The Redguards

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The Redguards

Post by Minor Edits »

I'm currently working on an ESO update to the UESP's Redguard lore page. When I updated it for Skyrim in 2011, I stuck this bit in:

"Occasionally, Satakal will destroy everything, and the spirits who manage to find a way to survive make their way into the Redguard pantheon of gods (evidencing a Redguard mentality that violence is necessary for growth)."

Now, that last bit in parentheticals is just me editorializing; I don't think anything spells that out explicitly. Technically, it's original research, and I should've gotten community approval on the talk page before adding it three years ago. But, well, sue me. I was still relatively wet behind the ears back then.

It's gone unchallenged since then, so I think Newb M.E. was right in assuming it would not be a controversial point. But now, I want to revise and expound upon it a bit with the following:

"Occasionally, Satakal will destroy everything to begin anew, and the spirits who manage to find a way to survive are those who can move at "strange angles" to stride between one world and the next, and thus enter the Redguard pantheon of gods. The Redguard mythology and way of life is characterized by this theme: travel and violence is necessary for survival and prosperity. This mentality is further exhibited in such writings as The Manifesto of Make Way and How the Yokudans Chased the Stars."

I'll seek approval this time, but before I do, does anyone know of any other texts, old or new, which might also be worth a mention? Or anything which debunks or may debunk the premise?

Do you agree with the assessment? If so, any thoughts on how to state it more precisely/eloquently?
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Re: The Redguards

Post by legoless »

Obviously their departure from Yokuda and conquest of Hammerfell comes to mind, but on an individual level I think the Redguards' Wanderlust and reputation as adventurers can support this just as well.
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Re: The Redguards

Post by Pilaf The Defiler »

Frandar Hunding is the god of "Make Way". I'd say progression of some sort is absolutely integral to the Redguard national spirit, and personal spirit as well. Redguard swordsmen consider combat as a type of dance or song, evidenced by their battle cries in ESO. Music and choreographed dance are all about movement and change, just as violence is.
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Re: The Redguards

Post by Minor Edits »

Pilaf The Defiler wrote:Frandar Hunding is the god of "Make Way". I'd say progression of some sort is absolutely integral to the Redguard national spirit, and personal spirit as well. Redguard swordsmen consider combat as a type of dance or song, evidenced by their battle cries in ESO. Music and choreographed dance are all about movement and change, just as violence is.
The whole Hunding-HoonDing thing is something I've been meaning to address for a while. I'll try to get a note in.

What are these ESO battle cries?
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Re: The Redguards

Post by Pilaf The Defiler »

I can't think of the specific ones, but there's a lot of references to music and dancing when you're fighting certain Redguard NPCs. Things like "My blade will sing" or "Shall we dance?" It seems to fit the overall cultural belief of the Sword-Singers, which get brought up a lot in ESO but who are functionally extinct. Apparently they're still a very big deal culturally and are revered and emulated, if poorly.
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