Oghma Infinium
A sentient tome offering three paths to power, but demanding the soul as its price.
The Oghma Infinium is a legendary Daedric artifact forged by Hermaeus Mora, the Prince of Fate and Forbidden Knowledge. Unlike standard tomes that impart specific spells or skills, this sentient book offers its reader a choice of three distinct paths of enlightenment, permanently enhancing their capabilities in combat, magic, or stealth. It serves as one of the most coveted treasures in Tamriel, sought by scholars, warriors, and thieves alike who wish to transcend mortal limitations through forbidden insight.
- Creator
- Hermaeus Mora
- Type
- Daedric Artifact (Sentient Book)
- First Appearance
- The Elder Scrolls: Arena
- Primary Ability
- Permanent Skill Increase
- Nature
- Corrupting Influence of Forbidden Knowledge
Lore & Background
Throughout history, the artifact has changed hands often, usually vanishing into the mists of Oblivion only to reappear in the hands of those destined for great change. It is said that the book does not simply teach; it rewrites the reader's very essence, granting them a sudden surge of mastery over their chosen discipline. However, this gift comes with a heavy caveat: the knowledge gained is often tainted by Mora's influence, and many who have read the book find themselves forever altered, their minds partially occupied by the endless whispers of the Black Library.
In Their Own Story
The air in the ancient ruin hung heavy with the scent of ozone and rotting parchment as the traveler approached the pedestal. There it lay: a tome bound in dark leather that seemed to pulse with a slow, wet heartbeat. As fingers brushed the cover, a voice echoed not in the ears, but directly within the mind's marrow: 'Choose your path, mortal.' Three currents of power swirled before their eyes—the raw strength of arms, the mastery of the arcane, or the silent embrace of the shadow. With a trembling hand, the traveler selected the path of the warrior. Instantly, muscles surged with unnatural, burning power; years of grueling training crystallized into instinct in a single heartbeat. Yet, as the power settled, the shadows in the corner of the room seemed to detach themselves from the stone, lengthening and watching with a hunger that no mortal eye could truly comprehend.
Reader's Guide
Though Hermaeus Mora forged this artifact within the depths of Apocrypha, its influence has rippled through Tamriel's history. It was once clutched by the Hero of Kvatch during the Oblivion Crisis, and later sought by the Last Dragonborn in their quest to master the Thu'um. Today, it remains a treacherous prize, appearing only to those whose ambition matches their desperation. To claim the Oghma Infinium is to accept that while your skills may ascend to godhood, your mind will forever bear the ink-stain of the Black Library.
Did You Know?
- The name 'Oghma' is a reference to an ancient Dwemer concept of a living, evolving text, making the book's title effectively 'Infinite Living Text.'
- Literacy is irrelevant; reading the Oghma Infinium requires no knowledge of languages, as it bypasses the eyes and implants knowledge directly into the reader's psyche.
- Hermaeus Mora often presents the artifact not merely as a reward, but as a trap: those who consume its knowledge without sufficient willpower find their souls slowly devoured by the Prince's endless hunger.
- In certain apocryphal legends, the Oghma Infinium is one of the few artifacts capable of momentarily tearing the veil between Mundus and Apocrypha, allowing the Black Library to bleed into the mortal realm.