Official hints for the next chapter received

Tyrant_Tim · January 10

That’s such a cool artwork, I had no idea they posted it already in another format, great job on making it a jif though, @alternatelder

Wolf_Eye · January 10

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

The pieces are falling into place. Do you see what we see?
https://x.com/TESOnline/status/1745158569383666154?s=20

That's so COOL

I see a PORTAL TO ANOTHER DIMENSION!!! With Fargrave POWERING THE WAY!! LET US GO RESCUE FALINESTI!!!!

~~

Wolf_Eye · January 10

You know what?

Ithelia is the Prince of Fate, Destiny and Altered Paths.

What if the reason this Mages Guild Symbol is similar (but with feathers) is because this is an ALTERNATE REALITY version of the Mages' Guild?

Like the Mages Guild did not form the way we know it to exist because Ithelia is involved and Funky Fate things happened? Like, maybe Vanus Galerion isn't even the archmage of this other version of the guild? And stuff.

Seeing Kevin's finalized video of the stained glass....All I can think of when I see that center crystal bursty thingy is that it looks like a portal. Especially with the Fargrave symbols spinning like they're powering this portal too!

A portal to another dimension! An alternative version of Tamriel! Like we're looking into a cracked mirror and traveling someplace that's similar yet different.

Jaraal · January 10

I noticed that no one has mentioned the shield with the lines radiating from the center at the base of the four trees. I've been unable to find any similar Elder Scrolls representation.

Any theories?

Kendaric · January 10

Jaraal wrote: »

I noticed that no one has mentioned the shield with the lines radiating from the center at the base of the four trees. I've been unable to find any similar Elder Scrolls representation.

Any theories?

Sometimes an ornament is just that... an ornament. Not everything has to have a deeper meaning, also red herrings do exist to mislead those who seek solve a mystery...

tomofhyrule · January 10

It's interesting to see the official version, since that's pretty well telling us which way is up.

Also that means that the central burst has more than a passing resemblance to Meridia's logo

(may be a bit of wishful thinking, but I want her as a primary villain in the worst way)

Kendaric · January 10

tomofhyrule wrote: »

It's interesting to see the official version, since that's pretty well telling us which way is up.

Also that means that the central burst has more than a passing resemblance to Meridia's logo

(may be a bit of wishful thinking, but I want her as a primary villain in the worst way)

While I think Meridia might play a role, why would you want her as a villain? She certainly isn't pure good, but neither is she even remotely villainous or evil. She generally seems to act more on behalf of mortals than virtually every other Daedric Prince with the exception of Azura.
Granted, what she pulled with poor Darien wasn't nice ... but that doesn't make her evil. Also, maybe we get Darien back...

tomofhyrule · January 10

Kendaric wrote: »

tomofhyrule wrote: »

It's interesting to see the official version, since that's pretty well telling us which way is up.

Also that means that the central burst has more than a passing resemblance to Meridia's logo

(may be a bit of wishful thinking, but I want her as a primary villain in the worst way)

While I think Meridia might play a role, why would you want her as a villain? She certainly isn't pure good, but neither is she even remotely villainous or evil. She generally seems to act more on behalf of mortals than virtually every other Daedric Prince with the exception of Azura.
Granted, what she pulled with poor Darien wasn't nice ... but that doesn't make her evil. Also, maybe we get Darien back...

Honestly? Because I love the idea of Good is Not Nice stories.

That's why Depths of Malatar for me has such a great story - on the surface, a deity of light who hates the undead is your typical "good" deity, to oppose the "bad" ones. But Malatar showed us the darker side to Meridia's light: it's her way or no way. She essentially kidnapped those Imperials and robbed them of their free will to be her eternal servants. But at least they're against the undead, right?

Shades of grey make stories so much more compelling for me at least.

Meridia returning would also be a nice way to tie up the 10th anniversary. She was essentially the goodest of good guys in the Main Quest - she helped you get your soul back and defeat Molag Bal. But there were already some darker elements there: she was the Groundskeeper, and she essentially did kinda let it slip that she was using you. There's also the interesting implication that the Groundskeeper and the Hooded Figure use the same face and VA, which could almost imply that she was behind you getting killed in the first place to set her plans in motion.

