The Lusty Argonian Maid: Timeline

Lariana

The Lusty Argonian Maid was supposedly written by Crassius Curio during/before the events of Oblivion (roughly the end of the third era). So it makes sense for the books to appear in Oblivion, Morrowind, and Skyrim.

So why are the books there in ESO? (And please don't say, to entertain the fan base! )

My speculations are that either Crassius found some old books and ripped them off, or some Dragon Break theory (which I don't fully comprehend), but I'm looking for a better explanation.

And on another interesting note, Lifts-Her-Tail also makes an appearance in Racial Motifs 9: The Argonians. Does anyone have a date on when that was written?

GlassHalfFull

Because, the lust of Argonian Maids, transcend all timelines.

ProfessorKittyhawk

There's the Dragon break theory, but then there's also the theory that Hermaeus Mora is involved. There have been other tomes that supposedly didn't exist in this and other eras that have been placed out of their era.

Wing

I thought the fact that a lot of books had not been written yet was on purpose, cannot remember how they appeared but I thought that was one of the reasons the mages guild was looking for them, perhaps someone better with the lore could explain.

Recremen

I hear that Crassius' tale was so long and impactful that it stretched all the way back to the beginning of Time. Historians speak of the story at length, but can never grasp the breadth of its themes.

ProfessorKittyhawk

Wing wrote: »

I thought the fact that a lot of books had not been written yet was on purpose, cannot remember how they appeared but I thought that was one of the reasons the mages guild was looking for them, perhaps someone better with the lore could explain.

That's more or less what I was thinking about. Hermaeus Mora being a Daedric Prince over forbidden knowledge and memories, and time travel being a thing in the series, it wouldn't surprise me if some books wound up where they weren't suppose to be.

There's also the possibility The Lusty Argonian Maid was an oral (heh) story that was never committed to paper until the "original" author finally wrote it down and took credit for it since no one could possibly know who the original storyteller was.

Lariana

The Hermaeus Mora theory is an interesting one. But I had the impression that Hermy was more, eh, secretive about all forms of knowledge; he didn't strike me as the type to just carelessly leave bawdy literature just lying around in the mortal realm, especially that which might be from a different age.

I do want to see more of him.

Cadbury

Lariana wrote: »

The Lusty Argonian Maid was supposedly written by Crassius Curio during/before the events of Oblivion (roughly the end of the third era). So it makes sense for the books to appear in Oblivion, Morrowind, and Skyrim.

So why are the books there in ESO? (And please don't say, to entertain the fan base! )

My speculations are that either Crassius found some old books and ripped them off, or some Dragon Break theory (which I don't fully comprehend), but I'm looking for a better explanation.

That's always been my assumption, personally

But I like this explanation better...

JD2013

Hermaeus Mora did it.

SantieClaws

This one recalls that they said the written story of the Maid as written by Curio was based on a much older folk tale.

Yours with lore paws
Santie Claws

SlayerTheDragon

Lifts-Her-Tail: "My goodness, that's quite a loaf! But how ever shall it fit my oven? "
Crantius Colto: "This loaf isn't ready for baking, my sweet. It has yet to rise. "

Enodoc

Lariana wrote: »

My speculations are that either Crassius found some old books and ripped them off, or some Dragon Break theory (which I don't fully comprehend), but I'm looking for a better explanation.

Both of these are true.

JD2013 wrote: »

Hermaeus Mora did it.

As is that.


On the first (Crassius found some old books and ripped them off):
"The Lusty Argonian Maid" has its origins in a long line of tales told by traveling bards, each with a slightly different title and premise, but the same end result: a female innocent succumbs to the charms of a dominant, married male character. (The Argonian Maid—An Oral Tradition)

On the second (some Dragon Break theory, Hermaeus Mora):
Tales say that Gandranen was built by an Ayleid sorcerer, a worshiper of Hermaeus Mora who so loved books that she created a series of magical halls that would attract books from across Tamriel, no matter where—or when—they were published. (Gandranen Ruins loading screen)

But what if.... Crassius ripped off an old book that was sent back in time by Gandranen? Maybe he's ripping off something that stemmed from his own book being sent back in time.

Bootstrap paradox.

DarthCarnate

This was one of the things about the game that bugged me about since the beta; that this was in here. I mean, to me, there's no question that the book/play was written by Crassius Curio, as the character used (Crantius Colto) has a name very similar to his own, as well as a matching personality. I thought it was easy to see it as a self-insertionist fiction kind of deal. Also knowing that there's no mention of this story or anything like it in the two games that came before it had me thinking it originated in Morrowind.

If ESO is counted as canon (and I haven't seen or heard anything that says it's not) then I'd have to believe in the Dragon Break theory, as it seems TLAM has a kind of reverse-tree-branch thing going on: A bunch of tree branches come together to form the trunk rather than sprouting from the trunk like most things do in time. The many versions from The Argonian Maid—An Oral Tradition coming together to form the one and only version in the later timeline.

