The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivionis home to one of the biggest and most intricate worlds found in open world gaming. It presents players with the vast expanses of Cyrodiil, with very little to stop the player from doing what they want. It also contains some of the most interesting hints of foreshadowing found in the franchise.
One of those interesting pieces of foreshadowing isThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion’s main antagonist, Mankar Camoran. He is an enigmatic figure with a unique outlook, which is saying a lot when it comes to theElder Scrollsuniverse. However, he himself actually hides an interesting ability that would shape future installments.
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Mankar Camoran is An Anomaly
Mankar Camoran is a High Elf who leads the Mythic Dawn, the cult responsible for the assassination of Uriel Septim. He promised his followers an eternity in paradise as long as they followed his religious doctrine. Before then, he was simply the illegitimate child of the infamous Haymon Camoran, a Wood Elf who would become known for his violent war marches all across Tamriel. This may explain his violent tendencies, but there is something more interesting to his character. By all accounts, Mankar Camoran should be a Wood Elf. His mother and father were both Wood Elves, but he appears to be a High Elf inOblivion.Many might explain this as one ofThe Elder Scrolls' many plotholes, but in reality, there is an explanation.
Another interesting and related feature about Mankar Camoran can actually be observed during the quest, “Dagon Shrine.” The player can see Mankar Camoran doing something that not even the main character of mostElder Scrollsgames can do: wear the Amulet of Kings. This is because the Amulet of Kings can only be worn by a Dragonborn, those with the body of a mortal but the soul of a dragon. In one of Mankar Camoran’s writings, he even claims that he became able to “speak fire,” which sounds like the ability to shout. The reason for which can likely be found in the Daedric Prince he serves,Mehrunes Dagon.
Through Mehrunes Dagon, Mankar Camoran was somehow both able to change his lineage and become dragonborn. One popular theory to how this was accomplished is through the Daedric artifact, Mehrunes' Razor. The true power of a Daedric artifact is often limited to the creativity of the wielder. For example, the Skeleton Key can only open any lock in the hands of The Last Dragonborn, but in the hands of someone who understands it, it can unlock an individual’s potential, open portals, and undo powerful enchantments. For that reason,Elder Scrolls’infamous Mehrunes' Razorshould have its purpose looked at a bit more abstractly.
Some speculate that Mehrunes' Razor can also cut metaphysical aspects. The extent of which is likely up to imagination of the wielder, but the results are the same. It is popularly believed that Mankar Camoran used Mehrunes' Razor on himself to “cut” himself into the shape he preferred, that being in the form of a High Elf dragonborn. This is corroborated by Michael Kirkbride, one of the writers forOblivion. However, it remains a theory due to the fact that Kirkbride stated this well after he stopped working with Bethesda. It still remains one of the most believable and likelyElder Scrollsfan theoriesto date.
Despite the methods being unconfirmed, the fact Mankar Camoran was seemingly a Dragonborn speaks volumes to Bethesda’s ability to spoil plots before fans even know it. Introducingshouts in anElder Scrollsgamebefore officially explaining them is among the best foreshadowing in the franchise.
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivionis currently available on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.
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