tes5e by

# THREE BANNERS WAR
# ADVENTURER'S GUIDE

##### Explore Tamriel during the Interregnum in this campaign sourcebook
##### for the world's greatest roleplaying game

</div>

\pagebreak

# Foreword

This is a small conversion project to introduce The Elder Scrolls as a campaign
setting for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. There are other projects like it,
and they may even be better. What sets this project apart is that it is
expressly limited in scope. It provides you just enough resources to get
started, and does not change any of the mechanics of the world's greatest
roleplaying game.

Specifically, this resource has been written with the following goals in mind:

- It must be compatible. Nothing in this conversion should make it incompatible
  with the Systems Reference Document.

- It must be balanced. The races and archetypes depicted should not be stronger
  or weaker than what one would find in an official D&D resource.

- It must not duplicate. The Player's Handbook already covers all the rules, so
  they will not be repeated here.

- It must be compatible with the lore. My point of reference is the
  Three Banners War, a point in time during which we know most about the state
  of the world across Tamriel. However, with some creativity, you could use this
  campaign setting for later eras as well.

- It must not contain any fanon. Or as little of it as possible. It wouldn't be
  possible to write this conversion without making *some* assumptions, but
  generally everything should be grounded in existing lore.

Please remember that this is a homebrew. I tried to make it slick-looking and
*whole*, but you are free to tinker with it as you like. That is, after all, the
joy of homebrewing. If you disagree with some choices I made or spot some grave
error, please e-mail me at <carmen@carmenbianca.eu> or find the Markdown source
for this resource online at <https://gitlab.com/carmenbianca/tes5e>.

\columnbreak

## Copyright and Credits

This work includes a lot of works that were not authored by me. They are used
without any commercial interests or intent. This work is unofficial.
Redistribution of original parts of this work is allowed under the
Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 License, though given the nature of this work, you
probably do not have the right to commercially distribute this work.

Redistribution of non-original parts of this work is (or is not) allowed under
their respective terms as detailed below.

In other words: Be sensible. We both know that this is an unofficial homebrew
that is exclusively reserved for private use and probably has no legal rights to
use the D&D and TES properties anyway.

##### Dungeons & Dragons

Copyright © Wizards of the Coast LLC, Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, Player's
Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and all other Wizards of the Coast product
names and their respective logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast.

**D&D Lead Designers:** Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford

**Design Team:** Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt, Rodney Thompson, Robert J.
Schwalb, Peter Lee, Steve Townshend, Bruce R. Cordell

##### The Elder Scrolls

Copyright © Bethesda Softworks LLC, a ZeniMax Media company. The Elder
Scrolls, Bethesda Softworks, ZeniMax and their respective logos are registered
trademarks of ZeniMax Media Inc. All Rights Reserved.

##### Unofficial Elder Scrolls Tabletop Roleplaying Game

This conversion is an unofficial fan made project. This work is not for profit
and its commercial distribution to anyone under any circumstances is strictly
prohibited.

**Lead Designer/Writer:** Michael Bonar

##### The Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages

Licensed freely under the Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 License.

##### Three Banners War Adventurer's Guide

Licensed freely under the Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 License.

**Lead Designer/Writer:** Carmen Bianca Bakker

\pagebreakNum

# Chapter 1: What Is The Elder Scrolls?

T*he Elder Scrolls* is a series of video games made by Bethesda and ZeniMax. The
world of *The Elder Scrolls* is well-known for its attention to detail and
realism, replete with an interconnected structure of various societies,
cultures, and religions, each backed by a thorough historical basis, revealed
through in-game literature and deep, multi-tiered conversations.

*The Elder Scrolls* series is named after the Elder Scrolls, also known as the
Aedric Prophecies, scrolls of unknown origin and number which simultaneously
archive both past and future events. The number of the Scrolls is unknown not
because of their immense quantity, but because the number itself is unknowable,
as the Scrolls "do not exist in countable form". They are fragments of creation
from outside time itself, and their use in divining prophecies is but a small
part of their power. They simultaneously do not exist, yet always have existed.

*The Elder Scrolls* embraces the ambiguity of the unreliable narrator. Many
things are lost to history, or shrouded in myths and folklore. Some parts of
history are only covered by biased accounts, and other parts are covered by
vastly different contradicting accounts. Which is true? Can they both
simultaneously be true? Is it at all sensible to think in terms of truths? These
are the questions that *The Elder Scrolls* poses.

What is certain, however, is that Nirn is a world filled with adventure and
exciting stories. Many tales have been experienced and shared, but there are
many more waiting to be told.

## Quick Overview

This campaign setting takes place during a time in history known as *the
Interregnum* on Tamriel. The Interregnum is a chaotic time during which the
central authority of the Cyrodilic Empire has evaporated, giving way to
centuries of bickering between alliances, small kingdoms, and petty states.

The Three Banners War is the most prominent war during the Interregnum, during
which the continent of Tamriel was split in three, with all three powers vying
for control of the Ruby Throne.

This chapter covers the core themes of the Three Banners War and the ways that
they can affect the stories or characters you create in Tamriel. Here's a quick
overview.

- **Rich History.** Every ruin and artifact in Tamriel has a rich, interesting,
  and potentially contradictory story behind it, even if it is not obvious at
  first.

- **Low Epic.** Sometimes, saving a village is more interesting than saving the
  world.

- **Magic Is Mystical.** While playing a game, you may be tempted to view magic
  as a set of rigid rules. Magic in Tamriel cannot always be bound by logic or
  rules, and may surprise you.

\columnbreak

- **The Planemeld.** Dark Anchors have appeared all over Tamriel as the Daedric
  Prince Molag Bal attempts to drag Nirn out of Mundus and into his own realm of
  Coldharbour.

- **The Great War.** Tamriel has just entered a large-scale war between the
  Daggerfall Covenant, Aldmeri Dominion, and Ebonheart Pact that wages across
  the continent.

- **If It Exists In D&D, There Mightn't Be A Place For It In Tamriel...** But
  with some creativity, you can give it a place.

## Rich History

The second chapter of this book details a mere fraction of the history of
Tamriel. There are tiny nooks and crannies everywhere you look. Why this
matters, Former Loremaster Lawrence Schick describes it better than anyone.

"Tamriel is an unusual fantasy world setting in that it was created over time by
many different contributors rather than by one single vision. At some point, the
folks at Bethesda Game Studios realized that, for an interactive world, that
patchwork background was actually a virtue rather than a liability, something
that should be recognized and incorporated into Tamriel's design. So the brain
trust decided that all of the Elder Scrolls world's history, mythology, and
culture—its lore, in short—would be delivered, not from on high, but always from
the viewpoints of characters who inhabited the world they were describing. And
these descriptions might vary, or even contradict each other, leaving it up to
the players to decide what was and wasn't true.

"Tamriel is a world where all history, past and future, is described in the
ever-shifting texts of the mysterious Elder Scrolls, which tell always of what
might be rather than of what is. [...] What could be better for characters in a
role-playing game than an expansive world of many different cultures, each with
its own history and myths, so you can be whoever you want to be? That sounds
great—but what should your character believe is really true? Since all the
stories of this world come from characters in the setting itself, and you can
listen to them and read their books, you can decide that for yourself. And
whatever that is, it's as right as any other character's beliefs, player or
non-player, because your character lives in the same world they do.

"And what your character does, and says, and believes, becomes part of that
world. For you, and whoever else shares the experience, what happened is now
part of the lore. The non-player characters are all there, ready to share their
stories with you, but it's you who makes those stories live, because your
character has agency and meaningful choices where the NPCs do not. Moreover,
what your character does persists for you, and the stories you've told and the
experiences you've shared with your friends live on in your own memories. You
just added to the history of Tamriel.

"So be the person in Tamriel whom you want to be, coming from the culture you
want to role-play, with the belief system that best expresses your character's
personality and background. Whoever you want to be, there's a place for you
here. The lore is yours."

\pagebreakNum

## Low Epic

Tamriel is an epic world. A world-ending threat, the Planemeld, is taking place
and threatens to absorb all of Nirn into Coldharbour, subjugating all mortals to
the God of Schemes. This danger is pressing, but near a graveyard, you find a
skull on the ground that asks you to find his bones and reassemble him. In
return, he will help you deal with the cultists that wander the site.

Sometimes, small and mundane stories where the stakes are low are equally as
enjoyable as epic, world-threatening stories. *The Elder Scrolls* invites you to
sample both, and see which you like best. If you do not much care about the
Planemeld, then perhaps the prophesied *Soulless One* will take care of it, and
you can focus on smaller heroics. But if you really want to save the world, then
there are enough threats that loom over all of Tamriel.

## Magic Is Mystical

A celestial rock or moonlet known as Baar Dau hovers above Vivec City. It was
prevented from crashing into the city by the Living God Vivec. Vivec allowed it
to remain looming above the city so that if its people ever ceased to love him,
the rock would fall and destroy them.

But the spell *levitate* only lasts 10 minutes and can only support a target
that weighs up to 500 pounds. Does this mean that Vivec knows a special spell
called *greater levitate*? What about the Dark Anchors that appear all over
Tamriel: does Molag Ball know a spell called *conjure dark anchor*? But perhaps
these are gods, and different rules apply for mortals. The Bosmer Greenspeakers
use rituals of speech or song to grow entire villages in just a few days. Is
there a spell *shape building from tree*?

Not all spells and magical effects can be expressed in terms of rules in a book.
Sometimes, magic is just *mystical* and does strange and unexpected things.
Allow Tamriel's magic to surprise you.

## The Great War

The Daggerfall Covenant in the north-west, the Aldmeri Dominion in the south,
and the Ebonheart Pact in the north-east. War ravages the continent, and is a
fact of life in the province of Cyrodiil. Though the Empire of Cyrodiil exists
under the rule of Empress Clivia Tharn, she fell under the thrall of the
necromancer Mannimarco, making the Empire a de facto vassal of Molag Bal, the
God of Schemes.

There is no part of Tamriel that is untouched by this Great War. It is most
obvious in the border regions, where armies march and skirmishes take place, but
also the faraway regions, whose trade has diminished and whose men and women are
conscripted to fight in Cyrodiil. Some regions are not involved in the war, most
notably southern Hammerfell, the Gold Coast, and Western Skyrim. But in those
places, too, there are those who see opportunity in the war that rages beyond
their borders.

It is 2E 582. The drums of war sounded two years ago, and are only growing
louder. As a player character in Tamriel, you possess remarkable skills. How has
the war affected you? Did you fight, and for which faction? Did war ravage your
home, or did your loved ones leave to fight in Cyrodiil? If you didn't take part
in the war, why didn't you fight and what did you do instead?

\columnbreak

## The Planemeld

Around the start of the campaign, enormous inter-planar hooks known as Dark
Anchors are starting to appear all over Tamriel. They attempt to pull Nirn into
Coldharbour. Molag Bal, the God of Schemes and Daedric Prince of domination and
enslavement of mortals, is responsible for this Daedric invasion.

Much like the war that rages across Tamriel, the Planemeld is impossible to
ignore. And with the provinces divided, few are left to oppose the invading
Daedra. The Fighters Guild and the Mages Guild are the most prominent
organizations that want to lead an invasion of mortals into Coldharbour.

## If It Exists In D&D, There Mightn't Be A Place For It In Tamriel

*The Elder Scrolls* is a closed universe with its own developed lore. The elves
on Tamriel are very different from the elves that you'll find in the *Player's
Handbook*. Other races, like the halflings, simply do not exist. The multiverse,
too, is a very different place, along with the divine beings that inhabit it.

When creating a character for a campaign set in Tamriel, it might be a good idea
to draw from the setting of *The Elder Scrolls* first, and find a race and class
that matches your character concept second. For instance, a Wyrd witch could
very well be a druid.

The other way around works just the same. If you wish to play a tiefling from
the *Player's Handbook*, you could reasonably use the tiefling traits to create
a Dremora character. With your DM's blessing, you might need to tweak a few
features here or there.

Failing that, you could work to incorporate your idea into the world. Perhaps
your tiefling is a type of Daedra that has never been seen before. Or maybe your
dragonborn hails from the uncharted dragon land of Akavir. With a little
creativity, you can find a justification for almost anything.

But just because you can, does not mean you should. I invite you to use your
creativity to expand the world of Nirn, but I also invite you to enjoy it for
what it is.

### Classes

Classes are a core mechanic of any Dungeons & Dragons game. Unfortunately, the
classes of the *Player's Handbook* do not always map cleanly onto *The Elder
Scrolls*, and vice versa. Here are some thoughts and ideas.

- **Barbarian.** There are many tribal cultures in Tamriel that could easily
  spawn barbaric fighters.

- **Bard.** While music is not widely known to have magical effects, Bosmer
  spinners have magical powers through their songs and stories.

- **Cleric.** There are many pantheons on Tamriel, including Aedra, Daedra, and
  Living Gods alike.

- **Druid.** The Wyrd witches, Bosmer Greenspeakers, and Wardens all make
  excellent druids.

- **Fighter.** All races on Tamriel that can wield a sword, wield a sword.

\pagebreakNum

- **Monk.** The Khajiit have many Temples of the Two-Moons Dance, where they
  train warriors mentally as well as physically.

- **Paladin.** Many devotees of Stendarr become holy warriors that can smite and
  heal. Stendarr has four precepts that resemble a paladin oath. Other deities
  may also have holy warriors, but they may not have oaths.

- **Ranger.** There is no clear parallel to the ranger in *The Elder Scrolls*,
  but there is no reason why an archer or fighter could not be proficient in
  nature magic.

- **Rogue.** There are many thieves, bandits and shady types roaming the lands
  of Tamriel.

- **Sorcerer.** The only parallel to sorcerers in *The Elder Scrolls* is the
  Dragonborn, a mortal blessed with the blood and soul of a dragon by Akatosh.
  There are no known Dragonborn during the Interregnum. This class is best
  thematically reworked into a mage, incorporated into the world as a new
  concept, or ignored.

- **Warlock.** There are many Daedric Princes who may bestow their blessings
  upon mortal followers.

- **Wizard.** The Mages Guild trains many highly skilled wizards. Some schools
  of magic are different in Tamriel, however  *Destruction* maps well onto
  evocation. *Alteration* maps well onto transmutation. *Mysticism* could
  possibly map onto divination and enchantment. *Restoration* has no matching
  school in the *Player's Handbook*.

Of course, feel free to come up with your own rationales. These are mere
suggestions to help you incorporate your character into Tamriel.

### Races

This campaign setting comes with ten playable races from all over Tamriel. While
I hope that you enjoy their implementations, you may choose to replace their
mechanics with some of the more widely tested races of the *Player's Handbook*
and other official sourcebooks.

- **Altmer.** The high elf from the *Player's Handbook* is a good substitute,
  although Altmer do not have darkvision or fey ancestry, and sleep like normal
  people.

- **Argonian.** The lizardfolk from *Volo's Guide to Monsters* is an excellent
  substitute.

- **Bosmer.** The wood elf from the *Player's Handbook* is a good substitute,
  although Bosmer do not have darkvision or fey ancestry, and sleep like normal
  people.

- **Breton.** The human or half-elf from the *Player's Handbook* are excellent
  substitutes, although Bretons do not have darkvision or fey ancestry. You may
  also choose to use the variant human with the Magic Initiate feat.

- **Dunmer.** The drow from the *Player's Handbook* is a good substitute,
  although Dunmer do not have darkvision, sunlight sensitivity, or fey ancestry,
  and sleep like normal people.

\columnbreak

- **Imperial.** The human from the *Player's Handbook* is an excellent
  substitute.

- **Khajiit.** The tabaxi from *Volo's Guide to Monsters* is an excellent
  substitute.

- **Nord.** The human from the *Player's Handbook* is an excellent substitute.

- **Orc.** The half-orc from the *Player's Handbook* is an excellent substitute,
  although Orcs do not have darkvision.

- **Redguard.** The human from the *Player's Handbook* is an excellent
  substitute.

There are also other races on Tamriel that are not covered by this campaign
setting. If you wish to play them, perhaps consider some of the following
substitutes.

- **Ayleid.** The Altmer is an excellent substitute.

- **Chimer.** The Dunmer is an excellent substitute.

- **Dremora.** The tiefling from the *Player's Handbook* is an excellent
  substitute.

- **Falmer.** The Altmer is a good substitute. Replace some of the spells from
  *Syrabane's Boon* with ice-themed spells.

- **Goblin.** The goblin from *Volo's Guide to Monsters* is an excellent
  substitute.

- **Imga.** The bugbear from *Volo's Guide to Monsters* is a good substitute.

- **Ka Po' Tun.** The Khajiit is an excellent substitute.

- **Kothringi.** The human from the *Player's Handbook* is an excellent
  substitute.

- **Maormer.** The triton from *Volo's Guide to Monsters* or the sea elf from
  *Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes* are excellent substitutes, although Maormer do
  not have darkvision or fey ancestry, and sleep like normal people.

- **Minotaur.** The minotaur from *Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica* is an
  excellent substitute.

- **Tang Mo.** The tabaxi from *Volo's Guide to Monsters* is a good substitute.

- **Tsaesci.** The yuan-ti pureblood from *Volo's Guide to Monsters* is an
  excellent substitute.

These are, as mentioned before, mere suggestions to help you on your way. Feel
free to be inspired by them, but do not feel constrained by them.

\pagebreakNum

# Chapter 2: History

## Nirn

**Nirn** (which means "Gray Maybe" in Ehlnofex) is the planet on which your
adventure is most likely to take place. It floats in the void of Oblivion and
is, for all intents and purposes, the majority of the realm known as **Mundus**,
or the Mortal Plane. Nirn was created during the Dawn Era by the Aedra and
Anu-aligned spirits, based on Lorkhan's inspiration and Magnus' designs.

**Tamriel** is the main continent of Nirn, and is its mythic and symbolic
center. Tamriel is split into 9 provinces: Black Marsh, Cyrodiil, Elsweyr,
Hammerfell, High Rock, Morrowind, Skyrim, Summerset Isles, and Valenwood.

Other continents on Nirn are mentioned in various texts, but have not generally
been shown on maps or described in detail.

**Akavir** is a continent east of Tamriel, including four regions: Kamal,
Tsaesci, Tang Mo, and Ka Po' Tun, home to the Kamal, Tsaesci, Tang Mo, and Ka
Po' Tun races, respectively.

**Atmora** is a continent north of Tamriel, former homeland of the ancestors of
modern Nords.

**Yokuda** was a continent west of Tamriel and the original homeland of the
Redguards, but has since sunk into the sea.

**Pyandonea** is a continent south of Tamriel. It is home to the elusive
Maormer, or Sea Elves.

Nirn has two moons, **Masser** and **Secunda**, known as Jode and Jone to the
Khajiit. The other astral bodies in the sky above Nirn are believed to actually
be the spheres of the Aedra and Daedra, as seen from the mortal plane.

\columnbreak

## Mundus

The races of men and mer disagree about how Mundus came to be, but they
generally concede that Mundus is a collaborative construct created by many
divine beings. It was first conceptualized by **Lorkhan**, or **Shezarr**, the
Missing God, who convinced the other **et'Ada**—primal divine beings who would
become the **Aedra**—to assist him in its construction. Of these et'Ada, Magnus
became the Architect and drew up the plans for Mundus.

Some of the et'Ada gave parts of themselves entirely to the creation of Mundus.
These became the eight planets of Mundus (not including Nirn); they are also
identified as the **Eight Divines**. Soon after the planets had formed, Magnus
became disgusted at what Mundus was, and so left for Aetherius, his passage
ripping a hole in Oblivion. This tear is viewed as the sun, and is responsible
for much of Mundus' magical energy. Others known as the Magna Ge soon followed
after Magnus; these et'Ada left smaller holes, which became the stars. The light
of Aetherius shines into Mundus through the sun and stars as magicka. One exception is the
snake constellation, **the Serpent**, which wanders about the sky. It is made up
of "unstars".

A number of the et'Ada chose to stay with their creation so that it would not
die, and became the **Earth Bones** that established the laws of nature and
formed the substance and life of the final planet: Nirn. The et'Ada who did not
manage to escape or chose to stay on Nirn as spirits simply wasted away into
nothingness.

\pagebreakNum

The elves and humans disagree about the nature of the Missing God. The elves
believe that Lorkhan tricked the et'Ada into sacrificing themselves for the
creation of Mundus, an inferior mortal realm. The humans believe that the elven
Aedra were unjustly angry with Shezarr. Whatever the case, because of this
anger, the Aedra met at **Direnni Tower** (also known as the Adamantine Tower or
the Ur-Tower) to discuss the punishment of Lorkhan. Trinimac then ripped
Lorkhan's heart from his chest, which Auri-El fired into the sea with his bow.
Its impact rent the earth and created a mighty volcano, now known as **Red
Mountain**. The creation of the landmass that is modern Vvardenfell can be
traced to this event. Because Lorkhan's Heart remained on Tamriel, it
impregnated Nirn with his spirit and "a reasonable amount of his selfishness",
while his corpse remained floating above the new planet as the two moons, Masser
and Secunda.

## Oblivion

**Oblivion** is a realm within the **Aurbis**, the universe encompassing all the
Planes of Existence, and is mainly inhabited by the **Daedra**—et'Ada who did
not contribute to the creation of the Mundus, and who are often thought to be
evil.

Oblivion, unlike Mundus, is not a single realm. Instead, there are at least
sixteen major Planes of Oblivion, each ruled over by one of the **Daedric
Princes**, and over 37,000 other documented planes, including chaos realms and
pocket realities, although there exists far more than that. Most realms are
maintained by greater Daedra, although some are ruled by mortals who have
ascended to immortality.

Each plane is different in appearance, depending upon the nature of its ruler.
They can range from beautiful to desolate; some are even too strange for mortal
comprehension.

## Aetherius

**Aetherius**, the Immortal Plane, is thought to be the origin of all magic and
arcane arts. It is a common belief that the soul of a dead person, assuming
they are not Nirn-bound for some reason, goes to Aetherius, to continue on as a
spirit.

> ##### Tale of Two Moons
>
> As the sky falls white on Elsweyr  
> When the frost forms on the lake  
> When the fires blaze in brightness  
> When old bones begin to ache
>
> ___
>
> Then cats cast off their budis  
> And fur keeps out the cold  
> And small moon chases big moon  
> And tells him secrets old
>
> ___
>
> But then blue skies o'er Elsweyr  
> When rivers stream with light  
> When fires die in ashes  
> When youth again takes flight
>
> ___
>
> Then cats rewrap their budis  
> And comb out rich, thick manes  
> And big moon chases small moon  
> And frees her from her chains

</div>

\columnbreak

Aetherius, much like Oblivion, consists of a multitude of realms which serve
different purposes, except they are all "of everlasting imperfection".
For Nords, their chosen place in Aetherius is Sovngarde, the Hall of Valor.
The Redguards have a different place in Aetherius, called the Far Shores, as
do the Khajiit, a realm known as the Sands Behind the Stars. The Imperials
simply call it Heaven. These locations are not necessarily exclusive to
those particular races, but may depend on an individual's beliefs, choices
during their lifetime and the manner of their death, including the possibility
of servitude to the Daedra in Oblivion.

Aetherius is thought by many to be the home of the Aedric spirits, though very
little is actually known as travel to Aetherius is extremely rare. The Magna Ge,
or "Star Orphans", who fled Mundus and created the stars, reside here.

From time to time, fragments of Aetherius fall from the heavens. The people know
these fragments as "shooting stars", and from time to time, such Aetherial
fragments are found on Nirn. Skyshards are one such type of fragment, said to
carry the essence of Nirn. They can be seen splitting into shards as they fall
to Nirn during specific lunar alignments. When three shards meet, they re-form
into a silvery prism by some unknown process and confer the power unlocked by
the merger to any being that comes nearby.

> ##### Your Character May Not Know These Things
>
> This chapter covers a lot of information that the average inhabitant of
> Tamriel does not know or care about. It is presented here to help you
> understand the bigger picture and to inspire you, but do not feel obligated to
> remember all of it, for the Divines know that most Tamrielics do not.

\pagebreakNum

## Tamriel

Tamriel is one of the continents on Nirn, and is its mythic and symbolic center.
In Aldmeris, Tamriel translates as "Dawn's Beauty". Tamriel is a great melting
pot of cultures and races; it is home to at least a dozen races, with dozens
more having died out or changed.

There are nine distinct provinces, each home to one of the more populous races
of Tamriel.

**Cyrodiil**, the Imperial Province, is a province in the south-central region
of Tamriel, and the home of the race of men known as **Imperials**.

**Black Marsh** is a dense swampland region of southeastern Tamriel, home to the
reptilian humanoid race of **Argonians** and a race of sentient trees known as
the **Hist**.

**Elsweyr** is a region that lies on the southern coast of Tamriel, and is home
to the feline **Khajiit**. It is divided into two major climates: savannahs,
badlands and dry plains in the north, and fertile lands of jungle and
rainforests in the south.

**Hammerfell** is a province in the west of Tamriel dominated by the wasteland
of the Alik'r desert. It is inhabited by the human race of **Redguards**, who
fled to Tamriel after their home, Yokuda, was destroyed.

**High Rock** is a province in the northwest section of Tamriel. Most of the
province is inhabited by the human **Bretons**, who have divided the province
into multiple Breton city states and minor kingdoms. The northern tip of central
High Rock also contains **Orsinium**, the city-state of the **Orcs**.

**Morrowind** is a province in the northeast corner of Tamriel, and the home of
the **Dunmer**, or Dark Elves. It is dominated by the large island of
Vvardenfell and its centerpiece, the ash-spewing Red Mountain.

\columnbreak

**Skyrim** is the northernmost province of Tamriel. It is a cold and mountainous
region inhabited primarily by **Nords**, a tall race of men.

The **Summerset Isles** is a province in southwest Tamriel consisting of
fourteen islands of varying size. It is inhabited by the **Altmer**, High Elves
who arrived after their home of Aldmeris was lost.

**Valenwood** is a densely forested, sub-tropical region that encompasses the
southwestern coastal plain of Tamriel. It is the home of the **Bosmer**, or Wood
Elves.

