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ESO: Viewing Antiquity Lead

Displaying 179 of 679 records from 501 to 679.
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View 190 Protective Tar Warding Sigil 3 2 1 1 2238 108 0 -1 -1 -1 18 3 Greenshade 9 Reginus Buca I've never seen a Bosmer sigil like this. It seems like a mark of protection made with graht-oak, but it looks sinister in nature, as though whatever it was protecting the wearer from was a great evil. This would have been worn with serious intent. Ugron gro-Thumog The talisman itself is made out of tar. We might be looking at something from the tar-pit burial sites in Ouze where the Bosmer who were rejected from the Green Pact were buried. Some say alive. Amalien It's said the spirits of Ouze were restless ... maybe that means they haunted the surrounding area? These could have been talismans the locals wore to ward off ghosts! Or to keep the spirits from crawling back out of those creepy tar-pits.
View 407 Ragged Tapestry Scrap 3 4 1 1 0 1261 22 Blackwood Tapestry 5 2872 15 47 12 Blackwood 56 Gabrielle Benele This looks like a woman's face? Difficult to tell with all the fraying. Whoever she is, she's a subject of adoration. Mara or Dibella most likely.
View 415 Ratty Tapestry Scrap 3 4 1 1 0 1261 22 Blackwood Tapestry 5 2872 15 47 12 Blackwood 56 Reginus Buca Just look at the blues in this tapestry scrap. I've never seen such rich azure pigments. Acquiring vibrant colors like this would cost a small fortune. Some wealthy noble must have really loved their weaving.
View 356 Reach Trail Maker 2 1 0 1 2515 1207 0 -1 -1 -1 46 11 The Reach 30 Ugron gro-Thumog I'll be honest, I'm not sure what I'm looking at. Almost looks like farming equipment, but I doubt they had anything so sophisticated. I'd believe it was a weapon before I'd believe it was anything agricultural. Verita Numida Your instincts are correct. Though I would hesitate to call this a weapon. I think it's more tactical than that. See the grooves at the base? That would have easily cut through foliage and made tracks through all kinds of terrain. Reginus Buca There are old Imperial reports of Reachfolk using such tactics to lead their enemies. They knew their land incredibly well and could often confuse adversaries with fake trail markings to get them into better position. Maybe this is what they used.
View 617 Reagent Drying Rack 5 4 1 1 0 1414 48 Telvanni Alchemy Station 5 4292 10 51 16 Telvanni Peninsula 67 Gabrielle Benele The Telvanni that used this weren't the type to throw bundles of foraged reagents in, say, a craft bag or something. The dividers indicate every precaution taken to prevent cross-contamination of reagents. Very focused on high potency and yield.
View 353 Red Eagle Cave Painting 4 3 1 1 2512 1207 0 -1 -1 -1 46 11 The Reach 30 Reginus Buca Reachfolk are not known for their fine art, but their folk art has a rawness of emotion that never fails to impress me. This simple painting depicts the greatest hero in the history of the Reach, the legendary rebel named Red Eagle. Gabrielle Benele Hero, or monster? Red Eagle fought a war of brutal raids and bloody atrocities, terrorizing the Imperial soldiers attempting to pacify the Reach in the 11th century of the First Era. By the end of his rebellion slaughter was all that he knew. Verita Numida A monster in more ways than one. Faolan, the Reach warrior known as Red Eagle, may have been the first briarheart. The black mark on the chest of the figure in this painting represents Red Eagle's transformation at the hands of the Hagravens.
View 222 Refitted Dwarven Rod 2 1 0 1 2270 849 0 -1 -1 -1 31 3 Vvardenfell 6 Reginus Buca This definitely seems Dwemeric in origin, but it's not something I recognize. As you all know, discerning the function of Dwarven machines is thirsty work. It looks like someone repurposed it, though. Some ancient scavenger, perhaps. Amalien I think this used to be a Dwarven rod of some kind; a device used to direct animunculi, or inscribe their strange maths on hard surfaces. These modifications don't appear to incorporate any of the devices complex machinery, though. Ugron gro-Thumog Chimer fell into a real rut in the latter days of the Merethic. You don't often see Chimer-modified tools like this, but my best guess is that some opportunistic herder repurposed the rod's shaft as a simple nix-prod. Probably blasphemous, but effective.
View 710 Refracting Stone Crucible 5 4 1 1 0 1413 58 Apocryphal Jewelry Station 5 6539 10 52 17 Apocrypha 43 Verita Numida A largely unremarkable stone crucible, with metallic residue as evidence of its original use. The only notable detail is this embedded icon of Hermaeus Mora. Who could guess that the One Who Knows might enjoy jewelry? Amalien I've found shallow pans like this inside old Dwemer ruins, typically near areas where they built constructs. I assume they're related to the metalwork Dwarves were known for. Could this be evidence of Dwemer residing in Apocrypha? Ugron gro-Thumog Your fixations lead you astray, Amalien. The Dwarves likely used this for the same reason as armies do across Tamriel. For smelting alloys to repair armor. Perfect for quickly making a number of small rings or fasteners.
View 390 Reinforced Clasp Anchor 5 4 1 1 0 1261 19 Shapeshifter's Chain 6 2724 5 47 12 Blackwood 56 Verita Numida This kind of clasp came into fashion in the First Era, specifically around 1E 100 during the Enduin Artistic Movement. For a brief and shining moment, function was in fashion. As a jewelry collector, I must confess, I'm envious. Reginus Buca I find the evolution of clasp-making in history thoroughly fascinating! Anchored clasps like this give a good deal of stability to a piece of jewelry or chain and can still be found in pieces today. It's practically timeless. Gabrielle Benele Mages are still quite fond of this kind of clasp for many of their more powerful adornments. Amulets of power, charmed wristbands and the like all tend to feature this kind of clasp to ensure your enchanted silver doesn't get lost in a dungeon.
View 256 Remnant of the False Tower 5 4 1 1 2307 20 0 -1 -1 -1 4 4 Rivenspire 10 Verita Numida You found this in Rivenspire? Hardly a surprise there. That region attracts unsettling relics like a sweet roll attracts children. The crystal clearly has Ayleid origins, but I've never seen a varla or welkynd stone with such an angry hue. Ugron gro-Thumog I met a band of explorers in Shornhelm a few years back. They swore up and down that a red crystal lies at the heart of the Doomcrag. I did some digging in Erokii afterward. Found a broken fresco depicting the creation of a crystal, but nothing else. Gabrielle Benele It's definitely Ayleid-make, but I doubt they meant for it to look like this. Something corrupted its Aetherial resonance. This band ... it almost feels diagnostic in design. Perhaps this was their attempt to understand the red crystal. To fix it even?
View 182 Resdayni Signet Ring 4 3 1 0 2230 281 0 -1 -1 -1 15 1 Bal Foyen 8 Ugron gro-Thumog A rare find. The ring bears two emblems: one Dwemeri, one Chimeri. This, then, is a token of high office from the short-lived peace of Resdayn, in the days of the First Council. Lord Indoril Nerevar and the Dwarf-King Dumac ruled jointly and wisely … for a time. Soon enough Dwemer and Chimer turned against each other in a bitter war, to no one's surprise. Ah, well. The size of this signet and the royal flourishes show that this ring belonged to a high councilor of the realm.
View 609 Ring of Stone 5 4 1 1 0 1414 46 Apocryphal Well 5 4290 3 51 16 Telvanni Peninsula 67 Ugron gro-Thumog Strange. A base fragment of larger column that broke away at some point. The most obvious curiosity is the dark liquid pool at its center. I attempted to drain away the fluid, but it filled itself up to the previous level. Gabrielle Benele Look closely at the stone enclosure and you'll see lines worn away on the exterior. They appear organically arranged. Perhaps where roots grew around it? Suggests that this existed underground for a significant period. Reginus Buca Some remote Dunmer cultures once built these rings of stone deep below ground much like a water well. It was common practice to drop sacrificial animals down the well to satiate their chosen Daedric Prince. This may be the base of such a well.
View 408 Ripped Tapestry Scrap 3 4 1 1 0 1261 22 Blackwood Tapestry 5 2872 15 47 12 Blackwood 56 Amalien There's a compass on this scrap, I'd bet my chair on it! Odd to see map in tapestry form. A mapestry as it were! Ugron, I know you're groaning, but the world deserves more hilarious portmanteaus!
View 142 Rislav Tryptic Panel 3 2 1 1 2190 3 0 -1 -1 -1 2 2 Glenumbra 12 Reginus Buca I'm intrigued by the religious overtones in this depiction of Rislav smiting his brother Dorald. I'd always assumed the appellation "Rislav the Righteous" was ascribed to him by historians, but this panel dates to the time of his rule. Verita Numida Your penchant for assumption is intolerable, Reginus. Dorald was a priest of the Alessian Order who attempted to impose a theocracy on the Colovians. Rislav's defiance of the Empire was seen as the rebuke of a tyrannical cult. Reginus Buca So Dorald's hirsute appearance is symbolic, as a stand in for Marukh. I suppose Rislav's unlikely victory over Emperor Gorieus's legions were viewed as divine favor. Did you notice Queen Belene's resemblance to Gabreille in the coronation panel?
View 245 Ritemaster's Slate 4 3 1 0 2293 1027 0 -1 -1 -1 38 6 Artaeum 4 Gabrielle Benele I've never seen one of these! A famed Ritemaster's Slate. According to Psijic tomes, ritemasters like Iachesis used these unassuming objects to write theorems and spells, then store them in a harmless demiplane for later use. A journal unlike any other! I only wish I could travel to the strange realm these theorems reside in. Do the thoughts move or talk? Are they reduced to ash, then reassembled? I fear we will never know.
View 398 Ritual Circlet 5 4 1 1 0 1261 21 Gaze of Sithis 6 2726 5 47 12 Blackwood 56 Verita Numida We don't often see such weighty metalwork in Argonian relics. Too heavy for steel. Whatever the alloy, I wouldn't wear it. Reginus often accuses me of being big-headed, but even a neck as strong and graceful as mine would struggle under this weight! Ugron gro-Thumog Verita's right. I'd wager this is a mix of bog iron, nickel, and something else--probably imported. What interests me is these symbols. Plenty of hard angles like you'd see in any xanmeer-period piece, but I don't recognize some of these patterns. Reginus Buca We often consider Helstrom the immortal capital of the Argonian people, but I've found evidence of a struggle for regional hegemony in Soulrest. Greater coastal access in Soulrest allowed for more imports of foreign goods and aesthetics.
View 300 Riven King's Throne 4 3 1 1 2351 20 0 -1 -1 -1 4 4 Rivenspire 10 Gabrielle Benele No great mystery who this belonged to. Every Breton knows those motifs! It's a throne of House Spenard. Good riddance to poor sovereigns! Rivenspire's suffered more than its fair share of despots, but the Spenards put the others to shame. Verita Numida Yes, prior to its dissolution by House Dorell, House Spenard's territory was in a perpetual state of famine. Frestrien Spenard I to Frestrien Spenard VI maintained an era of misrule that lasted for one-hundred eighty-six years. Amalien That's because all six rulers were the same person! I've found a wealth of documents that describe the rulers' appearance and manner as identical. "The line of Frestrien bore stern features that appeared wrought from pale marble …." He was a vampire!
View 176 Royal Ivory Hilt 4 3 1 0 2224 101 0 -1 -1 -1 13 6 Eastmarch 10 Ugron gro-Thumog No common warrior could afford a sword-hilt of mammoth ivory. The Dragon-head motif also marks this as the heirloom of a royal line. The metal here is bronze, not gold—a weapon of war, not a lord's decoration. This, then, is what's left of a battle-sword belonging to a Nord king or prince from the time of the Ysgramor Dynasty. I wish I could have seen the blade itself. It must have been marvelous. By Nord standards, at least.
View 292 Ruby Dragon Skull 4 3 1 1 2343 280 0 -1 -1 -1 14 0 Bleakrock Isle 8 Ugron gro-Thumog You find quite a few jeweled eyes in the dungeoneering business, but an entire skull fashioned from precious stones? That's a true prize. Shows all the signs of a Dragon Cult relic. Probably some sort of ritual focus used during sacrifices. Reginus Buca Not just any sacrifices. Given the scarcity of Atmoran jewelry, I have a hunch that precious stones are far less common there--or perhaps just more difficult to excavate. Ruby effigies would be reserved for extremely important services only. Verita Numida But why a Dragon skull? Prior to the Dragon War, those brutes had little cause to contemplate their own mortality. Unless ... a Dragon itself suffered the sacrifice? Maybe Dragon Priests gathered to watch Alduin administer such a rite. A ghastly thought!
View 700 Ruin-Carved Smithing Stand 5 4 1 1 0 1443 56 Ayleid Blacksmithing Station 5 6397 5 53 18 West Weald 40 Verita Numida This looks to be an excellent example of an ancient blacksmithing component. The quality of this artifact is quite remarkable, especially given the fissures that seem to run across the exterior. Reginus Buca You know, it's not uncommon for cracks like these to form on smithing stands that have been exposed to the enormous heat and pressure of sustained use. It's the sign of a successful smith and enviable craftsmanship. Gabrielle Benele I can tell you've both been neglecting your arcane studies a bit. Don't those cracks remind you of anything? Perhaps some magically-charged Ayleid ruins? This smith likely made enchanted weapons.
View 443 Ruinblood Coil 5 4 1 1 0 1286 24 Markyn Ring of Majesty 6 3547 5 48 13 The Deadlands 40 Amalien The Ruinblood clan is one of the most powerful Dremora clans that serve Mehrunes Dagon. You don't mess with these rascals! This coil definitely bears their symbol, but it looks like something was stacked on the top and bottom of it. Gabrielle Benele Aren't the mages of the Ruinblood clan experts in magic that involves blood? That might explain the color. I wonder if that's cosmetic, or genuine. With Dremora, I guess you never know. Reginus Buca The weight of this coil and the significance of it seems worth mentioning. This was obviously something worn by a very high ranking Dremora, or perhaps worn to signify rank to others? Perhaps there were other clans stacked around this coil?
View 588 Rune-Carved Key 5 4 1 1 0 1414 49 Music Box, Glyphic Secrets 5 4293 10 51 16 Telvanni Peninsula 67 Reginus Buca Well, this is a winding mechanism if I ever saw one. But what does it wind? I've seen something similar used for drum heads, but this one is so delicate. Verita Numida Given its wispmetal construction, I'd say be careful of what it winds up or opens since it likely originates from Apocrypha. Perhaps it's a portal key of some sort to that realm? Amalien It's so tiny. And cute. And I think built to go flush with whatever it belongs to - so that it isn't easily seen. And that makes me think this belongs to something artistic. Oh, and that rune hiding inside it? I think it means find. Interesting!
