Most Argonians are able to feel the presence of the Hist in their minds at all times, but the further they travel from Black Marsh the weaker the connection gets. The Hist has also been known to alter the Argonians both physically and mentally in times of crisis making them stronger and more ruthless when invaders would impress upon their homeland. The Hist have a strange and often ambigious agenda of its own, and by pulling on the mystical bounds formed between them through their drinking of its sap, the Hist both subtly influences, or even outright directs the Argonians to do its bidding. Argonians believe that their souls were given to them by the Hist, and they drink the sap of the Hist to communicate with them and to grow. "Saxhleel" translates to "the people of the root" in Jel, a name which reflects the bond they feel with the sentient and ancient Hist trees which are also native to Black Marsh. The Argonians refer to themselves as the "Saxhleel" in their own tongue (known as "Jel"). (Even Tiber Septim merely captured several border cities, where non-Argonians can live somewhat comfortably, and declared Black Marsh "conquered".) They are also unfortunately (perhaps along with the Orcs) the most vilified and misunderstood of all the races, and for much of their history the Argonians were slaves to the Dunmer. In fact, Black Marsh has never been wholly occupied by an invading force. Argonians are highly resistant to disease and are famed throughout Tamriel as masters of guerilla style warfare, especially when exploiting the swampy terrain of their homeland. The Argonians are slow to trust and hard to know, but incredibly loyal to those they call friends, as well as cunning and resourceful fighters. While primarily reptilian in appearance, which includes possessing scales, elongated faces and jaws, claws, tails, and being cold-blooded, they also possess some traits of amphibians (small gills that allow them to breathe underwater similar to tadpoles) and birds (with some, particularly females, naturally growing feathers). The Argonians are the reptilian natives of the Black Marsh (which they call Argonia) in southeastern Tamriel.
Tamriel was said to have already been inhabited by the Beast Races, but they were aboriginal and primitive, making them "easily displaced" by the more magically and technologically advanced Aldmer.
Argonians became more reptilian in Daggerfall, but the Khajiit remained furless until Redguard and Morrowind. Early Installment Weirdness: Both playable beast races appeared far more human in Arena, the Khajiit looking like somewhat feral Wood Elves while the Argonians were essentially scaly, fanged men.Demihuman: While primarily humanoid in size and shape, each Beast Race has numerous features outside the range of normal humans.Specific examples for each race can be found in their entries below. Blue-and-Orange Morality: Like the races of Mer, each Beast Race has traits, beliefs, and practices which come across as very alien to a human observer.Beast Man: Each includes bestial features of varying magnitudes - heads, body cover and often legs - overlayed on top of humanoid frames.