Lore talk:Cadwell

Imperial or Nede?

The article claims he was an Imperial citizen, (does that mean he was a citizen of the Empire or a citizen of the race of Imperials?), but his infobox claims he is a Nede. --Rezalon (talk) 06:52, 7 June 2019 (UTC)

The imperial mention comes from an old Lawrence Schick Q&A from 2015. The new Elsweyr backstory probably contradicts the info given since Khunzar-ri and his team may have been Merethic Era.--Talyyn (talk) 08:24, 7 June 2019 (UTC)

The dates are a bit odd. The facts are:

• Elsweyr DLC claims he was a contemporary of Khunzar-ri.
• Khunzar-ri existed before the sixteen kingdoms.
• PGE3 tells us in the early 1st Era, there were sixteen independent realms in Elsweyr.
• This means both Cadwell and Khunzar-ri are from somewhere in early 1st Era... maybe Late Merethic.
• However Schick has explicitly said Cadwell was "an Imperial citizen from the town of Chorrol". Chorrol - a human city - very likely was built after the Alessian Slave Rebellion of 1E 242.
• This implies Cadwell was around post 1E 242, after Alessia took rule. However this conflicts with the Ayleid kingdoms search for the Wrathstone.

The question is could Cyrodiil humans living in 1E 242 be called "Nedes". Technically yes (Alessia was one), but "Nede" has today become a catch-all term applied so broadly to Merethic-Era humans that is almost worthless. We don't know exactly when the term "Imperial" became the standard for the race, but the earliest implication is the very Imperial looking and sounding Titus Valerius of the Craglorn main quest, who was alive around 1E 808.

That said, we don't list lore people as Nede unless its explicit (like Lamae Bal), but its a bit of a mess. If we disregard Schick's comment 4 years ago it makes a bit more sense. --Jimeee (talk) 09:02, 7 June 2019 (UTC)

Found the line I was looking for. Cadwell the Betrayer says it:

"I am my own head, yes.
I am the hero of Cyrod and the villain of Elsweyr. The champion of the Third Nedic Massacre and the dark knight they call the Betrayer."

Confirms he is from Cyrodiil when it was known as Cyrod and was involved in a Nedic Massacre.--Talyyn (talk) 13:34, 7 June 2019 (UTC)

Yeah, I'd say that's a pretty solid argument to keep him as Nedic. This means the UOL Chorrol and Imperial stuff should be relegated to the notes section (at best) with an explanation.--Jimeee (talk) 13:41, 7 June 2019 (UTC)

To add on to Cadwell's backstory, its mentioned several times that Khunzar-ri and his Kra'jun were active during the Merethic Era. There's also a book involving Khunzar-ri that mentions them encountering Nedes. The forum post is UOL and, as with the nature of these sources, the devs can always counteract or retcon them in the future by way of the games if they so please. The Rim of the Sky (talk) 19:45, 7 June 2019 (UTC)