Vaermina, known as the Dreamweaver, is one of the seventeen Daedric Princes in The Elder Scrolls universe. She embodies nightmares, psychological torment, and the theft of memories, ruling over the realm of Quagmire, a constantly shifting nightmare dimension where reality bends to the whims of terror. While many Daedric Princes command open destruction or dominion over material forces, Vaermina’s influence is insidious, creeping into the minds of mortals while they sleep, warping their dreams into horrors that can fracture the psyche. Worshipers of Vaermina do not seek power or knowledge but instead offer themselves to the consuming darkness of their nightmares, becoming willing vessels of the Daedric Prince’s influence.
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| Vaermina, the Daedric Prince of Dreams and Nightmares |
Throughout the series, Vaermina’s influence is most evident when she is manipulating mortal minds, whether through the use of the Skull of Corruption, her infamous artifact, or through dream-induced horrors that blur the line between reality and delusion. Unlike many Daedric Princes, she has little interest in political affairs or direct confrontation; instead, her power seeps into Tamriel quietly, through the fragile realm of sleep, making her one of the most unpredictable and disturbing figures among the Daedra.
What Does Vaermina Look Like?
Vaermina’s physical form is most commonly depicted as that of a robed sorceress wielding a twisted staff, draped in flowing, tattered robes that suggest both grandeur and decay. Unlike some of the more bestial or monstrous Daedric Princes, her form is human-like, albeit unsettlingly ethereal. In The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall, her summoning is accompanied by nightmarish visuals, reinforcing her dominion over the subconscious mind. However, physical descriptions of Vaermina often shift between accounts, much like her realm, with some sources suggesting she can appear in any shape that will inspire the greatest fear in those who behold her.
The poem Ode to Vaermina, found in The Elder Scrolls Online, describes her influence as that of a serpent coiled around the minds of dreamers, feeding on their fears and twisting their subconscious into realms of torment. The idea that her form is as mutable as her domain suggests that Vaermina does not have a singular physical presence but rather exists as an extension of fear itself, appearing to each victim in whatever guise will shatter their sanity most effectively.
What is Vaermina’s Role in Tamrielic History?
Unlike some Daedric Princes who intervene in Tamriel’s affairs through grandiose means, Vaermina’s presence is often subtle, existing in the undercurrents of history. Her name appears in accounts of mad rulers, cursed bloodlines, and unexplained mass hysteria. One of her most notable recorded interventions was her role in the cure for vampirism in The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, where she was said to have provided information to Molag Bal regarding the disease. This suggests an esoteric knowledge that transcends the boundaries of Oblivion, and it raises the question of whether Vaermina merely manipulates nightmares or if she also possesses insight into deeper, arcane mysteries.
Her influence over the minds of mortals is recorded in the Sixteen Accords of Madness, in which she subjects an Imperial noble named Darius to nights of endless psychological horror, stripping away his sanity layer by layer. The account describes her power vividly: “She pulled the void away, and for hours each night she would reveal to Darius the most horrible perversions of nature.” The horrors Vaermina conjures are not always physical but are instead rooted in existential dread, paranoia, and the realization of one’s worst fears made real.
Vaermina in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Vaermina’s quest in Oblivion showcases her unique brand of psychological horror. The Hero of Kvatch, upon discovering her shrine, is required to offer a Black Soul Gem as tribute—an ominous token symbolizing the ensnaring of mortal souls. In return, the Daedric Prince tasks the player with retrieving her stolen artifact, the Skull of Corruption, from a rogue wizard. Upon reaching the wizard’s tower, the player enters a twisted nightmare world, populated with daedric horrors, shifting landscapes, and haunting remnants of the wizard’s own torment. The wizard himself is found in a comatose state, trapped in an endless nightmare from which there is no escape, reinforcing the depth of Vaermina’s cruelty.
When the artifact is returned, Vaermina delivers a chilling statement: the wizard will remain locked in his nightmare for eternity, his mind unraveling with each passing second. The Skull of Corruption, her artifact, allows its wielder to create a twisted doppelgänger of any humanoid target, forcing them to fight their own distorted reflection, an ability emblematic of Vaermina’s themes of self-destruction and psychological terror.
