Loremaster's Archive: Heart's Week Celebration and Mara's Blessings!

Malyore · January 8

When can I marry Zerith Var and start a family with him 🥺?

AScarlato · January 8

OgrimTitan wrote: »

In High Rock, every church of the Eight Divines has a knightly order. Knights of Iron for the Zenithar's Resolution, Knights of the Circle for the Order of Arkay.. Maran Knights for the Benevolence of Mara. The inconvenient question in this season of love and romance would be: what is the actual role of the military order of the church that propagates peace and love?

Nicolas le Bellerose, spellknight-mentor of planology, Daggerfall School of Julianos

A man clad in armor of shining silver bearing a tabard adorned with the resplendent heraldry of Mara, had he had the opportunity to bear witness to such a letter, would reply to the Knight of Julianos:

"The greatest threat to wickedness is not a blade of sharpened steel, nor the incantations of the arcane or even divine. In truth, the force more powerful than any other, the unassailable bulwark around our hearts, is Love. No matter how deep the darkness of despair, Love is the guiding light that shatters the darkness cast by the shadows of false gods and evil men. Love is a beacon of compassion, mercy, and repentance.

Evil, ever envious of this gift, will forever be relentless in attempts to break our sacred bonds. Knowing this to be true, we gather in arms and faith in defense of our Love, Mara's greatest gift and blessing.

In Her Name,
Paris Antony Valerius
Knight Lieutenant of the Maran Knights"

(At least in my RP Guild Mara's Embrace)

Reverb · January 9

Inari Telvanni wrote: »

Exalted Kuzam-jo,

The currents of love are mysterious and unknowable, but none moreso than those in dour Morrowind. A Dunmer's soul is dark and bitter, so how do they find their love to have and to hold? Does Lady Almalexia hold any sway over the rites of courtship and matrimony in Mara's place?

Given her history, I wouldn’t exactly look to Almalexia to bless or oversee anything regarding love or marriage.

Syldras · January 9

Reverb wrote: »

Given her history, I wouldn’t exactly look to Almalexia to bless or oversee anything regarding love or marriage.

Dunmer culture does, though. Almalexia is their goddess for everything love and family related and her shrine has the same function as a shrine of Mara.

Alp · January 9

Written by my khajiit:

Blessed Mother, Kuzam-jo.

A'kaari has heard rumours that one's birthsign is a sure way to know the compatibility between two people. Is this true? She does not know her own sign herself, with her childhood in Orcrest being a very turbulent time. So if it matters, she would like to know.

- A'kaari of Orcrest

Malyore · January 10

Erickson9610 wrote: »

How do those afflicted with lycanthropy express love? I know of a couple in Bangkorai in which one of them is a werewolf, but do werewolves feel or show love toward others in a unique way?

I'd also be curious to know this. If I remember correctly, there's a couple in the dark brotherhood that are also werewolves? But I hadn't heard of one in bangkorai. Does the non-werewolf know about it? I almost imagine lycanthropes would only want to be with others of their kind.

Constantfyre · January 10

Priest Kuzam-jo,

Romantic love in Tamriel comes in many forms and is shown in many ways. Most commonly it is seen between two people, and sometimes those two get married. However, I would love to know, does the Goddess of Love permit marriage between three people? Would she bless their union if they all genuinely love one another equally and wished to all be bound together in life and death? I know Dibella isn't opposed to polyamory, but I am unsure what Mother Mara and her faithful believe.

ThundariansBirthday · January 10

Greetings Kuzam-Jo, Priest of Mara,

Is marriage a tradition found only among the mortals of Mundus? In the realms of Oblivion, for example, are there instances of two dremora (or some other type of non-Mundus being) uniting in marriage?

Erickson9610 · January 10

Malyore wrote: »

Erickson9610 wrote: »

How do those afflicted with lycanthropy express love? I know of a couple in Bangkorai in which one of them is a werewolf, but do werewolves feel or show love toward others in a unique way?

I'd also be curious to know this. If I remember correctly, there's a couple in the dark brotherhood that are also werewolves? But I hadn't heard of one in bangkorai. Does the non-werewolf know about it? I almost imagine lycanthropes would only want to be with others of their kind.

I'm pretty sure Hildegard and Kor in the Dark Brotherhood have more of a sibling relationship, and only Hildegard is a werewolf.

I'm referring to the "Freedom's Chains" quest at Kerbol's Hollow in Bangkorai. Renoit Leonciele is not a werewolf, but his husband Draven Leonciele was — unbeknownst to him — turned into a werewolf to cure his disease.

If you choose to spare Draven, you can find the couple sitting together, Draven still in his werewolf form, while Renoit has several lines of dialogue about how Draven still remembers how they're a couple and how that gives him hope for the future.

WhiteCoatSyndrome · January 11

To the Respectable Priest Kuzam-jo;

Other than marriage, are there any rituals Mara requires that are associated with or specific to Heart’s Day?

Kind Regards,
First Emissary Rohais
Craglorn Embassy

BloodstainedFay · January 12

Cold eve's greeting to you, Priest.

