Analyzing the Skooma Trade in Skyrim | Skyrim Surveyors

The Skooma Trade is a very large illegal operation that has existed since at least the second era and has impacted almost every Nation in Tamriel. I want to analyze the Skooma trade specifically in Skyrim to get a look at how deep the Skooma underworld is in Skyrim. This was a very fun video to research and make so I hope you enjoyed!!
Like and Subscribe: / @masterneloth
Intro - 0:00
What is Skooma? - 2:30
The main players - 4:18
Cragslane Cavern // Sarthis Idren - 5:14
Khajiit Caravans - 13:31
Redwater Den - 23:21
Other Skooma players - 29:12
Closing thoughts - 32:56
Outro - 34:45

[@masterneloth]

This video probably took the most effort out of all of my videos and is one of my personal best. I’m so glad that this video is now blowing up and almost at 20k views! Thank you all for watching! ❤

[@mrswan7745]

You DARE call the Forsworn "terrorists"?? HAVE YOU NO SYMPATHY FOR A FELLOW BEING UNDER THE YOKE OF A FOREIGN IMPERIAL RULE??? PELINAL TAKE YOU!! No but seriously your content is entertaining and has helped me get back into Skyrim again after years of backing outta games entirely, so thank you for that.

[@brandonjames412]

Indeed! You sounded like you were especially proud of this one in your AMA, so here I am.

[@StevetheWizard2591]

Khajiit Caravans: "They act like we're drug dealers and thieves!" Dragonborn: "You literally just sold me some skooma and a couple bowls of moon sugar." Caravans: "Yeah, you're right, but we're not thieves!" Dragonborn: "You also taught me how to pick pockets." Caravans: "We aren't responsible for how you decide to use that information. If you steal things using that, that's entirely on you. We've never been caught stealing anything."

[@eank3429]

You bought the skooma just saying

[@Annathroy]

Yes. Are you really a thief if you never get caught?

[@llcdrdndgrbd]

They’re just quick change magicians don’t worry

[@pancakes8670]

To be fair, Skooma isn't a drug to Kahjiit. It's like table salt to them. They don't get high off of it, only the other races of Tamriel can get high off Skooma.

[@C00kiesAplenty]

​@@pancakes8670 That's not actually true, it affects them mostly the same. They just have a massively higher tolerance to it due to how often they consume it.

[@abracadaverous]

I really wish they'd have added an addiction mechanic.

[@masterneloth]

I hope they will add a system akin to Fallout 4s drug system in Elder Scrolls 6, maybe even more drugs than just Skooma.

[@mammothjunk9694]

Mods are a wonderful thing

[@Omniped]

I still play the game. Pretty sure they got the addiction mechanic down pretty good. 😉

[@driftdaddy43]

The skooma mod I run added the addiction mechanics and added random effects like turning you into huge version of yourself or turning you into a chair was the funniest I've come across so far. Couldn't do anything till the skooma wore off. Skyrim on skooma is the mod name

[@lordofthebored3660]

They had the a mechanic like that in oblivion shivering isles with felldew

[@SMOK156]

I always liked to think that because the Khajiit are not allowed within the cities, they have no choice but to sell skooma and moon sugar, as a means to get by

[@masterneloth]

Kinda true, but also Moon Sugar and Skooma is a heavy part of their culture as well, pretty much every Khajiit is addicted to Moon Sugar at least.

[@ShortArmOfGod]

If they weren't addicts and thieves, they'd be allowed in.

[@_Rackham]

Its not an addiction for most its actually a part of their spiritual belief system a sacrament of sorts.

[@Tyronejizz]

​@@_Rackham can be both innit

[@dizzykitteh]

wait -- so how is the player khajiit allowed in, but not npcs?

[@VonVikoGoat]

i think moon sugar is a reverse catnip situation, not affecting khaijit to the point of harm (thats why they use it as a spice) but affecting and making other addicted, just like how we make tea with catnip but cats go crazy about it

[@pipsqueack]

Skyrim likes their ironic names, Grelod the kind, susanna the wicked. So maybe Olava the FEEBLE has something up her sleeve…

[@genzo454]

She suplexes bears in her free time 😊

[@omegawilliam95s36]

She's an ancient ancestor of Mama Murphy, or "Mad Woman Murphy", a lady who could take down giant lizards by herself in her prime.

