Argonians & The Hist Trees | The Elder Scrolls Podcast #11

[@norrinradd6746]

Their language not having a past and future tense actually isn't as alien as you might think, and was likely inspired by a real world language, specifically Yucatec Maya, which also completely lacks tense and relies complex context indicators to infer temporal relationships indirectly. When you consider the history of the Argonians, this makes a lot of sense. The Maya built great cities, which they then simply abandoned for an unknown reason, not dying out, but just willingly dissolving back into the central American rain forests as the various maya tribes that were eventually discovered by the spaniards and still exist there today. The mayans didn't die out. They simply abandoned urban lifestyle en masse for an unknown reason. This very much mirrors the history of the argonians building massive civilizations, based on sacrifice and sporting meso-american inspired architecture, which they then willingly abandon for philosophical reasons, choosing instead to transition to a more primitive subsistence lifestyle. That their language would likewise be inspired by mayan language makes sense in this context.

[@UmbraDiSol]

What makes it unique is that the languages of TES are derived from the first word, IS, right? So all la guage essentially, and I'm boiling it down here, from Aka. Now we all know that Aka made himself exist and asserted his existence over all other spirits- ie, the concept of TIME. All languages are inclusive of time because of their origins. But the argonians don't define themselves by Aka. they do t seem to define themselves by the Gods and Spirits as we know it. They worship sithis and lack time in their language. It's pretty wild.

[@DrQuaid]

The mayans didnt build any of the main cities, the mayans just re-inhabited them. The olmec and toltec peoples were older than them, i believe the olmec were the oldest named civilization in South America, and even they have history that says they weren't first.

[@norrinradd6746]

@@DrQuaid You are sort of oversimplifying things while also mashing the major cultures of meso-america together. (No worries, when it comes to these cultures, it is to be expected.) Most of the great Mayan cities, like Palenque or Chitchen Itza, were, in fact, built by the Mayans. Some cities, like Tikal, were built by other cultures later conquered by the Maya, but when you are talking about ancient Olmec cities being reinhabited by later civilizations (like Teotihuican), you are usually talking about the *Aztecs*, not the Maya, though Teotihucan, specifically, was inhabited by both cultures. Also, the maya are native to the Yucatan region of mexico, with their culture being confined to Mexico and central america. South America is the domain of the Inca, whose religion and culture is, unlike that of the Mayans and Aztecs, probably completely unrelated to that of the Olmecs, likely being derived from Amazonian religion and culture rather than those of mexico and central america.

[@norrinradd6746]

@@UmbraDiSol Within the lore, yeah, Argonians should have a language unrelated to the language of men and mer because they are...um...unrelated to men and mer. However, the lack of tense in the video was being used to express how alien the mind of an argonian is. I was simply pointing out that a language without tense isn't that alien, and is actually a thing in real, human cultures. Also, not having tense in one's language doesn't mean that you don't have time in your language. We know, from the real world examples mentioned above, that people speaking in tenseless languages can, in fact, talk about time. They just don't enshrine it with it's own words and language structures. You can check out kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqXUYYZqmNp8fqM if you want to see a quick overview of now the mayan language talks about time without explicit tenses.

[@kylienielsen6975]

There use of hallucinogenics was also inspired by that regions culture I don't know if it was the Mayans but it was one of them

[@BrandonTabin]

"I don't hate Argonians." - every Argonian hater ever.

[@thecomedygamingnetwork261]

Why do Khajiit lick their butts To get taste of Khajiit cooking out of their mouthd

[@ki11j0y2]

Yeah for real right... I know this because... I speak if expiernene

[@rafaelbalsan4512]

Every night I walk around the Windhelm harbour and let them scalies know what I think o' them.

[@thecomedygamingnetwork261]

There are only 2 things i hate in this world: Racism And the khajiit

[@jmell458]

"I don't hate Argonians! Some of my friends play Argonians!!!"

[@OuterHeaven210]

My latest oblivion playthrough was with an argonian named “Pops-two-Xans” a godlike character but ultimately an airhead

[@jujeijis1268]

bruh, you played as lil xan 😭

[@Hanzyl]

I love HISTory podcasts.

[@sheogoraththedaedricprince9675]

History HISTory lol I saw what you did there.

[@Vera-ve4fr]

This is dumb and I love it.

[@joceybear303]

Whats really funny is Histtree said quickly sounds like history

[@Hanzyl]

@@joceybear303 And now I am kicking myself for not going that route. 😅

[@yiasemi]

Boo hist.