## Early History

Much of Tamriel's history is known and documented, but large swathes are still
unknown, particularly the periods known as the **Dawn Era** and the **Merethic
Era**. Tamriel's very beginning can be traced to the **Ehlnofey**, a group of
et'Ada who decided not to abandon Mundus, and instead worked to keep it viable.
They remained in the mortal realm and populated it, becoming the progenitors of
the modern races. Many followed the example of Y'ffre and sacrificed themselves
to form the rules of nature, the Earth Bones.

During the War of the Ehlnofey, the wandering Ehlnofey fought the Ehlnofey who
remained settled in their former home. During this war the original singular
landmass of Nirn was broken apart into at least four major landmasses—Tamriel,
Akavir, Atmora, and Yokuda. The wandering Ehlnofey were ancestors to all men,
while the settled Ehlnofey were co-ancestors with the **Aldmer** to all mer, or
elves. It was at the end of the Dawn Era that the Aldmer of Aldmeris began to
diverge along cultural and biological lines, starting the process that would
lead to the modern mer races: Altmer, Ayleids, Bosmer, Chimer, Dunmer, Dwemer,
Falmer, and others.

\pagebreakNum

In the middle of the Merethic Era an unknown threat caused the Aldmer to leave
Aldmeris and head towards Tamriel. They colonized many islands along its coast
before settling on Summerset Isle. Later they started moving inland, settling
many areas in southwest and central Tamriel. Wherever the Aldmer settled they
displaced the primitive beastfolk. During this time the **Ayleids**, Wild Elves
who evolved from Aldmer, established an empire in Cyrodiil and built the
**White-Gold Tower** and eight lesser towers around it. Through powerful
machinations and the position as the "spoke" of the wheel within the lesser
towers, the White-Gold Tower became a very powerful tool—it is said that the
tower is what stops Mundus falling back into Oblivion.

In the late Merethic Era men began to appear on Tamriel, when the men of Atmora
came in force to occupy and settle whole-scale on Tamriel. These Atmorans were
the ancestors of the Nords. While many of the original races of men died out,
many of them interbred enough to became one race known as the Imperials. The
conquering of northern Tamriel was sparked by the decline of Atmora and its
eventual loss to a catastrophic change of climate from one that supported life
to one of "permanent winter" where no life could survive for long.

At the end of the era, the dragons under **Alduin** had claimed dominion over
all Mundus, and presided over man in Atmora and then Tamriel. The Nords
worshiped them as gods and built many temples dedicated to them. Dragon Priests,
servants of their dragon overlords, became increasingly tyrannical, eventually
causing men to rebel. Thousands of men died until a few dragons joined their
 fight, when
the tide turned in their favor. Alduin was banished and the Dragon
Priests were overthrown. The remaining dragons were scattered, their population
decimated.

## The First Era

King Eplear Camoran united the wild ancestral Bosmer and created for Valenwood
its first effective political identity, something that is called one of the
"greatest military feats in Tamriel's history". This feat was so great, that it
ushered in the **First Era**. Eplear is also remembered as a benevolent,
welcoming king who invited refugees from the troubled Ayleid Empire and
elsewhere to live in Valenwood with the Bosmer. Over the next centuries, the
other races would stake out their provinces as well.

In the third century of the First Era the Alessian Slave Rebellion saw the
humans of Cyrodiil overthrow their slavers, the Ayleids, marking the point at
which humans began to dominate Tamrielic history. Saint Alessia made a covenant
with Akatosh to create the **Dragonfires** and the **Amulet of Kings**. The
covenant stated that so long as the Dragonfires remained lit and one of
Alessia's heirs wore the amulet, the realms of Oblivion would be cut off from
Nirn. Alessia founded the First Cyrodilic Empire, and as its first
Empress, she established a new religion, a fusion of the Nordic and Aldmeri
pantheons known as the **Eight Divines**.

\columnbreak

In the eighth century, the Battle of Red Mountain took place between the Chimer
(led by General Nerevar) and the Dwemer. The whole truth of what happened cannot
be determined due to conflicting accounts. Regardless, by the time the dust
settled, much of that dust was all that remained of the Dwemer. Though Nerevar
died, his people claimed victory. Nerevar's lieutenants **Vivec**,
**Almalexia**, and **Sotha Sil** rose to power among the Chimer. Within a few
years, they would become **Living Gods**, leading the Chimer to transform into
the Dunmer. They manipulated preexisting ancestral and Daedra worship into the
**Tribunal Temple** dedicated to their worship, and concealed the truth of how
they gained their divinity.

A century later, a warrior wave of Yokudans escaping the continent's
destruction, the Ra Gada, drove the beastfolk and Nedic peoples from Volenfell.
Over time, the name "Ra Gada" became corrupted into "Redguard", and the race
claimed Hammerfell as their homeland.

In the twenty-fourth century, after a long period of relative stability, the War
of Righteousness broke out in Cyrodiil, following years of internal strife
within the Alessian Order. After decades of conflict, the First Empire
dissolved.

In the twenty-eighth century, the First Akaviri Invasion occurred. Tsaesci of
Akavir landed in Tamriel, cutting a swathe of destruction through Skyrim and
Cyrodiil, spurring **Reman Cyrodiil** to rally the **Colovian** West and
**Nibenean** East. Cyrodiil was again united for the first time in centuries.
The unified army defeated the Akaviri, and the **Second Empire** was
established.

The Second Empire entered a period of quick expansion in which it subjugated the
surrounding human provinces. The never-before-conquered province of Valenwood
later fell to the Second Empire. A century later, the swamplands of Argonia were
conquered and redubbed Black Marsh. The last war of conquest began an attempt to
bring Morrowind, the only province outside Imperial control, into the Empire.
Progress was slow, and the three Living Gods of Morrowind's Tribunal proved to
be extremely capable leaders. After a century of warfare, both sides were
approaching exhaustion and agreed to a truce to bring an end to the war.

## The Akaviri Potentate

Under the Reman Dynasty, the emperor's chief advisor was called the
**Potentate**. Reman Ⅰ had decisively defeated an Akaviri invasion, but other
events forced him to offer the defeated army amnesty in return for their service
in his own army. This led to Akaviri influence in other spheres of life, and
over time the position of Potentate was usually filled by one of the snake
people.

In the late First Era, the Potentate Versidue-Shaie plotted to overthrow the
empire. He first contrived the assassination of Crown Prince Juilek, and then
the of the emperor himself. With the death of the emperor, Versidue-Shaie
declared that he was taking over the leadership of the empire, but is retaining
his title of Potentate. In the same speech, he declared the end of the First
Era, and the start of the **Second Era**. Thus began also the period of the
Akaviri Potentate.

\pagebreakNum

In order to suppress armies remaining loyal to the Remans, as well as the armies
belonging to individual kingdoms seeking greater autonomy, Versidue-Shaie was
forced to engage in a relentless series of campaigns that, by the year 2E 283,
finally resulted in victory for his forces. The cost of the campaigns was
immense, resulting in the impoverishment of both the empire and its constituent
kingdoms. In an effort to maintain order without the expense of a standing army,
Versidue-Shaie agreed to a proposal from his kinsman Dinieras-Ves that
established what was to become known as the Fighters Guild.

In 2E 324, Versidue-Shaie was assassinated by the nascent **Morag Tong**, a
guild of assassins headquartered in Morrowind celebrating murder in the name of
Mephala. Versidue-Shaie was succeeded by his son, Savirien-Chorak. In turn, he
too was assassinated along with all his heirs on one night in Sun's Dawn 2E 430,
bringing a final end to the Second Empire and signaling the start of the
**Interregnum**.

## The Interregnum

The collapse of the central authority of the Second Empire led to centuries of
bickering between racial alliances, small kingdoms, and petty states. During
this time, the Empire of Cyrodiil existed by name only, and was confined to the
region of Cyrodiil alone.

The Interregnum was marked by a general decline in living standards across
Tamriel. A note in one tale from the era goes so far as to call the prevailing
attitude on of "anti-intellectualism". Another source talks of the "dark and
cumulative losses" of the period, and a third describes the period as "days and
nights of blood and venom". A further sign of intellectual decline was the
transformation of the Dwemer in popular culture from a mysterious and
unfathomable race to a mere vehicle for light comedies and romances.
Additionally, roads and cities fell into ruin and were not repaired until
centuries later. Even the famed Amulet of Kings was lost.

Some regions and organizations found the period full of opportunities. The
services of the **Dark Brotherhood**, a guild of assassins shrouded in shadow
and mystery, were much in demand, and the society filled its coffers with gold.
High Rock, an area with a history of factionalism was more able to deal with the
collapse of central power and fared much better than the rest of Tamriel,
lapsing back into its usual structure of kingdoms and city states without
difficulty.

After losing its status as an Imperial territory, Orsinium was sacked and
destroyed by Breton and Redguard forces. The Orcs were scattered across the
North in a great exodus. Yashnag and his people, exiled from High Rock, fled
east to reclaim lands in Skyrim they felt were theirs by ancient right. By this
point in time, Skyrim had split into a Western and Eastern Kingdom following the
assassination of High King Logrolf in 2E 431. The King of Western Skyrim,
Svartr, was ineffective in holding back the Orcs and the Reachmen that plagued
the Western Kingdom during his rule. The chiefdom was a bane upon Western
Falkreath for more than thirty years, until it was burned out by Hakkvild
Yashnag-Slayer in 2E
467.

\columnbreak

In Valenwood, things were not faring any better. When many Bosmer migrants from
Cyrodiil settled in New Joy near the traditional town of Cormount, adherents of
the **Green Pact**—a strict religious code followed by many Bosmer—were shocked
by the Cyrodilic customs of their wayward cousins. Meanwhile, the migrants
flaunted the "backwoods" nature of the natives, seeking easy pleasures in the
trade that flowed through Cormount. Tensions between Cormount and New Joy grew
to a boiling point. It is unknown who cast the first torch, but one dark night
in 2E 420, the settlement of New Joy was burned to the ground, and those who
fled were slain. Later in 2E 489, the **Blacksap Movement** was founded in
Cormount, hoping to formalize the Bosmeri approach to the Green Pact, thereby
preventing the very misunderstandings that led to the tragic events of New Joy.

Moreover, the walking city of **Falinesti** disappeared in the fifth century.
The walking Elden Tree normally migrates between four sites in Valenwood, one
for each season. But one time when it departed from one of its seasonal sites,
it simply never arrived at the next site. Falinesti has not been seen or heard
from since. Before the city disappeared, the Battle of Falinesti took place
between the Bosmer and Khajiit. The battle was short and vicious. All Khajiit
were butchered, and some were even roasted alive before the Bosmer troops ate
them.

### Founding of the First Daggerfall Covenant

In the sixth century of the Second Era, the **Reachmen**, a tribal group of
Daedra-worshiping Bretons inhabiting The Reach between High Rock and Skyrim,
ascended to power. Durcorach the Black Drake spread his wings in The Reach and
mustered his tribesmen to war. He seized control of the Empire of Cyrodiil and
reigned as the first of the Longhouse Emperors. In 2E 541, the Black Drake led
the Reachmen in a bloody invasion of High Rock, ravaging the countryside and
pillaging many cities. Evermore fell to this horde within three days. Hallin's
Stand held out slightly longer, and then the Reachmen came bearing down upon
the merchant city of **Wayrest**.

But Wayrest, unlike the sacked cities, had built new walls and battlements, for
the town had grown so that it had burst the bounds of the old walls. For
fifty-seven days and nights, the Bretons of Stormhaven manned the walls and
repulsed the assaults of the Reachmen. Lacking siege engines and ships, the
Reachmen were neither able to breach the walls nor blockade the harbor, and thus
a stalemate was reached.

When patience ran out, the Black Drake left enough troops in the revetments
around the walls to keep the Bretons bottled up inside, and marched off west
into Glenumbra. The newly-independent city-state of Camlorn was taken by
surprise and fell, and then Durcorach turned his eyes south, toward Daggerfall.

All Bretons know how the Black Drake's warriors were caught completely by
surprise. As the Reachman forces massed before the gates of Daggerfall, Heavy
Dragoons transported by merchant ships from Wayrest charged into their rear. The
defenders of Daggerfall sallied forth for a devastating pincer attack and
scattered the broken army like autumn leaves before a gale. The Black Drake
himself was struck down by **Earl Emeric Cumberland** of Wayrest.

One fortnight later,  the kings of Daggerfall, Wayrest, Camlorn, Evermore, and
Shornhelm swore the **First Daggerfall Covenant**, a solemn oath to defend each
other's kingdoms and stand as one against all foreign foes.

\pagebreakNum

### The Knahaten Flu

Whether the terrible **Knahaten Flu** arose from natural causes, or was created
by an Argonian shaman in retaliation for his people's oppression, is still a
matter of debate. But its result was clear. The plague began in Stormhold in 2E
560, and quickly spread to every corner of Black Marsh, killing all those not of
reptilian stock. For over forty years, it held the Province in its grip,
decimating entire cultures and driving outsiders from the land. Though the Flu
originated in Black Marsh, Argonians themselves were immune to the Flu.

Early symptoms of the Flu include "general malaise, loss of appetite, and
fatigue", followed shortly by aching muscles, sharp pain in the shoulders,
chills, and watering eyes. Late-stage symptoms include wracking cough, high
fever, and blood flowing out of the nose, eyes and eventually the mouth. The
most prominent sign of the disease was a red, granular rash, which did not itch
but spread all over the body. Death usually occurred within three painful
days of infection, but some victims were able to survive for up to a week.

While the worst of the symptoms could be alleviated by sorghum-tea and chicken
broth, the search for a cure was impeded by many questionable alleged
treatments. For instance, a Redguard named Perizada supposedly saved an entire
village with a potion made by boiling clannfear claws in salt water, but she
later succumbed to the plague herself.

How the disease spread is not definitively known. One source claims it was
airborne, while another claims that it was spread through physical contact with
the victim's particular rash. The latter theory is supported by reports that
infected people who covered their rashes with clothing and bandages were less
contagious. Though they were immune to the Knahaten Flu themselves, Argonians
were often suspected to be carriers of the disease, perhaps due to the common
belief that they had created it.

Regardless of the Flu's source, the situation in Black Marsh became increasingly
favorable to the Argonians after the disease struck. After the dissolution of
the Second Empire, Cyrodiil lost its grip over most of the province. Once the
Flu struck, the Empire lost any hope of controlling Black Marsh.

At its height, the Knahaten Flu engulfed most of Tamriel. It spread from Black
Marsh, where it started, to southern Morrowind and across the Topal Bay to
Elsweyr, and from there to Valenwood and even High Rock.

The Flu managed to destroy cities, religions, and even entire cultures. It
claimed one of Valenwood's most legendary heroes, Oreyn Bearclaw, who performed
many good deeds in Valenwood before succumbing to the disease. Also in
Valenwood, the Flu nearly wiped out worshipers of Z'en, leading to the Bosmer
abandoning his worship entirely soon afterward.

The entirety of Elsweyr suffered greatly from the Flu, though the city of
Senchal suffered the most. A strain of the disease crossed the channel in 2E 560
and infected most of the populace. Soon there was damage to the city itself, as
paranoia raged rampant, and entire sections of the city were burned to slow down
the Flu, never to be rebuilt again.

Then, past all expectation, help arrived from an unforeseen direction: over the
western waves came the Altmer of Summerset, bringing physicians, healers,
desperately needed supplies. And one more thing: hope. Hope that Elsweyr would
survive.

\columnbreak

At first, many Khajiit were suspicious. Never before had the haughty High Elves
helped the Khajiiti—why now? But their canonreeves passed among the Khajiit, as
if unafraid of the flu, and explained: the Altmer did it not from friendship,
but from policy. The Khajiit needed their help now, and they would need the
Khajiit's help later. Invaders were coming to southwest Tamriel, they said, and
the Altmer could not repulse them without Khajiiti claws at their side.

### Founding of the Greater Daggerfall Covenant

The dreaded Knahaten Flu had reached High Rock and swept through Wayrest. The
high and mighty were not exempt, as it consumed the entire Gardner royal
household. Succession fell to Emeric, who ascended to the throne, beginning the
Cumberland Dynasty. There was reportedly a "Halo of Gold" around the sun on the
day of his coronation.

**King Ranser** of Shornhelm offered the hand of his daughter, Princess Rayelle,
to King Emeric both early and often. For a time, it seemed that the two would
marry, and Rayelle would become queen. But on a visit to Sentinel, King Emeric's
eyes first beheld the Princess Maraya, daughter of **King Fahara'jad**. From
that moment, Emeric swore that Wayrest would have no queen but Maraya. There was
another unexpected benefit: As her dowry, Maraya brought a trade agreement
between Wayrest and Sentinel.

\pagebreakNum

King Ranser, was wroth that Emeric not accepted the hand of his daughter, and he
withdrew his ambassador from the court of Wayrest. Although Ranser was invited
to the wedding in the spring of 2E 566 like the other kings of the
Covenant, he stayed, seething, in Shornhelm.

For over a year, Ranser had been quietly mustering his troops and emptying his
treasury to hire mercenaries. In Last Seed of 2E 566, he led his army out of
Shornhelm in a lightning strike to the south. The Shornhelm advance guard
reached the gates of Wayrest while its local militias were still filing through
them. This was a moment when history trembled upon a cusp: if the attacking
Oldgate Lancers scattered the militias and took the gate, Wayrest could have
fallen to her attackers within the hour.

King Emeric, who was present at the gate, had his bannermen sound the charge. He
led the gate guards and his household troops out against the Oldgate Lancers.
His enemies, who suddenly found themselves opposed by armored veterans rather
than panicky irregulars, were further confounded by the sudden onset of a
thunderstorm. Lashed by hail, their horses terrified by lightning, the vaunted
Oldgate Lancers hesitated, then broke and ran, pell-mell, from the gate.

By the time Ranser's main forces arrived on the scene, the Wayrest troops were
all within the walls. The gates were shut up tight, but the King of Shornhelm
was undeterred. The city of Wayrest found itself once more under siege, and
Ranser, with more craft and foresight than the Reachman Durcorach, had come with
siege engines in his train. Ranser had hoped for a swift victory. Instead, he
was forced into a protracted siege.

The long siege dragged on into spring, when the Daggerfall Covenant finally paid
dividends, drawing Camlorn, Evermore, and Daggerfall into the fray. Some
counseled letting Wayrest fall, but trade with the richest city in the region
was too important to allow that. Attacked from the city and the surrounding
countryside, Ranser's army stood firm; his mercenaries were well-paid and
prepared for bloodshed. But the crimson sails and battalions of elite Redguard
warriors from across the bay turned the tide. Ranser's forces were routed, and
Shornhelm was already ablaze when Ranser returned. This was the work of Orcs
under the rule of **Kurog gro-Bagrakh**.

Caught between the Breton hammer and the Orcish anvil, Ranser's troops were
utterly annihilated in the Battle of Markwasten Moor. Ranser hadn't counted on
Emeric's canniness; the King of Wayrest had sent emissaries into the Wrothgar
Mountains with a pledge to return Orsinium to the Orcs if they attacked their
hated enemy in Shornhelm. Rivenspire was despoiled, and some Orcs remembered how
the Bretons of Shornhelm had led the assault that toppled Orsinium some 135
years before. These debts were paid to Shornhelm in full.

This new arrangement of alliances formed the Second, or Greater, **Daggerfall
Covenant**. High King Emeric embraced the Redguards of Sentinel and the Orcs of
Orsinium who came to Wayrest's aid in its hour of direst need. The free peoples
of northwest Tamriel vowed to stand together against all threats, be they from
within or without.

\columnbreak

### Founding of the Ebonheart Pact

In 2E 572, a fleet originating from the Akaviri nation of Kamal, under the
command of Ada'Soom Dir-Kamal, invaded northern Tamriel during the Interregnum
of the Second Era. For reasons unknown, the fleet, although originating from the
east, bypassed the eastern shores of Vvardenfell and Solstheim, instead landing
near **Windhelm**, in the north of Skyrim.

Windhelm was taken by surprise and utterly sacked, resulting in the death of
Queen Mabjaarn Flame-Hair and her heir, Princess Nurnhilde, who both fell
leading their troops. Only **Prince Jorunn** survived, having escaped the
sacking of the city.

When Jorunn reappeared, he called himself King Jorunn, and was accompanied by a
mighty warrior whom he claimed was Wulfharth the Ash-King, sent back from
Sovngarde to help the Nords defeat the Akaviri. With this so-called Wulfharth at
his side, Jorunn rallied the Eastern Nords and fortified Riften, expecting an
imminent assault.

However, when Dir-Kamal moved his army south from Windhelm, he bypassed Riften
and marched into western Morrowind. They were opposed by Dark Elf forces, who
staged a fighting retreat through the Ashlands under the command of Almalexia
and her leading general, Tanval of House Indoril. Dir-Kamal pursued the Dunmeri
army into eastern Stonefalls, where the Elves halted their retreat by occupying
prepared defenses.

\pagebreakNum

The Akaviri advance slowed and stopped near **Ebonheart**—and suddenly, the Nord
army under Jorunn and Wulfharth appeared in their rear. Despite the age-old
enmity between Nord and Elf, there was collusion between Jorunn and Almalexia,
and the envelopment of the Akaviri at Stonefalls was according to plan.

The Akaviri, however, were not easily defeated. With their backs to the Inner
Sea on a beach that would later be named Vivec's Antlers, they fought a
desperate defense, attempting to hold out until their ships could come from the
White River estuary to take them from the shore. Despite repeated attempts, the
combined Dunmer-Nord army failed to break their lines. The fighting was fierce,
but the Nord army was overextended, and victory seemed uncertain.

The Akaviri fleet was actually visible on the northern horizon when another
incredible event occurred: at the last moment, the Nords and Dark Elves were
reinforced by two legions of Argonians who had marched to the battle from the
south. With the infusion of the reptilian Shellbacks, the Tamrielics finally
broke the Akaviri line—and with nowhere to escape to, the stalemate turned into
a slaughter. Opposed by three unlikely allies, the Akaviri were driven into the
sea, where they drowned by the thousands.

The Argonian reinforcements were led by **Heita-Meen**, who had been a slave to
the Dunmer in her young life. After being beaten unconscious for seating the
guests at a banquet out of order, she planned an escape with her fellow slaves.
They fled into the Thornmarsh, and stumbled into a troop of treacherous
Argonians from the Archein tribe, who were employed by the Dres. It was while
she was held captive in the Archein village that Heita-Meen received a vision
from the Hist, showing her blood and horror—the Akaviri invasion, Nords and
Dunmer falling like dead leaves.

<div style='margin-top:50px;'></div>

> ##### Three Hearts As One
>
> We tilled Skyrim's ground despite frozen toil  
> We tended the kwama beneath Morrowind soil  
> We hunted the wamasu in Black Marsh's glades  
> We Three Hearts had no need for blades
>
> ___
>
> Then they came from the seas, folded steel in their hands  
> They burned down our homes and ravaged our lands  
> Akaviri brought nothing but bloodshed and lies  
> Our families were slain before our eyes
>
> ___
>
> With Three separate people they shared a cruel joke  
> A choice between death or the yoke  
> But then our Three people knew what must be done  
> To end the oppression, all Three became One
>
> ___
>
> Forged by war the Ebonheart rose  
> And drove the Akaviri back to the sea  
> When the enemies begged for the mercy they lacked  
> Three voices as one shouted "Blood for the Pact"
>
> ___
>
> Forged by war our story be told  
> No shackles can hold us  
> Whether moonstone or gold

</div>

\columnbreak

The Archeins escorted them back to Thorn, which was nearly empty of Dunmer
following Almalexia's call to arms to defend Morrowind against the Second
Akaviri Invasion. Seeing this, Heita-Meen strangled her slaver with his own
whip, and swiftly challenged the centurion of the Archein guards for her
position by right-of-combat. After killing the centurion and gaining command of
the Archeins, Heita-Meen marched on Stormhold, intending to do the same there.
Instead, the troop encountered Walks-in-Ash, who was able to convince
Stormhold's Shellbacks to join without bloodshed. The army then marched on
Stonefalls in Morrowind to fight the Akaviri, where they tipped the balance in
favor of Tamriel.

This allegiance forged in battle was ratified with treaties signed in Ebonheart,
now known as the **Ebonheart Pact**. The treaties were mere formalities compared
to the ties made on the battlefield. The Pact was forged in the fires of
adversity, a shield to protect Tamriel from all invaders.

The Pact resulted in the manumission of Argonians enslaved by the Dunmer as
thanks for their crucial intervention. The Pact struggled to reconcile the
desires of three such distinct factions, but was able to stay strong due to the
need for mutual defense and the camaraderie of brothers-in-arms.

### Varen's Rebellion

In 2E 566, the Ruby Throne was held by Leovic, the grandson of Durcorach the
Black Drake. He married **Clivia Tharn** of Nibenay, daughter of Elder Council
High Chancellor and Imperial Battlemage **Abnur Tharn**, and his reign was
initially only marked by his peculiar behaviors, which the Cyrodilic nobility
blamed on his Reachman upbringing.

The Colovian Duke **Varen Aquilarios** of Chorrol erstwhile supported the reign
of Emperor Leovic, urging his fellow Colovians to be loyal to their Emperor,
despite his eccentricities. But when, in 2E 576, Leovic declared worship of the
Daedric Princes legal and protected throughout the Empire of Cyrodiil, Varen
took up his righteous sword and marshaled the military forces of the Colovian
Estates to depose him.

After an initial defeat at the hands of the Emperor's troops at Fort Ash, Varen
took command of the Legion of Chorrol and sent Leovic reeling back into the
Heartland. Word spread that Cyrodiil had a savior, and that Reman's true heir
had come at last. Under the dragon banner, Varen marched eastward.

The war that followed was bitter and terrible, replete with stunning victories,
desperate gambits, and reversals on both sides. The might of the Imperial
Legions, bolstered by Reachman auxiliaries and Daedric magic, were almost
impossible to overcome.

But Varen had the might of right on his side. In 2E 577, Varen led his army of
rebels to the palace gates. Varen drove his sword into Leovic's black-blooded
heart and watched him die, choking on his own life blood, at the foot of the
Ruby Throne, and immediately declared himself to be Emperor. To consolidate his
rule, he married Leovic's widow and daughter of his ally Abnur, Clivia Tharn.