View 253 Rune-Carved Mammoth Skull 5 4 1 1 2304 103 0 -1 -1 -1 12 6 The Rift 10 Verita Numida Wood Elf villages produce the most proficient bonesmiths in Tamriel, but some Nord bone-dressers display a similar talent. While I'd never display such a macabre item in my home, there is a certain beauty to the craftsmanship. I guess. Reginus Buca Come now, Verita, this is one of the rare Kjervilde Craniums! A product of the late First Era's most eminent taxidermist! Did you take note of the pristine condition of the bone and the brilliant gold etchings? This is an object of rare beauty! Ugron gro-Thumog Orcs dress bones better. Eh. Debate for another time. Apparently, Kjervilde killed each of her subjects with a single arrow to the heart. Can't say as I've ever heard of an arrow that can fell a mammoth all at once, but few things surprise me anymore.
View 177 Rune-carved Steering Oar 2 1 0 1 2225 280 0 -1 -1 -1 14 0 Bleakrock Isle 8 Ugron gro-Thumog A longship's steering oar, early 2E 1st century. This one belonged to a successful raiding captain, I think. The runes spell out boasts about the plunder they took during each of the captain's voyages. Gabrielle Benele Curious that a wooden artifact of this age is in such good condition. These are no common runes—an ancient enchantment clings to the oar. Perhaps the oar's owner followed the Old Ways of the Nords and sought the blessing of their animal gods? Verita Numida Nord captains of the time often took their steering oar from ship to ship. A carved oar was the emblem of an experienced navigator, something that showed other Nord warriors that they could trust the captain's ability to find a way across the seas.
View 626 Rune-Etched Cylinder 5 4 1 1 0 1414 49 Music Box, Glyphic Secrets 5 4293 10 51 16 Telvanni Peninsula 67 Reginus Buca The etchings on this cylinder indicate an arcanist prepared it. But they don't look like any I've run into before. Perhaps they indicate a form of runic magic I'm not aware of. Regardless, the dark metal acts as if imbued. Gabrielle Benele This metal most certainly is imbued! And these runeforms indicate sound manipulation of some sort. As if when matched with another rune, a sound would ring out. Reginus Buca This metal puzzles me still. This isn't wispmetal quenched in tomeshell gore, is it? Given the slight striations I'm seeing ... yes, it must be. An Oblivion rarity!
View 533 Rune-scribed Braces 5 4 1 1 0 1383 36 Syrabane's Ward 6 4000 5 50 15 Galen 39 Reginus Buca These brackets are made up a few different metals, and sized for a belt of some kind. Interesting, if a bit of over kill. Why would you need multiforging techniques to brace something that holds up your breeches? Verita Numida The materials, as well! Gold, frog metal, silver, stahlrim. Needlessly complex, but quite potent from an arcane perspective. If I had to guess, these metals were chosen as much for their symbolic properties as for their physical ones. Gabrielle Benele I believe I may have an answer. A tiny stamp on one of the braces, a maker's mark. Syrabane himself, from the time of the All-Flags Navy. Perhaps, as you said, Verita, he forged this melting pot of metals in symbolic resonance to the armada.
View 627 Rune-Scribed Comb 5 4 1 1 0 1414 49 Music Box, Glyphic Secrets 5 4293 10 51 16 Telvanni Peninsula 67 Reginus Buca The runeforms on this strange metal comb are all the same. And they all seem to set off some form of arcanist's magic. So, a triggering comb? Definitely not something for hair. And it's definitely made from wispmetal. Verita Numida I see a tiny symbol on the edge - a golden eye. Of course that points right to the Keeper of Forbidden Knowledge. What use would Mora's adherents have for this bit of metal, though? I agree it must be part of a larger item. Reginus Buca Perhaps it belongs to an arcanist's locking device, where you need to line up symbols exactly to open it. That said, the overall shape of the comb reminds me of a music box's mechanism.
View 614 Runic Legs 5 4 1 1 0 1414 47 Trifold Mirror of Alternatives 5 4291 3 51 16 Telvanni Peninsula 67 Amalien The stone legs are curious. You commonly see shaped sandstone among Dwarven construction, but the runes are Daedric. Could this be evidence that some Dwemer consorted with creatures from Oblivion? What a find! Gabrielle Benele Many cultures used stone, not just the Dwarves. That said, these were constructed using ancient tools is correct. Look at the curve of each leg - they aren't exact, even if you account for age. The craftsmen did not have the tools for precision. Verita Numida If you compare the stone craftmanship to the etchings in Hositte's From Pebbles to Boulders, you'll see a perfect match with ancient Nedic work. The Daedric runes are uncommon, but not unheard of. A pleasure to see the handiwork up close.
View 581 Rust Funnelcap Paint 5 4 1 0 0 1414 44 Spore Savant Body Marks 5 4209 7 51 16 Telvanni Peninsula 67 Reginus Buca Craftsmen in Vivec City started grinding dried funnelcap mushrooms into paste around 100 2E. The paint is deceptively simple to make for how potent it is. I'd be careful, it tends to stain.
View 272 Sacred Chalice of Ysgramor 4 3 1 1 2323 101 0 -1 -1 -1 13 6 Eastmarch 10 Amalien Here's a pretty cup. Sturdy, too! This predates the rise of Harald by a few centuries at least. Difficult to identify the figure on the side with certainty, but here's a good rule of thumb: if the artwork predates Harald, it's a depiction of Ysgramor. Reginus Buca Can't say as I approve of such a sweeping principle, but it does tend to be correct. This certainly features Ysgramor, flanked by Atmoran runes.The Draconic silhouettes and ruby inlays clearly indicate this chalice belonged to someone of high station. Verita Numida One of Ysgramor's heirs, no doubt! We identify Harald as the thirteenth in Ysgramor's line, but his forebears likely adorned their weapons, armor, even their silverware with Ysgramor's image. His face would lend legitimacy to any official act.
View 483 Sacred Resin 5 4 1 1 0 1318 32 Oakensoul Ring 6 3740 5 49 14 High Isle 56 Reginus Buca Given the age of this pouch, it's miraculous that this resin has retained its viscosity. Resin stored in this way could have a dozen uses--mostly medicinal, but also aesthetic. Khajiit on the Valenwood border sometimes use it as armor varnish. Amalien Do you smell that? It's odoriferous oak resin. Some people call it the Tears of Y'ffre. Wood Elves argue about whether Green Pact permits its use, but nature worshipers in Summerset and High Rock use it all the time in Jephre-worshiping ceremonies. Gabrielle Benele In High Rock, we mostly hear about the wyrd sisters using Y'ffre Tears in their witch's brews, but I read it also played a large role in druidic spellcraft. They'd apply it to their staves, wax their beards with it, and so on. Fascinating!
View 209 Sacrificed Weapon of the Four 4 3 1 0 2257 888 0 -1 -1 -1 26 4 Craglorn 10 Verita Numida Mamireh, Akamon, Roshadon, and Rok'dun the Flame, referred to as the Four, were among the most prominent Yokudan warriors of the first invasion of the Nedic homelands. They were Ansei of the first rank, of course, and before undergoing initiation they were required to give up their most treasured weapons. Supposedly, Akamon's sandal-bearer carried the shards of his master's first dagger as a daily reminder of his sacrifice.
View 379 Saint Kaladas's Plumb Bob 4 3 1 0 2721 1261 0 -1 -1 -1 47 12 Blackwood 56 Verita Numida There is no way to tell whether or not this tool was truly used by Saint Kaladas. But given the area in which it was found, its age, and the relatively well-preserved nature, I'm inclined to at least entertain the theory. Kaladas constructed the The Great Chapel of Zenithar in Leyawiin and some records say he was fond of using highly ornamented tools like this during the process. I suppose it would make sense. Buildings constructed without painstaking measurement rarely last this long.
View 137 Sanguine Doublet 5 4 1 1 0 347 13 Bloodlord's Embrace 6 2187 5 25 3 Coldharbour 9 Reginus Buca I don't recognize the style of this doublet. Probably a bespoke piece commissioned by a wealthy patron. The suppleness of the leather is beyond exquisite. It doesn't creak when stretching and snaps back elastically. Wearing it is like a warm hug. Amalien Touching this dredged up an unpleasant memory I'd hoped never to relive. It reminded me of the work of a Bosmer tanner I met in Valenwood who was a devoted practitioner of the Green Pact. The lifelike feeling makes my skin crawl. Gabrielle Benele Amalien's suspicions are correct. I've, unfortunately, had enough experience with evil necromancers to know what Elf leather feels like. This skin isn't technically alive, but it still acts like it. It even seems to heal cuts and abrasions.
View 672 Santakian Construct Plating 5 4 1 1 0 1443 53 Rourken Steamguards 6 6379 5 53 18 West Weald 40 Amalien Armor plate, articulated, made of dwarven metal. I think it must be a piece of a Dwemer animunculi, an animated machine used for labor or for war. Beyond that, I can't say. Reginus Buca Not a piece of a machine, but a piece of armor. The length and the curvature are a good match for a muscular forearm, and the articulated section aligns with the wrist. I believe this is a Dwemer vambrace, but I'm afraid it's incomplete. Ugron gro-Thumog Ah, I know this design! This repeating squared-arrow pattern comes from Santaki, a Dwemer city that stood in what is now the Alik'r Desert. This was part of a mighty armored gauntlet crafted by the Rourken smiths of Hammerfell long ago.
View 150 Satakal Skinrazer 2 1 0 1 2198 104 0 -1 -1 -1 5 5 Alik'r Desert 14 Reginus Buca The tip of this spade-shaped tool forks like the tongue of a serpent, but the only sharpened edge sits along a slot at the base, facing the handle. I can't help but liken it to the cheese servers of Wayrest, but religious engravings suggest otherwise. Reginus Buca It's safe to say that the serpent imagery throughout this piece represents the First Serpent, Satakal, in Redguard mythology, best known for devouring itself. Modern devotees are said to shed their skin in gruesome rituals with winding daggers. Reginus Buca Testing on a moist—but firm—cheddar, showed that even this long-dull edge can slice a layer thin enough for light to pass through, suggesting that the flensing rituals of Satakal were more restrained in earlier eras. Self-consumption remains unconfirmed.
View 184 Scale-Etched Slither Pipe 3 2 1 1 2232 381 0 -1 -1 -1 16 1 Auridon 12 Amalien The scales on this snake pipe possess so much detail, but who would want to press their lips to it, unless … Maormer? That explains the shape—a snake—but what kind? The blue and green bands shift into each other hypnotically. Does it charm people? Reginus Buca Charm people? Hardly. That feeling you have is natural reaction to peerless craftsmanship. And the presence of a snake does not always mean Maormer were involved. I could see a Mer crafting this elegant item simply because they like snakes! Amalien Don't be dense! Look at the contours of the face, and this salt-glazing technique! You're just being contrary. The residue inside looks green and flaky--perhaps the ashy remains of some seaweed they find particularly aromatic. I bet it smelled terrible!
View 538 Scarab-host Box 5 4 1 0 0 1383 37 Barkroot Blessing 5 4028 10 50 15 Galen 39 Verita Numida Most puzzling. Druidic in origin, but the box has no discernible hinges, keyhole, or opening. When I hold it in my hands, I swear I can feel something alive scuttling around inside of it. What could its purpose be?
View 465 Sclerotic Tentacle 5 4 1 1 0 1318 29 Mora's Whispers 6 3737 5 49 14 High Isle 56 Gabrielle Benele This has to be one of the most distasteful antiquities I've ever had to catalogue. It's still twitching. This tentacle matches the description of no living being on Nirn. Clearly a Daedric relic of some kind. Ugron gro-Thumog Runes have been etched quite deftly into the soft flesh. Hmm. Hard to make out what this inscription means, but I can make out Hekhem and Meht. Tentative examination suggests it is from a Daedric Watcher. Reginus Buca Never seen anything quite like it. It appears to have been harvested for some dark purpose. Honestly, it appears ready to crawl across my face and push through my nostril. I'd strongly advise caution.
View 558 Scrib Chitin Padding 5 4 1 1 0 1414 40 Cryptcanon Vestments 6 4199 5 51 16 Telvanni Peninsula 67 Reginus Buca I've seen natural kwama materials used in thousands of different ways, and the scrib chitin shaped for these pieces was done by a master artisan. I suspect a student of the Saruse school of ashlands materials shaping. Ugron gro-Thumog Incredible what the Dark Elves can do with these little bugs. This garment is obviously ceremonial, but as with all ashlands garb it's functional as some measure of protective armor. For clergy in dark places, no doubt. Amalien Easy to forget, given the Dark Elf view on undeath, that tending to ancestors can sometimes be hazardous. The original wearer of this garment no doubt looked to this padding to ensure longevity in their role.
View 659 Scrying Brazier, Short 4 3 1 1 6024 1413 0 -1 -1 -1 52 17 Apocrypha 43 Amalien I've yet to deduce the meaning behind the symbols rising from this arcane fire. Gabrielle Benele Strange symbols rising from a fire, Apocryphal tentacles. Have you tried asking an Arcanist? Amalien The tentacles seem to be docile so it didn't really cross my mind to involve an outside collaborator. I've found endless knowledge inside books but Arcanists unnerve me.
View 663 Scrying Brazier, Tall 4 3 1 1 6028 1413 0 -1 -1 -1 52 17 Apocrypha 43 Ugron gro-Thumog A product only of Apocrypha, clearly. But perhaps it serves some other function? The tentacles are deeply unnerving. Amalien I don't believe they're cause for alarm. I have only minor facility with magic, but perhaps the tentacles are ritualistic in some way? Reginus Buca That's all well and good, but the cold fire of the brazier seems more practical than mystical. A cold fire will burn paper, after all, and is more than bright enough to read by.
View 511 Sea Elf Galleon Helm 4 3 1 1 3762 1318 0 -1 -1 -1 49 14 High Isle 56 Reginus Buca A fascinating design, not something you're likely to see in a Tamrielic navy, obviously. Its origin is no doubt Pyandonea, the home of the Sea Elves. Though, it's worth noting, their designs tend to be more pragmatic than this extravagant piece. Verita Numida The traditional serpent head design is also absent. I believe this is a helm from the fleet of Admiral Uhlchesis, a cultist of Hermaeus Mora and scourge of the Eltheric Ocean. Reginus Buca It's said that Admiral Uhlchesis' fleet raided the shores of Alinor more than a dozen times before his dark master called him to Apocrypha. They sacked enough gold for a hundred helms, though most of his ships were thought lost after their leader left Nirn.
View 476 Sea Silver Chain 5 4 1 1 0 1318 31 Sea-Serpent's Coil 6 3739 5 49 14 High Isle 56 Reginus Buca What a delicate piece! Crafting links this small would be a laborious process, but the results speak for themselves. It's certainly Elven. Maormer, I should think, based on the pattern and the bluish hue of the silver. Amalien You're right, Reginus. This is Sea Elf work. According to legend, King Orgnum was the first person on Tamriel to work in silver. He drew it out of the ground like splinters from a wound. Strange, given that he's a creepy vampire wizard! Gabrielle Benele The chain's enchantments are extraordinary! They seem bound to the concept of focus at the expense of potential outcomes. Not unlike Psijic time-hewing. Paring down choice is a dangerous prospect, but there must be some utility to it.
