Skyrim:Hermaeus Mora

Hermaeus Mora (lore page)
Location	Apocrypha
Race	Orc	Gender	Male
Level	1	Class	Dremora Class
RefID	N/A	BaseID	xx01FF3A
Other Information
Health	50	Magicka	50
Stamina	50
Voice Type	Unique

Hermaeus Mora

Hermaeus Mora (or Herma-Mora) is the Daedric prince of knowledge, sometimes called the Demon of Knowledge, whose sphere is the scrying of the tides of Fate of the past and future. Unlike most Princes, Hermaeus Mora does not take on a humanoid form, but appears instead as a grotesque abomination: he is a green mass or void of tentacles and eyes.

Apocrypha is Hermaeus Mora's plane of Oblivion—a virtually endless library where all forbidden knowledge can be found. Hermaeus' grasp of tentacles constantly breach the murky dark waters. Seekers and Lurkers serve Hermaeus Mora by guarding the secrets of the Black Books.

The first Dragonborn, Miraak, sought out Hermaeus Mora and became his champion. Mora would protect Miraak after he betrayed the dragons, taking him to Apocrypha.

For more information, see the lore article.

Related Quests

• Discerning the Transmundane: Uncover the secrets of the mysterious Dwemer lockbox.
• The Gardener of Men^DB: Travel to the realm of Hermaeus Mora to learn the rest of Bend Will.
• At the Summit of Apocrypha^DB: Confront Miraak at the summit of Apocrypha and defeat him once and for all.

Quest-Related Events

Discerning the Transmundane

When you go to leave Septimus's outpost after he reads the lexicon, you will find the exit blocked by a mass of tentacles labeled "Wretched Abyss". It will greet you and force you to talk to it before you can leave.

"Come closer. Bask in my presence."

You can ask:

Who are you?

Hermaeus Mora's response will differ based on your progress through the Dragonborn DLC.

"I am Hermaeus Mora. I am the guardian of the unseen, and knower of the unknown. I have been watching you, mortal. Most impressive." (if you haven't met him before or don't have the DLC)

"I am Hermaeus Mora. I have been watching you since we last spoke, and I am pleased with your progress." (if you have met him in The Gardener of Men)

"I am Hermaeus Mora. I have been watching you since you defeated Miraak. Your progress is most impressive." (if you have defeated Miraak)

What do you want of me?

"Your continuing aid to Septimus renders him increasingly obsolete. He has served me well, but his time is nearing its end. Once that infernal lockbox is opened, he will have exhausted his usefulness to me. When that time comes, you shall take his place as my emissary. What say you?"

You have two possible replies, though it doesn't matter which you choose.

I am your servant, my lord.

"Indeed. Speak with me when the box has been opened, and all shall be revealed."

I'll never join you, vile demon!

"Be warned. Many have thought as you do. I have broken them all. You shall not evade me forever."

Hermaeus Mora will then disappear and allow you to pass.

Once you have the Oghma Infinium:

"Come, my champion."

What now?

"Now you have my Oghma Infinium. It contains the knowledge of the ages as revealed to Xarses [sic], my loyal servant. For hundreds of years it's been shut away from the world. Septimus was a useful tool for unleashing it. Now it is in your hands. Let us work wonders together..."

I am not your champion, monster.

"Who do you think brought Septimus here? Who do you think protected you on your journey to open the box and loose my knowledge on this world? Your free will is an illusion. Whether you acknowledge me or not is your own business. But I will be in your mind."

The Gardener of Men

In the Chapter I, if this is your first trip (not counting the one where you first meet Miraak), Hermaeus Mora will appear, floating above the platform as a tentacled eyeball. He will speak to you of Apocrypha's seductive wealth of knowledge. His dialogue depends on the status of the quest Discerning the Transmundane:

If you haven't met Hermaeus Mora before:

"So, another seeker after knowledge enters my realm. I am Hermaeus Mora, Prince of Fate and Lord of Secrets. This is Apocrypha, where all knowledge is hoarded. Perhaps you will prove clever enough to uncover the secrets hidden here. If so, welcome. Perhaps you are a fool or a coward. If so, you are in peril. Read your book again and escape before Apocrypha claims you forever."

