The MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) has a wonderful way of dealing with the topic of LGBTQ+, at least according to MeinMMO author Larissa Then. She reveals what she likes about it so much.
What does LGBTQ+ mean? LGBTQ+ refers to a community around lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other individuals.
Right now, during Pride Month, there is a lot of discussion about the equality of various forms of love and genders, and that is a good thing. In my view, it is a long-overdue measure. We at MeinMMO as well as GameStar and GamePro take a clear position here.
Why does this interest me? I, MeinMMO author Larissa Then, am part of the community myself, even though I am currently in a heterosexual relationship. Therefore, I am rarely a victim of hostility, but I witness it in my closest circle of friends. Unfortunately, the world is still very backward when it comes to everything that does not conform to the norms in their heads.
And what does this have to do with ESO? I am always positively surprised when I stumble upon an LGBTQ+ character in The Elder Scrolls Online. In Tamriel, the world of ESO, gender nearly plays no role in matters of love. This can be seen in some quests and NPCs.
During the operation in 1969, many people resisted arrest for the first time. This event was regarded as an initial cry for equality and is annually commemorated through the “Christopher Street Day” parades or the Pride Month.
A quest with a lasting impression
What kind of quest is this? I always love to share my favorite quests with you. One of my most impressive experiences related to LGBTQ+ in ESO was a small quest in Greenheart called “The Flower of Youth”. There, you come across the Bosmer Hartmin, who is standing by his dying husband Mirilir.
The two have returned to the place of their youth. They used to sneak there when they were freshly in love. There were beautiful flowers at this spot, but they have now disappeared.
Since Hartmin is too old to gather the flowers himself, he asks the players to collect seeds of the plant. The further plot of the story is censored by a spoiler box, which you can click on if you are interested.
This is how the quest continues
When you return to Hartmin with your two quest items, unfortunately, Mirilir is dead. However, Hartmin is happy about the seeds and plants them around himself and the corpse. He says that all that matters is that they were together until the end.
What do I like about it? The quest tells a heart-wrenching story about two men who have spent their entire lives together. Even though it consists only of small fragments, you can almost feel the love through the screen.
This is mainly due to the dialogues. It is somewhat theatrical, but I definitely accepted their story and feelings and was able to empathize. The best part is: The two in love men are simply standing or lying in ESO as if it were the most natural thing in the world – thank you.
In the real world, I rarely see older same-sex couples. That may also be due to the city I live in. I hope that in 30 or 40 years, when I am old myself, the park benches will be filled with the most colorful combinations.
There is more in ESO
The quest about the two Wood Elves is not the only quest in which LGBTQ+ characters play a role. A few years ago, ESO even won an award for a transgender quest.
What kind of quest is this? This is “The Manor of Masks” from the Summerset expansion. You are supposed to find Rinyde’s brother Larydel here. Another key figure in the quest is a woman named Alchemie.
For these two, you have to complete several intermediate steps and ultimately receive a diary from Rinyde, which contains information about her life with her brother.
In it, it states that he is increasingly isolating himself and she is worried about him. One night he came home smelling of perfume and smeared with lipstick. When a theater troupe comes to their town, her brother completely disappears. I will provide the continuation of the search in a spoiler box.
This is how the search continues
During the quest, you continue searching for the brother and meet several artists. Ultimately, you end up back with Alchemie, who asks you if you ever thought about what Larydel, the brother, wants.
She tells you that Larydel has chosen his own path and does not want to be a wizard. His sister should please accept that. After some back and forth, it comes out that Alchemie is actually Larydel and did not want to stand in the way of her sister Rinyde.
The two reconcile in the end, and Rinyde just wants her brother Larydel or now her sister Alchemie to be happy.
What do I like about it? The story is full of doubts from a transgender person, into which I do not even dare to venture. However, ESO builds the story beautifully. The diary entries provide a comprehensible external view of the events.
Moreover, there are the dialogues that also highlight the brother’s side. He wants to go his own way but does not want to hurt anyone and just wants to be accepted.
In the end, his path is accepted by his sister. She only wants her brother to be happy. Some people could take a lesson from that.
And what about marriage in ESO? You can marry as a player in ESO and gain benefits. For example, you receive an additional 10% experience when playing with your partner.
What gender and race you both are does not matter at all. Anyone can marry anyone in ESO. Everyone has the same rights and duties – nice idea, right? But at least regarding marriage, we have made quite a bit of progress in the real world over the last year.
It is not all sunshine and rainbows
Now to believe that ESO is a perfect world without violence and hatred is naive. Especially between the races, there are many prejudices. There are Elves with re-education camps for what they see as “inferior races.” Vampires are hated right from the start, and in the latest expansion Greymoor, the Nords first try to kill the helpful vampire Lyris.
The Orcs live in patriarchal conditions and maintain harems of various women. Nothing about the lore world in ESO is perfect. It is still a war-torn world with structures that need to be broken to allow everyone to live freely.
However, the handling of same-sex love or transgender individuals is well portrayed. They are simply there. Normal people at any corners, who are looking for their wife and not their husband or vice versa. No one cares, and I wish it could be that way in the real world as well.
