Méta:Lawrence Schick

Lawrence Schick est employé par ZeniMax Online Studios et travaille sur TES Online en tant que "Lead Loremaster".

Biographie

Pendant ses études à l'Université d’État de Kent dans l'Ohio, il commence à créer de nouvelles règles pour le jeu de rôle AD&D avec son ami Tom Moldvay. Avec ses travaux sur le jeu, il devient Game Designer chez TSR Inc., de 1979 à 1981. Par la suite il travaille dans diverses entreprises (Coleco Industries, MicroProse Sofware, America Online...), en tant que Game Designer ou écrivain. Il devient notamment ami avec Ken Rolston.

En 1999 il quitte l'industrie du jeu. En 2007, avec ses amis Ken Rolston et Brian Reynolds il intègre Big Huge Games, où il travaille pendant deux ans. En 2009, il intègre ZeniMax Online Studios afin de travailler sur TES Online, d'abord en tant que "Lead Content Designer", avant de devenir "Lead Writer" en 2010, puis finalement Lead Loremaster en 2011.

Il quitte ZeniMax Online Studios en février 2019, il est remplacé par Leamon Tuttle.

Bibliographie

• À bas la tyrannie !
• Alchimie : découvrir les caractéristiques
• Anciens récits des Dwemers, 4e partie - De l'utilité des billes et des aiguilles
• Anciens récits des Dwemers, 5e partie - La chanson de l'Alchimiste
• Aspects du Seigneur Hircine
• Aura du Juste
• Autrefois
• Ayrenn - La Reine inattendue
• Bangkoraï, bouclier de Hauteroche
• Bestiaire enfantin de la Côte d'or
• Bisnensel : nos anciennes racines
• Briefing des cohortes : Arenthia
• Ballade à boire du Roi Farangel
• Creatium chaotique : le plasme azur
• Chim-el Adabal : ballade
• Dossier des Daedra : atronach de givreflamme
• Énigme aurbique 4 : le Breuillaisné
• Éloge funèbre de l'empereur Varen
• Épode des parades des Anseïs
• Exégèse de Mérid-Nunda
• Fantômes de la Vieille tour
• Fabricant d'arcs et de flèches
• Fais dodo, Colas mon p'tit Mer
• Fragmentae Abyssum Hermaeus Morus
• Forgé dans le cœur du Mundus
• Frères des ténèbres (Hunal)
• Freux et Corbeau : trois nouvelles
• Glyphes et enchantements
• Guide de l'Alliance de Daguefilante
• Guide du Pacte de Cœurébène
• Guide pratique des spriggans
• Histoires de survie d'Ayléides dans le Val-boisé
• J'ai été invoqué par un mortel
• Jorunn le Roi Scalde
• L'adoration des Daedra : les Ayléides
• L'adoration des Daedra : les Chimers
• L'antre des voleurs, partie deux
• L'énigme des pierres runiques
• L'héritage de la Garde-dragons
• La flamme ardente : draconique ou endémique ?
• La folie de Dame Murcien
• La honte royale
• La maîtrise de la cuisine sans peine
• La promesse du roi Kurog
• La rébellion des esclaves
• Le minage d'améthystes en Alik'r
• Le paradis du pillard
• Les bases du maniement de l'épée : 7 préceptes
• Les crimes de l'Alliance de Daguefilante
• Légende des chargeurs yokudans
• Lessons appriz en gardan les caravanes
• Lettre à Hosni
• Maison Tharn de Nibenay
• Magie noire : trois prétextes
• Mise en garde au Domaine Aldmeri
• Mémo de la guilde sur la capture des âmes
• La bonne manière de tuer un Ra-Netu : 12
• Notes de Dame Laurent sur Qharroa
• Oeil d'Elfe, oeil d'espion
• Oratoires de Tamriel
• Rappel du juge
• Rapport de la factrice Luluelle
• Saint, très saint Satakalaam
• Harpies, harfreuses et sorcières
• Tailleurs : les bases de l'armure légère
• Titres honorifiques khajiits
• Une trahison de notre héritage
• Une vie barbare et brutale

