Lore:Scamp

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Scamps
ON-concept-Scamp.png
A Scamp
Type Daedra
Range Oblivion
Appears in

Battlespire, Morrowind, Oblivion, ESO, Legends
"Bless Rishaal. She's got her hands full with those lovable scamps. Cute, aren't they? Maybe not smart, but faithful, and durable, and only a little cowardly."
—A Spider Daedra's thoughts on the Scamp Clan[1]

Scamps are one of the lesser sentient Daedra of Oblivion, who often enter into the mortal world to cause mischief and carry out errands for their Princes.[2] They are weak and often cowardly.[3] Scamps are typically thought of as dull creatures, described as semi-intelligent or as having "simple thoughts".[4][5] They can can be easily defeated by most fighters except in large numbers. For the greater Daedra, Scamps are useful minions, as their nimble hands can carry and manipulate objects, and they are intelligent enough to be cunning opponents in combat.[6] Other Daedra often look down upon them,[7][8] though some find them endearing.[1] Of the Daedric Princes they serve, they are most commonly associated with Mehrunes Dagon,[2] though they also serve Molag Bal,[9] Sheogorath,[10][11] Sanguine,[12] and Vaermina.[13]

In appearance, Scamps are diminutive, goblinesque humanoids. They possess tapered ears, furry legs, and rat-like tails. They have sharp claws and teeth which they often use in combat or defense.[3] Scamps apparently possess an anus.[3]

History[edit]

"The Duke of Scamps therefore became a lesser thing, as did all his own children. Molag Bal said to them: 'You are the sons of liars, dogs, and wolf-headed women.' They have been useless to summon ever since."
—The Thirty-Six Lessons of Vivec, Sermon Fourteen
A Scamp Invasion Scout (Legends)

According to the 36 Lessons of Vivec, Scamps were once greater beings. This religious text claims that at some point in the early First Era, a Duke among Scamps known as Kh-Utta was summoned by Lord Mehrunes Dagon to bring the pennants of his seven legions. He bought them before the Daedric Prince's major domo, whose head was a bubble of foul water and fire, who saw the pennants and the legions they commanded. The major domo then told the Duke that while his legions were mighty, they were not enough to destroy Nerevar or the Triune way.[14]

Later on, during the union of Molag Bal and Vivec, known as the Pomegranate Banquet, the Duke of Scamps arrived, and Molag Bal looked on the seven pennants with anger. It is said then that "the King of Rape had become necessary and therefore troubled for the rest of time". Molag Bal's legions and Kh-Utta's would fall into open war, but the children of Molag Bal and Vivec were too elaborate in power and form for the Duke's legions to handle. As as a result, the Duke of Scamps was said to have become a lesser thing, as did all his children. It said this is the reason Scamps have been useless to summon ever since.[15]

Scamps have taken part in many Daedric incursions throughout history. Circa 2E 582, Scamps were among Molag Bal's forces during the Planemeld, as well as participating in Mehrunes Dagon's later invasion attempt in Cyrodiil.[9] In 3E 398, a clan of Scamps took part in Dagon's campaign to invade the Battlespire, serving under a Daedra known as Rishaal Tamir.[3][1] In 3E 433, they took part in the many invasions of the Oblivion Crisis,[16] often serving as simple scouts.[17]

Behavior and Uses[edit]

"Keys? Keys in dark, NASTY place. Near my tail. Want look? See?"
—A Scamp taunting the Apprentice[3]
Scamp Skin (Morrowind)

Scamps are known for being mischievous and unruly.[18][7] They have been to know to enjoy playful activities like juggling balls of fire,[11] or playing musical instruments such as flutes or drums.[19]

Many do not speak Tamrielic,[20] instead they speak their own Daedric tongue.[21][18] While Scamps are capable of being fluent in the language,[10] those that do know Tamrielic often speak in a strange or broken manner,[3] with the same going for those that can write.[22][23]

Scamps typically fill lesser positions in Daedric hierarchies.[5][8] Though there are exceptions, as a researcher has observed a Scamp giving orders to a Skaafin.[24] Molag Bal's forces weaponized Scamps by loading them into boxes and catapulting them into enemy forces.[25]

They are one of the most common lesser Daedra summoned by mortals, often serving as familiars.[26][27] Scamps are most commonly used by mages for simple tasks like gruntwork,[28] but some could be entrusted with more complex tasks. One Scamp familiar was even granted full membership in the Mages Guild, serving as an assistant chronicler and merchant.[27] The Undaunted also trained scamps to wear packs to carry their valuables.[29]

Scamp skin is an ingredient used in alchemy that can be removed from Scamps while they are still bound to the mortal plane. It is a rare ingredient and alchemists have trouble keeping the substance in stock.[30] It is used for straining in alchemy and cooking.[31][UOL 1] Scamp guts are used by some Bosmer in brewing a type of strong rotmeth.[32] Scamp liver is said to be tender and delicious.[33] Nord warriors sometimes use Scamp-hide shields.[UOL 2] Scamp skulls may be carved with strange glyphs and arcane symbols for use in unlawful ritualistic purposes.[34]

Variants[edit]

