“This is where you get off. Come with me.”
I saw Morrowind for X-Box and, while a bit miffed at the short and vague blurb, the graphics looked interesting, and it was in the cheap bin at EB Games. I passed it over, but came across it again and felt intrigued, and when I got some money as a gift I went and bought it at last.
“You’ve finally arrived, but our records don’t show from where.”
I found it groundbreaking, a table-top RPG in a real-time 3D world, familiar and yet alien at the same time. Insulted by locals and brigands, I followed my mission and got to Balmora, and my contact told me bluntly to go out into the world and build up my experience.
“What’s this about?”
I followed the promise of living another life in another world, harassed by cliff racers, helping a drug mule to safety, challenging the head of House Redoran to be made hortator, and blackmailing . And knowing nothing of the lore, read all the in-game books I could. And indeed I was hooked.
“Under sun and sky, Outlander, we greet you warmly.”
It’s still being played today, there are countless mods for it to make it look even prettier than in 2003, and I have a couple of save games I’ll get back to.
“Fear not, for I am watchful. You have been chosen.”
Though Oblivion moved the engine forward (minus the potato heads), and Skyrim will stand alone thanks to its ultimate feature, the island of Vvardenfel, Mournhold, old Solstheim, and all the factions entertained, was the RPG of my dreams, and – it might be said – sadly missed in later titles.
“Why walk when you can ride?”
I’m on Starfield now and thanks to limitations seeing some similarities – forever-open stores – the stranger worlds found give me warm memories of that vibe.
The ending of the words is ALMSIVI.
T.M. Shannon 
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