View 445 Searing Gem 5 4 1 1 0 1286 24 Markyn Ring of Majesty 6 3547 5 48 13 The Deadlands 40 Reginus Buca A ruby perhaps? Or something far darker. The Daedra use all manner of exotic stones in their work. I'm near certain this one does not exist on Nirn. Gabrielle Benele You're right about this stone being otherworldly, Reginus. It's a searing stone—a crystalized fragment of Daedric dynamism. I have no idea if it's mined or hand made. No member of the Mages Guild has ever had a chance to study one. Amalien Oh, it's mined. I know it! It's a "naturally occurring" mineral in the Deadlands. As if anything is natural there, right? Exciting, since anything occurring naturally in the Deadlands is some aspect of Dagon's will in physical form. Marvelous!
View 298 Seat of the Snow Prince 4 3 1 1 2349 1160 0 -1 -1 -1 37 10 Western Skyrim 16 Amalien If I didn't know any better, I'd say this chair is of Snow Elf make. What a remarkable find! Icy stone would have been murder on the bum, but I suppose any cushioning would have disintegrated over the ages. Reginus Buca It really makes one wonder how these children of the Aldmer managed the cold. The South Eltheric Ocean is hardly a frigid wasteland. In any event, this seat looks fit for royalty. A prince or high-ranking cleric perhaps? Ugron gro-Thumog Truth is, we know next to nothing about the Snow Elves' governmental structure, because Ysgramor and his companions wiped the slate clean during their invasion. The Atmorans weren't all that clever, but they were certainly thorough.
View 144 Secession Stamp Block 2 1 0 1 2192 19 0 -1 -1 -1 3 3 Stormhaven 10 Ugron gro-Thumog Unfinished wood block, stained black with ink. Circa 2300 of the First Era. Took a rubbing of the carved face. It is a diatribe calling citizens of Wayrest to demand secession from the Alessian Empire, citing prejudice against Elven heritage. Verita Numida An expert, if dry, assessment, Ugron. This sort of vague, incendiary language smacks of propaganda meant to weaponize the populace for private interest. It strains credulity that Wayrest endured a thousand years of oppression before revolting. Ugron gro-Thumog Then you might find Lost Orsinium and The Pig Children enlightening. You'd be surprised the number of indignities people are willing to suffer. The emphasis on increasing Imperial tithes does support your assertion money was behind this movement.
View 630 Seeker Claw Quill 2 1 0 1 5844 1413 0 -1 -1 -1 52 17 Apocrypha 43 Verita Numida Given the lack of birds and other feathered species in Apocrypha, the ancient scholars of Hermaeus Mora used seeker claws in place of traditional quills. Their sharp points, deadly while alive, would have made for excellent writing instruments. Gabrielle Benele Seeker claws would have also been ideal for another reason: their arcane resilience. Their claws would not have been corroded by watcher ink or other magical elements used in the writing of enchanted texts. Ugron gro-Thumog I do wonder how the claws were harvested. Seekers are fierce adversaries. Perhaps the ancient scholars gathered them from deceased corpses? Or maybe the claws were collected from live specimens as a punishment for sloppy research.
View 467 Seeker-sinew Thread 5 4 1 1 0 1318 29 Mora's Whispers 6 3737 5 49 14 High Isle 56 Gabrielle Benele Coils and coils of this thread, definitely made from the sinews of a Daedra. I sense an unpleasant warmth still radiating from the relic. Why a Seeker's corpse would be utilized in such a fashion is hard to fathom. Ugron gro-Thumog I contacted a colleague from the Mages Guild to have a look at this. A great deal of magicka was expended during its creation. According to my associate, close examination of the relic could result in a splitting headache and a long bout of aphasia. Reginus Buca I took some time to reread Elizanev's Treatise on Otherworldly Garments. Apparently, when threaded through a needle and sewn into a piece of linen, this thread will make the linen move and undulate in a distasteful and organic fashion. Horrific!
View 225 Series Two Animo Core 2 1 0 1 2273 980 0 -1 -1 -1 32 4 Clockwork City 5 Verita Numida For once in my august career, I am at a loss. This object clearly performs some vital function in Sotha Sil's secret lair. Beyond that, I have no idea. I hope you won't try to regale me with tales of his fanciful "clockwork kingdom." It's preposterous. Gabrielle Benele Don't be so quick to dismiss such things, Verita. The Clockwork City is a very real place. I think. In any case, this looks like some sort of ancient vessel. I see a crystaline residue inside. Residual accumulation from some kind of alchemical solution? Amalien Just so, Gabrielle! Sotha Sil borrowed all manner of ideas from the dwarves. This vessel is his answer to the Dwemeric dynamo core. If you conducted a test on that residue, I think you'll find it shares many of the same properties as soul gems!
View 592 Setting Sap 5 4 1 0 0 1414 45 Spore Savant Face Marks 5 4210 7 51 16 Telvanni Peninsula 67 Ugron gro-Thumog I suspected the Sporecrafters used setting sap. I've never seen it made from mushrooms, but their secretions can keep paint from spreading or fading. It's valuable when you need to preserve warpaint.
View 674 Shadowy Creatia Stitching 5 4 1 1 0 1443 54 The Shadow Queen's Cowl 6 6380 5 53 18 West Weald 40 Ugron gro-Thumog This stitching is so light, so thin. Under normal circumstances I would assume it was used in creating a nobleman's wardrobe. Someone with money to spend who doesn't care about durability. But this substance seems quite magical. Amalien? Amalien I wouldn't just call this "quite magical," but extremely magical. I believe this stitching is made from creatia, the very substance, the substrate, of the Daedric Realms. Evergloam, I'd guess, given they seem to be made from the shadows themselves. Gabriele Benele I strongly sense the chill of Evergloam, good guess Amalien. Imagine what a thief might do with a set of gloves or a mask stitched with these? The power of the Shadow Queen herself imbued into a garment. Oh my.
View 378 Shattered Ayleid Cloak Clasp 3 2 1 1 2720 1261 0 -1 -1 -1 47 12 Blackwood 56 Verita Numida It's hard to tell without having the fully formed piece, but this looks Ayleid in origin to me. Barsaebic Ayleids, to be specific. Those worn symbols might have been to honor the Aedra. Reginus Buca Gideon was originally founded by the Ayleids, wasn't it? The name of that settlement is sadly lost to time, but perhaps this belonged to one of the first to settle in Black Marsh after leaving greater Cyrodiil. Amalien Yes! The Aedra angle is an interesting one, too. The Barsaebic Ayleids left to avoid their Daedra-worshiping kin during the Narfinsel Schism. It makes sense given the location!
View 188 Shattered Camoran Antler Crown 4 3 1 0 2236 383 0 -1 -1 -1 17 2 Grahtwood 11 Gabrielle Benele Don't be deceived by the common materials of this headpiece—it's a Wood Elf treasure. This is a crown of the Camoran Dynasty, rulers of the "walking city" of Falinesti. From season to season the great Elden Tree moves to different sites within the Valenwood, although no one seems to have seen it in some time. Naturally, the Wood Elf monarchs had a different crown for each of Falinesti's seasons. This is a winter crown, which would have been worn when Falinesti took its rest in Grahtwood.
View 206 Shattered Iron Maiden 4 3 1 0 2254 347 0 -1 -1 -1 25 3 Coldharbour 9 Gabrielle Benele Torture devices recovered from Coldharbour aren't unexpected. To find one so well preserved, however, is exciting. But that's not the most astounding part about this piece. It's what's inside that really boggles the mind. (Nothing gruesome, don't worry, Amalien). It seems to be a scrap of regalia, one that would only be found on the uniforms of commanding officers aboard the All Flags Navy. Perhaps one of the captains that was brought into Coldharbour was tortured in this device. Ghastly.
View 643 Shelf, Black Soul Gems 4 3 1 1 5857 1286 0 -1 -1 -1 48 13 The Deadlands 40 Gabrielle Benele Black soul gems. A cruel way of entrapping mortal souls. Don't worry, I've made sure they are empty. Amalien This was brought in its entirety from the Deadlands and re-assembled just as it was in the field. This casual manner of storing such vile treasures is challenging. Ugron gro-Thumog I've braved research expeditions to the Daedric realms before and frankly I cannot recommend it. Still, it's a unique chance to study the culture and mindset of Daedric societies.
View 247 Sheogorath Madness Cube 3 2 1 1 2295 267 0 -1 -1 -1 39 5 Eyevea 4 Ugron gro-Thumog Even a paradise holds danger--especially one that once resided in a Daedric realm. Notice the six equal sides, each marked with a different symbol. Disturbing, yes? And don't roll it! That way lies madness. Literally. We should lock this away immediately. Amalien A Sheogorath relic? Maybe, but it may relate to the Altmer. This could be a meditation hexahedron. They considered the numbers 3, 5, and 8 to be sacred. Hmm. In retrospect, they used meditation octagons. Very well. A Madness Cube it is. Reginus Buca You and your fancies. This is made of bone. From a sea animal. And the age places it in the First Era, when the Altmer ruled the island. It's a chance cube, used in the ancient Altmer practice of creating stories in a group. Harmless, but entertaining.
View 306 Shock Lancer 4 3 1 1 2357 382 0 -1 -1 -1 20 5 Reaper's March 11 Verita Numida Even after all this time, this still carries traces of magical energy. You can feel the hairs on your arm rising whenever you touch it. Can you imagine harnessing this sort of power during a siege? Reginus Buca Yes, quintessentially Dwemer in its design and application. They were so much more technologically advanced than other races, their mastery over the arcane allowed them to fire shocking projectiles. Gabrielle Benele If it's shock value we're going for here (and no, I won't apologize for that) I'd like to throw in the possibility of this being a component of a security system. The Dwarves were extremely talented at keeping people out of places.
View 295 Shrine of Boethra 5 5 1 1 2346 1133 0 -1 -1 -1 36 9 Southern Elsweyr 7 Ugron gro-Thumog Never seen anything like this, and I've spent many cold nights in Khajiiti tombs. The Riddle'Thar cult swept a lot of Khajiiti myths under the rug during the Elsweyr reunification. You think this is one of the spirits they scrubbed from the pantheon? Amalien Undoubtedly! Note the sword and the figure's morphology. You can correct me if I'm wrong here, but this doesn't match any Khajiiti furstocks I'm aware of. Ohmes-raht come close, but the facial features are completely different. I think it's Boethra! Gabrielle Benele Boethra--the Khajiiti variant of Daedric Prince, Boethiah? The presence of a katana, the cloak, and the imperious expression all fit. Ancient Khajiit honored her as a patron of warriors and rebellious exiles. That feline companion's a puzzler, though!
View 638 Shrine to Dibella 4 3 1 1 5852 823 0 -1 -1 -1 30 2 Gold Coast 7 Verita Numida Clearly a shrine, most likely to Dibella, but whatever statue or effigy lay at the center is long since gone. Amalien Perhaps a Dibella sect local to this region? The modern Gold Coast enjoys lavish luxuries, but perhaps this group was more frugal. Verita Numida More likely time, theft, and exposure has scoured away whatever made this shrine unique. Still a beautiful piece, and one worth preserving.
View 194 Silvenar's Scepter 4 3 1 0 2242 58 0 -1 -1 -1 19 4 Malabal Tor 9 Amalien Throughout the centuries, the Silvenars of the Bosmer have worn no special badge of office; every Wood Elf of the Valenwood knows the Silvenar on sight. But from time to time, Silvenars find it useful to carry some token of authority that outsiders can easily recognize. The extravagant carving of this bone scepter shows that a Wood Elf artisan crafted this to impress foreigners. The leaves in the scrollwork are actually stranglers--a subtle warning, it would seem. A truly unique find.
View 257 Silvenari Sap-Stone 4 3 1 1 2308 58 0 -1 -1 -1 19 4 Malabal Tor 9 Gabrielle Benele A sap relic that didn't come from Black Marsh? What a welcome surprise! I've never seen such a beautiful Wood Elf antiquity. I associate the Bosmer so much with bone, and rotmeth, and insect parts that I forget what wonders the Green Pact can produce! Verita Numida Yes. Almost makes one wonder why the Wood Elves don't request other things, like clothes that don't smell like old mammoth cheese. I've never seen a tree in Malabal Tor leak sap like this. Could it have come from Falinesti? Amalien The graht-oak of Silvenar produces objects like this from time to time, but only at the urging of the Silvenar himself. Someone well-attuned to the Green could probably coax some Y'ffrine miracle out of it, but that's well outside our capabilities!
View 340 Silver Strand of Syrabane 5 4 1 1 0 1207 16 Pearls of Ehlnofey 6 2546 5 46 11 The Reach 30 Gabrielle Benele This strand is so thin and lustrous I almost thought it was spider silk. Now I see it's actually threaded silver! The only place I've ever seen jewelry like this is around the necks of High Elf Sapiarchs. Amalien It's not High Elf work, Gabrielle. This is Aldmer craftsmanship. Syrabane taught my ancestors how to thread silver like this for talismans and magic pendants. We lost the knack for it though. Classic Altmer, right? We forget all the important stuff! Verita Numida It's certainly lovely on its own, but take a closer look. See the intermittent tarnishing? I'd say someone strung beads or pearls on this. Perhaps both. If what Amalien said about Syrabane's influence is true, some magic pearls might not be far off.
View 169 Silver Wish Medallion 3 2 1 1 2217 117 0 -1 -1 -1 11 4 Shadowfen 9 Amalien At first glance, I thought this was an oversized coin. Clavicus Vile's unmistakable image often appears on early currency intended as an offering to the Daedra. But the hinged clasp shows it was meant to be worn. What is this other figure here? Verita Numida Based on the region, the posture of supplication to Vile, and the obvious lack of any clothing, I believe the figure to be Kothringi. This must date to before their shift to worship of Z'en. Or belong to a lone cult that held on to the old ways. Gabrielle Benele Analysis shows that the medallion is extremely old—early Merethic era or even perhaps before. But that makes no sense so perhaps my ritual was faulty. Also, despite appearances this isn't silver. It's some other metal I haven't seen before. Strange.
View 241 Silvered Nord Drinking Horn 3 2 1 1 2289 1160 0 -1 -1 -1 37 10 Western Skyrim 16 Amalien The silver filigree clearly show that this horn belonged to an important thane. I don't recognize this ivory, though. A horn from a supernatural beast such as a Dragon might confer magical strength or good fortune on any who imbibe from it! Verita Numida Dragon-horn is too rare a commodity to serve as some Nord's lucky mead-cup. Still, the silver chasing on this piece is exceptional. In my estimation, this is an early 1E 22nd-century funerary piece commissioned for a jarl's burial. Reginus Buca Could this horn have belonged to Jarl Vundarr Openhand of Hjaalmarch? The skalds of his day composed songs about his wealth and generosity. He was said to have been buried with a king's ransom in barrow-treasure.
