The Wispmother Content . Among the folk tales from the northern reaches of Skyrim , few subjects are as popular as the Wispmother : ghostly women who lure unsuspecting travelers to their doom , steal children , and takes vengeance on those who wronged them in life . Similar tales exist throughout Tamriel : The Melusanae of Stros Mkai , who lure ships to wreck on jagged shoals , then consume the souls of those aboard . The serpentine Chalass of Black Marsh . The Amronal of Valenwood . But unlike these mythic creatures , most scholars concede that Wispmothers actually exist . Though rare , credible reports of their sightings are simply too frequent to be ignored . Herein , a synopsis of what can be gleaned from provincial legends , and the dominant theories on what they may actually be . Wispmothers . Most tales agree on only a few basic facts about Wispmothers . They are always female . They take the form of human ( some say Elven ) spirits , wreathed in mist and decaying rags . They have an affinity for frost magic , rarely appearing in more temperate climates . But beyond that , the tales differ wildly . Some say they are ghosts , waiting to be laid to rest . Others , that they are all that remains of the Snow Elves who once ruled Skyrim . Some say they are native to Hjaalmarch ( or the north more generally ) , but other tales mention them in forgotten places , on the mountaintops as far away as the Jeralls . Most reputable scholars dismiss these stories , preferring instead to focus on the few documented sightings from recent years . From these , two dominant theories have emerged : Based on his extensive research into necromancy and Cyrodiil ' s Ayleid culture , Master Sadren Sarethi posits that Wispmothers are a necrologic state , a type of lich - dom developed by a now - forgotten First Era culture . Under his theory , these are no mere ghosts - they are a cult of powerful sorceresses who achieved eternal life through undeath . Alternately , Lydette Viliane of the Synod contends that Wispmothers are not undead at all , but rather elemental manifestations arising out of Nirn itself . By noting several similarities to Spriggans and Ice Wraiths , she contends that the Wispmothers are essentially elemental personifications of snow or mist , innately wielding the power of their element , instead of manipulating it through conventional sorcery . Wisps . In most accounts , the victim is initially drawn to the Wispmother by glowing , ghostly lights . Although initially passive , these creatures later attack in tandem with her , distracting the victim and draining their energy . Popular legend holds that these are the spirits of the Wispmother ' s previous victims . These spirits strengthen her , so anyone hoping to destroy her must first release the souls of those she has killed . To scholars , this description immediately recalls the Will - o - the - Wisp , a rare and dangerous swamp denizen of southern Tamriel . Oddly Cyrodilic legends invariably refer to Wisps as lone predators , while these appear to exist in some sort of symbiotic relationship with others of their kind . Viliane argues that these Wisps are a sub - species of true Wisps , scavengers that lure prey to the Wispmother and share in the psychoetherial energy released by her kills . As co - dependent scavengers , they most likely lack the formidable defenses of their predatory cousins , rendering them far more vulnerable . Alternately , Sarethi posits that these " Wisps " are merely emanations or conjurations of the Wispmother , and not free - living creatures . This is supported by one incident in which an adventurer reportedly killed a Wispmother directly , only to observe the remaining Wisps immediately perish as well , though the source is considered highly unreliable . In summary , scholarly opinion about Wispmothers and Wisps is sharply divided , and is likely to remain so for some time . But all sources agree on one crucial point : these are highly dangerous foes , and should be avoided at all costs .