Vivec

"You want to chide me... why did I murder Nerevar? Why did I break my oath to Azura not to use Kagrenac's tools?"

- Vivec

Lord Vivec the Poet, also known as Vehk, and sometimes Vivek, was one of the three immortal god-kings of Morrowind alongside Sotha Sil and Almalexia. A Pillar of the Tribunal Temple and the patron of artists and rogues, Vivec is also known as the anticipation of Daedric Prince Mephala as it is believed this was his represented during the Dawn Era.

Vivec can be found during the Main Questline of in his palace located within Vivec City.

Background
Vivec is worshiped by the Dunmer as a symbol of "Mastery", as well as "duality" given his Chimer/Dunmer complexion, hermaphroditical appearance, and sinister nature hidden behind his benevolence due to his relations to Mephala.

In his early life, before becoming a god, Vivec was an advisor to Indoril Nerevar along with the other members of the Tribunal. Vivec was known to be very public before his extraordinary loss of power, which began with the revival of Dagoth Ur. Because of this, Vivec has gained the reputation of being the most popular deity of the Tribunal. One of Vivec's main duties is to guard the people of Vvardenfell from the evils of Red Mountain.

Vivec has protected Morrowind from multiple invasions, through offensive and diplomatic means, most notably the Four Score War. Vivec has also done countless deeds for the Dunmer people, one such deed was saving Vivec City, a city made in honor of Vivec, from Baar Dau, also known as the "Ministry of Truth", a giant meteor sent by the Daedric Prince Sheogorath to destroy the city. Vivec used his powers to suspend in the air above the city where it stayed there until the Fourth Era.

Vivec disappeared around the end of the Third Era during the Oblivion Crisis under mysterious circumstances. Though magical inventions were made to support Baar Dau in Vivec's absence; the meteor eventually fell in 4E 5  resulting with the Baar Dau destroying Vivec City in 4E 5 and another eruption of Red Mountain.

After the disapearance of Vivec and the reinstatement of the worship of the old Dunmeri pantheon, Azura, Boethia, and Mephala, by the New Temple, Vivec was hence forth known as "Saint Vivec".

Early Life
Vivec grew up in the ancient Kingdom of Resdayn, now present day Morrowind, sometime during the early First Era. Vivec was a councilor and general of Indoril Nerevar, along side Sotha Sil and Nerevar's wife, Indoril Almalexia, these three were Nerevar's most important advisors and were known as the "Tribunal". After the First Battle of Red Mountain in 1E 416, Nerevar forged an alliance between the Chimer and the Dwemer which fully united the province under a new government known as the First Council. Vivec, Sotha Sil, and Almalexia were wary about the new alliance with the Dwemer King Dumac Dwarf-Orc, believing that the peace between the Chimer and their old enemies, the Dwemer, would never last. Vivec, Sotha Sil, and Almalexia told Nerevar that he should take opportunity of the peace and claim Resdayn for his own, but Nerevar was not willing to betray his new friend Dumac.

War of the First Council
Like Vivec and the others predicted, the peace between the Dwemer and Chimer did not last. Voryn Dagoth, the head of House Dagoth and trusted friend to Nerevar, discovered that the Dwemer High Priest and Tonal Architect, Kagrenac, had been building a new device, the Numidium, that would harness the power of the Heart of Lorkhan which had just been recently discovered under Red Mountain. The Numidium was a complete mockery of the Chimer faith and was a threat to all of Resdayn as well. Vivec and the rest of the old Tribunal urged Nerevar once again to go to war with the Dwemer, but Nerevar was still reluctant to do as his advisers told him. Nerevar went to his friend Dumac and asked him whether or not Voryn's claims were true. Dumac, who had no idea that Kagrenac had secretly been building the Numidium, denied Voryn's claims. Nerevar then went on a pilgrimage to Holamayan to consult with Azura. Azura confirmed what Voryn Dagoth sayed to Nerevar, and told him that the Numidium needed to be destroyed for the safety of the entire world.

Nerevar who felt betrayed by Dumac, went to Red Mountain and confronted him about what he learned from Azura. Dumac, who still did not know of the Numidium, was angered by Nerevar's insolence and the two friends argued bitterly. This fight led to what would be known as the War of the First Council.

The War is believed to have taken place somewhere in between the dates of 1E 688 or 1E 700. At the last battle of the war, which occured at Red Mountain, Vivec and Almalexia commanded the main army and distracted the Dwemer forces, giving Nerevar, Voryn Dagoth, and Alandro Sul the chance to sneak into the Heart Chamber of Red Mountain, in which the Numidium was being constructed. In the Heart Chamber, Nerevar found Dumac, Kagrenac, and by Nordic accounts, Wulfharth and Shor, The resulting battle between these men ended with the disappearance of the Dwemer after Lord Kagrenac used his tools, Sunder, Keening, and Wraithguard, upon the Heart of Lorkhan, and, by two accounts, Nerevar being severely injured.

After the battle, Nerevar gave Kagrenac's tools to Voryn Dagoth to keep safe while he returned to the council to determine the fate of the tools. Vivec, Sotha Sil, Almalexia, and the rest of the council all agreed that Kagrenac's tools should be studied and kept in case of any other threat to Resdayn were to rise. Nerevar agreed with the councils decision under one exception, that the council had to take an oath that Kagrenac's tools were to never be used in the manner the Dwemer intended them for.

