Skooma

Skooma is a fictional drug/beverage in the world of the computer role-playing game series The Elder Scrolls. It is a narcotic made from refined moon sugar. It is illegal and extremely addictive. A book called Confessions of a Skooma-Eater (also sometimes called Confessions of a Dunmer Skooma-Eater) provides a stirring argument that can turn skooma addicts away from addiction. (This book is a parody of the real Confessions of an English Opium-Eater, which concerns the drug laudanum.) Skooma is valuable and often smuggled, but few shopkeepers are willing to buy it. Due to its illegal nature, some shop keepers will not do business with the player if they are carrying it or its unrefined substrate moon sugar. Khajiit, however, have a particular fondness for skooma and are often willing to purchase it. Skooma is created using "Skooma pipes". In Morrowind, Skooma boosts the player's speed and strength, but decreases agility and intelligence temporarily. Several game modifications for The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind as well as The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion implement an in-game addiction system involving raising and lowering player stats based on ingestion schedules.

Moon sugar, the raw material for producing skooma, is an alchemical component derived from grasses native to Elsweyr, the homeland of the Khajiit, where the substance plays a substantial role in Khajiit culture. Due to being an unrefined ingredient of skooma, it does not have an effect on the player in Morrowind. Moon sugar does not make an appearance in Oblivion.