Line #16 Creator/MichaelKirkbride


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/michael_kirkbride.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:[[SeanConneryIsAboutToShootYou Michael Kirkbride is about to shoot you.]]]]
3	Michael Kirkbride (born September 1, 1972) is a writer and video game designer, most famous for his time with Creator/{{Bethesda}} working on ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series.
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5	Kirkbride wrote for both ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]'', as well as for the ActionAdventure [[GaidenGame spin-off]] ''Redguard''. In addition, Kirkbride wrote dozens of the series' [[Literature/TheElderScrollsInUniverseBooks in-universe books]].
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7	Kirkbride is credited in particular for [[MyRealDaddy establishing the series' famous "lore"]], essentially taking the loose assembly of fantasy elements that existed as of ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall Daggerfall]]'' and forming them into a unique ConstructedWorld with a deep backstory, mythology, and cosmology. He still contributes "[[LooseCanon Obscure Texts]]" to the series, essentially [[AllThereInTheManual supplementary items]] treated as canonical by [[BrokenBase a portion of the fanbase]] (or at least the equivalent of the series' famous in-universe UnreliableCanon). Kirkbride still does some freelance work on the series, and as of ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'', some of the concepts in his works have been officially referenced in-game (the idea of "[[ViciousCycle kalpas]]", [[LongDeadBadass Ysgramor]] and his [[BadassArmy 500 companions]], and some of the motivations of the [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Thalmor]]), moving them to CanonImmigrant status.
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9	A detailed list of Kirkbride's contributions to both in-game texts and "Obscure Texts" [[https://en.uesp.net/wiki/General:Michael_Kirkbride can be found here]].
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11	----
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13	!! Credits:
14	[[index]]
15	* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'':
16	** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall'' (Unspecified Role)
17	** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind'' (Writer, Concept Artist)
18	** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'' (Writer)
19	** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsAdventuresRedguard'' (Designer)
20	** Literature/TheElderScrollsInUniverseBooks (Writer, [[https://en.uesp.net/wiki/General:Michael_Kirkbride#Texts_authored full list here]])
21	** ''Script/C0DA''
22	* At Creator/TelltaleGames:
23	** ''VideoGame/GameOfThronesTelltale'' (Writer)
24	** ''VideoGame/MinecraftStoryMode'' (Writer)
25	** ''[[VideoGame/BatmanTheTelltaleSeries Batman: The Enemy Within]]'' (Narrative Designer)
26	** ''[[VideoGame/TheWalkingDeadSeasonFour The Walking Dead: The Final Season]]'' (Lead Design)
27	[[/index]]
28	----
29
30	!! Tropes Common in Kirkbride's Works:
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32	* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: Introduced the idea of three "ascended" metaphysical states that exist in the ''Elder Scrolls'' universe. The first of these states is CHIM, where one [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall becomes aware of the nature]] of [[GodOfGods Anu's]] Dream but exists as one with it and maintains a sense of individuality. (Dunmeri PhysicalGod Vivec claims to have achieved this level.) Taking another step, the second is Amaranth, where one exits Anu's Dream [[TheOmnipotent to create one's own]]. If one fails to maintain their individuality in either step, they instead experience Zero-Sum, where one simply [[CessationOfExistence fades into Anu's Dream]]. (Dagoth Ur, BigBad of ''Morrowind'', is said to have found a dangerous middle ground between these three. Instead of exiting the Dream, his twisted, traumatized, and broken mind is ''being imprinted'' on the Dream of Anu, making him something truly terrible and [[EldritchAbomination Eldritch]].)
33	* BlueAndOrangeMorality: Frequently discussed. Unsurprising, given that many of his writings revolve around deities of all sorts (Daedric Princes, the Tribunal) and the utterly alien Dwemer. To note:
34	--> '''Kirkbride''': ''"That's why the Dwemer are the weirdest race in Tamriel and, frankly, also the scariest. They look(ed) like us, they sometimes act(ed) like us, but when you really put them under the magnifying glass you see nothing but vessels that house an intelligence and value system that is by all accounts Beyond Human Comprehension. (...) There isn't even a word to describe the Dwarven view on divinity. They were atheists on a world where gods exist."''
35	* CanonImmigrant: A number of his "[[LooseCanon Obscure Text]]" writings were officially referenced in ''Skyrim'', giving them this status. To note:
36	** While the [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Thalmor]] themselves were first briefly mentioned in the [[AllThereInTheManual 1st Pocket Guide to the Empire]], their motivations (depriving [[DeityOfHumanOrigin Talos]] of [[GodNeedsPrayerBadly worship]] hoping to [[KillTheGod kill him]] so that Mundus, the mortal world, can [[OmnicidalManiac be destroyed]] and the souls of the elves would be able to [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence return to a state of pre-creation divinity]]) were originally stated in the "[[http://www.imperial-library.info/content/forum-archives-michael-kirkbride Altmeri Commentary on Talos]]" by Kirkbride. Though never outright stated, there is evidence in ''Skyrim'' that this is indeed correct.
