Vivec




 * This article is about the fictional deity, for the fictional city named after him, see Vivec, Morrowind

Vivec is a fictional character from the game Morrowind, one of the three living Gods of the Tribunal Temple, he is the 'warrior-poet' of the Tribunal.

Legendary Origin
Vivec was the assistant of Nerevar. According to legend, recorded in the 36 Sermons, Vivec was born to the wife of a netchimer, who was cast into the sea by the Daedra Prince Boethiah, by legend the Anticipation of Almalexia. Dreughs, octopus-like men, took her to a great city underwater, where she produced an egg. The egg of Vivec was visited by Seht (Sotha Sil) and seven Daedra, who told her to find the Great Land of the Indoril. On her journey, she met many spirits, who told her of various things regarding Vivec, still unborn. The netchman's wife was captured by the Dwemer inside a cave on the way to the Indoril lands, who tried to remove the egg from inside her, however, their efforts were to no avail. Vivec's egg was put in a simalcrum of his mother, and sent on the way, however, the creation, being of poor quality, broke down, and was taken to the city of Ayem, or Almalexia, however, he was saved by Nerevar. In the court of Almalexia, Vivec merged with the simulacrum of his mother, forming the "magic hermaphrodite, the martial axiom, the sex-death of language and unique in all the middle world."

War with the Nords soon followed, forcing a union between the Dwemer and the Chimer. Nerevar led the war, with Vivec at his side. The First Council rose to power, and Nerevar became the Hortator, the leader of all Chimer.

Vivec wandered away from Mournhold, and began to practice his god-powers in a span of wastelands, at one point making himself less dense, so as not to sink into the earth. At this point, Molag Bal, the first corner of the House of Troubles, made himself known to Vivec, who said to him "How very beautiful you are, that you do not join us." Molag Bal summoned armies to attack the feet of Vivec, the part of him that were not invulnerable, and chained him to the earth, and married him. Thousands of sons and daughters of Vivec and Molag Bal were produced that day. (These became the first Vampires.) Vivec lay with Molag Bal for eighty days, though headless. His feet were restored by the legions of Daedra, and filled with Daedra-blood, so that he would never have to worry about harming the earth.

Nerevar, troubled by the lessons of Kinghood, made his way to Vivec, who was weaving his hair into an incomplete map of adulthood and death. He did this to make room for the fire- unbeknownst to Nerevar, Vivec had been practicing his Water Face, learned from the Dreughs before his birth. Vivec and Nerevar traveled the world, teaching Nerevar everything he needed to know before the War with the Dwemer.

Vivec faced the eight monsters that escaped from Muatra, defeating first Moon Axle, then Treasure Wood Sword, followed by Horde Mountain (Who became Vivec City), The Pocket Cabal, The Ruddy Man (Whose destruction created the West Gash), City-Face, Lie Rock, and GULGA MOR JIL HYAET AE HOOM.

Then the war against the Dwemer broke out, the Dwemer coming out of their mighty fortresses, with golden ballistae and many atronachs. Dumac Dwarf-Orc was their leader, but Kagrenac was their High-Priest. Nerevar slew Dumac at Red Mountain, and saw the Heart of Lorkhan for the first time. The Dwemer, with great brass machines, broke down the gates of Mournhold, but were kept at bay by Almalexia, who she overcame with the "meaning of the stars." Red Mountain erupted upon the entrance of Nerevar, at which point Kagrenac revealed his great creation- a great machine, a "walking star", which destroyed the armies of the Tribunal and destroyed much of Morrowind, forming the Inner Sea. The Tribunal then combined, destroying the Numidium and banishing the Dwemer.

Real Origins
Unlike the story set in the 36 Sermons, Vivec's true origins are much less spiritual and amazing. Born the son of a Netchman, he became one of Nerevar's three most trusted advisors, Vivec and the other advisors convinced their general to make war on the Dwemer. It is also believed that Vivec was the mastermind behind the advisors' plan to murder Nerevar and take his place. It is also hinted that the cause of this was based on Vivec's desire for Almalexia, the wife of Nerevar.

Vivec in Modern Morrowind
In the modern politics of Morrowind, Vivec, beyond being one of the unofficial rulers of Morrowind, is venerated, along with Almalexia and Sotha Sil, as a god among men, the Warrior-Poet of the Tribunal, or Almsivi. Although not as visible a figure as Almalexia or the King of Morrowind, Vivec maintains considerable influence on the people, particularly in the Province of Vvardenfell, where he resides in the giant city of Vivec. It is said that, if the people of Morrowind stopped venerating him, the Ministry of Truth, a moonlet floating just a few hundred feet over Vivec City, would crash into the city, killing everyone. This, along with his religious power, and the power of the Tribunal Temple, creates a force mostly unopposed by the Empire.

According to many accounts, the power of Vivec, and the rest of the Tribunal, is waning. Since they were cut off from the Heart of Lorkhan by Dagoth Ur, their continuing godhood is questionable. If the Ghostfence, which the Tribunal maintain, ever fell, it might become necessary for the province of Vvardenfell to be completely abandoned to the demons that reside inside Red Mountain.

Vivec in Oblivion
Though not a specific subject the player can still hear of Vivec in Oblivon. Through NPC conversations before the completion of the main quest Vivec is said to have gone missing. Beyond that there is no details to how or why. The two most likely theories so far is that he is taken by the Daedra or that he is slain by the Nerevarine as prophesized by Azura.

The Trial of Vivec
Though not part of official lore, Michael Kirkbride (uncredited author of the 36 Sermons of Vivec), Ted "Tedders" Peterson, Ken Rolston, and several Bethsoft Devs participated in a roleplaying session on the Official Forums.

As such, it is believed to be semi-official by fans, and is referred to as "The Trial of Vivec."

Several prominent TES characters (Divayth Fyr, Uriel Semptim VII, and Daedra Prince Sheogorath included) are called to witness in the Trial of Vivec; specifically in order to judge Vivec's role in the death of Indoril Nerevar and the shift from Daedra worship towards that of The Tribunal (Almsivi).

Towards the end of the story, Daedric Prince Azura personally appears to present arguments against Vivec. In a surprising twist, Vivec begins an incantation using "evidence" brought against him in a powerful binding spell to permanently banish Azura from Tamriel:

"By this Shadow, I call your neonymic forth, your chosen throne, sundown and sunrise, death and birth of shadow. You are bound to this place.

AE ALTADOON DUNMERI for my sister's madness I eat you..

AE ALTADOON DUNMERI for my brother's wasting I eat you..

I climb you, moon and moon, and Dance on your Tower. AE CHIM CE ALTADOON for my own revenge I eat you. AE CHIM CE ALTADOON for my own revenge I eat you."

After his spell is complete, Azura explodes.

Vivec then reveals with glee how he has waited for revenge against Azura for an age; this references both the "punishment" of black skin and red eyes that turned the Chimer into the Dunmer, and undoubtedly the reincarnation of Nerevar specifically to kill The Tribunal.

Vivec then proudly proclaims his hidden message from Sermon 29 (see 36 Lessons of Vivec) before he vanishes: "He was not born a god. His destiny did not lead him to this crime. He chose this path of his own free will. He stole the godhood and murdered the Hortator."