Zenimax Online Studios is continuing to deliver new adventures to The Elder Scrolls Online with its latest expansion Necrom. As is tradition in the long-running MMORPG, this future chapter invites players to another portion of Tamriel including an adventure that delves deeper into the lore of Bethesda's influential franchise. The Elder Scrolls Online already offers a variety of regions across the fictional continent, but Necrom is expanding the province of Morrowind by adding the Telvanni Peninsula. This looming content wave also sets its eyes on the Daedric Realm of Apocrypha, the domain of Hermaeus Mora.
The Daedra are an important aspect of The Elder Scrolls, acting as a mysterious and sometimes malevolent force that interferes with the plane of Mundus -- the primary setting of all mortal life in TES. The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim - Dragonborn centered on Hermaeus Mora's servant Miraak, an antagonist who is hailed as the first Dragonborn, and it is his rule in Apocrypha which leads to the player character meeting the true form of the extradimensional keeper of forbidden knowledge. The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom has a newfound emphasis on the Daedric Prince, creating an opportunity to compare this version of Hermaeus Mora to Skyrim's depiction.
Who is Hermaeus Mora in Skyrim?
In Skyrim's main quest, Hermaeus Mora emerges during the player's search for an Elder Scroll. His initial reveal is marked by a dark mass that holds little concern for the well-being of lesser men; the Daedric Prince is a peculiar deity that hoards memories and history, and this concept manifests in his personality and appearance. Hermaeus Mora's artifact is the Oghma Infinium, a tome bound in flesh, and it's a prize for completing a side quest featuring the Daedra. Some consider the creepy nature of Hermaeus Mora to be a fascinating element in The Elder Scrolls, with his power being rooted in transcendental wisdom rather than anything that might be seen as outwardly nefarious.
Later on in the Dragonborn DLC, Hermaeus Mora is given greater detail with countless tentacles, eyeballs, and black slime bubbling around his body. In dialogue, his voice has a guttural yawning that further illustrates his otherworldly shape. Hermaeus Mora is infamous for tempting mortals with promises of universal insight, and out of the known Daedric Princes of Skyrim, he is one of a few that assumes a more amorphous form.
Daedric Lore in ESO: Necrom Has Ties to Skyrim's DLC
Zenimax Online Studios' MMORPG has remained relatively faithful to The Elder Scrolls lore despite taking place almost a thousand years before the mainline games, and fans might notice some similarities between Skyrim and Necrom's portrayal of Hermaeus Mora. Lovecraftian horror seems to feature in Necrom as a point of visual inspiration, which is clearly recognizable when compared to the 2012 Dragonborn DLC's questline. Furthermore, Hermaeus Mora's Apocrypha has an undersea quality that is reminiscent of H.P. Lovecraft's cosmic tale "The Call of Cthulhu," and his cult-like following is an additional element of that legacy as well.
The Elder Scrolls Online's new class, the Arcanist, should appeal to fans that desire a strange flavor of magic -- Necrom offers abilities that are based upon Hermaeus Mora's forbidden knowledge. The runic symbolism of the Arcanist's spells is said to be inspired by the Black Books of Dragonborn, hinting that the Daedric Prince will be finding ways to influence the player character once again in a new storyline. Hermaeus Mora is an esoteric entity that may play a monstrous role in corrupting lore seekers across Tamriel, but his legend also appears to be undiminished in the upcoming Necrom chapter.
Players may have many expectations for ESO: Necrom, especially in regard to Hermaeus Mora's interest in Morrowind, although Zenimax Online Studios has teased that his narrative significance will echo previous material such as those discoveries from Skyrim. Authenticity is likely a priority for the developer, and it will be intriguing to see how the next chapter can hone in on the horrific powers of the Daedra.
The Elder Scrolls Online is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
