Morrowind:Argonian

Illustration of a typical Argonian male.

Argonians (they prefer Saxhleel in Jel, their native tongue, a word that seems to mean "People of the Root") are the little-understood reptilian denizens of Black Marsh. Years of defending their borders have made the Argonians experts in guerrilla warfare, and their natural abilities make them equally at home in water and on land. They have developed natural immunities to the diseases and poisons that have doomed many would-be explorers and conquerors of the region. Their seemingly expressionless faces belie a calm intelligence, and many Argonians are well-versed in the magical arts. Others rely on stealth or steel to survive, and their natural agility makes them adept at either. They are, in general, a reserved people, slow to trust and hard to know, yet they are fiercely loyal, and will fight to the death for those they have named as friends.

While Argonians appear reptilian in nature at first glance, they also exhibit qualities of fish and amphibians: they are able to breathe underwater through small gills behind their ears, and swim using the same method as that of a tadpole or eel by moving their tail side-to-side to propel through the water. Argonians possess the most alien personalities in all of Tamriel from a human or meric perspective and it is often assumed that Argonians possess neither personality nor emotions. Of course this is not true; Argonians simply do not facially express their emotions as much as man and mer do, though anger is easily detectable from their bared teeth and narrowed eyes. Argonians' genders are sometimes referred to as life-phases, implying they may be able to change gender. However, this is unconfirmed, and Argonian hatchlings may be of either gender. Argonian appearance ranges from reptilian to almost human; this is caused by the Hist sap they ingest as hatchlings which ceremonially takes place on their Naming Day. Ancient cave paintings depict figures which appear to be more tree-like than Argonian.

For more information on the Argonian people, see the Lore article on Argonians.

Base Attributes Attribute M F Strength 40 40 Intelligence 40 50 Willpower 30 40 Agility 50 40 Speed 50 40 Endurance 30 30 Personality 30 30 Luck 40 40

Skill Bonuses Skill Bonus  Athletics +15  Alchemy +5  Illusion +5  Medium Armor +5  Mysticism +5  Spear +5  Unarmored +5

In-Game Description At home in water and on land, the Argonians of Black Marsh are well-suited to the treacherous swamps of their homeland, with natural immunities protecting them from disease and poison. The female life-phase is highly intelligent, and gifted in the magical arts. The more aggressive male phase has the traits of the hunter: stealth, speed, and agility. Argonians are reserved with strangers, yet fiercely loyal to those they accept as friends. Like the Khajiit, Argonians are limited to some headgear and no footwear. Specials Spell:  Water Breathing for 120sec on Self, Cost: 5pts Ability:  Resist Poison 100% Ability:  Resist Common Disease 75%

Ideal Character

With skills in combat, magic and stealth, they are well rounded characters. The lack of the ability to wear full armor as a beast race prevents Argonians from being overwhelming warriors, knights or crusaders. This, combined with the lack of magicka-increasing abilities, would make them just about the worst battlemages, were not the Khajiit even less innately talented with magic. Argonians can however make the finest nightblades and excel as scouts and witchhunters, with males being more adept at thievery and females being more adept casters. Going all-out mage, sorcerer or pilgrim with females will work too, but necessitates a birthsign that increases magicka, and males can make decent thieves, rogues and assassins.

Notes

• A list of all the Argonians in Morrowind can be found here.