Jeux de rôle & interviews

• ESO Live episode 15. Lore-time with Lawrence Schick (VO)
• Loremaster's episode of ESO-RP interview (VO)
• New Life Festival Interview (VO)
• Homestead Interview (VO)
• L’histoire du couchant & lore en direct (VO)
• Interview de trois Argoniens à Fangeombre

Citations

2014

On Telvanni patron 10/09/2014 :

At the time of ESO the Telvanni patron saint is Vorys, but he's a bit ... unsavory, and reverence for him falls out of fashion by the time of TES3, Morrowind.

On Ayrenn Thalmor 10/09/2014 :

As a tool for managing her new Dominion, Ayrenn took an existing-but-minor Altmeri council and elevated it to the status of representative forum and managing bureau. Really, it's Ayrenn's personal tool for managing the alliance's affairs: the "Inner Council" are her hand-picked advisors. That council also includes King Aeradan Camoran of the Bosmer and Lord Gharesh-ri of the Khajiiti, who she trusts; the rest of the treethanes and cat-lords who are "members" of the Thalmor are there largely as figureheads.

On Senche 10/09/2014 :

The in-game answer is that the differences between Senche, Senche-raht, and senche-tigers are confusing and hard to understand for everyone but Khajiit. Furthermore, Khajiit seem to sense an intelligence in senche-tigers that other races do not, but since senche-tigers don’t speak, their intelligence is hard to assess. We WILL be adding senche-tiger mounts sometime soon, but they’ll be just slightly larger than their wild counterparts, NOT the gigantic felines described in some of the lore.

On Malacath/Mauloch 10/09/2014 :

Malacath/Mauloch: Some Orcs in the Covenant have been deliberately referring to Malacath as Mauloch so as to sort-of whitewash the fact that they worship a Daedric Prince. What, Mauloch, a Daedric Prince? No, not a bit of it!

On Daggerfall Covenant 10/09/2014 :

Orcs trusting the Bretons and Redguards: No trust was involved. The Orcs just want to be able to rebuild Orsinium without it getting sacked and burned (again) by the Bretons and Redguards. They consider any alliance that sends most of the Breton and Redguard soldiers off to Cyrodiil a good deal.

2015

Is there a difference between a Senche and a Senche-Tiger? (16/02/15)

Moon Bishop Hulan says, “Many hairless ones are confused by the term ‘senche,’ since we Khajiit use it to mean a variety of things. It is used as ‘senche’ and ‘senche-raht’ to refer to two of the seventeen distinct furstocks, or ‘breeds,’ of Khajiit. The senche-raht, in fact, are the largest of us! But we also use the term ‘senche-tiger’ to refer to our more catlike cousins of lesser sentience. Indeed, depending upon the appearance of these cousins, we might even call them ‘senche-leopards’ or ‘senche-panthers.’ So you see that the term ‘senche’ is very flexible indeed, as changeable as the Moons.”

What is a Daedrat? (11/03/15)

Phrastus of Elinhir says, "Daedrats are vermin from Oblivion that sometimes sneak into Nirn through Oblivion Gates or portals. Dremora think they're kind of cute, so if they catch them they kill them swiftly instead of torturing them, like they do with loose banekin."

Is it proper to drink in a "Temple of the 7 Gods", or is it considered as a desecration, or a very disrespectful behavior? (10/04/15)

Lady Cinnabar of Taneth says, “Context is everything! Drinking in a temple can be completely respectable, especially if part of the drink is poured off as a libation for the Divines. However, drunken misbehavior, unless called for in a specific ritual, should be avoided, lest it give offense to the pious, who may demand that the inebriates be punished for their disrespect.”

What race is Pharstus of Elinhir? What about Lady Cinnabar? (28/04/15)

He's a Cyrodiil; a Nibenese, in fact. Cinnabar is a Redguard.