[@michaelgrubber1135]

1:17:23 dumb headcanon or not, I can't ignore Sithis being an anagram of "is Hist"

[@Crystantemum]

I also can't unhear the closeness between Hist Tree and History. I wouldn't be surprised to find a greater connection between the Hist and Hermeas Mora.

[@lucasstrong9208]

@@Crystantemum When they were talking about using the Argonians as just knowledge collectors to no clear end, that is exactly what I was thinking! also, I will now never un-see "Sithis=is Hist"

[@thecomedygamingnetwork261]

That's terrifying for an anagram.

[@chrispeacock1257]

Lorkan created Nirn to understand mortality. The Hist is the ultimate being in collecting experiences. What better way to understand mortality than to collect the memories of every member of a race? Lorkan is Sithis. Sithis is Hist.

[@thalmoragent9344]

@@chrispeacock1257 So it's Mer VS Man and Beast-Lizard? Man, my Elf homies never get a break, do they?

[@HovektheArtist]

I started as argonians because they looked like dragons, and stayed with them for sentient trees that are basically herma Mora from the last cycle that squirt out lizard steroids

[@nicolasnamed]

Same though lmao

[@rooscochran1003]

This.

[@purpleisthesneakiest]

pretty sure this is the mental process of every argonian player that hopped on for skyrim

[@HovektheArtist]

@@purpleisthesneakiest true

[@alexanderduvall2567]

@@purpleisthesneakiestStarted in Oblivion, made a blue Argonian because he looked like a dinosaur and loved that they breathe underwater, and stayed with them for Skyrim for that and the dragon-like reasons. I just wish Skyrim had more underwater gameplay like Oblivion. Doing away with underwater combat/spells and minimizing underwater exploration is one of my biggest issues with Skyrim vanilla. I’ve since gone into Orsimer after playing as Ra Gada for a bit, but the Argonians will always have a special place for me.

[@LightningfistCal]

“I would be uncomfortable talking to an Oblivion Argonian.” I would be uncomfortable talking to Oblivion NPCs in general. XD

[@snusnubot9004]

"Hey, we are the greatest and most intelligent NPCs around" *Proceeds to walk into a wall and a chair* "What was that?"

[@acreativename7999]

Yea.. they haven't aged well

[@pIayingwithmahwii]

haha nice

[@theskeletalguzzler7871]

Michael: "They're all egg laying creatures." Me: *thinking what a platypus argonian would look like*

[@TobeWilsonNetwork]

I like where this is going, Platypus Argonians would be a cool direction for the new Elder Scrolls

[@OrneryPotato]

Echidnas lay eggs. Knuckles, but with breasts.

[@Wired_User]

Adorable, that’s what!

[@houltonboomer6308]

Yes I had the same thought!

[@praserdanser5407]

Oh it’s just a Argonian. Wait PERRY THE ARGONIAN

[@mikemarshmallow216]

It makes me so happy to Michael stand firmly in the way of any Argoanian misinformation. Almost like he’s maybe ingested some Hist himself.

[@ikediz]

I've been trying to think of the name of the Fudgemuppet boyband and the Blackmarsh Boys is the only name that will do now. Thanks fellas. Loving these podcasts.

[@valendrien6517]

These are so enjoyable to listen to!

[@smoltoaster]

its my favorite content on yt right now these podcasts are sooo goood

[@Ernest_Jean-Gilles_Jr]

Agreed! Informative and entertaining!

[@PabloEscobar-vh6jq]

Yeah for real keep them coming

[@evancondon1372]

Truth

[@christophercharles1937]

I go to sleep to them. Something about there voices in the video 💤

[@thegreatskinkpriest8104]

The Argonians have been my favorite race since I first fired up Skyrim in 2012 on my best friend’s 360. Eight years 800+ hours later they’re still my favorite and most played race. Such a cool creation by the OG elder scrolls team.

[@chrisnavox]

Ima be honest to yall. You guys are what grounds me. Having well made elder scrolls video uploaded every now and then keeps me sane for some reason.

[@thaddeushill7080]

Is it shea or sheo

[@whatever3912-h7e]

21:40 There was a friction among the Hist. One of the Hist disagreed with others and made a deal with Molag Bal to preserve the culture of it's tribe. You can meet them in Coldharbour in ESO

[@saueqietrollageposting1477]

How's Whiterun doing, my Jarl?

