Prophecies, visions, and prophetic dreams are featured prominently in The Elder Scrolls. They deal with either the past, the preset, or the future.
Types of Prophetic Dreams[]
Some people in Nirn are known to have prophetic dreams, which are typically rife with metaphor and obscured with ambiguity, making it difficult to predict events. Others falsely believe they have prophetic dreams, in reality merely having hallucinations or misinterpreting genuine dreams.
History[]
Sundering of Aldmeris[]
According to Amalien, a Second Era scholar of the Antiquarian Circle, there existed a prophecy that foretold the Sundering of Aldmeris and the ensuing Exodus to Tamriel, which was presumably made before the destruction of the city-continent. Based on the fact that the vast majority of Aldmer died during the Sundering, it can be assumed that most either did not know of this prophecy, or did not take it seriously. It is therefore also possible that some of the Aldmer settlers of the Summerset Archipelago departed before the Sundering, taking heed of the prophecy and escaping the calamity unharmed.
A lesser-known prophesy foretold that the lost children of Aldmeris would "make of their branches a new home on distant shores".
Helara Errinorne's Dreams[]
Helara Errinorne was known to have prophetic dreams throughout her life, one of which predicted the fall of the Ayleid Empire. In 1E 365 she had a powerful prophetic dream predicting the death of her husband, Naelor Arana, leading her to implore him not to join his father, Anumaril IV, in a gathering with the Bosmeri king, Faldan I Camoran. The dream proved to be true, as her husband and his father met their deaths during the gathering.
Helara had another dream the same year, this time predicting the deaths of her three children, Aerel, Alyssare, and Rhaethen. Once more she emplored them to abandon their quest to conquer the Summerset Archipelago, as she believed that would lead to the fulfilment of the prophecy. However, this second dream did not prove to be true as her children succeeded in their conquest, though Helara did not live to witness it, as she died in her sleep a year before the war was concluded. Her last words were of her children and their safety.
High Aldarch During Aerel's Invasion[]
During the Invasion of Aerel I Arana, the High Aldarch of Shimmerene locked himself within the Monastery of Serene Harmony. He prayed for eight days and nights, taking only bread and water as nourishment. When he emerged from the monastery eight days later, he announced that the Church would not oppose Aerel and his sisters, Alyssare and Rhaethen. The High Aldarch stated that Xarxes had show him that, if Shimmerene were to take up arms against the Aranas, the city would burn and be destroyed. After hearing this prophecy, Lord Castien Liaren refused to march out with his strength, and even opened his gates to Aerel at his approach. The city was subsequently spared.
Triad Scheme[]
Near 2E 586, a triad of Daedric Princes plotted to use the power of the Crystal Tower of the Summerset Isle to gain hegemonic dominance over all of Nirn. A secluded oracle of Bleakrock isle known as Marieve saw visions of the daedric conspiracy in a prophetic dream, and wrote them down on a piece of parchment.
Quotes[]
Prophecy is like a half-trained mule. It looks as though it might be useful, but the moment you trust in it, it kicks you in the head.
—X to X