A drawing of an Emperor Crab by Michael Kirkbride.
Emperor Crabs were a large, extinct species of crab native to the Vvardenfell region of Morrowind, contemporary with the early settled Chimer.
Their shells were salvaged and made into various structures, most prominent of which can be found in Ald'ruhn. The Under-Skar or Manor District is the largest of these. Their use is widely associated with House Redoran architecture.[1] Similar carapace-like buildings can be found on the Isle of Solstheim in the year 4E 201, when following the eruption of Red Mountain the town of Raven Rock was bequeathed to Dunmer refugees fleeing the destruction.[2] Their relation to other living crustaceans, such as mudcrabs or dreugh, is uncertain.
History[]
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Ald'ruhn Manor District.
- "Once, the mighty and colossal emperor crabs ruled all of Vvardenfell! But they put aside divine pursuits in favor of mundane satisfactions, and were diminished to become the mudcrabs of today. And are we any different?" —Visrula the Mad Prophet"
- ―Skar loading screen[src]
According to legend, the greatest and deadliest of these ancient creatures was named Skar, who is said to have relentlessly terrorized the Velothi. It took the combined forces of all the Ashlander tribes—and a champion of House Hleran, Dranoth Hleran—to bring down the enormous beast. Dranoth utilized a powerful spear called the Calderas, which became a legend in and of itself afterward.[3][4] According to Vindamea Redoran, it was ultimately House Redoran who drove the Emperor Crabs to extinction.[5]
When Ald'ruhn was attacked during the Oblivion Crisis, ancient rituals were used in an attempt to bring the long-dead emperor crabs to life and fight back against the Daedra.[6]
While on a quest for Viriya to subdue a wave of frenzied mudcrabs off the shores of Dawnstar, the Dragonborn fought against the Guardian Spirit of an Emperor Crab, using a catapult of fire pots in order to defeat it.[7]
Trivia[]
- In The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, M'aiq the Liar will comment upon Emperor Crabs, insisting that he sees a lot of them in the ocean, and that the Nerevarine will see them too if they "swim far enough." However, this appears to be only one of his many tall-tales.
Appearances[]
- The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (mentioned only)[1]
- The Elder Scrolls Online (mentioned only)[3]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Guide to Ald'ruhn
- ↑ Raven Rock in The Elder Scrolls V: Dragonborn
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Grave of Skar
- ↑ Ballad of Dranoth Hleran
- ↑ Redoran Style Crown Store description
- ↑ "The Fall of Ald'Ruhn" by Michael Kirkbride
- ↑ Events of "Wave Breaker" in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim