Lore:Lamia

A lamia

"L is for Lamia, snake-hag of the wild
Who hopes she might corner a lost little child"
—A Child's Tamriel Bestiary

Lamias are a species of amphibious beastfolk. They have a serpentine appearance, with the torso of a woman and the tail of a snake. Despite appearing to be exclusively female, it is assumed they are hermaphroditic, and self-fertilize their eggs. They are initially incredibly protective of their eggs, though they later abandon them and leave the immature Lamiae to fend for themselves. Found all over Tamriel, they can live in water or on land, although they rarely venture far from the water, and are known to take up residence in abandoned ruins. Some desert lamias also reside in Hammerfell. Lamias are larger than most other mortal races, and according to one unconfirmed fable, are capable of interbreeding with them. Lamias eat their prey whole, resulting in a distended stomach while they slowly digest. They appear to be cold-blooded and are known to lounge in the sun.

Despite being reviled as monsters, lamias are an intelligent species; they can speak Tamrielic, can cast powerful magic, and adorn themselves with jewelry. In combat, they rely on debilitating shrieks and powerful claws that drain an opponent's stamina. Curares can also summon spectral lamias. They are said to possess a hypnotic gaze called the Lamia Mesmera. They seemingly have their own religion, venerating entities known as the Egg Mother and the Great Egg. Lamias choose not to erect permanent structures or cities of their own, instead preferring to occupy the ruins left behind by man and mer. They can also be encountered living underwater. Groups of lamias are often led by a queen.

Lamias have had little impact on history due to their primitive nature and hostile attitude towards the people of Tamriel. Notably, the lamias of Tempest Island took part in the Lamia Invasion of 2E 435, and a group of lamias are thought to have fought against Molag Bal in 2E 582 during the Tamrielic invasion of Coldharbour. Medusas are physically similar to lamias, but otherwise unrelated.

For more information, see the main lore article.