But to truly consolidate his rule as the legitimate Emperor of Cyrodiil, Varen
needed to rekindle the Dragonfires using the Amulet of Kings. For that, there
were two problems. First, only a **Dragonborn**, an heir of Alessia blessed with
the blood and soul of a dragon, can light the Dragonfires. And second, the
Amulet of Kings was lost.

\pagebreakNum

### The Five Companions

Shortly after declaring himself Emperor, Varen put together a group of
adventurers called the **Five Companions** to rediscover the lost Amulet of
Kings. Varen desired to use the Amulet of Kings to rekindle the Dragonfires in a
ritual aimed at persuading Akatosh to alter his heritage and make him a
Dragonborn, and thus a legitimately ordained ruler of the Empire.

The companions included Varen himself, the Nord warrior **Lyris Titanborn**, the
Redguard swordmaster **Sai Sahan**, Grand Chancellor Abnur Tharn, and the Altmer
necromancer **Mannimarco**.

Lyris was the personal bodyguard to Varen, and presumed to descend from giants.
Sai Sahan was the captain to Varen's Dragonguard, and once upon a time attempted
to revive the old Yokudan art of sword-singing, but failed. Abnur Tharn was the
Imperial overlord of Nibenay, and an ally to Varen during his war when he
provided Varen with secret intelligence about the Imperial City that would aid
him in deposing Leovic.

Mannimarco, lastly, served as chief advisor to the court of Emperor Varen
Aquilarios. It was at Mannimarco's urging that the Five Companions were formed
to go on an epic quest to locate the Amulet of Kings. Varen was joined by his
companions, and together they scoured the face of Tamriel, following countless
leads, until finally they managed to find it.

### The Soulburst

The necromancer Mannimarco had convinced Emperor Varen Aquilarios that, despite
not being Dragonborn, as all true emperors must be, if they slightly modified
the coronation ritual, they would be able to both relight the Dragonfires and
convince Akatosh to gift Varen with the blood of a dragon.

So in 2E 578, having successfully located the amulet and returned to the
Imperial City, Varen and the Companions initiated the ritual with the Amulet. It
was then that Mannimarco revealed his treachery. Mannimarco corrupted the Amulet
of Kings, and, by performing the ritual, Varen broke the divine covenant of
Akatosh and Alessia which protected Nirn from the forces of Oblivion. The
**Elder Scrolls**, mystical scrolls that simultaneously archive both past and
future events, named this event the **Soulburst**.

As the veil shattered, a wave of magical energy that disrupted the connection
between the souls of the denizens of Nirn and their mortal hosts radiated
outwards from the Imperial City. Mystical aftershocks propagated all across the
planet, as mages died or went met. Red Mountain trembled in Morrowind,
earthquakes shook Skyrim and heavy storms devastated the coastlines of Elsweyr
and Valenwood. The constellation of the Serpent grew so large that it dominated
the night sky and seemed to threaten every star sign at once. Nirn became
vulnerable to the forces of Oblivion, as Daedra began appearing in greater
numbers than ever before.

Emperor Aquilarios was lost in the explosion. Lyris was captured by Mannimarco
to be sacrificed, Abnur simply fled from the city altogether, and Sai Sahan fled
with the amulet to an unknown location. Clivia Tharn became the new Empress
Regent, and fell under the thrall of Mannimarco.

\columnbreak

### Founding of the Aldmeri Dominion

Earlier in the sixth century, King Hidellith and his wife Kinlady Tuinden
conceived a child. **Princess Ayrenn** was born on the 5th of Second Seed in 2E
555. All Summerset, Auridon, and Artaeum celebrated her birth for fifty-five
days.

It was foretold that Princess Ayrenn would reflect the restless and turbulent
times in which she was born, and so it came to pass. Nimble and quick-witted,
she was quick to master the lessons of her tutors, and from an early age often
adopted unorthodox approaches to schoolwork. In fact, she sometimes became so
engrossed in her independent studies that her whereabouts were unknown for days
at a time. She would often return from these field trips with unusual knowledge
and display remarkable new skills.

One day in 2E 573 the entire royal family of Alinor gathered at the Crystal
Tower to celebrate Ayrenn's matriculation to the Sapiarchs' Labyrinth, where she
was to study Altmeri Regal Praxis and Ceremoniarchy for the requisite 3,555
days. But Ayrenn didn't arrive—somewhere between the Palace and Tower the
princess had disappeared, and she was nowhere to be found. The Sapiarchs,
however, reported that the night of her disappearance was filled with signs and
portents: the constellation of the Lady seeming to ride the constellation of the
Steed, the Great Orrery spun backward, and a young eaglet was found atop the
statue of Topal the Explorer.

While a long search was begun, in truth, Ayrenn had claimed her own destiny. She
had stolen away to the Isle of Balfiera to live with the Direnni at the Adamant
Tower. She hunted  the frost trolls of Skyrim, delved into the depths of a
Dwarven ruin, and crewed with a pirate captain of Cyrodiil. She once flew upon
an enormous kite on the winds of the Alik'r Desert, and danced with nereids in
the Illessan Hills.

\pagebreakNum

In due course **Prince Naemon**, Ayrenn's younger brother, was named heir to the
throne of Alinor, and in 2E 575 he matriculated into the Labyrinth. Naemon, like
his father, was a natural ceremoniarch, who seemed to have a genuine relish for
the rites and duties ordained by tradition for the heir.

When King Hidellith ascended to Aetherius in 2E 580, Prince Naemon immediately
began preparing to speak the eighty-eight day Coronation Liturgy that would
elevate him to the throne in his father's place.

Then, on a day unheralded, the unforeseen occurred. Word came from Port Velyn on
the continent that Princess Ayrenn was on her way to Auridon by Swan Ship. In
wonder and haste, the Court of Alinor took itself to Firsthold to greet her,
arriving just in time to welcome her unexpected return. Princess Ayrenn
announced that she was prepared, as the eldest heir, to assume the Throne of
Alinor—and the High Justiciar affirmed that such was, indeed, her right. She was
crowned Queen Ayrenn that same year.

Shortly after her coronation, Queen Ayrenn the Unforeseen proclaimed the
**Aldmeri Dominion**. Having traveled Tamriel extensively, Ayrenn was aware of
the dire threats menacing the world and saw it as the proper duty of the Elves
to put things right. The Khajiit of Elsweyr joined the Dominion to repay the
debt they owed the Altmer, with most of Elsweyr still in the grip of the
Knahaten Flu. The Bosmer of Valenwood now too required aid with troubles facing
the province, and joined the Dominion expecting Aldmeri troops to defend
Valenwood from foreign invaders and to quell an uprising.

For in Valenwood, tensions were once again boiling in Cormount. The Blacksap
Movement that attempted to formalize the Bosmeri approach to the Green Pact
became the **Blacksap Rebellion** when Gelthior, cousin of **King Camoran
Aeradan**, started a bid for the throne. Gelthior's chief claim was that King
Camoran allowed the Vinedusk Rangers, his elite soldiers and spies, to break
the Green Pact in order to better protect him.

Moreover, the Cabal who were running the Imperial City took advantage of the
unrest in Valenwood by sending in Colovian troops to grab up some of the Wood
Elves’ northern territory, successfully conquering Arenthia.

Aldmeri troops led by Altmer General Endare, the "Jade Butcher", were shipped
over and crushed the Blacksap Rebellion in what is known as the Massacre of
Cormount, reminiscent of the Razing of New Joy. This opened the Dominion's path
north, to Arenthia, to Cyrodiil, to the White-Gold Tower, and to the Ruby
Throne. Thus began the **Three Banners War**.

### The Three Banners War

With Queen Ayrenn vying for control of the Ruby Throne to reestablish Elven
dominance over Tamriel to protect it from the carelessness and wrongs of Man
that had led to the Soulburst, the Daggerfall Covenant and Ebonheart Pact could
not sit idly by.

High King Emeric marched on Cyrodiil to overthrow the false empress and all her
brood, and restore the Second Empire as the successor to the Reman Dynasty, so
that peace and justice may once more rule the provinces. To save Cyrodiil from
madness, murder, and decay, for the true flame of the Empire of Man still burned
in the Daggerfall Covenant.

\columnbreak

The Ebonheart Pact took a more radical turn, aiming to wipe away the rash rule
of the Empire and end once and for all mortals' entanglements with higher power
from beyond Nirn. They wished to scour the Ruby Throne from the face of
Cyrodiil, and sweep away the decaying remains of the Empire of Men. They wished
to replace it with a grand Tamriel Pact, in which the independence of all the
provinces is guaranteed.

### The Planemeld

The fighting in the Imperial province was only fresh when, in 2E 582, the three
armies witnessed portals called **Dark Anchors** appearing across the sky around
them, hooking into the ground and slowly ripping parts of Nirn away to float
loosely in Oblivion. The greatest of these Dark Anchors opened above the skies
of the Imperial City, intent on pulling the White-Gold Tower itself into
Oblivion.

The Dark Anchors that were appearing all over Tamriel were the doing of **Molag
Bal**, the God of Schemes and Daedric Prince of domination and enslavement of
mortals. One can only guess the motivations of a Daedric Prince, but what much
is clear is that he wants to pull all of Nirn into his realm of **Coldharbour**,
which was made possible due to the Soulburst orchestrated by his servant,
Mannimarco.

### The Present

The year is 2E 582. The drums of war sounded two years ago, and are only growing
louder.

The three factions are reluctant to send troops to deal with the threat of Molag
Bal. If they turn their armies away from the Ruby Throne, then one of the other
factions is sure to take it. Thus it falls to the heroes of Tamriel to save Nirn
from Molag Bal. Word has it that a hitherto unknown prophet claims that the
Elder Scrolls speak of a Soulless One who will lead the charge against the God
of Schemes.

Molag Bal is not the only threat in Tamriel. There is disarray across the lands.
A new plague is spreading across Deshaan that turns victims into violent husks,
dark nature magic practitioners in Glenumbra are threatening the great Wyrd
Tree, and there is murmuring of a pretender to Ayrenn's throne.

> ##### The Historian Who Wrote This Chapter Has Been Fired
>
> We regret to inform you that this chapter contains many falsehoods, lies,
> fabrications, and anti-Imperial biases. The allegation that Empress Regent
> Clivia Tharn is anything but a woman who strives for the well-being of her
> loyal Imperial subjects in these trying times can only be described as a
> concoction of hogwash.
>
> This chapter is being published in spite of its fictitious myths to make a
> mockery of the song and dance that the foreign invaders, enemies of Cyrodiil,
> would have you believe.
>
> That is to say, do not take anything in this chapter as absolute. It must be
> commended for its creativity, but cannot be relied on as a source of truth.

\pagebreakNum

# Chapter 3: Life in Tamriel

This chapter covers a lot of the day-to-day conventions in Tamriel that the
history chapter skimmed over. It also covers the varieties of faith of the
peoples of Tamriel, and additional character options such as backgrounds and
class archetypes.

## Languages in Tamriel

There are many different languages in Tamriel. The almost universal language
among them is Common, better known as Tamrielic or Cyrodilic, a descendant of
languages of both man and mer.

The languages in the Dead Languages table are either dead or might as well be,
and some of them are incredibly difficult to decipher.

##### Standard Languages

| Language | Typical Speakers | Script  |
|----------|------------------|---------|
| Altmeris | Altmer           | Aldmeri |
| Bosmeris | Bosmer           | Aldmeri |
| Common   | Men and mer      | Common  |
| Dunmeris | Dunmer           | Daedric |
| Jel      | Argonians        | Jel     |
| Orcish   | Orcs             | Orcish  |
| Ta'agra  | Khajiit          | Ta'agra |

##### Exotic Languages

| Language   | Typical Speakers | Script  |
|------------|------------------|---------|
| Akaviri    | Akaviri          | Akaviri |
| Daedric    | Daedra           | Daedric |
| Falmeris   | Falmer           | Aldmeri |
| Goblin     | Goblins          | —       |
| Hist       | Hist             | —       |
| Pyandonean | Maormer          | Aldmeri |
| Sload      | Sload            | Sload   |
| Tsaesci    | Tsaesci          | Akaviri |
| Nordic     | Nords            | Common  |
| Yoku       | Yokudans         | Yokudan |

##### Dead Languages

| Language     | Typical Speakers | Script   |
|--------------|------------------|----------|
| Ald Chimeris | Chimer           | Daedric  |
| Aldmeris     | Aldmer           | Aldmeri  |
| Ayleidoon    | Ayleids          | Aldmeri  |
| Draconic     | Dragons          | Draconic |
| Dwemeris     | Dwemer           | Aldmeri  |
| Ehlnofex     | Et'Ada           | —        |

\columnbreak

## Calendar

The Tamrielic calendar runs a total of 365 days and is composed of twelve
distinct months (sometimes called "Seasons"), each approximately thirty days in
length. Each month has an associated constellation.

The seven days of the Tamrielic week are Sundas, Morndas, Tirdas, Middas,
Turdas, Fredas, and Loredas. The days are a standard 24 hours in length.

##### Calendar of Tamriel

| Month          | Days | Holidays |
|:---------------|:----:|----------|
| Morning Star   | 31   | New Life Festival (1st) |
| Sun's Dawn     | 28   | Heart's Day (16th)</br>Mourning of Gil-Var-Delle (19th) |
| First Seed     | 31   | First Planting (7th) |
| Rain's Hand    | 30   | Day of Shame (20th)</br>Jester's Day (28th) |
| Second Seed    | 31   | Second Planting (7th) |
| Midyear        | 30   | Midyear Celebration (16th) |
| Sun's Height   | 31   | Merchants Festival (10th)</br>Sun's Rest (20th) |
| Last Seed      | 31   | Harvest's End (27th) |
| Heartfire      | 30   | Tales and Tallows (3rd)</br>Children's Day (19th) |
| Frostfall      | 31   | Witches Festival (13th) |
| Sun's Dusk     | 30   | Moon Festival (8th) |
| Evening Star   | 31   | Old Life Festival (31st) |

<!-- ### Holidays

The peoples of Tamriel celebrate many holidays throughout the year. Not all
holidays are celebrated everywhere, but Old Life and New Life Festival are
almost universal over the passing of each year, traditionally with free drinks
at taverns. The start of spring is observed during First Planting, followed two
months later by Second Planting. The hottest day of the year is at Sun's Rest,
when all work stops for a day. Harvest's End closes the summer, and the Moon
Festival is the last outdoor festival of the year. -->

\pagebreakNum

## Constellations and Birthsigns

There are thirteen named constellations in the sky. There are three Guardian
signs; the Warrior, the Mage, and the Thief, each of which protects three
charges. Each of these twelve signs corresponds to one of the twelve months in
the Tamrielic year. The thirteenth sign, the Serpent, has no guardian or month
and moves around the sky, usually threatening the other signs.

A birthsign is the constellation under which a person is born. Many people in
Tamriel believe that each birthsign bestows bestows unique magical powers to
those born under it.

##### The Constellations

| d12 | Constellation  | Month        |
|:---:|----------------|--------------|
| 1   | The Ritual     | Morning Star |
| 2   | The Lover      | Sun's Dawn   |
| 3   | The Lord       | First Seed   |
| 4   | The Mage       | Rain's Hand  |
| 5   | The Shadow     | Second Seed  |
| 6   | The Steed      | Mid Year     |
| 7   | The Apprentice | Sun's Height |
| 8   | The Warrior    | Last Seed    |
| 9   | The Lady       | Heartfire    |
| 10  | The Tower      | Frostfall    |
| 11  | The Atronach   | Sun's Dusk   |
| 12  | The Thief      | Evening Star |
| —   | The Serpent    | —            |

If you want to randomly choose what birthsign you were born under, you can use
the table to the side to determine the month of your birth. Roll a d12 to
determine what month you were born in, and then a second d12. If your second
roll matches your first roll, the Serpent intervenes and becomes your birthsign.

### The Ritual

The Ritual is one of the Mage's Charges and its Season is Morning Star. Those
born under this sign have a variety of abilities depending on the aspects of the
moons and the Divines.

You acquire a ritual. Choose one of the following classes: bard, cleric, druid,
sorcerer, warlock, or wizard. You must choose a 1st-level spell from that
class's spell list, and the spell must have the ritual tag. The class you choose
also determines your spellcasting ability for the spell: Charisma for bard,
sorcerer, or warlock; Wisdom for cleric or druid; or Intelligence for wizard.
You can cast this spell as a ritual. When you cast the spell in this way, you
can't do so again until you finish a long rest.

\columnbreak

> ##### Optional Boons
>
> As a DM, you can optionally allow your players to receive a boon from their
> birthsign as listed in these sections. Please be mindful that the boons may
> not and cannot be balanced.

### The Lover

The Lover is one of the Thief's Charges and her season is Sun's Dawn. Those born
under the sign of the Lover are graceful and passionate.

You are a magical kisser. As an action, you can kiss a willing humanoid
creature. The kiss has the same effect as the *charm person* spell. The DC is
equal to 13. When you kiss a creature in this way, you can't do so again until
you finish a long rest.

### The Lord

The Lord's Season is First Seed and he oversees all of Tamriel during the
planting. Those born under the sign of the Lord are stronger and healthier than
those born under other signs.

Your hit point maximum increases by 1, and it increases by 1 every time you gain
an uneven level (e.g., 3, 5, etc.).

### The Mage

The Mage is a Guardian Constellation whose Season is Rain's Hand when magicka
was first used by men. His Charges are the Apprentice, the Golem, and the
Ritual. Those born under the Mage have more magicka and talent for all kinds of
spellcasting, but are often arrogant and absent-minded.

At the end of a long rest, choose a 1st-level spell from your known or prepared
spells. You can cast this spell once at its lowest level without expending a
spell slot.

\pagebreakNum

### The Shadow

The Shadow's Season is Second Seed. The Shadow grants those born under the sign
the ability to hide in shadows.

You have advantage on all Dexterity (Stealth) checks made while in dim light or
darkness.

### The Steed

The Steed is one of the Warrior's Charges, and its Season is Mid Year. Those
born under the sign of the Steed are impatient and always hurrying from one
place to another.

You have an additional 5 feet of movement speed.

### The Apprentice

The Apprentice's Season is Sun's Height. Those born under the sign of the
apprentice have a special affinity for magick of all kinds, but are more
vulnerable to magick as well.

Whenever you cast a spell that deals damage, you add 1 extra point of damage.
Whenever you receive damage from a spell, you take 1 extra point of damage.

### The Warrior

The Warrior is the first Guardian Constellation and he protects his charges
during their Seasons. The Warrior's own season is Last Seed when his Strength is
needed for the harvest. His Charges are the Lady, the Steed, and the Lord. Those
born under the sign of the Warrior are skilled with weapons of all kinds, but
prone to short tempers.

You are proficient with simple weapons. In addition, when you miss with a weapon
attack, you can immediately retry in a short fit of rage. You can make the
weapon attack again with disadvantage. When you do so, you can't do so again
until you finish a short or long rest.

### The Lady

The Lady is one of the Warrior's Charges and her Season is Heartfire. Those
born under the sign of the Lady are kind and tolerant.

When you make a Charisma ability check without disadvantage, but the check
fails, you can you can attempt to do so again with disadvantage, and you must
take the new result. Once you use this feature, you can't do so again until you
finish a short or long rest.

\columnbreak

### The Tower

The Tower is one of the Thief's Charges and its Season is Frostfall. Those born
under the sign of the Tower have a knack for finding gold and can open locks of
all kinds.

You have advantage on all checks made to open locks.

### The Atronach

The Atronach (often called the Golem) is one of the Mage's Charges. Its season
is Sun's Dusk. Those born under this sign are natural sorcerers with deep
reserves of magicka, but they cannot generate magicka of their own.

TODO: More magic, spell absorption, no magicka recovery? Kinda impossible.

### The Thief

The Thief is the last Guardian Constellation, and its Season is the darkest
month of Evening Star. Its Charges are the Lover, the Shadow, and the Tower.
Those born under the sign of the Thief are not typically thieves, though they
take risks more often and only rarely come to harm. They will run out of luck
eventually, however, and rarely live as long as those born under other signs.

When you roll a 1 on an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can
reroll the die and must use the new roll.

### The Serpent

The Serpent wanders about in the sky and has no Season, though its motions are
predictable to a degree. No characteristics are common to all who are born under
the sign of the Serpent. Those born under this sign are the most blessed and the
most cursed.

You can cast *lesser restoration* and *ray of sickness* at 1st level with this
feature. *Lesser restoration* can only be cast on yourself. Once you cast either
spell with this feature, you can no longer use this feature to cast another
spell until you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for
these spells.

\pagebreakNum

## Varieties of Faith

There are many ways in which the peoples of Tamriel revere their divine spirits.
This list is by no means complete. It only includes the most important spirits
revered by native members of the culture. Some et'Ada, especially Daedra, are
common between cultures, but known by different names, and sometimes have
different cultural significance.

### The Eight Divines

The Eight Divines are the pantheon introduced by Alessia at the start of the
First Era. It was a carefully designed compromise between the Aldmeri deities
that the humans of Cyrodiil were accustomed to worshiping, and the deities of
Alessia's Nordic allies. The Eight Divines are commonly worshiped by the human
races. Shezarr, though not officially part of the Divines, is often called the
Missing Sibling.

#### Akatosh

*Dragon God of Time*

___

Akatosh is the chief deity of the Eight Divines. He is present in most Tamrielic
religions. His avatar is a dragon, and he is often called the Dragon God of
Time. He is generally considered to be the first of the Gods to form in the
Beginning Place. After his establishment, other spirits found the process to be
easier and the various pantheons of the world emerged. The Aedric spirit is the
ultimate God of the Cyrodilic Empire, where he embodies the qualities of
endurance, invincibility, and everlasting legitimacy while promoting the virtues
of duty, service, and obedience. Akatosh is thought to be the father of all
dragons, and their leader Alduin was titled "First-Born of Akatosh". Akatosh is
the patron of the Akatosh Chantry, the religious order devoted to the worship
and glorification of him, who refer to him as the "Great Dragon".

Akatosh was involved in the forging of the Covenant with the new Empire of
humanity, and his blood was mystically joined with Alessia and her heirs. The
Amulet of Kings was the primary token of this patronage, and it allowed the new
Empire of Cyrodiil to benefit from the stabilizing influence of White Gold
Tower, maintaining the barrier between Mundus and the Planes of Oblivion. That
barrier was torn by the Planemeld, and the location of the Amulet of Kings is
unknown.

#### Arkay

*Lord of the Wheel of Life*

___

Arkay is the god of burials and funeral rites, and is generally associated with
cyclical occasions, such as the seasons, and life and death. His priests are
staunch opponents of necromancy and all forms of the undead, and are empowered
to bestow Arkay's blessings which prevent the forceful misuse of a mortal soul.
Thus, any body properly buried by a priest observing the proper rituals is
protected by Arkay's Law from being raised as undead. Therefore, necromancers
view Arkay as their ultimate enemy, and make covert efforts to undermine his
worship throughout Tamriel. Because of this association with, and protection
of, mortality, he is sometimes called the Mortals' God.

\columnbreak

#### Dibella

*The Passion Dancer, Our Blessed Lady, Queen of Heaven*

___

Dibella is the Goddess of Beauty, Love, and Affection. She is the embodiment of
beauty and teaches mortals to seek truth through beauty and worship. Those who
follow the teachings of Dibella, and propagate beauty and promote harmony, are
granted charm and grace. The Goddess teaches that mortals should give themselves
to love, and commands them to open their hearts to "the noble secrets of art and
love. Treasure the gifts of friendship. Seek joy and inspiration in the
mysteries of love". Dibella holds no limit on the number of lovers one may have,
but demands focus on the quality of the essence of love, not the quantity. She
teaches that, "No matter the seed, if the shoot is nurtured with love, will not
the flower be beautiful?", and blesses the love of those which is pure and
untainted.

Dibella and her worshipers are argued to have what can be considered a personal
relationship, in contrast to the formal and impersonal relationship held by the
worshipers of other Divines. Some cults of Dibella focus on women, artists or
aesthetics, while others concentrate on erotic instruction.

#### Julianos

*God of Wisdom and Logic*

___

Julianos, governs the realms of literature, law, history, and contradiction. He
is usually associated with magic, and thus is often revered by wizards. He is
particularly venerated among many Imperials and Bretons. As a Divine, he
represents the virtue of learning, scholarship, and justice. He is said to
"incant the Damned Equation".

#### Kynareth

*Goddess of the Winds and Elements*

Kynareth is the Patron of sailors and travelers. Kynareth is often invoked for
auspicious stars at birth and for good fortune in daily life. In some legends,
she is the first to agree to Shezarr's divine plan to create the mortal plane,
and provides the space in the void for its creation. Furthermore, she is
associated with rain, a phenomenon that is said not to have occurred before the
removal of Lorkhan's divine spark.

#### Mara

*Mother Mara, Mother Mild, Divine Mother*

___

As Goddess of Love, Mara is the bearer of love, and shines the light of love on
all mortals. Mara gave life to mortals so that they may love. The gift of love
was bestowed upon mortals by the Divine so to honor Mara, and allow them to
understand the true nature of the Divines. Mara teaches that love provides
nourishment and life to all mortals. The Divine commands mortals to "live
soberly and peacefully. Honor your parents, and preserve the peace and security
of home and family". Mara's Benevolence is eternal and those who offer their
love to the Divine will never be forsaken. The Warmth of Mara shapes the destiny
of mortals and can be felt across Tamriel. Priests of Mara teach that the Divine
is omnipresent, and her love and affection can be found in the heart of all
mortals, thus linking them to Mara. The holy truth declares that love creates
life and therefore those who love create more life.

