Lore:Will-o-the-Wisp

A will-o-the-wisp in a petrified forest (Oblivion Remastered)

Will-o-the-wisps
A Will-o-the-Wisp (Oblivion)
Type		Spirit
Range		Black Marsh, Cyrodiil
Appears in		Oblivion, Legends, Betrayal of the Second Era

Will-o-the-Wisps (or Will o' the Wisps), also called true wisps, are luminous beings seemingly composed of gas and spiritual energy. They are "lone predators" found in swampy areas of southern Tamriel, such as Black Marsh and the Blackwood region of Cyrodiil, and can only be harmed by silver, Daedric, or enchanted weapons. They are immune to normal damage and poison, and have a variety of extremely dangerous magic. They are also very fast and have the ability to become nearly invisible.

Confusion surrounding their true nature leads many to assume that will-o-the-wisps are simply swamp gas. Natural curiosity about the strange lights produced by will-o-the-wisps can sometimes lure townsfolk into the swamp; once weakened by the will-o-the-wisp's magic, these victims become easier prey to other predators.

Some theorize that the wisps that normally surround wispmothers are a subspecies of the will-o-the-wisp, though their behavior is very different.

Shines are a harmless cousin of the will-o-the-wisp that are known to loom around the Imperial ruins of Lilmoth.

Uses

Like wisps and wispmothers, the remains of will-o-the-wisps are a plentiful source of Glow Dust, a valuable alchemy ingredient. Supplicants seeking to summon Azura sometimes leave an offering of Glow Dust at her shrine at dawn or dusk.

Gallery

• 

  Will-o-the-Wisp
  (Oblivion Remastered)

• 

  A will-o-the-wisp in a swamp (Legends)

• 

  Glow Dust (Oblivion)

• 

  Glow Dust (Oblivion Remastered)

See Also

• For game-specific information, see the Oblivion, Legends, and Betrayal of the Second Era articles.
• Mote
• Waft
• Wisp and Wispmother
• Wisperill