Oblivion:Elder Scrolls Historical References

References to events in the history of The Elder Scrolls are documented separately to Easter Eggs.

If you think you have found an undocumented Reference, please post your idea on this article's talk page before adding it to this article.

Arena

Items

• The posters advertising the Arena have a group pose that is very much reminiscent of the box art of The Elder Scrolls: Arena.
• During The Rosethorn Cache, you will encounter the riddle: "Two bodies have I, though both joined in one. The more I stand still, the quicker I run." This riddle also appeared as a puzzle in Arena.

Storylines

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  Arena cistern quote
  The Gaiden Shinji quote that appears in the very beginning of the intro to Arena, "The best techniques are passed on by the survivors", appears in many places in Oblivion. The recovery cistern in the Arena Bloodworks is etched with the quote around its circumference. The Blue Team Gladiator quotes it when you ask him about Gaiden Shinji. It is also repeated in books such as The Mirror.
• One of the first loading screens in the game mentions that no-one has escaped from the Imperial City Prison since the days of Jagar Tharn, referencing the main character's escape from the dungeon at the beginning of Arena.
• At random, people in Skingrad will tell you a story about buying a sweetroll and being accosted by three thugs. They will then end their tale by saying "So I took that sweetroll and...." This same story was used in previous Elder Scrolls titles in determining the character class when it is told, and the player must choose what action is taken.

Daggerfall

People

• Orc adventurers can be encountered in numerous dungeons; when spoken to, the Orcs will claim that they are agents sent by King Gortwog of Orsinium to bring wealth to their homeland. Gortwog was an important character in Daggerfall and one of the possible recipients of the Totem of Tiber Septim.

Redguard

People

• Cloud Ruler Temple, headquarters of the Blades, houses a Redguard member by the name of Cyrus. Interestingly enough, Cyrus was the name of the protagonist of Redguard, although they can't both be the same person since Oblivion is set several centuries after Redguard. A pirate named First Mate Malvulis also sings of a hero named Cyrus.

• When speaking to Bothiel, she says, "The orrery here is the only one in Cyrodiil. There's one more in Hammerfell... the old one at Stros M'Kai." This is a reference to the Observatory in Redguard.

• Barbas says he's not "always been a hound, or always been called Barbas. I've also been a Redguard." referring to how he copied Cyrus' appearance. In the same quest, Clavicus also reprises his voice actor from Redguard; Todd Howard.

Morrowind

Items

• At the conclusion of the Fighters Guild storyline arc, Modryn Oreyn will present you with the Helm of Oreyn Bearclaw. The item and Modryn's dialogue about it reference Malacath's Daedric Quest in Morrowind, wherein the player is assigned to kill the supposed last living member of the Oreyn line in order to acquire the Helm.
• Some Goblins may be seen wearing Netch Leather armor, as seen in Morrowind, which unfortunately cannot be retrieved from their corpses.
• In Morrowind you may find a blade called Umbra, held by a male Orc also named Umbra. It is a two-handed claymore that casts Soultrap for 120 seconds on Target. In Oblivion you can also find a blade by that name, but instead of being a claymore it is a one-handed longsword held by a female Bosmer also named Umbra. However, it has the same effects as the one in Morrowind.
• The Shield of the Red Mountain is a randomly-found Mithril shield. It is an obvious reference to Vvardenfell's most recognizable physical feature, and is supported by the Fire Shield enchantment on it.