[@whatever3912-h7e]

@@saueqietrollageposting1477 all is doing well, Nazeem is starting to get on my nerves though. I'll ask Irileth if she can make him stop coming to Cloud District

[@thecomedygamingnetwork261]

@@whatever3912-h7e why not just feed nazeem to the next dragon that takes residents and dragons reach

[@TobeWilsonNetwork]

I had written off ESO as a retconning cash grab at first but I continue to be impressed by the story and lore that comes out of that game

[@wildward93]

@@TobeWilsonNetwork yeah it's surprised me too. I've come to really like it.

[@abigailcurtis5052]

I would like my grave stake to say “Did nothing all her life - just chilled in the swamps”

[@travus111]

Chills-In-Swamp

[@novakan33]

@Holy Hand Grenades that's the weirdest thing I've ever heard.

[@p8nting]

28:08

[@EinFelsbrocken]

Agree; better boring than stressful.

[@vergil9005]

I have gotten back into Morrowind and ESO thanks to this podcast. The enthusiasm they have for the lore is contagious😎

[@agronn2424]

I wonder how the hists memories were affected by the dragon break or if they retain an awareness of the disparity of the realities

[@casfacto]

That's a really good question.

[@arifhossain9751]

I'm 99% sure the Hist remembers ALL the branches of the Dragonbreak, since they exist in all of them, and have the ability to communicate among themselves through dimensions. Assuming they can talk through time too...

[@UmbraDiSol]

I'm thinking that maybe the Hist aren't affected by the power of Aka the same way. If at all.

[@XJonAye]

I wonder how the Bosmer feel about the Hist, since they venerate trees and nature.

[@FabsterCola]

I feel like they would respect the Hist as a sentient tree, tho likely not venerate it like the Argonians would. Perhaps they would take good care of it them if given the chance tho this is just pure speculation

[@Scotttjt]

That's something I've always wondered too. I imagine they would have some conflicting feelings: The Argonians venerate and diligently tend the Hist trees, yet the Hist use their power to alter the Argonians as they see fit. Bosmer (at least those who practice the Green Pact) dislike the concept of altering one's form under almost any circumstance; the Wild Hunt is the only real exception, and even then it's only invoked when it's absolutely necessary. Also, both the Hist and Argonians acknowledge Sithis as the "true creator", something most elven races would disapprove of.

[@amon-crow4414]

"Michael will you explain Argonians to us since that is your expertise?" Scott: So here's how it works..

[@vaunsinrin7897]

Best podcast yet. But I'm a bit biased since the Argonians are my number one race in Elder Scrolls.

[@kylienielsen6975]

I want there to be an Argonian character that talks about man's, mer and kajit being so weird compared to them. It would be a cool character.

[@nocturneraider]

I love how this culture is mayan and Aztec based even down to looking like quetzalcoatl the bird serpent god and even the weapons and building are similar too

[@envoy2500]

I don't think the Hist trees are daedric in any way, but I think there are Hist trees on multiple planes of Oblivion that can communicate back to Blackmarsh

[@badluck5647]

According to Argonians, the Hist would be Aedra "our ancestors".

[@colt9836]

​@@badluck5647 But the Hist CREATED the lizard-folk. They aren't their ancestors.

[@kuzan421]

the thing about using birds to clean their teeth is probably based on the Egyptian plover (aka the crocodile bird). which is a bird irl that flies into a crocodiles mouth and cleans its teeth (this basically feeds the bird and helps the crocodile not get teeth/mouth infections)

[@UnswimmingFishYT]

There's one ineteresting thing about the Hist that you didn't mention there: considering the whole idea of the Hist absorbing Argonian memory, this makes them effectively just very accurate historians. So when you look at it that way, Hist tree sounds very much like the word history. Hist tree, history, very similar. That might be how they got their name from the writers.

[@rooscochran1003]

Very accurate HISTorians indeed.

[@UnswimmingFishYT]

@@rooscochran1003 Didn't even think of the pun lol

[@sugarnova5522]

My first elder scrolls game was Skyrim and I always enjoyed picking argonians simply cuz I thought they looked cool. Learning about their greater lore and history is super fascinating and definitely deepens my appreciation for the race. Keep up the good work guys 👍

[@petegeorge1994]

Thought he was dual wielding a pair of purple lightsabers from the thumbnail

[@petersutcliffe4927]

I liked how the Morrowind Argonians (and Khajiit, for that matter) cannot wear closed headgear or boots, if I recall correctly. Very decent acknowledgment by the devs of the very different way the character models looked :)

[@RevengeofGothzilla]

Now all of us know what's in Drew's search history: Argonian feet pics.