\pagebreakNum

##### The Eight Divines

| Deity | Alignment | Domains | Symbol |
|-------|:---------:|---------|--------|
| **Akatosh**, Dragon God of Time | LG | Arcana, Knowledge | Hourglass |
| **Arkay**, God of the Wheel of Life | NG | Grave, Life | Wheel |
| **Dibella**, Goddess of Beauty, Love and Affection | CG | Life, Light | Red rose |
| **Julianos**, God of Wisdom and Logic | LN | Knowledge, Order | Triangle |
| **Kynareth**, Goddess of the Winds and Elements | N | Tempest | Bird |
| **Mara**, Goddess of Love, Fertility, and Compassion | NG | Life, Nature | A knotted ring |
| **Shezarr**, Missing God of Man | CG | Life | — |
| **Stendarr**, God of Mercy | NG | Life, Light | A pouring chalice |
| **Zenithar**, God of Work and Commerce | LN | Knowledge, War | Anvil |

</div>

Mara is also the patron of marriage, and the act of union is carried out at her
shrines and temples. The Divine teaches that the spark of union between two
mortals comes from within and is not based on appearance. The oaths and vows of
marriage create life from love and are respected in the name of Mara. The act of
union is confirmed upon taking the Pledge of Mara and Mara does not place any
restrictions on marriage, thus all may marry, irrespective of gender and race,
and unite their souls in the holy union. Mara makes her will known to her
priests through visions and commands them to aid those whose love needs
guidance. The priesthood of Mara strive to unite all mortals and are intolerant
of those who are intolerant of others.

#### Shezarr

*The Missing Sibling, God of Men*

___

Shezarr is a Cyrodilic version of Lorkhan whose importance suffered when
Akatosh came to the fore of Nibenay religion. Shezarr was the spirit behind all
human undertaking, especially against Aldmeri aggression.  He is admittedly a
thinly-disguised version of Shor, and even in the Colovian West of Cyrodiil,
they recognize Shezarr by the name of Shor.

"Shezarr's Song" is a creation myth of Cyrodiil. It says that Shezarr brought
the idea to the other gods of becoming mothers and fathers, being responsible,
and making great sacrifices, with no guarantee of success. It involved cutting
off parts of themselves to create a world, sacrificing power and control. It was
a new and strange idea, but Shezarr spoke beautifully to them, and moved them
beyond mystery and tears. Thus the Aedra gave free birth to the world. It took a
great toll: they were no longer young, and strong, and powerful, as they had
been from the beginning. The Daedra mocked Shezarr and the other Aedra, and
decided to make their own worlds within themselves where they wouldn't have to
sacrifice control, though they came to envy the Aedra's creation, and often
sought to steal from Shezarr and the others. Some Aedra were disappointed,
bitter, and angry with Shezarr, and with all creation, for they felt Shezarr had
lied and tricked them. These Aldmeri gods, led by Auri-El, decided to seek
vengeance on Shezarr for reducing them to their "disgusting" selves. But the
gods of men and beastfolk, led by Akatosh, were pleased with creation despite
their great sacrifices.

\columnbreak

#### Stendarr

*The Steadfast*

___

Stendarr is the God of Mercy, Charity, Well-Earned Luck, and Justice. He
is also acclaimed as the God of Compassion, and Righteous Rule by Might
and Merciful Forbearance.

Stendarr, through his priests, resolutes, and templars, makes his will known to
the mortals of Tamriel, and commands them to "be kind and generous to the people
of Tamriel. Protect the weak, heal the sick, and give to the needy". Stendarr
offers mercy to all mortals and he welcomes heretics, the afflicted, the
hopeless, and the forgotten. The Divine cherishes and protects all mortals
regardless of whether they acknowledge him or not, and he does not distinguish
between worshipers and heretics. The priests of Stendarr act as a conduit, and
he provides guidance and assistance to mortals through them. He also offers help
in the form of healing as Stendarr can mend any wound, stay any disease, and
soothe any broken soul.

The mercy of Stendarr does not extend to the enemies of mortals, who are
referred to as Abominations, and the Divine considers them abhorrent and
unnatural, and deserving of extermination without mercy

#### Zenithar

*The Trader God, The God That Will Always Win*

___

Zenithar, the God of Work and Commerce, the Provider of our Ease, is considered
a cultivated god of merchants and middle nobility, being the deity of wealth,
labor, commerce and communication. He has strong ties to Cyrodiil and High Rock.
The introduction of the worship of Zenithar was largely tolerated in Hammerfell
due to his similarities to a Yokudan agricultural deity. His priests teach that
the path to peace and prosperity is through earnest work and honest profit, not
through war, bloodshed, or theft. Zenithar is seen as a warrior god, but one who
is restrained and reserved in times of peace.

\pagebreakNum

##### The Aldmeri Pantheon

| Deity | Alignment | Domains | Symbol |
|-------|:---------:|---------|--------|
| **Arkay**, God of the Cycle of Life and Death | NG | Grave, Life | Wheel |
| **Auri-El**, King of the Aldmer | LG | Arcana, Knowledge | Eagle |
| **Lorkhan**, God of Men, Enemy of Mer | CE | Trickery | Scarab |
| **Magnus**, the Architect, God of Magic | N | Arcana, Light | An astrolabe, a telescope, or a staff |
| **Mara**, Goddess of Love, Fertility, and Compassion | NG | Life, Nature | A knotted ring |
| **Stendarr**, God of Mercy, Apologist of Men | CG | Life | A pouring chalice |
| **Syrabane**, God-Ancestor of Magic | NG | Arcana | Warlock's Ring |
| **Trinimac**, Champion of Auri-El | LG | War | Sword |
| **Xarxes**, God of Ancestry and Secret Knowledge | LN | Knowledge | Quill |
| **Y'ffre**, God of Song and Forest | CG | Nature, Knowledge | Harp |
| **Z'en**, God of Toil, Agriculture, and Payment in Kind | LN | Knowledge, War | Anvil |

</div>

### The Aldmeri Pantheon

The ancient Aldmer believed they are the relatively feeble descendants of the
Aedra ("Aedra" roughly translates to "ancestors"), who populated the Mundus so
that it might last despite Lorkhan's deception. As their hierarchical society
developed, the lower classes stopped worshiping their own "lesser" Aedra in
favor of those claimed by their social "betters". Thus the Altmeri pantheon
slowly formed around the most popular and well-known of the Aedra, contained
within this section. Aedra worship is most common among the Altmer, Ayleids,
Bosmer, and Falmer.

#### Auri-El

*King of the Aldmer*

___

In his only known moment of weakness, Auri-El agreed to take his part in the
creation of the mortal plane, that act which forever sundered the elves from the
spirit worlds of eternity. Auri-El and the other gods of the Aldmer were
disgusted by their enfeebled selves and what they had created, and insisted that
everything was permanently spoiled, and all they would be able to do would be to
teach the elves to suffer with dignity.

To make up for his error, Auri-El led the original Aldmer against the armies of
Lorkhan in mythic times, vanquishing him and establishing the first kingdoms of
the Aldmer, Altmora and Old Ehlnofey. Though Altmora was retaken by men and Old
Ehlnofey was sundered, Auri-El's greatest knight, Trinimac, succeeded in
defeating Lorkhan, and Auri-El hid his Heart by attaching it to an arrow and
sending it far into the sea. Later, Auri-El ascended to heaven in full
observance of his followers so that they might learn the steps needed to escape
the mortal plane.

#### Magnus

*The Architect*

___

Magnus, also known as the god of magic, was a prominent et'Ada. During the Dawn
Era, Lorkhan persuaded Magnus and several other et'Ada to help create the mortal
plane, Mundus. Magnus was the architect of Mundus, as he created the schematics
and diagrams needed to construct it.

\columnbreak

As Mundus began to form, it became evident that many of the et'Ada would be
required to sacrifice much of their power in order to form the mortal plane.
As their aspects began to die off, many of the et'Ada vanished completely.
Magnus decided to terminate the project. He fled to Aetherius in the last of
Mundus' birth-pains, and his departure tore a hole which became Nirn's sun,
itself known as Magnus.

#### Lorkhan

*Doom Drum, the Missing God, God of Men, Enemy of Mer*

___

To the Altmer, Lorkhan (who they view as more a limit than a nature) is the most
unholy of all higher powers, as they believe he forever broke their connection
to the spirit plane. That their stories say Trinimac defeated Lorkhan and tore
out his Heart is little consolation, and they still believe sadness is the best
response to the Sundering.

Their wish is to return to the spirit realm, but Lorkhan is the demon that
hinders their way; to them Nirn is a prison, an illusion to escape. Others,
while accepting that Nirn is a cruel place full of mental anguish, think that
Lorkhan created the world as the testing ground for transcendence; to them the
spirit realm was already a prison, and true escape is now finally possible.

#### Syrabane

*Warlock's God*

___

An Aldmeri god-ancestor of magic, Syrabane aided Bendu Olo in the Fall of the
Sload. Through judicious use of his magical ring, Syrabane saved many from the
scourge of the Thrassian Plague. It is said that the ring remains under the
command of Archmage Syrabane. He is also called the Apprentices' God, for he was
a favorite of the younger members of the Mages Guild. A grand statue of him is
said to stand on a coastal cliff of Artaeum, which he allegedly posed for
in-person. He eventually became revered as a god as Altmeri society developed

\pagebreakNum

#### Trinimac

*The Warrior, the Paragon, Champion of Auri-El*

___

Trinimac was a prominent god of the early Aldmer. In some places, he was even
more popular than Auri-El. He was a warrior spirit of the original elven tribes
that led armies against mankind, and was known as the strongest of all the
et'Ada who wandered Nirn. He is often depicted holding his sword Penitent, also
known as Vosh Rakh, the "Blade of Courage". Boethiah is said to have eaten
Trinimac and assumed his shape so the Daedric Prince could convince a throng of
Aldmer to listen to him, which led to the creation of the Orcs and
Chimer.

Trinimac became particularly well-known for spreading what is today the Altmeri
understanding of the events surrounding Lorkhan. He preached that Lorkhan's idea
for the mortal realm had been a trick all along and fomented war against Lorkhan
and his followers, men. He believed that "tears were the best response to the
Sundering", and encouraged hatred of Lorkhan.

#### Xarxes

*The Ageless One*

___

Xarxes, the God of Ancestry and Secret Knowledge, began as a scribe to Auri-El
and has kept track of all Aldmeri accomplishments, large and small, since the
beginning of time. He created his wife, Oghma, from his favorite moments in
history. He is worshiped by Altmer and Bosmer. Hermaeus Mora claimed that
the knowledge he gave to Xarxes was recorded in the Oghma Infinium. The
scholar-priests of the divine scribe, secretive though they are, are said to
preserve an ancient tongue long forgotten to any but their order.

#### Y'ffre

*The Singer, the Storyteller, Spirit of the Now*

___

Y'ffre is the God of Song and Forest, and the most important deity of the
Bosmeri pantheon, also worshiped by the Altmer, Bretons, and Falmer under the
name Jephre. While Auri-El might be the king of the gods, Y'ffre is revered as
the spirit of "the now". According to the elves, after the creation of the
mortal plane everything was in chaos. The first mortals were turning into plants
and animals and back again. Then Y'ffre transformed himself into the first of
the Ehlnofey, or "Earth Bones". After these laws of nature were established,
mortals had a semblance of safety in the new world, because they could finally
understand it.

Out of the primordial Ooze, Y'ffre first brought forth the Green, consisting of
all plant life, from mosses to the mighty graht-oaks, teaching the birds to sing
and the waves to lap against the beach. Next to materialize were Y'ffre's
people, the Bosmer. He instituted the Green Pact between the Bosmer and the
Green, which forbade any harm to the plant life of Valenwood. In exchange, the
elves could request the forest shape itself to their needs, providing food and
shelter, and also were able to tap into certain atavistic forces of nature,
reflecting their chaotic origins.

Y'ffre is strongly associated with songs and stories, as a mythical expression
of his role in shaping the story of nature. His acts of creation are described
as "tales", and he is said to have given the first name to every living
creature, solidifying their place in the world. Y'ffre sang to Aetherius,
weaving songs so beautiful that stars were compelled to dance and sway,
continuing to wink and blink afterward in memory of that song.

\columnbreak

#### Z'en

*God of Toil, Agriculture, and Payment in Kind*

___

Although Z'en is the god of agriculture, he is rumoured to have a larger realm
of influence than just crops and cattle. Some adherents also understand payment
in kind to mean vengeance for wrongs of the past. In the Altmeri folklore he is
called Xen, and is an aspect of the Aurbis like the other Aedra. Z'en is often
compared to the Imperial god of commerce Zenithar, with Zenithar considered the
more refined of the two.

His shrines once spanned the whole of the Valenwood before the Knahaten Flu
decimated his faithful.

### The Khajiiti Pantheon

The Khajiiti pantheon encompasses a myriad of gods, both temporal and otherwise,
a fraction of which are detailed below. Of the dark spirits, or dro-m'Athra, who
are represented by the inverse phases of the moons and are associated with the
gods Lorkhaj and Namiira, the Khajiit rarely speak.

The Khajiiti creation myth differs a lot from others. It starts with two
litter-mates, Ahnurr and Fadomai, who gave birth to the first cat, Alkosh, then
Khenarthi, Magrus, Mara, and S'rendarr. After this litter came a second litter,
and for Ahnurr, two litters was enough. But when Khenarthi was lonely in the
skies, Fadomai tricked Ahnurr to make her pregnant again, and Fadomai gave birth
to the moons Jode and Jone, Nirni, and Azurah, the dusk and dawn.

Ahnurr caught Fadomai while she was birthing and was angry, so Fadomai left to
birth the last of her litter far away in the Great Darkness. So Lorkhaj became
the last of her litter.

When Fadomai knew her time was near, she gave the Lattice to the two moons, so
that their motions might shield her children from Ahnurr's anger. Fadomai then
turned to Nirni and said: "Nirni, to you Fadomai leaves her greatest gift. You
will give birth to many people as Fadomai gave birth today." When Nirni saw that
Azurah had nothing, Nirni left smiling.

All Fadomai's children left except Azurah. And Fadomai said, "To you, my
favored daughter, Fadomai leaves her greatest gift. To you Fadomai leaves her
secrets." And Fadomai told her favored daughter three things.

After many phases, Nirni came to Lorkhaj. She could birth many children, but had
no place to keep them. Then Lorkhaj offered to fashion Nirni a place. But the
Heart of Lorkhaj was filled with the Great Darkness, and Lorkhaj tricked his
siblings so that they were forced into this new place with Nirni. Many of
Fadomai's children escaped and became the stars, and many of Fadomai's children
died to make Nirni's path stable. The survivors stayed and punished Lorkhaj.

But Nirni soon forgave Lorkhaj for Nirni could make children. And she filled
herself with children, but cried because her favorite children, the forest
people, did not know their shape. Azurah then used her secrets to fashion Nirni
a new people, the Khajiit.

\pagebreakNum

##### The Khajiiti Pantheon

| Deity | Alignment | Domains | Symbol |
|-------|:---------:|---------|--------|
| **Alkosh**, Dragon King of Cats | LG | Arcana, Knowledge | Dragon |
| **Azurah**, Keeper of the Three Secrets | CG | Light, Trickery | Star |
| **Baan Dar**, the Bandit God | CN | Trickery | Hooded cat |
| **Jode and Jone**, the Lunar Lattice | CN | Trickery | Two moons |
| **Khenarthi**, Goddess of the Winds | N | Nature, Tempest | Great hawk |
| **Lorkhaj**, the Moon Beast | CN | Trickery | Scarab |
| **Mara**, Mother Cat of Love | NG | Life, Nature | A knotted ring |
| **Magrus**, Cat's Eye, Sun God | N | Arcana, Light | Sun |
| **Rajhin**, God of Thieves | CN | Trickery | Khajiiti footprints |
| **Riddle'Thar**, the Two-Moons Dance | N | Knowledge, War | Dancing Khajiit |
| **S'rendarr**, God of Mercy | NG | Life | The runt of the litter |

</div>

#### Alkosh

*Dragon King of Cats, God of Time, the First Cat*

___

A cultural hero, and one of the earliest gods among the Khajiit culture, his
worship was co-opted during the establishment of the Riddle'thar, although
worship of Alkosh as a deity continues to flourish among Elsweyr's
desert-blasted regions. Most commonly depicted as a fearsome dragon with feline
features, the Khajiit typically describe Alkosh as "a real big cat". Popular
myth among the Khajiiti holds that he repelled an early Aldmeri pogrom of
Pelinal Whitestrake.

#### Azurah

*The Dusk and the Dawn*

___

Azurah was given three secrets by her mother. She was then told to take one of
Nirni's children and change them, making them the fastest, cleverest, and most
beautiful of creatures, naming them the Khajiit; second, that they must be
fashioned as the best climbers, to climb upon the winds of Khenarthi's breath
and set Masser and Secunda aright, lest they fail; lastly, that the Khajiit must
be the best deceivers, able to hide their true nature from others.

When Nirni cried because her children did not know their shape, Azurah came to
her and said, "Poor Nirni, stop your tears. Azurah makes for you a gift of a new
people." Nirni stopped weeping, and Azurah spoke the First Secret to the Moons
and they parted and let Azurah pass. Azurah took some forest people who were
torn between man and beast, and she placed them in the best deserts and forests
on Nirni. Azurah in her wisdom made them of many shapes, one for every purpose.
Azurah named them Khajiit and told them her Second Secret and taught them the
value of secrets. Azurah bound the new Khajiit to the Lunar Lattice, as is
proper for Nirni's secret defenders. Then Azurah spoke the Third Secret, and the
Moons shone down on the marshes and their light became sugar.

But Y'ffer heard the First Secret and snuck in behind Azurah. Y'ffer could not
appreciate secrets, and he told Nirni of Azurah's trick. So Nirni made the
deserts hot and the sands biting, the forests wet and filled with poisons. Nirni
thanked Y'ffer and let him change the forest people also. Y'ffer did not have
Azurah's subtle wisdom, so Y'ffer made the forest people Elves always and never
beasts, and he named them Bosmer. From that moment they were no longer in the
same litter as the Khajiit.

\columnbreak

#### Baan Dar

*The Bandit God, the Pariah*

___

In most regions, Baan Dar is a marginal deity, a trickster spirit of thieves and
beggars. In Elsweyr he is more important, and is regarded as the Pariah. In this
aspect, Baan Dar becomes the cleverness or desperate genius of the
long-suffering Khajiit, whose last-minute plans always upset the machinations of
their (Elven or Human) enemies. He has also lent his name to the Baandari
Pedlars, the traveling Khajiiti merchant tribe. The Bosmer of Valenwood also
worship their own aspect of Baan Dar, who is popular primarily due to his
association with skill in archery.

#### Jode and Jone

*The Lunar Lattice, Big Moon and Little Moon*

___

Together, the moons represent duality, fate, and luck. In Khajiiti religion,
Jone and Jode are aspects of the Lunar Lattice, or ja-Kha'jay. Jone and Jode are
revered in a unique manner by each sub-species of Khajiit, as regards their
aspect at the time of the Khajiit's birth.

#### Khenarthi

*Goddess of the Winds, Gatherer of Waters*

___

Khenarthi is the strongest of the Sky spirits. Her breath sustains her kin, Jode
and Jone, on their path through the sky. In some legends, she is the first to
agree to Lorkhaj's plan to invent the mortal plane, and provides the space for
its creation in the void. She is also associated with rain, a phenomenon said
not to occur before the removal of Lorkhaj's divine spark. When "true cats" die,
Khenarthi flies their souls to the Sands Behind the Stars.

#### Rajhin

*The Footpad, the Thief, the Purring Liar*

___

In life, Rajhin was the most infamous burglar in Elsweyr's history, said to have
stolen a tattoo from the neck of the Empress Kintyra as she slept. He is
accredited with using the Ring of Khajiiti in his thievery, making the ring
famous. After his death, Rajhin was inculcated among the Khajiit gods, to serve
as an example to them of cleverness and adroit ability. His blessing is most
often asked for before undertaking activities of a less-than-lawful nature.

\pagebreakNum

##### The Tribunal Temple

| Deity | Alignment | Domains | Symbol |
|-------|:---------:|---------|--------|
| **Almalexia**, the Warden| NG | Life | The stars |
| **Sotha Sil**, the Magus | LG | Knowledge | Clockwork gears |
| **Vivec**, the Poet | CG | Trickery | Spear |

</div>

#### Riddle'Thar

*The Two Moons Dance, the Sugar God*

___

The cosmic order deity of the Khajiit, the Riddle'Thar was revealed to Elsweyr
by the prophet Rid-Thar-ri'Datta, the Mane. The Riddle'Thar is more a set of
guidelines by which to live than a single entity, but some of his avatars like
to appear as humble messengers of the gods.

### The Tribunal Temple

The Tribunal, also called Almsivi, is the triune of Almalexia, Sotha Sil, and
Vivec worshipped by the Dunmer, with the exception of Ashlanders. The three Gods
rule over Morrowind as its leaders. How they achieved godhood is not certain,
but the Tribunal Temple holds that the Tribunal "achieved divine substance
through superhuman discipline and virtue and supernatural wisdom and insight.
Like loving ancestors, they guard and counsel their followers".

As soon as the Tribunal achieved divinity, Azura appeared and cursed them. The
Daedric Prince issued the prophecy that Nerevar would return to punish them for
breaking their oaths. When Sotha Sil waved off her omens, the Dunmer were
created, and Azura gave a final prophecy: that the Dunmer would share the
Tribunal's fate until the end of time.

Though confused at first, the Dunmer did come to accept the Tribunal as their
new gods. Theological concerns gave rise to the idea of the "Anticipations", the
"Good Daedra" the Chimer had worshipped before the Tribunal's apotheosis. So
while the Tribunal had once been mortal, and non-existent before that, their
Anticipations were said to have guided the Chimer in their stead. The three
Living Gods were anticipated by Boethiah, Azura, and Mephala respectively.

#### Almalexia

*The Warden, the Lover, Mother Morrowind, Healing Mother, Lady of Mercy, Ayem*

___

Little is known of Almalexia before she became Nerevar's wife. Temple myth holds
that on Mount Assarnibibi, Molag Bal oversaw the ninety-nine lovers of Boethiah
who gave birth to her. She hailed from one of the Great Houses of Morrowind.
Vivec's prose suggests she was already a ruler when she met Nerevar, who was
working as a guard for a merchant caravan at the time. Though Nerevar was a
generation older than her, they eventually got married. The Dwemer king Dumac,
who had become Nerevar's close friend, presented them with twin blades of the
highest Dwemeri craftsmanship. Almalexia's was known as Hopesfire. Sources
conflict on how her husband met his demise. Most attribute it to wounds he
received during the Battle of Red Mountain. The Ashlanders, who reject Tribunal
worship, believe that Almalexia and her fellow Tribunes murdered her husband so
he would not interfere with their plan to take divine power.

\columnbreak

Almalexia has wielded her divine power for the protection and benefit of the
Dunmer for thousands of years. Sotha Sil largely remains aloof and mysterious,
but Almalexia and Vivec both take very active roles in leading their people
throughout the First and Second Era. Her acts of amazing power and kindness are
countless. Her blessing is said to do extraordinary things, like protect a
person infected with Corprus from suffering the disease's effects. Saint Felms
the Bold is said to have been inspired by the voice of Almalexia in his head.
The Hands of Almalexia are her personal guard, and are often called the greatest
warriors in all of Tamriel. Like Vivec, she has written extensively, though she
focuses on children's fables and similar works meant to nurture the morality of
her people rather than Vivec's more cerebral, spiritual guidance.

#### Sotha Sil

*The Magus, the Magician, the Sorcerer, the Tinkerer, Father of Mysteries,
Clockwork God, Light of Knowledge, Inspiration of Craft and Sorcery, Architect
of Time, Seht*

___

Sotha Sil was born in the town Ald Sotha, in what is now known as the island of
Vvardenfell, in the Ascadian Isles region. Ald Sotha was the seat of House
Sotha, a minor house of the settled Chimer in the early First Era. The town was
destroyed by Mehrunes Dagon early in the First Era; Sotha Sil was the sole
survivor, having been saved by Vivec.

It was Sotha Sil who told Azura who was rebuking him that her time as a god was
over, and that the Tribunal as the new gods would be wise and caring of the
needs of their people. Sotha Sil was one of the few who can resist Azura's curse
but chose to remain with his Dunmeri appearance. He would aid in the transition
of his people into the Dunmer, getting them to accept that it was not a curse
but a blessing, and that they were new Mer, civilized and able to speak directly
to their patrons, the Tribunal.

The Clockwork City is believed to have been constructed some time after the rise
of the Tribunal. Sotha Sil created the Clockwork City for various reasons, all
of which were to serve a noble goal. He saw the Aedra's creation of Nirn as
flawed and in order to perfect it, he built the Clockwork City to ensure
the redemption of Tamriel, unify competing forces, and destroy the Daedra.
During the genesis of the city, Sotha Sil's vision of a self-contained world
made of brass and machinery was very ambitious and he developed highly advanced
methods to see it through. He created the Celestiodrome, which surrounds the
entire realm in the form of a glass globe which is perceived by the realm's
inhabitants as its sky. The Celestiodrome is capable of mimicking both a day and
night cycle, and the rotating girders installed on it allows for proper
topography to be formed within the Realm.In an effort to make the Clockwork
City habitable, Sotha Sil sought to achieve the proper humidity needed for a
breathable atmosphere for his realm. He created the Halls of Regulation,
which maintained the city's water cycle, breathable air, humidity, temperature,
wind currents, as well as creating drinkable water.

\pagebreakNum

Towards the end of the First Era, around 1E 2920, Sotha Sil spent some time on
the Isle of Artaeum, where he taught some of the new mages of the Psijic
Order. While there, Sotha Sil also further studied the Dwemer's creations,
as well as further refined his clockwork creations. He left some of his
creations behind when he departed back into the Clockwork City.

After Molag Bal destroyed the village of Gil-Var-Delle, Sotha Sil journeyed into
Coldharbour via the Dreaming Cavern and made a pact with eight of the more
prominent Daedric Princes: Azura, Boethiah, Hermaeus Mora, Hircine, Malacath,
Mehrunes Dagon, Molag Bal, and Sheogorath, known as the Coldharbour Compact.
Little is known about the Compact but it is theorized that it prevents the
Princes from directly manifesting on Nirn. It is also speculated that, in order
to secure the agreement of the Princes, Sotha Sil either made a credible threat
to them or presented a significant offer in exchange.

#### Vivec

*The Poet, Warrior-Poet, Guardian God-King of the Holy Land of Vvardenfell,
Vehk*

___

Vivec has always represented the spirit and duality of the Dunmer people, which
is reflected in his half-Dunmer, half-Chimer appearance. For hundreds if not
thousands of years, he has mostly resided at the pinnacle of his Palace in
Vivec, his capital, which is visited by hundreds of pilgrims and tourists daily.

