dealt with with heightened caution. It has many a warlock under its tentacles, and welcomes more who wish to devote themselves to it and prove useful. It also finds fondness in getting in the affairs of other Gods it considers "lesser".OUTER GOD OF KNOWLEDGE (AKA MAIN NON-TES / NON-BG3 VERSE): Mora is a general Eldritch God and potentially an embodiment of Knowledge, interacting with different species, planets, and the general widescale universe. Much like other verses, it is the original draft of creation and left not but a sentient version of all the ideas that were tossed away. That being said, it is very ancient and primordial. This can be any timeline of reality, and in general is the main verse for any non tes / bg3 muses.MODERN: A forgotten God whose worship is near dead or completely absent, Mora has to be more direct about gaining knowledge than it was prior. It does have vast connection to the internet and technology, as they are modern vessels of knowledge, but it also manifests upon reality; sometimes in the forms of animals, or people, or horrific abominations. It may also be trying to garner back its worship.THE SHIFTING TIDE: This verse is one that can truly be in connection to any of the verses above, or separate of them. Hermaeus Mora discovers it is not merely a collection of tossed out ideas of creation, but was the original draft; and that it was pulled apart before birth to remove from it that which would be of use in the final design. Feeling it is rightfully owed what was stolen from it, and to be given recompense for the endless inability for lasting satisfaction and endless hunger that is its existence, it is attempting to gain back or gain control over creation for it 'only exists because of it'. This potential verse sees Mora at its most malleable, potentially able to be "guided" to a better or worse version of itself, but changed none the less.