Lore:Indrik

Indriks are magical creatures that bear some relation to  .  They seem to draw strength from the bones of the earth beneath their hooves.  They can be found within the forests of Summerset Isle, though they are very elusive. Indriks look like deer that are covered in feathers and fur, have crystalline antlers and four ears. Some scholars believe that indriks are not truly of this world, as if they are closer to Aetherius than they are the physical realm.  Indriks are herbivores, and graze on grass and trees.  They can also be found in  's realm of the  , where they are hunted for sport. 
 
High Elven fables depict indriks as creatures of beauty, mystique and perfection.  They are revered as blessed beings that are graced by the gods as the Altmer are.  Altmeri folklore holds that when indriks die, their souls don't leave Mundus. Instead, Jephre plants them back into the land to sprout again as fawns.  Indriks are sometimes tamed and used as mounts, although it is considered a privilege for a mortal rider to be borne by these enchanted beasts.  

Despite their graceful appearance and mythical depiction as a symbol of purity, indriks are not to be taken lightly. Indriks are sometimes hunted for their hearts, which have a complex flavor profile. They are a delicacy, sometimes eaten through ritual consumption by Summerset's nobility.  It is believed that eating them forestalls aging.  Indriks are no easy prey, and wild indriks are aggressive towards things they perceive as threats.  They defend themselves by impaling aggressors with their antlers, which glimmer with ethereal light. Indriks are capable of teleporting at will and unleashing a flurry of elemental magic to drive off those who would do them harm.   Ancient indriks share a deep connection to the forest god Jephre, and are very resilient. Particularly old and dangerous indriks can be kept at bay by killing them and restraining their spirits with wards. Such measures may be deemed necessary by mortal authorities, especially in the case of an active indrik matriarch's ancestral glade being located too close to a town or settlement.  Long-lived indrik matriarchs possess exceptionally unpredictable elemental capabilities and can call on the dead to aid them. Powerful specimens have also been known to shroud themselves in mist and manifest a stampede of spectral indriks to confuse and trample aggressors. 

thumb|Indrik feathers|left
Not much is clear about indrik reproduction, but juvenile indriks do exist. Ancient indriks can fawn herds of lesser indriks, much to the detriment of the mortal dwellings around them.  However, indriks can also be summoned to Tamriel by combining four legendary feathers. Indriks produced through such a method are called from beyond the veil as opposed to producing an egg or a fawn.  Indriks follow an evolutionary pattern and have five forms. The indrik first enters Tamriel in a pure or "Nascent" state, with dull grey-brown feathers, short antlers and amber eyes. Further exposure to some infused stimulus will change the Nascent Indrik's shape and cause it to evolve, developing secondary characteristics and allowing more specialized antlers to form.  Some of these specialized indrik forms are much smaller than a Nascent Indrik and are sometimes kept as pets. 

Indriks evolved through said stimulus can come to possess larger antlers and vastly different plumage coloration.  Dawnwood and Springtide Indriks have green plumage with blue spotting. Their antlers are enveloped in blue light.  Luminous and Shimmering Indriks have white feathers accented by dazzling gold plumage. Their antlers give off a soft aetherial glow, which has been compared to the stars in the heavens.  Onyx and Ebon-Glow Indriks are jet black with silver-studded feathers, and their antlers radiate white light. Onyx Indriks come into being when they are exposed to geological Earthbone essences.  Pure-Snow and Frost-Light Indriks have bright white feathers accented with subtle hints of gold. Their antlers are shrouded in a soft gold glow. Pure-Snow Indriks are imbued with frost magic, shaped to the image of cold winter.  Rare indriks never truly die, and instead live on as specters which walk between the planes. These Spectral and Haunting Indriks can also occur when exposed to the correct stimulus.  Mossheart Indriks possess bright green plumage. 

The Jephrine Paladins are protectors of the wild whose armor and weapons are modeled after indriks. Antlers and a frontal horn are attached their helmets and their sabatons are decorated to look like hooves. Central to their equipment's design are the feathers that envelop their armor and weapons.  Summerset werewolves often collect and embellish the skulls of their most impressive kills. Indrik skulls are especially prized trophies. 
 

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See Also
For game-specific information, see the ESO article.

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