Meridian Necromancer

TheImperfect

Does anyone have a necromancer or vampire that worships Meridia? I wondered how you would make that fit with lore as they seem not to fit together. What story does your character have for that and is it possible to make that work?

tsaescishoeshiner

For one, someone could worship her because they want a cure for vampirism from her.

They could also have begun their worship/deal before they became a vampire or discovered their aptitude for necromancy.

They could be using these frowned-upon skills as a means to gain power or access to better serve her.

They could also have some self-hatred or a bit of guilt for being a vampire/necromancer, which could play a part in their relationship with Meridia. Maybe they have to work harder to serve her, perhaps by beating up a certain major enemy of hers :~p

The Daedric Princes seem to work with whoever can be useful to them, not necessarily whomever they approve of most. For example, she works with the dragonborn in TES: Skyrim even if they're a vampire. Of all the necromancers and vampires in Skyrim at the time, all she asks is that you clear out the one in her temple.

Although Meridia seems to dislike the undead and especially vampires, there are many reasons to worship her. The "spheres" Daedra are said to govern are really just descriptions of their personality and abilities. A worshipper could just not care what Merida thinks of them, be looking to make a deal, or see their devotion to her as powerful enough to overcome any of their shortcomings. You are fighting Molag Bal, after all.

TheImperfect

Thanks so much for the really well thought out reply @tsaescishoeshiner.

Olauron

TheImperfect wrote: »

Does anyone have a necromancer or vampire that worships Meridia? I wondered how you would make that fit with lore as they seem not to fit together. What story does your character have for that and is it possible to make that work?

There are two things to keep in mind. First, the example of Vyrthur and Auri-El, and Auri-El is not nearly that zealous as Meridia concerning undeath (as any other daedra she can't do anything against her nature, and being forced to do it destroys the old daedra and creates new). Second, worshipping usually gives the worshipped entity some power over worshipper (not as much as making a pact or selling a soul, but still). Remember the quest in Skyrim? You are not even a worshipper, but you are lifted very high above the ground. That is rather dangerous position for the body of the mortal.

Ratzkifal

I think a vampire is a lot more likely to work out than a necromancer since you can become a vampire by accident but being a necromancer is pretty much a choice. Still, knowing Meridia, all of these options are a tragedy waiting to happen. Do not expect any mercy from her - a quick death is all you will get.
The best case scenario, as tsaescishoeshiner pointed out already, would be if whatever use you can provide to her outweighs the downside of having to interact with you at all, because as a vampire or necromancer Meridia does hate your entire existence. That's the only hope for a positive interaction you can really have here.
But if it is any form of worship you're after, tt could also be a testing-god type of deal where Meridia isn't revered but you pray to not get on her bad side just yet for what you are doing, the way the Nords do it with Alduin or the Dunmer with the House of Troubles.
I can also see it working when the necromancer/vampire has a really twisted love for Meridia and does these things in hopes of being punished by her...

aipex8_ESO

TheImperfect wrote: »

Does anyone have a necromancer or vampire that worships Meridia? I wondered how you would make that fit with lore as they seem not to fit together. What story does your character have for that and is it possible to make that work?

My Vestige character became a vampire while her soul was missing, so the vampirism never corrupted her soul. This is why Meridia helped her defeat Molag Bal (she doesn't care about the body corruption, it's the soul corruption that she hates). After she got her soul back, she became Meridia's champion.

colossalvoids

It would be stretching the lore anyway to fit the narrative so you can go creative way as some proposed already. An adoration of Meridia and "mad thoughts" that reanimating the dead and manipulating living energy is virtually the same as giving eternal life, maybe not so eternal but still kind of on the same principle as Purified. The Vestige is powerful enough to not be targeted by her just now so you can hold your own in her presence without threats of being demolished.

She's pretty Luciferian especially with her summonings day being 13 of Morningstar which is already pretty meme worthy so her perverted understanding of life can surely go along with some necromancers perverted love of rotten flesh and Meridia herself:)

Toanis

Merid-Nunda isn't actually a Daedra, though. She is a fallen Magna-Ge, a being who took part in creation, but retreated before wholly losing themselves. Half an ancestor, so to say.

For the Daedra, mortals are playthings that can be supported on a whim, or when it helps their plans in the long run.

For Meridia mortals are like children who owe her respect and obedience for the part she had in creating the world. Creating undead is blasphemy, a personal insult, a mockery of the sacrifices she made in the creation of the mortal realm.

IMO, Meridia using a mortal Necromancer to embarass Molag Bal in his own backyard is already far fetched. Accepting a necromancer's worship without them renouncing the dark arts and doing penance for past deeds is unthinkable.

As for the Necromancer... Why Merida? That's like a puritan worshiping Sanguine.

colossalvoids

Toanis wrote: »

As for the Necromancer... Why Merida? That's like a puritan worshiping Sanguine.

Can go Martin's road with Sanguine - mistakes of the past. Instead of actual active worship.

Franchise408

I wouldn't call it worship, but in Skyrim I run a Necromancer who uses Dawnbringer

TheImperfect

I kind of feel like @Toanis about it but I know on here that people can be very creative with lore. My vampire also has been using Dawnbringer but it gets corrupted in the story with Nocturnal so I think of it like that.