Q. Which side of a raven has the most feathers? A. The outside. --A Wood Elf joke

Did You Know: Bethesda used to supply hosting for UESP? They very kindly donated a network connection for the UESP from 1998 to around 2002 at the latest, when the UESP moved entirely to managing its own hosting.

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the UESP! We have been doing this for three whole decades now. We really don't know what else to say, since the club of sites that have been around that long is very, very small. Thank you for letting us be your source for The Elder Scrolls since 1995.

"Oviparous. Ovovivparous. What's the difference? We are born and we die." --Generic dialogue made for Argonians in Oblivion. Developer commentary has previously pointed towards Argonians being capable of laying eggs or live birth, depending on which is more beneficial at the moment.

"Wonder why Solstheim wasn't on the old maps... not that anyone should care." --Generic dialogue created for Nords in Oblivion. It is a reference to maps of Tamriel not including Solstheim prior to the island's creation during for Morrowind's Bloodmoon expansion.

Did You Know: "Debudjen" and "Ma-Tylda" are two known names given to female dragons? Both dragons appeared in the book series King Edward. Beyond them, Jills have been described as female dragons. A Luminary also took the form of a female dragon.

Did You Know: The Empire hires Necromancers? Imperial Necromancers are supplied in the raw resources they need for their projects via the sentenced criminals and traitors of the Imperial legal system.

Skeleton time.

Did You Know: We've got frogs? Lots of them.

"Dour, dull, colorless, sober, and virginal." --A Renrijra Krin description of the Blades

"It is our purpose upon Mundus to reverse the error of Sanctus Primus and restore Ak-at-Osh to humanadic purity. To say otherwise is vain and empty persiflage." --Fervidius Tharn

Did You Know: During his Century of Penance for toying with the ape-maiden Dulsa, the Prophet Marukh wrote the Seventy-Seven Inflexible Doctrines from his own blood? This followed his enlightenment on Proper-Life and Ehlnofic Annulment from his conversations with the shade of Alessia.

Did You Know: Felldew causes a powerful, but ephemeral, euphoria when taken? After a few minutes, the euphoria will be replaced with the withdrawal symptoms that persist indefinitely and worsen until more felldew is taken. Long-term use seems to also cause facial deformations and aggressiveness.

"Never take a life carelessly. It cheapens you, and diminishes you. Take life seriously, if taking life is your profession." --A little secret from the Morag Tong

Did You Know: The Empire's prison for its most infamous criminals, the Blackrose Prison of Black Marsh or simply "The Rose", had a prison break in the final days of the Third Era? Beyond the worst murderers, thieves, and revolutionaries, the prison held Jagar Tharn's remaining associates.

Need to put something in an Argonian's mouth? Tickle under their chin, they will reflexively open up their mouth. Annaïg Hoïnart used this to give a dose of a potion to the hypnotized Argonian Mere-Glim.

Did You Know: A dragonhorn is a literal dragon's horn? A dragonhorn is capable of producing a tone that incapacitates dragons when blown. This excludes the dragon that the dragonhorn originated from, who are immune to the power of their own horn.

"Poor, poor Monster. You didn't deserve this. It should have been me. I've had more than enough time, and you were always so strong and healthy... This is Little Monster. She was such a good girl. She never made too much noise, never got into trouble. She was a good guar..." --Veru Serethran

Did You Know: The High-Yokudan word for "Elf" is derived from their ancient term for "Enemy"?

Did You Know: Hist trees are believed to very rarely use the ability known as "kuhupwo" [mouth-talk]? Although Hist usually choose to communicate through different means, seemingly exclusively if possible, through kuhupwo they are able to directly speak as people can.

"A follower of my brother, Hermaeus Mora, once said: 'The ultimate purpose of the Daedra lords is to instruct and improve the generally deplorable character of mortals.' Lovely sentiment. But, in fact, I watch mortals, and meddle now and then, purely for entertainment." --Clavicus Vile

"Nou aldmeris mathmeldi admia aurane gandra sepredia av relleis ye brelyeis ye varlais." "Our exiled Elven ancestors heard the welcoming gifts of peace in the streams and beech trees and stars." ["Mathmeldi" means literally "from-home-driven."] --Ayleid Reference Text

"This one … er … no, I am sorry. I try, but I cannot adopt this way of speaking. It is closer to a direct translation of the dialect spoken today, but Ta'agra and Cyrodiilic are closer companions now." --Zerith-var deciding to not adopt modern Khajiiti vernacular

"My da even told me the story of Martyn Septim, and the things what happened when the gates to Oblivion opened. Septim turned into the spirit of Akatosh and killed Mehrunes Dagon. Now I dont noe about you, but any dragon that fites the Prince of Destruction is okay by me." --Thromgar Iron-Head

"Thus we must … against Man … that our violence might bring forth a Numinous Paravant, who may with unbound hands..." --A text associated with Ayleids, suggesting that one of their motivations for their crimes was for a person like Alessia to be born who was able to break the shackles of fate.

