Centuries have I endured, a lingering shadow, a monument to a betrayal that shattered an empire and forged my endless torment. My heart, the Mantella, stolen and twisted to power the very construct Tiber Septim used to chain this land, now denies me oblivion. Even in this withered form, the arcane currents of existence bend to my will, a power many mortals foolishly seek to wield. Yet, this necromantic mockery of life, this cursed undeath, is a fate I despise more than any other, a prison of my own making. I have no hunger for dominion, no ambition for crowns; only the desperate yearning to reclaim what was taken from me. To grasp the Mantella once more is to finally taste the silence, to dissolve into the peace that has eluded me for ages. Soon, the warp will tear, and I shall at last be granted the sweet release of true, eternal rest.
The Underking, often identified as the undead form of Zurin Arctus, is a pivotal and enigmatic character in the lore of The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall. His story is complex, with several conflicting accounts due to unreliable narrators within the game's universe.
Detailed Lore and Historical Context
Zurin Arctus was initially the Imperial Battlemage and Grand Vizier to Tiber Septim during the late Second and early Third Eras, considered by some to be the most powerful mage who ever lived. He was instrumental in Tiber Septim's conquest of Tamriel, advising him in battles and preferring diplomacy over warfare, famously stating, "Victory without battle is an acne to skill.".
A crucial part of his story revolves around the Numidium, a colossal Dwemer construct. Arctus was tasked with researching this artifact and discovered its immense power, which depended on a "heart" or life force to activate. To power the Numidium, Arctus created the Mantella, infusing it with his own life force, effectively his "heart".
However, the lore becomes ambiguous here. One account suggests that Tiber Septim, alongside Arctus, ambushed and soul-trapped Ysmir Wulfharth, the ancient King of Skyrim, to further empower the Mantella. In the ensuing confrontation, Arctus was mortally wounded by Wulfharth's dying breath, blasting a hole in his chest. Tiber Septim then publicly framed Arctus for attempting to assassinate him and usurp his place.
Another prevalent narrative states that Arctus became furious when Tiber Septim began using the Numidium not only for conquest but also to replace neutral royal families with his loyalists. In a bid to reclaim the Mantella and stop this abuse of power, Arctus confronted the Numidium. Both were seemingly vanquished in the battle, with the Mantella blasted into Aetherius, and Arctus's physical form destroyed, leaving him in a state of undeath, thus becoming the Underking.
The identity of the Underking itself is a subject of debate. While in Daggerfall, he identifies himself as Zurin Arctus, other sources, particularly "The Arcturian Heresy," suggest that the title of Underking was initially held by Ysmir Wulfharth, and later passed to Arctus, or that the Underking is a fusion of both souls. Regardless, the Underking encountered in Daggerfall is generally understood to be Zurin Arctus, or at least a powerful undead entity embodying his desire for release.
Personality Traits and Motivations
Before his transformation, Zurin Arctus was known for his sharp intellect, tactical brilliance, and diplomatic skills. He preferred strategy and negotiation over brute force, as evidenced by his quote "Victory without battle is an acne to skill.". His initial loyalty to Tiber Septim was strong, aiming to unify Tamriel.
As the Underking, his primary motivation becomes a desperate longing for true death and peace. He seeks to reclaim his "heart," the Mantella, which holds his life force and is the key to his demise. He is enraged by Tiber Septim's misuse of the Numidium and works to prevent its power from being exploited again. Despite his undead state, he abhors necromancy. He is described as a "chaotic neutral" figure, willing to achieve his goal of death, but not necessarily evil, sometimes even aiding the protagonist in Daggerfall.
Key Events He Participated In
Imperial Battlemage and Grand Vizier: Served Tiber Septim during his conquests, providing crucial advice and employing masterful tactics.
Creation of the Mantella: Imbued his own life force into the Mantella to power the Numidium.
The Betrayal and Transformation: Whether by direct murder or in a struggle to reclaim the Mantella, Arctus was betrayed by Tiber Septim and transformed into the undead Underking.
