I do not own the Elder Scrolls series.
AN: This fic is inspired by the in-game books that serve as background and lore of the universe. I write about the Bretons in particular, because they're my favorite race and desperately need to be fleshed out more in universe. All of this will probably be non-cannon as soon as ES 6 comes out, but canon is a loaded term in Elder Scrolls anyway, so who cares?
Sovereign of Sovereigns, King of Earth and Skies,
Lord of Shining Hosts,
Protector of Men, Mer, and Beasts,
Guarantor of Order and Civilization,
Cynosure of Celestial Glory,
The Most High Oriel Akatosh
The Ten Invocations and the Seven Great Sins
To ORIEL AKATOSH, the Dragon-King of Time. Whose very heartbeat time follows.
Whose very weft and movements shape the energies around us.
We should give alms, for He gave us His blood,
In times of aid, should the need arise,
The blood will boil, and heroes will follow.
To KYNAREE, the Grand Marshall. The unimaginable Lady of Eternal Space
You who gave All breath, the Breath of Life
She who Breathes through the Wind and the Sky,
She who raisers her spear in Our Name and who Fury is the Storm
Give us Breath, Make us Move, Give us Life
To DIBELLE, She who is the Pure Maiden, the Enchantress of Life
She who is the Daughter of Nature and Beauty
Help us understand the meaning behind the beauty of nature
Your Voice, a song that gives light and inspires the minds and hearts of Men.
Our Voice, that answers your song, singing glory and beauty.
To ARCHEI, Ritualist of Life and Death, Lord of Our Fate
Ye who has one Foot in the Past, the other in the Future
Make us learn the beauty of all Walks of Life
Each step, a progression towards Death
Yet together, we march in Life
To JULIUS, the Venerable Scholar, Keeper of Our Names and Deeds
He who pens the acts of men, both mighty and meek
We give thanks to you who keeps our memory alive
To be forgotten is to be truly dead
For what is remembered is never truly gone
To MARIE, the Blind High Queen of Sight, the Lifeweaver, the Mother of All
We should all give thanks, for She shattered Her eyes, and gave it to us
to let us see the difference between good and evil
Although unclear, and a dusty lens at best
Her eyes see the truest form of Benevolence and Malevolence
To SENNE, the Steward and Pillar of the World, and He Who Made Order
Bless us with wealth, and guide our Hands
Guide our hands to perform miracles and wonders
Hold your pillar firm, give order to the world
And we shall praise you back with glory.
To ESTENNE, the Lord Justice and He Who Speaks his Tongue
Command us, lead us to a glorious Utopia,
Where Knights are Noble, and humble, and Strong
Your mouth that speaks the laws of the land
May we speak with the same Forbearance in mind
To FINASTRE, the Devoted Magi, the Seeker of Hidden Truth
Teach us, uplift us, show use the hidden messages of the sonnet
Share with us your knowledge and wisdom
That we may feel the grace of Heaven
And work your wonders upon the mundane realm
To JEFFRE, the God of Song and Forest, the Troubadour
Sing to us the Hidden Ballad
That swims through the rivers and leaves
The Earth's Bones, shaped to perfection and beauty
Our bones, shaped to glory and determination
EDIRP fo niS ehT dna tnepreS luoF, AIHTEOB oT
ssarg eht ni tnepreS eht era uoY
.doolB .snoitcA .sdroW
rehtO eht stegeB enO hcaE
noitaprusU fo elcyC sseldnE ehT
THOLS fo niS ehT dna rehtoM dnuceF eht, ARIMAN oT
eniw ruoy si esaesiD gnitsaW
team ruoy si hselF gnittoR
ebaB ruoy si yaceD
koalc ruoy si ssenkraD eht dna
TSUL of niS eht dna rennipsbeW eht. ALAHPEM oT
htaeD fo sdnaH kcalB htiw etaF fo sgnirtS eht skculp ohw ehS
htriB fo sdnaH kcalB hitw efiL fo sgnirtS eht sevaew ohw ehS
doolB eht sliob edalB sti nda nopaeW ruoY si eriseD
regnuH ruoy si yrehcaerT nda romuH si terceS
YVNE of niS eht dna reloipseD eht, LAAB LAGROM oT
llaC ruoy tsiser eW dna sniahC ruoy eW
nosioP si hcuoT ruor si dna epaR si evoL ruoY
ees ton yam uoy os thgiL eht morf ediH uoY
sevalS era stcejbuS ruoy dna niuR si modgniK ruoY
DEERG fo niS eht dna sehsiW suoidisnI fo retsaM eht ,ELIB SUCIVALC oT
eniM dnomaiD eht fo doG
dnaH nedloG eht fo doG
dnaH rebboR lufhtiaf yht no dnal secnalG gnilkrapS yht teL
deerG dna tsuL fo toiR a tnarG
nesseL ssensuoicsnoC fo secioV eht dnA
YNOTTULG fo niS dna erusaelP edaM doolB eht ,ENIUGNAS oT
doolB ekiL swolF eniW ohW sreleveR daM eht oT
deifsitaS eB reveN naC sregnuH ruoY
doolB teewS fo ediT A rednU nworD uoY
deedni lufitnelp era yeht dna ,eniW dna doolB
HTARW fo niS dna tsaeB eht ,HTACALAM oT
uoY tsniagA sdnatS dlroW ehT
eiD llahS uoY enolA dna dnatS uoY enolA
tpmetnoc si dleihs ruoy dna etah si drows ruoY
tsaeB eht fo egaR eht si sniamer taht llA ,ytiliboN si enoG
These are the Seven Great Sins written forward.
To BOETHIAH, the Foul Serpent and the Sin of PRIDE
You are the Serpent in the grass
Words. Actions. Blood
Each One Begets the Other
The Endless Cycle of Usurpation
To NAMIRA, the Fecund Mother and the Sin of SLOTH
Wasting Disease is your wine
Rotting flesh is your meat
Decay is your Babe
And the darkness is your cloak
To MEPHALA, the Webspinner and the Sin of LUST
She who plucks the Strings of Fate with Black Hands of Death
She who weaves the Strings of Life with Black Hands of Birth
Desire is Your Weapon and its Blade boils the Blood
Secret is your Humor and Treachery is your Hunger
To MORGAL BAAL, the Despoiler and the Sin of ENVY
We resist your Chains and We resist your Call
Your Love is Rape and Your Touch is Poison
You Hide from the Light so you may not see
Your Kingdom is Ruin and Your Subjects are Slaves
To CLAVICUS BILE, the Master of Insidious Wishes and the Sin of GREED
God of the Diamond Mine
God of the Golden Hand
Let thy Sparkling Glances land on thy faithful Robber Hand
Grant a Riot of Lust and Greed
And the Voices of Consciousness Lessen
To SANGUINE, the Blood Made Pleasure and Sin of GLUTTONY
To the Mad Revelers Who Wine Flows Like Blood
You Feast Upon Your own Fattened Flesh
Your Hungers Can Never Be Satisfied
You Drown Under A Tide of Sweet Blood
Blood and Wine, and they are plentiful indeed
To MALACATH, the Beast and Sin of WRATH
The World Stands Against You
Alone You Stand and Alone You Shall Die
Your sword is hate and your shield is contempt
Gone is Nobility, All that remains is the Rage of the Beast