Molag Bal (2024)

For other uses, see Bal.

Molag Bal (Daedric: "Stone-Fire")^[1] is the God of Schemes^[2] and the Daedric Prince of domination and enslavement of mortals. He is also known by the titles King of Rape,^[2] King of Strife,^{[UL 1]} Schemer Prince, Harvester of Souls,^[3] Father of Coldharbour and Lord of Lies.^[4] He is the creator of Vampires and Xivkyn as well.^[5]

His main desire is to harvest and consume the souls of mortals and to bring mortals' souls under his sway by spreading seeds of strife and discord in the mortal realms, and has even attempted to merge Nirn with his own freezing realm of Coldharbour.^[6] He holds much importance in Morrowind where he is one of the Four Corners of the House of Troubles, seen as the arch-enemy of Boethiah, the Daedric Prince of Plots. He is the primary antagonist of The Elder Scrolls Online.

By game[]

• Molag Bal (Daggerfall)
• Molag Bal (Morrowind)
• Molag Bal (Oblivion)
  • Molag Bal (Quest)
• Molag Bal (Skyrim)
• Molag Bal (Online)

Appearance and personality[]

Molag Bal resembles a large, bipedal hybrid of a bull and a reptile, and usually appears in a form adorned with horns, fangs, claws and a long tail. His scaly appearance is matched by his demeanor: Molag Bal is the master of corruption, and his freezing realm of Coldharbour in Oblivion is a twisted reflection of Nirn, consisting of nothing but desolation and suffering.^[6]

Gender[]

Like all the Daedric Princes, Molag Bal has no definite gender. Most often, however, he appears to his followers as male. Sigillah Parate mentions in her spiritual commentary that she belonged to a cult known as the "Witches of Molag Bal," where Molag Bal sometimes appeared to its members in the guise of a mortal female.^[7]

Shrine[]

A shrine of Molag Bal is in Markarth, in a tunnel underneath the Abandoned House. For a Daedric shrine, it is extremely small, consisting only of a sort of stone basin decorated with a stylized head of Molag Bal. A panel on the floor in front of it can extend spikes in order to trap sacrificial victims. The Rusty Mace — in reality the Mace of Molag Bal — is found here by the Dragonborn. If Dawnguard is installed there will be a shrine inside Castle Volkihar.

Plane of Oblivion[]

Main article: Coldharbour

Molag Bal's plane of Oblivion is Coldharbour. The book The Doors of Oblivion says that his plane resembles a copy of Nirn, including the Imperial Palace, but desecrated and ruined. The ground is sludge, the sky is on fire, and the air is freezing.

Coldharbour is featured in The Elder Scrolls Online, being the final region of the main questline leading up to the assault on Molag Bal.

History and legend[]

Morrowind[]

Molag Bal is the main source of the obstacles faced by the Dunmer (and preceding Chimer) people. In the legends, Molag Bal always tries to upset the bloodlines of Great Houses or otherwise ruin Dunmeri 'purity,' befitting his title as the King of Rape. He is said to have seduced Vivec and fathered a population of monsters that ran amok across Morrowind, that Vivec later had to slay to extinction^[8][9]. This race may have been the first vampires^[10], a corruption of Vivec's ties to the Heart of Lorkhan transmitted to mortals. It is possible he assisted Jagar Tharn in his temporary ascendance to the Imperial throne^[source?]. He was also responsible for the destruction of a city, Gilverdale, at the end of the First Era.

First Era[]

In 1E 2920, Molag Bal, under the summon of King Dro'Zel of Senchal, destroyed the city of Gilverdale. All the inhabitants were killed in a bright red mist. This Daedric massacre forced Sotha Sil to make a journey to Coldharbour, dealing with some of the prominent Daedric Princes in order to avoid the fate of Gilverdale happening to other cities in Tamriel, as Morrowind was still fighting a war against Cyrodiil.^[source?]

