The Enterprising Argonian Xukas in The Elder Scrolls: Online Murkmire
Murkmire is the next upcoming DLC for The Elder Scrolls: Online, Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls MMORPG. The DLC is already available on the game’s PTS servers and will be releasing in just a few days’ time for PC; on the 22nd of October. A console release will follow on the 6th of November. Ahead of the launch, Bethesda has already released two features introducing players to a particular character who will feature in the Murkmire DLC. The studio has now unveiled a third.
Who is Xukas in the Murkmire DLC?
Bethesda describes the Argonian Xukas as “one of Murkmire’s more enterprising locals”; a guide, and quite possibly also a convincing scam artist. Like the previous character spotlights, which highlight Famia Mercus and Jaxsik-Orn, this feature is presented in the form of in-game correspondence. In this case, two letters exchanged between “Crassus,” and “Leonian”.
The two Imperials appear to be wine merchants, and while Crassus is in Hammerfell, Leonian has gone to Murkmire to buy pottery with which to transport their wine. He writes a long letter about his business dealings with Xukas, whom he believes is a naive local whom he has outsmarted. Of course, what becomes increasingly evident is that the precise opposite is true; “I’ve been negotiating with one of the thick-headed lizard-men since I arrived,” says Leonian; “He goes by the name of Xukas. The locals say he speaks for some tribe or another, but I can’t keep it all straight. Anyway, who cares? You won’t find a less interesting race than the Argonians. All they do is weave baskets, roll around in the mud, and croak at each other.”
Leonian admits to have let Xukas read his business ledger, believing that the Argonian is incapable of understanding it. Despite agreeing to an initial deal, Leonian has let Xukas talk him into purchasing a cheaper set of pots instead. However, the pots need a special glaze to make transporting the wine safe; “Xukas explains that Neep’s ash glaze comes from a very specific marsh plant that only grows on a peninsular north of Alten Meerhleel. He told me the property-owners would probably be willing to trade it to us for next to nothing – they’d just want some old Imperial deeds, or a favour of some variety. We’d have to sign a contract, I think. I still don’t fully grasp all the particulars.”
Despite Leonian’s optimism, it seems Crassus sees what’s really going on; “You want a king’s ransom in gold for defective pottery, insufficient glaze, and a half-sunken peninsular in a man-eating swamp. Xukas is not the one getting fleeced. Come home immediately.”
It’s unknown what role Xukas will be playing in the upcoming Murkmire DLC. He certainly sounds like an interesting character, and a someone players should probably be wary in their dealings with!