After taking the Oath, Nerevar and Vivec went back to Red Mountain to retrieve the tools from Voryn Dagoth. Voryn however, refused to hand over Kagrenac's tools to Nerevar and it was soon realized that Voryn Dagoth had used the tools in Nerevar's absence, and their power had corrupted him. Nerevar resorted to force to aquire the tools and in the ensuring struggle Voryn, who now referred to himself as Dagoth Ur, was presumed dead. Though Dagoth Ur escaped his Great House was not so lucky, as it was destroyed for his betrayal. Nerevar was believed to be severely injured once again in this fight, though this may just be an inconsistency on when he got injured in the first place. Afterwords, the tools were brought to Sotha Sil for studying.

Apotheosis and Curse of Azura
After the controversial death of Nerevar (which may have been caused by the Tribunal), Vivec, Almalexia, and Sotha Sil became the highest authorities of the New Grand Council which was made to replace the First Council, that had been disbanded after the War.

After many years of ruling, Sotha Sil returned to Vivec and Almalexia with startling news. He had secretly learned how to use the tools of Kagrenac to tap into the divine power of the Heart of Lorkhan and redirect the power into a mortal being, giving that being god-like powers. Sotha Sil proposed that the three of them use the tools to turn themselves into living-gods in order to bring Resdayn into a new era of prosperity.

At first Vivec was opposed to the idea, as it abjured his sacred oath with Nerevar. But Sotha Sil's vision of a new world with peace, justice, honor, and prosperity convinced Vivec to break his promise to his old friend. The three returned to Red Mountain and used the tools upon the Heart, transforming them into the three gods known today. After their ritual was complete, Azura appeared before the new deities, angered by the blasphemy they had just commited against her. She told Vivec and the others that Nerevar would return to punish them for their mockery of "the gods" and to make sure that no mortal would ever defy her in this manner again. Sotha Sil replied to her threat claiming that the "old gods" were no longer necessary and that the Chimer needed new gods that would care for their needs. Insulted, Azura cursed the Chimer; giving them ashen colored skin, and firey red eyes. Henceforth, the Chimer were known as the Dunmer.

Beginning of the Tribunal Temple
The Chimer, now known as the Dunmer, were at first alarmed by their new appearance. They did not know what had changed their complexion from gold to grey, but the result terrified them. Sotha Sil reassured the Dunmer stating that their affliction was not a curse, but instead a blessing as it signified their beginning as a new, civilized Mer.

Most of the Dunmer accepted the Tribunal and worshiped them as they had once worshiped Boethiah, Azura, and Mephala. The Tribunal Temple was formed along with a just and honorable society. Large cities were founded in the names of each of the aspects of ALMSIVI; Vivec's city was established on the southern coast of Vvardenfell in the Ascadian Isles, looking into the Inner Sea.

But not every Dunmer had pledged loyalty to the Tribunal. The nomadic Ashlanders of Vvardenfell believed that the Tribunal was responsible for the death of Nerevar, and despised them for this. According to Vivec, the belief that Nerevar was killed by the Tribunal was started by Alandro Sul, one of Indoril Nerevar's old shield-companions. Whether or not Alandro's claims are true or not cannot be known for a certainty, but there is some evidence that gives credibility to his accusation.

The Four Score War
For thousands of years the Tribunal kept relative peace in Morrowind. The only conflict in which the Tribunal participated in being the failed Akaviri Invasion by the Tsaesci in 1E 2703 which was defeated by the founder of the Second Empire, Reman Cyrodiil. Though both nations helped each other during the war, peace did not last between the two.

Within a few years of the invasion of 1E 2703, the new Second Empire became the most prominent domain within Tamriel. Holding every province in the mainland excluding Morrowind. In 1E 2840, the third in line of the Reman Dynasty, Reman Cyrodiil II, declared war on Morrowind in an attempt to annex it into the Reman Empire. The ensuring war was later known as the Four Score War, named after the 80 years it endured. The Tribunal, particularly Vivec, displayed amazing strength and leadership during the war. An example being the Battle of Bodrum, in which Vivec took the Cyrodiilic army completely by surprise and almost completely destroyed it in the process. But despite every effort, neither side could gain any sort of advantage on the other and throughout the entirity of the war they were in complete stalemate.

During the last year of the war, 1E 2920, Almalexia had a vison that the war would be lost if Vivec did not have the help of Sotha Sil who had been away from Morrowind for seventeen years on the Isle of Artaeum, training Psijic Mages. Vivec, who took Almalexia's vision seriously, told Almalexia to travel to Artaeum and retrieve Sotha Sil so that they would not lose the war. Almalexia arrived at Artaeum and told Sotha Sil about her vision and how he needed to return to Morrowind. Sotha Sil, who had just recently spent a strenous effort making a pact with the Daedric princes Azura, Boethiah, Hermaeus Mora, Hircine, Malacath, Mehrunes Dagon, Molag Bal, and Sheogorath that they agree to not be summoned by amateur mages to Mundus so that destruction, such as what happened at Gilverdale, does not happen again; agreed to return and traveled with Almalexia back to Morrowind where it was discovered Vivec had already surrendered to Prince Juilek's terms after his crushing defeat at the Battle of Ald Marak. Though shortly after Vivec's surrender, his non-agression truce with the Empire was broken when an Imperial Army seized the fortress at Black Gate. Though it was actually a mistake in communication within the Empire as the army had belonged to Juilek's father, Emperor Reman III, who had just lost his eye and was unable to command at the time. Peace was made once again at Ald Lambasi, but after Prince Juliek was assassinated by the Morag Tong in Black Marsh, the treaty was once again abandoned. On the 6th day of Sun's Dusk, Emperor Reman III met with Vivec at Bodrum to tell him that the treaty was to be signed again at the Imperial Palace. When Reman III returned to the Imperial City he was assassinated by his wife's sister, Corda, though the assassination is believed to have been truly orchestrated by his most trusted advisers, the Akaviri Potentates, Savirien-Chorak and Versidue-Shaie. After the death of Reman III Versidue-Shaie took the Imperial Throne and signed the treaty with Vivec, officially ending the Four Score War.

