Lore:Places B

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Baar Dau

Baar Dau (also known as the Ministry of Truth or Lie Rock) was a celestial rock which hovered above the city of Vivec. According to legend, it was flung from the Void (by either Sheogorath or its own malevolence, depending on the story) but was prevented from crashing into the city by the god Vivec. Vivec allowed it to remain hovering above the High Fane so that if the people of the city ever ceased to love him, the rock would fall and destroy them. Baar Dau was hollowed out by the Tribunal Temple and became the Ministry of Truth, where the Temple would imprison dissident priests and attempt to reform them. The high security prison was accessible only through levitation, and was directed by a Grand Inquisitor. The main areas were the Hall of Processing and the Prison Keep. Temple pilgrims offered levitation potions at the Shrine of Daring, which was dedicated to Vivec stopping the moon from destroying the city.

Early in the Fourth Era, after the disappearance of Vivec, the magic keeping Baar Dau afloat began to weaken. Two Dunmer, Sul and Vuhon, created an ingenium, a soul-powered device which supported the rock. It was created by making a pact with Clavicus Vile, who had a penchant for souls. Hundreds of captured souls were needed to run the machine, but eventually living people were used. Only the people with the strongest souls were sacrificed. Ilzheven, Sul's love, was sacrificed by Vuhon, and the ingenium was destroyed when Sul attempted to rescue her. In 4E 5, without anything holding it up, Baar Dau continued its ancient fall, returning to the momentum it had before being stopped. This obliterated the city of Vivec, leaving a crater which would become Scathing Bay. In turn, the impact created tsunamis which ravaged mainland Morrowind and caused Red Mountain to erupt, devastating Vvardenfell. The event effectively ended the Tribunal Temple and the mainstream worship of the Tribunal as gods.

Balfalls

A settlement located on mainland Morrowind between Narsis and Vivec City.

Isle of Balfiera

The Isle of Balfiera consists of seven islands found within the northern portion of Iliac Bay. It is predominantly inhabited by Bretons; the largest settlement is the town of Upvale. Balfiera is known as a neutral meeting place for the kingdoms of High Rock, who use it to facilitate negotiations and treaties. However, the Isle is most renowned as the site of the Direnni Tower, formerly the Adamantine Tower, the oldest known structure in Tamriel. Legends say it was constructed on the "little island" by the gods themselves so they could hold their own negotiations. The title for the ruler of the Isle is the Castellan of Balfiera, derived from the title originally used for the commander of the tower. The Isle survived the Warp in the West as an unconquered territory.

Balmora

Balmora ("Stone Forest" in Dunmeris) was the nominal district seat of House Hlaalu, and the second largest settlement geographically on Vvardenfell after Vivec. Balmora was located at the southernmost edge of the West Gash, right at the point where the region converged with the Ashlands, the marshes of the Bitter Coast and the lush plantations of the Ascadian Isles. The Odai River ran through its heart and divided it into four districts, High Town, the Commercial District, Labor Town, and nearby Moonmoth Legion Fort.

The Battlespire

The realm of Battlespire, the magical academy of the battlemages, is located in a thin slipstream between Oblivion and Mundus. It acted as a sort of proving ground and testing facility for the Shadow Legion, the Imperial Battlemages. It could be accessed via the Pillar of Light, a teleportation device linked to the Weir Gate. The stronghold was once attacked by invading Daedra, all of whom bore the Daedric Crescent. The Battlespire was destroyed during the invasion's aftermath. The Empire later reclaimed the ruined Battlespire, and gathered up all the Daedric Crescents to be destroyed - all but one.

Bergama

The Barony of Bergama is a region within western Hammerfell, in the Iliac Bay region, best known for being an enclave of the Alik'r Desert. Akatosh is the primary deity of the Redguards who reside here. The provincial seat is the city of Bergama. The Anthotis clan is the predominant vampire bloodline in the region.

Immediately following the Warp in the West, this region came under the dominion of Sentinel. According to a Blade spy in the area at the time, there was an intense roar akin to a sandstorm and the populace seemed to just skip a day of their lives in an instant to learn the region was overrun by Sentinel troops and the Lord of Bergama's fortress was destroyed.

Betony

The Protectorate of Betony is a small island in the Iliac Bay, off the coast of Daggerfall. It is a prosperous fishing island and strategically placed; however, it is also vulnerable to pirates. It is best known for triggering the War of Betony in 3E 403, in which Daggerfall and Sentinel fought to control Betony. Prior to the war the island had been loosely controlled by Sentinel. With Daggerfall's victory in the war, Betony became part of Daggerfall.

