Lore:Alkosh

Alkosh depicted alongside his Hourglass

Alkosh is a pre-ri'Datta Dynasty Anaquinine deity, also known as the Dragon King of Cats, the First Cat, the Highmane, and the Great Cat King of Time. He is depicted as a fearsome dragon, which the Khajiiti say "is just a real big cat". He is the god of Time, a variation on the Altmeri Auri-El, and thus an "Akatosh-as-culture-hero" for the earliest Khajiiti. Alkosh's worship was co-opted during the establishment of the Riddle'Thar, but the Dragon King remains popular in Elsweyr's wastelands.

The Khajiit believe the Dragon Break phenomenon occurs when Alkosh has been broken. In some pre-ri'Datta beliefs, Alkosh is said to have appeared after the disappearance of Akha and took over the role of the First Cat. While he ruled over the children of Akha, he was soon overthrown and his body scattered on the West Wind. It was Khenarthi who put Alkosh back together, and now they both "safeguard the Many Paths from the wayward children of Akha".

It is said Alkosh repelled an early Aldmeri pogrom of Pelinal Whitestrake during mythic times, by shouting the invader off the summit of Sunspire and out of Elsweyr, leaving behind a "wound" in the sky.

It is common among the Khajiit to fashion wooden religious fetishes that depict Alkosh as a reclining cat with its jaws open wide.

Artifacts

Mask of Alkosh

The Mask of Alkosh

The Mask of Alkosh is a holy relic of the Dragon-Cat Alkosh, his light willing it into existence to help mend the tapestry of time, and is worn by the champions of the Pride of Alkosh. It was first worn by the Ja'darri the Endless, the first champion of Alkosh and the founder of the Pride of Alkosh. A Dragon must awaken the dormant power within the mask before it can be used. When the mask is empowered, it imbues its wielder, known as a Mask-Bearer, with extraordinary power.

Gallery

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  Shrine to Alkosh

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  Descendant of Alkosh (Legends)

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  A mirrored depiction of Akatosh/Alkosh on a metal door

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  Aspect of Alkosh in a deep slumber

See Also

• For related information, see entries for Akatosh, Auri-El, Alduin, and the One.