Lore:Nocturnal

This article is about the Daedric Prince. For the Daedric race, see Nocturnal Shrike.

Nocturnal (Skyrim)

"Night among strangers. Secrets in the dark. Nocturnal is here. "
—Nocturnal

Nocturnal is a Daedric Prince, or "Daedric Princess", whose sphere is the night, darkness, and mystery. She is also known as the Lady of the Night, the Mistress of Shadows, the Unfathomable Mistress of Shadows, the Shadow Thief, the Unfathomable, the Empress of Murk, the Shadow Queen, the Shadowy Hag (while donning her cowl), the Lady of the Twilight the Daughter of Twilight, the Lady of Shadows, the Mistress of Mystery, the Mother of Shadows, Lady Luck, the Night Mistress, the Prince of Night and Darkness, and the Saint of Suspicion.

The most prestigious title Nocturnal goes by is the title of Ur-dra, which implies that she is the "eldest and most powerful of the Daedric Princes", and is a title which the Imperial Geographical Society claims nearly all the Royalty of Oblivion recognize, and which has also been used to address Nocturnal by Sotha Sil and members of the Psijic Order. The title was also used by ancient Khajiit to describe Namiira, the Eldest Spirit. While this belief conflicts with Nocturnal's claim over the title, it does complement her claim that she is part of the original void, in that she came from the black blood of the Dark Heart of Lorkhaj, which is a piece of "primal Void". Nocturnal herself claims that "before Oblivion, there was Nocturnal", and her followers believe she predates the current reality entirely. Hermaeus Mora is similarly called an Ur-Daedra who is "elder than Ada".

Nocturnal is associated with, and often depicted alongside, jet-black ravens and crows, which are said to possess the ability to speak. Nocturnal's summoning day is the 3rd of Hearth Fire, although she may be summoned at any time at a shrine dedicated to her. Nocturnal's enemies are Ebonarm, Meridia, Mehrunes Dagon, and Azura.

Religion and Culture

Nocturnal (tarot card)

Khajiit

A deity known as Noctra exists in ancient Khajiiti mythos. During the cleansing of Lorkhaj's corruption, Azurah observed his Dark Heart beating like a drum, with each throb spewing out black blood that tapped the floor to form a rhythm. Subsequently after the death of Lorkhaj, the spirit Noctra was born of this black blood at the steps of the Void Gate. Boethra battled the spirit until it knew it was not Namiira, and when the fighting subsided, Noctra was brought before Azurah to be judged. Azurah allowed Noctra to live so long as she served Azurah and her chosen people, the Khajiit. However, Noctra is rebellious by nature, so she fled to the Void with a key she stole from Azurah, leading her to send the spirit of Lorkhaj to find Noctra. What resulted from this interaction was Noctra willing to offer aid to the Khajiit when called, and so tribes may ask her for luck, and darkness to hide them and the gift of silent movement. She also protects those who walk in the shadows. Summoning Noctra for nefarious acts is dangerous, as she brings the Dark with her. Noctra is still acknowledged by some Khajiit following the Riddle'Thar Epiphany.

According to one pre-Riddle'Thar Epiphany Khajiit account, Noctra addressed Boethra as mother and master, as she'd trained under her blade. During a battle to defend the Lunar Lattice from Merid-Nunda, Molagh and Merrunz, Noctra, after learning from Azurah's vanquishing of Vaarmina and steeling herself to leave all she had behind, used the Skeleton Key on herself in order to stop Merid-Nunda from accessing the Aether Prism, this caused her form to become as "shadow and cloth, a cloak of darkness" and "grow mighty, taller than the rest" of the deities present, until it went on to blend with the night itself, shrouding the Aether Prism and foiling Merid-Nunda's attempt as the burning light that was covering everyone present receded. It is said that in this act, with the Key, Noctra could say that she was not Namiira at last.

Reachfolk

Nocturnal is seen by the Reachfolk as the Mistress of Shadows, an ever-watchful spirit that has guarded them since the beginning. She is the spirit of the night. They give her offerings in the hope that she'll send her crows to watch over them.

