During the Dragon War, a Dragon Priest known as Miraak somehow stumbled onto Apocrypha and met Hermaeus Mora himself. Hermaeus Mora taught Miraak the Bend Will shout, which the Dragon Priest used to rebel against the Dragons, which ultimately resulted in his imprisonment in Apocrypha. He has served the Daedric Prince from that day forward, but plotted to someday betray him and return to Tamriel.
The Dragonborn entered Apocrypha in hopes of learning the Bend Will shout to be able to defeat Miraak. They eventually meet Hermaeus Mora, who teaches them the second word of Bend Will, but will not reveal the third unless they retrieve the secrets of the Skaal for him.
Storn Crag-Strider agrees to meet with Hermaeus Mora, but upon opening the Black Book, Hermaeus Mora extracts the knowledge from Storn's mind, killing him in the process. He then teaches the Dragonborn the final word of Bend Will for their showdown with Miraak.
"So, another seeker after knowledge enters my realm. I am Hermaeus Mora, Prince of Fate and Lord of Secrets. This is Apocrypha, where all knowledge is hoarded. Perhaps you will prove clever enough to uncover the secrets hidden here. If so, welcome. Perhaps you are a fool or a coward. If so, you are in peril. Read your book again and escape before Apocrypha claims you forever."
If the Dragonborn is Hermaeus Mora's champion:
"I know you, champion. The Oghma Infinium was only the beginning. This is Apocrypha, where all knowledge is hoarded. Sate your thirst for knowledge in the endless stacks of my library. If you tire of your search, read your book again to return to your mortal life. For a time. The lure of Apocrypha will call you back. It is your fate."
"All seekers of knowledge come to me, sooner or later."
Who are you?"I am Hermaeus Mora, the Gardener of Men, knower of the unknown, master of fates. You stand in my realm, mortal."
What do you want of me?"You have entered my realm. You have sought out the forbidden knowledge that only one other has obtained. You are Dragonborn, like Miraak before you. A seeker of knowledge and power."
Don't worry, I was just leaving."No. Not yet. I have watched your progress through my realm with growing interest. You are following in the footsteps of my servant Miraak. Like him, you are Dragonborn, and seek the power that is your birthright."
Yes, I came here to learn Miraak's secrets."All that he knows he learned from me."
I won't serve you, monster. I just want to defeat Miraak."You will serve me, willing or not. All who seek after the secrets of the world are my servants."
I don't need your help. I'll learn Miraak's secrets on my own."No, look around. You have done nothing here on your own. You could spend a hundred lifetimes searching my library, and you will never find what you seek."
"I know what you want: to use you power as Dragonborn to bend the world to your will. Here then is the knowledge you need, although you did not know you needed it. The second Word of Power. Use it to bend the wills of mortals to your purpose. But this is not enough. Miraak knows the final Word of Power. Without that, you cannot hope to surpass him. Miraak served me well, and he was rewarded. I can grant you the same power as he wields, but all knowledge has its price."
So what's your price for the final Word of Power?"Knowledge for knowledge. The Skaal have withheld their secrets from me for many long years. The time has come for this knowledge to be added to my library."
Why do I need this Word of Power to defeat Miraak?"Even dragons submit to Miraak's Voice. Without that power, you cannot face him. So say I, Hermaeus Mora, master of the tides of Fate."
Isn't Miraak your ally? Why help me defeat him?"He has served me long and well. But he grows restless under my guidance. His desire to return to your world will spread my influence more widely. But it will also set him free from my direct control. It may be time to replace him with a more loyal servant. One who still appreciates the gifts I have to offer."
I will talk to the Skaal and bring you their secrets."I know you will. And then I will give you the knowledge that you seek."
I will do as you command, my lord."Yes, I know. And then Miraak's power will be yours as well."
What if the Skaal refuse to give up their secrets?"My servant Miraak would have found a way to bring me what I want. So will you if you wish to surpass him."
How do I know I can trust you, demon?"My word is as true as fate, as inevitable as destiny. Bring me what I want, and I will give you what you seek."
"Send the Skaal shaman to me. He holds the secrets that will be mine."
If the Dragonborn is Hermaeus Mora's champion:
"Well done, my champion. Your journey towards enlightenment has finally led you here, to my realm, as I knew it would."
What do you want of me this time?"You have entered my realm. You have sought out the forbidden knowledge that only one other has obtained. You are Dragonborn, like Miraak before you. A seeker of knowledge and power."
What do you want of me, my lord?"Your progress since obtaining my Oghma Infinium has been rapid. And now, I find you here, following in my servant Miraak's footsteps. You also are Dragonborn. You also seek to learn how to bend the world to your will."
Tell me what you want, my lord, and I will bring it to you."You please me, champion. Your loyalty will be richly rewarded. The Skaal have withheld their secrets from me for many long years. The time has come for this knowledge to be added to my library."
Why do I need this Word of Power to defeat Miraak?"Even dragons submit to Miraak's Voice. Without that power, you cannot face him. So say I, Hermaeus Mora, master of the tides of Fate."
Isn't Miraak your ally? Why help me defeat him?"He has served me long and well. But he grows restless under my guidance. His desire to return to your world will spread my influence more widely. But it will also set him free from my direct control. It may be time to replace him with a more loyal servant. One who still appreciates the gifts I have to offer."
I will talk to the Skaal and bring you their secrets."I know you will. And then I will give you the knowledge that you seek."
I will do as you command, my lord."Yes, I know. And then Miraak's power will be yours as well."
