I've read books about aedra throughout the elder scrolls game, yet I still don't understand what they are. Do they ever appear in an elder scrolls game?

I think the defining trait that makes Aedra different from Daedra, is Aedra have the capacity to create, while Daedra are limited to simply changing.

Someone with a lot more lore background will probably say I'm wrong for a thousand different reasons, all of which I'd love to read, because I'm not so sure either.

In morrowind they do I think. The winged twilight which is this sixy naked blue-skinned demon girl with wings for arms and a poisonous tail. I like them.

Aedra are pretty much the same as Daedra. They were both Et'Ada. The Aedra are the Et'Ada that went along with creation and died giving birth to Nirn. But in TES, even dead gods dream. Sometimes they even go for strolls.

(Avatars of certain aedra have popped up in a couple games. Talos and Mara were in Morrowind.)

Daedra are Et'Ada that didn't participate in creation, but didn't flee back to Aetherius like the rest of them.

Well i do beg to differ because Hircine created the abilities in which humans could turn to animals such as werewolves, werebears, etc as well as vampires being the creations of Molag Bal

winged twilights are messengers of azura, they are deadra. but aedra do appear in TES from time-to-time (akatosh appeared in full burning glory in oblivion to beat dagon back to the dead lands)

the aedra are et'ada that took part in the creation of mundas and are often associated with anu, the deadra are et'ada that did not leave mundas and did not participate in the creation od mundas (they are often associated with padomey) and the et'ada are divine beings that left mundas.

i have a question myself for any lore experts with more knowledge than me, is magnus considered an aedra?

I guess. But it's not so much as a "creation" as a "mutation" IMO. What I'm saying is, vampires and werewolves/bears aren't really their own race.

Creation requires sacrifice. The Daedric princes want none of that.

not on their part, at least. they are happy when it is on someone else's behalf

Well true they could be mutations but then again without those Daedrics Princes' influence they would have never been existent.

I don't believe so, but I'm by no means the utmost authority on the matter.

I don't believe so, but I'm by no means the utmost authority on the matter.

So basically, Aedra=Creation and Daedra=Destruction. Am I getting that right?

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Aedra

Basically they created the world and are the opposite of the Daedra

Magnus is a Magne-Ge. They are the Et'ada that escaped from the Aurbis during creation, and tore holes in the sky that became stars.

I would say Magnus is more of an entity now more than an Aedra, perhaps he is an "in between" of an Aedra and a Daedra because he was about to help create Nirn but dropped out just before but im not sure lol.

No. The only difference between Aedra and Daedra is that the Daedra weren't tricked by/helped Lorkhan. Also, Aedra are generally thought of as Anuic, while Daedra are Padomaic (although there are exceptions.)

I think it would have been cool if Bethesda some how incorporated Aedra/Daedra influence contingent upon character behavior and influence in TESV: Skyrim. Sort of like how karma is used in Fallout. Just a thought.

Nope, it's not that simple black and white, they're practically the same the only difference is that aedra sacrifices a part of them in creation because they were tricked by Lorkhan the daedra did not, instead they created their own realm.

So you're saying it's all shades of grey?

If im not mistaken the Daedra also still retain their power because in essence their realms of Oblivion are extensions of themselves so they are part of their power where the Aedra created Nirn as a totally different realm not belonging to a single God or Goddess so thats why they had to sacrifice some of their power.

I thought you were off to bed...

It's starting to make a little sense. What are Et'ada? And who exactly is magnus?

Kind of, well of course there is an evil daedric princes like Molag Bal or Mehrunes Dagon. And the Aedra are often portrayed as the good ones. But in the end all of them uses people to further their means in their interest. By the way, shouldn't this be on the lore forum?

edit : Et'ada are the beings that exist before the tes universe, the gods if you may however Lorkhan tricked the et'ada to create the tes universe the et'ada that is tricked and sacrifices a part of their power in creation is called aedra (our ancestor according to the mer people) and the ones that do not is daedra (not our ancestor according to the mer) Magnus was an et'ada that participate as the architect of the universe but pulled out in last minute creating the sun.

I thought I was gonna get a simple answer, so I didn't think iI needed it there.