#ahzidal

[victorianasshole]

I finished one of my favourite Solstheim quests again and wanted to draw Ahzidal. Remembered that I saw some designs from starrythroat that I really liked, so I drew their take on him :]

[snowy-weather]

Developmentober day 28: trauma

Have some angsty Ralis and Ahzidal art.

[skyrimtournaments]

Best Dragon Priest Tournament: Finals

Miraak vs Vahlok the Jailor vs Ahzidal

Miraak

Vahlok the Jailor

Ahzidal

Voting ended onApr 25

Our tournament already comes to an end!

Miraak and Vahlok find themselves once again head to head! Will things turn out the way they did in the lore, or will it be different this time?

Ahzidal's not part of the rivalry, but he's still a powerful and popular Dragon Priest. Could he steal victory while the other two fight?

[fruitypies]

I've been thinking about the Dragon Priests tonight, and I need to yell about Ahzidal specifically because @ whoever wrote his lore, I am kissing you on the mouth.

Here's my two cents theory: He wasn't a maniacal dragon priest gone rogue, he was a man lost to his grief searching for a way to bring back his lost wife and child.

Context lore dump in the brackets

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For those who don't know, here's the long and short of it:

Ahzidal was born in Saarthal shortly after Ysgrammor and Co. land in Skyrim. He grew up there, learned magic under the masters there, and eventually got married and had a child with his wife.

He soon exceeds everything he can learn at Saarthal and leaves to go learn more from the Elves. His wife and child remain at Saarthal, while he eventually intends to return.

He's gone for several years, however, and in that time, the Night of Tears happens. When he comes back, he finds Saarthal razed to the ground and everyone dead or missing - his wife and child included.

Ahzidal goes off the deep end in grief, and in a desperate pursuit to enact revenge on those who killed them, he goes to all of the ancient Elves on Tamriel at the time (Falmer, Chimer, Dwemer, Ayleids, Altmer etc) and learns everything he can learn from all of them until he exceeds even that.

Once Ysgrammor and Co. return, Ahzidal assists them in the fight with enchanted weapons and powerful magic that not even the Falmer can contend with.

He avenges his family, and this is where his lore takes a bit of a turn because it says he had become insatiable for knowledge and this is how he became a Dragon Priest - he sought out the knowledge and secrets of the dragons before eventually pursuing the daedric princes, specifically Hermaeus Mora, for even more knowledge, which unfortunately results in him slowly losing his sanity. The other Dragon Priests, seeing Ahzidal seek out the knowledge of Oblivion, exile him, and he flees with Miraak to Solstheim.

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Here's where I'm gonna put my tinfoil hat on. I might almost definitely be reaching, but stay with me while i explain my thoughts.

There are a few telling clues, I think, that lead me to believe he was insatiably seeking out more and more knowledge not because he lusted for it, but because he was so lost in his grief that he was looking for ways to bring back his wife and child and reverse his mistake of ever leaving them in the first place

When we go into his tomb, he can find each of his individual armour pieces and two rings... one of them being a ring of necromancy. He was practising necromancy.

This is backed up by the fact that he can cast both Revenant and Raise Zombie, and his list of perks (when you fight him as a boss) include Atromancy, "double duration for conjured atronachs," and Twin Souls, "you can have two atronachs or reanimated zombies."

So we know he can use conjuration magic, and that he was also practising necromancy... but even more telling is that he specifically sought out Hermaeus Mora, daedric prince of fate, forbidden knowledge, and destiny, and whose dominion is "the treasures of knowledge and memory"

Hermaeus Mora obviously knows what happened to Ahzidal's wife and child - he sees all that has happened and will happen. Did Herma Mora prey on Ahzidal's grief by potentially offering him a way to resurrect his deceased wife and child? To bring their souls back via conjuration? Reanimate their corpses? Or, instead, did Ahzidal seek Hermaeus Mora out himself, knowing that Herma would have that knowledge?