Akavir Invasion of 2E 572 and the formation of the Ebonheart Pact
In the year 2E 430 a period known as the Interregnum began in Tamriel after the death of the Akaviri Potenate, Savirien-Chorak. Which caused the collapse of the Second Empire and brought chaos across the provinces. Because of Morrowind's autonomy from the Empire and the rulership of Vivec, Almalexia, and Sotha Sil, the province was left relatively unharmed by the Interregnum.

But in the year 2E 572 another threat to Morrowind emerged. A Second Akaviri Invasion began, led by Ada'Soom Dir-Kamal, the leader of the Kamal snow demons of Akavir. Though Morrowind was hit the most by the invasion, the Kamal invaded parts of Skyrim and Black Marsh as well. The three provinces united to repel the invaders but even then they still had trouble defeating them. The foe was so great that Almalexia seeked the help of the Tribunal's old nemesis, Ysmir Wulfharth, now known as the Underking (though by some accounts it was King Jorunn who asked for Wulfharth's help). After the Kamal had a crushing defeat at Stonefalls led by the armies of Almalexia, Wulfharth, Jorunn, and the Argonian Shellbacks; Vivec used his powers to teach the people within Morrowind the ability to breath under water for just one day, and then created a massive flood, temporarily drowning Morrowind into the sea and washing away the Akaviri Invaders. After this event The Tribunal, King Jorunn, and the leaders of Black Marsh signed a treaty creating an alliance between them so that an invasion of the like would never occur again, this alliance was known as the Ebonheart Pact.

The Tiber Wars
At the closing of the Interregnum, the warlord Cuhlecain and his young general, Hjalti Early-Beard (later known as Tiber Septim), began their conquest of Tamriel. After the two conquered the Imperial City Cuhlecain was murdered and Hjalti took the throne of Cyrodiil and was deemed Emperor Tiber Septim by the Grand Imperial Battle Mage, Zurin Arctus. When the Kingdoms of Man (Skyrim, Hammerfell, and High Rock) were conquered, Tiber turned his eyes to the East, to Morrowind. Morrowind was rich with the metal Ebony which Tiber needed if he was ever to rebuild Cyrodiil to its former glory, in which was destroyed by the hundreds of years of war in the Interregnum. Tiber's friend and head general, Ysmir Wulfharth, promised Tiber that if he were to defeat Vivec, Almalexia, and Sotha Sil that he would be able to steal their power and use it against the Altmer. Tiber took the advice of Wulfharth and declared war on Morrowind sometime between the years 2E 894 and 2E 896. After Mournhold was sacked by the Imperial Legion and the entire royal family of Morrowind (except Barenziah) was killed; Vivec, knew the war would was not going to end well for either side. Vivec proposed a treaty to Tiber Septim that would end the war between Morrowind and the Septim Empire, absorb Morrowind into the Empire but also give Morrowind full autonomy. The last condition of the treaty was that Vivec gave the Numidium to Tiber Septim to use as he pleased. Tiber who was not very fond of the idea of facing the Tribunal in battle agreed to the treaty, and the war ended.

Dagoth Ur's Return
In the year 2E 882, Dagoth Ur, who was presumed dead after his battle with Nerevar and the Tribunal, awoke at Red Mountain along with his kin who were now Ash Vampires. Dagoth Ur began formulating a plan to destroy the Tribunal once and for all, as well as remove the Empire from Morrowind and conquer lands lost to the Nords of Skyrim and the Argonians of Black Marsh over the many years of his absence.

Dagoth Ur knew that in order for the Tribunal to keep their divine power they needed to annually return to Red Mountain and bath within the presence of the Heart of Lorkhan, Dagoth Ur decided to use this knowledge to his advantage. When the Tribunal returned to Red Mountain to replenish their power Dagoth Ur and his minions ambushed them. Vivec, Almalexia, and Sotha Sil were not strong enough to defeat Dagoth Ur who had grown extremely powerful through his connection to the Heart, and were forced to leave Red Mountain without replenishing their power. It is around this time that Dagoth Ur began building his ultimate weapon, Akulakhan, also known as the Second Numidium.

For the next 500 years the Tribunal's power began to weaken, and in their desperation Vivec, Almalexia, and Sotha Sil began launching many assaults on Red Mountain seeking to regain entrance to the Heart Chamber and stop the Blight disease Dagoth was spreading around Vvardenfell, but most of their attempts were futile as Dagoth Ur was just too powerful for the now weary Tribunal who had trouble staging assaults while maintaining the Ghostfence. Even when the Tribunal did manage to accomplish killing Dagoth Ur, the Heart of Lorkhan would always revive him in time. As the Tribunal weakened so to did the state of Morrowind's society resulting in events like the Arnesian War which was started by a small slave revolt. The last attempt to access the Heart Chamber occurred in 3E 417, on this endeavor, Almalexia and Sotha Sil were almost killed by Dagoth Odros and Dagoth Vemyn but were saved by Vivec, however, in the struggle Almalexia and Sotha Sil lost two of the tools of Kagrenac, Keening and Sunder, to the Sixth House and failed to recover them. Demoralized and in a very weakened state, the only thing the Tribunal could do to hold back Dagoth Ur was focus their power into reinforcing the Ghostfence. Throughout this period Dissident Priests and others who questioned the Tribunal were persecuted in order to protect the peoples faith of the Tribunal Temple, as without the faith of the people, Vivec, Sotha Sil, and Almalexia would be powerless and unable to sustain the Ghostfence.