Other Myths

The Fable of the Gryphon tells the story of Zariah and the talking fox Gray, who sought to steal the treasure of the Gryphon Luminary and blame the theft on Nocturnal. Their scheme was overheard by Crow Daedra, messengers of Nocturnal, who hunted the thieves. Zariah and Gray evaded the crows and Nocturnal's shadows and gathered the three pieces of the Gryphon's treasure from Riften, from beneath Forelhost and from a tomb in the shadow of Hrothgar. Finally the duo were confronted by the Gryphon, who was doubtful that Nocturnal would steal his treasure as she didn't know him. As the shadows and crows closed in and Zariah attempted futilely to fight them off, a desperate Gray revealed the truth. He was originally Nocturnal's pet who had escaped, and she sought to take him back to the Evergloam. They'd sought the Gryphon's treasure only as the means to live a life where they no longer had to run ,and would return it and more in exchange for protection. The Gryphon deemed Zariah, courageous and loyal, worthy of his power, he raked his claws through the shadows, and granted her powerful magic. The Gryphon opened the gate to his realm and moved to allow the duo through, but it was too late for both to be saved. As the shadows closed in Zariah used the power the Gryphon had granted her to conjure a tunnel of starlight that pushed back the dark so Gray could slip through, and to than seal the gate behind him. Though safe in the Gryphon's domain, Gray keened and clawed at the door for his friend until his paws bled.

Worship

"The singing remains, but the song is gone. No tune, no music, but whispers set to rhythm. Serve Her, be shadow, be whispers. Creeping, crawling, but I can't escape. I'm caught in the darkness, tar which clings to my clothes. I speak but am silent. I see but am blind. Blind, so blind, to nothing but Her will."
—Romien Garvette

The Ebonmere

Nocturnal's servants come in a variety of flavors. Some worship her as thieves, and see her as the patron of all thieves. Some such groups include the Nightingales, a trio of mortals bound to protect the Ebonmere within the Twilight Sepulcher. It is thought that after their tenure guarding the Sepulcher the spirits of Nocturnal's Nightingales cross into the Evergloam and become one with the shadows, becoming part of the darkness itself. In this form the Nightingale spirits enter Nirn through the Ebonmere, the conduit to Nocturnal's realm of Evergloam, and guide thieves by placing their hand in theirs and granting them their uncanny luck, being responsible for events such as a novice picking an impossible lock or someone who is blind suddenly turning to face the thief reaching for their pocket. Because of this role Nocturnal is also known as Lady Luck.

One of Nocturnal's devoted followers, transformed into a Gloam Knight

Some worshipers find Nocturnal mystifying. Though they strive to understand her, Nocturnal's true purpose eludes them, and attempting to understand the Daedric Prince is a futile task. To understand Nocturnal is to negate her, and the Daedric Prince is not simply going to pull back her shroud of darkness to reveal her intentions to anyone. Others are drawn into her service through subtle, but not wholly unkind manipulation. Lonely individuals who are within proximity of Nocturnal's adherents may begin to dream about Evergloam and hear her voice in their head if she notices them. Nocturnal's Earl from the time of the Daedric Triad came to serve her this way. Nocturnal uses mortal emotion to her advantage, using kindness and empathy to draw in the vulnerable. She speaks to select mortals in their dreams, listening to them when they speak and comforting them when they're upset. In the case of Earl Tundilwen in 2E 582, Nocturnal inserted herself into her servant's life as a surrogate mother figure, and granted her power in the Court of Bedlam.

One particularly fervent cultist's accounts of her invasion of the Clockwork City are poetic and obsessive. The account speaks of singing shrikes and grotesque imagery. The author, Romien Garvette, often repeats phrases and claims that they are unable to think of anything but "Her" will. Romien Garvette describes Nocturnal as all-encompassing. Whether or not this experience is universal is unclear. It is obvious that this particular case became very attached to their mistress, but the account gives outsiders some insight to how Nocturnal's influence may affect those who give themselves to her.

A Witchmother transforming a supplicant into a Reaper

Shadow Magic is pervasive throughout Evergloam, and is utilized by her worshipers and her Daedric minions. Portals of pure shadow called Gloaming Gates are used to transport cultists and Daedra from Evergloam to select locations on Nirn. Gloaming Gates channel Nocturnal's power, and transport through the Evergloam allows her cultists travel great distance without fear of being detected. Barriers of fluid shadow can be used to prevent access to areas, but these barriers can be negated by shining bright light on them, or by casting spells designed to banish shadows. Nocturnal may transform her followers into Gloam Knights upon their death.