View 531 Silverthread Stitching 5 4 1 1 0 1383 36 Syrabane's Ward 6 4000 5 50 15 Galen 39 Gabrielle Benele Thread made of silver is not all that uncommon, especially in the workshops of magic-minded craftsfolk. But the skill with which this has been spun is breathtaking. It reminds me of the jewelry worn by Sapiarchs, actually. Ugron gro-Thumog I agree. Consider too, the broader implications of silverweaving in Aldmeri culture. The purity, the disconnect from broad Tamriel norms. Whatever this stitching was intended for, clearly it was highly valued by the crafter. Amalien Disconnect from broad Tamriel norms, you say. Regardless of the editorializing, it's beautiful. If the stories are true and Syrabane did teach my people this art, it's a gift we can never repay him for. I wish we still had the knack.
View 395 Silverweave Cord 5 4 1 1 0 1261 20 Harpooner's Wading Kilt 6 2725 5 47 12 Blackwood 56 Ugron gro-Thumog Here's a relic I wouldn't mind taking for my personal collection. You can't buy cord this strong in any market I've visited. Looks like something nautical. Boat rigging, or the lead on a harpoon. Beautiful. Just beautiful. Reginus Buca The weave of the rope is very tight, but that's not the only source of its strength. I see metallic strands woven into the cord. Kothringi smiths might have been capable of a feat like that, though I've never seen it executed this seamlessly. Verita Numida I believe Reginus has the right of it. Wealthy Kothringi sailors probably used this in their boats or even wore it around the waist. The coloration here indicates to me that something was strung on it. Glass beads or talismans. Both functional and lovely.
View 474 Singersteel Clasp 5 4 1 1 0 1318 30 Lefthander's Aegis Belt 6 3738 5 49 14 High Isle 56 Reginus Buca What a curious relic. It's a belt clasp, certainly, but the metal and configuration are quite unique. Do you see how it cinches from the left? This may have belonged to a Lefthander noble from ancient Yokuda! Ugron gro-Thumog This metal looks like an alloy--nine parts steel and one part orichalcum. Redguards call it Singersteel. According to the myths, the Yokudans used orichalc to drive the Elves out. Maybe the Lefthanders got their hands on a bit of orichalcum as well? Amalien There's a story about The HoonDing Gong. Apparently, Diagna crashed his fist against it and swords fell from the walls of the Orichalc Tower like needles from a dry pine! I wouldn't tell a Crown that Lefthanders made belts from sacred metal!
View 267 Sixth House Ritual Table 4 3 1 1 2318 849 0 -1 -1 -1 31 3 Vvardenfell 6 Verita Numida It's been quite some time since I've seen such a well-preserved Chimer table. The volcanic rock seems consistent with the pre-Tribunal aesthetic. The sigil in the center is particularly noteworthy. Could this really have belonged to the Sixth House? Reginus Buca Yes, this is definitely First Council-era craftsmanship. Note the script surrounding the seal. Dagoth written in Daedric runes. The other Houses went to great lengths to scrub House Dagoth's legacy from the history books. This is quite a discovery! Ugron gro-Thumog Really makes you wonder--what threat did Dagoth pose to the Tribunal? I try to avoid Dark Elf politics, personally, but to wipe all mention of the Sixth House from the record seems excessive to the point of suspicious.
View 70 Sloped Dwarven Guards 4 3 1 0 0 92 6 Ebon Dwarven Wolf 5 458 17 6 6 Bangkorai 12 Gabrielle Benele Hmm. Amalien can correct me if I'm wrong, but I definitely get the sense that these plates were meant to protect and reinforce a limb or other potential load-bearing element. They look quite sleek by Dwarven standards!
View 346 Sloped Dwarven Stalks 5 4 1 0 0 1207 17 Dwarven Scarab 5 2510 7 46 11 The Reach 30 Amalien Is it just me, or do these look like eyes? Perhaps from an insect, or even a crab! I also detect a hint of blue in what I think are the sockets. Do I dare to consider that these eyes were fashioned from aetherium? Of course I do!
View 502 Smoothed Stone Grinder 5 4 1 1 0 1318 33 Druidic Provisioning Station 5 3759 10 49 14 High Isle 56 Reginus Buca The base of this strange pot has a hollow compartment. I believe this is where grain was stored. The top half acts as a grinder, so that the grain can be made into a paste with relative ease. A very smart druidic invention. Fascinating!
View 116 Snowy Sabre Cat Fur Strip 5 4 1 1 0 101 9 Snow Treaders 6 2183 5 13 6 Eastmarch 10 Amalien Over the years, many artists have imagined Snow Elf attire as being made of fashionable furs from head to toe. Long fur capes, decorative hats, fluffy boots …. The stitching on the sides suggests these were made for clothes. Reginus Buca Snowy sabre cats would have been abundant in the areas Snow Elves nobles inhabited, especially at the time. It's not out of the question to say they could have been the main source of material for clothes and a variety of other resources. Verita Numida I'm no tailor, but I do have an eye for style. These are cut in such a way that they would be the inner lining of either a hat or possibly even gloves. You can clearly see where the outer layer was pulled away from the stitching.
View 401 Soiled Tapestry Scrap 3 4 1 1 0 1261 22 Blackwood Tapestry 5 2872 15 47 12 Blackwood 56 Verita Numida Difficult to make out what this tapestry scrap might be depicting, what with all this worked-in dirt. We might be able to identify it eventually; it will just take some long and careful cleaning.
View 258 Sorcerer-King's Blade 5 4 1 1 2309 382 0 -1 -1 -1 20 5 Reaper's March 11 Verita Numida An Ayleid sword, eh? Truly wondrous craftsmanship. Pity they probably used it to slaughter any of our ancestors who defied their supremacy. Odd that they would venerate this broken blade. Whoever wielded it must have commanded a great deal of respect. Gabrielle Benele I still detect some residual magic swimming between the shards. Difficult to determine the nature of the enchantment after all this time, but it definitely feels tied to the illusory school ... something to do with minds and mortal will. Ugron gro-Thumog Makes sense that Ayleid sorcerer kings would wield weapons capable of bending their subjects' minds—especially during the civilization's latter days when their appetites turned dark as coal. No race, no matter how depraved, will stand for that forever.
View 358 Spear Tip of the Reach King 4 3 1 0 2517 1207 0 -1 -1 -1 46 11 The Reach 30 Reginus Buca During the first era, ten Reach kings ruled the region. We know precious little about the kings themselves, but I came across an Imperial account of a Reach chief named Noldan. When his clan submitted to Imperial forces, he gifted the Imperial commander his flint spear, purportedly dipped in blood. Unfortunately for the Imperial, Noldan coated the spear in lethal poison, not blood. Those who handled it before the deception was discovered suffered miserable deaths. So, let's handle this with care.
View 433 Spell-Scorched Table 5 4 1 1 0 1286 26 Daedric Enchanting Station 5 3544 3 48 13 The Deadlands 40 Ugron gro-Thumog Looks like a work-table--not for simple handicraft, though. Dremora must have used this for some arcane pursuit. See this unusual scoring here? Alchemy or Enchanting, I wager. You don't find this sort of thing in Tamriel. So much the better.
View 259 Spellscar Shard 4 3 1 1 2310 888 0 -1 -1 -1 26 4 Craglorn 10 Ugron gro-Thumog This isn't particularly old, but it's still noteworthy. We don't fully understand where it came from, but that obelisk in Craglorn stirred up all sorts of arcane mischief. Looks like it even managed to bend natural law here. Amalien Yes indeed! It's difficult to determine if this is Tamrielic matter transformed by the obelisk's impact, or some fragment of the obelisk itself. I'd like to conduct some experiments on it. Those striations seem overloaded with magicka! Gabrielle Benele I think the magicka stored in this fragment is largely spent at this point. Removing it from the crash-site might have diminished its connection to the obelisk, resulting in a slow degradation of its potency. It's inert, yes, but still beautiful!
View 237 Spiked Scalebreaker Bolt 2 1 0 1 2285 1133 0 -1 -1 -1 36 9 Southern Elsweyr 7 Amalien What a unique and fascinating weapon! It's spear-like in shape, but massive in size. Only a giant could properly wield such a tool! A Pahmar-Raht, maybe? No, it's still too big. Ugron gro-Thumog That's because it's not a traditional weapon. The spiked shaft here is meant to penetrate heavy scale and not let go, but only if loosed at great velocity. From a ballista or similar weapon, I wager. Reginus Buca I defer to Ugron on matters military, of course. It's the cultural motifs I find most interesting! The Dragonguard were the children of two worlds: Imperial and Akaviri. This bolt reflects those merging aesthetics.
View 192 Spinner's Singing Bone 2 1 0 1 2240 58 0 -1 -1 -1 19 4 Malabal Tor 9 Gabrielle Benele Wood elf priests have venerated Y'ffre through song and story since time immemorial. The images inscribed on this bone illustrate an ancient Bosmer tale--and the hollowed-out bone can be played like an instrument, a traditional accompaniment. Amalien Gryphon or harpy bone, perhaps? It resembles a large bird's femur, but it's much too big for any ordinary avian. I suspect that the creature whose bone this was may have played an important part in the story inscribed here. Reginus Buca You're close, Amalien. It's the femur of a terror bird, more commonly found in the plains east of the Valenwood. I recognize the story: It's the account of a bold chief's raid against the khajiit of Anequina, 6th century 1E.
View 149 Spire of Erokii Frieze 4 3 1 0 2197 20 0 -1 -1 -1 4 4 Rivenspire 10 Amalien It's so rare to find Ayleid architectural art still intact! The Alessian Order took a special glee in wiping out Elven culture. I think the only reason there's any left at all was because they were more interested in wiping out the Elves themselves. This beautiful relief pictures the legendary Spire of Erokii while it still stood. Now the inglorious ruins are simply known as Doomcrag. One day I'll convince someone to carry me to the summit to study the spire's remains.
View 595 Sporecrafter's Grinding Stone 5 4 1 0 0 1414 45 Spore Savant Face Marks 5 4210 7 51 16 Telvanni Peninsula 67 Verita Numida Cultures throughout Tamriel use grinding stones to crush dried plant matter to dust. Whoever used these, had them for a long time, see how smooth the rock faces are? It's likely that these were heirlooms, passed down between the generations.
View 586 Sporecrafter's Press 5 4 1 0 0 1414 44 Spore Savant Body Marks 5 4209 7 51 16 Telvanni Peninsula 67 Reginus Baro Sporecrafters used their fingers to paint their designs, but that made the designs less uniform. Around the end of the 1st Era, they started growing stamps and brushes out of mushrooms like this one. Pretty innovative if you ask me.
View 597 Sporecrafter's Purse 5 4 1 0 0 1414 45 Spore Savant Face Marks 5 4210 7 51 16 Telvanni Peninsula 67 Verita Numida Don't be deceived with how simple this purse appears, the stitching along the drawstring reveals a powerful inscription. It's a blessing of dirt and decay, a recognition of the end all mortals face. Macabre to be carrying around on a daily basis.
View 279 St. Alessia, Paravant 5 5 1 1 2330 383 0 -1 -1 -1 17 2 Grahtwood 11 Verita Numida I can scarcely believe I'm saying this, but you may have discovered a sculpture of the mother of the First Empire, Saint Alessia. You see? She still bears the shackles of Ayleid enslavement, and holds the Amulet of Kings aloft. It's her. It's Paravant. Reginus Buca I suspect this is a Bretonic work--perhaps given to Hestra as a gift after High Rock's admission to the Empire. As you know, the Alessian Order placed tight restrictions on graven images of Alessia. We'll likely never know what she really looked like. Verita Numida Mara's mercy, Reginus! For once in your life, can you just appreciate the majesty of what our friend uncovered? Obviously, the sculptor did not have the benefit of firsthand knowledge, but this is the truest depiction of Alessia we've ever seen!
View 268 St. Nerevar, Moon-and-Star 5 4 1 1 2319 849 0 -1 -1 -1 31 3 Vvardenfell 6 Verita Numida A bust of Saint Nerevar. A worthy discovery, to be sure. You don't often find such realistic depictions of Dunmer religious figures. The sculptor may have spent some time in the Imperial City. I see similarities to Bruma School works. 1E 2800's perhaps? Ugron gro-Thumog The shapes featured in his panoply definitely match some of the pieces in the Gwylim First Council collection. Bit more conservative than I'd expect, though. I always had the sense that Chimer armor favored form over function. More exposed skin, etc. Amalien Speaking of skin, I wish this bust included color! Dark Elf portraiture leans toward monochromatic, abstract compositions. I'm desperate to know if they conceptualize Nerevar with gold or ashen skin. I bet it's gray. Dark Elves are master revisionists.
View 153 St. Pelin's Clod 2 1 0 1 2201 92 0 -1 -1 -1 6 6 Bangkorai 12 Verita Numida What could rightly be confused for an ugly, ruddy gemstone appears to be a lacquered clod of reddish-brown dirt. The insignia of the Knights of St. Pelin is pressed into the surface. This could be a relic of the late Pelin's martyrdom. Reginus Buca I think the symbolism is clear, but my research indicates that these were carried by the entire Bangkorai Garrison in the decades following his self-sacrifice. Given their penchant for bloodletting rites, these were likely created by the knightly order. Gabrielle Benele I can confirm that the dirt within the lacquer is from Bangkorai and that the blood soaked into it came from the same person, but I can't identify who that would have been. Unfortunately, this new information could support either theory.
View 288 Stained Glass of Lunar Phases 5 5 1 1 2339 1086 0 -1 -1 -1 35 8 Northern Elsweyr 7 Reginus Buca A fully intact stained glass window? Simply remarkable! Someone clearly packed it away with great care. One can't help but wonder why they squirreled such a masterpiece away. I've never seen a window like this in the Khajiiti temples I've visited. Verita Numida That's because the Khajiit never placed this window in one of their ancestral temples. See the similarities to Imperial glasswork? Clearly, Khajiiti glassworkers made this for a converted temple. Perhaps the Chapel of Zenithar in Leyawiin. Ugron gro-Thumog Makes sense. Bruk'ra wander-kings all but annexed the city after Darloc Brae's conquests. It's possible that the Imperials finished construction on the Chapel of Zenithar by then. But if the Khajiit did convert it, Imperial histories would never admit it.
View 403 Stained Tapestry Scrap 3 4 1 1 0 1261 22 Blackwood Tapestry 5 2872 15 47 12 Blackwood 56 Ugron gro-Thumog I have no idea what's smeared all over this tapestry, but I'm pretty sure it's not blood. Ambergris, maybe? Shame. The weaving on this is remarkable.
View 449 Stainless Imperial Band 5 4 1 1 0 1286 25 Belharza's Band 6 3548 5 48 13 The Deadlands 40 Reginus Buca The lack of corrosion here is quite remarkable, given the context. I'm told the Deadlands exacts a heavy toll on Tamrielic objects! This band is clearly of Imperial make, and not cheaply fashioned either. I doubt it made its way to Oblivion by mistake. Ugron gro-Thumog This band is sturdy. Imperial. It's not a legionary's ring, though. Looks like the sort of thing a forge wife might make herself before her wedding. Heavy, regal, well-polished. Someone important wore this. Based on the location, I'd say a battlemage. Gabrielle Benele I think you're right about it belonging to an Imperial battlemage, Ugron. See the scoring on the interior of the band? They're Isandor grips—meant to keep the ring from slipping off. You find them on livelier magic rings that vibrate on the finger.