The Nerevarine
In the year 3E 427 the ultimatum that Azura gave to the Tribunal when they made themselves into gods came true, and Nerevar returned to Tamriel as the Nerevarine. Originally Vivec and the rest of the Tribunal were hostile towards the Nerevarine Cult and claimed their prophecies false as they threatened the faith of the Tribunal Temple which he needed to protect Morrowind from the darkness of Dagoth Ur, as well as claim that the Nerevarine was foretold to be the one to cast down the Tribunal and return the worship of the Old Dunmeri Pantheon. Vivec eventually realized that the Nerevarine was the Tribunal's last hope in defeating Dagoth Ur, even though defeating him would require sacrificing his Divine power. Vivec eventually met the Nerevarine at his palace, where he gave the Nerevarine the Tribunal's plan to defeat Dagoth Ur as well as Wraithguard, the last Tool of Kagrenac in Vivec's possession; during this meeting, Vivec assured the Nerevarine that he would put an end to the persecution of Dissident Priests.

After acquiring the rest of the tools the Nerevarine journeyed to Red Mountain to put a stop to Dagoth Ur's plans. The Nerevarine used the tools upon the Heart of Lorkhan, removing it from the world and severing Dagoth Ur's divine link to it; this allowed for him to be killed, as well as his creation, the Akulakhan. Though Dagoth Ur was defeated, the Tribunal was also cut off from their once god-like powers.

The Fall of the Tribunal and the Disappearance of Vivec
With the Heart of Lorkhan removed from the world the Tribunal's powers quickly faded but were not gone entirely. Many of the Dunmer people were still faithful to the Tribunal allowing Vivec, Sotha Sil, and Almalexia to still hold onto a small amount of their once god-like powers, though Vivec realized this faith and the power that came with it would not last forever. Vivec dedicated his remaining power to reorganizing the Tribunal Temple allowing the issues between the Temple Priests and the Dissident Priests to disappear, as well as using his power to help the people and their humble needs. Vivec also began preparations within his sect of the Temple for great change, telling them that the Tribunal should no longer be honored as gods but instead as saints and heroes, and that the Temple's faith should return to the old Reclamations, with the worship of Azura, Mephala, and Boethiah. Vivec believed that the Tribunal Temple's traditions needed to continue, just without the ALMSIVI. Vivec excepted his inevitable mortality contently as he had always worn his divinity lightly; he told his priest that shortly after the Tribunal Temple has been reorganized he would withdraw from the world.

Unlike Vivec, the other aspects of ALMSIVI acted differently when regarding their impending mortality. After the Tribunals last defeat at the hands of Dagoth Ur in 3E 417, in which they lost Keening and Sunder, Sotha Sil completely alienated himself from the Tribunal and all others. The only person he supposedly conversed with during the ten years between his defeat and the fall of Dagoth Ur was the immortal wizard Divayth Fyr. Vivec doubted that Sotha Sil would even notice the loss of his Divine powers, as he believed that Sotha Sil was so fascinated by the concept of mystery and the unknown that he had almost completely lost touch with the rest of the world. Almalexia on the other hand was horribly effected by her loss of divinity as she took her powers much more seriously than Vivec and Sotha Sil. After the Tribunal's disconnection to the Heart, Vivec stopped communicating with Almalexia but he noticed that while her powers diminished she began to agonize and grieve. Vivec feared that she would cause harm to herself or others, and shortly after Almalexia's loss of divinity, Vivec's fears came true. According to people who were close to her, Almalexia's personality had changed drastically; instead of her usual merciful and mother-like nature, Almalexia had become very aggressive and power hungry. Almalexia began to severely punish those she considered unfaithful to her, in one such occasion she covered all of Mournhold in ash storms by utilizing old Dwemer machinery. Eventually Almalexia had gone completely insane, she formulated a plan to become Morrowind's "One True God" by killing the other members of the Tribunal and the Nerevarine. She traveled to the Clockwork City and murdered Sotha Sil, then used his mechanical creations to attack the city of Almalexia to slander her now dead friend. Under Almalexia's orders, the Nerevarine was sent to the Clockwork City to find the supposedly mad Sotha Sil and kill him. Almalexia's true intention however, was for the Nerevarine to get killed fighting the cities robotic inhabitants, but when the Nerevarine endured the Clockwork city and discovered the remains of Sotha Sil Almalexia attempted to kill the Nerevarine herself. In the fight that ensued, Almalexia was unable to defeat the Nerevarine and was instead killed by his hands.