Vaermina in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
In Skyrim, Vaermina’s influence manifests in Nightcaller Temple, an abandoned shrine overlooking the northern city of Dawnstar. The town is plagued by inexplicable, horrifying nightmares, with its citizens unable to find restful sleep. The source of their suffering is revealed to be the Skull of Corruption, hidden deep within the temple, leeching their dreams and transforming them into Vaermina’s sustenance.
The quest, Waking Nightmare, introduces Erandur, a priest of Mara and former devotee of Vaermina, who guides the Dragonborn into the depths of the temple. Through the use of Vaermina’s Torpor, a rare alchemical potion, the Dragonborn enters The Dreamstride, an ability that allows them to traverse reality through dreams. This mechanic highlights Vaermina’s unique domain, as it represents a rare moment in the series where the boundaries of wakefulness and dreaming are crossed with tangible consequences.
As the Dragonborn nears the Skull, Vaermina intervenes directly, whispering into their mind, urging them to betray Erandur and claim the staff for themselves. The choice presents a true moral dilemma—aligning with the Daedric Prince’s will grants access to a powerful relic, but siding with Erandur offers a moment of defiance against Vaermina’s will. The outcome of the quest reinforces her reputation as a manipulator, testing not only the Dragonborn’s combat abilities but also their psychological fortitude.
Vaermina in The Elder Scrolls Online
In The Elder Scrolls Online, Vaermina’s presence is expanded through her role as the central antagonist of the Stormhaven storyline. She and her cultists attempt to plunge the region into madness, using nightmares as weapons to shatter the minds of leaders, including High King Emeric. Her lover and champion, The Night Terror, kidnaps the king and drags him into Quagmire, where he is subjected to relentless torment. The Vestige, the protagonist of ESO, must navigate through Quagmire itself, confronting Vaermina’s manifestations of fear and despair.
Although she is ultimately thwarted, her parting words to the Vestige are particularly ominous, promising vengeance upon them in a future they cannot yet see. Unlike other Daedric Princes, Vaermina does not rely on brute force or direct confrontation; she plants seeds of doubt and fear, ensuring that even in defeat, her influence lingers within the minds of those who oppose her.
Vaermina remains one of the most enigmatic and terrifying figures in The Elder Scrolls pantheon. Unlike her more overtly destructive peers, her power is not measured in physical devastation but in the corrosion of sanity, the breakdown of reality, and the slow, inevitable decay of the mind under her nightmarish grasp. Whether through the haunting corridors of Nightcaller Temple, the whispers in a dream, or the unseen horrors lurking in Quagmire, Vaermina ensures that no one—mortal or divine—is ever truly safe when they close their eyes.
Vaermina's Raw Power
Vaermina’s raw power is significant, particularly in the realm of magic, where she exerts her will through nightmares, memory theft, and the corruption of the subconscious. Her dominion over minds and dreams gives her an unparalleled advantage in psychological warfare, making her one of the most terrifying entities in the Elder Scrolls universe. However, her lack of direct physical strength and the absence of conventional combat capabilities slightly diminish her overall ranking. While she is a formidable entity whose power can be devastating under the right circumstances, she does not rank among the absolute highest beings in terms of raw destructive ability. Thus, Vaermina’s Raw Power receives a rating of 8.0 out of 10—highly potent in specific domains but not an outright supreme force in direct magical or physical warfare.
Strength
Vaermina possesses no known physical form that engages in conventional combat. When she does manifest, she typically appears as an ethereal or robed mage-like figure, reinforcing the idea that she is not a Daedric Prince who relies on brute force. Unlike some of her kin who possess monstrous forms or towering strength, Vaermina’s power is rooted in the abstract rather than the physical. While she can exert force through summoned entities or dream manifestations, these are projections rather than physical attributes of her own. As a result, her raw physical strength is negligible, placing her at the lowest possible ranking in this subcategory.
