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Lore:Yaghra

< Lore: Bestiary: Y / Races
Yaghra
ON-creature-Yaghra Strider.jpg
A Yaghra Strider
Type Race (Beastfolk)
Range Eltheric Ocean, Summerset Isles (invasive)
Appears in

ESO
"The best thing about yaghra? We have many, many more."
—K'Tora of the Abyssal Cabal

Yaghra are a race of deep-sea creatures, said to have been created from crustacean-like bottom feeders, that serve the Sea Sload.[1][2]:219 They live in Nirn's many seas and oceans, and are only rarely seen on land.[3][2]:219 They are said to be followers of an unspoken social hierarchy.[2]:219 The Sea Sload address their yaghra servants through a combination of the guttural Sload language and mind magic.[4] They are even capable of being taught magic themselves by their masters.[5]

Yaghra are fear-inducing to the point that they are alleged to make Dreugh "seem like purring kittens" by comparison.[3] Their strange appearance often garners comparisons to Daedra, though they are unrelated.[1]

Social HierarchyEdit

 
Yaghra Monstrosity (ESO)
 
Yaghra Spewer (ESO)

There are several varieties of yaghra. Yaghra Larva are similar in appearance to spiders, and are about the size of Mudcrabs. They are, of course, the larval stage of the creature.[6] They have (or had) a symbiotic relationship with other sea life. Larvae serve as workers, peons and minions, and are low in the Yaghra social hierarchy.[2]:219

Yaghra Monstrosities are large Yaghra that are similar in body structure and shape to the larvae, but have hard exoskeletons, crab-like claws, and carry large shells on their backs like hermit crabs.[7] Monstrosities are steadfast commanders. They produce Larval Yaghra, and overwhelm the battlefield through rapid reproduction. They have an almost unnatural yet commanding bond with their lesser bretheren.[2]:220

The Yaghra Strider has a spined exoskeleton and attacks with crab-like claws.[8] Striders are extremely aggressive. They show an impressive amount of loyalty to the greater Monstrosities, whom they view as their leaders. They also appear to revere the Sea Sload as their gods. Striders act as soldiers, defending the Yaghra nests.[2]:219

The last known variety is the Yaghra Spewer, which have bioluminescent shells and possess poison sacks in their necks, which they use to spew a corrosive substance. It is this ability for which they are named.[9] Spewers share a similar social standing with Striders, but exhibit a more conservative ranged combat style. They appear to call out targets for Striders to focus on, and are intent on creating dangerous areas on the battlefield for their enemies to avoid.[2]:220 They do this by spewing their poison, which pools on the ground and is harmful to stand in.[9]

HistoryEdit

OriginsEdit

The first Yaghra Larva were created from a species of crustacean-like bottom-feeders that had a symbiotic relationship with other sea life.[2]:219 When they were created exactly is unknown, as the inhabitants of the Summerset Isles circa 2E 582 were largely unfamiliar with the creatures.[1] However Ritemaster Iachsesis recalled encountering the creatures in the service of the Sea Sloads sometime around 2E 230.[10]

Summerset InvasionEdit

 
A group of Yaghra at an Abyssal Geyser

Circa 2E 582, the Abyssal Cabal used the Yaghra as soldiers during their attack on Summerset Isle. They were brought to Summerset from deep beneath the waves with the aid of Abyssal Pearls. These objects were used in ritual sites known as Abyssal Geysers as part of the Cabal's attempts to sink the island.[4] Attracted by the Abyssal Pearls, Yaghra were summoned and wreaked havoc on the shores of Summerset.[11] One member of the Cabal, the Sea Sload K'Tora, oversaw these Geysers until he was killed by the Psijic Order. The Daedric Prince Nocturnal subsequently assumed control of the Geysers.[12] During this time, Yaghra could be found on the shores of Summerset, particularly near the Abyssal Geysers, as they were drawn to the power of the Pearls that were located at the ritual sites.[11]

Other members of the Cabal would utilize yaghra in unique ways. The alchemist B'Korgen, attempted to use alchemy to empower the other members of the Abyssal Cabal and transform the yaghra into even more fearsome creatures. The primary ingredient of his concoctions was a form of corrupted coral. His plans were thwarted when he was killed by the Vestige.[13][14] During Z'Maja's incursion of Cloudrest, the Sea Sload used shadow magic to summon umbral Yaghra to defend herself.[15]

Alternative OutcomeEdit

The Psijic Order had the means to scry secrets from fate lines beyond the bounds of Tamriel. Among these secrets were tomes that spoke of alternative timelines and realities, where certain key events transpired differently.[16] In one of these alternate realities, the Abyssal Cabal succeeded in conquering the Summerset Isles. B'korgen was said to have taken Yaghra apprentices, with them toiling alongside him everyday, learning the art of fleshcrafting.[5]

UsesEdit

Larval Yaghra are sometimes kept as companions by Tamrielics, though those that do are usually viewed as eccentric.[17] Some are even enchanted to have a flaming appearance to serve as lights in dark areas.[18] Yaghra are among the creatures kept in Hermaeus Mora's Feral Gallery, a collection of creatures in Apocrypha maintained by the Daedric Prince.[19]

Yaghra carapaces can be ground to make a dye that is used in lipsticks.[20] Roast Yaghra was allegedly served at a dinner party held by Molag Grunda.[21]

GalleryEdit

  • Yaghra larva (ESO)

  • Red yaghra larva (ESO)

  • Blue yaghra larva (ESO)

  • A shadowy yaghra strider (ESO)

  • Yaghra striders at an Abyssal Geyser (ESO)

  • Yaghra Spewer attacking (ESO)

  • Malogalig, a large Yaghra Monstrosity (ESO)

  • Yaghra Monstrosity and Spewer concept art (ESO)

  • Yaghra Strider concept art (ESO)

See AlsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

  1. ^ a b c Dialogue with and from Dominion Soldiers during Random Encounters on Summerset in ESO
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset Collector's Edition Strategy Guide — Garitt Rocha, David S.J Hodgson
  3. ^ a b Captain Kaleen's dialogue in ESO: Ascending Tide
  4. ^ a b Indirim's Journal, Assembled — Indirim
  5. ^ a b Karnwasten Temporal Tome — Raavarion, Former Sapiarch of Aquatic Malevolence
  6. ^ Appearance of Yaghra Larvae in ESO
  7. ^ Appearance of Yaghra Monstrosities in ESO
  8. ^ Appearance of Yaghra Striders in ESO
  9. ^ a b Appearance and abilities of Yaghra Spewers in ESO
  10. ^ Ritemaster Iachesis' dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  11. ^ a b Pearl Research Notes, Log 3
  12. ^ Nocturnal's presence at Abyssal Geysers after K'Tora's death during Buried Memories in ESO: Summerset
  13. ^ Justiciar Farowel's dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  14. ^ Events of The Abyssal Alchemist in ESO: Summerset
  15. ^ Events of Woe of the Welkynars in ESO: Summerset
  16. ^ Tracker of Temporal Tomes achievement description in ESO
  17. ^ Larval Yaghra pet description in ESO
  18. ^ Nightflame Larval Yaghra pet description in ESO
  19. ^ The Feral Gallery in ESO
  20. ^ Cobalt Lipstick item description in ESO: The Deadlands
  21. ^ Cadwell's dialogue in ESO
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