I just think that Ahzidal is a really tragic and truly well written character with so much untapped potential that could have been further expanded on. But then, the entire Dragonborn DLC also had HEAPS of potential that was ultimately never used.

[starrythroat]

Miraak's pals

[sulphuricgrin]

lilliandra and Ahzidal for the OC pairings. Going with one of Miraak's acolytes for the fun of it.

holy shit what a choice! xD

✨Send me an OC + an alternate love interest✨

Are we talking about when he was alive and Lilli somehow went back in time? Or are we talking about the shriveled up lich-like creature he is now? LMAO

Regardless I don't think it'd work.

Lilliandra would definitely enjoy talking magic and enchanting with him when he was alive, but he also had a wife and child. And after his wife and child were murdered, then Azhidal basically helped in elf genocide, soooooo she'd just be on his shit list anyways. LOL

Also yes, she does in fact do the Unearthed quest and collects all of Ahzidal's relics. She finds them quite useful.

[hellshire-harlot]

Part 2 of my Dragon Priest headcanons and headshots!

Ahzidal. His name translates directly to Bitter Destroyer, a name he took for himself. He spent his life learning the arcane arts in Mainland Skyrim, becoming a highly talented battlemage. But when he returned to his birthplace, he found it destroyed by the Snow Elves, and everyone he had known and loved was dead. Heartbroken and enraged, he took up arms against the Elves, leading the charge into Saarthal along with Morokei. For his great bravery, he was made a Priest, and governed on Solstheim under the tutelage of Miraak. Of the three Solstheim Priests, he caused the most trouble, particularly alongside Nahkriin, his closest friend. He is Omnisexual and uses He/Him.

Miraak. In the Dragon Tongue, his name means Allegiance-Guide, a name he was given to symbolize his key role in mentoring the other Solstheim Priests. He always harbored dissent against the Dragons, but hid it well. With his power on Solstheim, he sought to carve out a stronghold to rally against the Dov, having some inkling of his nature as the First Dragonborn. But upon discovering Hermaeus Mora’s Black Book, he learned the full truth about what he is. Using the power granted by Hermaeus Mora, he became one of the most powerful Priests in Skyrim, forsaking the Dragon Cult and bringing the other three Solstheim Priests with him, even subjugating their Dragons with the Shout he created. But his own brother, Vahlok, the one person he truly loved, was ultimately the one to defeat him. And so he was dragged to Apocryphal, where he remains- until the Last Dragonborn, Kiirlaas, awakens, and comes to free him. He is Pansexual and Grayromantic, and uses He/Him.

Volsung. His name means Horror, belying the true capabilities hiding just underneath his cordial exterior. In his early years of Priesthood, he was a brutally efficient ruler, swiftly cutting down dissenters and ruling with strength. But one day, he was given a reward for his outstanding work- a newborn baby girl, left to die in the snow and found by Paarthurnax. Instantly, he was smitten with her, and named his new daughter Kiirlaas, meaning Young Life. After this day, he became a completely different person, exercising far more restraint and showing more mercy in his actions. He raised his daughter with nothing but love and patience, and to this day she is his pride and joy. Even after 5000 years of death-slumber, when he awoke to her face, he stood with her, not even caring that she was Dragonborn. And yet, his name rings true- any who cross him, or worse, his daughter, will know the true meaning of horror. He is Straight and Orchidsexual, and uses He/Him.

Vahlok. In the Dragon Tongue, his name means Guardian, for he was meant to serve alongside his elder brother Miraak in governing Solstheim. He and Miraak spent their whole lives together, sharing responsibilities and woes, and doing all they could to help each other. If Vahlok shared Miraak’s disdain for the Dragons, he never let it show, and was known as a merciful, just leader. When Miraak went rogue, it was he who stood against him and convinced the other Solstheim Priests to return to the Cult. Even as Miraak lay dying, Vahlok attempted to bring him back to reason, only for Hermaeus Mora to claim his brother. After being named the greatest of all Priests, he continued to rule fairly, and went down in history as the most merciful and beloved of the Priests. He is Graysexual and Biromantic, and uses He/Him.

