littlebookoftamriel

[littlebookoftamriel]

What is Sugar Surprise ?

If my memory serves me (which it does!), I remember it was mostly a lot of bread. Bread, a bone broth, some chicken - think of a hearty chicken soup or stew, just a lot thicker! The surprise aspect comes from whatever else you have left over. It will be different every time, which adds some variety, but the base recipe stays the same. I find that it goes well with tomatoes and onions, but you could just as easily use cheese and garlic too! It's even more of a surprise if you drink your weight in Summerset wine and fine mead from Skyrim before making it.

[littlebookoftamriel]

⟡ Argonian A to Z ⟡

Jel is most notable for its difficulty to learn if you are not Argonian, its pronunciation inhospitable to both men and mer alike. Here’s a quick guide on how to pronounce different sounds within the language!

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The base sounds of Jel are simple - a, ch, d, e, g, h, i, j, jh, k, l, lh, ny, n, o, q, r, s, t, th, ts, u, w, x, y, and p. These are all the vowel and consonants that make up the language, and practicing them out loud is a great first step into learning the language!

A is pronounced like aa.

CH is pronounced like ky.

D is pronounced like d.

E is pronounced like ay.

G is pronounced like go.

H is pronounced like hh.

I is pronounced like ee.

J is pronounced like dz.

JH is pronounced like gy.

K is pronounced like k.

L is pronounced like luh.

LH is pronounced like ll.

NY is pronounced like nyuh.

N is pronounced like nh.

O is pronounced like uh or oh.

Q is pronounced like ch.

R is not pronounced, and is instead a tap sound.

S is pronounced like zuh.

T is pronounced like tuh.

TH is pronounced like thh.

TS is pronounced like ts.

U is pronounced like oo.

W is pronounced like wh.

X is pronounced like kh.

Y is pronounced like yuh.

P is a glottal stop.

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This is referenced from u/lu_ming’s Jel Language which can be found on Reddit here.

[littlebookoftamriel]

⟡ Argonian Clay Baked Bog Eel ⟡

Clay baked eel - also known as Three Step Eel - is one of my favorite recipes to come out of the marshlands, both savory yet salty. Personally I’ve found it also pairs excellently with a Breton medium red wine, giving the meal a slight sweetness that sends your tongue straight to heaven! This recipe feeds 1-2 people with ease, and takes no more than an hour to prepare. Enjoy!

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First of all - what is a bog eel? Well, bog eels are one of the most commonly found types of fauna in Black Marsh, primarily residing in low, soft and muddy wetlands covered with peat and moss, especially the ones that are prone to flooding (also known as a bog!) These eels can be anywhere from 1 - 5 feet long in length, and are a staple in Argonian cuisine due to how common they are. Bog eels are primarily caught in close knit nets that are trawled through the muck, and dragged to the surface once enough have been caught. A bog eel is also not only used for meat - its eggs are eaten, and the skin of the eel can be turned into a thick and hardy leather! Bog eels are truly versatile creatures, arent they?

Ingredients;

Gutted and cleaned bog eel

Salt

Pepper

Oil

Instructions;

Mix oil and pepper in a bowl until the mixture is thickened.

Pat the eel dry, inside and out, cleaning out any and all residual blood. Generously salt the skin of the eel, massaging the oil mixture in to properly tenderize and flavor the meat.

Wrap the eel in banana leaves, and cover with river clay. Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes.

Once finished baking, crack open the clay and enjoy a tasty warm meal! Three Step Eel is often made with saltrice on the side in regions where Morrowind will export the resource, and can vary from community to community - some will add fruit, others scallions, and even others will mix the eel with other meats!

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[littlebookoftamriel]

⟡ Bosmeri Cooking Tendencies: Do Mushrooms Violate the Green Pact? ⟡

In my travels, Ive often found a lot of contention on the subject!

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Many Bosmeri wonder if eating these wonderful fungi breaks the Green Pact - a pact all Bosmer live by, wherein they are not allowed to eat any plant life and must eschew it. I am happy to report in my consultations with various Bosmeri, that eating fungi does not break the Green Pact and in fact fungi are not classified as plant nor animal - making them similar to bees as being a neutral ground when it comes to keeping the Pact.

Some common foods with mushrooms are Eplear’s beef wellington, mushroom pot roast, mushroom beef carbonnade with bee bread, mushroom chili, and fillets with portobello sauce! Additionally some Bosmer will make teas from these funky fungi, allowing for rich umami blends to steep and seep into your bones. Pair these together and with a good jagga, and you have a perfect little meal for you and yours!

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[littlebookoftamriel]

⟡ Happy Heart's Day/Mara's Day/Sanguine's Summoning Day from Little Book of Tamriel! ⟡

Looking for a detailed cultural breakdown on what the holiday means across Tamriel? Look no further - Sugar and Spice are here to give you the information you need to make sure you dont have a major faux pas with Bretons, a spoiled soiree with the Altmer, or a ruined romp with the Nords!

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Altmer society places little importance on the romantic aspect of Heart's Day - public displays of affection are typically frowned upon. Instead, the day focuses on acts dedicated to Mara, as opposed to focusing on one's partner solely. Children are given small sweets, such as sugared nuts and fruits, fresh agricultural produce is a staple for the day's meals, and traditionally, acts of service are performed for the poor, the elderly, and the infirm - although, with the rise of the Thalmor, this tradition has fallen out of favor.

