Jagar Tharn

Lore & Background

Tharn's reign was defined by paranoia and magical fortifications. He hid within a tower inside the Imperial City, protected by powerful wards that only he could bypass. His plan relied heavily on the Amulet of Kings, which he shattered into fragments scattered across Tamriel to prevent recovery. The conflict ended when a wandering adventurer, known as the Hero of Daggerfall, managed to infiltrate his defenses, retrieve the amulet shards, and confront him directly in his sanctum.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the Imperial Tower hummed with static electricity, smelling faintly of ozone and old parchment. Jagar Tharn stood before a mirror that did not reflect light, but souls. His robes, deep violet embroidered with gold thread, shifted like smoke as he whispered commands to shadows. Outside, the city slept under his illusion, believing him seated upon the Ruby Throne. But within this room, only the cold truth remained: the Emperor was gone, and the Amulet's power crackled in Tharn's palm, a diamond heart beating with stolen divinity.

Reader's Guide

Jagar Tharn began his career as a trusted Imperial Battlemage, serving directly under Emperor Uriel Septim VII during the Third Era. His origins are shrouded in ambition rather than noble lineage, rising through the ranks of the Imperial Legion's magical corps to become the Emperor's right hand. This proximity allowed him to study the Amulet of Kings, a relic vital to the Septim dynasty's legitimacy and the barrier against Oblivion. His relationship with Uriel Septim was one of betrayal; Tharn sought absolute power over Tamriel rather than service to the throne. He orchestrated a coup that saw the Emperor magically transported into the Deadlands realm of Mehrunes Dagon, leaving Tharn as the de facto ruler via an astral projection while he manipulated the kingdoms from within his tower in the Imperial City. In The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall, Tharn serves as the primary antagonist, forcing the player to traverse Tamriel to reclaim the Amulet fragments and rescue the Emperor. His defeat marks a pivotal moment where the Septim line is restored, though he remains a symbol of magical treachery in later lore discussions regarding Imperial security.

Did You Know?

• Tharn used astral projection to appear on the throne while his physical body remained hidden in a tower.
• He imprisoned Emperor Uriel Septim VII within the Deadlands, a realm associated with Mehrunes Dagon.
• The Amulet of Kings was shattered into pieces by Tharn to prevent the Hero from easily restoring it.
• His mastery of illusion magic allowed him to manipulate the political landscape of Tamriel for years.