Series: Cantur's Scholary Writings

A collection or articles and treatise. Despite the name, not all of these are written from the in-world perspective of Cantur Caelmoryn.

The Purpose of the Corkbulb

Even the term “corkbulb” would have one thinking it is what it sounds like: a root made of a cork-like substance, that could assumably be used in place of wood. Alas, it is not quite so, and the uses of this fine root in Morrowind are often mistaken by horticultural novices.

This is a sister post to “The Origin of the Ash Yam” and written by the same in-world character, Cantur Caelmoryn, who may yet find his way into other texts of mine in the future. The inspiration for this post is a pet peeve of mine on the level of the Alot. Continue reading “The Purpose of the Corkbulb”

Conflicting Accounts: Davon’s Watch

I saw his form limned in ash and torment
Abreast two beasts of war / The township quaked
They sang to him / Women in fiery form
Darvon [sic] was no more / And the Beast was sealed

Back when Tamriel Rebuilt was still trying to play nice with The Elder Scrolls: Online lore, I wrote up this post to help bridge the gap between our differing canons. Continue reading “Conflicting Accounts: Davon’s Watch”

The Unarmed Traditions of Morrowind

Morrowind is home to three recognized unarmed and unarmored fighting traditions. Although perhaps not as famous as their counterparts in Elsweyr or Akavir, the Golden Reed, Marshmerrow, and Salt Rice styles have their own equally fascinating histories and theories of practice.

A simple informational post. The names of the traditions and Taren Omathan’s story are found in canon sources, while I followed the convention of the Mage, Warrior, and Thief archetypes to characterize them. Continue reading “The Unarmed Traditions of Morrowind”

The Origin of the Ash Yam

The origin of the name “ash yam” seems deceptively simple: it is a species of yam domesticated and cultivated in the ashy steppes of Morrowind. I have made a study into the taxonamy of the ash yam however, and come upon surprising results. Ash yam is not a geographical or botanical term.

While I was reading “1493” by Charles C. Mann, I came upon the fact that there are apparently hundreds of species of potatoes cultivated for human consumption in the Andes. Some of these are poisonous unless also eaten with a bit of clay. As I reflected on the ash yams being grown in Morrowind, this post almost wrote itself. Continue reading “The Origin of the Ash Yam”

The Magicka of a Moons-Dancer

First comes the mastery of the breath.

I’ve always seen Khajiit as an under-developed race with a lot of potential. One of the areas that I felt needed more love is the connection between Magicka, soul, and the Khajiiti martial arts. This post seeks to unite all these things with themes taken from real life kung fu. Continue reading “The Magicka of a Moons-Dancer”