So I'm walking to meet Ralis Sedarys after he sends me a letter saying that the excavation is done, and I meet a group of Nord hunters on Solstheim who ask me to help them kill a Netch. At first I struggle to recall what a Netch is, and then I remember. It's one of those awesome floaty things with the tentacles. No way am I going to kill one of those cool things.

I decline to help them and just say "Good luck," and they run off to kill it. I decide to sit back and watch, to see what all the fuss was about. Lo and behold, the Netch starts annihilating them. It takes two hits with its tentacles to kill them. The first guy goes down, then some woman, and then another guy.

Finally, one guy is left, and the Netch has about a dozen arrows stuck in it. It goes for the final guy, who pulls out a dagger. The Netch misses, and the Nord strikes a blow on it. At this, the Netch turns and tries to run away. I recognize this as a sign that the Netch will likely die if it is hit once more, so I quickly run up to the Nord and swing my sword, engaging an animation where I stab him in the back, ending the hunt.

The Netch flies away happily, after giving me some words of thanks and timeless wisdom. Okay, he didn't talk, but he probably would have. But I thought that was quite a sight, and now I know how much power these creatures have. If the Netch hadn't have missed, it would have likely gotten all of those hunters, and that would have been a lot more satisfying.

Stupid Nords.

I applaud you.
Netches > Nords.

Agreed. It is after this experience that I demand there be a "Conjure Netch" spell.

Yes, I've seen quite a few of these occurrences. I always say "Good Luck" to the Nords, but I can't help but feel bad for letting them die (the Netch has always won). But they were fighting for fun so... all the more fun for them I guess. At least it's a good source of Skaal fur coats! I love those things.

I just let the Netch kill them.. if they can take down the Netch, good for them.. haven't seen it yet though.

I've watched them on different occasions and it's random whether or not the hunters win.

Whenever this has happened the hunters always win but later get killed by a lurker right after.

I kill them for their leather. I may be a bad person.

I'll present a different take on the hunt.
The Skaal Nords are an ancient people who were isolated on Solstheim for quite some time. The incursions of the expansionist Empire/East Empire Company brought a new threat. But they were accepting of these intruders, warily watching whilst minimally trading.

And then everything changed:
- The mines at Raven Rock went dry
- The East Empire Company abandoned the settlement, leaving a jagged money pit scar upon the Skaal's island
- The Empire, however, continued to occupy Fort Frostmoth...for no other reason than to stake claim to the land
- Red Mountain then blew a gasket, changing the very landscape of southern Solstheim. Was this a portent of things to come?
- Indeed...as the ash-strewn ground harbored the perfect nutrients for such Vvardenfell flora as Trama Root and Scathecraw
- Seedlings took hold and southern Solstheim began to physically resemble the northern Ashlands across the Sea of Ghosts
- As Red Mountain continued to spew, both Dunmer and Netch sought refuge
- Other land-based creatures weren't so mobile, but the Dunmer had ships and the Netch could fly
- The Dunmer of House Redoran established a toehold at Raven Rock and the Netch found sanctuary along the coast
- The new terrain of both ash-covered soil and hovering poisonous critters forced the fauna of Solstheim's southern shore to move North

The Skaal, a people of their land, could only watch and adapt. 1/3rd of their home was changed forever whilst the other 2/3rds wilds saw an influx and overcrowding.
So what's a Skaal to do? Here's a thought: Form ritualistic Netch hunting parties. This promotes oneness amongst their peoples, a proving test for the young, and a means of trying to bring their ancestral lands back in balance and harmony.

So when a brave Skaal asks if I'll join the Netch hunt, I see it as an honor. For I, too, have intruded upon their island.
Perhaps in killing a Netch, I can atone for any wrongs for which I may be inadvertently responsible.

The netch always wins in my game unless I help, which isn't often because it's kind of funny to watch a single netch massacre 4 skaal hunters

I always say good luck but kill them myself before they attack the netch. I just can' t let them die

I always help the Skaal in their hunts when asked. They are an honorable people, and we could very well have mutual ancestors. Regardless, they are people, a netch is an animal. They are not killing it needlessly.

But the Netch is cooler.

Not to mention the Skaal are only supposed to kill for the need of killing. These Skaal are sort of like the Thirsk guys. But I suppose they're still Skaal, and we're still intruding.

I did this yesterday, and even with my help the Netch killed two of the hunters, which was fine by me. I got a set of the Skaal fur armour or whatever its called. So, it was totally worth it.

Well, they are. It's to prove some sense of honor or something. I can understand killing something that's generally hostile, like a bear or even a dragon, but a docile creature like a Netch? Might as well be a rabbit.

Yes, there is honor and tradition in it, but they also tell you it will provide for their people. They do live off the land, they have to. They are not killing it for sport.

Well, they need to eat something and make their clothing out of it and stuff.
But nonetheless, the Netch is cooler. The Skaal are my favorite Nords, though. Much better than Skyrim Nords.

Oh, and rabbits aren't dangerous, unless you're in a Monty Python movie.....

Thirsk come from Skaal. But they're not the same. They have different ideas. Skaal see fighting and war as something you should avoid and anyone involved in fighting should feel ashamed, unless they're directly defending themselves or killing to survive.
Thirsk see honor and glory in battle.

I feel the pain of the Nords, I too tried to take on a netch in my early Morrowind days with a Dagger, thinking myself "bauce status" after gutting a few rats and Kwama foragers, I got attached to my little pin poker and thought myself complete in the search of the ultimate weapon.

I happen across a large floating balloon thing mulling about with is tendrils along the ground. I struck it, thinking myself mighty and nigh impervious to all harm. that netch gave me a thorough thwacking, in two swings I was on the ground. and on the third I died.

all bow to the holy Netch, for they float and possess tentacles.

Am I the only one that has ever wanted to put a saddle on a Netch and ride?

Well, whatever. I'm kind of like General Tullius... "Any last requests before I send you to... to wherever you people go when you die." XD Well, maybe not that misinformed. The Skaal are new to me, and these people seem random. So I have no idea what the deal is.

Don't see how they'd eat a Netch, though. Unless for the jelly. But couldn't they just get some graqes instead?

You aren't the only one, my friend.

I always help with the netch hunt, and feel vaguely guilty when I loot the netch. It wasn't my hunt...but it's not like the Skaal hunters are exactly running up to claim their share. I often sell it in the Skaal village.

On the other hand, I've only ever attacked a netch on my own when I was doing the netch jelly quest, and felt horribly guilty for slaughtering those innocent families. Some of my happiest Solstheim moments are standing on the shore and watching the netch float on the gentle sea breeze.

Then those damn Skaal show up. Fine, fine, whatever. Lemme get my bow.

↑ its a floating cow.