Lore:Places V

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Valenwood

Valenwood is a densely forested, sub-tropical province of the Cyrodilic empire that makes up the southwest coastal plain of Tamriel. Valenwood borders Elsweyr to the east and Cyrodiil to the north, partially divided from the latter by the Strid River, and is just across the sea from Summerset Isle. Its landscape consists of rolling hills and light blue rivers, predominantly covered in rainforest and woodland.

The best way to describe Valenwood is in A Pocket Guide to the Empire, which describes it as "A sea of endless green, a maze of foliage with half-hidden cities growing like blooms from a flower, the home of the Bosmer is Tamriel's garden." Along the province's northern border with Cyrodiil are highland plateaus with hundreds-foot tall trees, overlooking the swamp lowlands leading southwest to Falinesti. One unusual feature of Valenwood is its gigantic, migratory trees that can contain entire cities. Falinesti in particular is a mile-high tree holding an entire city in its branches that was described in A Dance in Fire. Falinesti used to migrate south in the winter, but it has recently stopped walking for unknown reasons.

Valus Mountains

The Valus Mountains are a mountain range in eastern Cyrodiil, forming the border with Morrowind. They meet the Jerall Mountains at the Skyrim border. Hero Hill and a secret shrine to Boethiah are two of the many landmarks in the region. The city of Cheydinhal is located on the foothills.

Vandor

Vandor is a small island far to the west of Hammerfell's coast in the Abecean Sea. Vandor is part of the island group of Thras, also called the Coral Kingdoms.

Velothi Mountains

The Velothi Mountains are the mountain range separating Morrowind from Skyrim. They are named after the Chimer prophet Veloth who led the Chimer to leave their ancestral homes and resettle in Morrowind.

In the Late Middle Merethic Era, the Velothi Mountains were settled by the Dwemer, who created cities beneath the mountain range. Presumably these cities followed the fate of their counterparts in Morrowind and Hammerfell and now lie deserted, but no further information on the cities exists.

In 2E 864, a canopy tunnel provided easy travel to the mountains from Cyrodiil, but no trace of the tunnel remained by 3E 433. Dunmeth Pass leads through the mountains and into northern Morrowind. High in the mountains lies the ancient temple of Skuldafn, along the Eastmarch border.

Vitharn

Vitharn was a ruin in the Shivering Isles in the Third Era. The ruin was once a thriving city and fortress, founded by fanatics in southern Dementia. Four generations of Counts ruled over the city, planning to usurp the Isles from the Madgod, Sheogorath. Ultimately, the incompetence of Vitharn's late ruler, Count Cirion, and his mother's Manic heritage, caused the Vassal Fanatics of Dementia to invade the city and slaughter all therein, forgetting their sworn alegiance to the city of Vitharn.

In 3E 433, Sheogorath's Champion put to rest the ghosts of Vitharn who had been cursed to relive the night of their defeat over and over again. For more information, see the main Lore article.

Vivec

"Finally the bones of Horde Mountain landed and became the foundation stones for the City of Swords, which Vivec named after his own sigil, and the net fell across it all and between, or became as bridges between bones, and since its segments had been touched by his holy wisdom they became the most perfect of all city streets in the known worlds." — Vivec

Vivec City (often shortened to simply Vivec), named after the god of the same name, was the largest city in Vvardenfell, once situated on its southern coast in a large lagoon. The city was a collection of nine artificial islands; each island was a separate district or canton and was made up of a large multi-tiered building the size of a small town. The many bridges and walkways between these cantons created a maze that could be intimidating for new arrivals. Water was the dominant element in the architecture, present even inside. The entire city of Vivec was considered a holy place, as it was home to the Living God Vivec himself. The city was policed by special guards drawn from the militant order of the Temple, the Ordinators.

Most cantons were generally built of four tiers. The lowest, only accessible from drainage grates or trapdoors, was the Underworks, or the canton's sewer. The Underworks were located on the water-line, and were a nest for criminals, rats, and other undesirables, as Ordinators never ventured into them. Above the Underworks, at the level of the main walkways and canals, were the Canalworks, where tombs, homeless paupers, storage rooms, and a few small shops could occasionally be found. The Canalworks of a canton were generally only accessible from the upper levels, or via trapdoor from the Underworks. Above the Canalworks were the Waistworks, filled with shops, clubs, temples, and residences. The top of a canton contained a large domed courtyard known as the Plaza, with standalone buildings rather than doors built into corridor walls. Canton plazas were filled with manor-houses and fine shops, and could usually only be accessed through large doors from the exterior. All of the space within a canton had to be leased from the Temple, and the only Guards allowed to police the area were Ordinators.

Void

The Void (also called the Darkness) is the name applied to the dimensions outside of the known realms (e.g. Aetherius, Oblivion, and Mundus) of the Aurbis. The brothers Anu and Padomay came from the Void, as well as Sithis, who originally caused change in the world. According to the Dark Brotherhood, when Sithis wishes someone killed, their soul comes here after death. Legends say that deities wishing to create a new plane of existence must initially create a space for it in the Void. The "Nineteen Voids" is an unknown term which may be related to this dimension.

Vos

Vos was an ancient Velothi farming village on the eastern coast of Vvardenfell. There were few services here. There was a Dunmer chapel which was too small to serve as a focus for Almsivi intervention, but the resident cleric, Yakin Bael, was a fine healer, and worth a visit by anyone interested in the medical arts.

The town of Vos was up the hill from the harbor, where there were ships to Tel Aruhn, Sadrith Mora and nearby Tel Mora. The large and friendly Varo Tradehouse was located near the wharves, and was a good alternative to Tel Mora for men seeking accommodation. Apart from passing through on the way to Master Aryon's tower at Tel Vos, there was really little cause to visit Vos.

Vvardenfell

The island of Vvardenfell is one of six Imperial administrative districts of the Morrowind province. It serves as the setting for the game The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Vvardenfell is an island subcontinent located inside the bay-like Inner Sea and is almost completely surrounded by land except for its northern coast, which meets the Sea of Ghosts. The district is dominated by the great volcano, Red Mountain, that formed the island; the Inner Sea is likely to be a gigantic crater. The district is characterized by arid wastes, rocky highlands and coastal wetlands filled with unusual flora and fauna unique to Vvardenfell. Early in the Fourth Era, Vvardenfell was destroyed after the Ministry of Truth crashed into the city of Vivec, causing Red Mountain to erupt. Most of the island was covered in ash, forcing much of the population to leave for the island of Solstheim.