Do the Vvardenfell vampire clans, like Berne, Aundae, and Quarra, appear on the mainland? (08/05/15)

Divayth Fyr says, “These clans of vampiric pests are native to Vvardenfell, and are rarely encountered on the mainland—if ever.”

Does it snow in Daggerfall? If yes then what celebrations and traditions do they do?

Phrastus of Elinhir says, “Thanks to warm currents to the west in the Eltheric Ocean, it rarely snows in Daggerfall, but the Bretons of that city-state nonetheless celebrate all the winter holidays of the Iliac Basin, particularly the New Life Festival at the turn of the year.”

There are cities in ESO with people and sewers. But never have I found any toilets or anyone who needs them. Where the hell do people do their business? (15/01/15)

Phrastus of Elinhir says, “Many of the urns and receptacles you see in Tamrielic houses are actually chamber pots. But of course you already knew that, so I assume your question is intended as a jest. If so, I must say I find it in questionable taste.”

Where does Cadwell originally come from? (28/05/15)

Cadwell, or as he prefers to be addressed, "Sir Cadwell" (though he is not, nor has he ever been, a knight) was once an Imperial citizen from the town of Chorrol in Cyrodiil. Like the player, he was executed by agents of Molag Bal and became a Soul Shriven slave in Coldharbour, but this happened untold ages ago. Exactly how this happened may never be known because Cadwell was cheerfully, endearingly mad long before his execution. He is almost certainly the oldest of the non-feral Soul Shriven, and he has attained almost legendary status among them. Over the years he's discovered all nooks, crannys, hidden paths, and secret ways through the access tunnels that honeycomb the cliffs of Molag Bal's realm. The Daedra gave up trying to keep him in chains long ago. His madness makes him essentially useless, his cheerful disposition makes him annoying, and his knowledge of Coldharbour makes him impossible to hold captive.

Why are you not arrested for your crimes when you enter Cyrodiil? (28/05/15)

General Nesh-Tan of the Ebonheart Pact says, “The Province of Cyrodiil is in the grip of all-out war; Imperial jurisprudence there has collapsed. Civil law enforcement cannot be the Pact military’s concern until civil order returns. I can’t speak for the other two alliances, but I’d wager they see it the same way.”

If Upper Craglorn is the "third region of Craglorn", per its promotional materials, that means Lower Craglorn is made up of two regions. Do these two regions of Lower Craglorn have names? (10/06/15)

Phrastus of Elinhir says, “Here in Craglorn, we refer to those areas as the ‘Belkarth Region’ and the ‘Elinhir Region,’ for reasons that should be obvious. Are you in the Elinhir area now? Stop in sometime and buy me a drink!”

Do Khajiit purr? (19/06/15)

Rathuni-la Dawnwhisker, Daughter of Azurah, says, “We Khajiiti come in many forms, many ‘furstocks,’ all of them wonderful—and I assure you, under the right circumstances, all of us purr! Purr-haps you haven’t been treating us as sweetly as you should? Try harder, tiger!”

Eastmarch and Skuldafn appear to be wrong, geographically, in Elder Scrolls Online. (19/06/15)

Phrastus of Elinhir says, “Our latter-day Nords are not well known for the scholarly attainments, and cartography is not one of their strongpoints. On their maps, sites of great importance—to Nords, that is—are often distorted and exaggerated. So it is with the eerie aerie of Skuldafn, which holds great significance for our superstitious northern brethren. They have never been comfortable with the fact that the Dark Elves hold the west coast of the Inner Sea all the way up to Blacklight; in some cases their maps elide that fact entirely. But it is there nonetheless.”

Is it safe for a human to take a bath in the 'waters' of Oblivion? (19/06/15)

Phrastus of Elinhir says, “That depends entirely on where, in the infinite variety of Oblivion, one finds oneself! In Coldharbour, for example, pools of blue fluid are common, but do not mistake it for water: it is Azure Plasm, the chaotic stuff of which Daedra, and their realms, are formed. It’s probably safe to bathe in, but I would hesitate to drink it.”

