The answer is simple. They are a race that is dedicated to unarmed martial arts. They have multiple forms of it. Though the claws help they historically practice martial arts.

Why do I bring this up? Idk just felt like it I guess...

This from in game Morrowind btw. Courtesy of Hellmouth.


"I am a monk. In mind and spirit, I am a student of the hidden mysteries, of the unseen world that lies behind the objects and ideas of everyday life. In body, I am a student of the ancient martial arts, patterned on the 'Rain-of-Sand' fighting styles of Elsweyr. I pursue hand-to-hand and unarmored self-defense, because what you don't have, you cannot lose. I also train with the blunt weapons called staffs, because even the poorest peasant can own a staff."

An-Deesei said:

"The unarmed, unarmored martial arts traditions of the Marshmerrow, Salt Rice, and Golden Reed societies of the Dissident Priest, patterned on the 'Rain-of-Sand' fighting styles of Elsweyr, are slow to be adopted in the Empire, associated as they are with the ascetic renunciation of worldly wealth and material goods, and the rigid disciplines and mystical philosophies so alien to the Imperial West."

An-Deesei said:

"Monks dedicated to the ascetic philosophies of Elsweyr have long cultivated the unarmored martial arts traditions called the 'Rain-of-Sand' fighting styles. The Mages Guild and other societies have had some success adapting these styles for self-defense training of wizards and other armor-averse vocations. Students of the unarmored styles wear little or no armor, and count on evasion and deflection to avoid injury."

Thats like saying all Kahjiit are Thieves


To bad the Lore has so much more than the Actual Games ;p

everytime someone mentions anything to do with morrowind i want to play it again

I'unno. To give people a reason to play as a race of furries? I still won't touch 'em. Not into that.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb319/joniscrazy/ScreenShot10.jpg and http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb319/joniscrazy/kaj.jpg, yeah, we know. Or to put it literally:


Do'Khaj sat cross legged, meditating in the breezing, waist high saw grass, contemplating life and other things accustom of a Warrior Monk. The breeze swiftly stopped as nearly a dozen wild Khajiit and Saxhleel tribefolk approached stealthily between the bladed twig-sedge, under the waining sun. The Ghoutfang Masters hood never rose above his glistening cuspids as he ascends to a readied stance, jet black tail, twisting and contorting to a Rawlith Khaj form. A bellied roar between the stalks as a crude spear grazed past the Martial Artists ear, hood never moving, as two Khajiit wildlings emerged from the darkened grass. Open hand rose towards the throat, de-tonguing one Suthe as Do'Khaj's appendaged caudal twisted the neck of his spear chucking cohort. Four more swords came upon the cloaked Master, falling in similar fashion, without cowl or head raising towards the onslaught. By this time the remaining tribals had revealed torches, lighting the hedges and saw grass aflame.

An Illusions veil debuffed, revealing a nine foot tall Nagas Chieftain, clad in cured Argonian hide and leathered with the skins of forty Alfiq. His black bow was as long as a man, fully drawn, aimed at the chest of Do'Khaj. The arrow flew as the fighting monk leaped backwards into the moons shadow, breaking the bolt mid flight with his tail, while unearthing two throwing blades as the battling cat somersaulted for the second time through the night sky. Arms extended as the blades shot between the Nagas' small, beady eyes. The dead Chief and the Master hit the ground at the same time, rolling into a clawed sweep, heading towards the belly of the last remaining Saxhleel. Time slowed as the monk stood up, ascending past the flaming horizon, gutted Argonian slumped over watching helplessly. One swipe took his head while the last two skullduggers shook, as one dropped his blade, the other fleeing into the blackness. Master Do'Khaj did not pursue the fleeing cowards as it was not his way and he was confounded by the appearance of a spear and numerous beast folk in Skyrim. The Cat shrunk down and leaped a city walls length into the air, up and over the brush fire.