View 475 Steel Serpent Fangs 5 4 1 1 0 1318 31 Sea-Serpent's Coil 6 3739 5 49 14 High Isle 56 Gabrielle Benele These bits of metal seem forged to resemble snake fangs. Never a good sign. I can't say for certain, but given the irregular finish and these scratches, I'd say they're a few hundred years old at least. Mid to late 1E, for certain. Amalien I've seen adornments like this before--far too many times. They're Sea Elf charms. Sailors wear them on ankle bracelets, necklaces, and earrings in honor of their disgusting snake-king, Orgnum. Fair warning: They're almost certainly cursed! Ugron gro-Thumog These are of Sea Elf make, but they're not like the trinkets that pirates wear now. See this banding? This is venom-crucible steel. Sea Elves stopped making it due to the cost of the materials. It's a wicked kind of metal, but still, masterful work.
View 114 Sticky Integument Leather 5 4 1 1 0 267 8 Thrassian Stranglers 6 2182 5 39 5 Eyevea 4 Reginus Buca Do you think this was made out of Sload themselves? I think it could be harvested without killing the creature, but I imagine it would painful. Like flaying. Amalien Perhaps they shed the stuff! Many seaborn creatures shed their skins to grow, right? Crabs and that sort of thing. I can almost imagine some pink, smelly thing climbing out of a leathery shell! Verita Numida Thank you for that vivid description, Amalien. Yes, it may well be a natural waste product. Or perhaps harvested from their young. What little scholarship exists on the subject implies that the Sload do not treat their children well.
View 413 Stitched Tapestry Scrap 3 4 1 1 0 1261 22 Blackwood Tapestry 5 2872 15 47 12 Blackwood 56 Verita Numida Someone tried to fix this scrap of tapestry with needle and thread. Unfortunately, they botched the job. This needlework is sloppy, but with patience we can remove it.
View 635 Stone Relief, Yokudan 4 3 1 1 5849 104 0 -1 -1 -1 5 5 Alik'r Desert 14 Ugron gro-Thumog An archetypal carving of sorts, representing some mytho-historical concept in Yokudan storytelling. Most likely something you would find in a dungeon or tomb, if my last visit to Hammerfell gives me any insight. Verita Numida I've done some reading and can't find a specific legend or folktale that would seem to relate to this symbol. I wonder if this was meant to evoke a specific concept or was this more esoterica? Reginus Buca "A first for knowledge usually leads to a thirst for more," as the saying goes. We should investigate further, without a doubt. Our understanding of this fascinating people is under-developed.
View 482 Stone Shank Frame 5 4 1 1 0 1318 32 Oakensoul Ring 6 3740 5 49 14 High Isle 56 Verita Numida I adore gold jewelry, but this stone framing does have a rustic charm. The central groove seems ground down to accommodate a second loop. Even without the central element, though, it's lovely. And at least a thousand years old, I should think. Gabrielle Benele You see this grinding method in pre-Direnni High Rock antiquities--mostly in cookware, though, not jewelry. Whoever made it was a true master of both stonecraft and magic. It radiates protective energies. Something akin to a shielding spell. Ugron gro-Thumog This is a real find. This framing bridges the gap between Nedic stonework and early Direnni aesthetics and draws from the best of both traditions. Druids were master stonecutters and fair hands at magic--I'd say they made this.
View 593 Stone Stamp 5 4 1 0 0 1414 45 Spore Savant Face Marks 5 4210 7 51 16 Telvanni Peninsula 67 Amalien I can't even get the paint I put on my eyelids for special occasions to match, but the Sporecrafters solved that problem. They use these little stones to transfer the paint to their faces. It's perfectly even on both sides!
View 232 Stone-Chief's Xul-Vaat 3 2 1 1 2280 726 0 -1 -1 -1 34 7 Murkmire 6 Reginus Buca What a beautiful stone-carving! Argonians don't often dwell on death, but they do like to commemorate it with one of these grave stakes (or xul-vaat's in the lizards' native tongue). When an Argonian dies, their kin plant this stake as a memorial. Ugron gro-Thumog Try again, Reginus. Argonians use their grave stakes to pin down their dead so they don't rise again as bog blights. But that's not all that noteworthy. What is interesting is the material. Argonians rarely work in stone. This xul-vaat is clearly ancient. Verita Numida Yes, Argonians abandoned stonework millennia ago, making this stake a true oddity. Apparently, ancient and modern Argonians exercised similar burial traditions. It's really too bad that the Argonians will react to this insight with a collective shrug.
View 514 Stonelore Circle Effigy 3 2 1 1 3765 1318 0 -1 -1 -1 49 14 High Isle 56 Ugron gro-Thumog An excellent find. An early example of druidic craftsmanship from the Systres Archipelago, I think. You can tell based on the knotwork around the edges, wyrd symbology from elsewhere uses entirely different patterns. Gabrielle Benele Observe, too, how they've explored the concept of the True Way through various symbolic imagery. The transition between pre-circle and post-circle culture is still evident, with some elements disappearing even a few years after this piece was made. Ugron gro-Thumog One of the elements I find most interesting is these leftover reliefs showcasing the Archdruid. A figure of great debate among scholars, after the breaking of the druids into different sects his symbology disappears almost overnight.
View 537 Storm-Weathered Drafting Top 5 4 1 1 0 1383 39 Shipbuilders Crafting Station 5 4027 3 50 15 Galen 39 Reginus Buca Interesting, you don't often see this kind of wood outside of a shipyard. But I can see the logic behind using it for a drafting surface. The material is sturdy, can withstand any weather, and as you can see with your own eyes, it'll last a lifetime. Gabrielle Benele It's entirely possible that this was used in a shipyard, Reginus. I'm no expert, but the wear and tear on this surface doesn't seem typical of a typical drafting table. Some aggressive woodworking was done on this thing. I'm surprised it tilts! Ugron go-Thumog I have to agree. I see heavy Breton influence in the construction, but it's early. Probably right around the time of the first shipyards in Gonfalon Bay!
View 647 Structural Tentacle Arch 5 4 1 1 0 1413 50 Apocryphal Clothier Station 5 6020 5 52 17 Apocrypha 43 Amalien The craftsmanship is exquisite. Almost has me believing that these tentacles actually move. Verita Numida Best temper your sight and self, Amalien, for it might blind what's truly here. What we can learn about Apocryphal design. Amalien Mortal make, it seems. But guided by a Daedric hand.
View 619 Sturdy Crucible 5 4 1 1 0 1414 48 Telvanni Alchemy Station 5 4292 10 51 16 Telvanni Peninsula 67 Reginus Buca This is an ancient Nord design from early first era, likely reclaimed when Nords were driven from present-day Morrowind. Sturdy, dependable piece. The only alteration made by subsequent users is an added spout for pouring.
View 384 Sturdy Silver Prongs 5 4 1 1 0 1261 18 Death Dealer's Fete 6 2723 5 47 12 Blackwood 56 Gabrielle Benele At first glance, it might be missed, but the prongs (that I assume were likely fashioned to hold jewels of some kind) are actually conduits for magicka. They're specially crafted to keep the integrity of the prongs even when dealing with powerful magic. Reginus Buca While this is clearly very old, I'm still fascinated to see the prongs separate from whatever they once held. Many rings from the mid-First Era had this kind of crude fastening system with heavy handed smithing, making the prongs near unbreakable. Amalien Perhaps it was made for combat? Or some other kind of rigorous activity? It seems Daedric in origin, and I can think of at least one Daedric Prince who never gives his followers a moment's rest: Sanguine.
View 296 Sweet Khenarthi's Song 4 3 1 1 2347 537 0 -1 -1 -1 21 0 Khenarthi's Roost 10 Gabrielle Benele I've always loved Khajiiti needlework. The color and texture on this tapestry are tremendous, despite its age. I don't want to jump to conclusions, but I suspect that winged figure is an artist's depiction of Khenarthi--the Khajiiti goddess of the wind. Ugron gro-Thumog Yeah, it's Khenarthi. She seems to be ushering that spectral Khajiit somewhere--presumably the Sands Behind the Stars. Khajiiti and Nord theology both present Kynareth as a guide to paradise. Odd considering how remote each civilization is from the other. Reginus Buca It's not odd at all! Choice plays a central role in the process of death and rebirth for both Nords and Khajiit. Both have to earn their way to paradise. Kyne and Khenarthi reward courage and faithfulness respectively. A personal escort makes sense.
View 121 Symbol of Y'ffre 5 4 1 1 0 108 10 Ring of the Wild Hunt 6 2184 5 18 3 Greenshade 9 Reginus Buca The charm itself is small, but it certainly resembles other depictions of Y'ffre—the Forest god of the Wood Elves. Given these hollows on either side of his head, I'd say this is part of a series of charms. Verita Numida This looks like Y'ffre, I agree. But his aspect seems far less distant than normal. He appears to be howling, or snarling behind a matted wreath of leaves. That's more than a little unsettling. Amalien Perhaps he's unleashing the power of a Wood Elf Wild Hunt! Y'ffre demanded that the Wood Elves keep their shape as part of the Green Pact, but ironically, he allows them to change it again in times of great need. Gods are strange that way.
View 301 Tall Papa's Lamp 4 3 1 1 2352 92 0 -1 -1 -1 6 6 Bangkorai 12 Verita Numida Ah, this exhibits the masterful craftsmanship one would expect from a Na-Totambu relic! These gold motifs seem consistent with Ra Gada heraldry, but the purple interior matches the hue of Ruptga prayer beads. The lack of star motifs seems odd, too. Reginus Buca Is tethering military pomp to religious expression really that odd? For the Yokudans, warfare and religion were practically synonymous! Your comment about the stars does raise questions, though. Ruptga without stars is like Akatosh without a Dragon. Gabrielle Benele The lack of stars on the relic itself doesn't necessarily mean it didn't feature stars in another way. The oil reservoir has a layer of crystalline build-up--some kind of meteoric fuel, I bet. The light this lamp shed probably resembled starlight!
View 405 Tattered Tapestry Scrap 3 4 1 1 0 1261 22 Blackwood Tapestry 5 2872 15 47 12 Blackwood 56 Ugron gro-Thumog Looks like a dog got hold of this. I'm not joking. Look at the stretching here and the crusting at the edges. Whoever gave this to their mutt had no idea how valuable it is.
View 622 Tempered Brass Retort 5 4 1 1 0 1414 48 Telvanni Alchemy Station 5 4292 10 51 16 Telvanni Peninsula 67 Gabrielle Benele Incredibly common sublimation tool, similar to an alembic. I suspect this one is Dwemer in origin from the choice in brass over copper, a superior heat conductor. A tempered retort, on the other hand, is something one hears form Verita on a daily basis.
View 713 Tentacled Tool Rack 5 4 1 1 0 1413 58 Apocryphal Jewelry Station 5 6539 10 52 17 Apocrypha 43 Amalien This may look like a simple rack for a work table, but these ornate tentacles tell another story. I believe that they conduct power from Hermaeus Mora into the tools hung here. Reginus Buca Don't leap to conclusions about these decorations. Many cults adorn their tools with Mora's symbol. But for reverence, not power. The ancient Enraptured Order would drape octopuses across worktables as a sign of respect. Gabrielle Benele Amalien's intuition seems right this time, Reginus. These tentacle radiate a very slight Daedric power. Nothing dangerous, likely? But any tools hung on this rack would likely be imbued with some Apocryphal energies over time.
View 275 The Dutiful Guar 4 3 1 1 2326 281 0 -1 -1 -1 15 1 Bal Foyen 8 Gabrielle Benele I've got to say, the realism of this guar statue is positively uncanny! Sculpting busts of famous saints is one thing, but sculpting a beast like this in such vivid detail is pretty remarkable for ancient Dark Elf statuary. Amalien There's a reason for that, Gabrielle. This isn't a sculpture at all. I'm surprised that you--a mage--haven't considered the possibility that this is a real guar magically transformed into metal. Probably the work of some Telvanni apprentice! Verita Numida There's a far more plausible--albeit less palatable--explanation for this. I've found several bronzed beetles in Dunmeri ancestral tombs. This beast likely suffered a similar fate. We can only hope it wasn't still breathing when they sealed it in metal.
View 297 The Heartland 4 3 1 1 2348 104 0 -1 -1 -1 5 5 Alik'r Desert 14 Reginus Buca What a stirring landscape! It resembles the work of Reman II's court painter, Emilia Polus. She revolutionized the art of landscape painting--serving as a bridge between dreamy Alessian scenery-painting and the stark realism of early Potentate works. Gabrielle Benele It might be an early Laenius. I'm no artist, but as far as I'm concerned, Gavros Laenius doesn't get anywhere near the credit he deserves. No one renders water like him. The Niben seems to wash across the canvas! Gorgeous! Verita Numida I find this work puzzling. The Alessians placed severe restrictions on artists prior to their decline which grew into cultural taboos. Imperial painters didn't resume painting the Imperial City in its entirety until the final years of the First Era. Odd.
View 345 Thin Dwarven Hinges 5 4 1 0 0 1207 17 Dwarven Scarab 5 2510 7 46 11 The Reach 30 Gabrielle Benele Look at the precision here. These hinges seem impossibly small, but they open as easily as a well-greased tavern door. I can't even begin to imagine the tools required for making something like this.
View 136 Thirsting Girdle 5 4 1 1 0 20 13 Bloodlord's Embrace 6 2187 5 4 4 Rivenspire 10 Reginus Buca At first blush, there was nothing exceptional about this plain, leather belt, but its appearance is deceiving. There are hollow channels beneath the surface that I can only describe as veiny and the inside of the loop is studded with teeth! Amalien I pricked my finger on one of those pointy teeth. It felt like something was sucking at the wound as I pulled away! If I was going to make a bloodsucking belt, why would I put the teeth on the inside of the band? Maybe this was an instrument of torture? Gabrielle Benele So, it definitely drinks blood. You can feel it pulse when doing so, and this seems to empower its enchantments. Unless someone volunteers to try it on, that's as much as I can discern. If I wanted a garment to drain the life out of me, I'd buy a corset.
View 564 Thras-Crafted Breeches 5 4 1 1 0 1414 41 Esoteric Environment Greaves 6 4200 5 51 16 Telvanni Peninsula 67 Amalien Exhilarating. This appears to be a set of breeches crafted with materials and techniques common to the Sload of Thras. But symbology, treatment, and context all scream Dwemer. I've never seen such clear evidence of collaboration between these cultures. Gabrielle Benele I think collaboration might be a strong word. I've found some supporting Thrassian documentation to indicate contractual workings for mages of great power in other cultures. Still, a unique find. Amalien More than we've ever been able to prove before. The Dwemer reaching out to other regions for support in their more advanced workings is a fascinating concept. Was this a common practice, or was this more like a favor repaid to a specific artisan?