37	** [[http://www.imperial-library.info/content/seven-fights-aldudagga The idea that the current timeline is but one "kalpa" brought about after the previous one was eaten by a world-eater.]]
38	** [[http://www.imperial-library.info/content/five-hundred-mighty-companions-or-thereabouts-ysgramor-returned Ysgramor and his 500 companions]] play a huge part in the Companions [[SidequestSidestory questline]].
39	** [[http://www.imperial-library.info/content/nu-mantia-intercept-letter-4 The concept of "towers" and their effect on the stability of the world.]] (See the ''Elder Scrolls'' entry on the TheTower.)
40	** [[http://www.imperial-library.info/content/many-headed-talos Heimskr recites part of the Obscure Text describing how Talos transformed Cyrodiil from a jungle to a forest.]]
41	* CensorDecoy: During ''Morrowind''[='s=] development, Kirkbride got frustrated with director Creator/ToddHoward[='s=] complaints that Kirkbride's character designs were "too weird". Kirkbride started drawing two alternate versions of every design - the one that was the one he wanted to be in the game, and one that was, in his words, "fucking crazy". He would show the "crazy" design to Howard, who would ask him to tone it down, then present the real version, which Howard would say was perfect.
42	* EldritchAbomination: A number of characters he has written extensively about qualify including the Daedric Princes, Sithis, Dagoth Ur, and Numidium (which also crosses over with MechanicalAbomination).
43	* TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt: According to [=C0DA=], Nirn (the planet on which ''The Elder Scrolls'' series takes place) is destroyed in the late 5th Era in an event known as "Landfall". Rather than being [[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall destroyed by the Underking]] as previously believed, [[HumongousMecha Numidium]] was instead caught in a time warp and emerges in the distant 5th Era where the [[AntiHumanAlliance Aldmeri Dominion]], led by the [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Thalmor]], dominates Tamriel. Picking up where it left off in the 2nd Era, Numidium wages war on the Dominion and uses its "[[{{Unperson}} ancestroscythe]]" to refute the entire Altmer race from existence. It then proceeds to destroy the rest of Nirn with all attempts to stop it being temporary distractions at best. A group of survivors is able to flee to Nirn's moon Masser in a special ship, but Numidium eventually follows it there. [[spoiler:Finally, a Dunmer noble known as Jubal-lun-Sul is able to "verbally defeat" Numidium. The Landfall ends when Jubal-lun-Sul creates the first of the "New Men" with the PhysicalGod Vivec]]. Yes, it's [[MindScrew just that sort of story]].
44	* HumongousMecha: Numidium, which is one of his most written-about subjects. In addition to in-game works, the 64-page online graphic novel [[https://en.uesp.net/wiki/General:C0DA C0DA]] features it as a major character.
45	* InGameNovel: Has written several. Most notable is the ''36 Lessons of Vivec'' series, which is a series of 36 "books" which tops out at over 100 pages.
46	* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: His ''36 Lessons of Vivec'' series, penned from the perspective of PhysicalGod Vivec, explains (drenched in metaphor) that his "godhood" comes from realizing that he was in a video game and using that knowledge to edit the situation around him, such as when he defeated an opposing army by deleting their gamefiles. He makes vague references to things like the PlayerCharacter ("The ruling king who only he can address as an equal"), pausing the game, console commands, and the Construction Set LevelEditor. His explanation on what happens if he should "die" also sounds a lot like reloading a saved game:
47	--> '''Vivec''': "When I die in the world of time, then I'm completely asleep. I'm very much aware that all I have to do is choose to wake. And I'm alive again. Many times I have very deliberately tried to wait patiently, a very long, long time before choosing to wake up. And no matter how long it feels like I wait, it always appears, when I wake up, that no time has passed at all."
48	* LightIsNotGood:
49	** The Dwemer, who were very much AbusivePrecursors despite their gold/bronze technology and use of enchantments.
50	** Almalexia, whose CatchPhrase is "come, bask in the light of my mercy" and her home city of Mournhold is known as "the City of Light, City of Magic." As the [[FaceHeelTurn Face Heel Turned]] BigBad of ''Morrowind''[='s=] ''Tribunal'' expansion, she shows that she is ''definitely'' not good.
51	* LooseCanon: The most prolific contributor of "Obscure Texts" in the ''Elder Scrolls'' canon. These works are essentially treated as canonical by [[BrokenBase a portion of the fanbase]] (or at least the equivalent of the series' famous in-universe UnreliableCanon), but Bethesda has no official stance. As of ''Skyrim'', some of the concepts in his works have been officially referenced in game, moving them to CanonImmigrant status.