[@Gripen1974]

@@omegawilliam95s36 you got it wrong Mad Woman Murphy is the ancestor to Olava the Feeble after all skyrim is taking place in the future of fallout :P

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

first you learn to pick pockets from her, then you pick the pockets of her

[@thelostone4303]

Nah she's legit feeble after she sorts through her visions and fortune telling. That name is legit on her lol

[@Reyeoux]

I dread to think of how much further into madness the es community will go before elder scrolls 6 is released

[@masterneloth]

Oh trust me I can go MUCH further! 😈

[@DemstarAus]

Disappointing that they're putting so much into Elder Scrolls Online. It sucks.

[@Reyeoux]

No u

[@lemongreed7916]

ESO is run by another studio

[@Mr-Trox]

​@@DemstarAus ESO is great if you treat it as the MMO it is meant to be. Treating it like a mainline TES game will only disappoint you. Grab a few friends to play with and it's a great time.

[@kalmanoelle719]

I’m crying the fact you called your neighbors out for the same exact thing my neighbors do while I have this full volume with open windows when they’re outside. Hope they felt it lmao

[@YayMiko]

God bless KZbin and the internet for allowing nerds to find each other and be nerdy about this 12 yr old game that we just can’t leave behind. And god bless you, sir, for all your research and time and effort. ❤

[@WastelandsNomad2277]

Wish the Caravan's had more interactions with the player. I love Kharjo as he's one of my main trio of companions. Though I wish visiting their Caravan's in Dawnstar and Riften didn't lead to a constant dragon attack. 😅

[@Bumbledrop]

Dude, absolutely loved this! Always found the Skooma business interesting and I'm happy you went into great detail about it

[@icy_skywalker631]

Same. I really enjoyed the video!

[@ghadyayan]

😊😊

[@ghadyayan]

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@Shadow199913]

Let's be real, no one's tryna sleep at 11pm, everyone's watching the analysis of the skooma trade instead of sleeping 🗿

[@Whamcloud]

Skooma doesn't appear to be illegal in skyrim at all when taken to jail it's not taken from you, you can sell it to any trader who you can sell other potions too, no addiction mechanic makes it like mead or wine in it's effects, and the argonian in the riften that your can cure their addiction with just a health potion makes the addiction that you can't have anyway practically irrelevant

[@samkleinke]

That might just be a dev oversight

[@tahirallita]

It's probs a dev oversight since drugs aren't really a big thing in the ES games unlike fallout

[@ja-vishaara]

Well, in Morrowind you couldn't trade with upstanding tradesfolk if you were in possession of contraband, and people bitched about it

[@thecoffeebadger5807]

I was adventuring around Whiterun Plains and I came across a pit dog trainer who was killed by a pack of pit wolves. After I killed the wolves, I found a note on the bandit's corpse that took me to Cragslane Cave which updates my map to discover this location. So I think this is a new way to discover this location through random encounters.

[@samkleinke]

man I hope there is an option to become a skooma kingpin in ES6 Neloth we have to cook.

[@rafaxd8178]

Skooma could be also found in a bandit camp in Ustengraav, an old nordic tomb bear Morthal, so those bandits could be dealers too

[@chase5298]

how do you know this off the top of your head lol

[@brycedaugherty9211]

Skyrim has to be hailed as such a masterpiece to even make a video like this even possible. Some games are just built different

[@ddexter1698]

My theory for Cragslane Cavern is that it's only where the handover takes place. The skooma is produced somewhere else and that's why the equipment/Kilnyr aren't there. Kilnyr chooses the cavern because the bouncers etc give him a safety net if something ever goes wrong, and there are potential customers in the gamblers.

[@Balmarog]

Good thing the Dragonborn is completely immune to any negative effects of skooma, including it's addictive nature. It's really just a fantasy Redbull.

[@daniyo3423]

I wish you could become a skooma dealer in Skyrim.

[@masterneloth]

Considering how we can supposedly become a smuggler in Starfield, I hope we can do something similar and smuggle Skooma in Elder Scrolls 6

[@veryrare432hz]

Theres a mod for that there’s a mod for skooma giving you psychedelic effects too

[@platinumchromee3191]

_Skooming Skyrim_ is what are looking for.