View 517 Thrassian Crystal Shard 2 1 0 1 3995 1383 0 -1 -1 -1 50 15 Galen 39 Amalien Finding a Sload artifact this far from their ritual pits is certainly strange. But then, it came from a dig site on Galen. The residual energy is unmistakable in origin. Perhaps a member of the All Flags Navy brought it back from Thras? Reginus Buca If only there had been academics on hand when the armada returned from the final confrontation. Think of the knowledge we could have gained! We know the Sload are extremely skilled in magics, is it possible that this crystal was once a ritual implement? Verita Numida I believe you're onto something. Notice the facets and how they refract light towards a distant point. I posit that this is just part of a focusing crystal once used to collect and store energy, whether magical or otherwise I'm not entirely sure.
View 406 Threadbare Tapestry Scrap 3 4 1 1 0 1261 22 Blackwood Tapestry 5 2872 15 47 12 Blackwood 56 Amalien Seems that someone might have used this scrap as a quilt patch. Well-worn, that's for certain. Treat this one with care or it's liable to come apart.
View 393 Tide-Glass Beads 5 4 1 1 0 1261 20 Harpooner's Wading Kilt 6 2725 5 47 12 Blackwood 56 Ugron gro-Thumog You find a lot of these glass beads in Kothringi burial cairns. Typically on a string or in a small pouch. They didn't use them as currency, but often wore them on their wrists or ankles. One of the few items of clothing they favored. Amalien The Kothringi didn't consider these beads clothing. They were wearable instruments! Kothringi measured the worth of most things by their sound. My Argonian friend, Ree-Tei, told me the only reason they wanted gold was because of the clink it made! Verita Numida Let's not overstate, Amalien. The Kothringi were well aware of gold's value outside Black Marsh. But, it is true that musicality played an oversized role in their cultural expression. Judging by the size, they probably wore these around the waist.
View 565 Tonal Pivot Joints 5 4 1 1 0 1414 41 Esoteric Environment Greaves 6 4200 5 51 16 Telvanni Peninsula 67 Reginus Buca These pivot points remind me strongly of those we've seen on constructs from across traditional Dwemer regions. But they're sized for a flesh and blood wearer, perhaps part of some armor? A standout relic of their culture. Amalien While we know the Dwemer made a variety of constructs to integrate with mortal frames, it's extremely rare to find any left behind after their departure. These joints most likely helped the wearer bear up under heavy loads, or move across uneven terrain. Gabrielle Benele They're also extremely well insulated from adverse conditions, as we've seen with several other pieces recently. Just imagine what a person wearing these greaves could endure.
View 670 Tonal Resonation Chamber 5 4 1 1 0 1443 53 Rourken Steamguards 6 6379 5 53 18 West Weald 40 Reginus Buca Ah, an aetheric fragment! There are many varieties, of course. Welkynd stones, varla stones, skyshards, and more. All are very rare, and very valuable. I am not sure I know this particular type. Gabrielle Benele This is aetherium, one of the rarer forms of aetherial fragment. It is only found in the caverns beneath Skyrim. How glass that falls from the sky winds up underground, I could not say. The Dwemer powered many devices with crystals such as these. Amalien Aetherium crystals powered many Dwemer marvels, yes. But this is not a simple power source. Somehow, this crystal has been hollowed out. I believe this is a resonance chamber for a device harnessing Dwemer tonal magic. An incredible find!
View 549 Tool Grooved Wooden Tray 5 4 1 1 0 1383 39 Shipbuilders Crafting Station 5 4027 3 50 15 Galen 39 Reginus Buca See the hinges on the side? It must have been attached to a larger piece, looking at the size of bolts. It looks Breton in design, but I'm not sure what the purpose was. Something for cooking, perhaps? Verita Numida I believe this is actually part of some kind of work station. The grooves in the bottom of the tray are indicative of a great deal of use, they're worn by time and rough treatment. Not delicate enough for cooking, or anything artistic, I'd imagine. Reginus Buca Ah! Interesting, thank you, Verita. Now that I examine it more closely, I see what you mean. There are also grooves on the sides, perhaps this was a drawer? It could have been an attachment to store tools within a larger work station.
View 126 Torc Strand of Lore 5 4 1 1 0 104 12 Torc of Tonal Constancy 6 2186 5 5 5 Alik'r Desert 14 Reginus Buca Unusual--this metal band is about the size of a neck-ring, but I have a sense that it's incomplete. Dwarven work, for sure; the geometric design is quite common in Dwemer artifice. If it's a torc, where's the rest of it? Gabrielle Benele The torc seems incomplete because it is incomplete. Dwarves probably forged jewelry like this from several different strands braided together. Makes sense. Metallurgists tell me the Dwemer combined different metals to make their eponymous alloy. Amalien But what magic does is possess? These tiny notches in the strand are undoubtedly aligned with Dwemeris script. I believe they stand for knowledge; this strand shapes and binds the magic of the torc with Dwemer lore. Knowledge is the foundation, you see.
View 128 Torc Strand of Power 5 4 1 1 0 57 12 Torc of Tonal Constancy 6 2186 5 10 3 Deshaan 11 Ugron gro-Thumog A twisted strand of Dwarven metal, marked with Dwemer notches signifying power. By itself, the piece has no purpose. But joined with other pieces--braided together into a neck-ring, perhaps--this strand would vastly boost the strength of the whole. Reginus Buca The Dwarves probably fashioned neck-rings (or torcs, to be precise) for many different purposes. Necklaces often harness powerful enchantments, so I'm not surprised to find a piece of a torc that boosts the strength of the object's magic. Verita Numida Be careful with these markings. Even the simplest Dwarven bauble, crafted for diversion and little else, can be lethal if mishandled! When the pieces of the torc are joined together, we'll find out what this device was intended to be.
View 127 Torc Strand of Song 5 4 1 1 0 92 12 Torc of Tonal Constancy 6 2186 5 6 6 Bangkorai 12 Amalien These clean notches--I recognize them. They're Dwemer symbols for sound or song. As many of you know, sound played an essential role in Dwarven life and magical praxis. I often wonder if that included singing. Ugron gro-Thumog Singing? Not in any fashion that a High Elf would take pleasure in, I wager. Dwarves prized cold logic over beauty, and I can't think of anything less logical than singing. They likely let their instruments do the talking. Verita Numida A metallurgist once told me that metals in an alloy are like tones in harmony. An apt metaphor, yes? I doubt the Dwarves recognized any distinction between song and sound, to be honest. Tonal magic and ancient song both lead to wisdom of a sort.
View 129 Torc Throat Guards 5 4 1 1 0 888 12 Torc of Tonal Constancy 6 2186 5 26 4 Craglorn 10 Verita Numida Strange; I've never encountered a Dwemer torc equipped with these shield-like extensions. Designed to amplify the voice, perhaps? Or to protect the wearer's throat from harm? To what purpose? An armored gorget would seem more practical. Gabrielle Benele Ah, I've got it! This torc was created to harness tonal architecture—the Dwarven craft of using sound to shape reality itself. It was a powerful form of magic … or machinery. Although I'm not sure the Dwarves differentiated between the two. Amalien Tonal architecture! I've seen the things the Dwarves made with it, of course, but I never imagined I'd actually see a device used by tonal architects in the course of their work. Why, who knows what Dwemer wonders were shaped by this torc?
View 130 Torc Tonal Focus 5 4 1 1 0 41 12 Torc of Tonal Constancy 6 2186 5 9 2 Stonefalls 10 Ugron gro-Thumog Quartz, common, shaped with no great skill or design. Considering the workmanship of the other pieces that make up this magical torc, I must wonder if the original focusing stone was replaced with an inferior one by some lesser artisan. Reginus Buca Common quartz, yes, but not in the context of this magical torc. Quartz is a crystal, and crystals possess many unusual qualities regarding the transmission of sound. To carve or shape this stone might have ruined its natural resonance. Or so I guess. Gabrielle Benele My dear colleague Reginus is, as usual, more right than he lets himself admit. Different crystals naturally conferred different tonal properties. Every piece of this torc was exactingly shaped to focus the specific resonance of this crystal. Perfect!
View 204 Tormentor's Roller 2 1 0 1 2252 347 0 -1 -1 -1 25 3 Coldharbour 9 Amalien This is incredible! Dark and horrible, of course, but still incredible! Given the markings, this could have been part of a torture rack within Heart's Grief itself. Gabrielle Benele I don't like the look of this. While I agree with Amalien on it being part of a rack, I think it's more likely it came from the Vile Laboratory. The material on the ends mimics Dwarven metal - but it's colder and lighter or something. Daedric simulacra? Amalien Oh, you're right! How did I not see that? It's so obvious when you look closely. That mechanism is incredibly sophisticated. In that case, perhaps it belonged to a Xivilai torturer. How exciting!
View 166 Torn Netch-leather Mask 3 2 1 1 2214 57 0 -1 -1 -1 10 3 Deshaan 11 Verita Numida Such a grotesque visage. The sharp features resemble a Mer, and the crude leather-wrapped wood construction suggest Ashlander work. I don't recognize the syntax of the Daedric script on the forehead. Clearly, this is more than a simple war mask. Gabrielle Benele These aren't full Daedric sentences; they're more like words of power. An attempt to infuse the mask with healing hedge magic. Seems this was a shamanic medicine mask. However, words like "stasis," "wither," and "barren" confuse me. Amalien Daedric meanings often shift over time. Given the context, these words hew closer to "return," "deflate," and "dry out". Could be references to the Thrassian Plague? We know it reached this far east, so I'd guess tribes used the mask to heal victims.
View 404 Torn Tapestry Scrap 3 4 1 1 0 1261 22 Blackwood Tapestry 5 2872 15 47 12 Blackwood 56 Reginus Buca Based on the imagery, I'd say this was torn from a larger tapestry. The sort that might take a decade to weave. Alas, fabrics rarely withstand the ravages of time.
View 471 Totambu Chrysocollas 5 4 1 1 0 1318 30 Lefthander's Aegis Belt 6 3738 5 49 14 High Isle 56 Verita Numida These unique gems were considered a sign of royalty in Yokuda since before the rise of the Na-Totambu. It has something to do with the golden inclusions, I believe. The Yokudan's enemies, the Lefthanded Elves, embedded them in many of their weapons. Reginus Buca I find the entire Sinistral Mer narrative unconvincing. Lefthanded Elves? What does that even mean? In any case, yes, the Chrysocollas were not just a sign of royalty, but also a symbol of invincibility in battle. Oft enchanted, or so I've read. Ugron gro-Thumog Chrysocollas are strongly associated with defense, but in the Yoku tongue, the term defense is just a different tense of offense. They placed far less emphasis on defense as a concept that than the Lefthanders did. This is definitely Elven.
View 261 Tri-Angled Truth Altar 4 3 1 1 2312 281 0 -1 -1 -1 15 1 Bal Foyen 8 Amalien Wow! Given the iconography on this pyramid, I think we can safely assume this object predates the rise of the Tribunal! See how there's no reference to Almsivi? These marks venerate the old gods: Boethiah, Mephala, and Azura. Reginus Buca Exactly right, Amalien. Odd to find such a fine, polished object carved in the Chimeric tradition. Velothi asceticism and Boethian values drove them to work in unconventional materials, even during their Golden Age. This feels modern. Overly geometric. Verita Numida Nerevar and Dumac's warm relationship likely led to some cultural exchange. Dwemer society was too intransigent to absorb traditions from other cultures, but even the most pious Chimer probably wanted a break from stone and chitin-carving at some point.
View 608 Tribunal Window, Stained Glass 4 3 1 1 4289 1414 0 -1 -1 -1 51 16 Telvanni Peninsula 67 Reginus Buca Ugron, you should've seen how my hands trembled when I held this stunning piece of glass artistry. It is so easy to lose yourself in its deep blue hues. Perhaps they used a pigment made from Stoneflower petals and Black Anther? Remarkable. Ugron gro-Thumog An impressive find, Reginus. How old do you posit this glass art to be? It's worth noting how the Tribunal is shown as being in equal balance. A clue to its origin being a place of organized worship rather than a personal or private creation. Reginus Buca On the contrary, its simplicity makes it far more likely to be a private piece. Those of means often flagrantly display their favored member of the Tribunal. This beautiful glass was likely commissioned by someone of simple means, but fierce devotion.
View 525 True Way Clay Dials 5 4 1 1 0 1383 35 Stormweaver's Cavort 6 3999 5 50 15 Galen 39 Gabrielle Benele Knots and twisted lines mean more to the druids than almost any other group, but this symbol isn't used very often. I think this is the sign for the True Way. If druids follow the True Way, they'll please Y'ffre. Maybe that's why the wear the symbol. Ugron gro-Thumog Why does only one of the clay disks have this important symbol? There are three druidic circles and three disks. It stands to reason that the True Way appears on the disc representing the circle of the druid wearing it. Amalien A targeted piece of apparel and you think it stops at denoting which group a member belongs to? Haven't you read about the Raven's Green necklace? The True Way on these dials implies that only one of the circles actually follows in Y'ffre's footsteps.
View 299 Tusks of the Orc-Father 4 3 1 1 2350 684 0 -1 -1 -1 28 0 Wrothgar 8 Ugron gro-Thumog Always good to see a relic from the homeland. A tusk arrangement like this usually marks an entrance of a chief or forge-wife's longhouse. The scale of these tusks is pretty damned impressive. Haven't seen a mammoth that size in my lifetime. Reginus Buca Alas, I think the Bretons plundered most of these monolithic ivories after the sack of Orsinium in 1E 980. The Daggerfall ivory trade helped fuel the Bjoulsae economic expansion that catapulted High Rock to prominence in the centuries that followed. Ugron gro-Thumog No need to remind me. From what I hear, ivory restitution was one of Kurog's demands when Emeric invited him to join the Daggerfall Covenant. We took tusks as part of our Ranser's War spoils, too. We Orcs always get what we're owed ... eventually.
View 526 Twice-harvested Knot Rope 5 4 1 1 0 1383 35 Stormweaver's Cavort 6 3999 5 50 15 Galen 39 Verita Numida Druids put more intention behind their knots and twisted cords than almost any other group on Nirn. With the two distinct knots on the rope, I suspect it harkens back to the Breton's history as hailing from both man and mer. Amalien Verita, you just assume the knots stand for man and mer? Could they not also symbolize Bretons and druids? Or civilization and nature? The druids honor many dichotomies. Oh! It could be Y'ffre and Ehlnofey! Reginus Buca Regardless of what the knots symbolize, did either of you happen to look at the cord itself? It looks like it's made out of cotton and flax. That's probably what the knots symbolize, two materials they use to make clothing.
