Lore:Lurcher

Lurchers
	A Lurcher (ESO)
Type	Golem or Nature Spirit
Range	Black Marsh, Elsweyr, High Rock, Skyrim; Hunting Grounds
Appears in	ESO, Legends, Betrayal of the Second Era

"A spriggan’s accursed brother crashed into our camp: However, unlike the lithe forms created by Kyne, this was a lumbering binding of an evil spirit: a crudely made construct of vines, twisted branches, and knurled bark, some parts still with mushrooms and moss growing on them. A writhing ball of luminous energy churned within the outer casing, visible through exposed ribs and a hole where the head should be. “Lurcher!” Fenrig shouted—an apt title, as the unsteady golem staggered out of the trees with the grace and agility of an intoxicated giant. It appeared to be fashioned by a Reachman, with primitive movements to match. This was a creature built to cleave. It shook the ground as it walked."
—Kyne's Challenge: A Hunter's Companion

Lurchers (or Log-striders)^[1] are plant-like creatures of multiple origins. They often created as a form of wooden golem, described as constructs made from bark, moss, and evil magic.^[2]^[3] Reachmen create them by binding evil spirits to crudely made bodies of vines, twisted branches, and knurled bark.^[4]^:59 There also have been instances of Briarhearts from the Winterborn clan transforming themselves into briar heart tree lurchers through hagraven rituals involving fire, vines, and blood.^[5]^[6] Lurchers often attack by expelling clouds of choking pollen from their glowing core.^[7] This pollen has been known to spread disease in High Rock.^[4]^:59,60

Lurchers have been described by Nords as the "accursed brothers" or "polluted cousins" of Spriggans.^[4]^:59,60 Their crude artificial bodies are said to contrast them with the lithe forms of the Spriggans created by Kyne.^[4]^:59 The Bloodthorn Cult performs a perverted ritual using Spriggans as a base, twisting the creatures into lurchers and leaving them as shells of their former selves.^[8]^[9] Members of the Beldama Wyrd considered these lurchers abominations.^[8]

Lurchers are looked upon positively in Valenwood, where they are created by the local Bosmer frequently. The Bosmer create Lurchers using the local flora as a base, adding other ingredients such as bug parts to give their lurchers special elemental qualities.^[10] The Shimmering Kollopi Tree produces seeds that can be grown into vengeful lurchers. In Greenshade, the tribal Bosmer see lurchers as gifts from the Wilderking, and "embodiments of the raw energy of the forest".^[11] The lurchers that resided within Shadowfen were known to coexist peacefully with the native wildlife and nature spirits,^[1] some of them having resided in the area since ancient times.^[12]

Daedric forces have been known to create lurchers, inscribing their bodies with Daedric script.^[13] Lurchers are known to reside alongside Spriggans in Hircine's Hunting Grounds, and have even acted as host bodies for the mysterious Shade of the Grove.^[14] The Hist have been known to manifest in visions with the forms of shadowy lurchers known as "Hist-Brothers".^[15]