After Almalexia's death, Vivec was the only remaining aspect of ALMSIVI. Though saddened by the death of his fellow tribunes, he knew that since they were now mortals they would have died at some point anyways, he only regretted that it ended the way it did. Vivec went on to guide the people of Morrowind until his sudden disappearance sometime during the Oblivion Crisis. What really happened to Vivec isn't known, though the sudden disappearance of himself and the Nerevarine during the Oblivion Crisis has led many to believe that he was either "taken" by Daedra during the the crisis or killed by the Nerevarine; Though it is possible that he left the world on his own initiative as he said he would to his priests. After the destruction of Vivec City by Baar Dau in 4E 5 and the Red Year, Morrowind changed just like Vivec predicted it would; the New Temple became the prominent religion in Morrowind and reestablished the worship of the Reclamations, as well as dub the Tribunal "saints" instead of gods.

Vivec's Deeds
Over the many years Vivec watched over Morrowind and Vvardenfell, he has helped protect the Dunmer people in multiple ways. Here is a list of some of the deeds Vivec has done to protect his people.

Halting Baar Dau
Sometime around the beginning of the Tribunal's godhood. The Daedric Lord, Sheogorath, rebelled against the Tribunal for mocking the daedra and sent the great meteor, Baar Dau, to destroy the then new city of Vivec. After seeing the meteor, Vivec merely raised his hand and the moonlet froze above the city. Vivec decided to keep it above his city to show that faith should be kept in the Tribunal as it was faith that kept Baar Dau afloat.

Unfortunately, five years after Vivec's disappearance; the Ingenium device that kept Baar Dau suspended in the air during Vivec's absence failed, causing the moonlet to fall from the sky at annihilate the city of Vivec. A chain reaction made by the vibrations the meteor created when striking the ground caused the Red Mountain to erupt for a second time starting the terrible Red Year.

Defeating the Ruddy Man
Inside of Koal Cave, located near the city of Gnisis, Vivec faught an incarnation of Molag Bal, known as the Ruddy Man. In the fight between these two gods, Vivec defeated the Ruddy Man and only spared his life with the exception that the Dunmer people were given his permision to use the hides of the Ruddy Man's worshipers, the Dreugh, to make armor. the battle was supposedly so epic that it resulted in the creation of the West Gash.

Despite having his life spared, the Ruddy Man attacked once again outside the city of Tear after being summoned by a worshiper of the House of Troubles. Vivec and the Ruddy Man clashed for a second time and the Ruddy Man was defeated once again.

It is believed that the Ruddy Man may have been an offspring resulting from Vivec's marriage to Molag Bal.

Fighting Mehrunes Dagon
At the city of Maar Gan, Vivec faught Mehrunes Dagon after he tried to attack the citizens of the city. Mehrunes attempted to throw a giant rock at the city but Vivec taunted him so that he would throw the rock at him instead. Where this rock fell the civilians of Maar Gan built a shrine to the Tribunal. It is said that during this fight Vivec gave his silver sword to Mehrunes Dagon as he thought it would be dishonorable to fight an unharmed enemy.

Personality
When referring to his life as a mortal, Vivec describes himself as being very impatient, liking conversation being quick and down to the point; though as a god, this is not the case. Vivec is viewed by the people of Morrowind as being a benevolent and protective god, and is often considered to be the most popular aspect of the Tribunal do to his often public appearances and his safeguarding of the Dunmer people through diplomatic and martial ways. Vivec shows heavy appreciation for the arts, most notably poetry, in which he is known to write every morning. He is often described as being both "beautiful and bloody" and an "artistic violence" do to his dual nature. Vivec's protective and artistic essences have gained him the appellation "Warrior-Poet". Vivec was also known to have become Almalexia's lover sometime after the death of Nerevar.

The Tribunal Temple teach that Vivec's duality is derived from his supposed Dawn Era representation as the Daedric Prince Mephala. It is taught that Vivec and the other members of the Tribunal became gods through the guidance of their respective anticipations, but this is known to not be true as it was the Tribunal's stealing of the Heart of Lorkhan's power that made them gods. Nevertheless it is still possible that Vivec and the other aspects of ALMSIVI are actually related to the Daedric Reclamations through mantling. Vivec's relation to Mephala has given him a secret darker demeanor that he hides from the Dunmer people; this being his affiliation with the concepts of sex and murder, in which Mephala is the patron god of. The people of Morrowind do not view Vivec as a representation of these notions, but they do unconsciously accept that these components of Vivec do exist.

In Vivec and the other members of the Tribunal have been known to do infamous things in the means of protecting Morrowind and its people, most notably during the crisis caused by Dagoth Ur. The most often reasoning for actions such as the persecution of Dissident Priests and lies about how the Tribunal really achieved divinity was so that the people kept their faith in the Tribunal, especially during times of hardship.

Vivec was known to take his divinity quite lightly and didn't really care whether he was a god or not. After his disconnection to the Heart of Lorkhan he was known to be happy to be a mortal again.

Morrowind Dialogue
Before Quest: "You have come uninvited. I have nothing to say to you."

First Meeting
Greeting: "I expected you. We have business, you and I."

Business: "When I was young like you, I was very impatient. So I will keep our business short. Then, later, there may be time for other things. First, I propose to remove my curse upon the Nerevarine, end the persecution of the Dissident Priests, and proclaim to all Morrowind that Faern Sargtlin is the Incarnate and Nerevarine, the prophesied savior of Morrowind, and the last hope to withstand the menace of Dagoth Ur and the Sixth House. These things I will do, whether you wish or not."

