Guide to Swimming in Vvardenfell

For those who want to get from one isle to another.

Introduction

Vvardenfell is a large island set apart from mainland Morrowind serving as the base of Red Mountain. There are several regions within this landscape, such as the Ashlands, Ascadian Isles, Sheogorad, and Azura's Coast among others. What matters though is that wherever you may be, seeing as a majority of locals and outlanders alike prefer to keep their distance from the dangerous volcanic landscape in the center of the island, you wouldn't have to travel far to reach the coastline. The waters may be enticing to some, and others may have a bad head for directions and not have easy access to a bridge, leaving the way between them and their destination blocked by a river. However, before anyone goes eagerly jumping into the water, I implore you read this guide as to better understand the hell that even the planes of Oblivion fear. Diving and even surface swimming in Vvardenfell is a dangerous task, here's what you must know.

Step 1: Suit Up

Some so called "experts" try and tell people that swimming is about being streamlined and aerodynamic. Those people are the skeletons you find cluttered under bridges that everyone is too apathetic to clean out. What you need to swim is the best armor you can afford. I recommend you find your local midget wood elf and help them with any tasks they may require, it's common knowledge that all Bosmer are in league with a supplier somewhere. Either that or you could be a lucky or musk-wearing smoothtalker, may as well put that skill to use while you can. Once your local merchant has enough faith in you, request the good stuff. Make your pick of armaments, but most notably pick some reinforced boots and leggings that cover well your toes, heels, and especially ankles. As for any weapons, anything that isn't ranged based will do. That's the thing about water, it has more resistance than air by far. Some types of magic may work as well, and having any effects that invoke resistance and even water mobility will certainly help, but more than anything, don't forget your ankle protection.

Step 2: Approach the Water

That isn't water, that's lava.










That's better. Be sure to take the time before entering to secure your armor on, hone your blade or sand your hammer, or whatever you do to a blunt weapon to make it more potent, secure your ebony plated shinguards, drink your potions, buff your effects, and pray to Stendarr while you can. Once that's done, go in, and prepare yourself for the next step...

Step 3: Fight the Slaughterfish

Slaughterfish are a sick joke played on us by Molag Bal after a drunken one night stand with a Maormer princess. They have a keen sense of smell, can detect motion in the water, sense the electro-magnetic waves emitted from living creatures, and also have psychic clairvoyance for scribs and giggles. And they are everywhere. As soon as you go waist deep into the water, in ANY open water, be it ocean or fresh water, every slaughterfish in a kilometer radius will charge directly towards you. You now have two options, defend yourself, run, or DIE. Ok, make that three options, one of which being a terrible option. To my fellow Dunmer, I implore you, get in touch with your ancestral spirits to place yourselves in the mindset of a tribunal warrior in The Four-Score War and strike at the opposition with all your heart. To everyone else, just pretend you're Hermaeus Mora surrounded by a swarm of hornets and fight with every last bit of strength.

Step 4: Advance

Congratulations you made it through the hoard, but don't celebrate yet, you haven't even begun your trek across the water to your destination. Now that the surrounding water is clear, you may advance 15 meters ahead. After this is done, repeat step 3. Repeat this process as many times as necessary to get across. I recommend taking your time, sure the journey may be a slow one, and you aren't getting any younger, but you do NOT want to get caught by the fish without your stamina.

Optional Step 5: Here He Comes, Here Comes Cliff Racer

Cliff racers are easily the second most common entity in Vvardenfell, and it is very possible that you may encounter one that descends upon you even as you swim. They are stronger than the slaughterfish, but you are likely able to handle one at a time. If two, three, or even 50 of them strike at once, then by all means feel free to sink into the water and wait for asphyxiation. It would likely be less painful.

End Of

If you make it to this step, congratulations, you are one of the greatest warriors on the face of Morrowind already. Or you're just reading this in advance expecting more help. If you did make it out alive, then there's nothing more you can be taught. Simply find a high location and cry out...

CRAP I FORGOT THE DREUGH

Ok, I'm going to be completely honest with all of you, not once had I ever made it past the slaughterfish. I spent my entire life as a servant to Delvam Andarys, but then he started drugging me to "borrow" my spleen and liver and I realized I had to bail out. I spent the past 11 months studying every known record on people who went swimming to attempt to flee the island, and today I took an acrobatics scroll, lunged into the open water, and successfully deterred the slaughterfish with shock magic. I thought all my knowledge had paid off, but then I saw something that looked like some kind of Altmer body builder or something, at least that's what I think the Altmer look like, and I figured, hey, that must mean I'm safe to get to the mainland. Then the madlad turns to me and I realize it's some kind of crab behemoth, he must have been like 30 meters away, and then in an instant he just darts immediately behind me and cuts off my lower torso. I had to pull myself out of the water onto the shore, I had no idea how I was alive, but then I realized Delvam removed all my blood. I guess he replaced that too. Now I have no legs, but surely being on land is much safer than being remotely near the water. I just need to hoist myself to Molag Mar with my elbows, can't be long now.

[Greyskys85]

You can SWIM in this game? This whole time I have been walking on TOP of the water like an idiot!

[nudle]

laughs in argonian

[Forth Eorlingas]

It's easier to walk on water than swim in Morrowind. Jesus would be regarded as a low skilled N'wah

[Harry DuN'wah]

*laughs in icarian flight*

[Prophet]

You N'wah!

[Blep]

I completely missed that 5 month old comment, but for dungeons... I dunno, buy an Argonian to make a waterproof map or something.

[marijan773]

S'wit!

[Pilauli]

Of course, walking across the water is easier than swimming through the water, but it's not nearly as entertaining to read about.

What's your advice for the water in dungeons? It has a finite number of slaughterfish, but it's really hard to navigate in.

[One Winged Angel]

Now thats some quality content

[Prismatic]

*mods out Slaughterfish and Cliffracers*
Reality can be whatever I want