What if the Skaal refuse to give up their secrets?"My servant Miraak would have found a way to bring me what I want. So will you if you wish to surpass him."
How do I know I can trust you, demon?"My word is as true as fate, as inevitable as destiny. Bring me what I want, and I will give you what you seek."
"Here then is the knowledge you need, although you did not know you needed it. The second Word of Power. Use it to bend the wills of mortals to your purpose. But this is not enough. Miraak knows the final Word of Power. Without that, you cannot hope to surpass him. Send the Skaal shaman to me. He holds the secrets that will be mine."
Yes, I came here to learn Miraak's secrets."All that he knows he learned from me."
I don't need your help. I'll learn Miraak's secrets on my own."No, look around. You have done nothing here on your own. You could spend a hundred lifetimes searching my library, and you will never find what you seek."
"I know what you want: to use you power as Dragonborn to bend the world to your will. Here then is the knowledge you need, although you did not know you needed it. The second Word of Power. Use it to bend the wills of mortals to your purpose. But this is not enough. Miraak knows the final Word of Power. Without that, you cannot hope to surpass him. Miraak served me well, and he was rewarded. I can grant you the same power as he wields, but all knowledge has its price."
So what's your price for the final Word of Power?"Knowledge for knowledge. The Skaal have withheld their secrets from me for many long years. The time has come for this knowledge to be added to my library."
Why do I need this Word of Power to defeat Miraak?"Even dragons submit to Miraak's Voice. Without that power, you cannot face him. So say I, Hermaeus Mora, master of the tides of Fate."
Isn't Miraak your ally? Why help me defeat him?"He has served me long and well. But he grows restless under my guidance. His desire to return to your world will spread my influence more widely. But it will also set him free from my direct control. It may be time to replace him with a more loyal servant. One who still appreciates the gifts I have to offer."
I will talk to the Skaal and bring you their secrets."I know you will. And then I will give you the knowledge that you seek."
I will do as you command, my lord."Yes, I know. And then Miraak's power will be yours as well."
What if the Skaal refuse to give up their secrets?"My servant Miraak would have found a way to bring me what I want. So will you if you wish to surpass him."
How do I know I can trust you, demon?"My word is as true as fate, as inevitable as destiny. Bring me what I want, and I will give you what you seek."
"Send the Skaal shaman to me. He holds the secrets that will be mine."
Conversations
The Black Book
Frea: "Father, you must not do this. That book is... wrong. Evil. Against everything that you have taught me my whole life." Storn: "I must, Frea. It is the only way to free Solstheim forever from Miraak's shadow. There comes a time when everything must change. Nothing that lives remains the same forever. Do not fear for me, my daughter. This is the destiny that the All-Maker has laid out for me." Frea: "I stand beside you, father, as always." Storn: "I am ready for whatever the foul master of this book has in store for me." Hermaeus Mora: "At last, the Skaal yield up their secrets to me." Storn: "You... liar... gah! ... I won't... not... for you..." Frea: "Father! No, stop!" Frea: "Do something!" Hermaeus Mora: "Dragonborn, you have delivered me the gift I requested. In return, I keep my promise, as befits a Prince of Oblivion: I give you the Word of Power that you need to challenge Miraak. You will be either a worthy opponent or his successor, as the tides of fate decree." Frea: "Father! What have you done! Go. My father sacrificed himself so that you could destroy Miraak and lift his master's shadow from the land. Go, then. Kill Miraak. Do not fail." Fanari Strong-Voice: "Goodbye, old friend. We will miss you, but do not worry. Frea will guide us well, thanks to you." Deor Woodcutter: "Frea... I'm sorry." Baldor Iron-Shaper: "I... uh... you'll be missed, old man." Oslaf: "You always protected us. I hope you find peace in the next life. Goodbye, old one." Aeta: "It can't be... please, All-Maker, send him back to us..." Wulf Wild-Blood: "Return to the All-Maker, old one. The Skaal will never forget your sacrifice." Finna: "May the All-Maker guide your soul to the next life." Edla: "We won't forget what you did for us, Storn Crag-Strider. Walk with the All-Maker." Morwen: "I don't really understand what you did, but I trust you did it for the good of the village. So... thank you." Yrsa: "Oh... so terrible. When will these dark times be over?" Tharstan: "By the gods... I've never seen anything like it... I, uh... I don't think this will go in my book." Nikulas: "Frea... what happened? What was that thing? I thought the village was safe now."
The end of the First Dragonborn
Miraak: "Wuld Nah Kest!" Hermaeus Mora: "Did you think you could escape me, Miraak? You can hide nothing from me here. No matter. I have found a new Dragonborn to serve me." Miraak: "May he be rewarded for his service as I am!" Hermaeus Mora: "Miraak harbored fantasies of rebellion against me. Learn from his example. Serve me faithfully, and you will continue to be richly rewarded."
If the Dragonborn enters Hermaeus Mora's realm of Apocrypha after having completed "Discerning the Transmundane," Mora will address them as his champion and state that "the Oghma Infinium was just the beginning." If this is done in reverse (defeating Miraak then starting "Discerning the Transmundane"), Mora will mention that he has been watching the Dragonborn since they defeated Miraak.
If "tfc" is typed into the console while Hermaeus is talking to the Dragonborn as a large eye, the eye will follow the camera, and not focus on the Dragonborn.
If "player.placeatme 0301ff3a" (the code to spawn Hermaeus Mora) is typed into the console, a naked black Orc with warpaint will spawn, he will not be interactable and will not speak, if attacked, he will run away and has nothing in his inventory.
