Lore:Whiterun Hold
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| Whiterun | |
|---|---|
| Type | Region |
| Continent | Tamriel |
| Province | Skyrim |
| Subregions | Greymoor Foothills Tundra Plateau White River Valley |
| Appears in | Skyrim |
Whiterun Hold is a hold in Skyrim, located roughly in the middle of the province.[1] Roads are numerous and well maintained, and visibility across the tundra plains is excellent. The hold is relatively flat, surrounded the by mountains of the Reach to the west of the Tundra Plateau, the Skyborn Range of Hjaalmarch and the Yorgrim Forest of the Pale to the north, and the Brittleshin Hills of Falkreath to the south.[2]:571 However, Whiterun's southeastern comer is dominated by the gigantic and soaring Throat of the World—the highest mountain in all of Tamriel.[2]:526 The peak of Lone Mountain is found in the center of the hold.[2]
Whiterun is certainly one of the most well-tracked holds, with main roads and excellent access west to the Reach, with a border road north through the town of Rorikstead and up toward Dragon Bridge. The plains have a number of odd barrows and giant camps to investigate, and the center is dominated by Fort Greymoor and the surrounding Greymoor Foothills. The road here allows travel to the north, up through the Skyborn mountains to reach the dreaded Labyrinthian in Hjaalmarch. Further east is Whiterun and the roaring White River and town of Riverwood on the southern border with Falkreath. Another road stretches north from here, into the wilds of the Pale. There's yet another road that skirts the northern foothills of the Throat of the World, following White River Valley into Eastmarch. Although the first of the 7,000 steps that pilgrims climb to reach the summit of Throat of the World begins in Ivarstead (in the Rift), the actual mountain lies within Whiterun's domain.[2]:526
It borders six of the other eight holds in Skyrim, the exceptions being Winterhold and Haafingar.[3] Giants are often seen traversing the landscape while herding mammoths to grazing areas or back to their camps.[4] Surrounding the eponymous capital, Whiterun, are fertile plains dotted with farms that supply the food for much of Skyrim.[1] The other notable settlements in the hold are Rorikstead and Riverwood.
Notable Places[edit]
- Fort Greymoor
- The regional stronghold of Whiterun Hold and the former home of a young Barenziah
- Gjukar's Monument
- An isolated stone monument dedicated to an ancient battle on the site
- High Hrothgar
- An old monastery occupied by the Greybeards; monks that follow the Way of the Voice
- Riverwood
- A town on the White River, on the road between Whiterun and Falkreath Hold
- Rorikstead
- A farming town on the western end of the Tundra Plains, named after its founder
- Silent Moons Camp
- A Nordic ruin that contains the mystical Lunar Forge
- Sleeping Tree Camp
- A giant camp centered around a tree of unknown origins. The sap was a drug in circulation in the Fourth Era
- Throat of the World
- The tallest mountain in all of Skyrim and it takes the southeast corner of the hold
- Valtheim Towers
- A set of towers over the White River Valley that marks the pass between the Monahven and Shearpoint
- Whiterun
- The capital city of the eponymous hold and it is considered the breadbasket of the province
Known Rulers[edit]
- Jeek of the River (ca. ME)[5]
- Jarl Gjalund (ME ? or 1E ?)[6][7]
- King Olaf One-Eye (1E 420 - 1E 452)[8][9]
- Unknown Jarl (2E ? - ca. 2E 577)[10]
- Jarl Morryn (ca. 2E 577 - at least 2E 582)[10][11]
- King Asgis (at least 3E 389 - at least 3E 399)[12]
- Witch-Queen Jsashe (3E ? - at least 3E 432)[13]
- Jarl Balgruuf the Greater (at least 4E 175 - at least 4E 201)[14][15]
Notes[edit]
- Concept maps reveal an settlement named Dun Horse was planned to be in the Hold southwest of Fort Greymoor,[16] which was ultimately removed and replaced by Puzzling Pillar Ruins.[2]
See Also[edit]
- For game-specific information, see the Skyrim article.
References[edit]
- ^ a b The Holds of Skyrim
- ^ a b c d e The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: Prima Official Game Guide — David Hodgson
- ^ Map of Skyrim
- ^ Events of Skyrim
- ^ Great Harbingers — Swyk the Long-Sighted
- ^ Farengar Secret-Fire's dialogue in Skyrim
- ^ Holdings of Jarl Gjalund — Slafknir the Scribe
- ^ The plaque commemorating Olaf outside the Palace of the Kings in Windhelm
- ^ Olaf and the Dragon — Adonato Leotelli
- ^ a b Meet the Character - Arkasis — Adandora, Chronicler-at-Large
- ^ Rigurt the Brash's dialogue in ESO: Greymoor
- ^ Whiterun location and rumors in Arena
- ^ Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition: The Throat of the World: Skyrim — Imperial Geographical Society, 3E 432
- ^ Balgruuf the Greater's dialogue in Skyrim
- ^ The Great War
- ^ Todd Howard DICE 2012 Keynote
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