Argonians do not celebrate Heart's Day or Mara's Day, in fact, due to their communal structure there's never been an interest in it - up until the Imperials and Dunmer began entering the region. The only known Argonians who practice religiously and culturally are those who have fully assimilated to foreign cultures such as Breton, Nordic, and Cyrodiillic - with many in Morrowind even converting to celebrate Sanguine's Summoning Day! As the region's culture has gradually shifted due to a slowly rebounding traditionally Argonian population with interspersed dense pockets of foreigners, some Argonians have begun to celebrate a bastardized version of the traditionally Eight-based holiday, instead making the holiday about playing heart-themed games, seeing it as a lucky day to work, and basing entire outfits around reds and gentle pinks.

Bretons, especially the southern Bretons, absolutely adore Heart's Day! Originally introduced by their Imperial ancestors, Heart's Day has morphed into something all about love, love, love! Bretons will save up all year just to purchase the most lavish and expensive gifts for one another - if its not extravagant enough, then the gift-giver is likely to be shunned by acquaintances and even friends, as it is seen as a terrible social blunder. There are multiple feasts, balls, and most marriages happen on Heart’s Day - making it one of the most beloved holidays of the people of High Rock.

Bosmeri culture places a special kind of importance on the holiday, which is commonly known as All-Hearts Day. As with most Bosmeri holidays, they begin their day with a hearty breakfast and alcohol - lots of alcohol! The Bosmer are one of the unique races in that they are forbidden from consuming any plant matter, and rely on a purely meat based diet - additionally, they are one of the last known races to practice cannibalism. This extends into the way they show love... by giving eachother hearts! Any and all relationships will give eachother hearts to consume on All-Hearts Day, feeding the organ to eachother to symbolize their devotion and care for one another.

Dunmer do not celebrate Heart's Day, but rather, celebrate Sanguine's Summoning Day, as the festivals fall on the same dates. Lavish banquets and feasts are held across Morrowind, with almost every Dunmer over the age of majority drinking in excess at these feasts. Many Dunmer find themselves elevated in the ranks of their Houses on this day, depending on what acts of magic or craftsmanship prowess they show off to their tutors - as today is seen as an auspicious day, many schedule their hearings to be on the date!

The first instance of Mara's Day being referred to as Heart's Day comes from an Imperial account. Gifts for romantic partners are carefully considered and vary in price, although a common superstition in Cyrodiil states that if the gift is bought because the price was cheap, the relationship is doomed to fall apart. Handmade trinkets are also a common gift, especially in rural areas, and typically include something belonging to one's partner, such as a lock of hair.

Khajiit do not celebrate Mara's Day. Instead, they have their own festival later in the year dedicated to Nirni, the personification of Nirn. Traditional offerings during this festival include local flowers and herbs, as well as seasonal fish and cicadas.

Nords are the people to party with on Mara's Day - having village and city-wide celebrations. Mara is one of, if not the, most important divine in the Nordic pantheon, and Nords are given the day off from work to reflect this. Children are expected to present their parents with gifts, and this often carries over into adulthood too. Savoury food is nearly impossible to find on Mara's Day, whilst sweetrolls and honey nut treats are abundant. Mara's Day is a particularly auspicious date in the Nordic calendar, marked by rhymes such as:

"The farmer who sews his seeds And the father's child conceived On Mother Mara's blessed day Will reap good fortune along their way"

The Orcs are a very reclusive people, stalwart and rugged - as a result, they have no holidays today, nor do they celebrate Mara's Day or Sanguine's Summoning! Despite efforts to convert the region, Orcs tend to be most similar to Redguards as they would treat today like any other day of the week. Wait until spring, when the Orsinium celebrates with their yearly fertility festival - just be careful, as its not uncommon to find young lovers engaging in various forms of fighting to show off prior to properly celebrating!

Redguards traditionally, like Argonians and Orcs, do not celebrate any form of Mara's Day or Sanguine's Summoning, instead having rejected it and all worship of the Eight during the Great War. Today is just another day for the Redguard - the closest thing to Mara that the Redguard have is Morwha, and her destival is not until later in the year. So, if you're looking for a place that is free from the holiday, try having some goat kebabs in Hammerfell!

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[littlebookoftamriel]

⟡ Welcome to Little Book of Tamriel! ⟡

LBoT is a passion project run by two best friends - Sugar and Spice - which documents our headcanons about Tamriel culture and cuisine, all of which are as lore-friendly and lore-accurate as we can make them!

We met in Cyrodiil during the Fourth era - Sugar was doing something or other (she cant remember exactly what) when she ran into Spice, who had travelled to the region during his culinary world tour! We instantly clicked, and the dynamic duo was formed when the two of us went out drinking and had a course of excellent ideas (including a soupy, stewy recipe titled Glop, and something called ‘Sugar Surprise’ that was made entirely out of table scraps.)

Our ask box is currently open!

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Sugar (she/her) is an Altmer born in the Summerset Isles. She traveled between High Rock and Cyrodiil once she was old enough to make the journey by herself. If your question is about the culture of the Altmer, Imperials, or Bretons, she'll likely talk your ear off!

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Spice (he/him) is an Argonian who was hatched in Black Marsh and raised in Valenwood, giving him a taste for all the realm's cuisine and everything in between! Ask him anything about food and he'll likely have an answer - especially if the question is about the Argonians or the Bosmer!

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