Dwemer Energy Study

To my esteemed colleagues of the Imperial Library,

I am a humble battlemage known as Harold Trontskii. For some time, I have been running a small excavation at a Dwemer ruin. What has intrigued me was not the Dwemer as a whole people, or the Dwemer language, or even the mystery of their disappearance. No, my fascination has been with their energy.

Following a great deal of study, I have put together a report on how I believe such energy is created.

There are several types of Dwemer energy. The first I will speak about is that which is found in their stationary machines. The gears run fast, and spurt steam. Considering what I have seen in ruins, pipes running close to streams of lava, I am led to believe the pipes carry water. The water is heated in boilers, and there transforms into steam. That steam is then navigated through pipes, to the machines. I investigated one broken pipe, and discovered the force of the flowing steam was tremendous. The steam most likely pushes some form of machine inside the main machine, which pushes other parts. This transforms the steam's power into an actual force. The resulting steam energy then turns larger gears somewhere else. Perhaps this is why air is not so foul in the depths of some ruins. And perhaps the same motion might somehow be related to the lights...but the production of light from moving gears is far beyond what I can comprehend!

Next is the energy that powers the movement of Dwemer golems. Steam can be seen venting from some larger machines, but I believe that the lack of steam in smaller machines is merely due to tighter construction. I believe each is powered in a similar fashion.

A boiler is built inside of the golem. A substance of some form that burns at high temperatures for long periods of time heats water. Since some broken pipes can be lit alight, this indicates some type of combustible is carried throughout Dwemer ruins. The steam is then moved throughout the body, giving the metal energy that will allow it to move.

However, the golems cannot move without some form of life. I have come to theorize that the Dwemer actually used a form of what I can only term "unlife" in their machines. Much like the energy used by necromancers, it gives to cold metal an awareness and intelligence. Also like necromancers, the creation is usually subservient to the master. The golems were likely ordered to defend their respective locations, and as such continue to do so, depsite the disapperance of their masters. They occassionally refuel themselves at some of the machines with the burning substance rarely and water often.

I recently noted some golems outside of Dwemer ruins that were complacent. This brings me to another point of this "unlife." It can be manipulated. Once instilled, it remains, and if the golem itself is rebuilt the "unlife" will continue to exist. And every time the golem is rebuilt, it fixes to its new builders as its masters. This is also supported by an account from a fellow excavator at the ruin Nchuleftingth. A report that was filtered down to me indicates that a small-variety golem fought viciously when removed from its location without being damaged. Since it was not reset by being damaged, it attempted to return to the last location. Had it been damaged and then rebuilt, it would not have attempted to escape.

Also interesting about that situation is the fact that it shut down when too far from its base. Perhaps it was conserving its energy, or maybe the source of its unlife is located somewhere on the island, and the golem has only a limited field inside of that energy in which it can function.

Also, I believe I should mention Dwemer enchantments. The Dwemer, having little regard for the Daedra according to most accounts, may have manipulated their energies without hesitation to create their enchantments. Fearing no profanity, they would go to any lengths to obtain an enchantment. As such, they would delve deeper into the secrets of enchanting, and become masters of it. This very mastery, however, may have come at the price of their race, if they offended the et'Ada in their search for perfecting their enchantments.

This concludes my dissertation. I hope that you find it satisfactory.

-- Harold Trontskii (TSBasilisk)
Chief excavator of an undisclosed Dwemer ruin