The Dark History of the Spear of Bitter Mercy
TLDR: The Spear of Bitter Mercy, a powerful and cursed Daedric artifact, has a dark history marked by its dangerous magical properties, connections to Daedric Princes, and the tragic fates of those who wielded it in significant events.
I’ve always been fascinated by the mysterious artifacts that populate the Elder Scrolls universe, but none quite capture my imagination like the Spear of Bitter Mercy. This enigmatic weapon, with its Daedric origins and dark history, has left an indelible mark on Tamriel’s lore. From its creation by Mehrunes Dagon to its adoption by Hircine, the Spear has played a pivotal role in some of the most intriguing tales across the eras. I can’t help but wonder about the true extent of its powers and the fates of those who wielded it. In my opinion, it’s one of the most underappreciated artifacts in the entire series, and I’m excited to delve into its rich history.
Origins and Creation of the Spear of Bitter Mercy
The origins of the Spear of Bitter Mercy are shrouded in mystery, but what we do know is both fascinating and terrifying. Mehrunes Dagon, the Daedric Prince of Destruction, is credited with crafting this formidable weapon. It’s not often that we can trace an artifact’s creation directly to a Daedric Prince, which makes the Spear of Bitter Mercy particularly intriguing.
Dagon’s purpose in creating the Spear was closely tied to the Daedric ritual known as the Great Hunt, or the Ritual of the Innocent Quarry. This brutal sport was a favorite among the Daedra, and the Spear was designed to play a crucial role in it. Mehrunes Dagon imbued the weapon with his own power, making it incredibly deadly. In fact, its touch is said to be fatal to all beings except the most powerful High Daedra Lords.
The Spear’s initial appearance in Tamriel is not precisely documented, but we can infer that it likely emerged during a period of increased Daedric activity. Its arrival would have been a significant event, given its power and divine origin. The weapon’s presence on Nirn seems to have been sporadic throughout history, appearing at pivotal moments rather than maintaining a constant presence.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the Spear of Bitter Mercy is its magical properties, which include:
- Granting a magical shield to its wielder
- The ability to summon storm atronachs
- A deadly touch fatal to most beings
- The power to reject unworthy wielders
Spear of Bitter Mercy’s Physical Description
The Spear of Bitter Mercy is a visually striking artifact with a distinctive appearance that sets it apart from mundane weapons. Its metallic composition gives it a gleaming, otherworldly quality befitting its Daedric origins. While the exact material is not specified in lore, it’s likely forged from some form of Daedric metal, given its creator and purpose.
One of the spear’s most notable features is its unique head design. Unlike traditional spears with a single point, the Spear of Bitter Mercy typically sports two or four protruding prongs surrounding the central spearhead. This unusual configuration gives it a menacing appearance and potentially enhances its deadly capabilities. The number of prongs seems to vary, which could be due to different manifestations of the artifact or changes in its form over time.
Another distinctive element of the spear’s design is the presence of Daedric Hekem sigils, which represent the letter “H” in the Daedric alphabet. These sigils are sometimes emblazoned on the weapon, though their exact placement and frequency may vary. The inclusion of these symbols further emphasizes the spear’s Daedric nature and may be linked to its association with Hircine, the Daedric Prince of the Hunt.
The spear’s appearance has shown some variations throughout its history in the Elder Scrolls series:
| Game | Appearance |
| Battlespire | Traditional spear with Daedric design elements |
| Morrowind | Metallic spear with pronounced prongs |
| Skyrim (Creation Club) | Polearm-style weapon with distinct head design |
It’s worth noting that these variations could be due to different artistic interpretations across games or might represent actual changes in the artifact’s form over time. The spear’s ability to potentially alter its appearance adds to its mystique and reinforces its status as a powerful Daedric artifact.
Despite these variations, the Spear of Bitter Mercy consistently maintains certain key elements:
- Metallic construction
- Distinctive multi-pronged head
- Daedric design influences
- Imposing and otherworldly aesthetic
Spear of Bitter Mercy’s Magical Properties
The Spear of Bitter Mercy possesses an array of formidable magical properties that set it apart from ordinary weapons. These enchantments reflect its Daedric origins and contribute to its reputation as a powerful artifact.
One of the spear’s most notable abilities is its capacity to grant its wielder a magical shield. This protective barrier likely serves to safeguard the user during combat, though the exact nature and strength of this shield are not explicitly detailed in the lore. It’s possible that this feature was designed to protect the wielder during the perilous Great Hunt ritual.
Another impressive property of the Spear of Bitter Mercy is its ability to summon storm atronachs. This power allows the wielder to call forth these elemental Daedra, potentially turning the tide of battle in their favor. The connection between the spear and storm atronachs is intriguing, as it suggests a link to elemental magic that isn’t immediately apparent from the weapon’s other properties.
