Nibenay is coming, will we see more of the Nedes?

Supreme_Atromancer

With the upcoming Blackwood chapter, we will have the opportunity to explore a significant part of the Nibenay geographical region. While the eastern half of the worldspace will obviously be an opportunity to experience plenty of Argonian stuff, the western half will be part of the core area anciently belonging to the Nibenese. The history of the area is overshadowed by the domination by heartland elves of the Nedes.

Lawrence Schick, speaking in character as Abnur Tharn in an old "Loremaster's Archive" article, expresses the belief that the Nibenese are the inheritors of the ancient nedic spirit:

In Nibenay alone do we find the kind of continuity that sheds light on original Nedic culture, for only here were the great, old traditions maintained in any fidelity. Thus, when you look at a Nibenese, you see the closest thing to a pure-bred Nede still remaining on this continent.

. Note, that he is speaking in present tense.

While we've seen this area in a previous title, and Zenimax likes to stick close to established geography, they also express a desire to put their own stamp on things. Amongst the shortcomings of TES4: Oblivion's lore was it's lack of development or distinction of this idea of Nibenese people. If they come from Nedic roots, surely somewhere, the remains of these roots must still exist? For the Ayleids to conquer them, there must have been something to conquer?

In my opinion, ESO's depiction of a Nedic culture and society was one of the more substantial and organic contributions to TES lore. They were lifted out of the PGEs and given shape and tone that we have never seen before. They managed to do this, while still weaving them into the lore framework that was already established. We haven't seen anything since then. Yet theoretically, the nedic culture(s) constitute a horizon over which all the other cultures of continental Tamriel have built, and like Craglorn, Nibenay must have been an important centre, or at least the exciting theatre for one of Tamriel's most significant periods.

Thoughts?

tsaescishoeshiner

Supreme_Atromancer wrote: »

Lawrence Schick, speaking in character as Abnur Tharn in an old "Loremaster's Archive" article, expresses the belief that the Nibenese are the inheritors of the ancient nedic spirit:

In Nibenay alone do we find the kind of continuity that sheds light on original Nedic culture, for only here were the great, old traditions maintained in any fidelity. Thus, when you look at a Nibenese, you see the closest thing to a pure-bred Nede still remaining on this continent.

. Note, that he is speaking in present tense.

The main quest of Markarth DLC states that certain Reachmen rituals and ceremony date back to Nedic ancestors (we even get to see them!). So there's some cultural and ancestral lineage that remains in the Reach, contradicting or adding to what our boy Abnur had to say.

The idea that the Nibenese are the closest thing to living Nedes could also partly serve as Imperial propaganda—who better to rule Tamriel than its original inhabitants? It's safe to say that Abnur is Nibenese and very pro-Imperial, but hopefully we'll get to see how much of Nibenese style and culture is Nedic, Alessian, Akaviri, or its own thing.

I'm not sure if Nedic outfits in the Dwarven Crown Crates out now give us any insight into their stylistic influences. The metalwork seems more intricate than Reach armor. Thoughts, anyone?

The new character select screen has Ayleid ruins in the background, and we're getting an Ayleid crate season this year, as well as an Ayleid house, so there's a lot of reason to hope for Ayleid history to play a prominent role, and maybe we'll get some answers to the Nedic-Nibenese connection!

Supreme_Atromancer

tsaescishoeshiner wrote: »

Supreme_Atromancer wrote: »

Lawrence Schick, speaking in character as Abnur Tharn in an old "Loremaster's Archive" article, expresses the belief that the Nibenese are the inheritors of the ancient nedic spirit:

In Nibenay alone do we find the kind of continuity that sheds light on original Nedic culture, for only here were the great, old traditions maintained in any fidelity. Thus, when you look at a Nibenese, you see the closest thing to a pure-bred Nede still remaining on this continent.

. Note, that he is speaking in present tense.

The idea that the Nibenese are the closest thing to living Nedes could also partly serve as Imperial propaganda—who better to rule Tamriel than its original inhabitants? It's safe to say that Abnur is Nibenese and very pro-Imperial, but hopefully we'll get to see how much of Nibenese style and culture is Nedic, Alessian, Akaviri, or its own thing.

I'm almost certain there's some propaganda-driven bluster here, too. Although, if there's any grain of truth at all, we could expect Nibenay to have hosted signficant Nedic settlement at some time. "Great, old traditions" strong enough to be transmitted across time suggest some degree of centralisation. I think that conceptually, Craglorn's Nedes were so well done, so convincing that its amongst the very best contributions that ZOS have brought to TES. I hope the thread they began of exploring who the Nedes are is continued.

I'm not sure if Nedic outfits in the Dwarven Crown Crates out now give us any insight into their stylistic influences. The metalwork seems more intricate than Reach armor. Thoughts, anyone?

There's a lot of overlap between Reachman and Nedic aesthetic. Other Crownstore offerings have pointed out the similarities. Crude, primitive bone, skull and antler features in both. Although the major difference seems to be the Nedes' ability to work with iron, as you point out. Interestingly, some of the motifs you can see on the Craglorn Nedic ruins and Celestial style armours (presumably these are nedic) are also on those Nedic outfits in the Dwarven Crown Crates if you look closely enough. Its been pointed out before that the Nedes were a very heterogeneous group. But if groups as diverse as the Keptu in the west and the Rontha of Stonefalls many leagues to the east can sport such similar iconography, there must be some unifying foundations, some Great, old traditions to bluster about.

The Nedic roots of the Imperial race should be just as important and visceral to the story and history of Cyrodiil as the Aylieds are. Nibenay seems like a great opportunity to tell this story.

Eporem

https://www.reddit.com/r/teslore/comments/lvblh8/on_nedes_part_1_introduction/

Found this on the Nedes in another lore forum that I found interesting to read ... it is to have five parts...

MaisonNaevius

It would be an opportunity ... But I don't know. I have the feeling that the accent will be put between the Nibenese, the Argonians and Dagon. In any case, we risk being disappointed for the lore if we have the same treatment of Blackwood as with Western Skyrim.

Aliyavana

Eporem wrote: »

https://www.reddit.com/r/teslore/comments/lvblh8/on_nedes_part_1_introduction/

Found this on the Nedes in another lore forum that I found interesting to read ... it is to have five parts...

That post is tagged as an Apocrypha, meaning it is fan canon. Dont take it seriously.

Eporem

Aliyavana wrote: »

Eporem wrote: »

https://www.reddit.com/r/teslore/comments/lvblh8/on_nedes_part_1_introduction/

Found this on the Nedes in another lore forum that I found interesting to read ... it is to have five parts...

That post is tagged as an Apocrypha, meaning it is fan canon. Dont take it seriously.

Thankyou @Aliyavana - did not realize Apocrypha meant this. Funny though after reading this post and logging into the game the first book I came across was this one:

Supreme_Atromancer

Got the chance to do Blackdrake Villa tonight; if you pay attention, you can notice that some of the furnishings throughout the dungeon have Nedic motifs on them. Maybe these form an element of a new Nibenese furnishing design we might be able to see in the upcoming chapter. Maybe a nod to the Nedic heritage of the Nibenese, afterall.