Magical Ability
Vaermina’s mastery of magic is undeniable. Her dominion over the subconscious mind gives her unparalleled influence over dreams, nightmares, and memory manipulation. Unlike conventional spellcasters who wield destructive magics of fire, frost, or lightning, her power manifests in more insidious ways—corrupting thoughts, inducing madness, and warping reality through the minds of those she ensnares. The Skull of Corruption, one of her most infamous artifacts, exemplifies her power by creating twisted, nightmarish duplicates of individuals, which can be weaponized against their own allies. Furthermore, her ability to construct entire dreamscapes within her plane of Oblivion, Quagmire, where reality constantly shifts into horrifying spectacles, cements her as one of the most potent wielders of mental and illusionary magic in existence.
Even among Daedric Princes, her ability to weaponize fear and memory theft sets her apart. However, her lack of direct, elemental, or necromantic magic means she is not as immediately destructive as some of her counterparts, slightly reducing her overall ranking in this subcategory.
Combat Prowess
Vaermina is not a warrior in any traditional sense. Unlike some other Daedric entities who engage in direct conflict, she has no recorded feats of martial prowess or personal combat. Instead, her influence is exerted passively through dreams, nightmares, and psychological torment. When her forces engage in battle, they do so through cultists, Daedra, and manipulated mortals rather than through any direct engagement on her part. This does not mean she is powerless in conflict, but rather that her role in warfare is that of a corruptor and manipulator rather than a direct combatant.
That said, the warriors and spellcasters who serve her are often empowered through her ability to drive their enemies into fear-induced paralysis or manipulate their minds into turning against one another. As such, while she lacks direct martial skill, her ability to break the will of combatants before they ever lift a weapon makes her an unconventional but dangerous force in conflict.
Vaermina's Tactical Ability
Vaermina’s tactical ability is highly potent but specialized. She is a master of psychological manipulation, long-term fear tactics, and subversive influence, making her one of the most dangerous forces when it comes to indirect warfare. However, her lack of direct battlefield control, reliance on long-term afflictions rather than immediate tactical shifts, and absence of a conventional military force keep her from achieving a perfect rating. Thus, Vaermina’s Tactical Ability receives a rating of 7.5 out of 10—exceptionally strong in psychological warfare but lacking the flexibility and direct strategic control needed to rank among the absolute greatest tacticians in fantasy universes.
Strategic Mind
Vaermina’s strategy is insidious rather than overt. She does not rely on brute force but instead manipulates her enemies from within, turning dreams into weapons and using nightmares to break the wills of those who oppose her. One of her most effective methods of influence is the gradual erosion of sanity through constant exposure to fear and paranoia. She has been known to induce prophetic visions that can either reveal or distort the future, forcing those affected into a spiral of uncertainty. This makes her an unpredictable force in long-term conflicts, as those who oppose her may be paralyzed by indecision, unable to trust their own senses or memories.
Her ability to infiltrate dreams allows her to spread discord across nations, making rulers second-guess their own decisions, planting doubts in the minds of generals, and leading entire populations into madness. Unlike tacticians who rely on direct battle formations or siege warfare, Vaermina’s approach is more akin to psychological warfare, ensuring that the war is already lost in the minds of her enemies before the first blade is drawn.
While her methods are undeniably effective, they require time to reach their full potential. Unlike a traditional strategist who can swiftly shift tactics based on changing battle conditions, Vaermina’s influence is a slow-acting poison. As a result, her strategic mind, while formidable, lacks the immediate adaptability that some of the highest-rated tacticians in the fantasy genre possess.
Resourcefulness
Vaermina’s resourcefulness stems from her ability to use fear as a tool, twisting the very minds of her enemies into weapons against themselves. She does not require an extensive military force because her true army consists of the nightmares she instills in others, the cultists she bends to her will, and the memories she erases or distorts at her discretion.
One of her most unique resources is Vaermina’s Torpor, an elixir that allows mortals to traverse the realm of dreams and physically reappear in different locations. This ability gives her agents an unparalleled advantage in espionage, as they can bypass physical barriers by navigating the dream world. Additionally, her ability to siphon dreams and turn them into energy ensures that she is constantly replenishing her own strength from the subconscious fears of mortals.
However, Vaermina’s reliance on dream-based influence means that she is not as resourceful in direct conflicts where brute strength is necessary. If confronted in a scenario where her manipulations fail or where she is unable to affect an enemy’s mind, she lacks physical assets or standing forces to turn the tide of battle. For this reason, while her resourcefulness is formidable in the right circumstances, it is not universally applicable.