Many varieties of Scamps exist, weaker Scamps are sometimes known as Stunted Scamps.[35] The Scamps that serve Molag Bal, like many of the Daedra that serve him, are known to have a blue hue. Stonefire Scamps are a horned variety that serve Molag.[36] Additionally, Molag has utilized Scamps that have been mind-shriven, they can usually be found among other mind-shriven creatures.[37] Magma Scamps are a variety of horned scamp that specifically serve Mehrunes Dagon. They are often engulfed in flames and their skin is comparable to cracked molten rock.[38] Everscamps are a distinct type of Scamp that are summoned by the Staff of the Everscamp, a cursed Daedric staff. These Scamps are completely non-hostile, and have a horrible smell. They follow around whoever has been cursed by the staff, making their life miserable.[39]

Other beings have occasionally taken on the forms of Scamps, such as Celestials and maligraphies.[40][41] Babras, the hound of Clavicus Vile, has been know to take on the form and persona of a Scamp named Creeper.[42][43][44]

  • A blue scamp, which serves Molag Bal (ESO)

  • A Stonefire Scamp (ESO)

  • A Mind-Shriven Scamp (ESO)

  • A Magma Scamp (ESO)

  • Everscamps (Oblivion)

Gallery[edit]

  • A Scamp (Battlespire)

  • A Scamp (Morrowind)

  • A Scamp (Oblivion)

  • A Scamp (Oblivion Mobile)

  • A Scamp (ESO)

  • An Undaunted Porter Scamp (ESO)

  • A Scamp familiar (ESO)

  • A Scamp throwing fire (ESO)

  • A Kynreeve summoning a Scamp (ESO)

  • A Scamp (Legends)

  • Scamps
    (Betrayal of the Second Era)

  • Rishaal Tamir, Chief of the Scamps (Battlespire)

  • Staff of the Everscamp (Oblivion)

  • Battlespire concept art

  • Morrowind concept art of a scamp-hide shield

  • Oblivion concept art

  • ESO concept art

  • ESO concept art

  • ESO model renders

See Also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Spider Daedra dialogue in Battlespire
  2. ^ a b Darkest Darkness
  3. ^ a b c d e f Scamp dialogue in Battlespire
  4. ^ Varieties of Daedra — Aranea Drethan
  5. ^ a b Spirit of the Daedra
  6. ^ Buraniim Isle Loading Screen in ESO
  7. ^ a b Dremora Methats' dialogue in Battlespire
  8. ^ a b Morphoid Daedra dialogue in Battlespire
  9. ^ a b Scamps in ESO
  10. ^ a b Lustidrike's dialogue in Morrowind
  11. ^ a b Bedeviling Scamp card in Legends
  12. ^ Lyranth the Foolkiller Answers Your Questions — Lyranth the Foolkiller
  13. ^ Brother Gerard's dialogue during Dreams to Nightmares in ESO
  14. ^ 36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 7 — Vivec
  15. ^ 36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 14 — Vivec
  16. ^ Scamps in Oblivion
  17. ^ Invasion Scout card in Legends
  18. ^ a b Creating ESO: The Scamp
  19. ^ Getting the Band Together quest in ESO
  20. ^ Dialogue with Kizna in ESO
  21. ^ Dialogue with Caal in ESO
  22. ^ Journal of Scamp Naal — Naal
  23. ^ Mikget's To-Do List — Mikget
  24. ^ On the True Nature of Daedra — Cananmildil, Leading Scholar of Daedrology
  25. ^ The Elder Scrolls Online - The Siege Cinematic Trailer
  26. ^ Summon Unstable Familiar and Summon Volatile Familiar skills in ESO
  27. ^ a b Caal: Assistant Chronicler — Firaldil
  28. ^ Zagrugh's Journal — Zagrugh
  29. ^ Undaunted Porter Scamp pet description in ESO
  30. ^ Anarenen and Tendris Vedran's dialogue in Morrowind
  31. ^ Hanin's Wake
  32. ^ Irwerdil's dialogue in ESO
  33. ^ Gwinor's dialoue in ESO
  34. ^ Ritual Daedra Skull item description in ESO
  35. ^ Stunted Scamps in Oblivion
  36. ^ Stonefire Scamp pet description in ESO
  37. ^ Mind-Shriven Scamp pet description in ESO
  38. ^ Magma Scamp pet description in ESO
  39. ^ Everscamps in Whom Gods Annoy in ESO
  40. ^ Celestial Scamps in ESO
  41. ^ Enemies in the Infinite Archive in ESO
  42. ^ Barbas' dialogue in Oblivion
  43. ^ Creeper in Morrowind
  44. ^ Creeper in ESO

Note: The following references are considered to be unofficial sources. They are included to round off this article and may not be authoritative or conclusive.

  1. ^ Slaughterfish Steak — Shenk
  2. ^ Michael Kirkbride's Posts
Bestial
Elemental
Humanoid
Aureal • Auroran • Dremora • Havocrel • Herne • Huntsman • Mazken • Nocturnal Shrike • Pumpkin Spectre • Skaafin • Spiderkith • Xivilai • Xivkyn
Vermin
Amorphous
Greater Daedra
Daedric Constructs
Unclear / Disputed
Related
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