The Elder Scrolls 10 Things You Didn t Know About The Mysterious Argonians

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The Elder Scrolls 10 Things You Didn t Know About The Mysterious Argonians

In Elder Scrolls, the Argonians are a race of lizard people shrouded in mystique. We share little-known facts, as seen in the Bethesda action RPG. Of featured in the series, the Argonians are likely the most mysterious and poorly understood. Natives of the remote and obscure Black Marsh, their culture and society are steeped in the sort of mystique that mercilessly tempts the imagination. But with all that said, there's still quite a bit to be learned about them for those who know where to look. And if you just so happen to be hungry for knowledge concerning what makes these fascinating lizard folk tick, then you've definitely found the right place to start. Keep scrolling to join us as we unpack ten interesting and little-known facts concerning Tamriel's resident bipedal reptiles, the mysterious Argonians. THEGAMER VIDEO OF THE DAY

They Have A Symbiotic Bond With Sentient Trees

One of the most complex facets of Argonian culture, and allegedly their physiology, is their relationship with the Hist. They are sentient trees that once covered the entirety of the planet, but are now practically exclusive to Black Marsh. The Hist can essentially be considered a race unto themselves, but that's a discussion for another time. At birth, young Argonians ingest the sap of these trees, and it is said that this is how the Argonians develop their very souls. No shortage of speculation has been made about the nature of this connection, even going so far as to implicate telepathic communication between the Hist and the Argonians.

Argonians Hatch From Eggs

The birth and rearing of Argonian young is a subject that isn't often or deeply explored, but it can be confirmed that they do actually hatch from eggs, which are laid in clutches somewhere in the relatively immediate vicinity of their deeply revered Hist trees. The necessity of these eggs being hatched near Hist trees (as the hatchlings need their sap) would nicely explain the definite lack of Argonian young encountered in foreign settings such as Skyrim, Morrowind, or Cyrodiil, since they're known to be exclusive to Black Marsh in the modern eras.

Oblivion Is Afraid Of Them

It might be easy to dismiss the Argonians as militarily incompetent, given that they're often seen having been enslaved by other races — especially in the case of the Dunmer. However, once rallied to a singular cause, the Argonians are most certainly a force to be reckoned with, as seen during the Oblivion crisis. Unified under the banner of the An-Xileel faction, the Argonians not only repelled the Daedra that dared trespass on the Black Marsh, but began leading successful incursions into Oblivion itself. The Daedra were so thoroughly outmatched by the Argonians' ferocity that they were forced to close the Oblivion gates in Black Marsh altogether to save themselves.

They Were Once Capable Of Architectural Marvels

Argonians in the more modern eras tend to live within small, disjointed, and seemingly tribal villages scattered throughout Black Marsh. However, there's much evidence to suggest that they were once much more unified and capable of erecting impressive structures. Before they were largely subjugated by the Dunmer, Argonians built large and intricate ziggurats known as "xanmeers," requiring significant architectural understanding and the unified efforts of a grand, centralized population. These structures are largely ruined and abandoned now.

Politics Has Never Worked Out For Them

The Argonians are easily the most polarized of all Tamriel's races, even when compared to the brutish Orcs or the aloof Khajiit. Involving themselves in the affairs of other races has almost always ended in disaster, and the Argonians' relationship with them is best described as tenuous during the very best of times. Though allied with the Dunmer during the Ebonheart Pact, their relationship with them afterwards consists almost exclusively of large-scale enslavement and bitter warfare. Their association with the Empire has always been fleeting when it wasn't violent, and they are consistently relegated to a lower class when attempting to integrate with other cultures.

It s Impossible To Fully Conquer Their Homeland

The swamps and waterways of the Black Marsh afford the Argonians an extreme home turf advantage when subjected to invasion, and although they've seen their fair share of lost wars, the entirety of Black Marsh has never truly belonged to a foreign power. Even when Tiber Septim was out and about, conquering provinces and laying the foundation for the Third Empire, he didn't dare to march his armies into the depths of the innermost swamp lands. He instead settled for conquering the outer edges of the province, which should really say enough about it.

They re The Subject Of Tamriel s Most Popular Erotic Novel

In what's become sort of a running gag with , Argonians have wound up being popularly depicted in Tamriel's equivalent to trashy romance novels. Not to worry, as there's no NSFW content to be had, but the cringe-inducing innuendos featured therein might keep you up at night. There are a few different examples to be had, but the most popular and well-known would have to be The Lusty Argonian Maid. Interestingly, you can meet the author of this legendary publication, Crassius Curio, during .

Argonians Are Gifted Jewelers

There is a particular Argonian jewelry merchant by the name of Madesi that can be met in Riften, during . He purports to sell jewelry of "legendary Argonian craftsmanship," and when taken in context, that's more than just a sales pitch. Beyond Madesi actually fashioning his own jewelry, as shown during his associated quest, another Argonian in Skyrim, Talen-Jei, helps to evidence this. He insists on crafting his own wedding band, explaining that it is customary for Argonians to do so. The Dragonborn can help him to obtain the materials for it.

They Have A Special Relationship With The Dark Brotherhood

Though Argonian culture is absolutely fascinating to explore, there are some darker aspects to it that raise a few uneasy questions. One such component is their apparent affinity with the Dark Brotherhood, Tamriel's resident order of bloodthirsty assassins. Argonians that are born under the birthsign of the Shadow are given to the Dark Brotherhood, and trained in their deadly arts, after which they are known as Shadowscales. Some continue to serve the Brotherhood, while others return home to serve their people. In either case, Sithis is sure to be pleased.

They Have No Concept Of Time

With the novels taken as canon, it can be asserted that the Argonians don't have a concept of time, or at the very least, don't perceive it as most other races conventionally do. This is likely attributable, and perhaps illuminating, on the nature of their relationship with the Hist. Argonians believe that their souls are drawn from the Hist, and that they return to it when they expire. It would make sense for practically ageless entities such as these sentient trees to have a much different perception on the passage of time than mortals do, lending a great deal of weight to Argonian spirituality.