Resource Arsenal
Vaermina’s arsenal is vast in terms of psychological and magical warfare, though more limited in traditional military assets. She does not command a conventional army, nor does she have vast networks of spies in the physical world. Instead, her greatest weapons are her artifacts and the afflictions she bestows upon mortals.
The Skull of Corruption is among her most infamous weapons, capable of creating twisted, nightmarish copies of living beings that immediately turn against their originals. This allows her followers to eliminate key targets through psychological and magical subterfuge rather than open combat. Additionally, her control over Quagmire, a plane of Oblivion that constantly shifts in horrifying ways, ensures that any who attempt to confront her in her own domain will be met with an environment designed to drive them into madness before they can even strike.
Despite her ability to warp minds, her arsenal lacks conventional means of brute force. While she can create fearsome illusions and send cultists to do her bidding, she does not wield massive armies or devastating magical artillery that could be used in direct engagements. This limitation prevents her from achieving the highest possible ranking in this category, as her effectiveness remains largely dependent on psychological warfare rather than physical dominance.
Vaermina's Influence
Vaermina’s influence extends far beyond the realm of physical dominion. She operates in the shadows of the subconscious, weaving fear, paranoia, and madness into the very fabric of mortal existence. Her power does not manifest in traditional leadership or direct governance; rather, she commands authority through psychological terror, an all-encompassing presence in the nightmares of the living. Her sphere of influence is unique among the Daedric Princes in that it is not confined to worship or territory but is an inescapable part of reality itself—wherever dreams exist, so too does Vaermina’s grasp. This results in a rating of 8.0 out of 10.
Persuasion
Vaermina’s persuasion is not the kind that relies on words or rhetoric; rather, she bends the will of others through sheer psychological force. Unlike some manipulators who rely on charming discourse, Vaermina's persuasion is inevitable—her victims do not debate or negotiate with her, for their very thoughts are rewritten to align with her designs.
Through dreams, she is capable of making mortals question reality itself. Even the strongest minds can be eroded over time, and those who attempt to resist often find themselves haunted by visions, their own doubts turned against them. She does not need to forcefully command her followers to act—she whispers to them in their sleep, feeds them illusions that make their worst fears feel real, and watches as they break down under the weight of their own subconscious terrors.
However, this method of persuasion has its limits. While her ability to influence individuals through their subconscious is terrifyingly effective, it lacks the immediacy of direct verbal manipulation. Those with exceptional willpower or magical defenses against mental intrusion can, at least temporarily, resist her influence. This places her persuasion ability just below the highest possible tier.
Reverence
Unlike many powerful beings, Vaermina does not command traditional reverence in the form of admiration or devotion. Instead, her reverence is built upon dread—an unwilling acknowledgment of her power. The name Vaermina is spoken not with adoration but with hushed fear, invoked by desperate mortals in the hope that she will pass them by.
Her cults are not grand political entities, nor do they command armies in her name. Rather, they consist of fragmented, obsessive followers who have glimpsed her presence in their dreams and cannot escape her. These worshippers act in secrecy, often consumed by their own madness, existing not as organized factions but as conduits of her will. Despite the relative obscurity of her temples compared to some of the more active Daedric Princes, Vaermina’s presence is deeply ingrained in mortal fears.
Every person who has ever suffered from nightmares, every ruler who has been plagued by visions of ruin, and every mage who has glimpsed something they should not have seen in the Dreamstride is an unwitting devotee of Vaermina. Her reverence is not one of prayer, but of inescapable horror. Because of this, she stands as one of the most universally acknowledged forces in Nirn’s metaphysical landscape.
Willpower
Vaermina’s greatest weapon is the erosion of willpower, as she is one of the most proficient entities at breaking down the mental resilience of even the strongest individuals. By plaguing mortals with visions of their worst fears, she creates scenarios where the simple act of retaining one’s sanity becomes a battle. Some mortals become so lost in her influence that they can no longer distinguish reality from nightmare, living out waking terrors that drive them to desperation, submission, or insanity.
However, despite her immense power in this domain, her influence is not absolute. Some individuals, through sheer willpower or divine intervention, have resisted her grasp. The ability to control one’s own mind, while rare, is the greatest defense against Vaermina’s influence. Certain magical protections, particularly those associated with divine blessings, can mitigate her hold over a person’s dreams, and while these cases are exceptions rather than the rule, they prove that her influence is not omnipotent.