[@pippogriffthegreat7003]

By Azura, this was remarkable!!! Would you be willing to analyze the Cyrodiil and Morrowind skooma trades? Or perhaps historical timelines of greater characters (i.e. Nerevar, Barenziah, Uriel Septim VII, Gray Fox)?

[@masterneloth]

Possibly, although I will stick to analyzing Skyrim for now just because gameplay wise I am more familiar with Skyrim and don’t wish to miss something in either Morrowind or Oblivion.

[@pippogriffthegreat7003]

@masterneloth That is fair! Practice what you are familiar with and figure out the rest at your leisure, yeah? Makes sense to me! Either way, I love what you're doing!

[@explainingpolitics]

I hope you get the recognition you deserve for this video because this is amazing!! I love these indepth research projects of Bethesda games (like the all the books in skyrim video that one guy made), truly underrated content!

[@masterneloth]

Thank you! When Starfield dies down a bit I plan to make a few more of these on other factions and aspects of Skyrim!

[@explainingpolitics]

@@masterneloth take your time brother, you clearly have a knack for this ✊😎

[@nightowl6055]

I can imagine Master Neloth going on mindless rants about random things in Skyrim while the Dragonborn is just trying to finish the dungeon

[@damiensadventure]

I'm waiting for the next elder scrolls when we find out that there is a synthetic skooma trade kicking off in the high rock and hammerfel regions and the main character starts off as a synthetic skooma pirate trader. I have too much free time yes

[@mollieherlocker5918]

I love your analysis videos and I always giggle at your sign off. 😆

[@6Tainted1370]

Whenever the FUCK I decide to upload again. Always makes me laugh.

[@Shadow-ru5pq]

I saw your comment and decided to wait til the end to hear it

[@Barista.Nathan]

Olava is also likely related to a witch living in the forest near Riverwood who is likely part of a greater coven elsewhere.

[@Rakaizulu]

Great video! I have watched hundreds of TES lore videos yet this is one that still showed me something new.

[@hhardlyzychedelic]

Great video! I’ve been wanting someone to create something about this for a while. It’s always nice to find new elder scrolls related channels to subscribe to

[@vizzzyy190]

was so excited to see a longer vid in my subfeed!! i think your videos are hilarious, keep on keeping on!!!

[@SabreArchon]

Master Neloth be teaching me more than Hermaeus Mora himself.

[@ubergliesen]

I don't know if it was ever suggested before... But could it be that after the Void Nights the moons' effect got weaker, and that's why both moon sugar and skooma are less powerful?

[@fai-viankoegelenberg]

Wonderful video man ! Looking forward to more videos from you.

[@m33ddyhv]

Your skyrim videos are very unique, thanks Neloth!

[@PotooBurd]

Binge watching your videos back to back- and adding comments for the algorithm~! 🌻👍 Keep up the great content!

[@jakedeshazo4739]

your sign off was by far the best part. fucking exquisite exit my dude lmfao

[@Mifune41]

Great video. Your hard work paid off with it.

[@codycarabotta5621]

Yup. Gotta love those inconsiderate swine of skooma addict neighbors. I feel ya. lol Edit: Also, thank you for making this. I was always curious about the whole skooma situation in skyrim. Im always vastly interested in the economics and workings of skyrim, and the skooma/moon sugar thing is definitely a functioning cog within that mechanism. Much appreciated :) Also nice to have someone have made a map that connects all the possible routes and dens in a cohesive way to really give a solid visual representation of how it gets around. Great work, I can only imagine the hours you spent researching and connecting dots to compile all this information. A magnum opus to be proud of for sure. Take my thumbs-up with honor and hard-won glory.

[@LICENFIREFEAR]

Incredible information incredibly detailed and professional ! thank you so much for this phenomenal video !

[@olidot7237]

This video literally got me to check out every other video on the channel. Gained a sub fs

[@GG_Nowa]

0:22 that was so personally charged but I understand it fully

[@grayearly3116]

Amazing video. I was hooked 100%

[@kosu7512]

this is so sick dude, i loved this video

[@spacecowboytroy4882]

This is the lore video i need!

[@Illstatefishing]

Nice in-depth investigation!!

[@Rodclutcher]

Dude well done. Good detective work!