Nahlot. In Dovahzul, their name means Silence, and they are my third and final OC. Born mute, they nonetheless displayed extreme magical and academic prowess, serving the Dragons faithfully and going above and beyond in their duties. However, their calm exterior and muteness fooled many into thinking they were a weak Priest, which they most certainly were not. In fact, their name not only reflects their muteness, but their favorite way of dealing with their detractors- silencing them, for good. They wear a Mask of Ivory and often can be seen alongside Britfaaz, who took them under her wing. They are Placiosexual and Panromantic, and use They/Them.

Dukaan. Her name has two meanings- as a single word, it translates to Dishonor, but split into two words, it means Devourer of Kyne. Both are fitting for her. Born Albino and with partial blindness, she never knew safety in youth. Her family were cold and cruel, and so she followed in their footsteps. They forced her to become a Priestess of Kyne, a role she despised. She had learned that power was the only thing that could keep her safe, and for a Priestess of Kyne, there was little to be had. So she burned down the temple she had been shackled to and gave herself to the Dragon Cult, eventually choosing the name Dukaan for herself and wearing it with pride. She governs on Solstheim and wields frost magic with frightening skill, thanks to Miraak and his teachings. She was with him to the bitter end, only rejoining the Dragon Cult when it became clear Miraak was a losing dog. She, Ahzidal, and Zahkriisos made up what the other Priests often referred to as ‘the Trouble Trio’. She is Cupiosexual and Apothiromantic, and uses She/Her.

Krosis. Her name means Sorrow, for her often grim countenance. As Vosis’ little sister, she is one of the youngest Priests, and ruled her people in the typical Dragon Priest fashion. She was given the honor of serving Paarthurnax, a role she took deathly seriously. When he was told by Kyne to teach Mankind the way of the Voice, she stood by his side, loyal to him over all else. But her loyalty couldn’t save her from the wrath of her peers, and they dragged her to the tip of Shearpoint to imprison her within the sarcophagus and await Alduin’s return. In her final moments of clarity, she called out for him, a sound which haunts the brother of Alduin to this day. She is Lesbian and uses She/They.

Tulnir. Her name means Hunter’s Hammer, a curious name for such a sprightly, chipper Priest. It was chosen for her by Morokei, her beloved elder brother, for she was often far quicker to default to violence than he. The pride and joy of Bromjunaar, she was charismatic and jovial nearly all the time. In fact, her diplomatic skill brought her quite far in the Priesthood, especially considering her position as the second-youngest. She was Morokei’s more social half, spending time amongst the common folk and leading hunting parties. She is Polysexual and uses She/Her.

Finally, Vokun. His name translates to Shadow, a fitting name for the most mysterious of the Priests. As the youngest, his path to Priesthood was fraught with challenges, all of which he overcame. With the help of his incredible skill in illusion and alteration magic, he took to the more illicit side of being a Dragon Priest like a duck to water. He was also a member of the first Companions, an archivist who preserved the lineages and memoirs of his fellows. Despite the age difference between them, Vokun carried on a frenemy relationship with Rahgot, who begrudgingly came to care for him. He is Bisexual and Grayromantic, and uses He/Him.

And that’s everyone!!! If anyone has more questions or comments on them, please tell me, because I can’t get enough of the Dragon Cult!

[the-skyrim-addict]

I PROMISE IM NOT FUCKING DEAD ON HERE LMAO the last 5 or so months have just been really hectic, then i had a falling out with a friend that soured my taste on Skyrim a little BUT IM BACK AND MY INTEREST IN SKYRIM IS RETURNING!!!!!! i also come bearing gifts 🤲

some of these drawings are a couple months old but!!!!! more art!!!!!!