The Witchmother coven is the name for a loose coven of powerful witches known as Witchmothers who venerate Nocturnal and carry out her bidding. The number of coven members is unknowable and ever-changing, and they take members from all over Tamriel. Witchmothers scry the Evergloam for disturbances that could threaten Nirn and also monitor dangers that emerge following Nocturnal's Summoning Day. One such danger was the Crowborne Horror, a powerful Wraith-of-Crows whose arrival was heralded by the appearance of dark feathers on various creatures, and which threatened all of Nirn in 2E 582.

History

Second Era

Around 2E 230, a Triad of Daedric Princes—Clavicus Vile, Mephala and Nocturnal—made a deal with the Sea Sload K'Tora to acquire the Heart of Transparent Law—the Stone of the Crystal Tower. K'Tora used mind magic to make the Psijic leader Ritemaster Iachesis, steal the Heart. Trying to foil K'Tora's plan, Iachesis made a deal with Nocturnal to learn a spell with which to hide the Heart from everyone, which was cast in a language that could only be used by mortals. Unbeknownst to all, Iachesis hid the Heart within himself—but soon forgot these events, due to K'Tora's magic. Shortly thereafter, the Psijics—along with the entire island of Artaeum—disappeared, around the time of the founding of the Mages Guild, remaining hidden for a long time.

Nocturnal's shadows rushing forth to consume the Throne Aligned as Luciana struggles to hold them back

The freed Sotha Sil banishes Nocturnal's shadow from the Clockwork City

The Triad's plan resumed around 2E 582, Nocturnal tried to take control of the Clockwork City. Nocturnal's forces invaded the City and she summoned Sotha Sil's Shadow, who replaced him as ruler. Meanwhile, one of the Clockwork Apostles, Chancellor Gascone Dusant, sought to deliver the Skeleton Key, which had been accidentally found by a Factotum beneath the Brass Fortress, to Clavicus Vile, only for the Key to be stolen by the Blackfeather Court. The Vestige, assisted by Divayth Fyr and the Clockwork Apostles, unveiled the plot, but were unable to reclaim the Skeleton Key before it was taken by Sotha Sil's Shadow. Using the key, Nocturnal and the Shadow attempted to seize control of the Clockwork City by unlocking the Throne itself, but were stopped by the Vestige, Divayth Fyr, and Proctor Luciana Pullo, who rescued Sotha Sil by defeating his Shadow and repelling Nocturnal's darkness through a special light spell Sotha Sil had once taught Luciana. Once freed Sotha Sil banished Nocturnal's shadow from the Clockwork City. Sotha Sil then gave the Skeleton Key to Divayth Fyr for safekeeping.

Nocturnal empowering her champion atop the Crystal Tower

The Crystal Tower in the Fields of Regret while under Nocturnal's control

The corrupted Dawnbreaker, Duskbringer

This did not stop the three Princes from attempting to execute their plan to take control of the Crystal Tower on Summerset Isle using the Heart of Transparent Law, which Ritemaster Iachesis had hidden from them, with the ultimate goal of remaking reality itself. In preparation for the completion of their plan, the Triad invaded Meridia's realm, the Colored Rooms, and she was imprisoned within Nocturnal's darkness to prevent her from interfering further. Nocturnal also corrupted Dawnbreaker into the dark blade Duskbringer in order to deprive Meridia's agent, the Golden Knight of his weapon. After they tricked Iachesis into revealing the Heart's location within himself, Nocturnal broke through his protective wards, which had held off the other two Princes, and killed him. Nocturnal than betrayed Clavicus Vile and Mephala by banishing them from her realm and taking the Heart for herself. With it she briefly took control of the Crystal Tower, hoping to use its properties of existing in every reality simultaneously, enhanced by the life force of Nirn which she'd drain through the use of a secret life draining technique she'd stolen from Sotha Sil's Clockwork City, to achieve omnipresence in the entire Aurbis. In this manner she'd absorb the power of the other Daedric Princes as she invaded their realms, thus gaining infinite power through the infinite connections made, and ultimately unravel reality itself to wait for the next one to arise. Nocturnal's shadow enveloped the Tower and transformed the Sapiarchs inside into shadows, while she attempted to repair Transparent Law by reconnecting it with its Heart, making the Tower whole to complete her plan. At the same time, her forces started invading the realms of the other Princes. However, her plans were foiled by the Vestige and the Psijic Order, assisted by the two betrayed Princes and the champion of Meridia. After Nocturnal's Earl was defeated, the Prince attempted to consume the Vestige and the Golden Knight with her shadows. It was than that the true nature of Meridia's champion as a living Light of Meridia manifested, allowing him to repel the darkness, and to restore Dawnbreaker by sacrificing himself. The Vestige than used Dawnbreaker to restore Transparent Law which banished Nocturnal, allowing the Heart to be returned to the Crystal Tower. Nocturnal's banishment from the Tower also restored Meridia.