Love to see the Hermaeus Mora explanation, as there's definitely some time-travel hinkiness going on with the books in ESO with Ruminations on the Elder Scrolls and Wulfmare's Guide to Better Thieving. Also wouldn't be surprised if a Daedric Prince was involved, but my money would be on Sheogorath doing it to drive people like me nuts (I want a straight continuity, dammit!)

Of course, as with most things, arguments can be made to dispute everything I put here. I'm just putting out what seems the most plausible theory I've got until an explanation is given, if that ever happens. Love to see what others come up with.

Abeille

According to the in-game explanation, it was a tale and a play before it was a book.

There are plenty of variations, and Telenger the Artificer has a book on it.

http://pt.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:The_Argonian_Maid—An_Oral_Tradition

And I absolutely abhor the "Dragon Break" explanation. It is the TES version of "It was only a dream". It's cheesy and a cheap cop-out. I prefer almost ANY explanation for anything in the series other than "Dragon Break". Yuck.

mb10

Please dont refer to the dragon break theory every time there is an unaswered question (not targetted at OP, just lore fans in general)

Its the one thing that I really dislike about TES lore fans.

Oh and "CHIM".

Im sure theres logical reasoning behind the presence of that book being in ESO.

Abeille

mb10 wrote: »

Please dont refer to the dragon break theory every time there is an unaswered question (not targetted at OP, just lore fans in general)

Its the one thing that I really dislike about TES lore fans.

Oh and "CHIM".

Im sure theres logical reasoning behind the presence of that book being in ESO.

Thank you for reminding me of CHIM! It is the one thing I hate more than Dragon Breaks as an explanation.

This kind of cop-outs just make for weak story-telling, in my opinion.

starlizard70ub17_ESO

In the Skyrim's DLC Dragonborn, it's sort of explained. In the library in Hermaeus Mora's realm, there's a copy of every book that ever has been or ever will be written. Hermaeus Mora's realm is outside of normal time/space, so that's how it works. Daedric Princes, like Sheogorath, some times borrow books for whatever reason, and those books may get copied. That's why different versions of the same book can be found.

TheShadowScout

Lariana wrote: »

The Lusty Argonian Maid was supposedly written by Crassius Curio during/before the events of Oblivion (roughly the end of the third era). So it makes sense for the books to appear in Oblivion, Morrowind, and Skyrim.

So why are the books there in ESO? (And please don't say, to entertain the fan base! )

My speculations are that either Crassius found some old books and ripped them off, or some Dragon Break theory (which I don't fully comprehend), but I'm looking for a better explanation.

Personally I'd say you may be spot on for this one.
Well, either that or Uncle Sheo lost his copy back when he was shopping for cheese and cabbage in the first Era, and people found and copied that book, resulting in a wide distribution by the time of ESO, even though it won't be written until much later...

Personally I am still waiting for the illustrated edition!

ArchMikem

Or maybe it's just a fun kinky little easter egg the Devs put in for us.

I'm going with easter egg.

DarthCarnate

TheShadowScout wrote: »

Personally I am still waiting for the illustrated edition!

I think there is one in ESO as a treasure item. Can't actually look at the pictures, though...

Only just now realized that I accidentally revived an 8 month dead thread...sorry about that!

Elsonso

mb10 wrote: »

Please dont refer to the dragon break theory every time there is an unaswered question (not targetted at OP, just lore fans in general)

Its the one thing that I really dislike about TES lore fans.

Oh and "CHIM".

Im sure theres logical reasoning behind the presence of that book being in ESO.

As I recall, the Hermaeus Mora reason is the one presented in ESO. This forms the basis for the Mage's Guild quest to get lore books.

ArchMikem wrote: »

Or maybe it's just a fun kinky little easter egg the Devs put in for us.

I'm going with easter egg.

Well, as far as the devs go, the books are the way they introduce new players to the lore. That is why they are in the game, you insist on peeking behind the curtain over there.

Abeille

lordrichter wrote: »

mb10 wrote: »

Please dont refer to the dragon break theory every time there is an unaswered question (not targetted at OP, just lore fans in general)

Its the one thing that I really dislike about TES lore fans.

Oh and "CHIM".

Im sure theres logical reasoning behind the presence of that book being in ESO.

As I recall, the Hermaeus Mora reason is the one presented in ESO. This forms the basis for the Mage's Guild quest to get lore books.

I don't know if it is presented as the reason for this one specifically, but books are certainly moving in time in ESO so it is a possibility.

Maybe the book fell so much back in time that it was actually what made it an oral tradition. Someone read it, and then passed forward and it spread across Tamriel (and then eventually Telly made his research on it).

theher0not

TheShadowScout wrote: »

Personally I am still waiting for the illustrated edition!

I think that exist somewhere om the internet. Google it if you dare.

WalksonGraves

My greatest regret is not having named my Argonian lifts-her-tail