When players load up an Elder Scrolls game, their first decision is choosing what race their character is and then customizing them. The Elder Scrolls has some iconic races for players to choose from, each with its own strengths, weaknesses, abilities, cultures, and history. Players are able to create an agile Khajit thief that sticks to the shadows, or a Nord that wears heavy armor and hits things as hard as he can with a Warhammer, and everything in between.
There are some races in The Elder Scrolls that players can run into but can't play, but the races that are available cover a wide spectrum of possibilities. This is especially true for players who are interested in a full role-playing experience, as every race in The Elder Scrolls is supported by a legacy and history for players to pull from. This helps make choosing a race to play more than just selecting a unique trait or a set of proficient stats, and makes each race feel more natural and rooted in the world of Tamriel. One of the most unique and captivating of those races is the iconic Argonians.
The Argonian Homeland of Black Marsh
Black Marsh is one of Tamriel's more secluded provinces thanks to its swampland rainforest climate that makes it extremely difficult for non-Argonians to traverse the land at all. This leaves Black Marsh shrouded in mystery for many of The Elder Scrolls' other races and even players. This is so true that the actual government structure of the province is unknown to those outside of its borders.
Some think that the tribe known as the An-Xileel have been in charge of Black Marsh since the Oblivion Crisis, but there have also been references of an Argonian King and Royal Court throughout Tamriel culture that does contradict that. Still, others also believe that Black Marsh could be ruled by the Hist, massive sentient trees that are unique to the province and help protect it from outsiders.
A similar mystery surrounds the religious beliefs of the Argonian people. Argonians worship the Hist primarily, as they believe that they are born of the Hist and are given their souls by drinking the sap of a Hist shortly after birth. However, Argonians also worship Sithis and respect him as the divine creator that also created the Hist. They worship Sithis to such a degree that any Argonian born under the sign of The Shadow is automatically given to the Dark Brotherhood to be trained in the arts of assassination and stealth.
There is also little known about Argonian culture within Black Marsh, so hopefully, The Elder Scrolls 6 will be able to shed some more light on the homeland of one of the series' most iconic races.
The History of the Argonians
For any players who want to roleplay an Argonian in The Elder Scrolls, understanding their history is a must. The exact origins of the Argonians are unknown, but many Argonians claim that they were created during the Dawn Era by the Hist so that they could travel and witness the world in a way that the Hist could not. In the First Era, the Argonians were eventually enslaved by Imperials, upon which Black Marsh was turned into a prison state where the Empire could send its worst and most undesirable criminals.
This lasted until an Argonian Shaman, or possibly the Hist, developed a disease known as the Knahaten Flu; which tore through Black Marsh and killed any non-native inhabitants with prejudice. The disease has been gone from Black Marsh for years, but it left a legacy that contributes to many non-Argonians not wanting to travel into Black Marsh at all.
Despite the Knahaten Flu, Black Marsh was again seized by the New Empire led by Tiber Septim, and during the Third Era, most Argonians had been assimilated into the Empire except for the city of Helstrom, which is only accessible to Argonians. Many Argonians then returned to Black Marsh later in the Third Era, as the Hist were seemingly able to predict the Oblivion Crisis, calling back the Argonians to defend the province against the forces of Mehrunes Dagon. The Argonians were by far the most successful race in defending against the Oblivion Crisis, and were so proficient in battle that the Daedra closed their Oblivion gates in the province to avoid being overrun.
Then, in the Fourth Era, the Argonians seceded from the Empire and began what was known as The Elder Scrolls' Accession War to reclaim some of their lost lands from southern Morrowind. The Argonians eventually re-lost the land that they gained but seem to currently be at peace with Morrowind and other factions leading into The Elder Scrolls 6.
Argonian Culture in The Elder Scrolls
The insular nature of Black Marsh, as well as a history of enslavement, have made the Argonian people very untrusting of strangers and newcomers. However, the race is also very well known for defending those they care about with honor and dedication. The race's marriage rituals are also well known, with Argonians traditionally using Argonian Wedding Bands to propose to one another.
The bands are made with plants and materials that reflect certain aspects of the proposer and the recipient while the ceremony itself is notoriously long, complex, and convoluted. However, some Argonians that have left Black Marsh have adopted the Amulet of Mara that is accepted across Tamriel, indicating that Argonians are starting to change in The Elder Scrolls.
Another known aspect of Argonian culture is their reliance and reverence of the Hist. The exact relationship between the two species is not entirely understood, but there are reports that suggest that the Hist act as a hive mind for Argonians on top of being a cornerstone of their culture. While the relationship does make some aspects of Argonians in The Elder Scrolls make no sense, it is undeniable that the two are fundamentally linked. Hopefully, The Elder Scrolls will continue to explore the Argonians in some interesting new ways so that fans can get to understand them and their unique nature more in the future.