Ria Silmane

Ria Silmane ([?] – 3E 399) was one of the few known Imperial Battlemages of the Elder Council and a former apprentice to ex-Imperial Battlemage Jagar Tharn. Appointed to the Council following Tharn's resignation,^[1] Ria is the deuteragonist in the events of The Elder Scrolls: Arena. Murdered by her former master in 3E 389, Ria's assumed death and the kidnapping of Emperor Uriel Septim VII marked the beginning of the Imperial Simulacrum.^[2]

As a spirit, Ria was the guiding figure of the Eternal Champion, divining all locations of the eight pieces of the Staff of Chaos. She preserved her spirit form for nearly ten years as an exceptionally talented sorceress. She finally passed in 3E 399, by using the last remainder of her magic to help the Champion infiltrate the Imperial Palace.

By game[]

• Ria Silmane (Arena)

Biography[]

At an indeterminate time, Silmane became the apprentice to Imperial Battlemage Jagar Tharn, then head of the ruling body of Tamriel: the Elder Council. After the End of Harvest festival that year, Tharn resigned from his duties on the Council claiming that he wished to study other circles of magic; a cover story for his plan to kidnap Emperor Uriel Septim VII. He then advocated for his apprentice, Ria Silmane, to resume his duties as Imperial Battlemage of the Empire, and head of the Elder Council. The council fully approved.^[1]

Soon after, Tharn returned with the Staff of Chaos and usurped the Emperor's power in 3E 389. Silmane attempted to warn the Elder Council of his treachery, however, Tharn found her first, and used the Staff of Chaos to destroy her corporeal form.^[2]

Using her powers as a sorceress, she preserved herself as a spirit. In fear that appearing to the Elder Council would drain the rest of her magic and fully kill her, she instead appeared corporeally to the then-imprisoned Eternal Champion. She informed them of Tharn's betrayal, and all the Emperor's original Court and Guard were imprisoned with him. She claimed the Champion's "training" had begun, formed a ruby key to open his cell door, and a Shift Gate at the south-west end of the sewers to teleport them to a city far away from the Imperial City. She then manifested some of her magic on the Champion, and was able to link herself with their mind. She would use this uncommon form of magic, named dream bridging, to maximize her magical expenditure in the oncoming journey, and talk with the Champion in their dreams.^[2][3]

The more she used her powers after that, the shorter she could remain,^[3] and so every encounter with the Champion became shorter and shorter.^[4] In 3E 399, the Eternal Champion finally obtained all eight pieces of the Staff of Chaos. Ria Silmane then sacrificed what little energy she had left to cast an Illusion spell, changing the Champion's appearance so they may infiltrate the Imperial Palace undetected. She then ascended to the afterlife.^[5]

Trivia[]

• Visually, Tharn killed Silmane using a magic spell from his hand. However, Silmane states that Tharn used the Staff of Chaos to destroy her physical form.^[6]
• After becoming Imperial Battlemage, Silmane met and was appointed as the Eternal Champion's master "to learn under her tutelage the ways of Sorcery."^[3]
• According to Ted Peterson, Silmane's actor was one of the two female programmers at Bethesda: Jennifer Pratt, or Foroozan Soltani.^[7]

Appearances[]

• The Elder Scrolls: Arena
• The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall (mentioned only) ^[6]
• The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (mentioned only) ^[6]
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (mentioned only) ^[6]
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (mentioned only) ^[6]

References[]