View 718 Twinned Jade Insets 5 4 1 1 0 1413 58 Apocryphal Jewelry Station 5 6539 10 52 17 Apocrypha 43 Reginus Buca Beautiful decorative pieces. Jade stones set inside brass holders. The use of two stones side by side is unique and gives them the appearance of eyes. No doubt part of a larger design. Amalien Unsurprising that they look like eyes since Hermaeus Mora worshipers designed them. Decorative pieces like these appear on a number of furnishings and weaponry recovered from cultist bases. But are these more than decorative? Gabrielle Benele Good catch, Amalien. These pieces have a unique function. They seem to amplify and channel magicka that's directed at them. If arranged properly, they may funnel energy to a central point. An effective way to enchant jewelry, I'd guess.
View 714 Twisted Shelving Pedestal 5 4 1 1 0 1413 58 Apocryphal Jewelry Station 5 6539 10 52 17 Apocrypha 43 Reginus Buca Would be a nice piece of furniture if not for its immense weight. Wrought iron legs with stone shelving? My back hurts just thinking about lifting it into my study. Ugron gro-Thumog You should train with my clan, Reginus. They carry heavier furniture than this without any pain. Though, did you notice it belongs to a larger piece? I wonder if it was even meant to be moved. Verita Numida Most certainly not. Examining these gnarled legs reveals they were once fused to a great slab of metal. What managed to separate these shelves from its larger structure is an open question, but I do not wish to meet something that strong.
View 466 Twitching Eyeball 5 4 1 1 0 1318 29 Mora's Whispers 6 3737 5 49 14 High Isle 56 Gabrielle Benele A most distressing relic, I must say. This thing is still leaking ocular fluid? It is not an eye from a mortal race, I can tell you that. Leaving further examination for colleagues with stronger stomachs. Ugron gro-Thumog I can confirm this unusual relic comes from no creature of Nirn. My assumption is that it might be from a Daedric Watcher, but that would be pure conjecture. I imagine it has a deeply unpleasant smell. Reginus Buca The normally soft and pliable sclera has a hard, almost keratin-esque quality to it. I wouldn't advise handling it with bare hands. Objects like this often leave stains that are impossible to wash off.
View 195 Two Moons Censer 2 1 0 1 2243 382 0 -1 -1 -1 20 5 Reaper's March 11 Amalien Khajiiti work, for certain--brass, with silver filigree. This is a temple censer, used to burn aromatic incense pleasing to the divinity or spirit being honored. The figures in the decorative scrollwork appear to be priests greeting the moons. Gabrielle Benele Priests? No, these figures are warrior-monks, not priests. I think this censer comes from one of the temples of the Two-Moons Dance. The prominence of the moons in the design and the martial poses of the Khajiit would seem to make that pretty clear. Reginus Buca I believe this censer hung in the temple at Rawl'kha--the very place where Rid-Thar-ri'Datta revealed his epiphany. You can tell by the alignment of Jone and Jode in the scrollwork. Could it have been hanging in the sacred hall at that very hour?
View 612 Umbral Frame 5 4 1 1 0 1414 47 Trifold Mirror of Alternatives 5 4291 3 51 16 Telvanni Peninsula 67 Verita Numida Such roiling darkness should not hold its shape like this, yet here it is. How could one even transport this piece? Based on the shadowy composition, I'd estimate an association with the Daedric Prince Namira. Gabrielle Benele Nice guess! However, the frame holds its shape using coherence energies specific to Namira or Hermaeus Mora. A minor Namira cult in Western Skyrim called the Night Knives rimmed their tables with similar shadows. Amalien This frame's composition flows from Apocrypha, no question. The additional decorations make that clear. The energy similarities you noticed could mean Mora and Namira have a closer relationship than I realized!
View 453 Unhallowed Runic Tome 5 4 1 1 0 1286 26 Daedric Enchanting Station 5 3544 3 48 13 The Deadlands 40 Gabrielle Benele What's this? Daedra using runic magic? Mara's mercy, that is odd. Telenger's treatises on runic praxis reference several potential origins for runestones, but none of them extend into the realms of Oblivion! Runes transcending the veil? What a discovery!
View 624 Vacuum Filtration Apparatus 5 4 1 1 0 1414 48 Telvanni Alchemy Station 5 4292 10 51 16 Telvanni Peninsula 67 Ugron gro-Thumog Remarkably useful for filtering out alchemical impurities. I've read historical accounts of the ancient vacuum bellows being operated by lowly assistants or slaves. Better a bellows than being asked to use one's own breath, I suppose.
View 233 Vakka Bok Sun Bowl 4 3 1 0 2281 726 0 -1 -1 -1 34 7 Murkmire 6 Amalien By Auri-El, look at this crystal bowl! Difficult, given those shimmering facets in the glass. It seems to gather up sunlight, doesn't it? I can barely look at it without squinting! Legends tell of a tribe of Argonians who could wield the power of Magnus with precious stones. The sheer radiance of this crystal makes me think those stories are true. I just can't believe they fashioned it into a bowl. Not a weapon, jewelry, or armor. A bowl. It must have contained something truly marvelous.
View 354 Vampiric Stained Glass 5 4 1 1 2513 1207 0 -1 -1 -1 46 11 The Reach 30 Gabrielle Benele This isn't just a piece of any ordinary glass. There's latent magical energy in this, I can feel it without even touching it. On a hunch, I held it up to the light and I can confirm that it somehow changes the light coming through. Amalien Vampires! Don't you see it? This could confirm that clans once thrived beneath the Reach. I've read accounts of their hidden, mountain bastions being decorated with glass that counteracted dangerous sunlight. Elegant and practical! Reginus Buca I recently read an account of Reach folklore describing a force called the "Night Lords," and how they thirsted for Reach children's blood. I wonder if this could be a remnant of the villains of that story.
View 711 Vented Potbelly Stove 5 4 1 1 0 1413 58 Apocryphal Jewelry Station 5 6539 10 52 17 Apocrypha 43 Gabrielle Benele I've used little stoves like this in my office in Solitude. Quite effective in heating a room on a cold Skyrim evening. The vent on top is curious, and dangerous I must say. Perhaps its for making food? Verita Numida One could produce food, though that's not the intended purpose. This stove can achieve very high levels of heat that would over-char your nightly leg of lamb. No, this device is meant for smelting metals. See how it attaches to a larger fixture? Amalien The decorative metal tendrils on the base caught my attention. I tested the stove's ability, and it does get unbearably hot. However, the tendrils stayed cold to the touch. I can't tell if its a quirk of the metal or Hermaeus Mora's influence.
View 631 Vial of Watcher Ink 3 2 1 1 5845 1413 0 -1 -1 -1 52 17 Apocrypha 43 Gabrielle Benele A vial of ink produced by a watcher. A precious material, not lightly given to a mortal. Even Hermaeus Mora's most faithful followers. This small amount could have been carried as a sign of an arcanist's commitment. Reginus Buca That makes sense, Gabrielle, but everything in Apocrypha has some larger purpose. I posit that even in trace amounts, this watcher ink was used for writing important arcane texts. Verita Numida There's a more obvious explanation for this quantity of watcher ink. Given Mora's preference for contracts, this vial was used by lesser watchers to sign mortals into their service. After all, how much ink does one need to sign their name?
View 578 Vintage Necrom Votive 2 1 0 1 4206 1414 0 -1 -1 -1 51 16 Telvanni Peninsula 67 Reginus Buca Obviously a candle, probably made of yellow beeswax, set in a glass container, used as an offering to the dead. Not surprising given the proximity to Necrom, a city devoted to the Dark Elf ancestors. Gabrielle Benele Ah, my dear Reginus, what you miss is the etchings along the side of the glass. They're faint, but they indicate that the provenance of the item goes back to the early days of the Necrom Abbey, perhaps to Prior Durdryn himself. Verita Numida Agreed that the votive comes from an earlier age, Gabrielle, but unlikely that it dates from Prior Durdryn's time. The etchings portray a well-developed Necrom, with structures built long after its founding. Ancient still, though.
View 680 Vitharn-crafted Bail 5 4 1 1 0 1443 55 The Saint and the Seducer 6 6381 5 53 18 West Weald 40 Reginus Buca If I was a scholar at a lesser institution like Shad Astula I might presume this necklace clasping was crafted at a bucolic jewelery near Cyrodiil. Instead, as I am rigorous, I tested it and found a number of Daedric micro-etchings beneath my lens. Amalien An excellent observation. And quite true, these were done by a follower of a Prince with pretensions of normalcy. Or delusions. Hmm. These micro-runes also contain a surprising amount of magickal power. Amalien I referenced the University's collection of Dementia-crafted items, to great success. Originating in that cursed county seat within the Shivering Isles, this clasping no doubt bears a tragic tale all its own.
View 439 Void Alloy Lame Plates 5 4 1 1 0 1286 23 Spaulder of Ruin 6 3546 5 48 13 The Deadlands 40 Verita Numida I must admit, the silhouette of these metal plates is quite fetching. Sleek lines, sharp corners, and simple, robust filigree. Pity that they're likely the product of some bloodthirsty Dremora's labors. Gabrielle Benele These plates do seem more restrained than the standard Daedric panoply. People often say that Daedra lack imagination, but I think distinctive objects like this prove they're more creative than scholars give them credit for. Reginus Buca It's only because this is an item with utility. Daedra can't create anything that lacks utility. That's not hyperbole. Only creatures of Aedric origin can create objects for their own sake. If you find me a Daedric still life, I'll change my mind!
View 438 Void Alloy Rivets 5 4 1 1 0 1286 23 Spaulder of Ruin 6 3546 5 48 13 The Deadlands 40 Amalien Small rivets, eh? The Daedra do like their fasteners. I dare you to find a piece of Daedric armor that isn't blanketed in rivets, pins, and spikes. These seem special though. Ugron's the authority, but they look like they're made of voidsteel. Ugron gro-Thumog Aye, the smith who hammered these out used voidstone, but I don't think it's voidsteel. This looks like some kind of bespoke alloy--the sort of thing you'd only find in a Daedric realm. This sandy hue and matte finish have me stumped. Gabrielle Benele Oblivion minerals are hard to categorize. Every Daedric realm operates by its own set of peculiar rules, and the materials of Princely realms often mimic their master's temperament. The composition of a Deadland ore may change by the hour!
View 250 Void-Crystal Anomaly 5 4 1 1 2301 347 0 -1 -1 -1 25 3 Coldharbour 9 Gabrielle Benele I've only seen something like this once--an artist's rendering we found in a Worm Cult hideout. It's radiating ... something. I can't really explain it, but I'm detecting a gap in the flow of natural magicka. Amalien Fascinating! Makes one wonder how the Antiquarian's Eye managed to find it. It clearly comes from Oblivion. The question is, what part of Oblivion? The connection to Molag Bal seems clear enough, but the shapes resemble crystals from the Spiral Skein. Gabrielle Benele Molag Bal practices all sorts of bizarre alchemy in his Vile Laboratory. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he managed to pry some facet of Mephala's realm into his own. Corrupting the essence of another Prince would be difficult, but not impossible.
View 615 Volcanic Sand Bath 5 4 1 1 0 1414 48 Telvanni Alchemy Station 5 4292 10 51 16 Telvanni Peninsula 67 Ugron gro-Thumog This provides quick, even heating for large-batch mixtures. The sand is from Morrowind, but I would guess Saint Vorys brought this method back following his march on Elsweyr. Baandari have used sand baths to make tea and coffee since the late first era.
View 671 Volenfell Etching Tools 5 4 1 1 0 1443 53 Rourken Steamguards 6 6379 5 53 18 West Weald 40 Reginus Buca Interesting. These fine tools are gravers, picks used for etching fine designs in metal or stone. They're made of Dwarven metal, which makes sense. You need a very hard metal to scratch another metal. What was made with them, I wonder? Verita Numida I have seen similar etching tools in the Nedic ruins of Hammerfell. Many Nede artisans salvaged tools left behind by the Dwemer of Volenfell after the Dwarves disappeared. They were far better than anything the Nedes could craft for themselves. Ugron gro-Thumog These are no common picks. The high artisans of Volenfell often began important projects by forging the tools they would need for the work. I believe these tools were made to craft a special piece of armor, and likely never used again.
View 263 Warcaller's Painted Drum 5 5 1 1 2314 535 0 -1 -1 -1 8 1 Betnikh 8 Ugron gro-Thumog What a prime example of Orcish musical craftsmanship. People tend not to associate music with Orcs, but we have a deep cultural investment in percussion instruments. I can pretty much guarantee this served as a war drum. Gabrielle Benele I sense some faded magic here. Did your people enchant these drums, Ugron? It's something in the runes. there's an intention there that seems ... well, it seems very angry, to be perfectly honest. Sorry! Ugron gro-Thumog No need to apologize, Gabrielle. Orcs worship Malacath. My people's connections with Daedric ritual ran twice as deep when they stretched this drum. The runes are Malacath devotionals. Grudge-marks. When the warcaller beat this drum, battle was certain.
View 381 Warm Asymmetrical Ruby 5 4 1 1 0 1261 18 Death Dealer's Fete 6 2723 5 47 12 Blackwood 56 Gabrielle Benele Well! Does anyone else find this stone as unsettling as I do? It doesn't feel necessarily evil, just ... immensely powerful. I would not use this to juggle, is what I'm saying. Amalien The color reminds me of blood. It's also huge. Excessively so. This has Sanguine written all over it. It's so lavish but also unsettling. It feels warm to the touch! Or I might be imagining things. Reginus Buca The shape is a curiosity. Uneven, for certain, but I noticed one side is smooth. This could be for any number of reasons, but I think the most reasonable is that it was fixed against something once. A necklace, maybe? A ring?
View 244 Warped Scrying Dipper 3 2 1 1 2292 1027 0 -1 -1 -1 38 6 Artaeum 4 Gabrielle Benele Appears to be some kind of wand. Beech or Hickory, I think. So plain in appearance that some might use it in a game of fetch with the family dog. But I'd advise against that. There's a powerful magic at its core. Ugron gro-Thumog Old Elves and their crazy magic. It reminds me of a pestle of some kind. For dipping, stirring, or crushing. I hear the Psijics can read water. Some kind of powerful augury based on watching ripples. Maybe they make the ripples with this? Amalien You may be right, Ugron. The tip of the wand seems darker and more gnarled than the rest. I suspect the Order's scryers tap the surface of their basins with this ensorcelled tool to get a better view of the world, and perhaps even the future!
View 207 Watcher's Ritual Stole 2 1 0 1 2255 888 0 -1 -1 -1 26 4 Craglorn 10 Reginus Buca Looks Nedic to me. The stitching makes it irrefutable. The design suggests whoever wore this was important, in a position of power or worship. Maybe it belonged to a member of the Perena's clergy? Gabrielle Benele I'd defer to you and Verita on matters Nedic, but this cloth seems saturated in arcane residue. I've seen the work of hedge mages trying to master "soul magic." This bears all the telltale signs. Did any of the Nedes meddle with anima? Verita Numida Meddle? I suppose. Based on my research, a sect of Nedic mages called the Eternal Watchers, used their souls as a means to lock away a lich called Virmaril the Betrayer. This could belong to one of them.
