Tribunal

The Tribunal.

For the game, see The Elder Scrolls III: Tribunal.

For the Tribunal in Online, see Tribunal (Online).

The Tribunal, also known as the ALMSIVI or The Three, were the ruling gods of Morrowind and the Dunmer people from 1E 700 to 3E 427. The members of the Tribunal were Vivec, Almalexia, and Sotha Sil, and they were worshiped by the Tribunal Temple.

History of the Tribunal

A fresco depicting the Tribunal.

It began with the War of the First Council after the Chimer uncovered a plot by the Dwemer sorcerer-architect Kagrenac to use the Heart of Lorkhan to construct the Numidium, a giant construct and a mockery of the Daedra and the Chimer faith and way of life. War ensued between the two races. Indoril Nerevar, leader of the Chimer, and Dumac Dwarfking, leader of the Dwemer, faced off in battle and were both seriously injured. Dumac is assumed to have died at the location, and Kagrenac disappeared along with the rest of the Dwemer when he used his tools on the Heart. Nerevar lived for a short time and sought out the counsel of his advisors Vivec, Almalexia and Sotha Sil, about what should be done with the Heart and Kagrenac's Tools. He left his close friend Dagoth Ur to guard the tools while he was gone.

Nerevar and the Tribunal agreed to keep and study the tools and Heart of Lorkhan, but Nerevar's wish was that they should not use the tools for themselves. Nevertheless, they returned to the Dwemer citadel where Dagoth Ur was left on guard. They found him corrupted and unwilling to give up the tools to Nerevar and the Tribunal. Dagoth Ur escaped from the ensuing fight but was forced to give up the tools.

Almalexia, Sotha Sil, and Vivec.

After the battle at Red Mountain and the death of Nerevar, Sotha Sil acquired an understanding of how the tools of Kagrenac and the Heart of Lorkhan worked, and thus how to use them to turn the Tribunal into living gods. The Tribunal then went through the process of stealing its divine essence for themselves. Sotha Sil then angered the Daedric Prince Azura by saying that they did not need the Daedra anymore, as the Tribunal were the new gods of the Chimer people. Azura appeared before them and cursed them for their sacrilege, permanently transforming their entire race. The Chimer's gold skin turned ashen and their eyes a fiery red, thus transforming them into the Dunmer.

When the Nerevarine intervened on Azura's behalf during the events of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (ca.3E 427), Dagoth Ur was defeated and the Heart of Lorkhan destroyed, leaving the gods mortal. Almalexia killed Sotha Sil, and she was later killed by the Nerevarine, leaving Vivec who in turn disappeared during the Oblivion Crisis.< They were replaced by the New Temple, who restored worship to the original pantheon of Azura, Boethiah, and Mephala. Among the Dunmer people, Almalexia, Sotha Sil, and Vivec came to be known as the "False Tribunal" and Boethiah, Azura and Mephala the "True Tribunal."

Members of the Tribunal

Vivec

Vivec City's temple.

Main article: Vivec

Of the three members of the Tribunal, Vivec is the most visible. He is regarded as a poet, warrior, and benevolent king. He is the VI in ALMSIVI, and his "Anticipation" is the Daedric Prince Mephala. He also shares some of Mephala's darker characteristics, such as violence, lust, and conspiracy.

Vivec appears in The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind as being half-Chimer and half-Dunmer. Vivec resides at his temple in the self-titled city of Vivec on Vvardenfell island. The player has the choice of attacking and killing Vivec in the game (ca. 3E 427). Five years later, Vivec is described as having disappeared, and during the Oblivion Crisis rumors talk of him being killed by the Nerevarine.

Almalexia

Mournhold's temple.

Main article: Almalexia

Almalexia is the second most visible of the Tribunal and is regarded as the brave and compassionate queen of the Dunmer people. Her "Anticipation" is Daedric Prince Boethiah, and she is the ALM in ALMSIVI.

In Tribunal and The Elder Scrolls Online, Almalexia is still completely Chimer in appearance, and she rules from the capital city of Mournhold. She has her own personal Ordinators, who bear similar armor to the ones that listen to Lord Vivec. Their armor is heavier and more protective, and they carry special Ebony Scimitars.

Having lost her sanity in the events of Morrowind (ca. 3E 427), Almalexia tries to kill the Nerevarine to prevent her own death after the defeat of Dagoth Ur at Red Mountain, even though she is already mortal by that time.

Sotha Sil

Sotha Sil in his Clockwork City.

Main article: Sotha Sil

Sotha Sil is the least visible of the Tribunal to the public. He is regarded as an extremely powerful and intelligent wizard. His "Anticipation" is Azura, and he is the SI in ALMSIVI. Sotha Sil lives in his Clockwork City made up of his own machines. In Tribunal Sotha Sil is entirely Dunmer in appearance (or he could have decayed, making his skin look darker). He appears to have lost his lower body and right arm and replaced it with machinery.

Sotha Sil is killed by Almalexia as part of a plot to destroy the Nerevarine and stop the prophecy associated with the Nerevarine.

Gallery

Almalexia in 3E 427.

Sotha Sil in 3E 427.

Vivec in 3E 427.

Almalexia in 2E 582.

Sotha Sil in 2E 582.

Vivec in 2E 582.

Concept art of the Tribunal by Michael Kirkbride.

The Temple's banner.

Statue of Sotha Sil.

Trivia

• The Tribunal shares similarities with the "Trimurti" of Hinduism, consisting of the three deities Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the destroyer), which were collectively seen as forming the trinity of supreme divinity in Hinduism.
  • Vivec parallels Brahma in his role within the Tribunal and bears a resemblance to Ardhanarishvara, an androgynous form of the Hindu deity Shiva combined with his consort Parvati, where half is depicted as blue and the other half as gold.
  • Almalexia corresponds to Shiva in her role within the Tribunal, and her visage is reminiscent of Parvati, the mother goddess of Hinduism, who is portrayed as resplendent in gold.
  • Sotha Sil mirrors Vishnu in his role within the Tribunal, and he is characterized by his full-blue appearance.

Appearances

• The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard (mentioned only)
• The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
  • The Elder Scrolls III: Tribunal
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (mentioned only)
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (mentioned only)
  • The Elder Scrolls V: Dragonborn (mentioned only)
• The Elder Scrolls Online
  • The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind
  • The Elder Scrolls Online: Clockwork City
  • The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset
  • The Elder Scrolls Online: Deadlands (mentioned only)
• The Elder Scrolls: Legends