The Interregnum[]

Main article: Molag Bal (Online)

Molag Bal appears as the main antagonist in The Elder Scrolls Online. He takes advantage of the destruction and war going on in Tamriel and attempts to merge Nirn and Coldharbour into one nightmarish hellscape by using Daedric machines called Dark Anchors, in an event known as the Planemeld.^[11]

Battle of Coldharbour[]

The Soulless One, also known as Vestige, along with Vanus Galerion, the Fighters Guild, and the Mages Guild lead an attack on Coldharbour to confront Molag Bal and put an end to his treachery. A city controlled by Meridia was transported into Coldharbour by Meridia herself, and since Molag Bal had no power over it, the Soulless One and the attack force were able to use the city as a safe haven while in Coldharbour and save many mortals who were "stuck" in Coldharbour.^[12] With the help of the Ayleid king Laloriaran Dynar, Vanus Galerion the Altmeri founder of the Mages Guild, they pushed further into Coldharbour's citadel to Molag Bal's lair. Later on, the Groundskeeper revealed her true nature as the Daedric Prince Meridia and the Soulless One and Five Companions went through a portal to an area that was under complete domination of Molag Bal's forces. Meridia and Molag Bal met face to face and began dueling, allowing the Soulless One to proceed to destroy the Dark Anchors. Upon confrontation the Soulless One used the Amulet of Kings on the Daedric Prince before they could be defeated. The two began to battle, both equal in power with divinity, but in the end, Molag Bal fell for the first time and was "dominated" by the Soulless One, allowing every Soul Shriven enslaved by Molag Bal to return to Nirn.

Hero of Daggerfall[]

The Hero of Daggerfall received the Mace of Molag Bal in exchange for eliminating a heretic mage or priest, respectively.

Hero of Kvatch[]

Molag Bal was summoned by the Hero. He wanted the Champion to corrupt Melus Petilius by forcing him to kill with the Cursed Mace. The Champion was able to enrage Petilius causing him to grab the Cursed Mace and use it to kill the Champion. Right before the final blow, Molag Bal transported the Champion back to his shrine and, pleased with a job well done, gave him the Mace of Molag Bal.

Dragonborn[]

During the Fourth Era, the Dragonborn helped a Vigilant of Stendarr named Tyranus to investigate suspicious activity at an abandoned house in Markarth. After arriving in the house, Molag Bal forced them to fight each other resulting in Tyranus's death. Upon speaking with the Daedric Prince, he promised the Dragonborn his mace if they returned Logrolf the Willful, a priest of Boethiah to the abandoned house and made him pledge his soul to Molag Bal. The Dragonborn then killed the priest with Molag Bal's mace on his altar.

Vampirism[]

Creator and patron deity[]

The Dunmeri Temple's doctrine, Vampires of Vvardenfell, v II, states that the Daedric Prince Molag Bal is the father of vampires. It is recorded in his "Private Papers of Galur Rithari, Buoyant Armiger." Somehow, the Dunmeri Temple keeps this record from the world, for no clear reason.

Molag Bal as the father of Vampirism is also recorded in the book called "Opusculus Lamae Bal ta Mezzamortie." The book tells a story of Molag Bal, who, in his hatred towards Arkay, profaned the body of a virgin Nedic woman, Lamae Beolfa*g. Lamae was killed by the ordeal, but rose from the dead as Lamae Bal, as well as the Blood Matron and the First Vampire.

Pure-blooded vampires are those who were granted vampirism directly from Molag Bal, the creator and patron deity of Vampires. The process is somewhat similar to the creation of the first vampire, Lamae Beolfa*g—mortals gain their vampirism through a ritual in which members of a family pledge themselves to Molag Bal. Women who survive the horrific ordeal, such as Serana and her mother Valerica, are dubbed "Daughters of Coldharbour."

Galur Rithari, one of the Buoyant Armigers, was cured of vampirism by Molag Bal.

When they are starving, all of a Cyrodilic vampire's vampiric traits are apparent and cannot be disguised. This unique trait of Cyrodilic vampires, according to Manifesto Cyrodiil Vampyrum, was a gift from Clavicus Vile. As a result, the Cyrodilic vampires worship Molag Bal and Clavicus Vile.