If you have completed Discerning the Transmundane:

"I know you, champion. The Oghma Infinium was only the beginning. This is Apocrypha, where all knowledge is hoarded. Sate your thirst for knowledge in the endless stacks of my library. If you tire of your search, read your book again to return to your mortal life. For a time. The lure of Apocrypha will call you back. It is your fate."

You can meet him later in the Chapter IV. Upon interaction with the Black Book: Epistolary Acumen Hermaeus Mora will be summoned.

The following dialogue is dependent on the status of the quest Discerning the Transmundane. If the quest has been completed, Hermaeus Mora greets you in one of two ways:

• If you respected Mora before: "Well done, my champion. Your journey towards enlightenment has finally led you here, to my realm, as I knew it would."
• If you disrespected Mora before: "You thought to reject me, and yet here you are. Your journey towards enlightenment has finally led you here, to my realm, as I knew it would."

This presents two possible replies:

• What do you want of me this time? "You have entered my realm. You have sought out the forbidden knowledge that only one other has obtained. You are Dragonborn, like Miraak before you. A seeker of knowledge and power."
• What do you want of me, my lord? "Your progress since obtaining my Oghma Infinium has been rapid. And now, I find you here, following in my servant Miraak's footsteps. You also are Dragonborn. You also seek to learn how to bend the world to your will."

Alternatively, if Discerning the Transmundane has not yet been completed, he will simply greet you with: "All seekers of knowledge come to my realm, sooner or later."

In this case you may ask following questions:

• Who are you? "I am Hermaeus Mora, the Gardener of Men, knower of the unknown, master of fates. You stand in my realm, mortal."
• What do you want of me? "You have entered my realm. You have sought out the forbidden knowledge that only one other has obtained. You are Dragonborn, like Miraak before you. A seeker of knowledge and power."
• Don't worry, I was just leaving. "No. Not yet. I have watched your progress through my realm with growing interest. You are following in the footsteps of my servant Miraak. Like him, you are Dragonborn, and seek the power that is your birthright."

Either way, the following set of dialogue choices becomes available, where he reveals that you cannot hope to surpass Miraak without the last word of power:

• Yes, I came here to learn Miraak's secrets. "All that he knows he learned from me."
• I won't serve you, monster. I just want to defeat Miraak. "You will serve me, willing or not. All who seek after the secrets of the world are my servants."
• I don't need your help. I'll learn Miraak's secrets on my own. "No, look around. You have done nothing here on your own. You could spend a hundred lifetimes searching my library, and you will never find what you seek."
• Tell me what you want my lord, and I will bring it to you. "You please me champion. Your loyalty will be richly rewarded. The Skaal have withheld their secrets from me for many long years. The time has come for this knowledge to be added to my library."

Regardless of what option is chosen, Hermaeus Mora ends with: "I know what you want: to use your power as Dragonborn to bend the world to your will. Here then is the knowledge you need, although you did not know you needed it. The second Word of Power. Use it to bend the wills of mortals to your purpose. But this is not enough. Miraak knows the final Word of Power. Without that, you cannot hope to surpass him. Miraak served me well, and he was rewarded. I can grant you the same power as he wields, but all knowledge has its price."

Next, he reveals his price for the Word of Power, knowledge for knowledge:

• Tell me what you want my lord, and I will bring it to you. "You please me champion. Your loyalty will be richly rewarded. The Skaal have withheld their secrets from me for many long years. The time has come for this knowledge to be added to my library."
• So what's your price for the final Word of Power? "Knowledge for knowledge. The Skaal have withheld their secrets from me for many long years. The time has come for this knowledge to be added to my library."
• Why do I need this Word of Power to defeat Miraak? "Even dragons submit to Miraak's Voice. Without that power, you cannot face him. So say I, Hermaeus Mora, master of the Tides of fate."
• Isn't Miraak your ally? Why help me defeat him? "He has served me long and well. But he grows restless under my guidance. His desire to return to your world will spread my influence more widely. But it will also set him free from my direct control. It may be time to replace him with a more loyal servant. One who still appreciates the gifts I have to offer."

After this section, the conversation ends with the following set of options:

• I will talk to the Skaal and bring you their secrets. "I know you will. And then I will give you the knowledge that you seek."
• I will do as you command, my lord. "Yes, I know. And then Miraak's power will be yours as well."
• What if the Skaal refuse to give up their secrets? "My servant Miraak would have found a way to bring me what I want. So will you if you wish to surpass him."
• How do I know I can trust you, demon? "My word is as true as fate, as inevitable as destiny. Bring me what I want, and I will give you what you seek."

