The Masque of Clavicus Vile (also known as The Masque of Clavicus or Mask of Clavicus Vile)[1] is a helm which makes the wearer more popular wherever they might go by making them seem charming and trustworthy.[2] Much like other Daedra and their artifacts, Clavicus seems to retain ultimate control of the Masque and may recall it without warning.[3]
The best known story of the Masque tells the tale of Avalea, a noblewoman of some renown. As a young girl, she was grossly disfigured by a spiteful servant. Avalea made a dark deal with Clavicus Vile and received the Masque in return. Though the Masque did not change her looks, suddenly she had the respect and admiration of everyone. A year and a day after her marriage to a well connected baron, Clavicus Vile reclaimed the Masque. Although pregnant with his child, Avalea was banished from the Baron's household. Twenty-one years and one day later, Avalea's daughter claimed her vengeance by slaying the Baron.[3]
HistoryEdit
The Masque of Clavicus Vile was believed to be one of the Daedric artifacts formed through the long-term binding of lesser daedric entities by Clavicus Vile.[1]
The last living dwarf, Yagrum Bagarn, at one point befriended the sorcerer Divayth Fyr.[4] At Fyr's behest, Yagrum Bagarn wrote the book Tamrielic Lore[5]:241 from the notes that he gathered over the centuries, listing the Masque of Clavicus Vile among various items of "unimaginable significance".[6] By the Interregnum, copies of this book circulated throughout Tamriel, bringing to light some general information on the artifact to its readers.[7]
In the events leading up the Warp in the West, an agent of the Blades summoned Vile seeking power, and was tasked with assassinating a rogue werewolf that was terrorizing some of his associates. A worshipper of the Prince rewarded the agent the Masque for completing the task.[8]
Sometime in the late Third Era, the Nord necromancer, Sorkvild the Raven, searched Vvardenfell for the Masque. He occupied a wizard's tower near Dagon Fel rumored to belong to N'Gasta, a Sload that was once in service to Vile.[2] By 3E 427, Sorkvild obtained the artifact and began terrorizing Dagon Fel. The Imperial Legion tasked the Nerevarine to slay him, and the Masque was claimed from Sorkvild's corpse.[9]
Circa 3E 433, Clavicus Vile sent the Hero of Kvatch to retrieve Umbra from a Bosmer named Lenwin, who was from the small settlement of Pell's Gate. Barbas, Vile's Hound, advised the Hero against bringing him the sword, foreseeing that it would bring ruin to the Prince. It is unknown if the Hero went through with the prince's request to return the sword and receive the Masque in return, or if the Hero of Kvatch kept Umbra for themself.[10]
In 4E 201, Clavicus Vile tasked the Last Dragonborn with retrieving the Rueful Axe from Sebastian, who had reclaimed it. He was residing in a cave named Rimerock Burrow in Haafingar, Skyrim. In return, the Dragonborn requested that Vile would forgive Barbas, whom he had banished to Tamriel. Vile gave the Dragonborn the option to, either keep the Rueful Axe and use it to slay Barbas, temporarily vanquishing him to the Void, or going through with the original deal in which Vile would take both Barbas and the Axe in return for the Masque of Clavicus Vile. It is unknown which option the Last Dragonborn chose.[11]
GalleryEdit
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Daggerfall
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Statue of the Masque (Daggerfall)
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Morrowind
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Oblivion
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Merchandise Replica
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Masque of Clavicus Vile as a flag's emblem (ESO)
See AlsoEdit
- For game-specific information, see the Daggerfall, Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim articles.
ReferencesEdit
- ^ a b Darkest Darkness
- ^ a b Artisa Arelas' dialogue in Morrowind
- ^ a b Famed Artifacts of Tamriel — Yagrum Bagarn
- ^ Yagrum Bagarn's dialogue in Morrowind
- ^ The Morrowind Prophecies — Peter Olafson
- ^ Tamrielic Lore — Yagrum Bagarn
- ^ Tamrielic Artifacts
- ^ Clavicus Vile's Quest in Daggerfall
- ^ Sorkvild the Raven quest in Morrowind
- ^ Clavicus Vile quest in Oblivion
- ^ A Daedra's Best Friend quest in Skyrim