What does the "Tel Var" in Tel Var Stones stand for? (28/08/15)

Beredalmo the Signifier says, “The name is adapted from the Ayleidoon for ‘silver star’—which is appropriate, as Tel Var Stones are small magically-imbued fragments of the White-Gold Tower splintered from the structure, and the Tower was built by the Ayleids.”

How tall and old is great tree Elden Root at the heart of Grahtwood? And how did it become a city? (28/08/15)

Beredalmo the Signifier says, “The greatest graht-oaks of Valenwood are older than history itself, dating back to the Merethic Era, when the Elves ruled all Tamriel. The mighty walking trees of that time were centers of mystic energy, so the Wood Elves built their settlements among their branches, and were one with the Green.”

We seen Zombie Werewolves but has there been Zombie Vampires? (28/08/15)

Beredalmo the Signifier says, “The former is a case of a lycanthrope becoming a lower sort of undead, which would seem consistent with what I know of necromancy, at least as practiced by the Ayleids, who are my specialty. I would think a Zombie Vampire would be two kinds of undead in one, which sounds impractical.”

Will we see the "rare shaggy giant centipede herdbeast that can live only at high altitudes" in Orsinium that is spoken of in the Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition/The Wild Region? (16/09/15)

Lady Honnorah af-Lahreq says, “No such beast is mentioned in either De Brazy’s ‘Steeds of Tamriel’ or Luponio’s ‘Mounts of the World,’ so it’s probably safe to regard them as mythical. (I’ve always found the Orcs to be more fanciful than most people think!)"

Who is the king in West Skyrim at the time of Elder Scrolls Online? (16/09/15)

Phrastus of Elinhir says, “Shortly after the Second Empire dissolved into chaos, High King Logrolf of Skyrim was assassinated. The succession was disputed, and the kingdom of the Nords split into East and West Skyrim, with the west being ruled by the Jarls of Solitude. King Svargrim has ruled West Skyrim since 561, and though aging, is still hale, and shows no desire to give up the throne.”

Is Daggerfall invading the west part of the Rift? (16/09/15)

Phrastus of Elinhir says, “Dear me, no—Falkreath is part of West Skyrim, and its jarl owes allegiance to King Svargrim in Solitude. As I can tell you from personal experience, the Covenant soldiers you see near Elinhir are part of that alliance’s expeditionary force to Cyrodiil, and are holding open the supply lines from Cyrodiil to High Rock.”

2016

Are Stranglers & Dryads exempt from the Green Pact if they display aggression toward a Bosmer? (15/01/16)

The Spinner Sandaerion says, “You love your child, but if he misbehaves, do you not punish him? It is even so with the Green. We love our foliage friends, but wrong behavior must be punished.”

Do mead brewers also hold the title of marriage counselors in Nordic society? (15/01/16)

Rigurt the Brash says, “Every Nord is a marriage counselor once you pour enough mead into him!”

In Jackdaw Cove, there is a Glenmoril Wyrd Breton (Wyress Rashan) who has taken wolf form (not werewolf.) Could you explain the lore behind this? (15/01/16)

Lady Cinnabar of Taneth says, “The Glenmoril Wyresses are deep in the mysteries of Hircine, and are known to have access to beast-form magic unavailable to more ‘civilized’ mages.”

Early promotional materials mentioned that Queen Ayrenn "suffered personally at the hands of Abnur Tharn," but that isn't followed up in game. What happened? (15/01/16)

Aicantar of Shimmerene says, “Since the ascension of our queen to the Throne of Alinor, it is inappropriate to delve too deeply into indignities she might have suffered before her coronation. But rest assured that all is known, and nothing is forgotten.”

What are Lustrants? (15/01/16)

Doctor Rhythandius says, “As I understand it, ‘Lustrant’ is a term used by Molag Bal’s Dremora minions to refer to the followers of Meridia—that is, when they’re not calling them ‘Glow ***.’”

