Lore:Sea Serpent
Sea Serpents are large reptilian sea monsters native to Pyandonea, capable of reaching 64 feet above the water in height.[1] These snakes are said to be large enough to capsize warships.[2] One story mentions a sea serpent twice the size of a war galleon coiling around such a ship and dragging its broken hull beneath the sea.[3] They are described by the Khajiit explorer Ja'dasha as among the most horrible and dangerous creatures of the sea, along with krakens and Sloads.[4]
They are tamed and ridden (or occasionally summoned) by the Maormer for use as steeds and warbeasts to support their navy, which is only possible because of the powerful snake magic of their king, Orgnum.[5][6] Maormer often use serpent iconography in their weapons, armor,[7] banners,[8] and most notably their totems.[9] Maormer ships are decorated with sea serpent designs and are capable of passing through the thick kelp around Pyandonea, which serves as a well-camouflaged home for the sea serpents that are Orgnum's guards and occasional mounts.[10] Their hide and teeth are also used by Maormer to craft their gear.[7][11]
Sea serpents were used by the Maormer during the Battle of Seaside Sanctuary against the First Aldmeri Dominion,[12] and they attempted to break the wards binding a century old sea serpent in Greenshade.[13][14] Maps depicted serpents in the waters south of Stros M'Kai,[15] and the skeleton of a serpent was found in the sands of the island circa 2E 864.[16] Snakeskin leviathans are a magickal coupling between Maormer and Sea Serpents, turning the elf subject into a large, powerful, and vicious brute, at the cost of diminishing their behavior to bestial savages.[17] Reef Vipers, another aquatic species native to Pyandonea that are trained by the Maormer,[18] may be related.[2]
Gallery[edit]
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A tattered silk veil embroidered with Maormer runes of rulership and bearing the entwined image of mating sea serpents[19]
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A statue possibly depicting Hazadiyya Sea-Queen with a sea serpent wrapped around her[20] (ESO)
See Also[edit]
- For game-specific information, see the Redguard and Elder Scrolls Online articles.
References[edit]
- ^ Game Insider on Redguard's old site
- ^ a b A Sailor's Guide to Sea Elves — Virillda of the Silver-Sails
- ^ The Saga of Captain Wereshark
- ^ The Elder Scrolls: The Official Survival Guide to Tamriel — Tori Schafer
- ^ Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition: The Wild Regions — Imperial Geographical Society, 2E 864
- ^ Fang of the Sea Vipers — Telenger the Artificer
- ^ a b Crafting Motif 64: Pyandonean Style — Telenger the Artificer
- ^ Letter to Captain Oghul — Dulzur
- ^ Maormer Totem Furnishing Item
- ^ Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition: Other Lands — Imperial Geographical Society, 3E 432
- ^ Sea Serpent's Tooth of the Twin Sisters item description
- ^ Pelidil's End quest in ESO
- ^ Sealing the Great Serpent
- ^ The Serpent Lord quest in ESO
- ^ Map of West Tamriel
- ^ Events of Redguard
- ^ The Scaled Elves — Marin Laroix
- ^ Justiciar Tanorian's dialogue in Culling Serpents
- ^ Serpent-Veil of Orgnum Item Description
- ^ Lady in the Cistern: Quen's Theory — Quen