"Next, I propose to surrender to you the power and responsibility of defeating Dagoth Ur. You may choose to refuse; I will not compel you. You will receive the power as a gift, in the form of an artifact called 'Wraithguard." You may accept the gift, then do with it as you will. You will receive the responsibility as an oath. You may give your oath, then keep it or break it as you like. First, will you accept Wraithguard as a gift?"

Yes, I accept Wraithguard: "Good. Sensible of you. And now, will you give your oath, before all gods and men, before all spirits visible and invisible, before my honor and your honor, to dedicate yourself and Wraithguard to the defeat and destruction of Dagoth Ur, and the preservation of Morrowind and its people?"

Yes, I so swear: "Not very sensible. But very good. I was hoping for someone who would have no hesitations about making such an oath. You will now have a brief, momentary sensation of time passing. Don't be alarmed. You are being taken out of time in order to avoid the unpleasant experience of learning how to use Wraithguard. It will be over before..."

[There is a brief sensation of motion in total darkness, floating, but without a sense of weight or direction.] "...you know it. Now. I will notify the Temple that you are our champion. There shall be no more persecution of the Dissident Priests, and I hope both sides shall swiftly be reconciled. We have time for questions, if you like. Or you may leave, as you wish. But I think there are at least two things you ought to know before you leave: how to use Wraithguard, and how to defeat Dagoth Ur."

Normal Dialogue
defeat Dagoth Ur: "To defeat Dagoth Ur, go to Red Mountain to recover the artifact hammer Sunder from Gate Citadel Vemynal, then recover the artifact blade Keening from Gate Citadel Odrosal. Then proceed with Wraithguard, Sunder, and Keening to the citadel of Dagoth Ur. Within the citadel, find the Heart of Lorkhan. Use the three artifacts to sever Dagoth Ur's connection to the Heart, and he will be destroyed, and the Blight ended on Morrowind."

"To destroy Dagoth Ur, you must sever his connection with the Heart of Lorkhan. To do this, strike the Heart with the artifact hammer Sunder once, then strike the Heart more than once with the artifact blade Keening. You must wear Wraithguard, because you cannot handle either Sunder or Keening unless you are wearing Wraithguard. That is the short, simple explanation. Here is the long, detailed explanation, written down for your convenience. Read it, study it, commit it to memory."

persecute the Dissident Priests: "Suppression and persecution of dissent is just one of the standard tools of statecraft. I believe we erred in trusting the judgement of Berel Sala. He and his Ordinators served valiantly in the war against Dagoth Ur. We mistook his misplaced zeal for energy and dedication. Mistakes were made. But no more. There shall be no more persecution of the Dissident Priests, and I hope both sides shall swiftly be reconciled."

questions: "You are curious... what really happened at Red Mountain? what really happened to the Dwemer? what was the Dwemer's sin? what is it like to be a god? do I remember being mortal? how do I feel about the people of Morrowind?"

Red Mountain: "In my library, I have made available two conflicting accounts of the events of Red Mountain, my own true account, and another false account common among the Ashlanders and preserved in the Apographa. I don't care whether you believe my account or not. I leave it up to you to judge which is true."

my library: "I want your trust. And willing cooperation. So I've had the priests make copies of a number of documents. They're here for you to read or take with you. Take a look at them. Help yourself."

the Dwemer: "I have no idea what happened to the Dwemer. I have no sense of them in the timeless divine world outside of mortal time. And, in fact, if I did believe they existed, I would be in no hurry to make contact with them. They may, with some justice, hold the Dunmer race responsible for their fate. My intuition is that they are gone forever -- and that is perfectly fine with me."

Dwemer's sin: "The sin of the Dwemer was the creation of a new god from the substance of a dead god, Lorkhan. That is also the sin for which we would destroy Dagoth Ur. I hesitate to call it 'sin'. More properly, call it 'destructive evil'. The sin of the Tribunal, however, is in the breaking of an oath to Azura to forebear from tapping the Heart with Kagrenac's tools, and in the folly of seeking to become gods. Breaking the oath was evil. Becoming gods was folly. If we sinned, we have paid the price."

to be a god: "It is like being a juggler. Things are always moving, and you learn to know where they are without even thinking about it. Only there are many, many things moving. And sometimes, like any juggler, you drop something. I'm afraid it has become a lot more a matter of dropping things lately. There's too much to do, and not enough time, and I'm losing my touch. Perhaps I'm growing old."

"It is a bit like being at once awake and asleep. Awake, I am here with you, thinking and talking. Asleep, I am very, very busy. Perhaps for other gods, the completely immortal ones, it is only like that being asleep. Out of time. Me, I exist at once inside of time and outside of it."

"It's nice never being dead, too. When I die in the world of time, then I'm completely asleep. I'm very much aware that all I have to do is choose to wake. And I'm alive again. Many times I have very deliberately tried to wait patiently, a very long, long time before choosing to wake up. And no matter how long it feels like I wait, it always appears, when I wake up, that no time has passed at all. That is the god place. The place out of time, where everything is always happening, all at once."

remember being mortal: "I remember. I do not feel it. I can, if I choose, remember the feeling. But I do not choose. It is very, very sad being mortal. There is happiness, yes. But mostly sadness. As I have said, "Count only the happy hours." For mortals, they are all too few. But for gods -- for me -- there is no more feeling. Only knowing." [Pause]

"Not quite no more feeling. I still want to win. I want to defeat Dagoth Ur. Perhaps I have lost the feeling for the people, for their suffering. I don't want that feeling. It is no use to me. That is no longer what matters to me. I only want not to lose .To lose would be very, very bitter."

people of Morrowind: "I love the people of Morrowind. I became a god to make their lives more comfortable and secure. I am most close to my faithful followers; I am literally in their hearts and minds. I feel the most sympathy with House Redoran; they are Dunmer driven by creeds and deeds, like I am. House Indoril is closer to the compassion and sympathy of Almalexia, a comfortable and secure serenity. House Telvanni matches the disposition of my brother Sotha Sil -- iconoclastic, profane, unconventional."