Despite these rare instances of resistance, the sheer volume of people who succumb to her power—be it through madness, paranoia, or outright worship—cements her place as one of the most effective manipulators in existence.
Vaermina's Resilience
Vaermina’s resilience is formidable, though it is rooted in her immortal nature rather than traditional endurance. She is virtually impervious to conventional harm, immune to aging, and capable of withstanding most magical threats due to her existence within the realm of nightmares. However, her lack of physical durability and the ability of sufficiently powerful individuals to momentarily suppress her influence place her slightly below the highest echelons of resilience. Because of this, Vaermina’s Resilience receives a rating of 8.0 out of 10, solidifying her as an entity that cannot be permanently destroyed or outlasted, but one whose influence can be disrupted under the right conditions.
Physical Resistance
Vaermina is not a warrior, nor is she known for manifesting in a physical form that engages in battle. Unlike Daedric Princes who wield weapons or don impenetrable armor, Vaermina’s power is largely psychological, existing in the intangible realm of dreams and nightmares. This means that in a direct confrontation where brute force determines the outcome, she is not an entity built for physical resilience.
However, this does not mean she is vulnerable in the conventional sense. As a Daedric Prince, she does not possess a standard corporeal form that can be destroyed, wounded, or fatigued. Her existence transcends the boundaries of physical pain and exhaustion. If an opponent were to attempt to harm her through sheer strength, they would find themselves battling illusions, twisted hallucinations, and an enemy that exists in the realm of the subconscious rather than on the battlefield.
While her resistance to physical attacks is high by virtue of being an extra-dimensional entity, she does not boast the indomitable durability of Daedric Princes who specialize in warfare. Thus, her physical resistance, while formidable, is not at the absolute pinnacle of resilience.
Magical Resistance
Vaermina’s resilience to magic is significantly higher than her physical resistance, as her very nature is deeply tied to the manipulation of magical forces. She exists within a metaphysical plane of nightmares, where the laws of reality are malleable, allowing her to resist most conventional forms of magical assault. Spells that seek to alter or dominate the mind are useless against her, as she is the very embodiment of those forces.
Additionally, Vaermina’s association with Quagmire—her constantly shifting realm of horror—suggests that she is capable of adapting to magical threats in ways that few beings can. Attacks that target a stationary or fixed entity may struggle against a being that thrives on warping reality itself. The best way to resist an enemy is to make them question the nature of their own existence, and Vaermina does this effortlessly.
However, there are known instances where her influence has been disrupted by magical means, usually involving divine intervention or the destruction of her artifacts. While these acts do not permanently harm her, they indicate that her magical resilience, while extraordinary, is not wholly absolute.
Longevity
Vaermina’s longevity is among the greatest of any being in existence. As a Daedric Prince, she is truly immortal—not merely in the sense of an extended lifespan, but in the truest definition of the word. She does not age, does not succumb to entropy, and cannot be erased from existence by any conventional force. Even in instances where her plans have been foiled or her artifacts stolen, she persists, waiting in the subconscious of mortals, exerting her influence through the fabric of nightmares.
However, while Vaermina herself cannot be permanently vanquished, her influence can be diminished in localized areas. The theft of the Skull of Corruption or the cleansing of her shrines weakens her hold on specific individuals or locations, momentarily diminishing her power. But such setbacks are temporary—given time, she will always return. Mortals may briefly rid themselves of her influence, but they cannot erase the existence of fear itself, nor can they prevent sleep from claiming them.
Unlike beings who rely on a physical form to endure, Vaermina’s resilience is conceptual. She is not simply an entity that exists—she is a force of nature, an inevitable presence in the minds of all living things. The cycle of dreams ensures that she will never truly fade, making her longevity functionally infinite.
Vaermina's Versatility
Vaermina is a highly specialized force, able to manipulate the minds of nearly any being through nightmares and psychological horror. Her versatility is strong within her sphere of influence, allowing her to adapt to different targets with little effort. However, her reliance on the subconscious mind limits her applicability outside of dream-based manipulation, preventing her from reaching the absolute peak of versatility. Because of this, Vaermina’s Versatility receives a rating of 7.0 out of 10, marking her as a uniquely flexible entity in psychological warfare but one with clear limitations outside her sphere of power.
