Modders have long brought a spirit of "screw it, why not?" to the Elder Scrolls series, adding entire regions and races often only hinted at in lore books. One such ambitious project is 'Elsweyr: The Deserts of Anequina,' a mod that injects the Khajiit homeland into The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, offering a vast new territory to explore.
First published in June 2009 by Nexus Mods user Iliana, with contributions from numerous other modders, 'Elsweyr: The Deserts of Anequina' allows players to venture beyond Oblivion's established borders into a land inspired by Khajiit lore. The mod begins with an in-game book that details the new cities and quests available. Players must also disable Oblivion's default world borders to access the new region, typically crossing a bridge west of Bravil.
Exploring a New Homeland
The modded Elsweyr begins with Riverhold, a town situated just south of the Cyrodiil border. While initially featuring greenery similar to Oblivion's base game, Riverhold quickly introduces players to various Khajiit "furstocks" rarely seen in previous Elder Scrolls titles. These include the Cathay, common in Elder Scrolls games; the Ohmes, who possess elf-like features with fur; the Alfiq, resembling house cats; and the Senche, large cat-like creatures. While most Khajiit characters offer dialogue and quests, the Alfiq and Senche are non-verbal, a design choice that aligns with Elder Scrolls lore suggesting Alfiq dislike speaking to outsiders.
Beyond Riverhold, the landscape transitions into the arid desert characteristic of Anequina. Steep sand dunes and narrow paths are integrated into Oblivion's existing engine, though the game's notorious physics can lead to players breaking legs while fleeing from the mod's new inhabitants. The desert is populated by aggressive giant tarantulas, elephants, orc bandits, and even hostile tribal Khajiit villages.
Diverse Cities and Engaging Quests
The mod features fully realized towns with distinct architectural styles. Dune boasts camels and giant golden towers reminiscent of mosques. Riverhold is a treetop city built around a waterfall, topped with a modest lodge. Corinthe presents a maze-like market area with elevated plank bridges between rooftops, ideal for thievery. This architectural variety stands in contrast to the more uniform designs found in The Elder Scrolls Online's depiction of Elsweyr.
'Elsweyr: The Deserts of Anequina' includes over two dozen new quests and several guilds to join. These range from small tasks like finding a lost child in Riverhold, which involves using Oblivion's speechcraft system to gather information, to more fantastical encounters. One quest involves a Khajiit highwayman who gives up easily, while another leads to a desert genie who grants a wish for love, resulting in a random NPC companion and the genie's subsequent attack.
The mod also integrates new guild content, including a Thieves Guild chapter. The author recounts a mission to steal keys from merchants in Leyawiin, a task that highlights how much the player character has grown within the modded Elsweyr, even forgetting basic thieving skills. Successfully completing these heists leads to further jobs, such as stealing horses.
'Elsweyr: The Deserts of Anequina' captures Oblivion's inherent playfulness with its varied quests and characters, offering players a substantial new region that feels remarkably integrated into the base game's world.