Why are there Wrothgar harpies in Elsweyr?

Carbonised · July 2019

These are the harpies found in Wrothgar, but from the Elsweyr zone:

These are "normal" harpies, from zones like Alik'r and High Rock:

To me it seems like the put the wrong sort of harpies in Elsweyr. The Wrothgar harpies are distinctly unique to that zone, there's even NPCs who mention that they are a degenerate sort of harpies from inbreeding, almost like animals instead of humanoids. And their drab and black plumage is much more fitting for a drab and austere zone like Wrothgar, while the purple and red hued harpies would be a much better fit for Elsweyr's tropic climate and geography.

Pity they decided to go with Wrothgar harpies in Elsweyr, the two zones are literally at the opposite ends of Tamriel, and it's a bit lore breaking to put the Wrothgar harpies in that zone.

TheRimOfTheSky · August 2019

It's also weird because harpies in Khenarthi's Roost (an island literally part of Elsweyr) has harpies that look like this:

Orzorga says in one of her quests that Wrothgar's harpies look like that because they're inbred. It's a mystery as to why Zenimax keeps re-using the black harpy model, maybe they wanted harpies to look more grotesque, or maybe they just forgot to use a better texture/model altogether.

Darkhorse1975 · August 2019

Perhaps they migrate?

Aliyavana · August 2019

Darkhorse1975 wrote: »

Perhaps they migrate?

wrothgar is pretty far to the north

redgreensunset · August 2019

Aliyavana wrote: »

Darkhorse1975 wrote: »

Perhaps they migrate?

wrothgar is pretty far to the north

And? Birds irl migrate thousands of miles back and forth each epyear between the southern and northern hemisphere.
A bigger counter argument would bethat the Wrothgar harpies are inbred, suggesting they're stationary but of course if could be due to either very strong group cohesion that doesn't easily aloe others to enter or that they at some point developed a mutation that lessened the chance of them breeding with an outside member, whichover time led to inbreeding.

SantieClaws · August 2019

Well .. the story goes that way back a hungry Khajiit was travelling in green toothy land. Lost and alone he found some eggs and picked them up - put them in his bag just in case he had an unquenchable desire for an omelette later on.

Well he arrived finally in green toothy city place where he found they serve the best omelettes in all Tamriel.

His craving for eggs and cheese now totally satisfied he continued on his way … forgetting all about the eggs in his backpack.

He was almost home again in Elsweyr when some cracking noises from his bag began to concern him. Louder now they became so he threw away his bag and ran!

This is how Wrothgar harpies came to Elsweyr.

Or Wandering Claws Bane as we call them yes …

Yours with paws
Santie Claws

redgreensunset · August 2019

SantieClaws wrote: »

Well .. the story goes that way back a hungry Khajiit was travelling in green toothy land. Lost and alone he found some eggs and picked them up - put them in his bag just in case he had an unquenchable desire for an omelette later on.

Well he arrived finally in green toothy city place where he found they serve the best omelettes in all Tamriel.

His craving for eggs and cheese now totally satisfied he continued on his way … forgetting all about the eggs in his backpack.

He was almost home again in Elsweyr when some cracking noises from his bag began to concern him. Louder now they became so he threw away his bag and ran!

This is how Wrothgar harpies came to Elsweyr.

Or Wandering Claws Bane as we call them yes …

Yours with paws
Santie Claws

So what you're telling us is that harpies in Elsweyr is an invasive species and we're helping the ecosystem by killing them?

SantieClaws · August 2019

redgreensunset wrote: »

SantieClaws wrote: »

Well .. the story goes that way back a hungry Khajiit was travelling in green toothy land. Lost and alone he found some eggs and picked them up - put them in his bag just in case he had an unquenchable desire for an omelette later on.

Well he arrived finally in green toothy city place where he found they serve the best omelettes in all Tamriel.

His craving for eggs and cheese now totally satisfied he continued on his way … forgetting all about the eggs in his backpack.

He was almost home again in Elsweyr when some cracking noises from his bag began to concern him. Louder now they became so he threw away his bag and ran!

This is how Wrothgar harpies came to Elsweyr.

Or Wandering Claws Bane as we call them yes …

Yours with paws
Santie Claws

So what you're telling us is that harpies in Elsweyr is an invasive species and we're helping the ecosystem by killing them?

Yes and no. Invasive indeed - but such great omelettes …

Khajiit would miss her Sundas breakfast very much if you wiped out all of the harpies.

Yours with paws
Santie Claws

Darkhorse1975 · August 2019

SantieClaws wrote: »

Well .. the story goes that way back a hungry Khajiit was travelling in green toothy land. Lost and alone he found some eggs and picked them up - put them in his bag just in case he had an unquenchable desire for an omelette later on.

Well he arrived finally in green toothy city place where he found they serve the best omelettes in all Tamriel.

His craving for eggs and cheese now totally satisfied he continued on his way … forgetting all about the eggs in his backpack.

He was almost home again in Elsweyr when some cracking noises from his bag began to concern him. Louder now they became so he threw away his bag and ran!

This is how Wrothgar harpies came to Elsweyr.

Or Wandering Claws Bane as we call them yes …

Yours with paws
Santie Claws

I'd say this wraps up the case of the harpie conundrum! BTW, you wouldn't happen to be distantly related to M'aiq the Liar?

NolaArch · August 2019

Elsweyr has a lot of critters from zones that I didn’t think I would find there. Those harpies, gryphons, haj mota, and quite a few Craglorn staples.

Veinblood1965 · August 2019

Well they do have wings. Of course the could be African Harpies who are able to carry a complete coconut.

SantieClaws · August 2019

Darkhorse1975 wrote: »

SantieClaws wrote: »

Well .. the story goes that way back a hungry Khajiit was travelling in green toothy land. Lost and alone he found some eggs and picked them up - put them in his bag just in case he had an unquenchable desire for an omelette later on.

Well he arrived finally in green toothy city place where he found they serve the best omelettes in all Tamriel.

His craving for eggs and cheese now totally satisfied he continued on his way … forgetting all about the eggs in his backpack.

He was almost home again in Elsweyr when some cracking noises from his bag began to concern him. Louder now they became so he threw away his bag and ran!

This is how Wrothgar harpies came to Elsweyr.

Or Wandering Claws Bane as we call them yes …

Yours with paws
Santie Claws

I'd say this wraps up the case of the harpie conundrum! BTW, you wouldn't happen to be distantly related to M'aiq the Liar?

Well the rumour is that M'aiq's real name is Honest Claws …

This one does not know him as close family though no.

Yours with paws
Santie Claws

DrowElfMorwen · August 2019

I do wish some monsters were more restricted by region. I shouldn't see a Haj Mota in the deserts of Elswyer and the swamps of Murkmire. An animal generally only thrives in one type of environment. Especially reptilian ones.