View 664 Watchful Light 4 3 1 1 6029 1413 0 -1 -1 -1 52 17 Apocrypha 43 Reginus Buca Is this alive? Does this hold a mind and will of its own? Or is it merely an extension of the Inevitable Knower? Verita Numida A mind doesn't mean free will, Reginus. The movement seems controlled, like it's observing us as we're observing it. Amalien Well said. But well. It's also a light. With how murky Apocrypha can get, all the time, maybe they just wanted some light?
View 220 Water-worn Anvil Bust 3 2 1 1 2268 823 0 -1 -1 -1 30 2 Gold Coast 7 Verita Numida According to Imperial histories, Anvil enjoyed a rich statuary tradition in the early years of the First Empire--before the Alessian Order made such artistic expression more difficult. This face appears very eroded, though. Amalien Look at the position of the neck. It seems to be looking up, to me. Fishermen in Anvil swear that broken statues rest at the bottom of the pond under the famous mermaid. Could something or someone be looking up at her? I'd check, but I can't swim! Reginus Buca We don't have nearly enough evidence to be able to associate this disembodied head with the Mermaid of Anvil. I'll grant you, the stone appears similar in composition, but the face looks like statues of regent council lords in nearby Kvatch to me.
View 64 Weathered Dwarven Cogs 3 2 1 0 0 104 6 Ebon Dwarven Wolf 5 458 17 5 5 Alik'r Desert 14 Gabrielle Benele Interesting. Traces of ebony make me think this cog was set within that type of metal. So, black and bronze? Someone was building for drama! You don't often see that kind of alloying in Dwarven work.
View 383 Weighted Spiked Bridge 5 4 1 1 0 1261 18 Death Dealer's Fete 6 2723 5 47 12 Blackwood 56 Amalien Ooh, spooky! I'm positive this is some kind of bridge that once held jewels for a ring, but the open spaces kind of make the whole thing look like a grinning fanged mouth! Daedra, anyone? Reginus Buca While I am not outright horrified by this artifact, I am puzzled by it. I agree that it once belonged to a ring, but I can't determine the make of it. Based on the condition of the materials, I would date this piece somewhere in the mid-First Era? Gabrielle Benele I agree it looks rather forbidding, but I wonder if this might have looked less threatening and more luxurious with the jewels intact. I defer to Amalien on Daedric anything, but I'd also consider looking at a less malevolent origin.
View 571 Welkynd Jewel 5 4 1 1 0 1413 42 Torc of the Last Ayleid King 6 4202 5 52 17 Apocrypha 43 Reginus Buca Judging by its size and cut, this jewel was the center of a large piece such as a medallion or a crown. Its innate magicka gives it that striking color. Could it be an Ayleid welkynd crystal? Amalien A welkynd stone? How exciting! It's said that each welkynd came from a star that fell from the sky. Imagine that--a piece of Aetherius in your hand! The Ayleids greatly prized them. Gabrielle Benele Aetherial gems were potent tools in the hands of a mage. This one likely belonged to an Ayleid sorcerer-king. I recall an ancient text that described the "blue gem" of a king of Nenalata. Could this be one such gem?
View 385 Wide Barbed Shank 5 4 1 1 0 1261 18 Death Dealer's Fete 6 2723 5 47 12 Blackwood 56 Reginus Buca Has anyone else noticed the hooks on the inside of this loop? They're miniscule, but I would think putting such a thing around your finger would be rather painful. I don't recommend anyone trying it. Gabrielle Benele Whoever fashioned this ring definitely didn't want it flying off at any provocation. Seems like they eliminated the very possibility. I've never been quite so serious about my own jewelry, but to each their own. Amalien There are accounts of the Daedric Prince Sanguine giving mortals these kinds of rings when they attended his parties. Some say they would tighten unexpectedly to keep those who were bound to party from giving in to exhaustion. Definitely don't put it on!
View 701 Wildsmith Anointing Decoction 5 4 1 1 0 1443 56 Ayleid Blacksmithing Station 5 6397 5 53 18 West Weald 40 Reginus Buca I haven't seen one of these in a while, good find! It's typical for blacksmiths to use decoctions of various metals in their work. The right mixture of ores can strengthen a forged item, much like finding the right balance of flavors in a cooked meal. Ugron gro-Thumog It's not just about strength, though many may believe so. The addition of differing ores and decoctions can also increase the flexibility of a tool. An important characteristic, unless you want your sword to shatter the first time you hit something. Amalien Yes, Ugron, strength and flexibility are important, but we're talking about the Ayleids here! Their culture was infused with magic. Their decoctions probably contained elements to enchant their tools and weapons as they forged them.
View 703 Wildsmithed Anvil 5 4 1 1 0 1443 56 Ayleid Blacksmithing Station 5 6397 5 53 18 West Weald 40 Ugron gro-Thumog You really need my help with this? It's an anvil, obviously. Looks decently worn, but from use, rather than time. It's in the Ayleid style, which places it firmly from the First Era. Anything else? Amalien Good start, but there's more here. The shape of the anvil itself is reminiscent of the Wild Elves. This smith may have had a penchant for imbuing their creations with nature magic. Magical farming tools, maybe? Reginus Buca Moreover, has anyone noticed how relatively small the anvil is? Its size suggests the smith had a proclivity for forging precision tools like daggers or arrowheads over swords or axes. You can't overlook the details on these things!
View 524 Winter's Pelt Lining 5 4 1 1 0 1383 34 Faun's Lark Cladding 6 3998 5 50 15 Galen 39 Reginus Buca This fur is incredibly coarse. It feels almost like horse tail, but the way it's layered is much closer to that of a wolf or a beast of the north. The harshness of it almost acts as armor. Amalien Oh, oh! I know what this is! Fauns, the big beastfolk around the Systres, they used to grow this kind of hair on their...shins? Is that the right term? Old depictions of them usually had it growing up from their hooves. Verita Numida I've heard this as well. No one is quite sure when or why Fauns had this hair or when it disappeared, but I can see why any crafter from the past might have wanted a material such as this for making apparel. It's certainly...tough.
View 521 Withered Garlic Gorget 5 4 1 1 0 1383 34 Faun's Lark Cladding 6 3998 5 50 15 Galen 39 Verita Numida Are these...garlic bulbs? They're nearly petrified but if they've held their shape reliably I can think of no other explanation. And the other components must be some kind of pepper, or root, by that logic. Ugron gro-Thumog Looks like it was connected to a larger piece, but I don't think this was for practical purposes. This wouldn't protect you, at least not in the traditional sense like a steel cuirass might. Magical protections? Sure. But that's not my forte. Reginus Buca I read a troubling tale once about a group of Fauns who stuffed a man's mouth full of garlic cloves after tying him up. They are known to adorn themselves in the pungent bulbs. Could this be something of theirs?
View 175 Wolf-head Brooch 3 2 1 1 2223 101 0 -1 -1 -1 13 6 Eastmarch 10 Reginus Buca This is unusual. One might attribute it to Haafingar heraldry, but I think it's far older than Solitude's standard. In the Old Way of the Nords, the She-Wolf embodied commitment and fertility; I suspect this brooch belonged to ancient sword-maiden. Gabrielle Benele Sorry, but that animal's face does not say "commitment and fertility" to me. The snarling expression reminds me of carved doorposts I've seen near the River Yorgrim. I think this brooch is a warlike thane's house emblem. Amalien Warlike? No, cursed! The connection is clear: the brooch is the emblem of a family whose lords are werewolves. The Jurgalds ruled Lower Yorgrim for centuries, and they embraced Hircine's curse. Could this be the cloak-clasp of a Jurgald thane?
View 394 Wolf-Tail Sash 5 4 1 1 0 1261 20 Harpooner's Wading Kilt 6 2725 5 47 12 Blackwood 56 Amalien A real Lilmothiit waist sash! It's not an actual Lilmothiit tail. At least, I don't think it is. Do Lilmothiit even have tails? Question for another time. This one is made from a strip of wolf fur, I think. I've never seen a wolf in Black Marsh, though. Ugron gro-Thumog There was a species of long-legged swamp wolves that went extinct in the 2E 10s. Lost huge numbers during the Great Burn and never recovered. You see a few of their features in the Blackwood dire wolf, though. Must have crossbred a bit. Gabrielle Benele Whatever its origin, this tail is heavily enchanted. Kothringi magic is so unusual that I almost missed it. It heightens the wearer's senses, I think. Or their reflexes. Perhaps both? At any rate, it's only one part of a larger garment. Still, remarkable!
View 505 Woodfire Chamber 5 4 1 1 0 1318 33 Druidic Provisioning Station 5 3759 10 49 14 High Isle 56 Reginus Buca This appears to be part of a larger whole. The pieces on the top and bottom seem jagged, as if broken apart, but the chamber itself remains intact. The scorchmarks indicate this was perhaps some kind of small oven? Maybe it served other functions.
View 65 Worn Dwarven Gears 3 2 1 0 0 534 6 Ebon Dwarven Wolf 5 458 17 7 0 Stros M'Kai 9 Amalien Given the size, these gears belong to something smaller than a Dwarven Centurion, but bigger than a Dwarven Sphere. How exciting! An as-yet unknown animunculus just waiting for assembly!
View 214 Worn Orcish Cauldron 3 2 1 1 2262 684 0 -1 -1 -1 28 0 Wrothgar 8 Reginus Buca Judging by rugged styling and extreme aging, I'd pin this as early First Era. Definitely Orcish, but I'm not sure if any of it is distinctive enough to determine which area it's from, or which clan. It is quite large, even by Orc standards. Verita Numida Yes, definitely Orcish make. The material looks like coal-hardened potash. According to Thugbo gro-Thutt's "History of the 13 Clans" map, clan Nazhag was closest to reported deposits at the time. It must be from them. Ugron gro-Thumog More likely, it's from the Barzanakh clan. According to the stronghold tales, the entire Barzanakh clan ate out of a single bowl. The tradition supposedly ensured that everyone took their share, and no more. Always assumed that was metaphorical. Fascinating.
View 504 Woven Straining Bowl 5 4 1 1 0 1318 33 Druidic Provisioning Station 5 3759 10 49 14 High Isle 56 Verita Numida The craftsmanship on this piece is quite stunning, and remarkably well preserved. It would not take an expert to know that this is some kind of strainer. The holes are carefully placed. But a keen eye like mine also spotted the druidic style of weaving.
View 649 Writhing Tendril Harness 5 4 1 1 0 1413 50 Apocryphal Clothier Station 5 6020 5 52 17 Apocrypha 43 Verita Numida These tentacles seem to be working together for a stronger grip, forming a tendril of sorts … but to carve and bend materials in such a manner. Amalien The finishing and texture don't match the other Apocryphic relics we've found at all. Either that, or someone never bothered to finish with a polish. Ugron gro-Thumog As history has taught us countless times: a weapon or tool is hailed for its use rather than its appearance. And yet, what an appearance this has.
View 552 Writhing Vine Mass 5 4 1 0 0 1383 37 Barkroot Blessing 5 4028 10 50 15 Galen 39 Verita Numida Unpleasant, but well worth the discomfort. Clings to skin with a subtle grip, and spreads itself out over a human body if given the chance. Living ritual implements like this have been rumored for years, but this was my first chance to study one.
View 154 Wyrd Root Figure 3 2 1 1 2202 92 0 -1 -1 -1 6 6 Bangkorai 12 Verita Numida This tree root has been shaped, by unconventional means, into the appearance of a woman with stag horns and cloven feet. The wood is unmarred by tool marks and the bark remains intact. This was likely a work of magic by a local wyrd. Gabrielle Benele This root is similar to the one Verita studied, though it depicts a scaled woman similar to a Lamia, but retaining more human qualities than any of the beastfolk I've seen. I can't tell if these figures are different aspects of one woman or several. Amalien Another figure, another animal. This one is a wolf woman with six breasts. My theory was that these figures were representations of Hircine, but this latest one casts doubt on that. Perhaps these are totemic Divines, like the Atmorans worshiped?
View 246 Yellowed Grummite Pearl 2 1 0 1 2294 267 0 -1 -1 -1 39 5 Eyevea 4 Amalien Ha! Do you know what this is? It's no treasure from a clam, I can tell you that. This is a genuine grummite pearl! According to Divayth Fyr's tome of oddities, these creatures lurk in bogs all over Sheogorath's realm, the Shivering Isles. Gabrielle Benele The works of Divayth Fyr aren't exactly the most reliable books on the subject, Amalien. Even so, this doesn't resemble any pearl I've seen before. Was it always this yellow? Is that a unique property of grummite pearls? Ugron gro-Thumog I read about some mage from High Rock who tried to transport grummites to Tamriel so he could harvest them for pearls. Locals razed his tower to the ground, with him inside. Good thing too. Can you imagine creatures like that making it into our waterways?
View 260 Yokudan Skystone Scabbard 4 3 1 1 2311 816 0 -1 -1 -1 29 1 Hew's Bane 6 Amalien What a gorgeous scabbard. I suspect this belonged to a high-ranking Yokudan warrior—perhaps even a sword saint! I'm especially intrigued by this array of stones. They must be aetherial fragments of some kind. Gabrielle Benele You're likely right, Amalien. Yokudans wielded powerful magic where stones were concerned. The Redguards' distaste for magic makes discussing it a little awkward. But these stones absolutely possessed some magical potency. Amalien Sort of begs the question: why did a Yokudan warrior who could call a magical sword to hand at will need a scabbard? I guess this could have been purely ornamental. Or maybe having a physical anchor made summoning the weapon easier.
View 105 Ysgramor's Chosen Body Marking 3 2 1 0 2171 1160 0 -1 -1 -1 37 10 Western Skyrim 16 Amalien The skalds say that Ysgramor and his companions were the first to wear the blue war-paint so many Nords still favor today. Supposedly Ysgramor slew so many frost giants that he was covered in their blue blood. The rest of his foes fled the field!
View 106 Ysgramor's Chosen Face Marking 3 2 1 0 2172 1160 0 -1 -1 -1 37 10 Western Skyrim 16 Ugron gro-Thumog An important discovery! No one remembered what markings Ysgramor and his Five Hundred Companions wore on their faces. The spiral designs are symbols of death. The Atmorans wore them to show that they sought a glorious end in battle!
View 375 Z'en Idol 4 3 1 1 2717 1261 0 -1 -1 -1 47 12 Blackwood 56 Gabrielle Benele Well, this is no Argonian relic, that much is obvious. Note the curvilinear design elements. I'd say it's Kothringi; the question is, what does it depict? A lot of these shapes seem reminiscent of waves. Some kind of nautical deity? Verita Numida That focal shape is clearly a spade—the symbol of the Kothringi God of Agriculture, Z'en. A fascinating deity, that Z'en. We know the Wood Elves swear on him for vengeance's sake. I doubt the Kothringi version keeps blood-debts in his portfolio. Reginus Buca Z'en is not an inherently vengeful deity. "Payment in kind" can mean equitable trade, basic fairness, and so on. By all accounts, the Kothringi were decent folk who placed great emphasis on forthrightness. Perhaps reverence for Z'en played a role.
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