Shadow Over Morrowind is described as Elder Scrolls meets cosmic horror.
2:30
Rich Lambert: The best way to describe this story is Shadow Over Morrowind, but before I go into any more detail, we've got a great way to introduce you to the mood and feel of this arc. It's Elder Scrolls meets cosmic horror and I can't wait for you all to see it.
Hermaeus Mora is the Knower of the Unknown, and keeps secrets too dangerous for anyone to know. Hidden powers seek to learn these secrets, but this could unravel all reality (not just Tamriel, but also Nirn and Oblivion). Mora tests the player to see if they are worthy to guard this secret, and on the way they can unlock other secrets, such as the origin of the Arcanist class.
5:36
Rich Lambert: Everything centers around Hearmaus Mora. We've explored small pieces of who this Prince is in a few zones in ESO up to this point, but they're a complicated Daedric Prince. Mora is the Knower of Unknown and hordes knowledge and secrets in the realm. Some of these secrets are just too dangerous for any being to know. There are hidden powers that threaten Mora's realm of Apocrypha, with the ultimate goal of uncovering one of these secrets. A secret so important and so dangerous that if discovered it can unravel all of reality.
Pete Hines: This isn't just Tamriel that's in trouble, this is all of Nirn!
Rich Lambert: Yes, absolutely.
Pete Hines: So where do our players fit into the mix?
Rich Lambert: Players are essentially being tested by Mora to see if they are worthy to help (????). So over the course of this adventure, players will become sort of a protector of this ultimate secret, that these hidden powers are searching for. And there's also the opportunity for players to seek out other knowledge if they wish. To dig into some of the origins of our new playable class in the Arcanist.
Apocrypha is the home to forbidden knowledge and Hermaeus Mora.
7:50
Rich Lambert: The Oblivion realm home to forbidden knowledge.
Pete Hines: Also home to the know-it-all Prince that we just saw Hermaeus Mora!
The inspiration for Necroms design comes from the legend of Vivec slaying GULGA MOR JIL and it's bones forming the foundations of the city. Whether this story is true or simply apocryphal is left up to the player to decide.
10:17
CJ Grebb: Lord Vivec, known as the Warrior-Poet, spun some wild stories about the cities foundations, which may or may not be true. But what's definately true is that the Dark Elves have a particular reverence for the city and its solom purpose in their culture. It's naturally a cool thing to contribute in any significant way to a long standing piece of Elder Scrolls lore. For the Telvanni coast, we had a lot of fun playing with the legend of Necroms foundation, specificly the lore of Vivec himself having defeated the great beast GULGA MOR JIL, whose bones supposedly lay the foundations for the city. Entering Necrom for the first time you're bound to notice the towering rib-like rock formations which envelop the city. The Dunmer have even added some runic symbols on the faces of the rocks themselves, in recognition of their supposed origins. Is the legend true, or simply apocryphal? Come tour the lands and make your own decission on that one.
GULGA MOR JIL is, of course, first referenced in the 36 Lessons of Vivec.
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The sons and daughters of Vivec and Molag Bal number in the thousands. The name of the mightiest is a string of power: GULGA MOR JIL HYAET AE HOOM.
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Then Vivec left the Ministry of Truth and went back to the space that was not a space. From the Provisional House he looked into the middle world to find the eighth and final and mightiest monster, called GULGA MOR JIL and more. The wise must look elsewhere for this string of power.
Together they moved into the middle world, to a village near where Vivec had been found by Ayem and Seht. The eighth monster was there, but he did not act much like a monster. He sat with his legs in the ocean and with a troubled look on his face. When he saw his mother-father, he asked why he should have to die and return to oblivion.
Vivec told the eighth monster that to be otherwise was to betray his nature. Since this did not seem to satisfy the monster and Vivec still had a touch of Ayem's mercy he said:
'The fire is mine: let it consume thee,
And make a secret door
At the altar of Padhome,
In the House of Boet-hi-Ah
Where we become safe
And looked after.'
The monster accepted Muatra with a peaceful look and his bones became the foundation for the City of the Dead, anon Narsis.
The planes of Oblivion bend mortal perceptions into the most alien landscapes possible. Hermaeus Mora doesn't abide by good or evil, and Apocrypha reflects this. The plane of Apocrypha contains the physical representation of ancient knowledge, such as fossilized books in the rockwalls and the grounds. As with any Princes realm, Apocrypha is an extension of it's masters being, and therefore is a repository for ancient and forbidden knowledge. To finish up, CJ Grebb says that there's a ton of story from this realm, not only from the characters, but also the environment, architecture and creatures.
12:07
CJ Grebb: Some lands in Tamriel appear quite normal to our mortal eyes, and some, like the Telvanni Coast, feel foreign. And then there are the Oblivion planes, who's lands bend our mortal perception into the most alien landscapes possible. In crafting the plane of Apocrypha, it was important to remember that Hermaeus Mora doesn't really adhere to traditional ideas of good and evil as may other Daedric Princes do. Likewise, Hermaeus Mora's realm isn't a representation of good or evil either. Our take here was to explore the idea of ancient records, and how they might be represented physically in a plane such as this. We created fossilized impressions into the rockwalls and emerging from the ground. representing the cateloguing of all life, experience and knowledge. Realms of Oblivion are extensions of their master, and so Apocrypha is a clearing house for knowledge. It's a repository. It is intended to feel like a place where ancient things and ancient ideas can be preserved, perhaps even hidden...but never lost. There's a ton of story emitting from these locations, from the environment to the architecture. Of course, the characters and creatures breathe even more life into this world.
