Ancestor Lizards (or Useful Lizards) are tree-dwelling swamp lizards native to the Black Marsh.[1] Scholars believe that Argonians were uplifted from these lizards.[2] The Argonian allegory known as the Parable of Becoming states that the Hist found the humanoid forms of Men and Mer useful, and molded the form of the swamp's lizards after them to create Argonians.[3] This theory appears to be an accurate account; in 4E 48, the Argonian Mere-Glim received a vision while on Umbriel of life as a lizard, before the root and the taste of Hist Sap came and transformed both his body and mind.[4]
It is possible that the Ancestor Lizard is also the ancestral form of various other creatures, including Bear-Lizards, Camel-Lizards, Guar-Lizards, Horse-Lizards, Senche-Lizards, and Wolf-Lizards, all of which are said to be descendants of "Useful Lizards" which were molded by the Hist. This family of creatures are called Lizard-Steeds, and are believed to have been molded to "proven shapes" by the Hist to be used as mounts by the Argonians.[5]
There are a variety of different Ancestor Lizard species. The Helstrom Ancestor Lizard is a green-skinned lizard; they are named for the city of Helstrom and are known for making great pets.[2] The Lilmoth Ancestor Lizard is a black-skinned variant which possesses striking scarlet hues. These lizards are also kept as pets and are known to comfort the pain of others by nuzzling them. They are named for the city of Lilmoth, and some claim that they are the ancestors of the local Bright-Throat Tribe, a coastal tribe of Murkmire Argonians famed for their bright skin coloration.[6][7][8]
GalleryEdit
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A Lilmoth Ancestor Lizard
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A red-skinned Bright-Throat Argonian, alleged descendant of the Lilmoth Ancestor Lizard
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A Bear-Lizard, descendant of Useful Lizards shaped by the Hist
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A Hist tree
NotesEdit
- The Helstrom Ancestor Lizard was originally datamined as a "Pet Argozog", suggesting a former name for these creatures.[2]
- Some theorize that because Argonians are social, waterloving, and care for their young, they evolved from crocodiles rather than lizards.[UOL 1]
See AlsoEdit
- For game-specific information, see the Helstrom Ancestor Lizard and Lilmoth Ancestor Lizard ESO articles.
BooksEdit
- Scaly Steeds of Black Marsh by Ukaspa, Lilmoth Stablemaster — An essay on the unique Argonian lizard-mounts
ReferencesEdit
- ^ Notes on Racial Phylogeny — the Council of Healers, Imperial University
- ^ a b c Helstrom Ancestor Lizard pet description in ESO
- ^ Loremaster's Archive: Murkmire Q&A Part 2 — Jee-Lar
- ^ Lord of Souls — Greg Keyes
- ^ Horse-Lizard Steed mount description in ESO
- ^ Lilmoth Ancestor Lizard pet description in ESO
- ^ Tribes of Murkmire: Bright-Throats — Emmanubeth Hurrent, the Wayfarers' Society of Wayrest
- ^ Bright-Throat Scale skin description in ESO
Note: The following references are considered to be unofficial sources. They are included to round off this article and may not be authoritative or conclusive.