During this same time, following the death of the Sea Sload K'Tora, Nocturnal took control of the Abyssal Cabal's Abyssal Geysers for some time.

Nocturnal may have had some minor involvement in the Sea Sload sorceress Z'Maja's conquest of Cloudrest that occurred in 2E 582. Z'Maja possessed an amulet that granted her powerful shadow magic, which allowed her to kill countless citizens via a dark mist that enveloped the city, enrapturing the inhabitants and slowing their hearts, and to make shadowy clones of Summerset's protectors, the gryphon-riding Welkynars.

That same year Nocturnal asked the Vestige to retrieve the Shade Sickle, one of her artifacts which had been stolen by thieves who had been hired by the powerful necromancer Tumma-Maxath, who intended to use the Sickle to remove the shadows and therefore the wills of his victims, turning them into his thralls. The Vestige retrieved the artifact from the necromancer's lair and returned it to Nocturnal's shrine.

Third Era

In the events leading up to the Warp in the West, an unknown agent of the Blades was tasked by Nocturnal to kill a mage in their stronghold in return for the Skeleton Key. However, the mage had already had a contingency plan in case the Daedric Prince had sent someone to slay them. They created a fake artifact (Auriel's Bow, Staff of Magnus, or the Warlock's Ring) that functioned identically to the true artifact to tempt the agent with, though it would degrade after several days; enough time to flee when the illusion was broken. Accounts conflict if the agent took the mage up on the offer and was bamboozled, or if they slayed the mage and received the Key in return.

In 3E 433, the Eye of Nocturnal was stolen from Nocturnal's shrine in Cyrodiil's Blackwood region. Nocturnal tasked the Hero of Kvatch with recovering it. The thieves, an Argonian couple in Leyawiin, hid it in a flooded cave in Topal Bay. The Hero of Kvatch returned it to Nocturnal and was rewarded with the Skeleton Key.

Fourth Era

Some time before 4E 201, the Skeleton Key was stolen from the Twilight Sepulcher by Mercer Frey, a corrupt Nightingale. Its long-term loss resulted in a decline of the Skyrim branch of the Thieves Guild due to bad luck without Nocturnal's influence. The guild's influence declined until their only presence was in the Ratways beneath Riften. Karliah, a Nightingale, apologized to Nocturnal for failing to keep the key safe, promising to return the key to its rightful place, and brought her two new Nightingales as a gift, one of them being, the Last Dragonborn. Nocturnal was grateful for her new Nightingales and warned Karliah to not fail her again. Mercer used the Key to bring himself luck, but he was eventually confronted by the Nightingales beneath the Great Statue of Irkngthand. Mercer was killed, and the Last Dragonborn brought the Key back to the Sepulcher, reopening the Ebonmere. Nocturnal rewarded the Dragonborn with three Nightingale powers of their choosing.