Iachesis: "You must go, and so must we." Almalexia or Sotha Sil: "What do you mean, Iachesis? You're leaving the island?" Iachesis: "No, the island will be leaving the sea... Don't miss the last boat." --Iachesis seeing Almalexia and Sotha Sil off of Artaeum.

"The world of Tamriel is vast, roughly three to four thousand kilometers east to west and two to three thousand kilometers north to south." --The size of Tamriel according to The Arena Player's Guide

Want to legally own a castle? The Elder Council decreed in 3E 246 that anyone without a liege who occupied one for three months would be granted the rights to that estate and its titles. This was designed to discourage absent and foreign landlords.

"I used to be a priest of the Tribunal Temple in Kragenmoor. After the collapse, I drifted for a while, until I joined the Chapel. The beggars and the wicked Thieves Guild still trouble me. I wish the Nine Divines offered charity and comfort to the poor like the Temple did." --Avrus Adas

An interesting detail: Tiber Septim, and Talos, are always depicted as having a beard. However, the aspects of Talos we meet, Wulf and the Prophet, don't have beards. Notably, the Prophet's appearance also matches his description from The Real Barenziah.

"Some might abandon the last dregs at the bottom of a bottle, but I know a trick to make sure not a drop goes to waste. Azurah gave Khajiit tails for a reason, yes? I don't know what that reason was, but mine soaks up alcohol quite nicely." --Sereyne, discussing her tail's uses.

"Why should I settle for the egg when the hen stands before me?" --Rajhin, shortly before stealing a shadow

Did You Know: The Elder Scroll you steal in The Ultimate Heist displays the Thief constellation on its scroll when you take it? Since Elder Scrolls seem to have some level of intelligence, it can be argued the Elder Scroll was personally calling you out for stealing it.

"Agea haelia ne jorane emero laloria." "Wisdom learned by pain is a reliable guide in dark times." [literally, "Terrible wisdom never betrayed the loremasters."] --An Ayleid inscription

You can choose any time period and location to live in Tamriel. Where do you go, and when?

Did You Know: Mehrunes Dagon does not drop any loot when killed?

"AE HERMA MORA ALTADOON PADHOME LKHAN AE AI." --Excerpt from Sithis. A literal translation of this would be something like "That is fate/knowledge weapon Padomay Lorkhan that is me". Considering the context, the meaning may be: "Ideas are the weapon of Change, and I am Change."

Did You Know: Nix-hounds can be infested with ash mites? Owners should be careful to check their thoracic junction and spiracles especially to help relieve itchiness.

"Oh, and I suppose you've never had a bad day? Try working for a bitchy Arch-Mage during an interplanar crisis. Then you might..." --Gabrielle Benele after being confronted about a letter she wrote referring to the beast races as "lower life forms".

"Welcome to my home underground. Hehe." --Sinderion when you enter his basement for the first time.

"Shadows are not an absence of light, they are reflections from another world." --Skelos Undriel, Shadowmage

"Now, some question if Daedric bodies hold any true nutritional value. I can't speak to that, but I can tell you they kept me from starving until I was able to reach a portal and return to Fargrave." --Fralav Polus of House Hexos, on the edibility of collisions of hyper-angles.

I cannot say I have ever seen it move, but I have picked up a good enough sense of navigation in my time to know when I am being led in circles. And that is without going into more questionable theories of relative space. --Junia Severa, speculating that Black Marsh can rearrange itself

Did You Know: King Lhotun founded the Lhotunics, a third party of Hammerfell that with the goal of bridging the gap between the Crowns and Forebears? The Imperial Geographical Society claims that the Crowns and Forebears view this third party with nothing but contempt.

"A bunch of them rats are milling around across the bridge. I'd help... But me lumbago makes it hard to swing a sword like I used to do." --Old Trinket, a victim of lumbago.

We just finished up a meeting with Bethesda where we got to design a character for The Elder Scrolls 6. Honestly, a lot of us went into the meeting pretty nervous and even reserved, but now we're all extremely excited for what's in store.

"It is the Tower that guides you. Like a fortress, you may weather fire and claw. But do not rely on strength alone. The strongest wall is the one that is hidden." --Hanubina-ko

Did You Know: Scribs are sometimes roasted over open fires? Another popular way of eating scribs is to impale them with spikes and then eat them while still alive. They can also be turned into scrib jerky. And of course, they can be turned into sour-tasting scrib jelly.

"Who wants to talk about hormadors? That's boring. It's so boring here, with no one to talk to. It's so dreary. If only they'd do something smart. Or funny. Or something to do with spiders. But, no. Just.... *Zzzzzz.* [Mistress Therana has apparently fallen asleep in mid-sentence.]" --Therana

"I am the Ghost Snake. I am both constant and ever-changing. One thing to you. Another, perhaps, to the Mabrigash." --Ghost Snake