[@wastelander9092]

"Licks eyeballs in anticipation "

[@henchman808]

Nobody ever talks about the Fighters Guild quest line in Oblivion, in which it seems like an actual, for real Hist Tree is brought out of Black March and into Cyrodiil and used to drug up members of the Blackwood Company. Its a pretty crazy thing to happen and seemingly was purposefully done by Argonians. The Hist being such an integral part of Argonian culture and generally their entire being, it suggests to me that this must have been done intentionally, by The Hist itself. Would have been nice to hear some of your thoughts on this. To go a little into my personal thoughts and headcannon on this, its particularly interesting because you, the player, The Champion of Cyrodiil ends up drinking hist sap and slaughtering an entire village while hallucinating that all the villagers are Goblins. The Champion of Cyrodiil drank hist sap, which could mean that the powers and abilities of The Champion of Cyrodiil could have possibly been added to the knowledge collective that The Hist is building. Now this is just a thought I've had, but I think The Hist was maybe able to now grant these abilities to the Argonians, which is what made them powerful enough to beat back the Oblivion Crisis and even go on the offensive, just like The Champion of Cyrodiil could.

[@eljavidecuba]

18:00 The winged argonian would be a cool idea because in a way it would be a throwback at Quetzalcoatl, the aztec precious serpent

[@threesofthree6100]

I don't really see what would be wrong with an Argonian actually viewing themselves as a receptacle for the Hist. That doesn't have to be negative, instead it could be a deeply spiritual thing since their gods aren't omniscient in the same way that Men and Mer tend to think of their gods. The Hist are alive and bound to the land in Black Marsh. Argonians could still be individuals, and have their own desires and live their own lives. But the motivation for some of those things COULD BE that they are literally the vessels through which their gods experience the world. There's a motivation to live your life to the fullest because when it's over and done with, your story - your memories, and experiences - everything you've ever done returns to your gods and teaches them something about the world. And an extension of that could be what you were talking about with their funerals. To write your story on your funeral stake so that in addition to your gods, your entire tribe also gets to read and experience your story. Edit: 54:33 the Argonians aren't the most overpowered race. The Argonians aren't the ones with all of the knowledge. An Argonian dirt farmer in Black Marsh doesn't know about the wizard secrets that the Telvanni slave overheard. The Hist do though. The Hist would be the overpowered race. Except not really, because they're TREES. Their ability to act on all of this knowledge is very limited and indirect. They need the Argonians to be able to ACT on that. So what if the trees know everything going on in the continent? They don't care unless it endangers them. You said it yourself Scott, the Hist are survivalists.

[@nicolasnamed]

I only noticed from the Australian accent pronunciation but I just realized "Hist Tree" sounds like "History"

[@riverlady982]

It never even occurred to me that the Argonians faces lack any emotional expression. I can say I have plenty of good reason for that though because the way I interpret people's moods and intent is through voice inflection, what I see in a person's eyes as we talk or even while you're interacting with others, and body language. I couldn't tell you exactly when I stopped considering facial expressions trustworthy but I can say it was while I was still a child probably well under the age of 10 years old. I can say that I will probably now try seeing if they show less facial expression next time I play because I'm so far from that being habit that it takes conscious effort to notice it.

[@sylviancreedmarsh9171]

When Scott actually stopped talking for like 1 minute >

[@justabeardedguythatisahero9848]

FudgeMuppert with the HISTory of my sexy Argonian companions, looks like our lucky day people.

[@kikhiithekhajiit8770]

Honestly in my main race are “argonians”second likely are “khajiits” my family they use my name and soaked with moon sugar and skooma and called me K’ki really a fun fact about my name...?

[@Sandalphonium]

I feel like I have been seeing you around a lot

[@kikhiithekhajiit8770]

Galren Who? Me or SomeGuy i guess to i see him beforly...?

[@Sandalphonium]

@@kikhiithekhajiit8770 Some Guy

[@muskoks5385]

You are everywhere.