Perhaps the most fearsome aspect of the Spear of Bitter Mercy is its deadly touch. According to lore, the spear is imbued with such potent and malevolent energies that a single touch is fatal to most beings. This lethality is so extreme that only the most powerful High Daedra Lords are said to be immune to its effects. This property makes the spear an incredibly dangerous weapon, even by Daedric artifact standards.
Interestingly, the Spear of Bitter Mercy also demonstrates a form of sentience or selective enchantment, as it can reject wielders it deems unworthy. This trait ensures that only those sanctified to the Hunt or otherwise deemed acceptable can wield its power. The criteria for this worthiness are not explicitly stated, adding an element of mystery to the artifact.
| Property | Effect |
| Protective | Grants magical shield |
| Summoning | Calls forth storm atronachs |
| Lethality | Fatal touch to most beings |
| Selectivity | Rejects unworthy wielders |
Historical Appearances of the Spear of Bitter Mercy
In the First Era, around the mid-late fifth century, the tale of Thane Icehammer emerged. During a hunting trip in the Yorgrim River basin, Icehammer unknowingly slew several were-creatures, incurring the wrath of Hircine. The Daedric Prince retaliated by thrusting the Spear of Bitter Mercy into Icehammer’s side, breaking off its tip in the process. This encounter had dire consequences for the Thane. The spear’s magic slowly drove him mad, culminating in the murder of a Kyne acolyte. His actions horrified his wife, Matron Icehammer, who ordered his capture. Fleeing into an ancient Nordic burial ruin northeast of Cragwallow, Thane Icehammer was sealed alive within as punishment, giving the ruins their name: Icehammer’s Vault.
The Second Era saw the Spear of Bitter Mercy documented by Yagrum Bagarn, the last living Dwemer. At the request of his friend, the sorcerer Divayth Fyr, Bagarn compiled a book known as “Tamrielic Lore,” which included information about the Spear among other significant artifacts. This documentation helped spread knowledge of the Spear throughout Tamriel. During the Interregnum, around 2E 582, the Spear resurfaced in Markarth. As the Gray Host expanded into the Karth Valley, forcing many Reach clans to seek refuge in Markarth, High Shaman Glynroch established the Shrine of the Hunt-Father within the city. The Spear of Bitter Mercy, along with other Symbols of the Five Aspects, was recovered and placed in this shrine for safekeeping.
The Third Era witnessed some of the Spear’s most dramatic appearances. During the Imperial Simulacrum (3E 398), it played a crucial role in the events surrounding Mehrunes Dagon’s attack on the Battlespire. An apprentice, trapped within the Battlespire after Dagon’s forces seized control, found themselves in the Chimera of Desolation. There, they became the quarry in a Great Hunt, possibly hosted by Hircine.
This Hunt involved several key events:
- The apprentice’s encounter with Chimere Graegyn, an inhabitant of the realm
- The violation of the Hunt’s rules by Egahirn, a Herne Huntsman
- The apprentice’s acquisition of the Savior’s Hide and the Spear of Bitter Mercy
- The defeat of Egahirn and the apprentice’s escape from the realm
Notable Wielders and Their Fates
Thane Icehammer, a Nord from the First Era, is perhaps the most tragic figure associated with the spear. While he never truly wielded the weapon, his encounter with it dramatically altered his fate. After unknowingly slaying were-creatures during a hunting trip, Hircine attacked Icehammer with the spear, breaking its tip off in the Thane’s side. This fragment’s presence slowly drove Icehammer mad, leading to his eventual downfall. His descent into madness culminated in the murder of a Kyne acolyte and his subsequent imprisonment in what became known as Icehammer’s Vault. The Thane’s fate serves as a chilling reminder of the spear’s power, even when not fully wielded.
The unnamed apprentice from the Battlespire incident during the Third Era represents a more triumphant wielder of the Spear of Bitter Mercy. During Mehrunes Dagon’s attack on the Battlespire, this apprentice found themselves trapped in the Chimera of Desolation, participating in a Great Hunt. Through cunning and skill, they acquired both the Spear of Bitter Mercy and the Savior’s Hide, using these artifacts to defeat Egahirn, a Herne Huntsman who had violated the rules of the Hunt. The apprentice’s successful use of the spear not only facilitated their escape but also played a crucial role in the recapturing of the Battlespire.
In more recent times, if we consider Creation Club content, Gogh the goblin hunter emerges as another notable wielder. Gogh, a unique follower available in Skyrim’s Anniversary Edition, uses the Spear of Bitter Mercy as his weapon of choice. While players cannot obtain the spear themselves, Gogh’s possession of it adds an intriguing layer to the artifact’s history, suggesting its continued relevance and power in the Fourth Era.