Can a female Orc warchief have multiple wives and/or multiple husbands? (15/01/16)

Curator Umutha of the House of Orsimer Glories says, “The situation you describe is not unheard-of, but marriage traditions vary from clan to clan, and have even been known to change over time. Orcish cultural institutions are ancient and strong, but history is rife with occasions when powerful chiefs bent the rules to suit their own wills.”

On Galerion and Mannimarco 17/08/2016 :

Galerion and Mannimarco's final confrontation takes place after the events of ESO.

2017

On Seyda Nihyn 07/02/2017 :

Hi! As you'll see, Ald'ruhn and Vivec City are in planning stages or under construction, and there's nothing where Pelagiad or Caldera will be later, but players are so attached to Seyda Neen, we felt we needed to give it to them. Our justification is that it was built by the Gold Coast Trading Company, who have a trade deal with the Hlaalu, thus the architecture's Cyrodilic influence.

Why can a non-vestige character (created in the ESO:Morrowind tutorial) use the wayshrine system? (20/04/17)

Here you see a symptom of a dilemma that exists for ESO that was never an issue for the single-player games. A packaged single-player game is by its nature a self-contained fire-and-forget product—it may have retcons in it, but in the end it says what it says and it’s graven in stone, no matter what devs and players may have to say about it later. An MMO is a different animal: it’s a live game that evolves over time, changing due to both player feedback and the need to issue new content to keep it fresh. Everyone on this forum loves Elder Scrolls lore, and we do too, but every Elder Scrolls title is designed first as a game, and then lore is created to support its game-ness. New lore is ideally consistent with pre-existing background, but the lore has to support the game rather than the reverse. With ESO we have the unprecedented issue of having to write lore that supports a game that can then FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE in response to player feedback and external market forces. Before One Tamriel, you could look at ESO and say, “Okay, geography equals history, and where the player is on the map is where they are in time.” That no longer applies, and lore created to support the mechanics of the game at launch is now out of step with the observable world of the ongoing game. ESO: Morrowind, with its new non-Vestige tutorial, shakes that up even further. We have some ideas about how to explain these revisions to reality within the context of existing mythic structure … but since you brought it up, we’d love to hear YOUR ideas on how ESO’s current take on Nirn “makes sense” according to pre-existing lore. All right, the Vosh Ball is in your court—have at it!

On the name of Firemoth Island in the 2nd era, prior to Imperial occupation (20/04/17)

Our assumption is that the later Imperials of the Third Empire didn’t name the island after their fort, they named their fort after the pre-existing name of the island.

On Vivec City 31/05/2017 :

Archcanon Tarvus preaches: “Long and long has the Palace stood where Lord Vivec decreed its erection. Pilgrims come to wonders, wonders come to the Poet, yea, even from the void, and yet more pilgrims come to wonder at the wonders. A Temple canton is built to receive them, visitation drives trade, trade drives construction, the Twin Saints arise in Ascadia! The Poet sees it is good, and calls for Warriors to tame the land for pilgrim protection. Redoran responds with righteous strength, plans are laid for ever-greater glories, Hlaalu comes with coin and cleverness, and greatness grows on the Inner Sea. All in the Shadow of Wonders. Do you see, O Faithful? Do you see?”

Are marketing materials part of lore? (09/06/17)

Unless it's credited to a Tamrielic source, e.g., "According to Beredalmo the Signifier...", marketing copy should not be considered to represent in-world lore. Safety first!

On Elder Scrolls Online's use of a wolf as Indoril's sigil (15/06/17)

Early in ESO's development, like nine years ago, well before we had any lore-checking processes in place, the wolf got picked for the Indoril banner based on the stylized wolf-head that appeared on Mehra Drora's gorget in TES3. This got promulgated onto some other assets, and it didn't get spotted until ESO: MW was in PTS testing. We're gradually sorting it out, but doing that kind of thing means diverting resources from the next DLC, so corrections don't always happen instantly.

On the appearance of Imperial currency (29/08/17)

Imperial gold coins had dragons on them long before Tiber Septim.