A Theory as to the Metaphysical Connection Between the Tsaesci and the Hist

By Andul Stacey (Adventurous Putty)

Given the continent of Akavir's distance from Tamriel, not to mention the highly-publicized failure of many a recent expedition between the two (Ionith, prow), it is no surprise that information about the Dragon Land is scarce. Since the recent archaeological discoveries at Pale Pass, however, public interest in the denizens of our mysterious trans-oceanic neighbor has been at an all-time high, prompting much scholarly debate surrounding exactly what those races to the East are like -- particularly the infamous Tsaesci "snake-men." That said, however, it is beyond the scope of this article to draw conclusions about the mundane physiology of the Tsaesci. Instead, its focus is to analyze a new connection forged between these mysterious figures and a significantly more local group -- namely, the Hist of Argonia.

Critics of such a connection could easily argue that, given that little and less is known about either of these two groups, any conjecture as to a connection between the two cannot be proven or disproven as more than anything but that -- conjecture. This article only seeks to highlight what can be seen as solid evidence as to these new, radical theories, leaving any deeper argument to more suitable scholars.

(NOTE: For those not well-versed in the basic information about the Tsaesci or the Hist, please consult Guide to Akavir and the Argonian Compendium, respectively.)

The first important evidence of note can be found within Vehk's Teachings, as recorded by scholars as the Warrior-Poet and the ALMSILVI made his way to the Imperial Capital on business. Though the scholarly discussion touches upon several topics (such as CHIM, the Godhead, etc), one with a keen eye may notice the following:

More on the Psijic Endeavor
What is the Psijic Endeavor?

The basis for the teachings of the Prophet Veloth, founder of present day Morrowind and father of Dunmeri culture. Veloth describes the Psijic Endeavor as a process of glorious apotheosis, where time itself is bent inward and outward into 'a shape that is always new'. Those who can attain this state, called chim, experience an ineffable sense of the godhead, and escape the strictures of the world-egg.

It should be noted that, while Veloth is given credit for establishing the anti-laws that govern the Endeavor, this process has its antecedents in the teachings of the Black Hands Mephala, Boethiah, Azura, Trinimac, and, of course, Lorkhan, through that lord's association with PSJJJJ. What is "chim"?

From the Ehlnofex: an ancient sigil connoting 'royalty', 'starlight', and 'high splendor'. As with most characters of that dangerous language, the sigil CHIM constantly distorts itself. Those scholars that can perceive its shape regard it as a Crowned Tower that threatens to break apart at the slightest break in concentration.

Representations of the chim, and by extension the Psijic Endeavor, are always protean values, such as the anumidi models renowned by the Dwemer, the Scarab of contemporary astrolothurges, and the Striking ("exact egg-cracking") of old Argonia. All of these representations possess an innate and constant aspect of transformation.

Note the highlighted phrase. When taken alone, this might mean nothing -- those who are familiar with Argonian culture will find that the mysterious lizard-men of Black Marsh have many such euphemisms and names within their dialect to describe both mundane and metaphysical occurrences, perhaps because of the way that their reptilian nature influences their train of thought in a unique fashion. However, what may strike the seasoned Akaviri scholar is the almost exact precision with which the phrase is copied -- both in word and in context -- in the recently-discovered Tsaesci Creation Myth. One notable instance:

There was the Striking, and the Egg was split into twelve worlds, one for each serpent who had a name, and the names of the serpents were alive and coiled into themselves and became more eggs, for names are self-maters, and the Naming went and went. According to the calculations, the random sequence learned very cunningly that fragmentation reserved itself to the left eye. Variation realms were the evidence needed.

This, of course, begs the question: could this possibly be a coincidence?

It is, perhaps, easier to start with an analysis of the Hist. The Hist, or tree-spirits of Argonia, are notable because, in addition to being scarce, they were direct witnesses to the metaphysical god-wars that, combined, formed the Creation. To quote the Anuad:

The Hist were bystanders in the Ehlnofey war, but most of their realm was destroyed as the war passed over it. A small corner of it survived to become Black Marsh in Tamriel, but most of their realm was sunk beneath the sea.

The Hist, therefore, are survivors from the Dawn Era, apparently immortal, and confined to a single region and a single form. Unlike the Ehlnofey, they did not become wanderers -- or, at least, most of them did not. But more on that later.

Consider this: Hist are generally seen as near-immortal, sentient trees that created the Argonians as their mortal protectors. They are also, according to legend, survivors from the Dawn, witnesses to the Creation itself. And, on top of that, because they reside within Nirn, they are not bound by any mythopoeic vow that may hinder that knowledge (ie -- as the Daedra are bound to their spheres to the point of being mindless). Imagine all the arcane power that must be contained within those branches; it is even hinted at in an old Redguard legend. To quote:

Vivec lifted his legs to float in the lotus position, his head to the side with the smile vanished and replaced by a dole of remorse without mocking. "I know how you die," he said, "and the trouble your soul will have reaching the far shores of your taken stars because of things you did to the discredit of the Hist, and how their long roots run even into the void tendril-feeling for your final entrance. I know how you think now, at this moment, that there are no paths except for the drowned lamp, or the wrongheaded romance of saberplay in a landscape of long regret, taking whosoever will ride with you through the still-sought salvation spread across each water lash, wandering your heart to find some purchase beyond the admonishment of the moons; flagellant without end."

Certainly enough, according to Vivec, to hinder even Cyrus the Restless in his afterlife.

So, given this power, one must wonder -- is there not a possibility that some Hist may have become wanderers, not unlike the Ehlnofey? And, if so, wouldn't they, too, have a clear, near-perfect memory of the Creation?

What if they were the Tsaesci?

Note, once again, the near-mathematical precision with which the Tsaesci Creation Myth is rendered -- while some of its wordplay may elude the minds of the non-scaled, the meaning is still quite clear. And, to top it all off, much of the myth centers around the Tsaesci reconstructing themselves using the mythic echoes of other beings; could it be that they, not unlike the Tree-Hist, restructured themselves into a form that best suited their wandering? When all this is taken together with an open mind, the absurdity of the radical theory that the Tsaesci may be Hist seems to diminish considerably.

Some final, if unrelated, points:

-Myserious Akavir states that the Akaviri were able to defeat the revered dragons of the Ka Po'Tun. Dragons, remember, are mythic creatures -- it is speculated that they hold a powerful metaphysical bond with the Aedra/Divine Akatosh. Could it not be argued that triumph over such powerful forces required power that could only be found through direct witness to the Creation?

-Could really it be a coincidence that both Tsaesci and Argonians, the only two advanced reptilian races encountered on Nirn so far, would share so many similarities (including similarity of physical form) despite having been isolated for, essentially, eternity? Or is there a closer link between them?

So, in conclusion, such analysis on the part of the Committee for Akaviri Studies should not be dismissed as radical conjecture -- in fact, to use the pejorative: "They may be onto something!" It is, perhaps, only with better funding and materials that further research into these matters can occur. After all, scholarly interest aside, any study as to the true nature of the Snake-Men is incredibly important to Tamriel's safety; we've already been invaded twice, and it most certainly will happen again.

~Andul Stacey and the Committee of Akaviri Studies, Imperial Library of Cyrodiil.