Lore:Places V

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[edit] 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, 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.

[edit] Valus Mountains

The Valus Mountains are a mountain range in eastern Cyrodiil on the Morrowind border. The city of Cheydinhal is located nearby.

[edit] Vanlor

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

[edit] 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. Prior to the arrival of the Chimer, the Velothi Mountains had been inhabited by the Dwemer who created underground cities beneath the mountain range.

[edit] Vivec

Vivec is the largest city in Vvardenfell, a metropolis in a lagoon, much like Venice, Italy, complete with Gondoliers in their festive uniforms offering transport. Bridges and walkways create a maze that can be intimidating for new arrivals. Water is the dominant element, ever-present in the architecture, even inside. The entire city of Vivec is considered a holy place, as it is home to the Living God Vivec himself. The city is policed by special guards drawn from the militant order of the Temple, the Ordinators. It is comprised of nine districts, each made up of a large multi-tiered floating building, known as a canton, and the size of a town in and of itself.

A canton is generally built from four tiers. Lowest, only accessible from drainage grates or trapdoors, is the Underworks, or the canton's sewer. The Underworks is located entirely underwater, and are a nest for criminals, rats, and undesirables, as Ordinators never venture into them. Above the Underworks, at the level of the main walkways and canals, are the Canalworks, where tombs, homeless paupers, storage rooms, and a few small shops can be found. The Canalworks of a canton is generally only accessible from the Waistworks, or via trapdoor from the Underworks. Above the Canalworks are the Waistworks, filled with shops, clubs, temples, and residences. The top of a canton contains a large domed plaza, with standalone buildings rather than just doors in corridor walls. Canton plazas are filled with manor-houses and fine shops, and can mostly only be accessed from the exterior. All of the space within a canton must be leased from the Temple, and the only Guards allowed to police the area are Ordinators.

[edit] Vos

Vos is an ancient Velothi farming village on the eastern coast of Vvardenfell. There are few services here. There is a Dunmer chapel which is too small to serve as a focus for Almsivi intervention, but the resident cleric, Yakin Bael is a fine healer, and worth a visit by anyone interested in the medical arts. While you are there, it may also be worth a visit to Maela Kaushad, an Ashlander wise woman who married a local farmer.

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

[edit] Vvardenfell

The island of Vvardenfell is one of six Imperial administrative districts of the Morrowind province. 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.

Previously a Temple preserve under Imperial protection, Vvardenfell Territory was reorganized in 3E 414 as an Imperial Provincial District. Vvardenfell had been maintained as a preserve administrated by the Temple since the Treaty of the Armistice in 2E 896, and except for the independent Ashland tribes and a few Great House settlements sanctioned by the Temple, Vvardenfell was previously undeveloped. The region was host to large populations before the War of the First Council; few remained by the time of the reorganization. perhaps due to the Blight. When the centuries-old Temple ban on trade and settlement of Vvardenfell was revoked by King Llethan of Morrowind, a flood of Imperial colonists and Great House Dunmer came to Vvardenfell, expanding old settlements and building new ones.

The new District was divided into Redoran, Hlaalu, Telvanni, and Temple Districts, each separately administered by local House Councils or Temple Priesthoods, and all under the advice and consent of Vedam Dren and the District Council in Ebonheart.

[edit] Political

Since the reorganization, Vvardenfell is ruled by the Grand Council in Ebonheart, which consists of representatives from the main powers present on Vvardenfell: The three Great Houses Hlaalu, Redoran and Telvanni, the Tribunal Temple, the Imperial Commission and the Imperial Magistrate. Duke Vedam Dren of House Hlaalu is the head of the council, representative of the Emperor and leader of the Vvardenfell district.

Local law became a mixture of House Law and Imperial Law in House Districts, jointly enforced by House guards and Legion guards, with Temple law and Imperial law enforced in the Temple district by Ordinators. The Temple was still recognized as the majority religion, but worship of the Nine Divines was protected by the legions and encouraged by Imperial cult missions.

[edit] Commerce

Imports and exports are tightly-controlled by the East Empire Company, which deals largely with Imperial-friendly House Hlaalu. The company mines raw ebony and glass on the island. It holds exclusive charters on these items and most other native commodities, such as local spirits and agricultural products. Outside these official channels, the Empire forbids the trading of moon sugar, skooma, and Dwemer artifacts. As such, Smuggling is big business. Slavery is legal in Morrowind, and House Dres competes with smugglers to supply the market with forced labor.

[edit] Geography

Created by the last giant eruption of Red Mountain, Vvardenfell has several regions: Ascadian Isles, Ashlands, Azura's Coast, Bitter Coast, Grazelands, Molag Amur, Red Mountain, Sheogorad, West Gash and Zafirbel Bay. The central and southeastern regions are mountainous wastes regularly scoured by Ash storms.

The biggest towns are Balmora, Vivec, Ald'ruhn and Sadrith Mora. Also on the island, various remains of distant times are found in form of Daedric Shrines, ancient Velothi Towers, Dwemer Ruins, and post-Velothi Dunmer Strongholds.

[edit] People

Native to Vvardenfell since the First Era are the dark-skinned, red-eyed Dunmer (known as the Chimer ages ago), which make about half of the population. The other half are divided roughly equally among the other eight races of Tamriel. Inhabitants of Vvardenfell include members of three of the five Great Houses, Velothi commoners, nomadic Ashlanders and members of the Tribunal Temple, to which all wilderness areas ostensibly belong. Outlanders are not particularly welcome, especially in Telvanni-controlled areas. The Imperial Legion and Imperial guilds are well established though and accept foreigners openly. House Hlaalu is also rather welcoming to them, as evidenced by their two non-Dunmer Councilors.

Dunmer inhabitants of Vvardenfell have a keenly-developed sense of identity, as they live in a sacred place that has been host to many of the defining moments in Dunmeri history. The common people regard themselves as servants of the Living Gods and the heirs of the Velothi movement. Saint Veloth is credited with bringing the Chimer and by extension, the Dunmer to their proper place in the world. Daedra worship has long-since fallen out of favor with most of the population, but it still holds a valued place in culture and tradition, as the Tribunal are regarded as either complementing or amicably replacing the worship of the Lord of Misrule.

Central to the psyche of the Vvardenfell Dunmer is Red Mountain, whose geography and silhouette dominates the region. Constant storms dictate the course of everyday life and give the different environments their distinctive characters. The volcano also keeps the island in a constant state of flux, as evidenced by old maps showing the entire island made up of Ashlands, lava rivers running to the sea, and accounts of ash falling on the streets of Vivec.

[edit] Transportation

Inhabitants of Vvardenfell rely on beasts of burden, such as Guar or Silt Striders (giant insects), or make use of various seagoing vessels to transport people and cargo. Guild Guides provided by the Mages Guild can also provide transportation.

[edit] Religion

Traditionally Ancestor and Daedra Worshipers, the people here now have two main religions, the Imperial Cult of the Nine Divines and the Tribunal Temple, who worship the Almsivi. Additionally, the Ashlanders have their Nerevarine Cult, as well as the older Velothi beliefs (ancestor and Daedra worship). The Temple's Ordinators traditionally outlaw and persecute religious sects other than their own, but the Imperial presence has brought a certain amount of freedom of religion; nevertheless, religions deemed damaging to the Empire are unprotected and the Ordinators pursue their members mercilessly. Cults devoted to the House of Troubles, despite being banned by the Temple, have drawn a cosmopolitan following in the wilderness regions.