In Summerset, we do start to also see a bit of her dark side with Darien as well, as we all know. But it's realy the story of Malatar that her dark side is truly evident, and I'd love that to be in the story. Especially if they did want to bring it full circle in a "You were my pawn to take down Molag Bal, now you owe me your soul for saving you from him" way.

Also the fact that her shrine in Oblivion is right next to Skingrad makes it a nice way to tie her in. (Also I'd love Miscarcand as a public Dungeon or something as well, considering it's also right there.)

EDIT: map didn't load

Kendaric · January 10

tomofhyrule wrote: »

Kendaric wrote: »

tomofhyrule wrote: »

It's interesting to see the official version, since that's pretty well telling us which way is up.

Also that means that the central burst has more than a passing resemblance to Meridia's logo

(may be a bit of wishful thinking, but I want her as a primary villain in the worst way)

While I think Meridia might play a role, why would you want her as a villain? She certainly isn't pure good, but neither is she even remotely villainous or evil. She generally seems to act more on behalf of mortals than virtually every other Daedric Prince with the exception of Azura.
Granted, what she pulled with poor Darien wasn't nice ... but that doesn't make her evil. Also, maybe we get Darien back...

Honestly? Because I love the idea of Good is Not Nice stories.

That's why Depths of Malatar for me has such a great story - on the surface, a deity of light who hates the undead is your typical "good" deity, to oppose the "bad" ones. But Malatar showed us the darker side to Meridia's light: it's her way or no way. She essentially kidnapped those Imperials and robbed them of their free will to be her eternal servants. But at least they're against the undead, right?

Shades of grey make stories so much more compelling for me at least.

Meridia returning would also be a nice way to tie up the 10th anniversary. She was essentially the goodest of good guys in the Main Quest - she helped you get your soul back and defeat Molag Bal. But there were already some darker elements there: she was the Groundskeeper, and she essentially did kinda let it slip that she was using you. There's also the interesting implication that the Groundskeeper and the Hooded Figure use the same face and VA, which could almost imply that she was behind you getting killed in the first place to set her plans in motion.

In Summerset, we do start to also see a bit of her dark side with Darien as well, as we all know. But it's realy the story of Malatar that her dark side is truly evident, and I'd love that to be in the story. Especially if they did want to bring it full circle in a "You were my pawn to take down Molag Bal, now you owe me your soul for saving you from him" way.

Also the fact that her shrine in Oblivion is right next to Skingrad makes it a nice way to tie her in. (Also I'd love Miscarcand as a public Dungeon or something as well, considering it's also right there.)

EDIT: map didn't load

I agree that good doesn't equal nice, but I don't think having her as a villain would fit. Using mortals to set her plans in motion and further her own agenda would fit her admittedly, but then she should have appeared or at least been hinted at during the Necrom chapter. I only played through parts of it on the PTS as I hate Apocrypha and Hermaeus Mora almost as much as Sheogorath and Argonians, but as far as I'm aware she doesn't appear during Necrom at all.

I have no idea what happens in "Depths of Malatar", as I don't do group content and unless we get a story mode for dungeons I'm unlikely to ever see it.

Syldras · January 10

Wolf_Eye wrote: »

You know what?
Ithelia is the Prince of Fate, Destiny and Altered Paths.
What if the reason this Mages Guild Symbol is similar (but with feathers) is because this is an ALTERNATE REALITY version of the Mages' Guild?
Like the Mages Guild did not form the way we know it to exist because Ithelia is involved and Funky Fate things happened? Like, maybe Vanus Galerion isn't even the archmage of this other version of the guild? And stuff.

You mean that reality where he sided with Mannimarco?

As much as I'd love the idea to see a different version of Tamriel, I'm sadly not sure if ZOS would really get that creative.