Bhoriane

The County of Bhoriane is a province on the southern coast of High Rock stretching along the northwestern coast of the Iliac Bay. Two islands just north of the Isle of Balfiera are also part of this region. The mainland shares borders (in order from north to south) with Koegria, Kambria, and Dwynnen. The Montalion clan is the predominant vampire bloodline in the region.

Bitter Coast

The Bitter Coast, named for the salt marshes along the coast, was the part of Vvardenfell's coast nearest to the mainland of Morrowind. This largely uninhabited area was in the far southwest of Vvardenfell and lay between the mountains of the West Gash to the east and the Inner Sea to the west. The northern boundary of the region was generally considered to be marked by Khartag Point just north of Gnaar Mok, and it followed the coast south and eastward through the tiny fishing and smuggling village of Hla Oad, the Imperial outpost at Seyda Neen, and finally merging into terrain more reminiscent of the Ascadian Isles just west of Vivec.

The Bitter Coast was dominated by humid, putrid swamps and salt marshes. The giant bull netch floated gently through the air, fearing no cliff racer or mudcrab. Off the coast, divers found kollops with pearls, but even more slaughterfish and man-like dreugh with their hard shells and tentacles. Herbalists came to this region to harvest the various mushrooms which thrived in the marshy environment. The region was also known as The Smuggler's Coast, since the secluded coves and islands were littered with smugglers operating out of their hidden caves. The ever-present fog and rain provided additional cover for their boats. No major action had been taken to curtail their actions, as many smugglers counted on support from locals unhappy with high taxes on liquor.

Bjoulsae River

The Bjoulsae River is a major river that forms most of the border between Hammerfell and High Rock.

Its source lies roughly south of the High Rock city of Raven Spring and northwest of Hammerfell's Heldorn - about two thirds of the way along the border between the two provinces. It flows west at first, then turns west-southwest as it reaches the Wrothgarian Mountains. It finally enters the sea at the eastern end of the Illiac Bay, where it divides Wayrest from Mournoth

In 2E 541, a horde of Reachmen, led by Durcorach the Black Drake, crossed the Bjoulsae and began the Siege of Wayrest.

Blacklight

Blacklight is a major Redoran city on the northwestern coast of mainland Morrowind, close to the border of Skyrim. It was once home to a gladiatorial team known as the Dark Knights. Across the Inner Sea to the northeast is the island of Solstheim, to the south are the Western Highlands and a good road west connects through the Dunmeth Pass to the Nord city of Windhelm.

During Tiber Septim's campaign to conquer Morrowind, he used the area west of Blacklight as a staging ground due to the relatively weak Dunmer defenses here. Blacklight is further mentioned in the books on King Edward. Blacklight remained standing following the catastrophes of the Red Year; in fact, it became the new capital of Morrowind after the Argonians sacked the former capital, Mournhold. The Council of Great Houses meets there at the Rootspire. House Redoran has substantially improved the city over the Third and Fourth Eras, and its grandeur is said to rival Mournhold at its peak.

Blackreach

Blackreach is an immense cavern located deep beneath the Pale and Winterhold in Skyrim. Many giant glowing mushrooms grow throughout the cavern, providing natural light. A subterranean river flows through the cavern. The cavern is rich in minerals, including rare geode veins. Blackreach is home to many dangerous creatures, including Giants, Frost Trolls, Chaurus, Falmer, and Wispmothers. The cavern is filled with Dwarven ruins, which provide access to the surface.

Blackrose

Blackrose is a major city in the swampy interior of Black Marsh, close to Murkwood, the dark forest that ever moves. It was founded by an extinct community of Lilmothiit. In 1E 1033, Empress Hestra ordered the Imperial Navy to hunt down the notorious bandit king "Red" Bramman. After a long search they caught Bramman in his hideout near Blackrose. Later, in the Second Era, Akaviri Potentate Versidue-Shaie ordered a dungeon to be built on the ruins of the abandoned settlement, and to this day it has kept its status as the most secure prison in Tamriel. Commonly known as "The Rose", this prison is where many of Jagar Tharn's associates were sent after the Imperial Simulacrum. During the reign of Empress Morihatha, shaken by many revolutions and civil wars, the Lore Master Celarus wrote about the Imperial Battlemage Welloc's battles with the rebellious army of Blackrose. The city was once home to a gladiatorial team known as the Warriors.

