Elder Scrolls Curios

Daily lore facts from little-known locations. Submit for headcanon Fridays! var sc_project=10824881; var sc_invisible=1; var sc_security="70554999"; var scJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://secure." : "http://www."); document.write("");

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Today’s curio:

The Dreamwalkers of Vaermina use their powers benevolently, entering dreams to remove painful memories and cure mental illnesses other healers cannot remedy.

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Today’s Curio

“Elves are conditionally fertile – that is, they only conceive when population pressure is low – so expanding populations do not force them to explore or war with neighbors.” – Morrowind Dialogue

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Hiatus

Hi everyone! This blog has been active for about six months now, and I’ve run low on curios. To get some time to stockpile more, I’m going on a 2-month hiatus from new curios. During that time, I’ll be reblogging some of the earliest curios that were not seen by many people. I’ll also be posting a multi-part guide to researching Elder Scrolls Lore that I’ve written, including lots of tips and tricks for finding interesting TES information.

Thanks, and I’ll have more curios for you after the break!

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Today’s curio:

According to the Imperial Cult, most Dunmer cannot read.

“Obviously you do not really care about my school or the literacy of the Dunmer. How can Morrowind truly be a part of the Empire when most Dunmer cannot read and know little of our common culture?”  

“Yes, we are always looking for more history books. The students wear them out so fast. They don't always understand that the pages are only for reading, not...cleaning. I'm always looking for donations of all four volumes of "Brief History of the Empire."

- Morrowind dialogue

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Today’s curio:

The Anu-Padu Theorem posits that duality is the foundation of the Aurbis.

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Today’s curio:

Wergild is the traditional Nord rite of monetary retribution. When a life is taken, the guilty party must pay wergild to the victim’s family.

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“Wergild is the traditional Nord rite of retribution.  When a life is taken, that life must be accounted for.  My Gustav is irreplaceable, but there must be compensation for his murder.   I do not wish Sigvatr dead.  I only want his family heirloom, the gem Pinetear.  Pinetear is rather small, and not very valuable, but it means much to Sigvatr.  If I were to gain possession of Pinetear,  it would serve as fitting payment for Gustav's death.” - Morrowind dialogue

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Today’s curio:

Some Argonians wear obsidian-lens glasses for the tradition of ‘Walking with Sithis.’

Obsidian Night-Spectacles: Broad pince-snout spectacles of thin but dark obsidian, worn for the Argonian practice of "Walking with Sithis."

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Today’s curio:

The Beldama Wyrd sisters of Glenumbra can travel magically along the roots of the Wyrd tree.

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Today’s curio:

If administered before the first change, the blood of the master can cure the lycanthropy of their spawn.

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Today’s curio:

Some Argonian families save their egg-shards for generations.

Ornamental Box of Family Egg-Shards: Thornwood box with mother-of-pearl inlay containing a selection of family egg-shards going back several generations.

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Today’s curio:

Wealthy Nords save snow from each Wintertide Festival in sealed jars.

Nord Gold-Plated Snow Jars: Wealthy Nord households take the tradition of saving snow from each year's Wintertide Festival in sealed jars very seriously.

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Today’s curio:

The Bandaari Traders favor ‘chewing sugar,’ a thick form of moon-sugar.

Moon-Sugar Chawbox: A small tin box for holding "chewing sugar," a thick form of moon-sugar favored by Baandari traders.

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Today’s curio:

Some Nords burn traditional night candles to repel draugr... and to provide a sense of security in the dark.

Nordic Night Candle: A traditional night candle, rumored to repel draugr. Also provides a sense of security for Nords who are afraid of the dark.

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Today’s curio:

Traditionally, Orcs slept with river rocks for pillows.

Polished Sleeping Stone:This huge polished river stone functions as a traditional Orc pillow. Once common, they've become collector's items.

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Today’s curio:

Orcs use Mauloch meditation mirrors in daily affirmation rituals.

Mauloch's Meditation Mirror: A silver mirror of Orcish design, featuring Mauloch's Hammer on the non-reflective side and used in daily affirmation rituals.

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Today’s curio:

Imperials use rat hair fabric.

“Fabulous! I require two items for my Imperial collection at the moment. The first is a bolt of Imperial rat hair fabric. It is easy to recognize by its burgundy color and diamond pattern on the side. The second is a brushed silver pitcher. Please return when you have these two items.” - Morrowind dialogue

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Today’s curio:

The ‘witch-warriors’ of Skyrim engrave runes on their blades, forged according to the secret metalcrafts of Nord smiths.

“These massive steel weapons are forged according to the secret metalcrafts of the Nord smiths, and engraved with runes in the manner of the legendary witch-warriors of Skyrim.” - Morrowind dialogue