Adaptability
Vaermina’s adaptability is high in specific circumstances. Her power allows her to affect any being capable of dreaming, meaning she can target individuals of all races, classes, and levels of magical ability. A peasant and a sorcerer are equally vulnerable to her influence once they fall into sleep, demonstrating that her reach extends beyond physical and magical limitations. This adaptability allows her to be a threat to creatures of varying strengths and disciplines, as fear is universal.
However, outside of her dominion, her ability to adjust is limited. Vaermina does not shapeshift, nor does she rapidly change her tactics in response to a new environment. Unlike Daedric Princes with dominions over war, magic, or destruction, she does not wield a diverse set of powers that can be applied across different battlefields. Instead, her influence is reliant on long-term psychological effects rather than instantaneous changes to the physical world. While this makes her a more persistent and deeply unsettling presence, it also means she cannot adapt as swiftly to unexpected confrontations that do not allow her time to manipulate the mind.
Luck
Vaermina’s success is not based on randomness, but rather on the inevitability of sleep. She does not rely on fortune or chance, as her influence is tied to an unalterable aspect of mortal existence. This gives her a form of reliability that surpasses luck-based characters, as she does not need events to turn in her favor—she merely waits for them to unfold as they always do.
However, in direct confrontations with entities that do not require sleep or are entirely immune to psychological manipulation, she lacks the advantage of circumstantial fortune. Her effectiveness is absolute against those who fall within her sphere of influence, but her reliance on that sphere means that her power does not randomly tilt in her favor in unforeseen circumstances. This makes her less lucky than beings who thrive in chaotic, unpredictable scenarios.
Shaved Knuckle in the Hole
Vaermina’s greatest hidden advantage is her ability to linger in the minds of those who encounter her, even after they believe they have escaped her grasp. Her influence does not end with waking—nightmares can persist, trauma can shape decisions, and forgotten fears can resurface when least expected. She does not need to be physically present to continue affecting an individual’s choices, meaning her true power is often revealed long after she has initially struck.
This gives her a hidden edge against even the most resistant minds. The most hardened warriors and powerful sorcerers may believe they have bested her, only to realize later that their own thoughts and emotions have been subtly twisted in ways they cannot undo. This ability to implant long-term, insidious effects makes her a uniquely dangerous entity, as her real power manifests not in the moment of confrontation, but in the lasting scars she leaves behind.
Vaermina's Alignment
Vaermina is an entity whose very nature thrives on suffering, manipulation, and fear. She embodies chaos in its most insidious form—not through direct destruction, but by unraveling the minds of mortals, turning their own thoughts and dreams against them. Her alignment within the cosmology of fantasy universes is firmly Chaotic Evil, as she operates without rules, without mercy, and without a cause other than the propagation of terror for its own sake.
Vaermina belongs to the race of Daedra, powerful and immortal beings that inhabit the realm of Oblivion. She is one of the Daedric Princes, godlike entities that embody various aspects of existence beyond mortal comprehension. Unlike Aedra, who helped create Mundus, the Daedra exist outside of conventional reality, acting as divine forces of change, destruction, or temptation.
Vaermina is the ruler of Quagmire, a nightmarish plane of Oblivion where reality is in a state of endless shifting horror, reflecting the minds of those who fall into its grasp. She has no loyalty to any greater structure, but her influence is exercised through her devoted cultists, who conduct rituals in her name and seek to spread madness in her wake. Among these followers, the Cult of Vaermina exists to serve her, often infiltrating society to conduct experiments in dream manipulation, fearmongering, and mental corruption.
Vaermina does not adhere to any defined system of governance or structure. Unlike other Daedric Princes who maintain strict hierarchies, command armies, or enforce rules upon their followers, she is unpredictable, functioning entirely on her own whims. Her methods are insidious—rather than issuing direct commands, she spreads nightmares, influencing entire societies through the subtle manipulation of their subconscious fears.
