Lore:Arkay

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Arkay (also known as Ark'ay) is a member of the Nine Divines pantheon, and is also a popular god in other cultures. Arkay is often more important in those cultures where his father, Akatosh, is either less related to time or where his time aspects are difficult to comprehend by the layman. He is the god of burials and funeral rites, and is sometimes associated with the seasons. His priests are staunch opponents of necromancy and all forms of the undead. It is presumed that Arkay did not exist before the world was created by the gods under Lorkhan's supervision/urging/trickery. Therefore, he is sometimes called the Mortals' God.

Legend has it that Arkay was once a regular shopkeeper with a passion for knowledge, as documented in the book Ark'ay the God of Birth and Death. He found a book written in a strange language and spent years upon years attempting to decipher it, slowly ignoring everything, and everyone else around him. Eventually Arkay realized the book explained life and death itself, unfortunately, he was himself near death's door with an incurable plague. Praying to Mara as a last resort, Arkay asked for more time to interpret the book. Mara gave him a choice, die now or become a god for eternity, charged with keeping the balance of death and life in the universe.

Comparing Arkay to Tu'whacca, Yokudan God of Souls shows this story is allegorical, framing the sequence of events by which an anonymous Aedroth found new purpose in the constructs of the mortal plane, and took up the mantle of life and death.

In Daggerfall, the Order of Arkay has temples in Sentinel, Ilessan Hills, Shalgora, The Dragontail Mountains, and the only temple in the Orsinium area.

Aedra and Daedra
Aedra:	Akatosh | Arkay | Dibella | Julianos | Kynareth | Mara | Stendarr | Zenithar
Daedra:	Azura | Boethiah | Clavicus Vile | Hermaeus Mora | Hircine | Jyggalag | Malacath | Mehrunes Dagon | Mephala | Meridia | Molag Bal | Namira | Nocturnal | Peryite | Sanguine | Sheogorath | Vaermina