Lore:Emperor Crab

Emperor Crabs
An Emperor Crab
Type		Beast (Arthropod)
Range		Vvardenfell (extinct)
Appears in		Morrowind, Skyrim(CC), ESO

Emperor Crabs are gigantic semi-aquatic crabs who were once native to the Ashlands of Vvardenfell, contemporary with the early settled Chimer. The species died out long before 3E 427. They are described as being as large as cathedrals and some naturalists believe they are related to the mudcrab. One source claims that they devolved into the modern mudcrab after abandoning divine pursuits in favor of mundane satisfactions.

While they were known to be hunted by ancient Ashlanders, the discovery of massive ash-herder grapnels has caused some scholars to speculate whether ancient Dunmer actually tamed these massive beasts. The arms and armor of House Redoran are inspired by the claws and chitin of the gigantic arthropods. They have also famously used the shells of the creatures in architecture.

Notable Emperor Crabs

• The most famous Emperor Crab was called Skar, and its giant shell was incorporated into the city of Ald'ruhn. "Under Skar" was the manor district of the settlement, and housed the leaders of Great House Redoran as well as several merchants. The Ashlanders claim that Dranoth Hleran killed Skar with Calderas, a mighty spear. During the Oblivion Crisis, ancient rituals were used to awaken Skar and the whole city literally rose up to fight the invaders. However, Ald'ruhn was destroyed anyway by the Daedric armies of Mehrunes Dagon.

• Circa 4E 201, a novice necromancer named Seviur established himself at a fishing shack west of the city of Dawnstar in Skyrim. He conducted what he believed to be a pacification ritual to summon waves of mudcrabs to the shore so that he could practice his ability to resurrect the creatures as undead. However, frenzied mudcrabs continued to come ashore long after Seviur's illusion magic faded, and he was ultimately killed by the creatures. A Riften fisherwoman named Viriya sent the Last Dragonborn to the shack to deal with the mudcrabs, as the frenzied crabs posed a threat to locals. Although the attacks subsided, the creatures later reappeared in even greater numbers. Guards were sent from Dawnstar by the Jarl to deal with the creatures, but their ferocity had been underestimated. Dawnstar's forces fled when a Guardian Spirit in the form of an Emperor Crab emerged from the ocean. Although initially in disbelief at the reports, Viriya summoned the Last Dragonborn to Dawnstar and met up with the city's reinforcements to launch a full attack on the crabs. After several waves of mudcrabs, the spirit Emperor Crab reappeared and attacked the soldiers. It was defeated with the use of flaming catapults, ending the threat.

Gallery

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  Emperor Crab Overhead

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  Render of the Emperor Crab's model (Front)

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  Render of the Emperor Crab's model (Back)

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  An Emperor Crab Guardian Spirit

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  The shell of Skar, an Emperor Crab

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  The shell of Skar in the Second Era, prior to Ald'ruhn becoming a Redoran city

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  "Under Skar"

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  Redoran warriors inside Skar

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  Skar during the Oblivion Crisis

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  Redoran Architecture similar in appearance to an Emperor Crab's shell

See Also

Books

• The Grave of Skar by Anrunn Frozen-Cove — A tale of the founding of Ald'ruhn
• Ballad of Dranoth Hleran — A song describing the death of Skar

References

Note: The following references are considered to be unofficial sources. They are included to round off this article and may not be authoritative or conclusive.