Much of Vivec's early life is muddled by suppositions, metaphor, and time, but
it can be assumed he grew up in Morrowind during the First Era. Eventually, he
would become the junior councilor to Lord Indoril Nerevar, the Hortator, under
whom all of the Great Houses and Ashlander Tribes were united.

Vivec is one of the more active members of the Tribunal, prolific both in poetry
and in the writing of his own versions of history and philosophy. As well as
playing a role as a political leader (to this end he created the Buoyant
Armigers, a personal military order who exemplify his best traits), he is
considered a final authority on many esoteric and metaphysical concepts, such as
the means of attaining divinity—the Walking Ways.

Contrary to his Anticipation Mephala, the Dunmer in general do not envision Lord
Vivec as a creature of murder, sex, and secrets. Rather, they conceive of Lord
Vivec as benevolent king, guardian warrior, poet-artist. But unconsciously, they
accept the notion of darker, hidden currents beneath Vivec's benevolent aspects.
Nevertheless, the teachings of the Temple and the teachings of Vivec himself can
be summarized as follows: "Your fourfold duties are to: Faith, Family, Masters,
and all that is good. Perform holy quests and bring luster to the Temple. Never
transgress against your brothers or sisters, and never dishonor your house or
your ancestors. Serve and protect the poor and weak, and honor your elders and
clan".

\pagebreakNum

##### The Yokudan Pantheon

| Deity | Alignment | Domains | Symbol |
|-------|:---------:|---------|--------|
| **Diagna**, God of the Sideways Blade | CN | War | Orichalc blade |
| **HoonDing**, Spirit of Perseverance over Infidels | LG | War | TODO |
| **Leki**, Goddess of Aberrant Swordsmanship | LN | War | TODO |
| **Morwha**, Goddess of Fertility | NG | Life | Four-armed woman |
| **Onsi**, God of War | N | War | TODO |
| **Ruptga**, Tall Papa | LG | Knowledge, Life | TODO |
| **Satakal**, God of Everything | N | All | Snake eating itself |
| **Sep**, the Second Serpent | CE | Trickery | TODO |
| **Tava**, Spirit of the Air | N | Tempest | TODO |
| **Tu'whacca**, God of Souls | N | Grave | TODO |
| **Zeht**, God of Farms | CN | Nature | TODO |

</div>

##### The Nordic Pantheon

| Deity | Alignment | Domains | Symbol |
|-------|:---------:|---------|--------|
| **Alduin**, the World-Eater | CE | Tempest | Dragon |
| **Jhunal**, God of Knowledge and Hermetic Orders | LN | Knowledge, Order | TODO |
| **Kyne**, Goddess of the Storm | N | Tempest, War | Bird |
| **Mara**, Mother-Goddess of Love, Fertility, and Compassion | NG | Life, Nature | A knotted ring |
| **Orkey**, God of Mortality | CE | Trickery | TODO |
| **Shor**, Dead God of the Underworld | CG | Grave | TODO |
| **Stuhn**, God of Ransom | NG | Life, War | TODO |
| **Tsun**, Dead God of Trials Against Adversity | NG | War | TODO |

</div>

\pagebreakNum

### Daedra

Daedra are divine beings that did not take part in the creation of the Mundus,
and thus retain the full breadth of their power. They have a very real impact on
the mortal realm; in one way or another, Daedric influence touches everyone on
Tamriel.

The word "Daedra" is of Aldmeri origin, and roughly means "not our ancestors",
as opposed to Aedra—"ancestors".

Daedra are often referred to as demons, but this is misleading. All Daedra have
a penchant for extremes and are therefore capable of tremendous acts of
devastation, but their different spheres make them apply their power in
different ways, and their infinite diversity makes speaking about them generally
difficult. Thus, it is often impossible to accurately label them as "good" or
"evil"; the one thing that can be stated with certainty is the Daedra are beyond
mortal comprehension (as mortals seem to be beyond Daedric comprehension).

Daedra come in many forms. Undoubtedly there are true Daedra, such as the Daedra
Princes and highly intelligent Dremora. There are many lesser beings known to be
in league with these greater powers.

A Daedra's physical form can be ruined, but it cannot be truly killed; the soul
(more specifically known as the animus or vestige) of a slain Daedra returns to
the void of Oblivion until it manages to coalesce into a physical form again. A
slain Daedra is often said to have been "banished" or "purged" instead of
"killed" to reflect this. It is not known what happens to a Daedra killed in
Aetherius, though it has been suggested that this may be the one way to
permanently kill a Daedra.

### Daedric Princes

Daedric Princes are the most powerful of the Daedra, and are commonly worshiped
as gods. Each has a particular sphere, which it is said to govern. Daedric
Princes may assume a typically masculine or a typically feminine form, sometimes
both. They are usually referred to as Princes regardless of what gender they
appear most frequently as.

Each Daedric Prince, with the exception of Jyggalag, is said to have their own
plane of Oblivion, over which they have control. The limits on their planes,
powers, and influence are not readily understood, as there are over 37,000 other
planes over which they exert little or no control.

The Daedric Princes seem to view men and mer as little more than minor
amusements, occasionally applauding the actions of mortals when they exceed
their expectations. They do not know the mortal sense of "good" and "evil", and
usually have extremist tendencies, which is why men and mer fear them greatly.
However, several princes do seem to take genuine pleasure in tremendous acts of
devastation.

Although the beings are considered evil by most, they are widely worshiped in
the realms of Tamriel. Elaborate shrines are created to honor the Daedra as
gods. They often take a keen interest in their worshipers, and it is speculated
that this is either because of the obvious ego-gratification of being somebody's
god, or because the Daedra like to keep an eye on potential future subjects.
Mainstream religious authorities discourage Daedra worship, and often mount
witch-hunting expeditions to drive out Daedra worshipers from the local area.

\columnbreak

For the most part, dealing with the Daedra, one gets the distinct impression of
being mused over as a person peering under an upturned rock may momentarily
wonder at the lives of the bugs living ignorantly there.

\pagebreakNum

#### Azura

*Queen of Dawn and Dusk, Mother of the Rose, Queen of the Night Sky*

___

Azura of the Crimson Gate (also known as Azurah) is a Daedric Prince whose
sphere is dawn and dusk—the magic in-between realms of twilight—as well as
vanity and egotism. She is also the Anticipation of Sotha Sil. Azura is one of
the few Daedra who maintains the appearance of being "good" by mortal standards,
and presumably feels more concern for the well-being of her mortal subjects than
other Daedric Princes. She is one of the few Daedric Princes who constantly
maintains a female image, and is perceived accordingly.

#### Boethiah

*Prince of Plots, the Dark Warrior, Deceiver of Nations, Queen of Shadows,
Goddess of Destruction*

___

Boethiah (also spelled Boethia) is the Daedric Prince who rules over deceit,
conspiracy, secret plots of murder, assassination, treason, and unlawful
overthrow of authority. Boethiah loves competition and battle, and is depicted
as a great caped warrior, often in a stoic pose. While typically depicted as
male, Boethiah is occasionally referred to as female.

Championed by the Prophet Veloth, Boethiah is considered by the Dark Elves to be
their original god-ancestor. Through his illuminations, the eventual Chimer, or
Changed Folk, renounced all ties to the Aldmer and founded a new nation based on
Daedric principles. Veloth and his movement were staunchly opposed by the
followers of Trinimac, a powerful ancestor spirit of the Aldmer. In response,
Boethiah took on Trinimac's form (supposedly by eating him) and proceeded to
deride and humiliate him before his followers before corrupting and transforming
him into Malacath and his followers into the Orsimer.

All manner of Dark Elven cultural advances are attributed to Boethiah, from
philosophy to magic to "responsible" architecture. Ancient Velothi allegories
are foundation stories of Chimeri struggle where Boethiah uniformly succeeds
against enemies of every type. The Tribunal Temple teaches that he is the
Anticipation of Almalexia.

#### Clavicus Vile

*Prince of Bargains*

___

Clavicus Vile is the Daedric Prince whose sphere is the granting of power and
wishes through ritual invocations and pacts. Vile has a companion named Barbas.
While capable of selective shapeshifting, the form it assumes most of the time
is that of a dog. Vile himself is depicted as a small jovial fellow with horns
protruding from his forehead. He is aptly described as a Daedra who likes souls
for the sake of having them.

\columnbreak

#### Hermaeus Mora

*The Golden Eye, Gardener of Men, Prince of Fate, Lord of Secrets, the Abyssal
Cephaliarch, the Woodland Man, the Old Antecedent, the Scryer, the Inevitable
Knower, Demon of Knowledge*

___

Hermaeus Mora (or Herma-Mora) is the Daedric Prince whose sphere is the scrying
of the tides of Fate, of the past and future as read in the stars and heavens,
and in whose dominion are the treasures of knowledge and memory. He describes
himself as "The riddle unsolvable. The door unopenable. The book unreadable.
The question unanswerable." He is vaguely related to the cult origins of the
Morag Tong if only by association with his sibling, Mephala. Apocrypha is
Hermaeus Mora's plane of Oblivion, an endless library where all forbidden
knowledge can be found. The books all have black covers with no titles, and the
library is haunted by ghosts forever searching for knowledge. Unlike most
Princes, Hermaeus Mora does not take on a humanoid form at all, manifesting
instead as grotesque assemblages of eyes, tentacles, and claws, or a featureless
purple vortex known as the Wretched Abyss. His servants include Seekers and
Lurkers.

#### Hircine

*The Huntsman, Father of Manbeasts*

___

Hircine is a Daedric Prince whose sphere is the Hunt, the Sport of Daedra, the
Great Game, the Chase. Hircine created the various therianthropic diseases which
transform mortals into beasts and is therefore the guardian of were-creatures.
They reflect his sphere admirably, hunting at night and being hunted by day.
Hircine's existence appears to have been discovered later than other Daedric
Princes, as he does not appear in the most ancient records and summonings of him
were rare or non-existent. Hircine is a sportsman who enjoys giving his prey a
chance for victory, however small. He is typically portrayed with a great spear
and either the head or skull of a deer.

#### Jyggalag

*Prince of Order*

___

Jyggalag is the Daedric Prince of Order. His sphere represents logical order and
deduction, and has taken account of every detail of the world and of every
action that has ever taken place on Mundus or Oblivion, long before they
actually happened. Jyggalag commands his own Daedra, the Knights of Order, which
are spawned from obelisks summoned by his followers, the Priests of Order.

#### Malacath

*God of Curses, Old Knocker, Orc-Father*

___

Malacath (also known as Mauloch or Orkey) is the Daedric Prince whose sphere is
the patronage of the spurned and ostracized, the keeper of the Sworn Oath, and
the Bloody Curse. Malacath was created when Boethiah ate the Altmeri ancestor
spirit, Trinimac, although Malacath himself says that this tale is far too
"literal minded". Trinimac's devout Elven followers became the Orsimer ("Pariah
Folk" in Aldmeri), or Orcs. Some disagree, claiming that Trinimac still exists
and Malacath is a separate entity. Malacath is not recognized as a Daedric Lord
by his peers, which fits his sphere perfectly.

\pagebreakNum

The Dunmer say he is also Malak, the god-king of the Orcs and one of the Four
Corners of the House of Troubles that tests the Dunmer for physical weakness.
Malacath spurns physical weakness, hence the above-average strength of the
creatures associated with him. The hideous and stupid Ogrim are the servants of
this "bad Daedra".

#### Mehrunes Dagon

*The Exalted and Most Puissant Lord, Gerent of Dagon, Mehrunes, Black Daedra
Lord, the Razor, the Thieftaker, Mehrunes Godsbody, the Red Arms That Went Up*

___

Mehrunes Dagon is the Daedric Prince of Destruction, Change, Revolution, Energy,
and Ambition. He is associated with natural dangers like fire, earthquakes, and
floods. Dagon is an especially important deity in Morrowind, where he represents
its near-inhospitable terrain as one of the Four Corners of the House of
Troubles. In most cultures, though, Dagon is merely a god of bloodshed and
betrayal.

#### Mephala

*Webspinner, Spinner, Spider, Teacher of the Secret Arts, Queen of the Eight
Shadows of Murder*

___

Mephala is a Daedric Prince whose sphere is obscured to mortals. To the Dunmer,
she is the Anticipation of Vivec. Unlike many other Daedric Princes, who almost
always appear as the same gender, Mephala appears as either male or female
depending on whom the Daedric Prince wishes to ensnare (though she's typically
female). Mephala's only consistent theme seems to be interference in the affairs
of mortals for amusement. Mephala's sphere seems to indicate a careful plan
carried out through executions, each life a portion of a massive web. It is
little wonder that Hermaeus Mora, the "Demon of Knowledge", is considered
Mephala's sibling.

Mephala sees the affairs of mortals as a weave; pull but one thread and the
whole thing unravels. The Dunmer associate Mephala with more simple
concepts—lies, sex, and murder. Mephala directly helped to found the infamous
cult/society of the Morag Tong, and they claim to murder for the Daedra's glory.

#### Meridia

*Lady of Infinite Energies, The Glister Witch*

___

Meridia is an obscure Daedric Prince, associated with the energies of living
things. Meridia has a great and everlasting hatred for the undead and will
greatly reward any who eliminate them from the world. Meridia is one of the few
Daedric Princes who is usually not considered to be wholly evil. However, in the
Iliac Bay area, she is known as the Daedra Lady of Greed and as an avid
collector of human specimens.

Meridia (originally known as Merid-Nunda) was believed to have been a Magna-Ge,
a family of divine beings that fled to Aetherius soon after the creation of
Mundus. For supposedly consorting with illicit spectra, she was cast out of
Aetherius and took the mantle of a Daedric Prince. She created her realm of
Oblivion, known as the Colored Rooms, by bending and shaping the rays of light
from Magnus, the sun. Mankar Camoran (incorrectly) attributed Coldharbour to
her, which is the realm of Molag Bal, one of her enemies. Her realm is inhabited
by the Aurorans. Some Daedra Seducers are also in her service.

Some say that Meridia is staging a war against Molag Bal to prevent the
Planemeld.

\columnbreak

#### Molag Bal

*God of Schemes, King of Rape, Harvester of Souls, Lord of Brutality, Prince of
Rage*

___

Molag Bal (Fire Stone, or Stone-Fire, in the Aldmeri language) is the Daedric
Prince whose sphere is the domination and enslavement of mortals. His main
desire is to harvest the souls of mortals and to bring them within his sway by
spreading seeds of strife and discord in the mortal realms. One legend claims
that Molag Bal created the first vampire when he raped a Nedic virgin named
Lamae Beolfag, who in turn slaughtered a group of nomads. He also made pacts
with other mortals and turned them into vampires. He is a Daedric power of much
importance in Morrowind, where he is always the archenemy of Boethiah, the
Prince of Plots. Other enemies are Meridia and Mephala, and he is known to be
allied with Azura.

Molag Bal's realm of Oblivion is Coldharbour. As befits his sphere, Coldharbour
is a desolate, apocalyptic image of Nirn, which is achieved by both mocking
imitation and outright theft of parts of the mortal realm. It is inhabited by
Daedra and the eternally-tormented souls of mortals called Soul Shriven.
Descriptions of the plane vary widely, but all accounts agree that Coldharbour
is a dismal, cold, and largely lifeless realm.

Through the Planemeld, Molag Bal intends to pull all of Nirn into his realm.

#### Namira

*Lady of Decay, Spirit Daedra, the Great Darkness*

___

Namira (or Namiira) is the Daedric Prince whose sphere is the ancient darkness.
She is the ruler of sundry dark and shadowy spirits, and is often associated
with spiders, insects, slugs, and other repulsive creatures which inspire
mortals with an instinctive revulsion. Namira also appears to be associated with
beggars and the beggaring gifts of disease, pity, and disregard.

#### Nocturnal

*The Night Mistress, Mistress of Shadows, the Unfathomable, Empress of Murk,
Daughter of Twilight, Mistress of Mystery, Lady Luck, Ur-dra, Saint of
Suspicion*

___

Nocturnal is a Daedric Prince, or "Daedric Princess", whose sphere is the night
and darkness. She is frequently depicted accompanied by jet-black ravens, which
are said to have the power of speech.

The Evergloam is a realm of Oblivion, created and ruled over by Nocturnal, the
Daedric Prince of Shadow. It is a realm of perpetual twilight, and the "cradle
of shadow". The Evergloam consists of a primary plane and several pocket realms,
including the Shade Perilous and the Crow's Wood. These realms are thought to be
constantly shifting, and perceived differently by different mortals.

#### Peryite

*The Taskmaster*

___

Peryite is one of the Daedric Princes that dwell within the realm of Oblivion.
Although he is typically depicted as a green four-legged dragon and often takes
on the form of one, Peryite is considered one of the weakest of the Princes.
His sphere of influence includes tasks, natural order (to not be confused with
the perfect order of Jyggalag), and pestilence.

\pagebreakNum

##### The Daedric Princes

| Deity | Alignment | Domains | Symbol |
|-------|:---------:|---------|--------|
| **Azura**, Princess of Dawn and Dusk | CG | Light | Star |
| **Boethiah**, Prince of Plots | CE | Trickery | Snake coiling a fist |
| **Clavicus Vile**, Prince of Bargains | LE | Trickery | Horned head |
| **Hermaeus Mora**, Prince of Fate | LE | Knowledge | An eye |
| **Hircine**, Prince of the Hunt | N | Nature, War | Wolf |
| **Jyggalag**, Prince of Order | N | Knowledge, Order | TODO |
| **Malacath**, Prince of the Spurned | CN | War | Axe |
| **Mehrunes Dagon**, Prince of Destruction and Change | CE | Tempest, War | A rising sun |
| **Mephala**, Princess of Murder, Sex, and Secrets | CE | Death, Trickery | Spider |
| **Meridia**, Princess of Infinite Energies | NG | Life, Light | A cross emitting rays of light |
| **Molag Bal**, Prince of Rage | CE | War | Horned demon with a swirling tongue |
| **Namira**, Princess of the Ancient Darkness | CE | Trickery | Winged shadowy figure |
| **Nocturnal**, Princess of Night and Darkness | NE | Trickery | Jet-black raven |
| **Peryite**, Prince of Tasks and Natural Order | LE | Nature, Order | Green four-legged dragon |
| **Sanguine**, Prince of Hedonistic Revelry and Debauchery | CE | Trickery | Red rose |
| **Sheogorath**, Prince of Madness | CN | Trickery | Staff of Sheogorath |
| **Vaermina**, Princess of Dreams and Nightmares | CE | Trickery | Snake coiling a mask |

</div>

#### Sanguine

*Prince of Indulgence, the Reveler*

___

Sanguine is a Daedric Prince whose sphere is hedonistic revelry, debauchery, and
passionate indulgences of darker natures. Sanguine is depicted as a portly man
with a dremora-like head with horns, always with a bottle in his hand or a whore
under his thumb. He is thought to control thousands of realms.

The Myriad Realms of Revelry are a congeries of one hundred thousand pocket and
sub-realms of Oblivion, created and ruled over by Sanguine. The realms are used
mainly as pleasure pockets, refashioned to meet the needs and desires of its
visitants. As such, Sanguine himself has very little control over them.

#### Sheogorath

*The Mad Star, the Mad Lord, the Mad One, the Mad God, the Skooma Cat, Lord of
Never-There*

___

Sheogorath is the Daedric Prince of Madness, Fourth Corner of the House of
Troubles, and Sovereign of the Shivering Isles. His motives are said to be
unknowable. His realm, best known as the Shivering Isles, has also been called
the Madhouse. It's believed that those who go there lose their sanity forever.
Of course, only the Mad God himself may decide who has the privilege to enter.
The Golden Saints, or Aureals, and Dark Seducers, or Mazken, are his servants.
The Mad God typically manifests on Nirn as a seemingly harmless, well-dressed
man often carrying a cane, a guise so prevalent it has actually been coined
"Gentleman With a Cane". "Fearful obeisance" of Sheogorath is widespread in
Tamriel, and he plays an important part in Dunmeri religious practice.

\columnbreak

#### Vaermina

*The Gifter, Weaver of the Panoply*

___

Vaermina (also spelled Vaernima) is a Daedric Prince whose sphere is the realm
of dreams and nightmares, and from whose realm evil omens issue forth. She is
seen as one of the "demonic" Daedra, and some have also claimed her sphere ties
somehow to torture. Vaermina's plane of Oblivion is Quagmire, which is described
as a nightmare realm, where every few minutes reality shifts and becomes ever
more horrifying. "A dark castle one moment, a den of ravening beasts the next, a
moonlit swamp, a coffin where he was buried alive."

\pagebreakNum

## Backgrounds

Soulless One

TODO

## Class Archetypes

Wizard stuff

TODO

\pagebreakNum

# Chapter 4: Daggerfall Covenant

___

*It is fortunate for our peoples—indeed, for all the peoples of Tamriel—that
the true flame of the Empire of Man still burns in the Daggerfall Covenant.
These are terrible times, but our destiny lies before us as straight and true as
the Reman roads: we must march on Cyrodiil, overthrow the false empress and all
her brood, and restore the Empire of Tamriel. Then once more peace and justice
will rule the provinces, rather than blood and fire.*

<p style='text-align: right; margin-top: -0.8em'>—High King Emeric</p>

___

The Daggerfall Covenant is a military alliance between the High Rock kingdoms of
Daggerfall, Evermore, Shornhelm, and Wayrest, the northern Hammerfell kingdom of
Sentinel and the city of Hallin's Stand, and Orsinium in the mountainous region
of Wrothgar. The Covenant sees itself as the successor to the Reman Dynasty and
aims to restore the Second Empire with the legitimacy to rule all of Tamriel.
The colors of its banners are blue and white, and its sigil is a lion. The
Covenant is led by High King Emeric, a Breton merchant lord of superb diplomatic
skill. The Redguards are represented by King Fahara'jad, and the Orcs are led by
King Kurog gro-Bagrakh.

The Daggerfall Covenant was ratified by the defensive pact of the same name in
the city of Daggerfall, following Ranser's war against Wayrest. The resulting
document was the child of King Emeric's vision, made manifest in dozens of
compromises and carefully negotiated provisions. Freedom of trade was guaranteed
throughout the region, and over the objections of the nobles of Rivenspire and
the Crown Redguards of Alik'r, the Orcs were accepted as full members of the
alliance. At the signing, all the city states of northwest Tamriel swore fealty
to the Covenant's Royal Council, presided over by High King Emeric. As the
architect of the alliance, he claimed supreme leadership.

At its best, the Covenant is a noble alliance of honorable and chivalrous
peoples, representing all the best aspects of the First and Second Empires. And
from this solid foundation, perhaps a third, even mightier Empire shall arise,
providing all the peoples of Tamriel the benefits of mutual respect, vigorous
trade, and reverence for the Divines.

\columnbreak

> ##### Call To Arms
>
> Our supplies dwindle. Our trade routes are shut down. Our people suffer.
>
> Why? Because a pretender sits upon the Ruby Throne.
>
> Let us take up arms! Let the fields of Cyrodiil run red with the blood of our
> fallen enemies!
>
> But let us spare the lives of a few, so that they may return to their
> homelands to tell their fellows the fate they met at the hands of the
> Daggerfall Covenant.
>
> One land! One Emperor!
>
> Who among you will stand with me?
>
> ___
>
> Emeric, High King

\pagebreakNum

## High Rock

High Rock is a province in the northwest section of Tamriel. Most of the
province is inhabited by the Bretons, who have divided the province into
multiple Breton city states and minor kingdoms. The northern tip of eastern High
Rock also contains Orsinium, the City-State of the Orcs. The rugged highland
strongholds and isolated valley settlements have encouraged the fierce
independence of the various local Breton clans, resisting integration into a
formal province or Imperial identity. Nonetheless, their language, bardic
traditions, and heroic legends are a unifying legacy.

High Rock consists of five main regions: Glenumbra, Stormhaven, Rivenspire,
northern Bangkorai, and Wrothgar. In addition, the islands of Balfiera and
Betnikh are also a part of High Rock.

Most of the cities in High Rock are built in the Breton style, with houses built
primarily from stone, strong walls and high towers with the spires. Orcish
architecture can be found in Wrothgar. Additionally, a number of Ayleid and
Dwemer ruins can be found in High Rock.

Glenumbra, Stormhaven and northern Bangkorai have a relatively mild climate and
are covered in temperate forests, whereas the dry region of Rivenspire contains
mainly crooked trees and faded grass.

The Bretons' largely agrarian and hierarchical society is feudal in nature. Most
Breton cities are sprawling trade hubs, and most of the people are either
middle-class peasants or destitute beggars. The jockeying for power among the
various monarchs and powers of the Iliac Bay region is a deeply ingrained, even
cherished, part of Breton culture.

\columnbreak

### History

It can be rightly said that history begins in High Rock. Convention occurred
here, at Adamantine Tower, the oldest structure in existence. The tower was
there when Aldmer settled the region and inspired almost every race of mer to
create a mimicry of it. Like other provinces, it is believed High Rock was
originally inhabited by beasts, but the Aldmer were the first to develop
civilization. The Nedes who later settled the region were mostly absorbed by the
Aldmer, but eventually a biracial man-mer society arose, and the ancestors of
the modern Bretons were born. With the arrival of the Nords (and yet another
bloodline), the fall of the Direnni Aldmer of the region was assured. The humans
would eventually become the predominant power in High Rock.

The most concrete history of High Rock begins with its most well known colonized
family; the Aldmer Direnni Clan. Described as "an economic and military power,
they were formidable enough to pose a threat to the battle-hardened Nords and
the nascent Alessian Empire of Cyrodiil. Taking advantage of the internal strife
in Skyrim, the Hegemony began taking land north and south of High Rock, claiming
portions of Skyrim and present day Hammerfell. At the peak of their power, they
controlled nearly a quarter of Tamriel. But they had overextended their reach,
and slowly, year by year, they lost all that they had gained, falling back to
their fortress in Balfiera, The Adamantine Tower, now called the Direnni
Tower."