People

• Of possible relation to Drarayne Thelas of Morrowind fame, Arvena Thelas can be found in the city of Anvil. The first mission of the Anvil Fighters Guild prompts you to - contrary to the Morrowind mission - defend the rats in her home from being killed.
• A reference to one of the Great Houses of Morrowind, Falanu Hlaalu openly admits to having moved to Skingrad from Morrowind. Her relation to the House is unknown, although speaking to her about Skingrad opens the option for a discussion on a certain type of fine.
• Barbas - the shape-shifting, hound-like companion of Clavicus Vile - may very well have been Creeper, the legendary merchant Scamp of Morrowind, as Barbas notes that he was once a "Scamp, making deals with Orcs".
• Two tough-looking Dunmer have taken up residence at Walker Camp, which lies slightly north of Cheydinhal. Both are agents of the Camonna Tong, a clandestine organization centered in Morrowind. No explanation for their presence is given, although together they make a weekly delivery of Skooma to a drop site near Kingscrest Cavern.
• In the Mehrunes Razor official plug-in, a Morag Tong Assassin can be found inside a jail cell in Sundercliff Watch, having been captured on a mission to assassinate the Drothmeri Commander.
• There is also another reference to Morrowind during Unearthing Mehrunes Razor. In Sundercliff Watch, you can find "A Letter Home" on a table talking about one of the apprentices' relatives/spouse living in Vvardenfell and working for Desele. She says it pays well. Morrowind players may be familiar with Desele's establishment, the House of Earthly Delights.
• In Cheydinhal, Aldos Othran may be heard singing a high-pitched song about the cliff racers of Vvardenfell, whose presence was an annoyance to many Morrowind players.
• On rare occasions NPCs may be overheard discussing the acts of "Saint Jiub", who drove the Cliff Racers away from portions of Morrowind. This is undoubtedly a reference to the fellow prisoner aboard ship in the introduction of Morrowind, who is never seen again in that game.
• After you finish Sheogorath's Daedric Quest involving a prank in Border Watch, you can find a special issue of The Black Horse Courier entitled Rain of Burning Dogs!. When asked about the "weather anomaly", the local weather expert mentions "the occasional wayward mage crashing to the earth". This is a reference to Tarhiel in Morrowind (who was an Easter egg in that game).
• In The Wandering Scholar, you will be required to escort a female High Elf named Elante of Alinor to Brittlerock Cave so that she might continue her study of the Daedra. This same woman also appears in Morrowind, within the cave of Ibar-Dad - the tomb of Mordrin Hanin - as a hostile NPC; her notes indicate that she was engaged in researching the Daedra therein.
• After the 11th battle in the Arena (the 2nd Myrmidon rank match), when you report back to Owyn he will say, "You are cutting through the Yellow Team like a knife through Scrib Jelly." Scrib Jelly is an alchemical ingredient available in Morrowind.
• Umbacano is a collector of Ayleid antiquities in the Imperial City. He mentions someone named "Sorcalin" during Secrets of the Ayleids. Both Umbacano and Sorcalin appeared in Morrowind in the Yassu Mine.
• Nord NPCs with low Disposition towards a female player or NPC may utter "You remind me of a witch I once knew. I hate witches." upon seeing them. This may be alluding to a running gag in Morrowind, where one could find Nord barbarians in the wilderness who were victims of encounters with a witch, and had been stripped down to their undergarments as a result.

Storylines

• A random NPC-to-NPC conversation concerns a new play entitled The Lusty Argonian Maid. The play made its debut in Morrowind as a rough draft written by the eccentric Hlaalu noble, Crassius Curio. The book containing a scene from the play may be found throughout the game.
• While talking about current events, Altmer, Bosmer and Dunmer may comment on a rumor that the Nerevarine has left Morrowind on an expedition to Akavir and has not been heard from since. The main quest of Morrowind involved becoming the Nerevarine, the united head of all the Houses of the Dunmer.

Bloodmoon

People

• By traveling to Dive Rock, it is possible to obtain Agnar's Journal, belonging to Svenja Snow-Song's husband. The journal tells of Agnar's ascent to the position of Chieftain of Thirsk following the departure of the Nerevarine, his marriage to Svenja, and their quest to destroy the Uderfrykte Matron, mother of the Udyrfrykte, a foul creature which ravaged Thirsk in Bloodmoon.
• The Waterfront District of the Imperial City is home to certain members of Raven Rock, a bankrupted colony of the East Empire Company. The Raven Rock colony, and the fate of its citizens, featured prominently in Bloodmoon.

Lore

People

• The Construction Set reveals the default name of the player to be Bendu Olo. In Elder Scrolls history, Bendu Olo was the Colovian King of Cyrodiil in 1E 2200, known for fighting the Sload.
• In Cloud Ruler Temple, there is a Blade by the name of Pelagius. He is probably named after one of the four Emperors with the same name.

See Also

• M'aiq the Liar, the recurring character whose comments are references to events and features of the game (both new and removed), jokes, and Easter Eggs.