52	* MultipleChoicePast: A number of his works give alternate histories and explanations for in-game events, with elements of WrittenByTheWinners and HistoricalHeroUpgrade at play. Examples include TheRashomon style storytelling around the Battle of Red Mountain (which results in the death of Nerevar, the disappearance of the Dwemer, and the rise of the Tribunal) and the "heretical" version of [[FounderOfTheKingdom Tiber Septim's]] rise to power and later [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence ascension to godhood as Talos]] (detailed in ''The Arcturian Heresy''). In each case, it is implied that [[CosmicRetcon divine power was used]] to make ''all'' of the versions of events true, [[MindScrew regardless of the contradictions]].
53	* NayTheist: Explored in his writings on the Dwemer. There is no denying the existence of god-like beings in the Aedra and Daedra, but the Dwemer held them in no special regard. They were said to especially despise the Daedra, mocking and scorning the "foolish" rituals of their followers (primarily the Chimer). They would even summon Daedra specifically to test their divinity.
54	* NewWeird: His writing style and the subjects of his writing often qualify. Some of the characters/concepts he created or expanded upon include Pelinal Whitestrake (a [[TimeTravel time-traveling]] {{cyborg}} who is the [[GodInHumanForm manifestation of the spirit]] of a [[GodIsDead dead god]]), Vivec (a [[MagicalGay Magical]] DepravedBisexual {{hermaphrodite}} PhysicalGod who may be aware that [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall the true nature of the world is that he's in video game]]), Numidium (a HumongousMecha powered by the heart of a dead god with an alarming tendency to [[TimeCrash break time]] and [[RealityWarper warp reality]]), Kinmune (an AI from the far future who got caught in the crossfire of a war, was driven insane, and sent back to the late Merethic era where she then acted as a soothsayer for a while) and many more.
55	* OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame:
56	** One of the major sources of lore regarding the Dwemer, he went to great lengths to cleverly Subvert the trope. Yes, the Dwemer do have some classic "Tolkien Dwarf" traits such as living underground, having prominent beards, and conflicting with Elves (Mer). However, they themselves are a sub-species of Mer (Dwemer meaning "Deep Elves" or "Deep Folk"), are of average height (they were called "dwarves" by a race of giants), are masters of technology right up to being able to [[RealityWarper Warp Reality]] with it, and are presumed extinct by the time period of the games.
57	** [[LastOfHisKind One living Dwemer remains]] at least up to the events of ''Morrowind''; he was [[ButWhatAboutTheAstronauts planewalking]] when the Dwemer disappeared, and has no idea what happened to them. (He also turns up in a later Kirkbride work, ''[=C0DA=]'', as an ArcVillain known as "The Intellective", "a bionic despot of a parallel reality".)
58	* OurGodsAreDifferent: Really explores godhood and divinity in his works, and what it means to be "a god".
59	* PhysicalGod: Perhaps his most famous characters, the Tribunal and Dagoth Ur, are these. He has written extensively about them, especially Vivec, and fleshes out some of the more bizarre aspects that would come with this trope. (As opposed to many instances where "Physical Gods" are simply powerful and unkillable 'mortals', Kirkbride explores how achieving this status would affect the minds and perception of reality of these beings.)
60	* RageAgainstTheHeavens: A common trend in many of the characters he writes about is a distinct hatred of the divine (Pelinal, Umaril, the Dwemer) or they are themselves divine but do not get along with other deities (the Tribunal, several of the Daedric Princes).
61	* RomanticismVersusEnlightenment: Explores the debate in his works, as well as the flaws of each side. The ancient Chimer/Dwemer conflict he writes about extensively is one example, as is the Tribunal/Imperial CultureClash following Morrowind's [[VoluntaryVassal Voluntary Vassalization]].
62	* SchizoTech: A common element in his writing. The Dwemer, Sotha Sil, Pelinal, Kinmune... all possess (or ''are'') massive technological innovations over their contemporaries in Tamriel.
63	* TheTower: A series concept he really expanded on, especially in regards to the Dwemer Tower (Anumidium/"Walk-Brass") and Red Tower (Red Mountain with the Heart of Lorkhan).
64	* TimeTravel: Heavily implied regarding Pelinal Whitestrake (said to be a {{cyborg}} from the future ala ''Franchise/TheTerminator'') and outright stated with Kinmune (a mining AI from the future accidentally sent to the past where she acts as an important oracle in ''Elder Scrolls'' history).
65	* UnreliableNarrator: The vast majority of his writings, both in-game and "Obscure Texts", are written from an in-universe perspective. In line with the series' famous UnreliableCanon, these writings offer additional perspectives and interpretations of in-universe events, rather than simply using WordOfGod powers to dictate "what is". This is most evident in any of his works regarding Vivec, especially the ''36 Lessons of Vivec'' series, as well as numerous others.
66	* ViciousCycle: Repeatedly implies in his works that time in the ''Elder Scrolls'' universe is cyclical, running in "kalpas". At the end of every kalpa, the "world is eaten" so that it can be remade anew. This is confirmed in ''Skyrim''.
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Context Creator / MichaelKirkbride