Tamriel:Morrowind

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Morrowind is the province in the northeast corner of Tamriel. It is dominated by the large island of Vvardenfell, but also includes territory on the continental mainland. The Sea of Ghosts lies northeast of Morrowind. Modern Morrowind is home to the Dunmer (Dark Elves).

Contents 1 History 2 Geography 3 Politics 4 Notable Places 5 References

[edit] History

Historically, Vvardenfell was inhabited by the Dwemer for long ages before the Ayleid arrived in Tamriel. When the Ayleid inhabited Cyrodiil, a group of them were exiled for their choice to worship the Daedra. These exiled mer were led by the prophet Veloth over a mountain range to Morrowind, where they became known as the Chimer and settled with the Dwemer. However, the two would not live in peace, as disputes over land and religion led to conflict. "While the Dwemer were an agnostic people, preferring reason to faith, the Chimer were were staunch Daedra-worshippers, and considered the Dwemer's lack of belief an affront to their gods."^[1] They would however unite against a common enemy when the Nords of Skyrim invaded Morrowind in 1E 401. Due to the efforts and budding personal friendship between Indoril Nerevar of the Chimer and Dumac of the Dwemer, the Nords were pushed out by 1E 416. This alliance born out of need formed the First Council and lasted for some time. This uneasy peace though came to an end over Dwemer God Numidium and the construction of the Heart of Lorkhan by Dwemer Tonal Architect Kagrenac, and the result was The War of the First Council in 1E 668-1E 700. The war climaxed at Red Mountain, the Dwemer main fortress and ended abruptly when Kragenac used the Heart and all Dwemer perished in an instant. Nervar was killed at the end, or shortly after the battle by his former counsel, the Tribunal. Gaining access to Kagrenac's tools, Almalexia, Dagoth Ur, Sotha Sil, and Vivec, reached god-like powers. Deadra God Azura wasn't pleased by this use of the profane tools and cursed the Chimer, turning their skin ashen and their eyes a fiery red, hence becoming known as Dunmer. The Tribunal consolidated their power and succeeded turning their people from Ancestor and Daedra worship to the fold of the Tribunal Temple; until recently, the three have had great influence over Morrowind. Little is know over the following era of stability, which had some dramatic changes in the landscape following an eruption of Red Mountain, until Cyrodiil sought to incorporate the remote Morrowind into the budding Empire, and unite all of Tamriel under Tiber Septim. The Four-Score War lasted eighty years, until Vivec and Tiber Septim reached an agreement in the Armistice of 2E 896. In return for Numidium and acceptance of the Emperor, the Dunmer kept formal self-rule, house tradition such as slavery, and religious practices under the Empire.

Another threat arose with the expansion of Tiber Septim's empire, and the awakening of Dagoth Ur. Tiber Septim demanded Morrowind have a representative of him, so he had some direct control. This representative was Queen Barenziah. During the The Arnesian War, one of the many during The Imperial Simulacrum. This war pitted Morrowind against Black Marsh, and sent Queen Barenziah fleeing into Wayrest in High Rock. Her uncle Athyn Llethan, a House Hlaalu noble. This would only be remedied with the reincarnation of Indoril Nerevar. Through all these changes, Morrowind has been known as Resdayn (Resdaynia), Veloth, Dwemereth, and Dunmereth, and in the last two Eras, Morrowind.

[edit] Geography

Vvardenfell is the setting for the game The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Vvardenfell is mostly a volcanic wasteland, but is swampy near the canal between itself and the mainland, and is slowly recovering after the death of Dagoth Ur. It is littered with Daedric shrines and Dwemer ruins. The focal point of the province is Red Mountain, the great volcano and former Dwemer capital.

Morrowind's Capital City, Mournhold (on the mainland (just below the "Morrowind" label)), is the setting for Morrowind's expansion, The Elder Scrolls III: Tribunal.

[edit] Politics

With the coming of the Nerevar, all was not well. "Dagoth Ur and two members of the Tribunal, Almalexia and Sotha Sil, were destroyed in the Nerevarine's fury. Vivec too may have been killed, but his fate is currently undetermined."^[1] Queen Bareziah also returned from Wayrest around this time. The coronation of her son Helseth may have been a cause of this. "As one famous Nord diplomat famously put it, "The new king is manipulative, ruthless, and calculating. He is exactly what Morrowind needs.""^[1] He seemed to be particularly interested in dismantling the traditional power structures of the Dunmer. He even went as far as outlawing slavery in Morrowind, which led to bloodshed, as the Dunmer had been using slaves for centuries. Some would think of him as a Imperial figurehead, however he has also reformatted the Grand Council, (which includes heads for each Great House), that was a step toward traditional Dunmer ways. Some Grand Houses, such as House Dres and House Hlaalu are on the rise, and embrace the new traditions. However, some Houses, such as House Indoril, and House Redoran, are waning and do not like the new traditions.

[edit] Notable Places

Ald'Ruhn

A city in southern Vvardenfell, south of Red Mountain.

Balmora

A city in the southeast area of Vvardenfell.

Blacklight

A city in the northeast of the mainland.

Mournhold

A city in the central-eastern area of the mainland.

Narsis

A city in the south-central area of the mainland.

Necrom

A city in the north-eastern area of the mainland.

Red Mountain

The mountain in the center of Vvardenfell, and the former capital of the Dwemer.

Sadrith Mora

A city on an island in the northeast area of the canal between Vvardenfell and the mainland.

Tear

A city in the sotheast area of the mainland.

Vivec

A main trade city near Vvardenfell. It is right off the south of the island, built in the water.

[edit] References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} ">A Pocket Guide to The Empire, 3rd edition, The Imperial Library

Featured in

• TES1:Arena
• TES3:Morrowind