[@calmagnum3186]

Argonians would be #teamtrees

[@XJonAye]

Last time I was this early Argonians still walked on four legs

[@jacobraymond9783]

I love this series so much! Currently my favorite podcast and I already listen to way too many. Even though they’re long, learning lore through conversations instead of scripts is much better for me. Keep up the great work!

[@tonyanthony5105]

Bog People - bogs are known to Naturally Mummify corpses (in real life)

[@scuzzball2432]

Completely agree with everything Michael had to say in this one. Very well spoken like the logical speculation and ideas.

[@fenrir7878]

A shot rang out, a door slammed, a maid screamed, then suddenly a legion of Argonians appeared on the horizon....

[@nicodemusedwards6931]

The Hist and the Argonians are inobligate symbiotes. They don’t NEED each other to survive, but greatly benefit from their coexistence and mutual relationship. It’s kinda like tarantulas and frogs… except the tarantulas use spears and magic and the frog occasionally pumps massive amounts of cocaine steroids into the spider to beat up demons. As for what the Hist are… Daedra is the technically right term for them since they aren’t anyones ancestors, but I don’t think they’re Deadric in the same way Demora or the Daedric princes are. Daedric may just be the best word to describe them in the Elder Scrolls, but it’s kinda like using the word cow to describe an elephant or rhino because you don’t have any other word for it. I think the Hist really are just their own thing.

[@JoshuaPalei]

Nothing belongs to you. Nothing belongs to me. All things belong to the Hist. To the Hist we shall return. The Hist may brew our existence into Nirn. But it is Sithis who define our purpose in the great journey. For life is without motion. If not for the void to claim them. Death gives life purpose. To know your days are numbered. Those worthy of the Shadow Scale are the noblest of my kin. For their service is beyond that of honor. Shiver your spine with pride children of the Hist. For our roots grows deep into Tamriel history. Hail Sithis the eternal dread Father. May he grant us safe passage in our return to the Hist. Judges-All-Sinners (Argonian Sorcerer)

[@theepokedex8514]

Xukas in the murkmire dlc says some interesting things on the tribes, types of argonians, and each hist. There are multiple hist, though each tribe has A hist, and each tribe appear to have a massive difference between one another - though I imagine the hist can convert argonians from one form to another with ease.

[@badluck5647]

The Hist seem to be able to transform the Argonians with ease--with the Argonian Behemoth being a extreme example. However, the Hist don't seem to worry about future events, so they just keep their tribes consistent generation after generation instead of continously transforming the Argonians for special tasks.

[@HovektheArtist]

Did I miss it or did they not mention the hist tree that floated around Oblivion and nirn on an island. Also wasn't umbras quest related to a hist tree

[@antiochus87]

Ziggurat makes me think of ancient Sumer, but also of the Mayans who historically experience something similar. They had a golden age but then many of their great cities were abandoned, probably because of ecological issues. Great video btw, Elder Scrolls lore is truly fascinating and developed. I love all your deeper exploration of every aspect of it!

[@whatever3912-h7e]

1:24 I was expecting you to say "Argonians are property". I don't know why but I did. BTW i love Argonians, they are awesome (and Murkmire from ESO is one of my favourite zones)

[@wastelander9092]

If it has a tail it's up for sale

[@UmbraDiSol]

Telvanni in this bitch, S'wit

[@artifex2.080]

@@UmbraDiSol an-xileel drag you underwater, hold your head beneth till the bubbles stopped

[@TobeWilsonNetwork]

12:29 Argonian moisturizer, the *DEEPEST LORE*

[@danguillou713]

I’m with Michael. Argonians are awesome. I’ve talked with people who work with snakes and lizards and my impression is that even with the lack of expression, there actually isn’t a lot going on inside, at least much of the time. So I think that a better comparison is birds. They don’t have facial expressions either, but they have a lot of internal stuff like thoughts and emotions and social reflection going on inside. But it is really alien and intuitions shaped by hanging out with mammals like cat, dogs or horses are unhelpful. And for the record: birds are flying dinosaurs. Another random thought: argonians are obviously not coldblooded. They can adventure in Skyrim for Nirns sake! So, endotherm. As for the writing on the burial stakes, I think it’s like index card notations in a library. It’s an abstract of what kind of knowledge and experience is currently going into the hist tree. Head canon. Good episode guys. Makes heading into Murkmire a lot more enjoyable.

[@wizardswine]

Also would note birds are inherently a bit more social, thus emotional bonds are more present than with most reptiles.