[@Marvinuser]

my explanation: cragslane cavern is a hub, not a place where the scooma is produced,, but a place for buyers only.. hence the gamblers and wolf fighting is a cover, its nothing but a place for distribution.. which the note also hints to, it says that the shipment should be ready by the time he reaches cragslane, show up WITH THE MONEY or don't show up at all.. meaning its a base for an underground operation ... but just not with the production of scooma in mind ... it sounds like its being produced, but brought there when they know they have a "solid buyer" or a contact of interest... its a safe-house or safe-haven... a place they can deal in peace... and nothing more since it probably is brought from elsweyr ... as it is the ONLY place you can actually have a steady source of moonsugar ... since everywhere else the crops often fail, if not always.. so its from morrowind, since the dunmer created it, or it comes directly from elsweyr the note said morrowind though... i like master neloths idea that they used to have it there.. but seing as i kinda know some of these kinda operations.. i can say with 99% certainty its never made where you buy it... it always comes from somewhere else,it would be too risky to sell and produce in the same place... theft is one reason.. possible guards raiding it by order of a jarl is another... production in one place, the lab , and distribution for safety reasons, takes place in a hub or its positioned at a cache.. also he has to go get it and pay for it.. to start distribution of his shipment on his own... therefore it is not made in cragslane and it never was ... but its where its always brought by this little gang cause its close to morrowind and lies in a rather inconspicuous area as it is on a shelf of a rock formation inside a cave... though it would have been less visible and less suspicious if they didn't have the cages with wolves just outside at the entrance

[@alpacaofthemountain8760]

Great video!

[@ZebDaNegev]

Realest video I have ever seen You are doing lorkhans work Stay blessed ❤❤ This video is fucking GOLD

[@DillonDees]

You have the best outro ever lmao.

[@TeddyThePlaya1]

This video is awesome! I love it!

[@gizmoduck4292]

You’re required to go thru Sarthis’ sidequest to become Thane of Riften. My Officer Tenpenny build became Thane and in true Riften fashion, replaced Cragslane with Redwater, and Sarthis with himself. Also playing thru the Thieves Guild in full guard armor is hilarious

[@althechicken9597]

Im running a dnd game in skyrim for my friends and this is going to be so useful! Thank you!

[@nightowl6055]

DnD game in Skyrim????

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

As Khajiit appreciator I support the moonsugar cooking industry. Nothing like a funky sweetroll. But skooma, now that is a vile substance only the most disturbed cats engage in.

[@korbenboombastik]

Dude became an addict to deal with the Alduin attack. Crazy. Never knew haha

[@stanettiels7367]

Skooma is good but you can really boost the effects. One deep toke on the pipe (whole bottle) followed by snorting two bowls of moon sugar. Then mix one bottle of skooma with two bowls of moon sugar, stir and drink in one hit. WOW, it’ll blow your ebony boots off.

[@santelizemedia]

great video!!

[@leightonhuffman7373]

this is just a theory, but what if the player character, heard about skooma, wanted to try some, but got caught in the process, and arrested for it thus the beginning of the game

[@theseb1979]

I remember how amazed I was when I found redwater den

[@stevenblankenship9814]

Fail harder than the blades in oblivion... That's tough bro

[@K8tti]

I love the Neloth theme 💯 Ace

[@izzybizzy8156]

I love your videos

[@ethanmull6476]

W house Dres slander

[@julianvergara5501]

Thank you sera

[@VeebsterTV]

Stands-in-shadows > stands-in-shallows

[@aightimmaheadout3573]

i love this

[@dison1172]

Very good 👍

[@WHITEDIRTV]

Mom I want Camelworks “No we have Camelworks at home”

[@Tyleya]

0:12 Oooo! Spicy!! 0:22 Oooo! We chose violence today.

[@Cocaine_RejeKt]

The entirety of the elven races is a bunch of irredeemables not just house dres 🗿

[@thychozwart2451]

Okay, Pelinal.

[@unhearted4510]

Oh, so that's why Septimus was gone even though he never read a scroll.

[@Rakesssh]

Every time I find some moon sugar or skooma I usually bring it to a kajeep caravan for them, I like the kajeeps

[@eldenwarden9673]

I just started another playthrough, im roleplaying as a skooma and cannabis smuggler.. this video is exactly what I needed.

[@themischeifguide]

God, I've cruised your videos and I want to steal all of your ideas.