Artifacts

The Gray Cowl of Nocturnal (Oblivion)

The Gray Cowl of Nocturnal

The Gray Cowl of Nocturnal (or the Shadow Queen's Cowl) is a daedric artifact that once belonged to Nocturnal. It takes the form of a dark leather cowl, which obscures the face of the wearer. Nocturnal is revered as a god by thieves across Tamriel. Her reputation as the Mistress of Shadows has sometimes led thieves to attempt to steal an item from her to prove their greatness. As Nocturnal is usually depicted wearing a cloak and a cowl, it is around these two items that legends have arisen. The story of the theft of Nocturnal's cloak is probably fiction, as is at least one story of the theft of the cowl, but the cowl is known to have left her possession. It appears to have been stolen by Emer Dareloth, a guildmaster of the Thieves Guild, although a curse bestowed upon the cowl by Nocturnal meant that the name of cowl's owner is lost to mortal memory. "Whosoever wears it shall be lost in the shadows. His true nature shall be unknown to all who meet him. His identity shall be struck from all records and histories. Memory will hide in the shadows, refusing to record the name of the owner to any who meet him. He shall be known by the cowl and only by the cowl." This curse was broken through the use of an Elder Scroll, causing history to be rewritten as a result, as such was the strength of the curse lifted that lifting it altered time.

The Skeleton Key (Skyrim)

The Skeleton Key

The Skeleton Key (also called the Skeleton's Key) is a Daedric artifact of the Daedric Prince Nocturnal.

In appearance, the Skeleton Key doesn't always take the form of a key, and sometimes manifests as a lockpick instead. In its key form, it can be used to unlock any lock. As a lockpick, it is nigh unbreakable and can get past even the toughest locks. The two limitations placed on the Key by wizards who sought to protect their storehouses were that the Key could only be used once a day and it would never be the property of one thief for too long, eventually disappearing.

The artifact functions as a tool for "unlocking" all things, including portals, hidden potential, and other unknown possibilities. Its ultimate function, however, is to unlock and hold open the Ebonmere, a portal to Nocturnal's realm, Evergloam, located in the Twilight Sepulcher of Skyrim. The Nightingales are tasked with guarding the Sepulcher and retrieving the Key should it be stolen. Unfortunately, the Prince is said to allow the Skeleton Key to be stolen or lost periodically, whether by purpose or apathy.

The Bow of Shadows (ESO)

The Bow of Shadows

The Bow of Shadows is a Daedric artifact that, according to legend, was forged by the Daedric Prince Nocturnal. The legendary ranger, Raerlas Ghile, was granted the Bow for a secret mission that failed. The Bow was lost, though Raerlas is said to have used it to take scores of his foes down with him. The Bow is said to grant the user invisibility and increased speed.

Eye of Nocturnal

The Eye of Nocturnal

Another item of note which is associated with Nocturnal is the Eye of Nocturnal. Little is known of the item's origin or abilities other than it was stolen by two Argonians in 3E 433 and subsequently returned to the Prince in exchange for the Skeleton Key. Nocturnal described herself as being able to "see" from the Eye, stating that the thieves who stole it were "seen" by the artifact.

Shade Sickle

Shade Sickle

The Shade Sickle is a Breton-made weapon with the ability to separate the living from their shadows. This leaves its victims fated to gradually become hapless beings akin to thralls. Though mortal in origin, it is now a daedric artifact associated with the Daedric Prince Nocturnal, who was given the weapon at one point after its potential was realized. Nocturnal considers it a powerful instrument of her will. Despite its common appearance, the blade is preternaturally sharp, and those who gaze at it experience a deep sense of foreboding.

Z'Maja's Amulet

Z'Maja's Amulet

Z'Maja's Amulet amulet was an artifact Nocturnal gifted to the Sea Sload Z'Maja that granted her powerful shadow magic, which allowed her to kill countless of Cloudrest citizens via a dark mist that enveloped the city, enrapturing the inhabitants and slowing their hearts, and to make shadowy clones of Summerset's protectors, the gryphon-riding Welkynars. Circa 2E 582, Z'maja was slain and Cloudrest was freed, and her amulet was taken for study by the Olorime of the Welkynars.

Evergloam

Evergloam

The Evergloam is a realm of Oblivion, created and ruled over by Nocturnal, the Daedric Prince of Shadow. It is a realm of perpetual twilight, and the "cradle of shadow". The Evergloam exists adjacent to all other realms of reality simultaneously, it can almost be glimpsed when one turns and looks quickly while in the dark. It consists of a primary plane and several pocket realms, including the Shade Perilous and the Crow's Wood. These realms are thought to be constantly shifting, and are perceived differently by different mortals. It is filled with forests, whose trees cast long shadows over a purple landscape. The land is dotted with crumbling buildings and sunken crypts.