\pagebreakNum

It is believed the Bretons came to power in High Rock not by violence, but by
trading and slowly overcoming the Nordic population. The province of High Rock
was controlled by the Bretons by the end of the First Era. The Direnni made an
impact on the Breton population, as they left the province split apart into
numerous city-states. They would not be given peace, however, as the Redguard
conquest in 1E 808 caused conflict in settlements along the Iliac Bay. They
would have to unite, however, against the Orcs of Orsinium. This battle is known
as the Siege of Orsinium, and ends with the destruction of Orsinium.

> ##### Battle of Glenumbria Moors
>
> *Song on the famous 1E 482 battle between the Alessian Empire and the Direnni*
>
> ___
>
> Who took up their arms that winter dawn,  
> Who to Glenumbria came  
> To raise their hand,  
> 'Gainst tyrants stand  
> And to die in freedom's name?
>
> ___
>
> Who stood on the field upon that hour,  
> Who answered Direnni's call?  
> Men Breton-born all came that morn  
> To defend the land for all.
>
> ___
> 
> Rise, rise to freedom rise,  
> Arise ye Breton sons and daughters!  
> Ride, ride to freedom ride,  
> Truth and glory to the brave!
>
> ___
> 
> And when the battle it was joined  
> Alessians three to one,  
> The sky lit bright  
> With magic's light  
> And with magic it was won.
>
> ___
> 
> For all they stood on blessed ground  
> Whence all her power came  
> The rocks would yield  
> What might they wield  
> All in Direnni's name.
>
> ___
> 
> So children of this Breton land  
> Ye best remember well  
> All those who for High Rock stood  
> Brian, Ancois, Rielle;  
> Men of the north,  
> All who stood forth  
> Till all oppressors fell.

### Balfiera

The Isle of Balfiera is an island region within the northern portion of Iliac
Bay. It is known as the last site of the Direnni Clan, whereas the rest of High
Rock is freed from the Dirennis. However, the isle is most renowned as the site
of the Direnni Tower, or Adamantine Tower, the oldest known structure in
Tamriel. Legends say it was constructed on the "little island" by the gods
themselves so they could hold their own negotiations.

\columnbreak

### Daggerfall

Daggerfall is the largest city in Glenumbra, located at the southwestern end of
the peninsula. The kingdom of the same name is ruled over by King Casimir. The
order Knights of the Dragon have the official duty of protecting the city and
royal family of Daggerfall.

The people of Daggerfall are said to be obsessed with their own past. The
culture of the land reflects its history: they believe in a strong military
presence and enjoy covert activities, but are traders first and foremost.
Perhaps because of these influences, Daggerfall hosts a robust black market,
including skooma smuggling, which supplies destinations as far away as
Morrowind, and an ambitious Thieves Guild. A sophisticated banking industry is
also well-established.

### Wayrest

*One feels that one is in a modern city when one visits Wayrest, but there is a
magic in the air that could only come from centuries of civilization*

<p style='text-align: right; margin-top: -0.8em'>—Sathryr Longleat</p>

Wayrest has always been seen as a rival to Daggerfall, which was already well
established when it first was founded as a sleepy fishing village at the mouth
of the Bjoulsae River. Wayrest prospered greatly after the Fall of Orsinium in
1E 980 when the commerce of all of Tamriel began to pass through its gates.
Today the city can boast the largest and richest population in High Rock.

Although Wayrest became a kingdom under the command of one family, the merchants
continued to wield incredible power. Many economists have alleged that Wayrest's
eternal wealth, despite all her hardships, comes from this rare relationship
between the merchants and the crown. The Gardner Dynasty fell, followed by the
Cumberland Dynasty. The merchants and king respect one another, and this
relationship strengthens both.

One need only walk down the great boulevard of Wayrest to see physical proof of
this unique alliance. Going north to south, Wayrest Boulevard suddenly divides,
one half going west and the other going east. Both halves end in identical
squares: one at Castle Wayrest, the original palace of Aphren Gardner, and the
other at Cumberland Square, where the oldest and wealthiest marketplace in
Wayrest. The message here is clear: the king and the merchants are joined and
equal.

### Evermore

Evermore is a city on the banks of the Bjoulsae River in eastern High Rock,
located near the border with Hammerfell. The city was founded in 1E 983, after
the fall of Orsinium opened the Bjoulsae for trade and transport. Its
impressive palace was assembled from slabs of granite quarried from nearby
Markarth. Local traditions include the worship of Saint Pelin, a hero of the
First Era who once served as a clergyman at Bangkorai Garrison.

Historically, the Bretons of Evermore ruled over the region of Bangkorai. They
faced constant harassment from the Reachmen of the mountains, who claimed the
city as their birthright. Southern Bangkorai included the Fallen Wastes region
of Hammerfell, and Evermore's rulership of it was often contested by the
Redguards of Sentinel.

In 2E 542, the city was sacked by a horde of Reachmen led by Durcorach the Black
Drake after only a three day siege. It was retaken by Duke Blaise Guimard, who
was later elected to the throne.

\pagebreakNum

### Shornhelm

Shornhelm is known as the Crown City of the North, because the settlement is the
seat of power of Rivenspire, ruled by their royal Kingship. The Council of the
North is also found in Shornhelm, governing the region in lieu of an absent
monarch. Baron Wylon Montclair, Baron Alard Dorell, and Countess Eselde Tamrith
currently sit on that council.

Shornhelm is built on the foothills of the Kurallian Mountains. The land
surrounding Shornhelm is ridged, with steep hills and hidden vales in the region
known as the Eyebright Feld. But the land also has various old ruins, even the
Old Shornhelm Ruins in the southeast, near the trading town of Hoarfrost Downs.
The outskirts contain farmlands. Down the road is the fortified stronghold of
Oldgate, which connects Rivenspire to the region of Stormhaven. To the west lies
the rest of the Eyebright Feld, and the territory of House Ravenwatch, an
ancient, distant family who reside in the town of Crestshade.

### Northpoint

Mirroring Southpoint in faraway Valenwood, Northpoint is a city found at the
northernmost point of High Rock. Northpoint is an important harbor-town on the
Sea of Ghosts, that bridges the gap between the city-states of Daggerfall and
Solitude. The city-state is known as the ancestral home of House Dorell, one of
the political families of Rivenspire. The Dorell are known for their maritime
and mercantile expertise. The city of Northpoint is ruled by Lord Ellic Dorell,
son of Baron Alard Dorell, the patriarch of House Dorell.

Northpoint is found in the smaller region of Boralis, which serves as the
northern coast of Rivenspire. Northpoint is built atop of the hill, Dore Elard,
which overlooks the Sea of Ghost. Despite being a notable port, Northpoint city
does not have a harbor, instead, the city harbor is found down the road on
Northsalt Village. What makes Northpoint unique is that shore. The shore has
deep waters that can accommodate large ships. There is a myth in Northpoint that
a creature known as the Ithguleoir that haunts the seas around the city.

Underneath Dore Elard is a large cove, commonly used by pirates. The southern
outskirts of Northpoint contain farmlands owned by House Dorell. Along the coast
are various ruins, Ayleid ruins and Shipwrecks alike. The mysterious caves of
Breagha-Fin can be found, looking onward towards the city, on the base of the
mountains.

\columnbreak

### Breton

Bretons are the human descendants of the Aldmeri-Nedic Manmer of the Merethic
Era and are now the inhabitants of the province of High Rock. They are united in
culture and language, even though they are divided politically, for High Rock is
a fractious region. Bretons make up the peasantry, soldiery, and magical elite
of the feudal kingdoms that compete for power. Many are capable mages with
innate resistance to magicka. They are known for a proficiency in abstract
thinking and unique customs.

#### Coupled Lineage

Bretons are sometimes referred to as the mongrel race of Tamriel, being neither
elven, nor truly human. Sometimes, although usually only in a derogative manner,
the Bretons are called Manmer, literally "man-elf", due to their history of
cross-breeding.

Their physical appearance is similar to their Nedic ancestors, giving them pale
skin tones comparable to their Nord and Imperial cousins, along with the same
range of hair color. Similar to the High Elves, they maintain a slender form.
This elven bloodline ensures that they are never quite as muscular as the other
human races. A keen observer can also notice subtle elven lineaments, especially
from their eyebrows, slightly pointed ears, and high cheekbones. Some Bretons
even seem to adopt their elven arrogance, but paired with their human emotions,
it usually comes off more graceful.

\pagebreakNum

#### Keen Thinkers

Bretons are said to enjoy intellectual pursuits; they often have an affinity for
anything related to logic and ordered complexity. Their love of knowledge and
affinity for commerce drives them into a host of careers, including trading, the
military, sailing, medicine, textiles, manufacturing, writing, theology,
philosophy, banking, all kinds of artistry, and other scholarly pursuits.
Espionage has also proven to be one of their strong suits; Breton double agents,
assassins, and spies have turned the tide of wars throughout recorded history.

#### Two Pantheons

Bretons are not disposed to excessive religion, but most accepted the Aldmeri
pantheon of gods while under elven rule, then made the transition to the
Divines. The most notable spirits traditionally worshipped by Bretons are
Akatosh, Magnus, Jephre, Dibella, Arkay, Zenithar, Mara, Stendarr, Kynareth,
Julianos, and Phynaster.

#### Born For Adventure

Though they have several paths to prosperity, becoming a nobleman by performing
quests and services to curry favor with various rulers is considered the best
way, which has created a cultural "quest obsession" among young Bretons.
The desire to find some great opportunity for fortune and glory has made Bretons
venture all over northern Tamriel, even to such remote locations as Thirsk on
the island of Solstheim, where one adventurous Breton once earned the position
of chieftain.

> #### Excellent Ambassadors
>
> Many Bretons learn at an early age to get along with everyone, defusing
> hostility and finding common ground. As a race, they have elven grace without
> elven aloofness and human energy without human boorishness. They often make
> excellent ambassadors and go-betweens.

\columnbreak

#### Breton Names

Bretons have both given names and family names.

**Males Names:** Andre, Barnard, Blaise, Brandon, Clinton, Colin, Davide,
Delacourt, Emmanual, Francois, Gregory, Hannibal, Jean, Louis, Marc, Mathieu,
Philip, Roland, Samuel, Timothy, Vincent

**Female Names:** Adeline, Alexia, Aren, Belle, Carena, Ciara, Dessire, Elain,
Freyda, Gabrielle, Grace, Hester, Lexi, Maelle, Michelle, Nessa, Olivia, Pyn,
Rianne, Saly, Sara, Taern, Veronica, Ysabeth, Zeli

**Family Names:** Ashton, Beaufort, Celata, Dufont, Edette, Franc, Galien,
LaRouche, Merchad, Panoit, Ronise, Serene, Talbot, Varin, Zurric

#### Breton Traits

Your Breton character has certain characteristics in common with other Bretons.

***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Intelligence score increases by 2, and two
other ability scores of your choice increase by 1.

***Age.*** Your elven lineage allows you to live slightly longer than your human
counterparts. Your average lifespan is 150 years.

***Alignment.*** Bretons tend towards neutral good. Their feudal governments
lend them a mix of freedoms and laws, depending on their station in life.

***Size.*** Due to their elven ancestry, Bretons are typically more slight of
build than the average human. They range from 5 to 6 feet tall. Your size is
Medium.

***Speed.*** Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

***Cantrip.*** You know one cantrip of your choice from the wizard spell list.
Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for it.

***Spell Attunement.*** When you take damage from a spell or magical effect, you
can use your reaction to capture some of the incoming energy, lessening its
effect on you. You have resistance to the damage type of the spell until the
start of your next turn. After you use this trait, you can't use it again until
you finish a short or long rest.

***Skill Versatility.*** You gain proficiency in one skill of your choice.

***Tool Proficiency.*** You gain proficiency with one type of artisan's tools of
your choice.

***Languages.*** You can speak, read, and write Common and one extra language of
your choice.

\pagebreakNum

## Hammerfell

Hammerfell, once known as Hegathe, the Deathland, and Volenfell, is a province
in the west of Tamriel, bordering Skyrim, Cyrodiil, and High Rock. This province
is dominated by the wasteland of the Alik'r desert. It is inhabited by the human
race of Redguards, who fled to Tamriel after their home, Yokuda, was destroyed.

Hammerfell is a barren and rocky place, the vast Alik'r desert taking up most of
it, with fertile grassland only on the coasts. As such, the major population
centers are on the coastline, while the majority of the country is inhabited
only by shifting sands and nomadic tribes, sparsely populated with small poor
farms and beastherds. The Redguards' love of travel, adventure, and the high
seas have dispersed them as sailors, mercenaries, and adventurers in ports of
call throughout the continent.

The buildings of the Redguards are notable for being heavily ornamented, with
engravings and golden domes. However, some of the cities in Hammerfell are built
in different styles: for example, Dragonstar consists of Nordic buildings,
whereas the Colovian style can be seen in Elinhir.

Since Hammerfell was home to many civilizations in the past, many different
types of ruins can be found throughout the province, among them Ayleid, Dwemer
and Yokudan ruins. In Craglorn, there are also Nedic and Nordic ruins.

\columnbreak

### History

Hammerfell was originally called Hegathe by the Aldmer and the Deathland by the
early Nedic people, both terms roughly meaning the same thing. In the early
First Era, the Dwemer Rourken Clan settled the region, opposing the creation of
the joint Dwemer-Chimer state. It is said that the leader of the clan threw his
mighty hammer, Volendrung, across the continent, and followed it west to their
new home. The region eventually became known as Volenfell, or "City of the
Hammer", after the Dwemer capital built near the location of modern-day Gilane.
The Dwemer of Volenfell vanished in 1E 700 along with the rest of the Dwemer
race, and their empty cities were looted by Akaviri and Nordic pirates before
being reclaimed by nature.

Over a century passed before civilization would return to Volenfell. Fleeing the
sinking of their homeland Yokuda around 1E 792, the Yokudans sailed eastward in
a fleet called the Ra Gada. The majority of the refugees landed at the isle of
Herne, while the remainder sailed on to Tamriel, a vanguard of invading warriors
who would pave the way for the rest of their people. The Ra Gada warriors, who
came to be called the Redguards, began their conquest in 1E 808 and won the
entire area of what would become Hammerfell in only a few major battles against
native Orc and Breton populations. The Yokudan government, the Na-Totambu, was
transplanted whole, and within the next century Volenfell became known as
Hammerfell, a rough translation of the Dwemeris term.

\pagebreakNum

Assimilation into the rest of Tamriel began relatively quickly, as the Yokudans,
while displacing the Nedic men, adopted many of their customs and traditions.
Over time, Redguard society divided into two groups, depending on their
allegiance to the old Yokudan ways or the new ways of Tamriel. When Hammerfell
was conquered by the Second Empire, these groups became formal "parties" that
aided Cyrodiil's administration of the province. The Crowns, followers of the
traditions of the Na-Totambu, retained their rights of noble council under
Imperial rule. The Forebears, descended from the first Ra Gada settlers of
Tamriel, were finally granted rights of ownership within their tribal districts.
This "republic", however, lasted only so long as the Empire was strong enough to
support it. During the Interregnum, the Crowns quickly reestablished a
hereditary monarchy and reasserted their dominance over the Forebears. Adding
insult to injury, the new High King of Hammerfell, Fahara'jad, moved his throne
from Old Hegathe to the more prosperous Forebear city of Sentinel.

Upon allying himself with the Daggerfall Covenant, Fahara'jad proclaimed himself
High King of all Hammerfell. The southern city-states, such as Hegathe, consider
the claim outrageous, but no one openly challenges it. Still, Crowns often call
Fahara'jad a usurper, among other aspersions. It is rumored that a traitorous
adviser named Suturah slew several of Fahara'jad's other advisers as part of an
attempt on the king's life, which ultimately failed.

### Crowns and Forebears

The social strata of the Redguard has long been fractured. When Hammerfell
became a province of the Second Empire and demarcated in the Imperial custom,
Redguard society was formally divided into two main socio-political groups: the
Crowns and the Forebears.

The Crowns are descended from the High King and the Na-Totambu who ruled in
Yokuda; they hold Yokudan tradition in high reverence and greatly dislike
foreigners. The Crowns stick mostly to the ancient Yokudan pantheon. Many of the
Crowns are nomadic tribesman who mainly travel around the Alik'r, and though
they adhere to traditional Yokudan beliefs, they have also developed a deep,
spiritual attachment to their adopted land. They venerate deities and spirits of
all kinds, from pixies (or faeries) to Satakal the Worldskin.

\columnbreak

The Forebears are descended from the Ra Gada warrior class which conquered the
province, and in so doing were exposed to many Nedic (and later Breton and
Imperial) traditions and ideas, while the ancestors of the Crowns were not. The
Forebears seek modernity; they are more cosmopolitan than their Crown
counterparts and more welcoming of foreigners and different ways of life.
They have adopted modified Imperial and Breton styles for their dress,
architecture, and names, and many have even reorganized their traditional gods
and spirits to fit into the Imperial pantheon of the Divines. However, it is
often unclear if they have the same understanding of these deities that others
possess, as they often use a name of one of the Divines when referring to a
Yokudan deity.

Forebears are generally predominant in coastal cities and other major trade
centers in the north, while most Crowns live in more secluded regions in the
south, notably the deserts and other inhospitable areas.

The divide between these two factions is so pronounced, that it is considered a
great shame for a Crown to marry a Forebear.

### Sentinel

Sentinel is a great city of the Redguards, and the capital of the kingdom of
Sentinel. It is located in the northwestern hills of Hammerfell, overlooking the
Iliac Bay. Its population is relatively low due to the inhospitable nature of
the surrounding Alik'r Desert. However, some fertile fields can be found along
the coast near the city. The main street of the city of Sentinel is a great
market between the docks and front gates. The city is an exotic retreat for
the nobility of Daggerfall and Wayrest, who delight in the cooking,
craftsmanship, and plays which can be found there. Many great and famous
people throughout history have called Sentinel their home.

> ##### On the Immortality of Dust
>
> Above the sea Sentinel Shines,  
> Her domes agleam in the Iliac dawn.  
> Her people throng the bazaars, and find  
> Their way between man's walls of stone.  
> But even in the towered town,  
> Sandals tread tracks in Alik'r sand.

### Stros M'Kai

Stros M'Kai is an important tropical island off the southern coast of Hammerfell
near the Cape of the Blue Divide. It is renowned for the completely
steam-powered Dwemer ruins of Bthzark and the observatory of similar design
containing a telescope and orrery.

Much of Stros M'Kai's area is taken up by the city of Port Hunding, which is
popular among many seafarers. Its most famous landmarks include a statue of
Frandar Hunding in the harbor and a great palace to house the city's ruler. The
small settlement of Saintsport is found at the southern tip of the island. There
are very few other settlements, apart from the nomadic Yokudan campsites.

\pagebreakNum

### Hew's Bane

Hew's Bane, originally known as Khefrem's Boot, is a peninsula in southern
Khefrem on the south coast of Hammerfell. The region is named after Prince
Hubalajad, or "Prince Hew", who attempted to bring civilization to this corner
of Hammerfell in the early days of the Ra Gada. He discovered a barren peninsula
hostile to most life; scorching heat and seasonal flooding led to brackish water
and ground which was unsuitable for crops. Despite his best efforts, Prince Hew
was foiled at every turn, and nearly all his endeavors resulted in failure.

The extreme climate of Hew's Bane leads to a landscape of scorched rocks and
sand dunes alternating with bubbling streams and lush desert foliage. The
peninsula is home to exotic species such as the kotu gava and haj mota, as well
as more mundane creatures like lions, lamia, and assassin beetles.

It was during Prince Hew's rule that the city of Abah's Landing was founded.
Located beside a natural protected harbor on the east side of the peninsula,
what started as a simple soldier's camp and shantytown soon grew into a
sprawling walled city which dominates the region. Hubalajad himself constructed
a lavish palace within the city, from which his descendants would rule for
several generations. The prince also raised the imposing No Shira Citadel to the
south of the city, although the fortification was quickly undermined by seasonal
flooding and had to be abandoned. The impressive Princes Gate established
northern passage to other Ra Gada holdings. Hubalajad's uncle, Magnifico
Bahraha, was magically sealed within the royal tomb along with his followers
when he was discovered to be a necromancer, something completely repugnant to
devout Yokudans. The crypt became known as Bahraha's Gloom, although the nature
of its inhabitants was kept secret from the locals. The prince himself was
buried in a shuttered tomb beneath a great rock formation in the southern
deserts.

At the end of the First Era, the peninsula began to go by the name of "Hew's
Bane" rather than Khefrem's Boot. Popular myth had transformed Prince Hew into a
comic figure, replacing his tenacity with a perceived thick-headedness. In time
the city of Abah's Landing came to be ruled by self-styled "merchant lords",
powerful families and conglomerates who profited immensely from the rampant
piracy and banditry in the region. The Thazahrr Cartel is one such organization.
The hinterlands of Hew's Bane were populated almost exclusively by pirate crews
and Maormer slavers. The local outlaws in Abah's Landing formed a highly
structured criminal organization called the Thieves Guild, which profited from
playing the merchant lords against each other. The free city of Abah's Landing
thus developed a deep rivalry with the opulent kingdom of Taneth to the north,
whose traders usually bore the brunt of this thievery.

### Elinhir

Elinhir, also known as the City of Mages, is a town in eastern Hammerfell, close
to the border with both Skyrim and Cyrodiil. It is located in the Craglorn
region, close to the Skyrim town of Falkreath.

\columnbreak

Elinhir is the oldest surviving city in Craglorn. It was originally a Nede
settlement, as evidenced by the city's tall Apex Towers. According to some
legends, it was built at the impact site of a great skystone that fell from the
sky. The Apex Stone of the Mage, a powerful remnant of the Nedic religion, is
located beneath the city. The city was overseen by Governor Pomptinus from 1E
2820 to 1E 2852 as part of the Second Empire, during which time the city
sewerworks were constructed. Before the beginning of the Second Era, Elinhir
was similar to the rest of Craglorn in that it was settled mainly by those unfit
for life inside the Empire, and it was constantly preyed upon by bandits and
Iron Orcs.

Early in the Second Era, a group of rogue mages led by Felix "Blackcaster"
Augustus arrived at the city after departing from the Mages Guild and attempted
to occupy the ruins of the Apex Tower. The mayor refused them, and in
retaliation the mages seemingly made a deal with the Iron Orcs so that they
would besiege the city. In a show of might, the mages drove the Orcs away, and
subsequently signed the Apex Accord with the town's leadership. Under this
agreement, the mages would protect the town for as long as the people of Elinhir
provided support for the operation of their mages' academy.

From these rogue mages grew the Blackcaster Mages Guild, who eventually came to
rule over the city. Elinhir still served as a haven for outcasts, but was
"civilized" under the strict rule of the mages. Despite being labeled as
renegades by the Mages Guild, Elinhir prospered under the mages as their academy
grew.

## Redguard

Redguards are the most naturally talented warriors in Tamriel. The dark-skinned,
wiry-haired people of Hammerfell seem born to battle, though their pride and
fierce independence of spirit makes them more suitable as scouts or skirmishers,
or as free-ranging heroes and adventurers, than as rank-and-file soldiers.

### Yokudan Grace

Redguards are known for their tall, gaunt frames and finely toned physiques.
They possess above average human strength and agility, and show a remarkable
capacity for surviving in hot, dry climates. They generally possess dark skin,
ranging from light brown in hue, to nearly black, and often with a significant
red tint. They possess very curly, wiry hair, and their degree of body hair
varies. Tattoos and body piercings are common. Many Redguard men show an
affinity for beards. "A man is only as great as the beard that wears him" is an
old Redguard proverb.

Redguards have a great diversity in styles for their clothing, though it
always tends to be light, long, and flowing to best tolerate the heat and
hazards of the desert. They first developed this style of dress in Yokuda, which
was known to have arid deserts similar to the Alik'r desert of their adopted
homeland. The flowing curves of Redguard dress is mimicked in the designs of
their armor and weaponry. Imperial propaganda from the late Second Era
speaks of some Redguards opting to go nude in public, particularly in Rihad.
Denizens of the Alik'r tend to favor lightweight leather armors to better cope
with heat, and often wear face coverings to keep sand from their mouths.

\pagebreakNum

### Martial Society

Redguards (formerly "Yokudans") hail from the western continent of Yokuda, which
sank into the sea in ancient times. The cause of Yokuda's sinking is attributed
either to natural factors (earthquakes, tsunamis, or volcanic eruptions) or to
the revenge of a defeated band of Ansei called the Hiradirge. Upon the sinking
of their homeland around 1E 792, the Yokudan fleet set sail to the east,
eventually arriving in what would later be called Hammerfell. The bulk of the
refugees remained on the island of Herne while the Ra Gada, the Warrior Wave,
continued on to mainland Hammerfell.

When they arrived, the Ra Gada attacked all settlements of Nede and Mer along
with the native beasts, and conscripted those they did not slay as laborers or
servants for the "warrior-sailors" of the Ra Gada. After only a few brutal
months, the Ra Gada had established a strong presence along the western shores
of Hammerfell, disrupting and replacing the Imperial and Nordic raiders who had
preyed upon the area for centuries. From the footholds along the coast, they
continued to launch assault after assault, eventually succeeding in driving off
the Orcs and making way for the High King and the Yokudan royalty, known as the
Na-Totambu, to safely arrive in Hammerfell.

\columnbreak

Their Yokudan heritage left them with advanced seafaring, agricultural, military
and even astronomical knowledge that allowed them to thrive in a place where
others merely hoped to survive. Redguard society is extremely martial, and
nearly everyone is expected to have a grasp of basic weaponry and combat,
although only the rulers are generally expected to have detailed knowledge of
strategy, formations and tactics. Only the strongest, fastest and smartest
Redguards are accepted into the demanding military (which consists mainly of
various knightly orders; Redguards don't traditionally have a standing army),
and they are expected to prove themselves worthy by facing death. Even their
entertainment, like snake charming, bears some risk to it.

The practice of magic has generally been frowned upon dating back to at least
the Second Era, and outsiders are not tolerated in many parts of Hammerfell.
Many believe that no "true" Redguard would stoop to using magic, considering it
a weakness. Certain schools that teach the Way of the Sword forbid students to
use magic and enchanted weapons.