Also, if they did, I think it would be most interesting if we'd see places again that we already know in their "normal" state, but it definitively doesn't look like it's going into this direction this year, instead we'll get the usual new region(s) on the map. I guess that at most, if dimensional or time travel plays a role, they'll show us only small portions of that within some quest. Like you lurk into alternate-reality Mournhold (or Elden Root or whatever city) for one quest, but other than that, you're either in Ithelia's or Mora's realm or at some place in Tamriel where we can't make a comparison. What would then probably mean we'll be forever stuck with a messed-up version of Skingrad or something...

cyclonus11 · January 10

tomofhyrule wrote: »

Meridia returning would also be a nice way to tie up the 10th anniversary. She was essentially the goodest of good guys in the Main Quest - she helped you get your soul back and defeat Molag Bal. But there were already some darker elements there: she was the Groundskeeper, and she essentially did kinda let it slip that she was using you. There's also the interesting implication that the Groundskeeper and the Hooded Figure use the same face and VA, which could almost imply that she was behind you getting killed in the first place to set her plans in motion.

She straight up tells you that Daedra are selfish by nature, including her.

Elsonso · January 10

tomofhyrule wrote: »

It's interesting to see the official version, since that's pretty well telling us which way is up.

Also that means that the central burst has more than a passing resemblance to Meridia's logo

(may be a bit of wishful thinking, but I want her as a primary villain in the worst way)

Well, the area is bright, it is the right shape, and Meridia is part of an elite group of Princes who invaded the realm of another.

That has to get a name on a special list.

I like the idea that it is a prison, but I doubt Meridia is the one who would be imprisoned. Maybe that is where certain Princes want her to be, though.

Tyrant_Tim · January 11

@LunaFlora there are better ways to approach someone about that, try a direct message.

ArchMikem · January 11

Wolf_Eye wrote: »

You know what?

Ithelia is the Prince of Fate, Destiny and Altered Paths.

What if the reason this Mages Guild Symbol is similar (but with feathers) is because this is an ALTERNATE REALITY version of the Mages' Guild?

Like the Mages Guild did not form the way we know it to exist because Ithelia is involved and Funky Fate things happened? Like, maybe Vanus Galerion isn't even the archmage of this other version of the guild? And stuff.

Seeing Kevin's finalized video of the stained glass....All I can think of when I see that center crystal bursty thingy is that it looks like a portal. Especially with the Fargrave symbols spinning like they're powering this portal too!

A portal to another dimension! An alternative version of Tamriel! Like we're looking into a cracked mirror and traveling someplace that's similar yet different.

Finally someone else that's mentioned Ithelia, it seemed like I was the only one still interested in her being a thing, especially since her existence is kinda the key point behind the Necrom story.

I wouldn't be all that surprised over ZOS introducing some Multiverse theory stuff into Elder Scrolls. It would be interesting to see a Mundus that had Ithelia at the helm, since Mora basically claimed she had direct control over existence itself, she's the closest thing to a true God out of all the Daedric Princes.

MindOfTheSwarm · January 11

The center blue bit…. The All-Maker’s Light? Another possibility? Or portal to Aetherius 😂?

Elsonso · January 11

ArchMikem wrote: »

Finally someone else that's mentioned Ithelia, it seemed like I was the only one still interested in her being a thing, especially since her existence is kinda the key point behind the Necrom story.

I think it is a given at this point that the Daedric Prince of Retcons

will be in the 2024 story in some manner. The 2023 story was built around her, and they already spoiled the basic plot of 2024 by saying the story was continuing.

virtus753 · January 11

There are exactly 16 leaves along with the fragment and the letter, four each of four color schemes. They range from dark yellow with a red tinge on the edges to full deep red, as can be seen at the link in the OP.

I'm not sure if there's any significance to the number (although it nicely fits the four trees) or to the deepening red (aside from reinforcing the suggestion of autumn).

Elsonso · January 11

virtus753 wrote: »

There are exactly 16 leaves along with the fragment and the letter, four each of four color schemes. They range from dark yellow with a red tinge on the edges to full deep red, as can be seen at the link in the OP.

I'm not sure if there's any significance to the number (although it nicely fits the four trees) or to the deepening red (aside from reinforcing the suggestion of autumn).

The number seems to be random.

virtus753 · January 11

Elsonso wrote: »

virtus753 wrote: »

There are exactly 16 leaves along with the fragment and the letter, four each of four color schemes. They range from dark yellow with a red tinge on the edges to full deep red, as can be seen at the link in the OP.