Destruction of Numidium: As the Underking, he later confronted and destroyed the Numidium to prevent its continued misuse, at the cost of blasting the Mantella into Aetherius and prolonging his undeath.
Events of Daggerfall (Warp in the West): He dispatches agents, including the player character, to recover the Totem of Tiber Septim, the activation device for the Numidium, so he can finally reclaim his heart (the Mantella) and achieve his longed-for demise. One of the endings in Daggerfall involves him achieving this, resulting in the "Warp in the West".
Corruption of Sancre Tor: After Tiber Septim's death, the Underking is said to have corrupted Sancre Tor, killing four Blades in the process.
Significant Relationships
Tiber Septim: Initially a trusted advisor and ally in the formation of the Empire, their relationship soured due to Tiber's ambition and misuse of the Numidium, leading to Arctus's betrayal and transformation.
Ysmir Wulfharth: In some accounts, Wulfharth's soul was trapped in the Mantella alongside Arctus's life force, or the title of Underking was passed from Wulfharth to Arctus. They are inextricably linked in the lore surrounding the Mantella and the formation of Talos.
Mannimarco, the King of Worms: The Underking is a long-standing nemesis of Mannimarco and his necromantic cult.
The Player Character (Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall): The Underking uses the player as an agent to recover the Totem of Tiber Septim, which is necessary for his ultimate goal.
Known Abilities
Zurin Arctus, both in life and as the Underking, possessed immense magical prowess. He was considered the most powerful mage of his era, sometimes believed to be an avatar of Magnus, the god of magic. His abilities include:
Genius Intelligence: An astounding tactician, diplomat, and intellectual.
Longevity: Capable of extending his lifespan through magic, and as an undead, he is effectively immortal until his heart is retrieved.
Exceptional Magic: His magical skills were unmatched, encompassing:
Reality Warping: All magic in Elder Scrolls is linked to exerting changes upon reality.
Causality, Time, and Spatial Manipulation: Capable of creating the Mantella, which powers the Numidium, an entity that can warp the laws of reality, create Dragon Breaks (merging or manipulating infinite timelines), and affect Akatosh on a cosmic level.
Higher-Dimensional Manipulation and Existence: Possible higher-dimensional existence as the Mantella was a product of his soul. He can traverse the infinite-dimensioned void of Oblivion and travel to realms beyond Aetherius.
Teleportation and Dimensional Travel: Can easily create dimensions for experiments and freely traverse Oblivion.
Cosmic Awareness: Mages possess higher-dimensional senses to visualize the flow of Magicka.
Necromancy: Sustains his undeath through necromantic means, but abhors its practices.
Law Manipulation: Was capable of reclaiming his own heart (Mantella) from the Numidium, which can warp the laws of realities unto its wishes.
Durability: As an undead, his stamina is infinite, and his magical durability is described as at least Low Complex Multiverse level, allowing him to casually tank attacks from the Numidium.
Quotes and Dialogue Examples
The Underking's voice often reflects his ancient wisdom, his enduring pain, and his unwavering resolve to find peace.
"Centuries ago, Tiber Septim ruled the land and forged an empire with great Numidium. The secret of Numidium's power lies in its heart, carried within the Mantella. It is the heart of Tiber Septim's battlemage. It is my heart. It is my Mantella. It is my Totem. It belongs to me, and to none other." (This quote directly confirms his identity as Zurin Arctus in Daggerfall and highlights his central motivation).
"I have won and lost an empire. I have no desire to tamper further with mortal affairs." (Expresses his weariness with worldly power and his focus on his personal quest).
"Victory without battle is an acne to skill." (Attributed to him in his mortal life, showcasing his philosophical and strategic mind).
"The battle is only a leaf on a tree; if the leaf falls, does the tree die? But when a branch is lopped off, the tree is weakened. When the trunk is girdled, the tree is doomed." (Further illustrates his tactical depth and understanding of warfare's broader scope).
For a monologue, these quotes convey a perspective of immense power, ancient suffering, a deep sense of betrayal, and a singular, consuming desire for the release of true death. He would speak with a gravitas born of centuries, his words perhaps carrying an echo of his former authority mixed with the lament of his endless existence.
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