Lore:Mummy

A mummified Khajiit (Legends)

Mummies are a powerful form of undead. The practice of mummification of the honored dead is common in many cultures across Tamriel. This often involves covering the preserved corpse in distinctive cloth wraps; such mummy wrappings can be used in alchemy.^[1] Sometimes the body is also fitted with a death mask.^[2] Bodies preserved in such a manner are liable to rise from the dead, either due to an inability to pass on^[3]^[4] or due to the actions of a necromancer.^[5] The process of mummification is believed to protect a corpse's ligaments and muscle from the detrimental effects of rot, thereby greatly increasing its durability, stability, and mobility once reanimated.^[6]

The first step to creating a mummy is to soak the decaying corpse in a bath of salt or natron for at least one month to halt decay and remove unpleasant odors. More salts may need to be applied in moist climates such as Argonia or Thras if the salt bath becomes saturated.^[7] A wide variety of embalming tools can be used to remove the vital organs before or after this process,^[8] although some necromancers skip this step as there is little practical reason to do so.^[7] Any organs removed during the embalming process are stored separately in crypt jars by many cultures on Tamriel.^[9] The next step is to wrap the body in cloth or linen to preserve and protect it.^[10]^[7] The wrappings and the corpse's desiccation results in a greater stiffness of the body in comparison to zombies, requiring proper necromantic rituals to imbue the mummy with enough strength to move itself. However, the result is a much stronger undead servant who can follow commands with more independence and understanding.^[7]

Undead mummies require a silver or better weapon to be harmed, and often carry horrible diseases.^[11] Those who take a body part from a mummy can be subjected to a "mummy's curse", and will receive nightly hauntings until the mummy is destroyed.^[12]

Cultural PracticesEdit

An Ashlander mummy of the Urshilaku tribe (Morrowind)

A mummified tabby cat (ESO)

Certain Elven peoples are known to practice mummification of their dead. The Ashlanders of Morrowind use ash salts to preserve the bodies of the dead, unlike House Dunmer who usually cremate their dead. The Ashlanders glorify their dead in accordance with their traditions of ancestor worship, and these mummies are prominently displayed at the tribe's burial site.^[13] The Ayleids also practiced mummification, and undead Ayleid mummies are often powerful spellcasters.^[14]^[15] The Barsaebic Ayleid necromancer kings of Black Marsh became undead mummies known as Fenlords (or sometimes Mummy Lords).^[16]^[17] These revenants continue to rule over their undead servants in the depths of Barsaebic ruins.^[14]^[16]

Men also widely practice mummification. Undead mummies are a common sight in the Iliac Bay region.^[11] The practice is very common among Redguards; mummification of the dead is a tradition that stretches back to the first arrivals from Yokuda, and undead mummies often plague Redguard crypts.^[18]^[19] The crypts beneath the Imperial City are also known to contain undead mummies,^[20] and the Imperials have been known to perform necromantic binding rituals on condemned prisoners to turn them into mummified undead guardians.^[21]^[22] The Skaal mummify wolf paws and cap the ankles with silver, believing they can ward away werewolves.^[23]

The Khajiit of Elsweyr also widely practice mummification.^[5]^[24]^[25] They have even been known to reanimate the mummified corpses of cats to serve as eternal rodent-catchers.^[25] Mummified horses may also be reanimated to serve as grisly mounts.^[26]

Banekin are sometimes mummified, although it is unclear what this process means for an immortal Daedra.^[27]