While some Daedric Princes strike bargains or reward loyalty, Vaermina’s gifts are always poisoned. Her artifacts, such as the Skull of Corruption, are tools of destruction, turning allies against one another and reducing order to chaos. Even her most devoted followers are not safe from her, as she feeds on their minds as easily as she does on her enemies’. This disregard for stability and her relentless desire to erode sanity make her an embodiment of chaos in its purest form.
Vaermina’s evil is not the kind of overt, brutal cruelty found in warlords or conquerors, but rather the creeping terror that seeps into the mind and festers. She does not seek dominion over mortals, nor does she have an ultimate goal beyond the perpetuation of suffering. Her presence is felt in the whispers of nightmares, the slow unraveling of one’s identity, and the theft of memories that leave victims broken and hollow.
Unlike some Daedric Princes who justify their malevolence through strength, ambition, or even twisted ideals, Vaermina’s evil is senseless and omnipresent. She does not desire worship, nor does she negotiate—she takes. Whether through the Miasma that traps minds in endless slumber or the illusions that shatter a person’s perception of reality, her actions leave devastation in ways that cannot be healed through conventional means. Those touched by Vaermina’s influence rarely find peace, as their fears, traumas, and lost memories haunt them for the rest of their lives.
Vaermina is Chaotic Evil, a force of unpredictable horror that exists solely to spread nightmares and psychological devastation. She does not operate within any moral structure, nor does she serve any agenda beyond her own whims. Her power is one of insidious cruelty, making her one of the most terrifying and uncontrollable entities in Oblivion. Pride and Prophecy keeps an updated character alignment matrix across all planes of existence.
Vaermina's Trophy Case
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Overall Conclusion on Vaermina and Position Across Planes of Existence
Vaermina’s ranking of 7.7 in raw power places her in the upper echelons of fantasy entities, but she does not quite reach the highest tier of supreme beings. This is not a slight against her power but rather a recognition of her limitations within the broader multiversal scale. As a Daedric Prince, she is undoubtedly an immensely powerful force, ruling over her own plane of Oblivion, Quagmire, and exerting influence over the dreams, fears, and subconscious of mortals across Nirn. However, her sphere is highly specialized, focusing on psychological terror and dream manipulation rather than omnipotence or raw destructive force.
Vaermina’s greatest strength is her insidious nature, which makes her far more dangerous than beings who rely on brute strength or direct magical destruction. Her ability to manipulate minds, warp reality through dreams, and erase or rewrite memories gives her a unique place among deities and supernatural forces. Unlike Daedric Princes who rely on armies or straightforward domination, she operates in subtlety and inevitability—mortals must sleep, and in doing so, they enter her domain. This intrinsic, inescapable influence makes her omnipresent in ways that many other powerful beings cannot match.
However, her limitations come from the specificity of her power. While she is unquestionably a terrifying and potent force within the context of the Elder Scrolls universe, she is not an entity that reshapes reality at will, nor does she possess complete dominion over all existence. Her power is vast but largely indirect, working best when mortals are unaware of her interference. If a being is immune to sleep, resistant to mind-altering effects, or otherwise able to navigate the dream realm without succumbing to terror, they could theoretically evade her influence. This stands in contrast to higher-tier entities who impose absolute, unavoidable control over existence, time, or fundamental laws of reality.
Additionally, her reliance on dreams and the subconscious makes her more effective against mortals and weaker spirits rather than against deities or cosmic forces with mental defenses. While she can influence even the most powerful beings if they are susceptible to nightmares, she does not display the absolute power of dominion that top-tier deities wield. This differentiates her from beings who can impose reality-warping effects on entire worlds at once.
Despite these limitations, Vaermina is a force of existential horror that few can resist. The mere fact that mortals fear her enough to pray before sleep, lest they be drawn into her realm speaks to the enormity of her reach. She does not need legions, grand declarations, or cataclysmic power displays—she simply waits in the shadows of the subconscious, ensuring that no mind is ever truly safe. In the grand hierarchy of supernatural entities across fantasy universes, this earns her a place among the high-tier beings, even if she does not claim a seat at the absolute pinnacle of power. Pride and Prophecy keeps an updated power ranking across all planes of existence. This will only be sortable on desktop viewing. The below table shows a summary within the same plane of existence of this article.