### The Honored Dead

When a Redguard dies, priests typically perform a consecration ritual in the
name of Tu'whacca at their funeral. The body is then interred in a painted
sarcophagus within a subterranean tomb, along with the deceased's favorite
weapons, servants, and pets. It's not unusual to find that their crypts and
tombs can be even larger and more elaborate than their homes for the living.
This is all symptomatic of a Redguard respect for departed relatives, a respect
so fervent it is similar to the ancestral worship of some other cultures

Though the Redguards abhor necromancy, their religion has also led them to abhor
any sort of interaction with the undead. Tradition bound them not to fight the
honored dead, making them particularly vulnerable to necromancers and undead
creatures.

Such was the importance of this ideal, that the culture of the Alik'r evolved
around it. However in later years many realized that exceptions must be made.
One example is the Ash'abah, a tribe of Redguards who have made it their duty to
purify mausoleums and destroy the undead wherever they may be found. As a
result, they have been shunned from Redguard society, and are exiled to live as
nomads in the wastes. Their existence is nevertheless tolerated due to the
necessity of their role.

\pagebreakNum

### Redguard Names

Redguards have only their given name. In addition to their given name, sometimes
Redguards will also have a surname, of sorts, deriving from a person or place
that they are related to.

The prefixes for these derivation names are as follows:

- **at-** = "Direct descendant of"

- **af-** = "Related to"

- **al-** = "Comes from"

This means that Abadai at-Aira is the child of Aira. Halam af-Jahi is the
cousin, nephew, uncle, or grandson of Jahi. Maja al-Bergama hails from
Bergama.

**Male Names:** Amir, Azzada, Baurus, Cyrus, Daron, Ennis, Falion, Garry, Hillod,
Ian, Jawana, Kayd, Lesley, Nazir, Neville, Pyke, Roderick, Shamar, Talib, Wayn

**Female Names:** Anora, Braith, Caminda, Dahlia, Eriana, Gwen, Hussonia, Iman,
Jamie, Kerah, Kiara, Lette, Minerva, Niyya, Oleta, Rona, Shelley, Tavia, Umana,
Zaria

### Redguard Traits

Your Redguard character has certain characteristics in common with other
Redguards.

***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Dexterity, Strength, and Constitution
scores increase by 1.

***Age.*** Redguards reach adulthood in their late teens and live less than a
century.

***Alignment.*** Redguards mostly follow the good alignments. Many of the people
of Hammerfell strictly follow their laws, while nearly an equal amount disregard
them entirely.

***Size.*** Redguards are known for their tall, gaunt frames and finely toned
physiques. They range from 5 to 6 feet tall. Your size is Medium.

***Speed.*** Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

***Adrenaline Rush.*** In the heat of combat, adrenaline rushes through your
veins. When you roll a 19 or 20 with a melee weapon attack, you can use your
reaction to make another melee weapon attack.

***Redguard Resilience.*** You have advantage on saving throws against being
poisoned or diseased, and you are resistant to poison damage.

***Athletic Build***. You have proficiency in the Athletics skill.

***Redguard Sword Training.*** You have proficiency with the longsword, rapier,
scimitar, and shortsword.

***Languages.*** You can speak, read, and write Common.

\columnbreak

\pagebreakNum

## Wrothgar

Wrothgar is a mountainous region in northeastern High Rock, often referred to as
the Wrothgarian Mountains. Wrothgar is best known for being home to the Orcish
capital of Orsinium. The landscape is dotted by mines and both Dwemer and Ayleid
ruins. There are few settlements other than Orsinium in the barren mountains.
The Orcs of Wrothgar are led by King Kurog gro-Bagrakh, in so much as Orcs
recognize a central authority.

### Orsinium

Orsinium (which literally translates to "Orc-Town" in Aldmeris) is the city of
the Orsimer. It has been sacked and rebuilt a couple of times over the
centuries, as the Orcs are often at odds with their Breton and Redguard
neighbors.

After the transformation of the Orsimer deity known as Trinimac into the Daedric
Prince Malacath, the Orcs, who transformed as well, fled to the northern wastes,
near Saarthal. After hundreds of orcs, ogres, goblins, gremlins and other
beastfolk were set free by the Altmer during the Camoran Dynasty, they chose to
settle in an uninhabited mountain region close to Old Hroldan in High Rock. In
the tenth century of the First Era, chieftain Torug gro-Igron brought the Orcish
people together and founded a village in the western Wrothgarian Mountains.
Thanks to the cooperation of several Orcish clans,  the village quickly grew
into a great stone city. The first Orsinium drew the Orcs by its magnificence
and Torug's vision of a united Orc nation. It continued to grow and prosper in
the First Era, also absorbing the Orc refugees who were fleeing Hammerfell due
to the Ra Gada invasion.

After a while, the Orsinium army grew determined to capture the Bjoulsae River
and force the kingdom of Wayrest to provide compensation for its services.
Naturally, this did not settle well with their neighboring kingdoms, especially
the Kingdom of Daggerfall. In 1E 948, King Joile of Daggerfall sent a letter to
Gaiden Shinji of the Order of Diagna, which proposed a joint attack on Orsinium.
Agreeing to provide aid, an alliance was formed between the Order of Diagna and
the armies of Daggerfall and Sentinel. The armies amassed and began a campaign
for the destruction of Orsinium.

During the 30-year campaign, which became widely known as the "Siege of
Orsinium", the Breton armies of Daggerfall, the Redguard soldiers of Sentinel,
and the Yokudan Order of Diagna invaded the Orc homeland. The Orcs gave much
resistance and proved themselves to be fearsome and brutal warriors, just as
they did in the past. However, King Joile of Daggerfall already planned to
betray the Redguards and invade Hammerfell after having destroyed Orsinium. He
and his Reachman general, Mercedene of the Winterborn, tricked the Orcish hero
Baloth Bloodtusk and his Savage Sons, who initially did not take part in the
war, to join King Golkarr of Orsinium. Afterwards, he manipulated the leader of
the Order of Diagna, Gaiden Shinji, into having a duel with Bloodtusk over
Orsinium's fate. During the duel, Mercedene ordered Joile's archers to kill both
combatants, effectively removing the most powerful warriors of both Orsinium and
the Order of Diagna for Joile. In 1E 973, with Orsinium's defeat still years
away, King Joile launched his invasion of Hammerfell, but he was defeated and
killed at the Bangkorai Pass by the Ansei warrior Makela Leki.

\pagebreakNum

The Siege of Orsinium finally ended in 1E 980 when the allied forces breached
the city's defenses, overran it, and razed it to the ground. Despite this loss,
it did not mark the end of either the Orcs or the dream of Orsinium. The city
was rebuilt in the same location and razed again at least two more times over
the following centuries.

Orsinium was accepted as a territory of the Second Empire during the reign of
the Akaviri Potentate Savirien-Chorak. During that brief period, Frostbreak
Fortress was built to help defend it. After the assassination of Savirien-Chorak
in 2E 430, Orsinium lost its status and protection as an Imperial territory,
resulting in another sacking of the city in 2E 431, an assault which was
spearheaded by the Bretons of Shornhelm.

Not content to simply destroy Orsinium this time, the Bretons also apparently
seized control of the land and scattered the Orcs across northern Tamriel. Some
Orcs chose to retreat to their strongholds in northern Wrothgar, while others
set out to reassert ancient territorial claims in Skyrim. Chief Yashnag
gro-Yazgu in particular succeeded in carving out a chiefdom in western Falkreath
that persisted until 2E 467, when Yashnag and his champions were slain by
Hakkvild Yashnag-Slayer, the Jarl of Falkreath, in a ritual of single-combat.

When King Ranser of Shornhelm attacked Wayrest in 2E 566, King Emeric of Wayrest
sent emissaries into Wrothgar and promised to return Orsinium to the Orcs in
exchange for helping him defeat Ranser. The clan of Kurog gro-Bagrakh answered
his call and helped annihilate Ranser's forces at Markwasten Moor. These events
culminated in the formation of the second Daggerfall Covenant, and Orsinium, now
ruled by King Kurog, became a part of it. Fully aware of the long
history of animosity the Bretons and Redguards had harbored against the Orcs,
however, Kurog ensured that the terms of the alliance forbade any army from High
Rock or Hammerfell from entering Wrothgar under any circumstances.

Kurog chose to rebuild the city in another location: in the mountains of eastern
Wrothgar, near the border with Skyrim. The abandoned ruins of the first Orsinium
site became known as Old Orsinium.

King Kurog's rule has not been without difficulty. A clan of Reachmen named the
Winterborn keep trying to retake territory in Wrothgar. Moreover, Kurog publicly
insists that his people worship Trinimac rather than the Daedric Prince
Malacath, which fails to convince many other Covenant citizens and makes him
unpopular with his people. Others might say that the crisis between the cults of
Trinimac and Malacath is a political trick used to discredit his rivals.

### Dra'bul

Not in Wrothgar, but in Valenwood, Dra'bul is a Wood Orc camp in central Malabal
Tor, west of Vulkwasten. It is inhabited by the Drublog clan, one of several
clans in Valenwood. For many years, the Wood Orcs lived peacefully near the
Bosmer, but recently they have become aggressive and started attacking cities
and towns. Some attribute this to the fact that the Dominion has neglected to
offer the Wood Orcs a place in their alliance, a great insult to the warrior
race, depriving them of the glory that would come with fighting in such
legendary battles as this Alliance War provides.

\columnbreak

Some Bosmer look upon the Wood Orcs with disdain, perhaps due to them cutting
trees and using wood for so many of their needs. A long time ago, Ayleids
arrived at the Wood Orc town of Abamath and killed its inhabitants. To this day
"Abamath" is used as a rallying cry by some clans, tracing their ancestry to
those who fled the slaughter, and striving to cleanse their ancestors' shame by
proving their ferocity.

### Orc

Orcs, also called Orsimer or "Pariah Folk" in ancient times, are sophisticated,
brutish elves of the Wrothgarian Mountains, Dragontail Mountains, Valenwood, and
Orsinium. They are noted for their unshakable courage in war and their
unflinching endurance of hardships. In the past, Orcs are widely feared and
hated by the other nations and races of Tamriel.

#### Daedric and Merethic Origins

Orcs were born during the latter days of the Dawn Era. History has mislabeled
them beastfolk, related to the goblin races, but the Orcs are actually the
children of Trinimac, strongest of the Aldmeri ancestor spirits. When Trinimac
was eaten by the Daedric Prince Boethiah, and transformed in that foul god's
insides, the Orcs were transformed as well. They now follow Mauloch, better
known as Malacath, the remains of Trinimac.

#### Code of Mauloch

Traditional Orcish society is centered around stronghold settlements, each one
striving for complete independence in all matters. Orc society is based on
polygamy. A stronghold's tribe is controlled by a chieftain, who is the literal
alpha male: no other males are permitted to take wives or father children. The
chieftain is replaced by whichever one of his sons grows strong enough to
challenge and kill him. The strength of a tribe (and the favor granted to it by
Mauloch) depends heavily on the personal strength of the chieftain

\pagebreakNum

The law of the Orcs is based on the Code of Mauloch. The Code
is more often tacit than explicit, but includes respect for forging and
blacksmithing; the traditional roles of a clan's chief and his wives; the
tradition of selecting a new chief through challenge and combat; the custom that
one who commits a crime must pay a "Blood Price" to the victim; the requirement
that insults to honor must be avenged; and the recognition that to die in combat
pleases Mauloch.

Orc women are expected to contribute to the strength of the stronghold just as
men, as warriors, hunters, herbalists. Traditionally, the Orcish art of smithing
is done by the women, and a chieftain's second wife is called the forgewife for
this reason. A wise woman handles a tribe's spiritual matters and healing needs.
However, Orcish society is still very patriarchal. All stronghold women are
either the wives or daughters of chieftains, with the exception of the wise
women, who are the mothers of chieftains. Daughters of the chieftain are usually
traded to other strongholds to marry other chieftains.

#### Strength and Steel

Orcs are famed for their skill in smithing, particularly with the metal called
Orichalcum, which they use to forge armor and weapons. The resulting armaments
are heavy and require great endurance to wield, but offer peerless strength and
durability. They also work with ebony, and have unique skill in tooling leather
for exceptional flexibility and toughness.

#### Pariah People

Many Orcs seek to escape traditional life in the strongholds. Orc women
may want to escape being "just another wife" to the chieftain. They leave to
join the Imperial Legion, see the world or otherwise seek their fortune; some
eventually return to the strongholds, but many do not. Orcs who do not live in
strongholds are derisively called "city Orcs" by those that do, and are
considered soft outsiders just like non-Orcs.

#### Orc Names

An orc has a given name and a family name. Orc family names are always prefixed
depending on gender. "Gro-" for males and "Gra-" for females. A child will take
the father's name if male, or the mother's name if female.

**Male Names:** Agronak, Bazur, Bogrum, Dubok, Dul, Gaturn, Ghorub, Gogron,
Grommok, Hanz, Krognak, Kurz, Lumdum, Luronk, Magra, Magub, Maknok, Orok,
Rugdumph, Shagol, Ulmug, Urbul, Ushnar

**Female Names:** Batul, Borba, Bumph, Homraz, Mazoga, Mog, Mor, Oghash, Orag,
Rogbut, Rogmesh, Snak, Ugak, Umar, Umog

#### Orc Traits

Your Orc character has certain traits deriving from your Orc ancestry.

***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Strength score increases
by 2.

***Age.*** Orcs could live up to 100 years old, but many Orcs seek to die
a good death before they become weak and a burden to their clan. They rarely
live longer than 50 years.

***Alignment.*** In Orc society, only the strongest thrive. This makes them
evil in the strictest sense.

***Size.*** Orcs are broad and hardy. They are usually around 6 feet tall and
weigh around 200 pounds. Your size is Medium.

***Speed.*** Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

***Menacing.*** You gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill.

\columnbreak

***Relentless Endurance.*** When you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed
outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead. You can't use this feature again
until you finish a long rest.

***Orcish Combat Training.*** You have proficiency with simple weapons. In
addition, you have proficiency with light armor.

***Languages.*** You can speak, read, and write Common and Orcish.

***Subraces.*** There are three varieties of Orcs on Tamriel; City Orcs,
Stronghold Orcs and Wood Orcs. Choose one of these subraces.

##### City Orc

Not all Orcs choose to live in the strongholds. Those that choose to live in the
cities live a much more cosmopolitan life, but they are derided by other Orcs
for doing so.

***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Wisdom score increases by 1.

***Versatile.*** Living in the city has given you the opportunity to develop
your own talents. You have proficiency with one skill of your choice, and with
one type of artisan's tools of your choice.

##### Stronghold Orc

Traditional Orc society is centered around living in stronghold settlements.
These independent villages follow the Code of Mauloch, and the strength of each
tribe depends on their strongest warrior.

***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Constitution score increases by 1.

***Savage Attacks.*** When you score a critical hit with a melee weapon attack,
you can roll one of the weapon's damage dice one additional time and add it to
the extra damage of the critical hit.

##### Wood Orc

Though Wood Orcs prize strength and honor and above all else, their
interpretation of what those things mean separates them from their northern,
Orsinium cousins. For instance, having strength to a Wood Orc means having
agility and mobility as much as it does muscular power and endurance.

***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Dexterity score increases by 1.

***Fleet of Foot.*** Your base walking speed is 35 feet.

***Agile.*** You have proficiency in the Acrobatics skill.

\pagebreakNum

# Chapter 5: Aldmeri Dominion

___

*Only the Aldmeri—the High Elves and their noble allies, the Wood Elves and
Cat-Men—have the wisdom and restraint to peaceably rule the disparate peoples of
Tamriel. Though we are reluctant to take up this burden, events have shown that
we must. Recent events prove that the Dragon Break was not a unique event. Men
always follow the destructive path of their defender and apologist, the Missing
God whom we shall not name. This ends here. Once again, Elves shall rule Tamriel
from White-Gold Tower... this time, forever. The world has gone wrong, and we
must put it right. March proudly beneath the eagle banner of the Aldmeri
Dominion!*

<p style='text-align: right; margin-top: -0.8em'>—Aicantar of Shimmerene</p>

___

The Aldmeri Dominion is one of the factions participating in the Three Banners
War. The crest of the Aldmeri Dominion is an eagle, and its colors are yellow
and silver. It consists of the Altmer of Summerset Isles, the Bosmer of
Valenwood, and the Khajiit of Elsweyr. The alliance is a nascent empire that
rules its holdings with an iron fist. Led by Queen Ayrenn with Elden Root as its
capital, the Dominion seeks to reestablish Elven dominance over Tamriel in order
to protect it from the carelessness of the younger races. The province of
Valenwood, led by King Camoran Aeradan, joined the alliance to help fight off
the Colovian troops that were capturing territory in northern Valenwood, while
Elsweyr, led by Mane Akkhuz-ri, still remains in the grip of the Knahaten Flu.

The Aldmeri Dominion was ratified by the Elden Accord in Elden Root by Queen
Ayrenn, King Camoran Aeradan, and Lord Gharesh-ri, Speaker for the Mane. Its
executive arm is the Thalmor, a bureaucracy that managed the Dominion's
day-to-day affairs and liaises between the various local leaders and factions.
It incorporates representatives from all three races in the Dominion's
territory, in ratios appropriate to their administrative abilities. The Thalmor
Inner Council serves as Ayrenn's personal advisors, and includes such notables
as King Camoran and Lord Gharesh-ri, as well as a number of other nobles.

\columnbreak

> ##### Your Queen Commands
>
> I have no hatred for the races of Man, but they are young. Like all children,
> they are driven by emotion. They lack the wisdom that comes with age. I would
> sooner place an Altmer infant on the Ruby Throne than surrender Tamriel to
> their capricious whims.
>
> The Altmer, the Bosmer and the Khajiit share the common traits of
> intelligence, patience and reason. We do not seek riches or plunder.
> Domination is not our goal, nor is the acclamation of power for its own sake.
>
> Today we make our stand. Today we take back the Ruby Throne, which is ours by
> ancient right and the blessings of the Divine.
>
> ___
>
> Stand with us,  
> Ayrenn Arana Aldmeri

\pagebreakNum

## Summerset Isles

The Summerset Isles is a province in southwest Tamriel consisting of fourteen
islands of varying size. The three largest and most significant islands are
Summerset Isle to the west, Auridon to the east, and Artaeum to the south, the
latter of which is apt to disappear for sizable lengths of time without warning.
The inhabitants of the province are the Altmer, though goblins were there when
the elves first arrived. It is believed that the first inhabitants were the
Sload before they were driven away by the Aldmer.

The landscape of the Summerset Isles are similar, with warm climate, colorful
forests, idyllic meadows, and craggy mountains. Vast deciduous forests of
laurel, maple, and larch trees grant the land a lush yet unkempt appearance. The
islands also contain towering escarpments, emerald woodland, and pale off-white
sand dunes. While the High Elves sought to control and tame the wilds, such
efforts only extended as far as their nearest surroundings, with much of the
land remaining a wild, untouched forest that shrouds ruins from another era.
While the unspoiled wilderness is considered beautiful to those who reside here,
it is not without danger. Wild boars and bears hunt in the wilderness, along
with gemlike arachnids and other unmentionable entities left to forage for
centuries by Altmeri mages

### History

Altmeri tradition holds that their ancestors, the revered Ancients, first made
landfall at the Summerset Isles on the northernmost shore of Auridon in the
middle of the Early Merethic Era.

\columnbreak

The Aldmer who disembarked encountered a number of fearsome native creatures,
whom they battled and slew, taming the land and using magic to sculpt and tend
it to their liking. Firsthold, the "First among Holds", was the first city they
built, not far from the original landing site. Afterwards, the Aldmer spread
throughout Auridon in earnest, eventually inhabiting the rest of the Summerset
Isles and colonizing mainland Tamriel. They built numerous cities and wonders
such as the vaunted Crystal Tower. Over time, the Aldmer of Summerset became the
Altmer, and the society of the Isles became divided into different social
classes. At the top were the Wise, who served as teachers and priests, followed
by the Artists, Princes, Warriors, Landowners, Merchants, and Workers. At the
bottom were the tamed beasts, such as the goblins who were native to Summerset,
which were enslaved. Once the city of Alinor was established, it became the
capital of the Isles and seat of the Altmeri monarchy.

Although the precise circumstances are unclear, the Summerset Isles became
incorporated into the Second Empire, which at its zenith controlled all of
Tamriel with the exception of Morrowind, in the late First Era. This concession
was apparently arranged to the Altmer's advantage: all outsiders aside from
traders and Imperial ambassadors were prohibited from traveling to the Isles,
and these privileged few could only conduct their business within the capital of
Alinor. Eric of Guis, the personal emissary of Emperor Reman II to the Altmer,
noted in his journals that while the Altmer reliably paid their tithes to the
Empire, they did so purely to minimize contact with non-Altmer rather than out
of a desire to avoid war with the Empire.

\pagebreakNum

To this day, the Summerset Isles remain closed to visitors, with Auridon as its
sole exception. The Khajiit and Bosmer allies are now free to roam Auridon as
equals to the native population. However, long-held prejudices  coupled with
aggressive recruitment practices against the lower classes have resulted in a
popular resistance movement, the Veiled Heritance, taking up arms on Auridon.

> ##### The Veiled Heritance
>
> The Veiled Heritance is a covert group of Altmeri nationalists formed in
> response to the rise of Queen Ayrenn and the Aldmeri Dominion. Vehemently
> against the young queen and her Bosmer and Khajiit allies, they seek to depose
> her and appoint their own regent, the Veiled Queen.
>
> The Heritance consists mainly of disenfranchised veterans and youths. Many
> more traditional Altmer despise the Dominion due to their feelings of racial
> superiority and dislike Ayrenn due to her unorthodox wanderings as a youth. As
> such, the Heritance enjoys widespread support. The group's main presence is on
> Auridon.

### Artaeum

The Isle of Artaeum is the third largest island of the Summerset archipelago,
located off the southwest coast of Summerset Isle. Artaeum is the home of the
Psijic Order, the oldest monastic group of Tamriel, which is devoted to the
study and practice of Mysticism, which they call the "Old Ways" or "Elder Way".
The island has a tendency to vanish from Nirn, being placed in a pocket realm
for centuries at a time. Like it is wont to, it disappeared 350 years ago around
the time the Mages Guild was founded.

The Isle of Artaeum has idyllic orchards and clear pastures, still and silent
lagoons, misty woodlands, and the unique Psijic architecture that seems to be as
natural as its surroundings. The Ceporah Tower is a relic from a civilization
that predates the High Elves by several hundred years. It is the location of the
Dreaming Cavern, which Sotha Sil once used as some sort of portal into the
realms of Oblivion, but which has since been sealed off by the Psijics.

### Firsthold

Firsthold has been an integral part of the realm of the Summerset Isles since
its foundation. It is one of the two High Kinlordships of the island of Auridon,
ruling over the northern part of the region. Since the Middle Merethic Era,
Firsthold has been ruled by House Rilis. House Rilis is regarded as one of the most
prestigious and well-connected among Altmer noble families, and even working
under their service is well-considered in the highest circles of the Summerset
Isles. The current ruler is High Kinlord Rilis ⅩⅢ, succeeding the cruel Rilis
ⅩⅡ, who committed horrible acts in the depths of his palace.

Firsthold is the centre of shipbuilding industry in the Summerset Isles. The
iconic Altmeri Swan Ships are built in the wharves of Firsthold. These heavy
ships impulsed by extensive sails, have formed the bulk of the prestigious
Summerset and Dominion Armadas since, at least, the Second Era. However, they
are not only used as warships, and most of the passenger travel and trade from
and to the mainland is done with Swan Ships.

\columnbreak

Firsthold's constant flow of trade both by sea and land has also been proven
profitable to outlander merchants, mostly Khajiit, who import goods from the
mainland. However, the strongest ties of trade are with Valenwood and the rest
of the mainland.

### Skywatch

Skywatch has been an integral part of the realm of the Summerset Isles since its
foundation. It is one of the two High Kinlordships of the island of Auridon,
ruling over the southern part of the region. Since the Late Merethic Era,
Skywatch has been ruled by House Errinorne, whose members are also scions of
royal Aldmeri blood. Errinorne High Kinlords and Kinladies have always hosted a
large and vibrant court in their palace and city, where murder and conspiracy
between members of the middle and lower nobility have been always common. High
Kinlord's servants, from chefs to musicians and handmaidens, are mostly Bosmer
and Khajiit, who work in very poor and harsh conditions.

Skywatch docks are visited by all kind of people from across Tamriel, however,
sailors are discouraged to leave their ships and the very docks and make deals
with the local Altmer could be difficult. But its port is third in importance in
Auridon after those of Vulkhel Guard and Firsthold. Most of maritime transport
of passengers is done with Valenwood. Skywatch docks mostly import goods from
the mainland to Auridon hinterland. The Darkvale Costers are a prominent group
of Altmer merchants who operate from Skywatch, importing and exporting goods by
sea, mostly alcoholic beverages, as far as Morrowind. The Greenvine Traders are
a competing group of Bosmer, based in Skywatch, who engage in importation from
Valenwood, mostly of alchemical components and food. They are thought to be
dishonest with their clients, being more similar to a criminal cartel. Although
they are not the only who trade with Valenwood: other traders also import
hand-hewn Bosmer crafts.

Wood Elf immigrants to Auridon during the First and Second Eras introduced the
locals of Skywatch to Mud Ball Merriment, a New Life festival. It consists in
throwing mud balls at everyone. But each year, there is a specific target,
mostly nobles, that the Bosmer agree most needs to be humbled. Mud on the face
reminds the participants that life is not always so self-important. With the New
Life comes a bit of fun to Skywatch, for those who are not too proud to take
part.

### Alinor

Alinor is the traditional capital of the Summerset Isles, being the home of
Summerset's monarchy. Alinor is known for its impossibly high skyscraping towers
and its hypnotic swirling ramparts. Following Ayrenn's ascension to the throne,
the city-state of Alinor was inducted into the Aldmeri Dominion. However,
with the capital of the alliance being the city of Elden Root, Queen Ayrenn was
forced to leave Alinor, and so in her place was her cousin, Alwinarwe, the Proxy
Queen of Alinor.

Alinor is a heavily walled-off city, built atop a stone foundation considering
the geography around Alinor. The streets are somewhat narrow, towered over by
tall buildings and filled with tall bright street lights. Southern Alinor has a
river running along the streets from the mountains, and into the sea.