If we want to really get into it, we could say that the bonuses each race gets (which, really, is not all that much,) we could say that these are basically cultural/genetic benifits each race gets; the skills they are adept at are either because the skills are so widespread throughout their culture, they can't help but to pick them up, or because many of their ancestors had the knack for the skills, or the skills were important to their survival, thus lending a natural boost to it.

Yes, most Khajiit prefer to not use weapons in combat, which explains their various forms of martial arts, but it is known they have retractable claws which deal serious damage. That's the reason for the unarmed perk.

Fan fiction? Very good. Or is this a book I missed somewhere?
You could say that. The racial bonuses and powers are supposed to reflect each race as a whole. It is basically stereotyping to an extreme degree.

I wonder how they are going to handle Khajiits and Argonians when they enter those provinces. Each race has many different variations. Can we only be the standard variety with the other sub-species locked out? Hmmm...

Why do the Argonians not have an unarmed bonus then? I would think they have claws...

I don't know why there's no mention of Argonians having claws. Maybe they're considered more passive in nature and habitat and don't require claws. Khajiit are very territorial and aggressive, but I don't know much about Argonians.

There is not much backing up the territorial and aggressive part is there? I do not remember mention of that anywhere really. I am not doubting you perse but...evidence?

Na, just fan-fic, and two of my Khajiit martial arts master pics.

Actually, I'm sure I just read on UESP that Argonians *do* get a bonus to unarmed damage. It's not as significant as the Khajiit bonus, but it is an improvement on everyone else.

Can't find the reference now, though.

The Khajiit have been in near constant war with either each other or the Bosmer throught their entire existence, they just don't expand a lot. Most of this comes from the fact that they invade Valenwood which is difficult with all those tree's and they really don't like their dead being eaten. Okay that last part was speculation but seriously who would like that? Another important part is that if they aren't invading Valenwood they are usually busy in one civil war or another, this tends to limit expansion as well.

Good in any case.
I just looked. There is nothing. What is the BS about Histskin increasing health regen by 10 times on the UESP though? I thought it was 50%?!


Okay but how does them behaving as an fairly normal nation(based on description) make the entire race territorial and aggressive?

It is the claws. SOME Khajiit practice the martial arts, but not all of them. Khajiit make natural thieves, but not all Khajiit ARE thieves.

Khajiits are feline-men and cats ARE territorial and can be considered aggressive(If you don't trust me then try to find something about two cats or cat and dog living in one house).

> I just looked. There is nothing.

There is, but it isn't listed on the race page. It's listed on the combat page, specifically...

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Combat#Unarmed_Combat

If a culture is based around martial arts there is a higher percentage of people practicing it so naturally they are more proficient at it. They are not all masters but they have some hereditary proficiency. Not all Altmer are mages but every Altmer has the extra magicka and can regen magicka can they not?
Falacy right there. Just because cats are that way does not mean Khajiit are that way. Bring something from the Lore that is concrete. Argonians certainly do not act like Lizards do. They should all be dead in Skyrim because of the cold yet they live on.
Now that is interesting. Good find!

The uesp oblivion argonian wiki shows a +5 boost to h2h and blade . That is different from Morrowind which lists a +5 boost to spear and unarmored instead. So skills boost changes depending on the game.

Thanks! So I'm not crazy after all.

Well, between Morrowind and Oblivion, the Spear and Unarmored skills were removed. If gamesas didn't give Argonians a replacement pair of skills, the fandom would be in an uproar and probably bring these forums down in flames. Because we all know that Argonian lovers are one of the most vocal group on these forums, lol.

Cuz my active effects on my Argonian don't include claws

remarks like this are only made by insecure people who diddled to the girl version of bugs bunny as kids

Argonians have claws. This is firmly established in the lore, and if you play as one in Skyrim you can see that the tips of their fingers are noticeably pointed. On top of that, and perhaps more telling, is the simple fact that when throwing unarmed attacks they will not form a fist.