Lore:Spellbreaker
Spellbreaker (also spelled Spell Breaker) is an ancient artifact stated to have been created on behalf of King Rourken.[1] Some believe it to be forged by a Daedric Prince themself,[2] but regardless of its veracity, it has become claimed by Peryite specifically.[3] Superficially a Dwarven tower shield, it is one of the most ancient relics in Tamriel. The shield not only protects its wielder from physical damage, but also from magical attacks, by reflecting magicks, dispelling curses, or silencing any mage about to cast a spell. It is said that the shield still searches for its original owner, and will not remain the property of anyone else for long.[4]
History[edit]
First Era[edit]
It played an important role in the historic Battle of Rourken–Shalidor.[4] King Rourken had the shield created for him in the conflict with Shalidor, but it was ultimately lost in the final battle.[1] The high honor guard of Rourken also may have used gauntlets imbued with tonal magics derived from Spellbreaker during this conflict.[5]
Sometime during the First Era, Spellbreaker was granted to the Dragon Priest Zaan the Scalecaller. After being abandoned by her Dragon lord, Zaan turned to Peryite—earning his favor and shield—before being killed by her dissatisfied followers.
Second Era[edit]
Around 2E 582, Zaan was awoken from death by a cult of Peryite, with whom she cooperated to unleash a terrible plague on Tamriel. Zaan was defeated by members of the Undaunted—but Spellbreaker was retaken by Peryite before they could claim it.[6]
The last living dwarf, Yagrum Bagarn, at one point befriended the sorcerer Divayth Fyr.[7] At Fyr's behest, Yagrum Bagarn wrote the book Tamrielic Lore[8]:241 from the notes that he have gathered over the centuries, listing Spellbreaker among various items of "unimaginable significance".[4] By the Interregnum, copies of this book circulated throughout Tamriel, allowing its readers to learn of some of the artifact's history.[9]
Third Era[edit]
The shield was uncovered by the Eternal Champion during the Imperial Simulacrum, in either Hammerfell or Valenwood (reports vary).[1] In the events leading up to the Warp in the West, an agent of the Blades contacted Peryite in search of power. The agent reminded the Prince of a mortal from the First Era, and Peryite took a shine to the agent. He had the agent slay a Vampire Ancient who had displeased him, and in return he had one of his worshippers give the Spellbreaker to the agent.[3]
Mastrius, a Dunmer vampire who had been imprisoned for centuries in the Salvel Ancestral Tomb near the Red Mountain of Vvardenfell by Azura, required the Spellbreaker to break the curse keeping him in his prison. In 3E 427, the weakened Mastrius was discovered by a fellow vampire who agreed to help free him. The Spellbreaker was found in the Dwemer ruin of Bthuand, near the skeleton of its previous owner who had died in a cave-in. Mastrius used the shield as a conduit for his spell and broke Azura's curse, returning to full strength. He then betrayed his fellow vampire and was slain; his accomplice then claimed the Spellbreaker.[10] Later that year, the shield came into the possession of Torasa Aram, and was put on display in her museum of artifacts in Mournhold.[11]
In 3E 433, worshippers of Peryite in Cyrodiil attempted to become closer to the Prince by performing a risky ritual which resulted in trapping their souls in Peryite's realm of Oblivion, the Pits. The Hero of Kvatch found the frozen bodies of the worshippers around Peryite's shrine by the Silverfish River. The Prince spoke with the Hero, and requested that they enter Oblivion and retrieve his worshippers' souls. The Hero obliged, and was rewarded with the Spellbreaker.[12]
Fourth Era[edit]
The artifact would later come into the possession of two distinct individuals from the Blades, both which went into hiding from the Thalmor after the Great War.[13] One belonged to a party known as the Sheathed Blades, and they looted Spellbreaker sometime between 4E 176 and 4E 201 off the remains of an Ancient Flame Atronach they defeated in Skyrim.[14] The second was the Warrior, who is thought to have looted Spellbreaker around 4E 180 from an extravagant chest.[15]
In 4E 201, the Last Dragonborn summoned Peryite and was tasked with killing the Bosmer Orchendor, a monk of Peryite who had rebelled against the Prince. He dwelled in the Dwemer ruin of Bthardamz in Skyrim, along with many Bretons from High Rock who had been cursed by Peryite with a terrible plague. The Dragonborn infiltrated the ruins, killing the afflicted Bretons before defeating Orchendor and sending his soul to the Pits. Peryite rewarded the Dragonborn with the Spellbreaker.[16]
Previous Owners[edit]
- Participant(s) in the Battle of Rourken–Shalidor
- Zaan the Scalecaller
- Anonymous Worshipper of Peryite
- Anonymous Adventurer
- Mastrius
- Torasa Aram
Gallery[edit]
-
Arena
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Daggerfall
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Morrowind
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Oblivion
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Skyrim
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ESO
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Spellbreaker barely visible to the mid-bottom left in Legends
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Blades
See Also[edit]
- For game-specific information, see the Arena, Daggerfall, Morrowind, Oblivion, Skyrim, Elder Scrolls Online, Blades, and Skyrim - The Adventure Game articles.
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Artifact Quest Dialogue in Arena
- ^ Mastrius' dialogue in Morrowind
- ^ a b Events of Peryite's Quest in Daggerfall
- ^ a b c Tamrielic Lore — Yagrum Bagarn
- ^ Rourken Steamguards description in ESO
- ^ Events of Plans of Pestilence quest in ESO
- ^ Yagrum Bagarn's dialogue in Morrowind
- ^ The Morrowind Prophecies — Peter Olafson
- ^ Tamrielic Artifacts
- ^ Events of The Imprisonment of Mastrius in Morrowind
- ^ Events of The Museum quest in Morrowind: Tribunal
- ^ Events of the quest Peryite in Oblivion
- ^ The Rise and Fall of the Blades — Anonymous
- ^ Ancient Flame Atronach legendary encounter reward in the Skyrim - The Adventure Game
- ^ Artifact acquisition methods in Blades
- ^ Events of The Only Cure in Skyrim
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