Lore:Keepers of the Dead
Descendants must always be directed to the ancestors they seek.
The homes of the dead will be cleaned regularly.
Offerings shall be left at the tombs of the dead.
None shall disturb the rest of the ancestor spirits.
When the time comes, treat the remains of the deceased with dignity.
The dead must cared for.
All these duties I swear to uphold upon the life I live and the one I shall inhabit thereafter." — Oath of the Keepers[1]
The Keepers of the Dead (or the Dead Keepers)[2][3] are a hierarchy of priests and attendants in Morrowind who serve as the caretakers of the large Necropolis expanse in Necrom, the City of the Dead. While an independent order,[verification needed — see talk page] they ultimately answer to the authority of the Tribunal Temple.[4] They are responsible for handling the deceased Dunmer who are brought and prepared for burial with the appropriate rituals within the Catacombs of Necrom.[5] Wooden ramps on the city's staircases serve to transport the bodies.[6] As a sign of great honor and sacrifice, often part of the family member's will, ancestors may grant that part of their remains be retained to serve as part of a ghost fence protecting the clan's shrine and family precincts. The stewards handle the arrangement, where the ancestor's body part (and sometimes their entire skeleton/preserved corpse) is incorporated with solemn magic and ceremony into a clan ghost fence.[7] Heavy cold-iron shackles and ice staves used by the keeper guards to keep recalcitrant undead and unruly ancestor spirits in line.[8][9] The keepers store the Indigo Tomes in the vaults of the city,[10][11] and are in charge of other monasteries in the area.[12][13]
The ancient traditions of the Keepers predate the formation of the Tribunal.[5]
Gallery[edit]
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Necrom Prelate Robes
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Abbot Ilvel
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Gadayn, a curate of the Keepers
See Also[edit]
- For game-specific information, see the Elder Scrolls Online
article. - Ordinators, an arm of the temple that also maintains Necrom.
Books[edit]
- Incident in Necrom by Jonquilla Bothe — A story about an illusionist
References[edit]
- ^ Oath of the Keepers
- ^ The Spires of the 34th Sermon — Zamshiq af-Halazh, University of Gwylim
- ^ Preparing Necrom Kwama, Fifth Draft — Arsyn Herandus
- ^ Curate Gadayn's dialogue in ESO: Necrom
- ^ a b Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition: Morrowind — Imperial Geographical Society, 2E 864
- ^ Visitor's Guide: Telvanni Peninsula — Olyn Varkenel
- ^ Ancestors and the Dunmer
- ^ Dead Keeper's Shackles item description
- ^ Mortal Chill staff item description
- ^ Ayrenn: The Unforeseen Queen — Headmaster Tanion of the College of Aldmeri Propriety
- ^ Loremaster's Archive - House Telvanni — Divayth Fyr
- ^ Incident in Necrom — Jonquilla Bothe
- ^ Keepers of the Dead in ESO
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