The Elder Scrolls Online: Murkmire DLC

The Murkmire DLC for The Elder Scrolls Online is the most intriguing zone I’ve ever come across in an MMORPG. The representation of the Argonian homeland has been minimal up to this point, and the developers have done an excellent job making the Argonians feel more grounded in Tamriel. Argonians were my go to race in Skyrim, and I am so excited to see them step into the light. Murkmire’s environment is breathtaking and wonderfully unique, its culture is rich, and it is fraught with danger.

We had a chance to sit down and preview Murkmire a few weeks ago, and I was blown away. Since then, I’ve been able to quest in Murkmire and get a feel for the cultures of the region. The zone, as a whole, feels alive. The wildlife, though primarily hostile, is beautiful in its own right. The plants, as gorgeous as they may be, might not be as friendly as they appear.

Nestled in the foggy wetlands of Black Marsh, adventure awaits.

The Environment

Murkmire brings new life into The Elder Scrolls Online. The Argonians, or Saxhleel as they call themselves, are a race of impermanence. Since Murkmire is known to flood, it is imperative that one does not get too attached to material possessions. One day you may wake up and find them washed away. This is an issue especially prevalent near Lilmoth, the trading hub for the zone.

Lilmoth is where the player first enters Murkmire. It is a bustling port with a diverse group. Most of the buildings are on stilts to help combat the loss of items when it floods, but there is evidence that this was not always the case. Ruins of stone structures can be found and it becomes apparent why stone was not ideal. Stone buildings sink right into the swamp! As you move inland, it is noticeable that stone sits more comfortably.

Xanmeers, the Argonian equivalent of a ziggurat, can be found in Murkmire. One of the first quests you come across will take you into a xanmeer and let you explore. Though not much to look at from the outside, the insides of the xanmeers show the dedication of the team. Inside you find remarkable Mayan-inspired structures, some of which can be seen around the rest of Murkmire as well. The xanmeers feel as if you are actually exploring ancient ruins and uncovering the history of the Argonians through them. But exploration is not without its dangers.

It never gets too bright in Murkmire. Blue skies appear rarely, if ever. But, this is not a bad thing. If the sun were to shine all the time in Murkmire, the Argonians would likely live in the water more. The heat, though humid as it would be, would likely dry out the Argonians more and Lilmoth might not be the trading hub it is today.

The Dangers of the Marsh

Exploring Murkmire is not like taking a Sunday stroll down the street. If you are not careful, you can very easily find yourself in fighting off some crocodiles then turning around just to face some salamanders. Crocodiles and salamanders are quite docile compared to some of the other threats lurking in the waters.

The most interesting dangers of the marsh are not creatures, they are plants. The flora of Murkmire can be quite alluring. They are absolutely gorgeous, and, like any adventurer worth his salt, you may want to get a closer look. This is a great idea! They are worth a closer look. Just be careful, in some cases, their bite may be worse than their bark.

Bog Blights are undead Argonians for whom the grave-stakes did not function. Grave-stakes are part of an Argonian custom. When an Argonian dies, they are staked so that their body may not rise again and they have a peaceful passing to the afterlife. Unfortunately, for some, this does not happen. You will see Bog Blights rise from the water to give chase, but some get stuck in the mud. It’s best not to stay to close the ones who cannot free themselves; they aren’t exactly happy campers.

The concept behind the Bog Blights are so unique, and admittedly a little disturbing, that feels perfectly at home in Murkmire. It’s quite creative and helps in the world building. The world building through enemies in this zone makes Murkmire stand out. The enemies are unique to the region and help further explain the customs of the Argonians and what everyday life looks like.

The Lore

By far the best part of the Murkmire DLC, the culture brings the zone to life. Everywhere you go there is some new lore piece to uncover. A lot of this is through the extra reading of journals you find through your adventure, so take the time to thumb through them. I know when playing an MMORPG this isn’t the most enthralling idea, but it helps bring the world together. You will receive quite a bit of history as you move through your quests, but, as someone who loves world-building and lore, I revel in the idea that you can dive deeper.

Since the Argonians are only now getting their chance to shine, culture-building is essential. When we took a tour of the zone a few weeks ago, we found out that the lore team tried their hardest to use existing lore as their basis for the lore in the Murkmire DLC. Expanding on existing lore is excellent for the die-hard fans of the series and it is a great way to slip in some easter eggs.

The lore is so expansive that is is difficult to get into in a review. Besides, the best way to get the lore is to experience it. The team that put together the lore for Murkmire did an excellent job and should be patting themselves on the back.

Final Thoughts

The Elder Scrolls Online was always my favorite MMORPG, though I had not played it in some time. If you have also stepped away from it for a bit, I would recommend giving it a go again and playing the Murkmire DLC. The zone is such a breath of fresh air, though the air in Murkmire may smell like sulfur.

There is never a dull moment in Murkmire because, if you are not in town, you are in constant danger. Rich cultures and expansive lore paired with unique encounters makes the Murkmire DLC one of my favorite MMORPG experiences. Hopefully, the future will see a full title released focusing on the Black Marsh area and hopefully, the teams that worked on Murkmire will work on it as well. fingers crossed.

Reviewers note: I talked about some different points of the Murkmire DLC in my preview of it here. Check it out for some more information!