The Sinister Truth Behind The Elder Scrolls' Silt Striders

In The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind, fast traveling was a unique experience that required players to search for a method of transportation instead of simply clicking on a location on the map. One such method was the silt strider, which was a powerful utility in the early game. However, players who took a closer look soon discovered a disturbing and nauseating secret about these creatures. It all lies in the dark truth of how the silt striders in The Elder Scrolls were controlled.

The Dark Implications of Riding One of The Elder Scrolls' Silt Striders

One of the most convenient features of The Elder Scrolls franchise is fast traveling. This allows players to easily move between two locations without any wait time. In the past, players could use silt striders in Morrowind to quickly travel by paying a small fee to a rider. However, these creatures are no longer present in the Ashlands of Vvardenfell, as they were domesticated a long time ago. It's worth noting that the term "domesticated" may be a bit of a stretch considering how they were actually controlled.

When riding a silt strider in Morrowind, players may notice the lack of traditional reins for controlling the creature's movements. Instead, they are invited to take a comfortable seat in the hollowed-out mid-section of the silt strider's body. Despite its seemingly uncomfortable appearance, the silt strider doesn't seem to mind this arrangement and allows the player to enter and exit freely. However, a disturbing secret is revealed upon closer inspection of the vehicle's dashboard: the exposed organs and tissues of the silt strider. These organs are the key to the creature's domestication by the Dark Elves of Morrowind, as riders manipulate them to control the silt strider's movements. This unsettling practice reflects the Dark Elves' tendency towards domination, as seen in their use of slavery in both Morrowind and The Elder Scrolls Online. Despite this, there is evidence to suggest that the relationship between rider and silt strider is more harmonious than it initially appears.

In The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim on Solstheim, players can discover Dusty, the last known silt strider. Dusty's owner, Revus Sarvani, shares the story of how he raised her from birth and now treats her as an old friend, staying with her until her end of life. While this may be a darker aspect of domestication in the game, it is comforting to know that not all masters mistreated their silt striders. Perhaps future installments of The Elder Scrolls will feature more of these majestic creatures.