[@bigsteamypeas]

When I started watching and looked at the map I thought the independent skooma dealer in whiterun was supposed to be ysolda

[@mrmosty5167]

Neloth: How dare you put me in the thumbnail! Are you insinuating that one of my caliber has anything to do with illicit substances?!

[@skullqaqskull9507]

I think its very likely that maven is involved in the skooma trade as in my current playthrough (which ive had to restart and had this happen both times) im doing a no fast travel playthrough and have had the dark brotherhood called me early in the game and i had not even done any quests or attacked any camps and have altogether avoided places a lot of the time. The only thing i had done was kill a roadside skooma dealer. And as has been deduced the one who calls the dark brotherhood on the player is maven due to the note and black sacrement in her basement i think it was. It's the only thing i can think of as to why she would want me dead.

[@neonflashsparkotron5435]

Tamriel is sooo much more interesting than our real world imo. Lmaoooo

[@henryr16]

I always thought Ysolda might be up to something with skooma as well, given her secret operation selling sleeping tree sap

[@austinfromboston8828]

International drug trade, race politics, crime, addiction, vice… +25 Stam

[@andruloni]

all that to avoid stamina regeneration debuff

[@therealivydawg]

If you drink the red water from the spring you'll turn into a vampire.

[@DovahkiinVolkihar]

“It could be your neighbors with their barking dogs they let out late at 11pm when you are just TRYING to sleep!” Me: Glares at my neighbors property at 11pm watching Masterneloth because your neighbors dogs are to loud for you to sleep…

[@adamusprime403]

Craigslane could be a merchant/trade spot and not where the Skooma is produced. Theres a practice done in mercentilism where oftentimes resources are shipped overseas to be turned into goods by a cheaper labor force with less protections, and than shipped back to the country of origin in order to be sold for a much higher profit.

[@Penultimeat]

Don’t think I didn’t notice Septimus Signus’ glacier on that map

[@ladybeavanerdventures]

damn only talking about skyrim when Oblivion has the best addict Faelian omg that guy cracks me up

[@Terminator1732]

Well my pc dont juse that stuff but loves to hord them and alcohol Over his travels he horded so much that he could prop suply the whole of skyrim for a jeahr And its a good video here

[@zefft.f4010]

"Can I offer ye a wee bit 'a skooma?" - Cap'n Fannybones

[@jesvincoulse7809]

It is also possible the one skooma bottle at the east empire trading company could be a confiscated bottle from a caught smuggler

[@allengordon6929]

I'm gonna skooooooooooom!

[@NerdPirateRadio]

new here , not sure if its an ongoing joke but the not so passive very aggressive venting about your neighbors dog got me howling.

[@lsb2623]

once you be sippin' ... your mouth be invertin' !!!

[@lsb2623]

don't be suckin' on the sipp!

[@ledanoir1239]

The dunmer one may be a ''local, skyrim'', operation. In which the dunmer refugees end up living on crime

[@panamajack5972]

When Elsweyr sends their people, they're not sending their best.

[@n.stephan9848]

15:54 I seem to remember skooma enhancing speed if you consume a few hundred bottles of the stuff.

[@mairaineplayzgames2205]

0:52 damn Neloth, how did you get your hands on so much skooma?! who is your suplier?!

[@bobbyb42]

25:00 why is he eating bread? Isn't he a vampire?? Lol

[@thychozwart2451]

I always assumed blood was just the *most* nutritious for vampires, but not necessarily tasty, they drink it because they have to, but still chow down on sweetrolls, venison stews, roast mutton and all other manner of high skyrim cuisine

[@alwayshere6956]

I apologize for the dog. Worst part is, my pops isnt even on drugs. He just does that sometimes.

[@austinlee4156]

Considering how many locations and persons you find associated with skooma it bummed me out you couldn't either disrupt or enforce the skooma trade

[@pandorasbox4238]

Redwater Den is the Skyrim equivalent of a crack house.

[@anastasiadudette706]

Another thing that I find interesting is sleeping tree sap.

[@someonesilence3731]

Are there skooma dealers on Solstheim?

[@masterneloth]

There are a few Skooma addicts in Solstheim, a Raven Rock citizen and some Reiklings but no dealers that I could find.

[@WretchedRedoran]

@@masterneloth What if the Reiklings are the dealers?

[@Yuhyuhmuhmuh]

​@@masternelothfollow up vid? Pretty please 🥺