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 Artwork by ©Carolin Aust | ||||
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| Race | Altmer | |||
| Born | In the Second Era, the Summerset Archipelago | |||
| Died | In 3E 433 (mortal avatar), Echo Cave | |||
Mannimarco with his reanimated skeletons - by Nuare Studio; ©Bethesda Softworks
Mannimarco before his ascension to godhood
Mannimarco, also known as the God of Worms, was a powerful Altmer necromancer and lich of the Second and Third Eras, eventually ascending to godhood during the Warp in the West. He is accredited by many as having been the first person to achieve lichdom, though in reality many of his predecessors had also achieved such a state.
He was instrumental in the events of the Planemeld, the invasion of Tamriel by the Daedric Prince Molag Bal, during which he worked under Molag Bal and secretly plotted to usurp his place as a Daedric Prince using the power of the Amulet of Kings. He was eventually stopped by the Five Companions, resulting in his scheme being exposed to his master, who went on to torture Mannimarco for many years. He would go on to escape his prison and once more terrorise Tamriel, eventually succeeding in his ambitions of godhood during the Warp in the West by using the Totem of Tiber Septim to grant himself divinity.
Little is known of Mannimarco's past, other than that he came from a noble House — even bearing traces of royal blood — and was recruited into the reclusive Psijic Order, where he met and developed a good friendship with Vanus Galerion. His necromantic experiments while with the Order resulted in his expulsion, after which he founded the Order of the Black Worm to serve as an order of magical learning without hard-drawn ethical boundaries like the Psijics.
Appearance and Character[]
Before his ascension to godhood, Mannimarco had pale skin, silver hair, and pale blue eyes. He was known for brooding a great deal and rarely smiling. He preferred to wear clothes of dark colour, such as black, grey, brown, or blue, though he was not averse to wearing brighter colours, as he had little issue with his brightly coloured Psijic robes during his time in the Order.
Mannimarco has a cold, some say emotionless, personality with a single driving motive: power. It is unknown if his personality witnessed much change after his ascension to godhood, as after such an event there is litte more power to gain. While he was a cold individual, he was capable of friendships, as he maintained a strong bond with Vanus Galerion while they studied as Psijic monks on Artaeum. However, he greatly disliked when such people would interfere with his projects and goals, which caused a rift to grow between he and Vanus that ended with them parting ways, as Vanus disapproved of Mannimarco's practice of necromancy.
History[]
Early Life[]
Mannimarco is said to have been born in the Second Era, presumably early in the Era. It is possible that he was born around the same time as Vanus Galerion, who was among his closest friends while in the Psijic Order.
Little is known of Mannimarco's early life before joining the Psijics. It is said that he came from a noble House of the Summerset Archipelago, and bears royal blood, but his family name is unknown. Furthermore, it is unknown if "royal blood" refers to the first royal dynasty of the Isles, House Arana, or if it refers to any of the Houses from the various monarchs prior to Aerel's Invasion. If it refers to the former, then the only Houses which bore the blood of Aerel I Arana at the time of Mannimarco's birth were: X, X, and X. If it refers to the latter, then he could plausibly descend from any noble family of the Isles, as inter-marriage over time has caused old royal blood to spread across many nobles, albeit thinned.
Mannimarco began practising with magic from a young age, studying to become a powerful sorcerer. This eventually caught the eye of Psijic recruiters who extended an invitation for him to join their reclusive order.
Life in the Psijic Order[]
Upon joining the Psijics, Mannimarco put himself to work on studying the vast magics hoarded by the Order, including a large amount of powerful artefacts. He swiftly rose to become one of the most promising monks of the Order, and become close friends with Vanus Galerion, a fellow Psijic monk. Theirs was a friendship of opposites, as Vanus was devoted to the Order's ideals and mission, while Mannimarco often chafed against the boundaries put in place by their superiors. Nevertheless, they enjoyed each other's company and often engaged in philosophical discussion.
Mannimarco's thirst for knowledge deepened while on Artaeum, and he began probing into forbidden magic. Being an exemplary pupil, he successfully got permission from Ritemaster Iachesis to use a long-abandoned vault on the far side of the island as a lab for his studies. Secretly, he probed his fellow monks to identify like-minded individuals, whom he invited to join him in his experiments in the vault. Together, Mannimarco and his peers delved into magic strictly forbidden by the Psijics, yet nonetheless revealed greater knowledge and truths about the world. During this time several initiates of the Order went missing, believed to have simply left the Order of their own volition. Later, however, it was discovered by Vanus that Mannimarco and his colleagues would occasionally abduct initiates to experiment on them.
Eventually, Mannimarco approached his friend Vanus and invited him to join his group of monks in the vault. Initially eager to join, Vanus entered the vault, but was disgusted by what he saw. It was then that he understood the extent of Mannimarco's rebelliousness, as he and his colleagues had been experimenting with necromancy and other dark magics. It was then too that he discovered what had befallen the missing initiates. Vanus attempted to dissuade Mannimarco from his dark path, while Mannimarco attempted to persuade Vanus to join him. When an impasse was reached, Vanus left the vault to return to Ceporah Tower and report Mannimarco for his crimes. While he certainly possessed the power to stop Vanus, Mannimarco let him go.
Upon hearing what his star pupil had been doing, Ritemaster Iachesis expelled Mannimarco and his colleagues from the Psijic Order, and banished them from the island. Mannimarco left willingly, believing that he had exhausted the knowledge the Psijics possessed, desiring to pursue his own research without them.
