The 'Curved Swords' meme originates from the critically acclaimed 2011 RPG The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. It stems from a repetitive piece of ambient dialogue spoken by city guards when the player encounters Alik'r warriors from Hammerfell. The guards express a peculiar sense of bewilderment and fascination with the fact that these warriors carry scimitars, famously stating, 'They've got curved swords. Curved. Swords.' The meme gained traction on sites like Reddit and YouTube, often used to satirize the game's limited NPC dialogue or to express faux-amazement at something mundane. It has since become a staple of Elder Scrolls internet culture, representing the charmingly awkward interactions found within the game's open world.