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Sotha Sil

Author: 
Xan

Appeared in: TES3: Morrowind Exp: Tribunal.

Sotha Sil the Magus is one of the three Immortal God-Kings of Morrowind. He is reclusive but genius without a doubt. It is said that he was reshaping the world from his hidden, Clockwork city. Azura is the Anticipation of Sotha Sil, but female to his male.

The background information about Sotha Sil before the War of the Red Mountain was vague and shrouded in myth and legend, as told by the "36 Sermons of Vivec." He was recorded during the War of the First Council as the member of the Tribunal and the teacher of Nerevar and Vivec.

After the War of the First Council and the death of Nerevar, Almalexia along with Sotha Sil and Vivec climbed the Red Mountain and entered the Heart Chamber. Previously Sotha Sil had studied the Kagrenac's Tools, and gained knowledge how to use the tools to produce certain tone in order to tap the divine power of Lorkhan's Heart. Without resistance, the three used the tools and established the link to the heart. The three gained the immortality and the power of the god.

There are two conflicting accounts on this event. The first is the book titled "Nerevar at Red Mountain" that was written from the oral tradition of the Ashlanders, which in turn was following the story of Alandro Sul, a shield-companion of Nerevar. The book stated that when Nerevar brought the news that he possessed the Kagrenac's Tools to the Tribunal, the Tribunal saw the great potential for the tools would give them divine powers and immortality. Nerevar was against this idea; therefore they had to murder Nerevar. When Daedric Prince Azura came confronting them, the Tribunal just laughed at Azura. Then Azura cursed the Tribunal and the Chimer race, and warned them that Nerevar would come back and punish them. Then the Tribunal used the tools to make themselves gods.

The second book, titled "The Battle of Red Mountain, and the Rise and Fall of the Tribunal" contains the official statement from the Tribunal about Nerevar and their ascension to godhood. Nerevar forced the Tribunal to make oath on Daedric Prince Azura that they would never use the Kagrenac's Tools. Then Nerevar died. The Tribunal broke the oath and used the tools to make themselves gods. Azura came and confronted the Tribunal. The Tribunal answered Azura that the Chimer no longer needed the old gods as the Chimer had the Tribunal as the new wise and caring gods. Azura cursed them and the Chimer race, and warned them that Nerevar would come back and punish them.

Regardless of the conflicting sources, the Chimer race was turned to the Dunmer with ash colored skin and red eyes. Also, the warning of Azura became the Prophecy of Nerevarine and popular among the Ashlanders. The Tribunal ruled as the immortal god-king of the Morrowind.

Long after the war, during the end of First Era, Sotha Sil stayed in the Isle of Artaeum and as a Teacher to junior members of the Psijic Order. Then the Daedric Prince Molag Bal destroyed the village of Gilverdale. Molag Bal was summoned to destroy the village by a mad and erratic king. Learning this potential danger as Morrowind was still in war with Cyrodiil, Sotha Sil went to Oblivion via the Dreaming Cavern. He made a pact with eight prominent Daedric Princes (Azura, Boethiah, Hermaeus Mora, Hircine, Malacath, Mehrunes Dagon, Molag Bal and Sheogorath). The exact terms of the pact are unknown, but the Daedric Princes agreed to not answer any summon by any amateurs, during the war between Morrowind and Cyrodiil. Only the Psijics could counsel with the Daedra, along with a few nomadic sorcerers and witches.

However Sotha Sil's pact failed to prevent the destruction of Mournhold. A Breton Witch summoned and dealt with Mehrunes Dagon for the destruction of Mournhold and its Duke. Sotha Sil and Almalexia ware too late to prevent the destruction, although they managed to send back the Prince of Destruction back to Oblivion.

Late in the Second Era, Dagoth Ur and his brothers emerged to Heart Chamber and ambushed Almalexia and Sotha Sil, following the event, the access to Heart of Lorkhan was blocked for the Tribunal.

The threat from Dagoth Ur's minions increased. The Tribunal established a chain of magical barrier surrounding the Red mountain, called the Ghostfence. And another misfortune struck the Tribunal, Keening and Sunder were captured by Dagoth Odros and Dagoth Vemyn. The Tribunal continued to grow weaker without access to the Heart and the resources required maintaining the Ghostfence.

Then late in the Third Era, the Emperor Uriel Septim VII sent his agent to Morrowind to investigate the prophecy about the Nerevarine and the emerging Sixth House. The agent eventually became the Nerevarine and killed Dagoth Ur. In order to kill Dagoth Ur, the Nerevarine had to release the Heart of Lorkhan, by doing so the divine power of Dagoth Ur was removed. Unfortunately the links of the Tribunal to the heart were also severed; this made them mortal once more.

During these times, Sotha Sil grew weary of mortal imperfections, and retired to his Clockwork City, where he reshaped life, and some say the very world, into an image he finds pleasing.

Sotha Sil was killed by the hands of his own long friend and fellow tribune, Almalexia. In her madness, after losing her godhood, transported herself to the Clockwork City by using Barilzar's Mazed Band. She killed Sotha Sil. One of the greatest mages of Tamriel died in silence.