"House Hlaalu represents the future of the Dunmer, integrated into the sophisticated mainstream of the traditionless, raceless, godless culture of the Empire. House Dres represents the past of pre-Tribunal Great House culture, a persistent tradition of Daedra- and ancestor-worshipping civilized Dunmer clans. And I even love the Ashlanders for their preservation of the most ancient barbarian tribal traditions of the Dunmer who first settled Morrowind."

business: "Actually, I believe we've finished our business. I will notify the Temple that you are our champion. There shall be no more persecution of the Dissident Priests, and I hope both sides shall swiftly be reconciled. Now you are my guest, I am your host, and we have time for explanations. Or counsel. Or questions. Or bitter recriminations, if you like. Or you may leave, if you wish. As you wish. But I think before you leave you should hear how to defeat Dagoth Ur, and how you must use the artifact Wraithguard."

explanations: "You want to know... why did I wage war on the Nerevarine? why did I try to suppress the Apographa? why did I persecute the Dissident Priests? why is Dagoth Ur winning the war? how does the Tribunal fight Dagoth Ur? what are Wraithguard's powers?"

war on the Nerevarine: "Why did I try to kill you? Because you threatened the faith of my followers, and I needed their faith to hold back the darkness. And I thought you were my enemy -- a pawn of the subtle Daedra Lord Azura, or a pawn of Emperor Uriel Septim, or a simple fraud -- perhaps a Hero -- but not much of one if my faithful could destroy you. Now circumstances are altered. I need you, and you need me."

suppress the Apographa: "Why did I suppress the Apographa? Because it was such an unfortunate mixture of truth, falsehood, and speculation that I couldn't afford to manage the confused reaction of our faithful. Any doubt whatsoever weakened their faith, and we needed their faith to give us the power to maintain the Ghostfence. In retrospect, perhaps we lost the faith of those we most needed while preserving the faith of the meek and indifferent. Perhaps a mistake was made. Who can say?"

Dagoth Ur winning: "Dagoth Ur is winning because he is close to the source of power, Lorkhan's Heart. And because he retains the passion of madness, while we have settled into the lonely and unrewarding posture of dogged dutifulness and perseverance. And, finally, perhaps because he is stronger and smarter than we are, and his followers are more fervent and fanatical. I believe we were careless and complacent, and out-witted. And, in the matter of denying the Nerevarine, we were foolish."

Tribunal fight Dagoth Ur: "In the past, the Tribunal made seasonal campaigns to Red Mountain. We slew Dagoth Ur and his kin, though the Heart always revived them in time. Later, when we realized we couldn't destroy them, we created the Ghostfence to contain the threat. These solutions were effective until Dagoth Ur ambushed us and captured Sunder and Keening. Since that time, our fortunes have waned as his increased."

Wraithguard's powers: "Wraithguard's primary function is to protect the wearer from the fatal energies of the artifacts Sunder and Keening. It also has minor protective enchantments against physical and magical damage that you may find useful."

Counsel: "You need to know... where is Dagoth Ur? what are Dagoth Ur's plans? who are Dagoth Ur's servants? who is Dagoth Ur? what are Dagoth Ur's powers? what is known about Dagoth Ur's defenses? how can I prepare for battle against Dagoth Ur? who can help?"

where is Dagoth Ur: "Dagoth Ur has never ventured out of the Heart Chamber, the place under Red Mountain where the Heart of Lorkhan lies. It is there, or nearby, that he is constructing a new god, Akulakhan, also known as Second Numidium."

Dagoth Ur's plans: "We know nothing for sure, but we have learned much from interrogating Sixth House cultists and victims of dream compulsions, and from our study of Dagoth Ur's actions. The Temple scholars and Inquisitors have prepared a document, 'Dagoth Ur's Plans,' that summarizes what we know or suspect. Take this copy. It's also available in my library."

Dagoth Ur's servants: "Chief among his servants are his seven brothers, the ash vampires, powerful heartwights and cunning sorcerers of old. These creatures appear to die, but always are revived at the Heart. Somehow Dagoth Ur has conferred some portion of his immortality upon them. Or perhaps they sustain themselves through more conventional sorcery."

Dagoth Ur: "Dagoth Ur is the former Lord High Councilor of House Dagoth. He was of Lord Nerevar's generation, older than we, and a mighty sorcerer and enchanted in life. In his sustained shadow immortality, he appears to be a highly intelligent, severely deluded immortal monster with unparalleled supernatural abilities. He appears, by turns, lucid and deranged, compassionate and bestial, profoundly wise and profoundly disordered. In short, he is a mad god."

Dagoth Ur's powers: "He is able to send his mind into the dreams of susceptible victims across vast distances. The victims are either swayed by his compulsions or driven mad. He also seems nearly invulnerable to physical and magical harm. His flesh, and the flesh of his followers, evolves towards a mutable, magical form. Dagoth Ur and the highest ranks can control the distorted manifestations of their flesh; lower ranks lose control of their bodies, and become mindless corprus monsters."

