Argonian Lore

[SwedishFish]

Here is some lore I researched from the Imperial Library
(post any more lore you can find and I will update it)-

About Argonians
*The Argonians of Black Marsh call themselves the 'People of the Root'.
*Good Swimmers
*magically gifted
*Persecuted and enslaved by other races, they are cautious and secretive.
*Argonians are clannish and are more collective cultures than individualists
*It seems that Argonians do capture souls, the major element in enchanting. They use unhatched eggs as soul gems. Whether they are their own kind or some other lifeform's is unclear...
*when Argonians are young children they go through a ceremonial licking of a Hist tree and receive a name
*Argonians have nests
*thtithil- Meaning: 'Egg'
*Argonians don't shed their skin like snakes
*Argonians are rarely seen outside of their homeland, except for a relatively intelligent strain called the hist. Individuals of this strain are repulsive, but peaceful enough to be tolerated among the human kingdoms, and can be found as far from Black Marsh as western Hammerfell. The rest of the Argonians are primitive, reclusive, and practice heathen rituals of nature worship that necessitates a proximity to a certain type of spore-tree, which grows only in the interior of their native swamplands.
*Argonians can be very human like to very crocodile-like
*Hist is also used to name an intelligent breed of Argonians.
*Argonians also refer to other races as "warmbloods"
*An argonian greeting to another argonia is ?sunned and warmed, Marshbrother/sister.
*male Argonians have larger crests or horns often augmented with gold and earings. The females generally have very short horns, but they like to dress themselves up with jewelry and feathers. Another distinguishing factor is that males are much more brightly colored than the drab females.
*Argonian?s are ovoviviparous-producing eggs that develop within the maternal body (as of various fishes or reptiles)and hatch within or immediately after extrusion from the parent
*Argonians may be musical in social activity

Land of Argonia
*Not many roads. Most travel is with boats.
*The coasts and the northwestern upland forests are largely uninhabited.
*The trees of Argonia are the hist.
*City of Gideon
Strong faction of the worshippers of Seth, Shadowblades (maybe undead).
City is dark and black
*At least at the end of the First Era, the major Black Marsh city of Soulrest had an Argonian Battlechief
*In the first century of the Third Era, Lilmoth had had an Argonian priest-king
*The Ultherus Swamp, besides sounding like someone with a lisp saying 'ulcerous', is a place in Argonia where a lethal, fernlike herb called Dragon's Tongue grows.
*the mold-encrusted villas of Lilmoth; the wonderful, dangerous alleys of Helstrom
*Argonia has very little Imperial influence

Items and other
*Knahaten Flu is a disease of Argonia
*Hist sap has something to do with Argonian reproduction
*Dragon's Tongue, a common name for a fernlike herb found in Black Marsh, is especially prolific around the area of the Ultherus Swamp. It is a beautiful wildflower whose name comes from the fire-red fronds that protect its golden efflorescence. As pretty as it is, however, it is a deadly poison to most living beings and needs to be avoided by adventurers, especially unprotected ones, as it is lethal to the touch. It is said, however, that Argonians can handle the plant and use the sap derived from its roots to enhance their endurance.
*The Somnalius Fern can be found in the swamps of Black Marsh. The fronds of this plant are light green and quite delicate. Picking a frond can be very difficult, as they usually crumble to the touch, but once retrieved it can be used to put an enemy to sleep for a short while by passing it under his nose.
*the Eye of Argonia is a "priceless gem that also serves as a key to the Lost City of Black Marsh"

Other peoples
*Goroflox The Unholy is a summonable entity mentioned in the story "Withershins" by a shaman of sorts in a store called the ParaDocks located near the wharfs of a town presumed to be in Black Marsh. Goroflox's nature and origin are not described in any way beyond him needing to be summoned only after a candle is lit.
*For ages the Dunmer have raided Black Marsh for slaves; though the Empire has made this illegal, the practice persists, and Dunmer and Argonians have a long-standing and bitter hatred for one another.
*Orma are a predominantly blind human race of Black Marsh that are very scarce. Kothringi are also a human race of the Black Marshes
*Wamasus or Wamasii were at one time found in Black Marsh. They reportedly resemble dragons, are very formidable, and have magical properties including some shock attacks. It is possible they may still live.
*In Black Marsh and southern Morrowind, werecrocodiles stalk the swamps. Black Marsh also shares with the Imperial Province and the wetter parts of Elsweyr the vile presence of werelions.
*There are few necromancers in Black Marshes due to fast decay

[KuKulzA]

just a heads up...

Argonians are rarely seen outside of their homeland, except for a relatively intelligent strain called the hist. Individuals of this strain are repulsive, but peaceful enough to be tolerated among the human kingdoms, and can be found as far from Black Marsh as western Hammerfell. The rest of the Argonians are primitive, reclusive, and practice heathen rituals of nature worship that necessitates a proximity to a certain type of spore-tree, which grows only in the interior of their native swamplands.
this is a biased account from the old Pocket Guide to the Empire written by an imperial... not too reliable...

[SwedishFish]

yeah, I know all of this doesn't all run together, some conflicts. We'll decide which lore we need to use.

[Eon-Nin]

I think that some of the culture of the Argonians will be vastly different around the Imperial parts, so you dont have to worry about it too much.

[Galrina]

I can't wait to see what you can do with the new construction sets. The swamps and water cities will be fanatastic and I'm sure a lot of fun to build .. and explore.

The lizard folk have always fascinated me. (I think they are gorgeous but I'm a fan of snakes too.. lol)

I'm sure if you can't find enough lore or if it's too contradictory, you can have a lot of fun creating your own lore based on the snippets you do like from the Imperial Library and elsewhere. That's what we're doing with Skyrim. hehe

[SwedishFish]

Originally posted by Galrina
I can't wait to see what you can do with the new construction sets. The swamps and water cities will be fanatastic and I'm sure a lot of fun to build .. and explore.

The lizard folk have always fascinated me. (I think they are gorgeous but I'm a fan of snakes too.. lol)

I'm sure if you can't find enough lore or if it's too contradictory, you can have a lot of fun creating your own lore based on the snippets you do like from the Imperial Library and elsewhere. That's what we're doing with Skyrim. hehe

More than likely...

[X23]

Maybe make the type of Argonians described in the Imperial book only one type and have many different types of Argonian cultures.

[KuKulzA]

i heard somewhere that at different stages of their lives Argonians assume different forms... not drastically different, but different enough.... but it coukld just be speculation of lore buffs over at ESForums

[SwedishFish]

I have heard there are more human like to more lizard like, like varying people of the human race. They are different species or something. I think I mentioned it in the lore list.

[SwedishFish]

For anyone who is going to buy Oblivion's collector's edition, I got it yesterday and found out a bunch of new information on Argonia.
First off, Dark Elves do not enslave very many Argonians. However the People of Morrowind and the people of the Black Marsh do have border disputes. So, most slaves that they get are prisoners of war.
Secondly, interesting ideas for ruins and dungeons have surfaced. In the southwest, early Khajjiti ruins may be found. In central Argonia, early human ruins may be found. Elven ruins should be few to none, since the elves didn't pay much attention to the swamps of Argonia. In the east, pirate coves and even pirate settlements can be found. In the middle of the marshes, very dangerous convicts have escaped from the Rose prison and hidden in central Argpnia. However, few believe that they may still be alive.