Mortals don't survive in Apocrypha for long, and the knowledge though enticing can literally warp the minds and bodies of those who seek it out, turning them into beings known as the Hushed. Along with the Hushed are the Seekers and Lurkers, the former whom protect the vast libraries of Apocrypha while he later protect Apocryphas more dangerous secrets.
14:52
Helena Wachhaus: Mortals don't really survive in Apocrypha for a long time. The knowledge is enticing, but you'd be a fool to assume that it's harmless. And the sheer amount of information there tends to melt mortal minds, mangle their bones, contort their flesh and turn them into terrifying creatures called the Hushed. Some books are lifeless collections of paper. Totally safe to pick up! But others house tomeshells, small daedra who live between the pages of Apocrypha's first editions. , but if you've ever picked up a shell onn the beach only to discover there was a hermit crab already living in it then you know just how surprising a tomeshell can be. Tomeshells and Hushed aren't the only denizens in Apocrypha. No, Apocryphas guardians lurk around every corner. Seekers attend to the the vast library while Lurkers wait beneath the inky waters to diswade any stubborn researchers from discovering any of Apocryphas more...dangerous secrets. It's best to be sure you're really alone before you pick up some light reading.
Apocrypha containing creatures warped by Mora is something that the Skyrim Prima first mentioned.
Other things from the stream I didn't transcript; there will be a clanless dremora in Apocrypha who's trying to uncover all of Mora's secrets with unknown allegiances, Necrom is outside the influence of all of the Great Houses of Morrowind, Necrom is older than the Tribunal Temple and the Dunmer and one of the villains is a vampire.
Hidden forces after Mora's secrets could not only threaten Apocrypha, but all of reality.
Discover the hidden mysteries of Apocrypha and fight to preserve reality itself in The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom.
www.elderscrollsonline.com
UNCOVER LOST SECRETS
Hermaeus Mora holds knowledge too dangerous for mortals or Daedra to comprehend. Now hidden-yet-turbulent powers threaten the Prince of Fate's realm, and if his secret is uncovered, it could unravel all of reality.
Apocrypha is referred to as being endless once again (and again by an omniscient narrator).
DISCOVER NEW WORLDS
Explore the Telvanni Peninsula, home to towering mushrooms, jagged spires, and the city of Necrom. Behold the forbidden books of the Endless Library and the mind-bending wonder of Hermaeus Mora's Daedric realm of Apocrypha.
You can defend the citadel of Apocrypha from invading Daedric forces.
NEW WORLD EVENTS: OBLIVION RAIDS
Gather your allies, open a portal to Oblivion, and defend Hermaeus Mora's besieged citadel within Apocrypha.
Repulse invading Daedric forces, including three challenging bosses that you and your party must overcome in order to protect the Lord of Knowledge's most-dangerous secrets.
Shadow Over Morrowind is described as being a Cosmic story.
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A COSMIC STORY - The Prince of Fate holds secrets too dangerous for mortals or Daedra to comprehend. Now hidden yet turbulent powers threaten Hermaeus Mora's realm of Apocrypha and if the Daedric Prince's secret is uncovered, it could unravel all of reality.
The omniscient narrator once again describes Apocrypha as endless.
ALL-NEW ZONES - Explore the Telvanni Peninsula, home of colossal mushrooms, arcane magic, rocky spires and the capital city of Necrom, additionally, behold the forbidden books of the endless library of Apocrypha.
The Arcanist draws their power from the Knowledge of Apocrypha and Herma-Mora.
UNLOCK THE NEW CLASS - Become empowered by the secrets of Apocrypha and the forbidden knowledge of Hermaeus Mora. The Arcanist is a powerful new Class capable of destructive, restorative, or defensive magic by channelling the arcane, ancient runes, and lost tomes of power.
We also see some of the items you'll get if you pre-order the deluxe edition. The Hermitage Servitor is a mount from Apocrypha, which is made of pure thought and potential.
Hermitage Servitor
A horror from the realm of Apocrypha, made from pure thought and potential. This unblinking monstrosity of a mount strides from the shadows.
Cipher's Eye Pocket Watcher keeps forbidden knowledge, and may share some with you.
Cipher's Eye Pocket Watcher
The Pocket Watcher pet keeps knowledge untold. What forbidden secrets will the small companion reveal to you?
Apocryphal Bookworms are creatures from Apocrypha which are said to devour books so they can vouchsafe the knowledge for their master.
Apocryphal Bookwyrm
A pet from the Daedric realm of Apocrypha, some claim these wyrms devour books to vouchsafe the knowledge for their master.
Time is relative to Meridia (and maybe even a priestess of Meridia).
Crown Experience Scrolls
Two scrolls created by a Priestess of Meridia, for whom time is relative. Each grants a one-hour 100% boost to Experience Points gained.
The Sadrith Mora Spore Pony was grown from fungus from fire-hued fungus.
Sadrith Mora Spore Pony
Conjured from only the hardiest of the fire-hued fungi, the Sadrith Mora Spore Pony makes for a pleasantly companionable pet.
The Sadrith Mora Spore Steed was grown by a Telvanni Archmagister, and can carry the rider across the Telvanni Peninsula and realms beyond.
Sadrith Mora Spore Steed
Brought into being by a Telvanni archmagister, this russet and amber mount can carry you into the Telvanni Peninsula and realms beyond.
Dark Lady's Headrest is a headrest blessed, or cursed, by Vaermina. Sleep on it if you dare.
Dark Lady's Headrest
Blessed—or cursed—by Vaermina, this memento looks comfortable, but acts as a summons to dreadful nightmares. Dare you rest on it?
