Lady N was nice enough to share this on Reddit. It's notable that some of these concepts clearly didn't make it into Skyrim, but the identities of the actual Totem deities, I assume, didn't change, so we can finally get something close to official confirmation on them. Note the absence of the Owl and the Whale here. I think it's safe to assign them to Jhunal and Tsun respectively.
edit: Adding the relevant tumblr post from MK.
On the Nords' Totemic Religion (design document)
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On the Nords' Totemic Religion (design document)
Monsters are bred in labyrinths, labyrinths are bred from walls. There is a reason the Giants choose to remain nomadic rather than follow their shield kin the Nords in building permanent settlements. The Tower is the beginning of all walls.
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Re: On the Nords' Totemic Religion (design document)
Pretty interesting. A shame these concepts weren't used, it would've really added to the significance of Talos worship.The Nords believe that, During the Oblivion Crisis, it was Talos (Dragonborn, Martin's forefather) lending his aid, not Alduin.
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Re: On the Nords' Totemic Religion (design document)
May I comment on something >_> but this is the 3rd time that I know of where a religion or majority belief mentions different 'time cycles'. We already know about the Rearguards', and in Skyrim we learned from the dragons about the Kalpas(and frankly their word holds more weight), and now the Nords too
It doesnt confuse me much that the Nords would of adapted plenty of the shared beliefs with dragons
Also, I really love the added conflict between the Divines and the nordic gods, it adds a new layer of depth to things
Also, I really love the added conflict between the Divines and the nordic gods, it adds a new layer of depth to things
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