Regardless of what option is chosen, Hermaeus Mora parts with: "Send the Skaal shaman to me. He holds the secrets that will be mine.", referring to Storn Crag-Strider.

Just before Hermaeus Mora fades away, he teaches you the second word to Bend Will. After this, you may choose from one of three powers emanating from the Black Book:

• Dragonborn Flame — When your Fire Breath shout kills an enemy, a Fire Wyrm emerges from the corpse to fight for you for 60 seconds.
• Dragonborn Force — Your Unrelenting Force shout does more damage and may disintegrate enemies.
• Dragonborn Frost — Your Frost Breath shout encases foes in ice.

Only one ability from the book may be accepted at a time.

He later appears in the Skaal Village to kill Storn Crag-Strider:

Hermaeus Mora manifests in Nirn

Frea: "Father, you must not do this. That book is... wrong. Evil. Against everything that you have taught me my whole life."

Storn Crag-Strider: "I must, Frea. It is the only way to free Solstheim forever from Miraak's shadow. There comes a time when everything must change. Nothing that lives remains the same forever. Do not fear for me, my daughter. This is the destiny that the All-Maker has laid out for me."

Frea: "I stand beside you, father, as always."

Storn Crag-Strider: "I am ready for whatever the foul master of this book has in store for me."

Hermaeus Mora: "At last, the Skaal yield up their secrets to me."

Storn Crag-Strider: "You... liar... gah! ... I won't... not... for you..."

Frea: "Father! No, stop!"

Frea: "Do something!"

Hermaeus Mora: "Dragonborn, you have delivered me the gift I requested. In return, I keep my promise, as befits a Prince of Oblivion: I give you the Word of Power that you need to challenge Miraak. You will be either a worthy opponent or his successor, as the tides of fate decree."

Frea: "Father! What have you done! Go. My father sacrificed himself so that you could destroy Miraak and lift his master's shadow from the land. Go, then. Kill Miraak. Do not fail."

Fanari Strong-Voice: "Goodbye, old friend. We will miss you, but do not worry. Frea will guide us well, thanks to you."

Deor Woodcutter: "Frea... I'm sorry."

Baldor Iron-Shaper: "I... uh... you'll be missed, old man."

Oslaf: "You always protected us. I hope you find peace in the next life. Goodbye, old one."

Aeta: "It can't be... please, All-Maker, send him back to us..."

Wulf Wild-Blood: "Return to the All-Maker, old one. The Skaal will never forget your sacrifice."

Finna: "May the All-Maker guide your soul to the next life."

Edla: "We won't forget what you did for us, Storn Crag-Strider. Walk with the All-Maker."

Morwen: "I don't really understand what you did, but I trust you did it for the good of the village. So... thank you."

Yrsa: "Oh... so terrible. When will these dark times be over?"

Tharstan: "By the gods... I've never seen anything like it... I, uh... I don't think this will go in my book."

Nikulas: "Frea... what happened? What was that thing? I thought the village was safe now."

At the Summit of Apocrypha

The death of Miraak

Once Miraak's health during the final confrontation with the Dragonborn reaches a certain level he will attempt to escape the arena. Hermaeus Mora will intervene, claiming that Miraak can hide nothing from him in his realm. The Daedric Prince then impales Miraak with a tentacle, and explains to Miraak that his death is insignificant, as he has found a new Dragonborn to 'serve' him. As Miraak dies, he wishes upon you the same fate he is about to suffer, and then disintegrates into nothing but bones as his soul departs from his body to be absorbed by you, along with all the dragon souls he stole from you.

Miraak: "Wuld Nah Kest!"

Hermaeus Mora: "Did you think you could escape me, Miraak? You can hide nothing from me here. No matter. I have found a new Dragonborn to serve me."

Miraak: "May he be rewarded for his service as I am!"

Hermaeus Mora: "Miraak harbored fantasies of rebellion against me. Learn from his example. Serve me faithfully, and you will continue to be richly rewarded."

Notes

The Wretched Abyss without Dragonborn

• Without the Dragonborn DLC installed, Hermaeus Mora will appear in Discerning the Transmundane as a blue/purple orb-shaped "Wretched Abyss", rather than a green and black mass of eyes and tentacles.