Mysterium Bestia: Kwama, the Life's Blood of Vvardenfell at the Close of the Third Era
My dear Mr Belladonc
My attention was drawn to your missive by a former colleague at the [need to look into/figure out a suitable institution name] in Alinor, and I thought you might be amused by the enclosed notes, taken on my trip to Vvardenfell in the late Third Era, which began around the time of the Blight and lasted until shortly before the Oblivion Crisis, when I was fortunate to be escorted back to my family's home by two charming Mer. I had originallly travelled to Vvardenfell to complete certain research projects, most particularly into the alchemical properties of both the mundane, native flora of the island and of the more peculiar plants found around the Red Mountain. You may have heard of a modest little book I published as the result of this project. While I was there, I discovered that many of the local fauna also had the potential for alchemical uses, although of course this was rather less... pleasant than picking flowers and so on. I found the curious creatures known as Kwama particularly fascinating, and those notes are probably the most fully fleshed-out, so to speak. Naturally, some of this information may be more a historical curiosity than up-to-date research, regardless, the notes are yours to do with as you please.
Yours in scholarly fellowship,
Aurelin of [I see her as roughly speaking upper middle class, might have a very minor title, otherwise I suppose would be just of Alinor?]
(I may do away with the introductory letter, I'm still scribbling out the first few pages longhand and I'm not sure whether this is helpful or not (to avoid any 'blah blah I am for some reason reflecting on my reason for being in Vvardenfell in my notes about weird insect creatures'). Still, thought I'd get something up in here!)
The Scrib
Among the first creatures I encountered on Vvardenfell, aside of course from the unmissable sight of an immense silt strider, waiting near the dock to carry passengers to various ports along the waterways on the south and west sides of the island (and inland to Ald'ruhn), was a scrib. These small, friendly creatures appear to be a larval form of the much larger warriors and workers, which are typically found only inside the various "egg mines" dotted around the island. (See notes under 'Forager'). The scrib can be found above ground, in almost all parts of the island, although they naturally seem more common in relatively habitable locations.
If attacked, they have the ability to paralyse the assailant - unpleasant enough by itself, potentially deadly if one is discovered by an aggressive creature such as the Alit. Left unmolested, however, they will potter around happily, thumping their rear ends on the floor in a manner almost reminiscent of a cheerful pet dog. Indeed, there have been a few occasions when I was engrossed in collecting alchemical samples from plants, and an angry mudcrab or even kagouti was stopped in its tracks long enough for me to prepare a spell or get out of the way, by the paralysis effect of one of my "little friends."
Alchemical properties Fortunately for my sentimental side, scrib jelly (a sort of 'edible' paste, made from the crushed shells and insides of the scrib) is readily available, pre-prepared as a foodstuff, from the merchants of Vvardenfell.
The predominant effect (that which may be felt by all but the least alchemically sensitive, upon ingesting a sample of the substance) is to fortify Willpower. This can be defined as the ability to more easily cast spells, to resist certain magics (particularly paralysis effects - thus, ironically, an islander with a diet rich in scrib jelly is better equipped to hunt the creatures), and to run further before feeling the effects of fatigue.
The next effect, cure poison, has obvious value to any adventurous Mer exploring Tamriel.
The most valuable effect during my first year on the island, arguably, but useless under normal conditions, is an ability to cure Blight diseases (which of course are resistent to common cure disease potions and spells). Unfortunately, I have only encountered one other ingredient with this property, the far less readily available Ash Salts. I myself am blessed with a robust immune system, and only contracted Blight disease once or twice in my time on Vvardenfell, but I could have made a significant fortune with a ready supply of those potions!
The weakest effect, but still useful, is the ability to restore willpower, which can become damaged by certain diseases (including some Blight diseases) and spells.
Mysterium Bestia: Kwama, the Life's Blood of Vvardenfell at the Close of the Third Era
My dear Mr Belladonc
My attention was drawn to your missive by a former colleague at the [need to look into/figure out a suitable institution name] in Alinor, and I thought you might be amused by the enclosed notes, taken on my trip to Vvardenfell in the late Third Era, which began around the time of the Blight and lasted until shortly before the Oblivion Crisis, when I was fortunate to be escorted back to my family's home by two charming Mer. I had originallly travelled to Vvardenfell to complete certain research projects, most particularly into the alchemical properties of both the mundane, native flora of the island and of the more peculiar plants found around the Red Mountain. You may have heard of a modest little book I published as the result of this project. While I was there, I discovered that many of the local fauna also had the potential for alchemical uses, although of course this was rather less... pleasant than picking flowers and so on. I found the curious creatures known as Kwama particularly fascinating, and those notes are probably the most fully fleshed-out, so to speak. Naturally, some of this information may be more a historical curiosity than up-to-date research, regardless, the notes are yours to do with as you please.
Yours in scholarly fellowship,
Aurelin of [I see her as roughly speaking upper middle class, might have a very minor title, otherwise I suppose would be just of Alinor?]
(I may do away with the introductory letter, I'm still scribbling out the first few pages longhand and I'm not sure whether this is helpful or not (to avoid any 'blah blah I am for some reason reflecting on my reason for being in Vvardenfell in my notes about weird insect creatures'). Still, thought I'd get something up in here!)
The Scrib
Among the first creatures I encountered on Vvardenfell, aside of course from the unmissable sight of an immense silt strider, waiting near the dock to carry passengers to various ports along the waterways on the south and west sides of the island (and inland to Ald'ruhn), was a scrib. These small, friendly creatures appear to be a larval form of the much larger warriors and workers, which are typically found only inside the various "egg mines" dotted around the island. (See notes under 'Forager'). The scrib can be found above ground, in almost all parts of the island, although they naturally seem more common in relatively habitable locations.
If attacked, they have the ability to paralyse the assailant - unpleasant enough by itself, potentially deadly if one is discovered by an aggressive creature such as the Alit. Left unmolested, however, they will potter around happily, thumping their rear ends on the floor in a manner almost reminiscent of a cheerful pet dog. Indeed, there have been a few occasions when I was engrossed in collecting alchemical samples from plants, and an angry mudcrab or even kagouti was stopped in its tracks long enough for me to prepare a spell or get out of the way, by the paralysis effect of one of my "little friends."
Alchemical properties Fortunately for my sentimental side, scrib jelly (a sort of 'edible' paste, made from the crushed shells and insides of the scrib) is readily available, pre-prepared as a foodstuff, from the merchants of Vvardenfell.
The predominant effect (that which may be felt by all but the least alchemically sensitive, upon ingesting a sample of the substance) is to fortify Willpower. This can be defined as the ability to more easily cast spells, to resist certain magics (particularly paralysis effects - thus, ironically, an islander with a diet rich in scrib jelly is better equipped to hunt the creatures), and to run further before feeling the effects of fatigue.
The next effect, cure poison, has obvious value to any adventurous Mer exploring Tamriel.
The most valuable effect during my first year on the island, arguably, but useless under normal conditions, is an ability to cure Blight diseases (which of course are resistent to common cure disease potions and spells). Unfortunately, I have only encountered one other ingredient with this property, the far less readily available Ash Salts. I myself am blessed with a robust immune system, and only contracted Blight disease once or twice in my time on Vvardenfell, but I could have made a significant fortune with a ready supply of those potions!
The weakest effect, but still useful, is the ability to restore willpower, which can become damaged by certain diseases (including some Blight diseases) and spells.