The pages turn on my curiosity, and just as amorous lore is the chapter decided upon you present me with this opportunity. A destined uncoincidence, no doubt.
My question is as follows. Among the Bosmer of Valenwood, how common is the taking of multiple romantic partners? We are a free spirited people, such would not surprise me. Still, I ask. And If that is a specific ask too much, then any insights on the romantic ventures of my forest-kin are welcome.

Night's breeze guide you,
- Nymue the Hollow, Shadowmancer & Loreseeker

ErfXploded · January 12

Kind Priest Kuzam-jo,

I've been meaning to surprise my love with an exotic mount as a Heart's Week gift, and I've heard great things about the noble lions of Elsweyr.

However, I have run into a bit of an issue, as there appear to be some confusing cultural barriers with the seller. Is the animal that is typically known as a "lion" not the same thing as a "Senche-lion"? I'm in a bit of a pickle and don't want to, say, accidentally buy a Khajiit for my spouse.

Professor Arniel Gnome

naga007 · January 13

Greetings Benevolent Kuzam-Jo,

Upon consulting my local archives while researching the Relics of the Divine Crusader, I discovered a lapse in information I hope you may be able to fill.

As I’m sure you’re aware, each of the 8 relics is associated with one of the Eight Divines; however, our records fail to specify both Mara’s and Akatosh’s individual relic, leaving the associations of both the Cuirass of the Crusader and the Greaves of the Crusader unclear. Hopefully your expert knowledge can remedy this conundrum.

Respectfully,
– Skaldrig Black-Wolf,
Doyen of the Xylo Basin Naology Arm of the United Explorers of Scholarly Pursuits

Axmalexia · January 13

Priest Kuzam-jo,

I have recently fallen into a curious fixation upon love across the continent, and namely towards those of Morrowind. The Lady Almalexia, I'm certain, has love stories of herself and Nerevar, but what does she represent overall to the Dunmer in regards to love? And how do the Dunmer celebrate the more western holiday of Heart's Day in her honor?

Dibe's blessings,
Anton, Priest of Dibella

EmperorRemanIV · January 17

To the blessed Priest, Kuzam-jo,

It is known that Mara's love can be felt in all mortals. The Sloads of Thras can be considered mortals, despite their long lifespan. But they seem to be loveless creatures, even mistreating their own offspring, the very life that they created. What is the perspective of Mara and her priests about the Sloads? Can Mara’s love reach them, or are they something not even her love can touch?

Mara's blessings,
Reman IV, Emperor of Cyrodiil and Count of Anvil

OleandersOne · 3:38AM

Both Lady Mara and Lady Dibella have spheres that involve the concept of love. However, I always interpreted Lady Dibella's sphere to exclusively involve romantic love. While Lady Mara's sphere ALSO includes romantic love, I interpreted her to also include non-romantic love, such as the love that a ruler has for his people, the love a parent has for their child, or even the love a farmer has for his pet dog. Is this an accurate interpretation?

A civilian of Cyrodiil

Ratzkifal · 5:10AM

Hail Kuzam-jo, Priestess of the divine Mara!

I am a Nord on official Pact business in Morrowind. I dare not ask the Dunmer this myself but I have read conflicting accounts on marriage ceremonies among the House Dunmer. I know that marriages can happen across Houses and that supposedly one partner formally and spiritually joins the House of their spouse, ancestor ghosts and all. Is this true? How is that determined? A Khajiit told me that traditionally a man always joins the House of his wife, but I've never read about such a tradition anywhere. Does it differ? I think he was lying to set me up for some major blunder at the wedding I'm invited to!

Please Madam Kuzam-jo, I know this has little to do with Mara, but as the marriage expert you have to help me! I fear I could lose my head if I get this wrong!

- signed, a cowardly Nord.

Ratzkifal · 6:06AM

AScarlato wrote: »

OgrimTitan wrote: »

In High Rock, every church of the Eight Divines has a knightly order. Knights of Iron for the Zenithar's Resolution, Knights of the Circle for the Order of Arkay.. Maran Knights for the Benevolence of Mara. The inconvenient question in this season of love and romance would be: what is the actual role of the military order of the church that propagates peace and love?

Nicolas le Bellerose, spellknight-mentor of planology, Daggerfall School of Julianos

A man clad in armor of shining silver bearing a tabard adorned with the resplendent heraldry of Mara, had he had the opportunity to bear witness to such a letter, would reply to the Knight of Julianos:

"The greatest threat to wickedness is not a blade of sharpened steel, nor the incantations of the arcane or even divine. In truth, the force more powerful than any other, the unassailable bulwark around our hearts, is Love. No matter how deep the darkness of despair, Love is the guiding light that shatters the darkness cast by the shadows of false gods and evil men. Love is a beacon of compassion, mercy, and repentance.

Evil, ever envious of this gift, will forever be relentless in attempts to break our sacred bonds. Knowing this to be true, we gather in arms and faith in defense of our Love, Mara's greatest gift and blessing.

In Her Name,
Paris Antony Valerius
Knight Lieutenant of the Maran Knights"

(At least in my RP Guild Mara's Embrace)

@OgrimTitan @AScarlato
This reminds me of the Sacred Band of Thebes. Whether or not the Sacred Band of Thebes truly existed as described, it could be the truth for a knightly order dedicated to Mara. Pretty badass, I think.