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Spriggans
	A Spriggan (Skyrim)
Type	Nature Spirit
Range	Tamriel; Coldharbour, Hunting Grounds
Appears in	Daggerfall, Bloodmoon, Oblivion, Skyrim, ESO, Legends, SkyrimVSE, Blades, Call to Arms, SkyrimTAG, Castles, Betrayal of the Second Era

"Yes I did wreak vengeance upon the slayers of wood. Know that they did slay seedlings of mine. Would you stand rooted while someone slew your seedlings? I have no quarrel with you. Convince the woodsmen to prune with care, and I shall leave them in peace."
—A Spriggan negotiating with the Agent^[1]

Spriggans, often called Nature's Guardians,^[2] are nature spirits that typically take the form of tree-like female humanoids,^[3]^[4]^:55 though some also take animal-like forms.^[5] They possess moderate intelligence, but despite being revered they are usually hostile towards travelers. They are usually found protecting secluded glades and groves all over Tamriel, often blending in with the plant life and catching trespassers unaware. Spriggans attack with their long, sharp fingers as well as with their teeth, and have the ability to poison enemies. They have incredible regenerative abilities, resulting in adventurers often having to defeat them several times before they remain dead. If threatened, they can call nearby woodland animals to aid them in battle, and some even have the ability to magically summon black bears.^[6]^[7] They also often utilize swarms of insects to defend themselves.

According to Nordic myth, Spriggans are immortal, and become larger and more powerful each time they are slain.^[8]

Origins and ReligionEdit

Spriggans are considered by Nords to be creations of the goddess Kyne. Spriggans are also associated with Kynareth, and regard the Boots of the Crusader as sacred.^[9] They oftentimes serve as the guardians of ancient trees, such as the Eldergleam and the First Tree. According to Skaal legend, the Spriggans of Solstheim came into being when the All-Maker breathed life into the land, and his Breath blew through the trees.^[10]

The Glenmoril Wyrd are thought to use spriggan sap in their tattoo ink, so that the wearer may form a more intimate bond with nature.^[11] Spriggan's Veils are branches that are sometimes shed by spriggans, which are believed to have symbolic meaning in druidic practices.^[12]

Behavior and CultureEdit

A Spriggan using a natural bow (ESO)

Spriggans are known to form hierarchies, with powerful elder Spriggans such as Spriggan Matrons and the even more powerful Spriggan Earth Mothers acting as Matriarchs.^[13]^[14] Though the scholar Phrastus of Elinhir was convinced that Spriggans are incapable of such intelligent behavior, and that they only act according to instinct.^[3]

Spriggans have their own unique language, which can be learned by scholars and used to calm the creatures.^[15] Some Spriggans are even capable of speaking Tamrielic, and are capable of negotiating with others.^[1]

Variants and Related CreaturesEdit

There are several varieties of Spriggan. Regular Spriggans appear as female humanoids made of wood, sometimes covered in foliage or emitting magical green light. Some scholars have speculated that the color of their floral fixtures change to match the current season of the year, accounting for "the so-called spring, summer, autumn, and winter" variants found amidst Tamriel's deciduous forests.^[3]

AnimalsEdit

Spriggans occasionally take the shapes of of animals, such as bears and senche-cats.^[5]

They are similar in appearance to Wild Hunt animals, creatures that were caught in the proximity of Bosmeri Wild Hunts that have forgotten their Y'ffre-taught shapes and shift into unnatural forms.^[16]

A Spriggan Bear
A Spriggan Senche

Burnt SpriggansEdit

Spriggans have occasionally been altered by certain firey stimulus, such as the firey Ashen Spriggans found during volcanic activity in the Systres Archipelago.^[17] After the Red Year, the Hirstaang Forest on Solstheim was scorched by the eruptions from Red Mountain, which gave rise to mysterious Burnt Spriggans. These twisted creatures glow from eternally-smouldering embers, and have the ability to attack travelers with magical fire. They wander the ashlands of southern Solstheim and are the subject of research for the Telvanni of Tel Mithryn.^[18]

Burnt Spriggan (Skyrim)
An Ashen Spriggan (ESO)

Colossal SpriggansEdit

Colosssal Spriggan (ESO)
The Preserver of Galen (ESO)

Spriggan MatriarchsEdit

Spriggan Matrons and Spriggan Earth Mothers are stronger than normal Spriggans, and typically emit orange and purple light respectively. ^[14]

A Spriggan Matron (Skyrim)
A Spriggan Matron (ESO)
An Eldergleam Matron (Legends)
A Spriggan Matron (Blades)
A Spriggan Earth Mother (Skyrim)
A Spriggan Earth Mother (Blades)
A Spriggan Matriarch (Blades)
A Shadowgreen Elder (Legends)

Winterborn SpriggansEdit

Winterborn Spriggan (ESO)

Related CreaturesEdit

GnarlsEdit

Gnarls, also known as Walking Trees, are one of the strangest creatures of the Shivering Isles. Like the Elytra, this animated plant roams almost anywhere on the Isles. Said to be one of Sheogorath's truly unique creations, the Gnarl has the most unusual trait of being able to use magic cast upon it, and harness that power to bolster its own defense, becoming resistant to just that element for a short time.

There is much not understood about them, such as whether they have genders and how they propagate. They are believed to be caretakers of the Shivering Isles' Root System, severe trauma to the root system walls results in the formation of amber deposits as part of its natural defense mechanism, Gnarls clear away the amber and sometimes bring it to the surface. They also have a truce of sorts with other creatures of the Isles such as the Baliwog and Elytra. They seem to have some relation to Spriggans, and are sometimes classified with them.

A Gnarl
A Corrupted Spriggan resembling a Demented Gnarl
A Corrupted Spriggan resembling a Manic Gnarl

LurchersEdit

Lurchers (or Log-striders) 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. Reachmen create them by binding evil spirits to crudely made bodies of vines, twisted branches, and knurled bark. 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. Lurchers often attack by expelling clouds of choking pollen from their glowing core. This pollen has been known to spread disease in High Rock.

Lurchers have been described by Nords as the "accursed brothers" or "polluted cousins" of Spriggans. Their crude artificial bodies are said to contrast them with the lithe forms of the Spriggans created by Kyne. 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. Members of the Beldama Wyrd considered these lurchers abominations.

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. 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". The lurchers that resided within Shadowfen were known to coexist peacefully with the native wildlife and nature spirits, some of them having resided in the area since ancient times.

A Lurcher

UsesEdit

The bodies of Spriggans provide Taproot (also called Supple Roots), a valuable alchemical ingredient. They can also occasionally be harvested for Belladonna berries or rare Heartwood. Spriggan Sap, Spriggan Ears,^[19] Spriggan Bark, Primal Sproutlings,^[20] and Burnt Spriggan Wood can all be obtained from Spriggans, and some can be of alchemical use. Once a year, Spriggans shed branches and leaves known as a Spriggan's Veil. These are prized by herbalists and wizards, and are believed to have symbolic meaning in Druidic practices.^[21]^[22]^[12]