Founding of the Worm Cult[]
Planemeld[]
Escape From Coldharbour[]
Warp in the West[]
Oblivion Crisis[]
Practices[]
Prayers[]
Death[]
Visions[]
Prayers and offerings to Mannimarco have sometimes resulted in visions. These visions vary for each person, but they have been known to include revelations about the path to lichdom, as was the case with Celedaen in the Third Era. Like any other god, it is impossible to predict when he chooses to reveal these visions to his followers, and understanding their meaning can also be challenging. Nevertheless, ambitious and devoted necromancers will often pray to Mannimarco for his favour, power, visions, or simply for good luck.
Artefacts[]
Mannimarco was in possession of several powerful artefacts over the course of his life. Some such artefacts became spiritually connected to him after his ascension to godhood. These artefacts include:
- The Bloodworm Helm, a trollbone helmet created by Mannimarco. It allows the wearer to drain the lifeforce from foes, as well as summon a skeletal servant from the Soul Cairn, an esoteric and dangerous realm.
- The Necromancer's Amulet, a necklace created by Mannimarco and imbued with tremendous power. It opens the mind of the wearer and allows for them to cast spells, even complex ones, with greater ease, though it slowly depletes the wearer's lifeforce.
- The Staff of Worms, a powerful imbued staff created by Mannimarco himself in the Second Era, and wielded by him until his death.
Quotes by Mannimarco[]
Vanus: Just look at this place. How in Syrabane's name did you get the Ritemaster to unlock it for you?
Mannimarco: He rightly acknowledged our superior skill. It's only natural that he'd let us work here.
Mannimarco: Privilege? It's our right, Van. You mustn't be so humble all the time.
Vanus: Well, it's quite a privilege.
—Mannimarco and Vanus Galerion about being permitted to use an old secluded laboratory on Artaeum
Vanus: What have you done? This is just... repugnant.
Mannimarco: Oh, Van, I would have thought you less judgmental. It's just a bit of puppetry. Nothing but arcane lift and spirit-handling.
Mannimarco: You sound like the Ritemaster. The only lines are those you draw in your mind.
Vanus: That was a living thing, Mannimarco. You're edging close to a dangerous line. Too close.
Vanus: This is what happened to our classmates? What's wrong with you?
Mannimarco: Wrong? Honestly, grow up, Van. There is no right and wrong—only power and weakness.
Mannimarco: And you, my friend, will answer for your short-sightedness when I eclipse you in every way.
Vanus: You've made me for a fool. I can't believe I didn't see the rot infesting your soul. You'll answer for this eventually. I swear it.
—Mannimarco and Vanus Galerion as young Psijic monks about how Mannimarco took his experiments too far
Vanus: You tainted the Ceporah Tower! You're worse than a murderer.
Mannimarco: Pathetic. Do you expect Iachesis to bind me here? No, he'll simply banish me from the island.
Mannimarco: Of course you're right. And once I reach the mainland I'll show the world how right you are.
Vanus: That won't be enough. You're a beast, Mannimarco. A beast that needs to be caged.
—Mannimarco and Vanus Galerion as young Psijic monks about Mannimarco corrupting the Ceporah Tower on Artaeum
Gullible fools! The veil between Oblivion and this world has been torn! My master, Molag Bal, is free to claim Tamriel for his own!
—Mannimarco to the other Five Companions after betraying them
Exploiting its power to bring about the calamity of our age was intoxicating. It made me aware of the limitless possibilities available to one strong enough, and fearless enough, to use it to achieve his own ends.
—Mannimarco about the possibility of using the Amulet of Kings for his own ends
Fool! When I ascended, you could have been at my right hand, Tharn. Instead you chose to align yourself with mongrels and imbeciles.
—Mannimarco to Abnur Tharn about his defection to the Five Companions
With the Amulet of Kings, all things are possible! Nations will tremble and bow before me! I will be a god!
—Mannimarco bosting about using the Amulet of Kings
With the amulet in my possession, I will absorb Molag Bal's power, reducing him to an empty husk of ethereal flesh. Then I will trap his essence within the gem!
—Mannimarco reveals his plan
All the nations of Tamriel will bow before me! They will worship me and beg for my mercy! All will know the name of Mannimarco as their one, true god!
—Mannimarco about his plan to become a god
Do you really think that death can stop the most powerful necromancer Tamriel has ever known?
—Mannimarco after having his mortal body slain by the Five Companions
Power, my dear friend. I seek power, and so I acquire and study those who have some degree of it. We are after the same things, your guild and I. Yet you worry about "good" and "evil" and do not accept they are manifestations of the same thing. So you brand me a villain, and make vain attempts to destroy me.
—Mannimarco's mortal avatar in the Third Era
Quotes about Mannimarco[]
Your wicked mysticism is no way to wield your power. Your studies must cease, because you only bring horror to the spirit world.
—Vanus Galerion to Mannimarco while they were members of the Psijic Order
Worm! You think you can betray the Lord of Brutality and Domination without consequence? You will pay for your arrogance! You will writhe in agony for the rest of eternity! Your tortured screams will echo throughout Oblivion to serve as a warning to others!
—Molag Bal to Mannimarco after discovering his plot to overthrow him
Mannimarco's torment will be endless. The God of Schemes will use him to set an example. All who follow him will know, you cannot hope to betray the greatest of betrayers.
—Varen I Aquilarios about Mannimarco's failed plot to usurp Molag Bal
Before my last breath, face I must the tyranny of worms, and kill at last, undeath.
—Vanus Galerion about his duty to slay Mannimarco
Notes[]
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