Servants

A Wraith-of-Crows, a Daedra which serves Nocturnal

Daedra that are known to serve Nocturnal include Nocturnal Shrikes also simply called Nocturnals or Shrikes for short, Grievous Twilights, Gloam Knights, Wraiths-of-Crows creatures made of shadow and Crow Daedra.

Intelligent shadow creatures such as Gloam Hags can cooperate with Shrikes to cast scrying spells to spy on other Daedric cults and Nocturnal's enemies. When they see a journal or a document of interest, they may cast a Duplication spell to create a copy.

One Daedra Lord in the form of a hagraven, known as the Crow Mother, describes herself as a "Nether-Niece" of Nocturnal. She rules over the pocket realm of Crow's Wood, populated by intelligent crows.

Gallery

• 

  Nocturnal (Daggerfall)

• 

  A statue of Nocturnal (Oblivion)

• 

  A statue of Nocturnal (Skyrim)

• 

  A statue of Nocturnal (ESO)

• 

  Nocturnal (ESO)

• 

  Nocturnal in the Summerset announcement trailer

• 

  Concept art (Daggerfall)

• 

  Concept art (Skyrim)

• 

  An emblem representing Nocturnal (ESO)

• 

  Reachfolk emblem for Nocturnal (ESO)

• 

  Artwork featuring Nocturnal (right center)

Notes

• The ruins of Ebon Stadmont are carved with a mysterious language that resembles but isn't Daedric. This language, older than any other language on Nirn, has been theorized to predate even the language of Oblivion. Leythen, Earl of Mephala and chief linguist of the Psijic Order, also claimed the Ebon Standmont language and the Daedric power it was linked to were far older than his Prince, Mephala. The language has arcane properties which can only be used by mortals, as recitation of the script has transported people and objects through time and cast the spell with which Ritemaster Iachesis hid the Heart of Transparent Law. Nocturnal provided Iachesis a spell in this language, and the inscriptions in Ebon Stadmont are carved on structures featuring crows, which are symbols of Nocturnal. This might support Nocturnal's claims of being older than Oblivion and other Princes.
• Nocturnal may be related to Noctyr-a from the story of Ghraewaj, the fabled origin of harpies in the Iliac Bay.
• One myth claims that Rajhin stole the Ring of Khajiiti from Mafala on a moonless night which allowed him to enter Oblivion. There he found Mafala, Azurah, and a third Daedric Prince arguing over who claimed dominion over the night. The identity of the third Prince is not revealed. Given her sphere it might be Nocturnal.
• Greater Nocturnal Jaciel Morgen was ruler of the Shade Perilous, a pocket realm of the Evergloam. She claimed the other Nocturnals would go to war with Mehrunes Dagon over his invasion of the realm and that in the end the sky and earth would crack, all mortals would perish, and Dagon would lie defeated. As Shade Perilous is a pocket realm of Evergloam and Nocturnal Shrikes are generally associated with Nocturnal, she might've been suggesting a war taking place between Nocturnal and Dagon.

See Also

• For game specific information see the Daggerfall, Oblivion, Skyrim, and ESO articles.

Books

• A Sky of Dusk by Romien Garvette of the Whispering Shadows — A Nocturnal cultist's notes on Evergloam
• Crafting Motif 57: Ebonshadow Style by Romien Garvette of the Whispering Shadows — A guide to crafting armor and weapons in the Ebonshadow style
• Eyes of Nothing by Romien Garvette of the Whispering Shadows — A Nocturnal cultist's notes on the Wraith-of-Crows
• Purloined Shadows by Waughin Jarth — A chill tale recounting the theft of Nocturnal's cloak
• Shadows and Whispers by Romien Garvette of the Whispering Shadows — A Nocturnal cultist's notes on the invasion of the Clockwork City
• The Nightingales by Gallus Desidenius — An insider's account of the Nightingales

References

Note: The following references are considered to be unofficial sources. They are included to round off this article and may not be authoritative or conclusive.