[@Ptollemios]

I'm currently playing in an elder scrolls dnd game as an Argonian Forge Cleric. He was always plagued by this grand ambition to become a great smith, which he felt was unlike everyone in his tribe. He was a dedicated acolyte of the Hist, and was troubled. He prayed for a sign on what to do, drinking the sap, until months later he received a vision, to undergo a ceremony to remove his connection to the Hist, leave Black Marsh, and begin worship of a foreign god. He did so, and found himself learning blacksmithing from a worshipper of Zenithar. He's been struggling with whether or not he has a soul anymore, and whether he was guided by the Hist anymore or something else. The DM just revealed to him that Zenithar is guiding him, and perhaps is what is giving him his soul, or maintaining it. He's on a quest to find the Aetherium forge, and create a masterpiece, guided by Zenithar, who is pleading for him to hurry for some reason. I've been thinking his development will lead him to devote entirely to Zenithar, but still hold fondness for the Hist, the mother who guided her hatchling to leave the nest, and seek out his dreams.

[@sethconner7042]

i always viewed the hist and argonians as a more symbiotic relationship rather than a more subservient one. i feel like the argonian soul is like dyad with one part being the individuals life emotion and personality and the other part being the hist. the hist i dont view as selfish as much as curious , the hist simply wants to learn , thats why i justify hist allowing argonian slaves because thats just another piece of life to attain and experience.

[@TurKlack]

Skyrim was my first TES game, and I picked the Argonians immediately. I didn't know their lore back then, but I knew I have chosen the only perfect species.

[@HovektheArtist]

1:10:00 this is why the hist want the bodies back at the marsh. You don't leave a machine filled with secrets for enemies to find, and you don't leave your lizard biomachines for the same reason. Also lizombies are a dope security system

[@nic_tracy]

On the topic of bog wights: what if, rather than being a lost soul wandering, their souls did return and what’s left is an empty husk?

[@baronofbahlingen9662]

I will always be jealous of Drew’s beard, so thank you Drew for covering it with your mic so I don’t have to feel self conscious.

[@TheFlyWahine]

Really needed this podcast on Argonians, there's so much i need and want to know about the argonian race.

[@tt_dynomite]

If the Hist just see things like it and add it to their lizards, the Argonians, the rest of Tamriel better pray to the eight that those trees never see the flying lizards that just returned in Skyrim or they are gonna be made into something a lot more scary than birds

[@donovanfaust3227]

Honestly the Hist should have added cliff racer features to Argonians then they would be nigh unstoppable except by a warrior of Saint Juib caliber.

[@PyrrhicPax]

I hope Microsoft uses podcast conversation to make NPC conversation in game. Itd be great to see an Argonian talking about his heritage with an Imperial, or two healers debating the nature of the Hist as u complete a quest for their apprentice.

[@josephpinkston9832]

Anyone else notice that the statue of sithis from eso looks like a Hindu idol like Vishnu?

[@ThatGuyKumbirai]

He looks more like Asura after 40 days and 40 nights

[@morrigankasa570]

ARGONIONS ARE THE BEST AND MY FAVORITE ELDER SCROLLS RACE!!!!! Second favorite is the Bosmer and third is the Orcs.

[@christophermarek8443]

I saw argonian and I immediately clicked

[@ЕгорКарасик-ь5у]

@Lotad-Is-Hungry ! Nice pun

[@justinmacdonald2102]

The staking down is something similar to preemptively chopping off a corpses head or ive also seen corpses held down by a metal collar attached to the bottom of the casket to prevent the body from rising again.

[@CainTheMain]

I wonder what happens if the Hist decides to adopt non-lizards into their brood? Like could a man or mer infant benefit from being connected to the Hist? Could a insects? How about a mountain goat? So many possibilities!

[@Blindcurve4]

I really have no idea why I made an Argonian or even like them. I guess their closeness with nature are what drew me to them, even though I did not know how connected with nature they really were at the time. I aslo like dragons, so that might've influenced my decision for a main elder scrolls race.

[@andreatkins6676]

I think the hiss let them get enslaved and Concord because that was just another experience for them to farm In their memory banks

[@yureiotokonoko3364]

Scott is out here quoting Hermes trismegistus. I'm curious to know the extent of his occult knowledge on theology. Definitely hearing some peter j carrol and McKenna in his ramblings. You can hear the hidden knowledge in his speech, this sold me. Scott is a magician

[@HovektheArtist]

I never thought of the argonians returning when they die being about the soul, it's about the body, as we know with bog blights, the bodies of dead argonians can still be used in defense of black Marsh in dire situations.

