Lore:Satakalaam

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This article is about the city. For the county, see Satakalaam (county).

Satakalaam
Type Settlement
Continent Tamriel
Province Hammerfell
Region Alik'r Desert
(Tigonus)
Appears in Daggerfall, ESO
Satakalaam ca. 2E 582
The County of Satakalaam

Satakalaam is the capital city of the eponymous county in the Iliac Bay region of northern Hammerfell. The people of Satakalaam have upheld the worship of Yokuda's ancient pantheon since their departure from the west.[1] The name draws an immediate connection to the deity, Satakal the Serpent God, a spirit observed by the Crowns and popular among Alik'ri nomads affiliated with them.[2]

Layout and Geography[edit]

Montalion Necropolis
Map of Satakalaam ca. 3E 405

Satakalaam anchors the Alik'r Desert in the east to Sentinel on the other side of the region and is surrounded by the canyons of Tigonus.[3][Note 1] Despite that, the city connects with Bangkorai and the nearest city, Hallin's Stand to the east via several secret passes and caves through the mountains. Although there are maps depicting the elaborate routes,[4] there are hidden tunnels meant for illicit travel.[5]

Satakalaam in the mid-Second Era is an open city surrounded by a natural barrier[3] but in the late Third Era, it was walled.[6] The city is a compact settlement surrounded by mountains on all fronts but the south end, where its main entrance is located. The southern half of the city is partially separated from the larger, open north side by a wall and each side can be reached by an upper level of streets.[3]

The south side contains several homes and warehouses, as well as stables and a guard tower. Satakalaam's north side is centered around the large thoroughfare that contains the town square and runs between the large manor house on the northeast corner of town and the city's High Temple.[3] Goshawks are known to nest high on the temple's tower and the town grows pomegranates and figs, which local bees tend to pollinate.[1] The walkways above the city tower over the main street and interconnect across Satakalaam. The western gate is behind the High Temple and leads into the Motalion Necropolis,[3] Satakalaam's most well-known feature and the largest crypt in the Alik'r Desert.[7]

Notable Locales[edit]

History[edit]

In 2E 582, the Seventh Legion used the smuggling tunnels underneath the mountains to infiltrate Satakalaam and conquer the Alik'r Desert. They intimidated local Magnifico, Khorshad, and utilized his manor as headquarters for their takeover of the city.[5] The Imperials ransacked not just the town but the High Temple as well by killing priests, defiling the holy site and looting it of prized treasures: Sword of Shabnam‎‎, Majeel's Scroll‎‎ and Lamp of the Satakalaam‎‎.[8] General Thoda of Sentinel's armies launched a counterattack and lead the retaking of Satakalaam. All the while, an Agent of the Daggerfall Covenant tracked a Withered Hand operative to the city and assisted the general in his mission. They managed to secure hostages across town and eventually destroyed the tunnels with barrels of kindlepitch. With their connection to the east severed, the Seventh Legion was immediately defeated, holy relics were recovered and Satakalaam had been secured.[9][10] The Agent then made their way into Motalion Necropolis, where they would confront the operative, Shiri and defeat her father, the lich Suturah.[11]

By the late Third Era, the County of Satakalaam was ruled by an unknown Count and hosted the School of Julianos.[6] In 3E 417, the city and its environs were conquered by the Kingdom of Sentinel at the time ruled by Queen Akorithi in an event known as the Warp in the West. The region itself marked the easternmost end of the newly expanded kingdom.[12][13]

Known Rulers[edit]

Culture and Society[edit]

The Coil of Satakal
The High Temple of Satakalaam
For more information, see the: Culture and Society sections on the Redguard page.

The High Temple in Satakalaam's western section is an important place of worship in the region. The High Priest protects three relics that represent the body, mind, and spirit respectively called the Sword of Shabnam, Majeel's scroll, and the Lamp of the Satakalaam.[8] Satakalaam nobles carry love pouches and others will place brightly made notes in each others pouches as part of an adult game.[15]

Much like the rest of the Satakalaam region, the city observes the Serpent's Dance on the 3rd of Sun's Dusk, an old holiday that was once in honor of a Serpent God but nowadays is a day of grand celebration with street festivals. The significance of the date has since been lost to Serpent Priests.[16][17] However, as a nation in the Alik'r Desert, the people celebrate other holidays such as Ovank'a (12th of Morning Star), the Festival of Blades (26th of First Seed), Fiery Night (29th of Sun's Height), Dirij Tereur (5th of Frostfall), and Baranth Do (18th of Evening Star).[18]

One of the city's most well-known citizens was the Unveiled Azadiyeh, known by the epithet, the "Songbird of Satakalaam". She was an expert in old Redguard lore and venerated the original Yokudan pantheon.[1][19][20] When she was active, she criticized the then High King of Hammerfell, Fahara'jad and the Daggerfall Covenant.[21] Fahara'jad's oldest daughter, Maraya was known as the "Jewel of Satakalaam".[22]

Gallery[edit]

Notes[edit]

  • ^  Satakalaam in ESO is located in the desert and between the mountains but the city in Daggerfall is south of the bay in the region's north coast and is located in a sparse jungle environment.
  • ^  Based on Magistrate Sulma and Magistrate Andrin at-Lehiel's positions as leaders of their respective towns.

See Also[edit]

Books[edit]

References[edit]