The Complete History and Lore of the Elder Scrolls

CHIM

 CHIM is an interesting concept to think about. It is also named the Secret Syllable of Royalty. This is a state in which a mortal can free themselves from natural law of Death and all known debasement of Oblivion. It supports the one who uses it to go back to a form from before the mingling of Anu and Padomay, and manipulate the Aurbis as they please. It is also associated with Love, which seemingly connects it to the concept of God actually being Love.

The word in Ehlnofex language, translates roughly to "royalty," "starlight," and "high splendor." It is represented by a strange symbol that constantly shifts and changes, but is habitually viewed by a "Crowned tower that threatens to break apart at the slightest break in concentration." CHIM is the closing stage of the Psijic Endeavor, which can only be accomplished by seeing the Tower, which encompasses the universe, while maintaining individuality. Failing to maintain individuality will result in the individual being erased from the universe. This event is known as a "Zero Sum." Once CHIM is realized, mortals experience a state where time is being bent inwards and outwards into "a shape that is always new" alongside an unfathomable sense of the Godhead. A mortal who achieves CHIM can observe the Tower without fear and live inside it. CHIM is likely the fifth step of the Walking Ways.

The first and most well-known trying at CHIM was the creation of Nirn, which was pursued by the god Lorkhan after he viewed the Tower and began his Psijic Endeavor. Lorkhan's trying at CHIM failed through ways that may have been on purpose. It is said by Vivec that Lorkhan more than likely intentionally sabotaged his own CHIM experiment so that others would know how to succeed in their own. Lorkhan's failure had shown the Aurbis that original spirits cannot reach states such as CHIM, because they can never know the "joy of mortals," the knowing that death is merely an illusion and merely a cycle to be broken. The original spirits were inexhaustible and infinite, only separated by their vanities and egos. Their infinite scale and ineffability made it difficult for them to think about their ends and limits, and so could not pinpoint their individuality from the Aurbis. This omnipotence made it impossible for them to understand the joy of sovereignty that mortals could experience from departing from their natural limitations. Because of this, Lorkhan began to forge Mundus in a way in which true transcendence could be achieved, because only mortals have the capacity to go past their boundaries, laws, and corruptions put into play by immortal deities. Mundus itself was designed to be a reflection of the Aurbis, and by default, the Tower. Lorkhan's failure sent his consciousness adrift as an entity known as the Void Ghost that lives within the Serpent constellation. This is where he attempts to further his goal of assisting others in achieving states beyond CHIM.

The only entity known to have achieved CHIM is Vivec. Talos may have achieved Chim, but we are uncertain. Vivec apparently learned of CHIM after marrying and making love to Molag Bal. He wrote greatly on the subject and its nature, and he used CHIM to banish Azura from the world during his trial. Talos may have achieved CHIM before ascending, but how he did it is unknown. According to a few sources, Talos used CHIM to wipe the jungles of Cyrodiil from the timeline: past, present, and future, quoted as saying, "You have suffered for me to win this throne, and I see how you hate jungle. Let me show you the power of Talos Stormcrown, born of the North, where my breath is long winter. I breathe now, in royalty, and reshape this land which is mine. I do this for you, Red Legions, for I love you." - excerpt from From The Many-Headed Talos. This is cross-referenced by Mankar Camoran in his Commentaries on the Mysterium Xarxes, which state, "CHIM. Those who know it can reshape this land. Witness the home of the Red King Once Jungled." - Mythic Dawn Commentaries 3. The "Red King" might refer to Talos, and his jungled home is possibly Cyrodiil.

In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Heimskr, a Priest of Talos whom speaks on the streets of Whiterun, during his speech, cites an excerpt from the text by Michael Kirkbride called From The Many-Headed Talos. CHIM is capitalized because of the tradition of Ehlnofex words in capitals. The Elder Scroll of Chim can be found in The Elder Scrolls: Online.