Blackwood

Blackwood is the swampland east of Leyawiin along the Trans-Niben, adjacent to the Black Marsh border. The waters from this swamp drain south into Topal Bay.

Black Marsh

Black Marsh is a dense swampland region of southeastern Tamriel, home to the reptilian humanoid race of Argonians and a race of sentient trees known as the Hist. Mer races also use the name Argonia, a reference to an obscure ancient battlefield, to avoid the negative connotations of the term "Black Marsh". Argonians thrive in the foreboding swamps of Black Marsh, a lush and threatening land teeming with poisonous plants and violent predators. The region's tropical climate lends its plants the capacity to overturn all attempts to cultivate them. Foreign agricultural, colonial, and commercial ventures beyond the slave-trade have met with abject failure. The native Argonians organize themselves on the tribal level with success and efficiency, and were only loosely integrated into the ruling Empire.

For more information, see the Lore article.

Black Road

The Black Road road runs east to west between the Imperial City and Chorrol. Just to the east of Chorrol, the road joins with the Orange Road.

Blue Road

The Blue Road runs east to west between the Imperial City and Cheydinhal in the province of Cyrodiil.

Bravil

Bravil is a squalid town located on the banks of the Niben Bay, south of the Imperial City. The Larsius River passes through and wraps around the town, as the Green Road curves around it.

Bravil is described as one of the poorest towns in Cyrodiil. Houses are built like shacks, being wooden and stacked upon each other. The Larsius River that runs through the town serves as Bravil's sewers. Because of its location on the bay's shore and the marshes and swamps that surround it, the climate is damp. The Lucky Old Lady, a statue which once stood in a square east of Bravil's Great Chapel, served as Bravil's most famous structure. The statue was erected some time in the First Era and is an object of tales speculating its origin.

The settlement has likely been in existence since at least 1E 1152. It is known that Ayleids once lived in the region before the town was established. The Alessian Army attacked the Ayleids in the First Era, the army being led by the Empress Alessia's centurion Teo Bravillius Tasus. After discovering the Ayleid's ability to use Alteration type magic to defend themselves, Tasus managed to defeat them. Because of his success, the town owes its name to Tasus. County Bravil rebelled against the Empire following the Oblivion Crisis of 3E 433 and briefly became an independent city-state. Bravil warred with Leyawiin, which had also gained independence, until the two counties were subdued by Emperor Titus Mede.

Brellach

Brellach is the home of the Aureal in the Shivering Isles, located in the north of Mania on the Saints Watch peninsula. It is the most sacred place to the Golden Saints, as it contains the Wellspring of the Aureal. The souls of fallen Aureals are called back to the Isles from the Waters of Oblivion to the Font of Rebirth by use of ceremonial chimes. The stronghold was given to the Aureal by Lord Sheogorath and no mortals are usually permitted to pass inside the sacred halls.

In 3E 433, Brellach was invaded by order. According to the Aureals who survived the attack, the Forces of Order were let inside the halls by Thadon, the former Duke of Mania who had become a Priest of Order to aid Jyggalag in the coming Greymarch, although this conflicts with reports of his assassination. The results of this attack were catastrophic. The armies of the realm were greatly crippled, and the Font of Rebirth was covered with Order Crystals, drying up its waters and turning the Aureal to stone. Sheogorath's Champion, who had been granted access to Brellach to fight the Knights of Order, destroyed the crystals surrounding the Wellspring and restored the Aureal, who subsequently defeated the remaining Forces of Order.

Brena River

The Brena River is a fairly short, steep-sided river that flows into the Abecean Sea just south of the city of Rihad. The main branch rises in the Colovian Highlands on the border between Hammerfell and Cyrodiil, flowing west along the border. It is joined by another branch from within Hammerfell at a point on the border roughly north of Anvil.

Broken Cape

The Broken Cape is a cape along the northern edge of Skyrim. Its most northern tip is called Hsaarik Head.

Bruma

Located in Cyrodiil, north of the Imperial City, Bruma's population is mostly Nord, although other races are also present. It is always relatively cold and snow-covered.

Buckmoth Legion Fort

An Imperial Legion outpost located due south of Ald'ruhn and west of the Ramimilk shrine, on the road to Ghostgate. It offered many services to the populace, including an Imperial Cult altar.