Dagoth Ur's defenses: "Confer with the Ordinators and Buoyant Armigers garrisoning Ghostgate for the latest information about the defenses of the citadels of Dagoth Ur and his heartwight kin."

prepare for battle: "Prepare for war. Beyond the Ghostfence, there are no safe places, no allies. Stockpile resources. Plan for retreat and replenishment. Quest for artifacts of power."

who can help: "Ordinators and Buoyant Armigers stationed at Ghostgate have the most practical knowledge of the nightmare world inside the Ghostfence. Seek them in my name for counsel and aid."

bitter recriminations: "You want to chide me... why did I murder Nerevar? why did I break my oath to Azura not to use Kagrenac's tools? why did I cause others to suffer?"

murder Nerevar: "We did not murder Nerevar. The legend that we murdered Nerevar comes from a story told by a shield-companion to Nerevar, Alandro Sul, who lived among the Ashlanders. The Ashlanders have retained Alandro Sul's account as part of their oral histories. The account is persuasive in some details, implausible in others, and is in any case false. I have two accounts of Nerevar's death here in my library. Read them, and judge for yourself."

break my oath: "Along with Lord Nerevar, and at his insistence, Almalexia, Sotha Sil, and I swore before our god of oaths at the time, the Daedra Lord Azura, never to employ the tools of Kagrenac for any purpose. We broke our oaths. We turned our backs on the old gods. I still see no compelling reason to worship any of the Aedra or Daedra. But, for the respect I held for Nerevar, and the respect I held for myself, I should never have betrayed my oath. Of all my life's actions, I most regret that failure."

cause others to suffer: "Why did I cause others to suffer? I respect that question, and you for it. The most I can say is: I did the best I could, as I saw things. Can you, mortal, presume to judge the actions and motives of a god? But, because I need you, and you need me, I will make an accounting for my sins, to you. But not now. Destroy Dagoth Ur, and then we will discuss my sins. Then, perhaps, you will have earned the right to judge me."

Divine Powers: "Almalexia, Sotha Sil, and I gained our divine powers from the Heart of Lorkhan. And now we no longer have access to the Heart, so we must lose our divinity. I have always worn my divinity lightly -- fundamentally, I am not at all a serious person -- and I will not miss it. I have tried to do what was necessary. I am afraid I have done some harm. I assure you -- I will be quite content to be a mere mortal again, dedicated to my own amusements."

Dialogue Following the Main Quest
Almalexia: "We don't communicate. Without the Heart, our divine powers must diminish. She takes her divinity very seriously, and the loss weighs heavily on her. She tends to brood, and I fear she will do herself and others harm."

Sotha Sil: "I do not hear from him since our defeat at Red Mountain. Truly, I scarcely ever heard from him. He is completely self-absorbed. Like myself, without the Heart, his divine powers will diminish, but I doubt he will notice the loss. He is fascinated by the hidden world and its mysteries, and I doubt he even notices us most of the time."

Dagoth Ur: "He was a god, and now he is dead. IF one can truly kill a god."

Protector of Morrowind: "There is much to do. You still have Kagrenac's Tools, potent weapons, and the wit and experience of a proven hero. The Tribunal and the Temple are happy to yield to you the duties of fighting the enemies of Morrowind."

Much to do: "There are many blighted beasts and horrors that have survived, and must be hunted down and destroyed. There are lesser monsters and villains of all kinds who prey upon the people. There are unsolved mysteries, and legendary treasures undiscovered. I'm sure you will find much to occupy you."

Rebuilding the Temple: "There are still issues to be resolved between the Temple and the Dissident Priests. And now that our greatest enemy is gone, we must reorganize the Temple to meet the needs of the people. We have less need of Ordinators, for example, and greater need of priests and healers and teachers. And we must find time to mourn and honor the dead."

Reorganize the Temple: "Without the power of the Heart, our divine powers diminish. Our days as gods are numbered. I have told my priests that I shall withdraw from the world, and that the Temple should be prepared for a change. We may be honored no longer as gods, but as saints and heroes, and the Temple will return to the faith of our forefathers -- the worship of our ancestors and the three good daedra, Azura, Mephala, and Boethiah. The missions and traditions of the Temple must continue... but without its Living Gods."

We have survived: "We have lost our divine powers, but not altogether. Some token of the people's faith remains, and we shall dedicate it to rebuilding the Temple. Now that Dagoth Ur is gone, we can turn our energies to the more humble needs of the people. It is good, honest work, and I believe there is redemption in it."

Dialogue Following Tribunal Expansion
Almalexia: [Studies you carefully.] "I see you know something that you choose not to say. That's your right. And perhaps I do not have to be a prophet to imagine what it is that you do not say, Nerevarine."

I found Sotha Sil dead, and killed Almalexia: "That is very sad. I presume she killed Sotha Sil. I thought she might harm me. And I presume she tried to kill you, Nerevarine. It is all very sad. But death comes to all mortals -- and we are all mortal now. In time, death will come to me, Nerevarine -- perhaps even at your hands. It is futile to deny one's fate. But, nonetheless, I'm afraid I find it all very, very sad that it should end this way, something that began in such glory and noble promise."

Additional info

 * Vivec is at level 100, making him one of the highest level NPCs in . Although essential, trapping his soul within a soul gem (has to be Azura's Star) will give any item it's used to enchant a charge of 1000.
 * Fighting this NPC is easier with a high Reflect effect.