[@Lojeb44]

Argonians worship Sithis, but the Hist are all about staying alive and staying the same. Maybe they have a symbiotic relationship akin to Anu and Padomay, the stasis of the Hist and the ever changing Argonian form

[@ciaranmck4469]

well I wouldnt say all argonians worship sithis they acknowledge the importance of sithis but they seem to understand that there is little point in worshipping a semi awake soul it's the shadow scales who seem to be the most devout to the worship of sithis

[@buffaloman9671]

Argonians are definitely the most underrated race in the ESU. Even i wasn't sold on them until ESO more greatly elaborated on them and their culture.

[@generaltk-5178]

Theory: The hist are slowly building up an army. The argonians with feathers are slowly gaining wings. Argonians with toad or fish like features are slowly becoming water specialists. Maybe ambush fighters? So my theory is pretty much the hist are making a bunch of tribes that are specialized in one type of thing it’s pretty simple but I thought of during this podcast keep up the good work!

[@jacobb6435]

Love your talks but damn Scott you gotta be careful about speaking over the others. Keep up the great content

[@thatperson278]

Fr tho he needs to chill

[@rokturi]

I love these podcasts, keep it up! And pump out more!

[@PetitPoneyDuVercors26]

there are flying lizards on earth (more like the flying squirrels, they climb then jump, not fly with wings but have arms and legs connected by a thin skin), yeah like wingsuits I totally see argonians living in a big jungle with high trees having these features, like jumping from a house in the heingts of the tree to one lower, entiere cities high in the forest and not on the ground

[@mernky3562]

Scott loves the Dunmer so much he’s adapted there racism lol

[@Taipe0]

Sorry if someone posted this already elderscrolls.fandom.com/wiki/The_Strange_Case_of_Ja-Reet There is a quest in ESO where you can help an Argonian that was born away from the Hist and doesn't have a connection to the hist and has problems socially because of it.

[@taderdoyal2743]

An argonian with maxed out acrobatics and agility should be able to run across the surface of the water like a jesus lizard

[@darrekworkman5595]

The burial rites are about putting physical nutrients in the soil. It doesn't have to be about their memories. Maybe the hist get the memories of argonians who leave blackjack but they lose the energy or nutrients.

[@Stormin_Norman_1066]

It definitely makes a lot of sense if you look at their connection to the host in a more natural sense, as in an evolving separate organ/organism from themselves. The trees just do what they do as it’s what they evolved or were created to do. The Hist doesn’t need to protect itself from Dark Elf Slavers, but the Oblivion crisis required immediate response. The knowledge learned enslaved argonians is probably just an unintended benefit of the natural processes between Argonians and the hist.

[@Stormin_Norman_1066]

Total aside- but I also think the concept of Argonians using knowledge written on the funerary stakes of Argonians who died too far from BM to have their experiences re-absorbed back into the hist hive-mind as a sort of second hand way to get that knowledge back to the hist is a sort of interesting idea.

[@Kobolds_in_a_trenchcoat]

​@peternovak6084 I like the idea dead argonians outside black marsh still get reabsorbed just slower.

[@Eddysonsan]

Scott looks like a Dunmer and Michael like an Imperial

[@ElectricOstrich]

Man wish these podcasts would get more views, they are so cool

[@bewarethedankness7210]

Do the bosmer and the green pact next podcast ples

[@TuorTheBlessedOfUlmo]

As a Dunmer I don't hate Argonians, some of my best slaves were Argonians!

[@Scotttjt]

The An-Xileel wanted to know your location... until they remembered it was already razed to the ground.

[@OgieSifter]

Easy way to think of the hist, is like the green in swamp thing a mass coalitions of primordial plant based entities that create this realm that's made from their collective subconscious. Like they create their own sovengard to move on to the next Kalpana. The difference between individual hist is what dictates whether the relationship is parasitic or symbiotic. Giving them typical daedric personality is a bit misguided because they feel like an inbetween entity of an aedra and daedra. Less unchecked ego but still have some semblance of a motivation or personality. Like if the hist were just giant elephants leading a race of lizards they helped evolve.