Here’s a summary of these notable wielders and their fates:
| Wielder | Era | Outcome |
| Thane Icehammer | First Era | Driven mad, imprisoned |
| Unnamed Apprentice | Third Era | Escaped Chimera, aided in recapturing Battlespire |
| Gogh | Fourth Era | Active wielder, player follower |
Connections to Daedric Princes
Mehrunes Dagon, the Daedric Prince of Destruction, is credited with the initial creation of the Spear of Bitter Mercy. He imbued the weapon with his own power, making it incredibly deadly. The spear’s original purpose was to be used in the Daedric ritual known as the Great Hunt, or the Ritual of the Innocent Quarry, a brutal sport favored by the Daedra. Dagon’s creation of such a powerful artifact demonstrates his penchant for crafting instruments of destruction and chaos.
Despite its origins with Mehrunes Dagon, the Spear of Bitter Mercy became most closely associated with Hircine, the Daedric Prince of the Hunt. This shift in association likely occurred due to the spear’s role in the Great Hunt, an event that aligns closely with Hircine’s sphere of influence. Hircine adopted the spear as one of his signature artifacts, and it became a symbol of his power among his followers. The Reachfolk, who revere Hircine, even gave him the title “Alrabeg the Hunter” in connection with his wielding of the Spear of Bitter Mercy.
Interestingly, Sheogorath, the Daedric Prince of Madness, also has a connection to the spear, albeit a more indirect one. In The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, the Spear of Bitter Mercy can be obtained through a quest given by Sheogorath. The quest involves recovering the Fork of Horripilation from a mad hermit near Ald Redaynia and using it to kill a Giant Bull Netch. Upon completion, Sheogorath rewards the player with the Spear of Bitter Mercy. This connection to Sheogorath adds an element of unpredictability to the spear’s history, fitting for an artifact associated with the Prince of Madness.
Here’s a summary of the Daedric Prince connections:
| Daedric Prince | Connection to the Spear |
| Mehrunes Dagon | Original creator |
| Hircine | Primary user and most associated Prince |
| Sheogorath | Quest giver in Morrowind |
The Spear’s Role in Significant Events
During the Imperial Simulacrum in 3E 398, the Battlespire, a training facility for battlemages, came under attack by Mehrunes Dagon’s forces. This assault was part of a larger scheme orchestrated by the Imperial Battlemage Jagar Tharn, who was impersonating Emperor Uriel Septim VII at the time. The Spear of Bitter Mercy resurfaced during this chaotic period, becoming a key element in the conflict’s resolution.
An unnamed apprentice, trapped within the Battlespire after Dagon’s forces seized control, eventually found their way to the Chimera of Desolation. It was here that the Spear of Bitter Mercy’s role became pivotal. The apprentice became the quarry in a Great Hunt, a Daedric ritual that may have been hosted by Hircine himself. This Hunt was not just a test of survival, but a complex interplay of Daedric politics and mortal cunning.
During the Great Hunt, the apprentice encountered Chimere Graegyn, an inhabitant of the Chimera of Desolation who had previously defied Mehrunes Dagon. With Graegyn’s aid, the apprentice navigated the treacherous landscape and rules of the Hunt. The Hunt’s integrity was compromised when one of the Huntsmen, a Herne named Egahirn, violated the Law of the Hunt by keeping one of the six gatekeys needed for the quarry’s escape.
This violation presented an opportunity for the apprentice. By acquiring the Savior’s Hide, which protected the wearer from attacks by oathbreakers, the apprentice was able to wield the Spear of Bitter Mercy effectively against Egahirn. The combination of these two powerful artifacts allowed the apprentice to defeat Egahirn and escape the realm.
The significance of these events extends beyond the immediate conflict:
- They demonstrated the power of the Spear of Bitter Mercy against Daedric entities
- They highlighted the complex rules and traditions surrounding Daedric artifacts and rituals
- They played a crucial role in the eventual recapturing of the Battlespire
Following these events, both the Spear of Bitter Mercy and the Savior’s Hide were used in the recapturing of the Battlespire, though the Spear was later substituted with the Sword of the Moon Reiver for the final confrontation with Mehrunes Dagon. These events not only showcased the Spear’s power but also cemented its place in Tamrielic history, intertwining it with the fate of the Battlespire and the broader conflicts between mortals and Daedric forces.
Final Thoughts
After exploring the dark and twisted tale of the Spear of Bitter Mercy, I’m left with more questions than answers. Its journey through Tamriel’s history is nothing short of incredible, from the tragic fate of Thane Icehammer to its crucial role in the fall of the Battlespire. I’m particularly intrigued by its connection to multiple Daedric Princes – it’s not often you see an artifact with such diverse divine associations. While some might view it as just another powerful weapon, I believe the Spear of Bitter Mercy represents something more profound about the nature of power and corruption in the Elder Scrolls universe. Its story serves as a chilling reminder of the dangers lurking within the most iconic fantasy weapons of Tamriel, waiting to ensnare the unwary.