I'm not sure if there's any significance to the number (although it nicely fits the four trees) or to the deepening red (aside from reinforcing the suggestion of autumn).

The number seems to be random.

The number distributed is random, or the number 16 is random?

Pelanora · January 11

Is this a map underneath?

OtarTheMad · January 11

Pelanora wrote: »

Is this a map underneath?

The lightning in the middle looks a little like how Colovia or whatever the zone will be called would look like.

ArchangelIsraphel · January 11

I took a screenshot of the full window just before the glow in the middle disguises the image at the center so that it can be examined by everyone. It looks quite interesting (apologize for the slight graininess, I couldn't get the video to go into higher quality/resolution)

Wolf_Eye · January 11

virtus753 wrote: »

Elsonso wrote: »

virtus753 wrote: »

There are exactly 16 leaves along with the fragment and the letter, four each of four color schemes. They range from dark yellow with a red tinge on the edges to full deep red, as can be seen at the link in the OP.

I'm not sure if there's any significance to the number (although it nicely fits the four trees) or to the deepening red (aside from reinforcing the suggestion of autumn).

The number seems to be random.

The number distributed is random, or the number 16 is random?

If you don't count the "missing" Princes (Jyggalag and Ithelia), then there are exactly 16 Daedric Princes.

Wolf_Eye · January 11

Syldras wrote: »

Wolf_Eye wrote: »

You know what?
Ithelia is the Prince of Fate, Destiny and Altered Paths.
What if the reason this Mages Guild Symbol is similar (but with feathers) is because this is an ALTERNATE REALITY version of the Mages' Guild?
Like the Mages Guild did not form the way we know it to exist because Ithelia is involved and Funky Fate things happened? Like, maybe Vanus Galerion isn't even the archmage of this other version of the guild? And stuff.

You mean that reality where he sided with Mannimarco?

As much as I'd love the idea to see a different version of Tamriel, I'm sadly not sure if ZOS would really get that creative.

Also, if they did, I think it would be most interesting if we'd see places again that we already know in their "normal" state, but it definitively doesn't look like it's going into this direction this year, instead we'll get the usual new region(s) on the map. I guess that at most, if dimensional or time travel plays a role, they'll show us only small portions of that within some quest. Like you lurk into alternate-reality Mournhold (or Elden Root or whatever city) for one quest, but other than that, you're either in Ithelia's or Mora's realm or at some place in Tamriel where we can't make a comparison. What would then probably mean we'll be forever stuck with a messed-up version of Skingrad or something...

Syldras!! Wouldn't it be so cool to fight Vanus' evil twin??!!

And yeah! I would LOVE if some of the dungeons released this year were, in fact, places we've been before (but their alternate reality versions!). Like how about an alternate reality version of Grahtwood as a dungeon? Maybe everything is on fire because Mehrunes Dagon managed to destroy most of Valenwood due to the Tribunal being unable to stop him??

Maybe the planemeld actually managed to be successful?? So many possibilities!!

ArchangelIsraphel · January 11

A screenshot with a more exposed view of the map-like shapes formed by the lightening:

lillybit · January 11

ArchangelIsraphel wrote: »

I took a screenshot of the full window just before the glow in the middle disguises the image at the center so that it can be examined by everyone. It looks quite interesting (apologize for the slight graininess, I couldn't get the video to go into higher quality/resolution)

Oh! If you zoom in that's a face in the middle!

majulook · January 11

The blue center image if you cut it in half horizontally you can see that there is enough differences that it is not a top and bottom mirror image

See the face

Pelanora · January 11

ArchangelIsraphel wrote: »

A screenshot with a more exposed view of the map-like shapes formed by the lightening:

This has got to be a map...... to where???

TaSheen · January 11

Cyrodiil plus parts of zones east west and south?

alternatelder · January 11

Pelanora wrote: »

ArchangelIsraphel wrote: »

A screenshot with a more exposed view of the map-like shapes formed by the lightening:

This has got to be a map...... to where???

Watch the vid. I don't think it's a map considering it changes shape as it shrinks. Probably just coincidence it resembles one.