[@austinnash8125]

Think of the hist tree as a brain fungus, it doesn't completely take control but it does sway you to what it wants

[@jass9571]

My argonian is always an agent of the hist that gives him vision to go and effect the big events of history

[@Meadowcroftsound]

The Hist is a tree. A lot of argonains worship that tree. The relationship is symbiotic like many other gods and races but they are separate things.

[@sixkiller6]

the bog blights could just be another form of protection in black marsh. if an argonian burial is being disturbed then it is is likely due to an enemy of argonians and the hist. i could imagine bog blights being quite helpful if an invading force attempted bring war to black marsh. even if the argonians fall in battle they could return as bog blights to finish the fight

[@HovektheArtist]

That was my thought, the burial rights aren't about the souls but bringing the bodies to the marsh, which bogs naturally mummify so no decomposition, which means prime zombie material if the situation gets dire enough

[@NobleMonster]

Best of the podcast so far, but the Argonians are my favorite so.

[@Haedrix]

I'd buy Scaly Boy Gang merch

[@GVertus]

I am absolutely certain the is real world inspiration for the lore of the bogblights! 16th, 17th, 18th century, not sure which one, but around those eras certain cultures when burying their dead, did so with an iron cage over the burial site! To prevent the dead from rising

[@JimAlgar]

Is it bad that I now associate this music less with Morrowind and more with Fudgemuppet?

[@IcarusRuthven]

At 42:46 - did Michael just say that there are people who think ancient aliens built the Argonian ziggurats? I would like to know more about this crackpot theory, please fully flesh this out.

[@CobaltSnek]

If you think about Dreekius from Redguard, while not straight out saying the Hist will use his memory of what he hears, but it would make one wonder he could be hinting: Tavern: Dreekius: "Welcome to the Draggin' Tale, by the way, thesis-bound subsistence of mine, where there is good ear and ale coequal. What can I do for you?" Cyrus: "A drink might be nice. I'll use your ears later, maybe." Dreekius: "Ever-ready to listen, softskin; let adventure thine be mine. I'll share what thoughts I can." Something You Can Fathom : Cyrus: "You sympathize with the League, then?" Dreekius: "Oh, no. I merely noted their clannish drives, which any Argonian might admire, being used, as we are, to honor the clan's interests about our own private affairs." Cyrus: "How, then, does an Argonian manage to leave his tribe to wander Tamriel?" Dreekius: "You refer to me? I do not wander, Redguard; this is a settled study for me, from which I'll add to the wealth of wisdoms when I return to my clan." Argonians : Cyrus: "How have the denizens of Black Marsh resisted the Empire so long?" Dreekius: "A thousand miles of swamp, bog, and stink aren't attractive to most humans, and terror of the Knahaten Flu still holds most at bay. But our days of testing will come." Study : Cyrus: "What's your subject of study?" Dreekius: "The other, of course -- those ones not skinned in scale. We see that Septim's tribes will not be long satisfied with the thrones of men and the elder race. One day they will come to Black Marsh. Argonians have lost land once before when we did not know our enemy." Cyrus: "I see. And what better place to learn the wants of men than at the bar?" Dreekius: "There are other places -- universities, the military, the magical guild -- but I aim to chart man's geography of desire, which is most readily charted when he is drunk and blathering." Thesis-Bound Subsistence : Cyrus: "What are you talking about?" Dreekius: "This tavern, of course, both site and subsidy of my studies. As well as a fine storehouse of spirits."

[@Scotttjt]

Eh, I don't think distance from Black Marsh is much of an obstacle when it comes to an Argonian's soul rejoining the Hist. I can see how that might limit their ability to *communicate* with the Hist (and even then, the Hist themselves were still able to reach out to Argonians all over Tamriel prior to the Oblivion Crisis), but when you start dealing with spiritual and metaphysical concepts like souls, earthly distances aren't really much of a factor. If it were, the the whole "intelligence gathering" theory wouldn't hold much water anyway. To me, that's the equivalent of saying a Nord warrior that dies in Cyrodiil or Hammerfell won't go to Sovngarde simply because he didn't die in Skyrim.

[@LeonM4c]

Love love love this podcast. Can't get enough!!!

[@lukaphoenix1568]

12:40 Michael telling Scott to hold on is so funny to me lol

[@lukaphoenix1568]

and Drew just grinning

[@fenrir7878]

Argonians sure love their HIST TREE.

[@thomaswienenga2378]

Scott the hipster: the majority of you guys like something? Well I hate it

[@vergil9005]

Me too