Trivia[]

• According to Darkest Darkness, the crocodile-headed humanoid Daedra called Daedroth are servants of Molag Bal.
• Molag Bal is voiced by Christopher Corey Smith^[13] in Skyrim and by Malcolm McDowell in The Elder Scrolls Online.
• In Dawnguard, it is said that pure-blooded female vampires have to "offer themselves" to Molag Bal. Serana says that those who survive become Daughters of Coldharbour, indicating that the ritual is traumatic. If asked, Serana refuses to talk about it, saying only that it was "degrading," indicating that he perhaps rapes the women in service to him.^[14]
• The inspiration for Molag Bal seems to be drawn from the Caananite deities Moloch and Ba'al.
• Molag Bal's name means Fire (Molag) Stone (Bal), according to the Aldmeri and Dunmeri Languages. Meridia refers to Molag Bal as "Stone-Fire" when speaking to him.^[1]
• In The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Mankar Camoran incorrectly states that Molag Bal's "Coldharbour" is Meridia's realm.

Quotes[]

• "I AM MOLAG BAL, LORD OF DOMINATION" – Molag Bal's popular phrase, featured in Elder Scrolls Online and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
• "FOOL! Did you think MOLAG BAL, LORD OF DOMINATION.... would so easily reward you?" – Molag Bal, On retrieving the mace for the first time in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
• "Had you bowed before me and accepted eternal servitude, I would have protected you. There are worse masters than I. Far worse." – Molag Bal in The Elder Scrolls Online.

"God of Schemes:"[]

• "What is this foolishness? Has your tiny mortal mind snapped? Do you really think you can defeat me?"
• "The dark machinations of Oblivion are far more complex than anything your mortal senses can comprehend."
• "Your continued meddling has reached an end, Hero of Tamriel!"
• "Your anguish will be legendary, even in Oblivion!"
• "Still you fight on? Do you care nothing for your own existence?"
• "I am God of Oblivion! You are less than nothing!"
• "Your pathetic Aedric trinket can't defeat me! I am Molag Bal, Lord of Domination!"
• "What is this? Infant! Do you think your toy can slay a god?"
• "Your mind is naked to me! I can taste your fear! You are fertile ground for the seeds of eternal torment!"
• "Tamriel is ripe, and I have all of eternity to reap its harvest of flesh! Death comes for you and all children of the Mundus on black wings!"
• "I am the face of pain! The souls of the damned are my weapons! You will know eons of suffering!"

Dark Anchors:[]

When a boss is summoned:

• "Puny mortals, you think you've won? Come, my slaves! Destroy them!"
• "Yes. Sacrifice those servants in my name. Let's give you something worthy to sacrifice!"
• "You do not yet know fear? I shall make you afraid!"
• "You've only destroyed my whelps. These minions will not be so easily defeated!"
• "You think this is over, wretch? Tell yourself another lie."
• "Wretches! All my servants are wretches! Perhaps these will do the job!"
• "You have killed many. But I have killed more. Fool, you are outclassed."
• "Drink in your victory. It won't last long."

When an anchor is destroyed:

• "I don't want revenge. I want your submission."
• "Destroy this anchor and scores more will takes its place!"
• "Pointless. Ten anchors drop for each that is destroyed!"
• "When you destroy the next, this one will have returned."
• "Nothing you can do will end this."
• "My subjects failed me. They deserve to be destroyed."
• "This will not finish me!"
• "Dogs! Filth! You anger a powerful enemy!"
• "May your soul burn."
• "We go through the motions again, I see."
• "I await you at the next anchor."
• "Like all worldly things, you will in time wear and be used up."
• "The effort was not for naught. Until next time..."
• "I will ensure no tales are told of your valor."
• "Sometimes the prey turns and nips us. It's a small thing."
• "The skins of those you love will fly as my banner."

Appearances[]

• The Elder Scrolls: Arena (as the mace of Molag Bal)
• The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
• The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
  • The Elder Scrolls V: Dawnguard (mentioned only)
• The Elder Scrolls Online
  • The Elder Scrolls Online: Imperial City (mentioned only)
  • The Elder Scrolls Online: Murkmire (mentioned only)
  • The Elder Scrolls Online: Markarth (mentioned only)

See also[]

• Molag Bal's Shrine
• The House of Horrors
• Mace of Molag Bal

References[]

Notice: The following are unlicensed references. They are not copyrighted by a ZeniMax Media company, but can still be considered part of The Elder Scrolls lore and are included for completeness.