\pagebreakNum

### Cloudrest

Cloudrest is one of the High Kinlordships of the Summerset Isles, and is
colloquially known as the "Aerie of the Altmer", because it overlooks the great
plains of Summerset from the highest mountain in southwest Tamriel. It is the
home of the Welkynar, who are a knightly order dedicated to protecting the
Summerset Isle, and known for their Gryphon mounts.

The Aerie at the top of Cloudrest is the base of operations for the Welkynar. It
is ostensibly a seat of power, but it works primarily as a fortress, with
ballistae and catapults along the wall. Cloudrest has a particularly odd style
of architecture, a mixture of Strangler vine-esque buildings, atop of old ruins

### The Crystal Tower

The Crystal Tower is an ancient, mystical structure located near the northern
tip of Summerset Isle, northwest of Cloudrest. It was built by the early Aldmer
as a monument to their ancestors, and is considered sacred to the Altmer. Before
the construction of the Arcane University in Cyrodiil, it was the pinnacle of
magical learning in Tamriel. The top of the Crystal Tower is reserved for
interring the dead. The southernmost tips of the Dragon's Teeth Mountains of
mainland Tamriel can be seen from the top parapet of the tower. The interior of
the tower is white and radiated light. It contains a Great Library and a
treasury with many ancient tapestries and other relics. The Crystal Tower is
famed for its animal pens, which hold many different creatures from all across
Tamriel.

### Shimmerene

Shimmerene is known as the "City of Lights", for it is a beacon of light amidst
the seas that divide the main island and the region of Auridon. As a mercantile
port, the city's ports are constantly flowing with transport between the isles,
and most overseas trade comes into Summerset from here.

### Sunhold

Sunhold is a leading force in the province's sea-based endeavors, from being the
heart of export in Summerset, to a nigh impenetrable fortress that withstands
the neverending onslaught of the Maormer. The naval armada in Sunhold is
considered the best in the Isles.

Sunhold's origins date back many years when High Elven society branched into
tribes, and when the Gryphons dominated the skies. On a fateful hunt, an Altmer
tribesman, Ulorome had discovered a Gryphon egg in an abandoned nest. Assuming
it would never hatch, Ulorome returned to his tribe, preparing to cook it for a
feast. As he set it on a fire, his entire tribe was overwhelmed and sang songs
of hearth and family, as they felt blessed with this egg. But the singing and
warmth had hatched the egg, and a baby Gryphon, with wings as red as a Phoenix,
emerged out of the egg. Ulorome, thanking the gods for the baby, named the
creature Cel-himwe, who would become the first mountable Gryphon in Summerset.
Because of the combined forces of Ulorome and Cel-himwe, Ancient Sunhold
expanded, and Ulorome's lineage would go on to rule the settlement. Cel-himwe
received a reputation, being known as the Red Wind to the Maormer, as well as
being the progenitor of the famous Sunhold line of Gryphons. Sunhold would go on
to become a major settlement in the province.

\columnbreak

### Altmer

Altmer are proud and graceful people who consider themselves to be the highest
echelon of society. Their cities celebrate an enlightened culture filled with a
love for art, magic, music, and beauty. They are known as High Elves to the
human races, which Altmer consider an adage to their culture, while humans
understand it to mean proud or snobbish.

#### Slender and Graceful

With their elegant stature and beauty, High Elves typically have healthy gaunt
features. They are the tallest of all the races, usually well over 6 feet tall
and sometimes above 7 feet. They are more slender than humans, weighing between
140 and 180 pounds. Males and females are about the same height, and males are
only marginally heavier than females.

Altmer have physical colorations that are homogeneous in nature. Their golden
skin ranges from pale yellow tones to bronze, while their hair and eyes comes in
similar shades. Their hair color ranges from nearly white to blonde, to golden
brown, while their almond-shaped eyes are like pools of liquid gold. They favor
elegant clothing and jewelry, usually in fabrics and materials that complement
their natural appearance.

#### A Timeless Perspective

Altmer, much like the other elves, can live for exceptional lengths of time,
usually of spans two to three times as long as humans. There are even elves who
are well over 4,000 year old, extending their lifespans by mastering powerful
restorative magic.

Most Altmer use their long lives to master skills over long periods of time to
achieve a transcendent perfection that humans would never be able to fathom. For
Altmer, art is the attempt to manifest perfection. It should come as no surprise
that Altmer consider themselves to be the most civilized culture of Tamriel; the
common tongue of the continent is based on Altmer speech and writing, and most
of the Empire's arts, crafts, laws, and sciences are derived from Altmer
traditions.

\pagebreakNum

#### Divine Descendants

Altmer are thought to be the most direct, unaltered descendants of the original
Aldmer elves, who were themselves the direct descendants of the Aedra (Aldmeris
for "ancestors"). As their hierarchical society developed, the lower classes of
Aldmer stopped worshiping their own "lesser" Aedra in favor of those claimed by
their social "betters". Thus the Altmeri pantheon slowly formed around the most
popular and well-known of the Aedra, which included Auri-El, Trinimac, Syrabane,
Phynaster, Magnus, and Y'ffre.

Lorkhan is the most unholy of the higher powers to the Altmer, as he forever
broke their connection to the spirit plane. He is said to have convinced or
contrived the Aedra to bring about the creation of the mortal plane, upsetting
the status quo. As the impetus for creating the Mundus, Lorkhan is at the center
of the great ideological schism between the elven and human perspectives on the
event, which is known as the Sundering to elves, and thus opinions of him vary
dramatically in Tamriel.

#### Exploration and Adventure

Altmer that take up a life of adventure usually do so for the sake of discovery
and exploration. Always curious and passionate for a deeper understanding of
their interests, Altmer will commonly seek out careers that allow them to travel
and study at their own pace. Altmer also enjoy exercising their martial prowess
or gaining greater magical power, and adventuring allows them to do so.

#### Altmer Names

The Altmer have only a single given name. They choose names that have the same
elegance and nobility they see fit for their kind.

**Male Names:** Aesmer, Arondil, Calanor, Cinnar, Cornor, Dandos, Eanor, Earran,
Elikar, Erymil, Falion, Heldil, Iramo, Lermion, Miratar, Naarwe, Naemon, Ocando,
Pircalmo, Quaranon, Rolancano, Sanyon, Tholbor, Valtir, Yancol

**Female Names:** Alwaen, Areldur, Astorne, Cariel, Curwe, Earrona, Elanwe,
Erille, Falen, Fistalle, Gathewen, Hildara, Inare, Karinnarre, Kirstar,
Lamoline, Linwin, Malanie, Minique, Naire, Quen, Ruma, Sorcalin, Telandil,
Valla, Vilva

\columnbreak

#### Altmer Traits

Your Altmer character has a variety of natural abilities, the result of
thousands of years of elven refinement.

***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Intelligence score increases by 2, and your
Wisdom score increases by 1.

***Age.*** Altmer live two to three times as long as humans, with a 200-year-old
Altmer being old and a 300-year-old altmer being very, very old.

***Alignment.*** Altmer hold themselves and others to incredibly high standards.
They are orderly and devoted to the traditions of their ancestors. This makes
most Altmer lawful.

***Size.*** Altmer range from under 6 to over 7 feet tall and have slender
builds. Your size is Medium.

***Speed.*** Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

***Cantrip.*** You know one cantrip of your choice from the wizard spell list.
Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for it.

***Syrabane's Boon.*** You can cast *detect magic* with this trait. Starting at
3rd level, you can cast *enhance ability* with it, and starting at 5th level,
you can also cast *dispel magic* with it. Once you cast a spell with this trait,
you can't cast that spell with it again until you finish a long rest.
Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

***Studious Nature.*** You gain proficiency in your choice of one of the
following skills: Arcana, History, Nature or Religion.

***Languages.*** You can speak, read, and write Common, Altmeris, and one extra
language of your choice.

\pagebreakNum

## Valenwood

Valenwood is a densely forested, sub-tropical region that encompasses the
southwestern coastal plain of Tamriel. An Imperial diplomat once describe
Valenwood 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, Tamriel's garden".
One unusual feature of Valenwood is its gigantic, migratory trees, many so large
that the Bosmer have built entire cities in their branches. Falinesti is one
such tree, a mile-high specimen that served as the capital of Valenwood and the
seat of its kings until it disappeared on one of its migrations some hundred
years ago.

Bosmeri cities are usually located on the branches and in the trunks of the
graht-oaks, with some individual tree-houses on the forest floor. The Green Pact
does not allow the Bosmer to shape the trees in the traditional way, so instead
Bosmeri Pod-Singers magically persuade Valenwood trees to grow into
houses.

However, Valenwood does not consist only of the Bosmeri tree-cities. Some of the
cities are built in other architectural styles: for example Haven and Marbruk
are primarily Altmeri, Southpoint is Colovian, and Arenthia is a mixture of
Colovian and Khajiiti styles. Valenwood is also dotted with numerous Ayleid
ruins, built by Ayleid refugees from Cyrodiil.

Valenwood's sub-tropical climate supports a great wealth of flora, which often
grows to enormous proportions. The Green Pact forbids the Bosmer to harm the
plants, so they grow uncontrollably, resulting in wild, dense jungles and
forests. The lush environment is home to many creatures, for example monkeys,
antelopes, giant wasps, thunderbugs, spriggans, crocodiles, tick-like
hoarvors, timber mammoths, and senche-tigers.

\columnbreak

### History

According to Aldmeri legend, untouched Valenwood was home to a salmagundi of
creatures and strange civilizations. Centaurs, hippogriffs, satyrs, minotaurs,
giants, basilisks, fairy folk, hydra, and intelligent apes all flourished there
before the first Aldmeri stepped onto its shores. Like all Elves, the Aldmer had
to adapt to their environment, and they became the present day Bosmer. The
Bosmer instead believe that the Green of Valenwood was shaped by Y'ffre during
the Chaos Times, and that Y'ffre then shaped the Bosmer out of shapeshifters.
For Y'ffre's gifts, the Bosmer promised not to harm the forest in a pact known
as the Green Pact.

The first king of Valenwood who started the Camoran Dynasty, was King Eplear. He
succeeded in uniting the wild Bosmer. He also welcomed other races, especially
the Ayleids, who fled from Alessia's slave rebellion. In 1E 340, he also
welcomed the Empire, agreeing to a trade treaty with the now Ayleid-free men.
However, the prophet Marukh's controversial teachings would bring tension
between the Camoran Dynasty and the Empire. As a war was brewing, Valenwood
killed Skyrim's king, Borgas, in a Wild Hunt, putting the Nords in turmoil for
fifty years. The reign of Empress Herta only intensified the conflict between
Valenwood and Cyrodiil, as she improved Cyrodilic relations with the Colovian
West.

In 1E 2714, weakened by warfare and a plague from the Sload of Thras, Valenwood
fell to Cyrodiil. The Empire then gave independence to each city of Valenwood,
so they would not unite against Cyrodiil. The Bosmer were loyal to Cyrodiil,
until the last Akaviri Potentate died in 2E 430. The Camoran Dynasty tried to
reestablish power, but failed, due to the cultural differences of each city.

\pagebreakNum

Without any main power, the Bosmer warred those around them, such as the Khajiit
of Elsweyr, the Colovians of Cyrodiil, and in some cases, each other. Stability
and peace finally returned once Valenwood was united under King Camoran Aeradan
and joined with Summerset Isles and Elsweyr to form the Aldmeri Dominion.

> ##### The Wild Hunt
>
> It is known that in desperate times the Bosmer can gather in a Temple of
> Y'ffre and call upon the Wild Hunt, a ritual that allows those present to
> return to the Chaos Times, turning them into a sea of horrific shapeshifting
> monstrosities which pour violently over their enemies until none remain. Then,
> the shapeshifted turn on each other in what is described as a "cannibalistic
> orgy", which could be an attempt to cleanse themselves, abominations, from the
> face of Tamriel. This has, however, not always worked, and it is said that all
> monsters in the world may have come from previous Wild Hunts.
>
> Bosmer are not proud of the Wild Hunt and will not discuss it with outsiders.
> It is a point of regret and solemnity, one of very few in their culture.

### The Green Pact

The Green Pact, also known as the Treaty of Frond and Leaf, is a strict code
upheld by many of the Bosmer of Valenwood. It is said to have guided their
existence since the beginning of the "great story". Its rules are clear. Do not
harm the forests of Valenwood. Do not eat anything made from plant life. Eat
only meat. When enemies are conquered, their meat must be eaten, not left to
rot. Do not kill wastefully. Do not take on the shape of beasts.

According to the Bosmer, after the creation of the mortal plane everything was
in chaos. The first mortals were turning into plants and animals and back again.
Then Y'ffre transformed himself into the first of the Ehlnofey, or "Earth
Bones", which established the laws of nature and put an end to the Chaos Times.
It is said that his first creation was the Green, all manner of plant life, from
the smallest flower to the largest graht-oak. Second were his favored people,
the Bosmer. His third creation was the Green Pact, between the bosmer and the
Green, to ensure the survival of both.

It is said that any Bosmer that violates the Green Pact is be condemned to
return to the formlessness of the Chaos Times. Their names would be scrubbed
from the story Y'ffre is telling and replaced with silence. This may be a tale
used to frighten children into eating their dinner, however.

The tenets of the Pact have led to many tensions with allies and others who have
disrespected their beliefs. More than once, the Bosmer have gone to war to
protect the Green. While many "civilized" Bosmer don't adhere as closely to the
Green Pact as their tribal brethren, they nevertheless often seem to be staunch
advocates for respecting its tenets. Green Pact Bosmer are fanatical in their
devotion to the Pact.

The Spinners, Bosmeri priests and historians who record the story of their
people, are charged with enforcing the Green Pact, and are said to hold the real
power in Valenwood. Spinners believe that Y'ffre sings through them as they tell
their stories.

\columnbreak

### Other Inhabitants of Valenwood

The Bosmer share Valenwood with the Imga, intelligent apes, and Wood Orcs, along
with the many beasts of the forest, including Centaurs. They have a long history
of welcoming those who seek refuge within Valenwood. They accepted slaves
fleeing the Ayleids, and then Ayleids fleeing the slaves, without showing
favorites. Around the time of the Alliance War, they also freely welcomed
Argonian refugees who had left their homeland in protest over the formation of
the Ebonheart Pact.

### The Silvenar

The Silvenar is the Voice of the People for the Bosmer. While often viewed by
outsiders as a title for the Bosmer's political representative for foreign
affairs, the Silvenar is more than a mere politician. Each person who bears the
title is thought of as merely the Silvenar's aspect. The Silvenar represents the
Bosmer people legally, physically, and emotionally. He reflects the state of the
Bosmer people in his way of thinking, his health, and even his gender. He is
inseparably tied to the Bosmeri people, and they to him, making him
supernaturally empathic and aware of their concerns. As the Voice of the People,
the Silvenar has many rights which grant him great authority in Valenwood. For
one, only the Silvenar can grant foreign building and trade contracts, meaning
any foreign power which wishes to build in Valenwood or do business with the
Bosmer must deal with the Silvenar first.

No Silvenar can be without a Green Lady. The Silvenar has a mystical connection
with the Green Lady, like with all Bosmer, only much deeper. While the Silvenar
represents the civilized nature of the current Bosmer, the Green Lady has the
raw physicality and passion of their primal past. If the Silvenar dies, his
Green Lady's bestial nature is irrevocably unleashed, and her fury turned on all
those involved until she joins him in death. Upon the death of the Silvenar, the
new Silvenar officially takes on the title at a wedding. This wedding, which is
known as the Handfasting, is an important occasion for the Bosmer which only
occurs once in a generation. It is responsible for both anointing and marrying
the Silvenar and the Green Lady.

No wedding can take place without Rotmeth, and the Handfasting is no exception.
Rotmeth is made from fermented meat seasoned with thunderbug organs, takes years
to brew, and is considered a precious ritual beverage that symbolizes "the
muscle of the boar, the power of the forest, the strength of the Bosmer people".

### Silvenar

Silvenar is a giant graht-oak city in central Valenwood. The holiest city of the
Bosmer was founded by the first of the Silvenar and his followers. It is home to
the Silvenar and his Green Lady, and they are assisted by a number of Spinners,
commonly three, one for each time: The past, the present (also known as "the
now"), and the future.

In springtime, the Bosmer pilgrim to the Den of the Eldest, an ancient
strangler. There, they offer thanks to Y'ffre for the blooming of yet another
spring, and they read the history of their home in the branches of the Eldest.
Then, a great festival is thrown by the Green Pact Bosmer, in celebration of the
Springtime and the Eldest. Then, Elves celebrate long into the night, drinking
and regaling each other with stories of past festivals, honoring the first
pilgrim who tended to the Eldest: the first Silvenar and the first Green
Lady.

\pagebreakNum

Silvenar, like other graht-oak big cities as Elden Root, have a few dwellings on
the forest floor, but many homes are both concealed and cradled within the
canopy of graht-oak trees. Bosmer favor a life among the branches and have woven
them together to form limbed pathways, and trails of thick, living vines anchor
dozens of platforms that carry goods and people among the graht-oak without
contravening the Green-Pact. Bone, resin, and sinew are employed in Bosmeri
bridge design.

### Elden Root

Elden Root is a city surrounding the ancient giant graht-oak tree known as the
Elden Tree, which is said to have seeded all of Valenwood. It is the capital of
the Aldmeri Dominion.

Elden Root is found in the center of Grahtwood, within the region of Green Hall.
A river from the northeast flow down into the Elden Root basin, and forms in a
lake that takes up the eastern outskirts of the city. All around the city are
Ayleid ruins, reminiscent of the Ayleid migration that came into Valenwood.
These ruins are largely inaccessible, save for the inner caverns of Elden
Hollow, where the ruins are found in the shadow of the city, in the southwest.

Traditional dwellings on the forest floor give way to woven, naturalistic abodes
in the graht-oak's branches, connected by mobile platforms that ferry about
people and supplies under manual power. It is also common that drunks fall down
from the branches of the Elden Tree.

At the highest branch of Elden Root lies the Throne Room, the city's seat of
power. Members of the Camoran Clan rule from Elden Root through the Throne.
Descending downward leads into the Great Trunk Artisans Court, where various
craftsmen made their business. Branches that diverge from here lead into local
guilds such as the Fighters Guild and Mages Guild. Downward into the ground
level are many merchants and caravans, as well as the local shrine of the
Spinners. The land outside of the ground floor is occupied by tree-pods and
foreign architecture, such as the Altmer Embassy.

Beneath Elden Root, in the ruins of Elden Hollow, is an ancient orrery.
According to legend, if any person stepped into the center of this orrery when
it was activated, it would reveal their inner self. However, the secrets of
activating the orrery have been lost to time.

\columnbreak

### Southpoint

At the very southern point of Valenwood lies the coastal city of Southpoint.
The city was founded in 1E 2729 by the Colovian governor Zantonius, born in
Kvatch. It became the main port and Imperial colony in the Kingdom of Grahtwood,
then an administrative division of the Second Empire in Valenwood The Rites of
Xarxes Memory, an Altmer-imported celebration, is held annually in its
cathedral.

### Woodhearth

Woodhearth is a coastal city in southwestern Valenwood. The city was constructed
by the Second Empire in the late First Era to act as an Imperial outpost with
the aim of facilitating trade with the native Bosmer. Imperial-style buildings,
port, sewers and walls in the settlement were constructed back in that time.

The Bosmer had mixed reactions to Imperial presence. After several violent
attacks against the settlement, a peace was eventually struck with the Green
Pact Bosmer tribes and a Bosmer settlement was created adjacent to it. Natural
Bosmeri architecture began to replace the Imperial original buildings, which
were gradually replaced or fell into disrepair, though the city in general
thrived. As the Bosmer secured their place within the Empire, control was
gradually ceded back to autonomous Bosmeri rule and a treethane began to rule
over the cosmopolitan population, having a reputation for determined leadership
and fair judgment.

The Thalmor established its Valenwood headquarters in Woodhearth to oversee the
region. Many settlers came from the Summerset Isles, replacing many of the old
Imperial-style buildings with Altmer-style ones, resulting in a beautiful
mixture of Imperial, Bosmeri and Altmeri architecture.. Woodhearth so became one
of the principal mainland ports in Greenshade.

Woodhearth is considered one of the safer places in Valenwood for foreigners,
despite skooma smuggling beyond the city's streets and the infamous Bosmer
thieves. Beside drugs dealing, contraband of other products are also common
through its extensive and partially abandoned Imperial sewers.

\pagebreakNum

### Marbruk

Marbruk is an Altmeri city located deep in the forest of Valenwood, on the
border of Greenshade and Grahtwood. Marbruk was constructed after the
incorporation of Valenwood by the Aldmeri Dominion in 2E 580 to defend
Greenshade from the Ebonheart Pact. Hoping to accommodate their Altmer allies,
the Bosmer ignored the felling of trees involved in its construction. The
Altmer, in turn, attempted to respect the Green Pact by importing the wood and
stone required from outside of Valenwood, and faced little opposition from the
local tribes.

The city featured modern Altmeri architecture built atop the original Ayleid
ruins, which hosted the criminals and smugglers. Besides of its military role
in defending Greenshade from invaders, Marbruk was built as an example and a
symbol of what the Dominion should be and how united it was, regardless of race
and origin. However, many accused the Altmer of intending to "civilize" with
their presence the "wild" Valenwood and its inhabitants, even banning Bosmer
ancient traditions and customs like smoking dried insects, walking without
shoes, or the Rite of Theft. All of this under an important presence of Thalmor
agents in the city, who enforced these new laws.

The new city was also home to a secure vault, below its Mages Guild's Hall,
where the Dominion stored some of its most priceless treasures: a small
greenhouse with four rare plants, including Crimson Nirnroot; a Relic Room which
held Ayleid relics, including the Crown of Nenalata, recovered from a Bosmer
thief who was apparently practicing the Rite of Theft, and traded it back to the
Dominion for a song, confounding the Altmer; and the Staff of Magnus, then into
the possession of the Dominion.

Ironically, during the construction of Marbruk in the Second Era, it was
reportedly the relatively "civilized" Bosmer living in cites like Woodhearth who
voiced the greatest opposition to the destruction of Valenwood foliage. The
Green Pact Bosmer, meanwhile, showed more fascination than anything else.

### Arenthia

Arenthia is a city on the border with Cyrodiil and Elsweyr. Is the resulting
amalgamation of various cultures that reside, and have spread influence
throughout the march. It is an important trade city that is nestled on the fork
of both the Crescent River and the Strid River. It was named after the first
King of the Wood Elves.

Arenthia was recently recaptured by the Aldmeri Dominion from Colovian invaders.

### Greenheart

Greenheart is a city in southern Valenwood. The city is a walled settlement,
built upon magic-made cliffs and giant trees, which supports Altmer-style
buildings. Crowning Greenheart, sits the Tower where the Throne of the
Wilderking is, made from both marble and living magic-shaped trees.

The city's history and the one of the mysterious Wilderking are intertwined. The
first Wilderking was an Altmer mage sent by his overlords to Valenwood to build
a great city during the early First Era. He chose the place where Greenheart
currently stands to fulfill his purpose, before he even became the Wilderking.
There, the Altmer builders met to help the mage, but after a violent struggle
between the forest and the colonists, who were trying to build Greenheart, all
ended up dead except for the mage, who forgot about his previous memories.

\columnbreak

The forest had agreed to obey the mage if he became the Wilderking. From the
dead builders, he raised the first of the Hollow, who would become the guardians
of the Wilderking and, therefore, of Greenheart. The initiative was forgotten by
the Wilderking's former overlords, but the new god-king shaped the ground and the
trees to build his capital city. He grew a big graht-oak in the middle of the
settlement, which served him as the seat of his throne. In time, the Bosmer from
southeastern Greenshade began to recognize the Wilderking as their only and
supreme ruler: making Greenheart the capital of a region that would come to be
known as the Wilderking Court.

When Valenwood joined the Aldmeri Dominion, Greenheart, along with the rest of
the Wilderking Court, refused to be incorporated. The treethanes and the common
people said that they did not recognize the Camoran king of Elden Root as their
ruler, but the elusive Wilderking, who resides in Greenheart. As such, the
Wilderking Court remains relatively independent.

### Bosmer

Bosmer, or Tree-Sap people, are the Wood Elven clan-folk from the forests of
Valenwood. Bosmer rejected the stiff, formal traditions of Aldmeri high culture,
preferring a more romantic, simple existence in harmony with the land and its
wild beauty and creatures

#### Modest and Nimble

Bosmer are one of the smallest races on Tamriel.  This small frame grants the
Bosmer a natural proclivity for moving nimbly and stealthily. As with the other
elves, they live two to three times as long as humans. Combined with their
increased fertility and long lives, Bosmer are known to have large families, and
are one of the most populous races of Tamriel.

Bosmer have skin tones in copper and bronze, and sometimes have traces of light
green. Their hair tends toward browns and blacks, but occasionally reds and
coppers. Their eyes are golden, brown, and sometimes solid black with no visible
white.

Some Bosmer have been known to file their teeth to sharp points. It is also
common among the Bosmer to wear decorative antlers on their foreheads. Although
rarely, individuals with real, magically-grown antlers can also be encountered.

#### Resourceful

The Bosmer have adapted to life in the Green in many ingenious ways. For
instance, they use bone, animal, and insect products widely; imported wood is
used when necessary. Rather than drinking conventional liquor made from grain or
fruit, the Bosmer consume jagga (fermented pig's milk) and rotmeth. Though they
refrain from smoking plants, many enjoy smoking bugs from bone pipes. Writing on
a leaf or a flat stone is common in Valenwood, and often preferable in a place
where quality parchment is rare and even paper is uncommon.

Due to the proscriptions of the Green Pact, forges are rare in Valenwood, and
metal weapons have never been widespread among the Bosmer. They typically
utilize bone clubs, or else axes and spears with blades of stone or obsidian.
Their composite horn bows are arguably the finest in Tamriel. By the age of
fourteen, Bosmer youth are typically proficient enough with the bow to accompany
hunting parties.

\pagebreakNum

Finding light without resorting to the danger of fire is an issue on the
perpetually shadowy forest floor, but as the moons rise, additional light is
provided by luminous lichen, molds, and fungal growths at the base of the oaks.
Higher up, nocturnal flowers feed from the graht-oaks, attracting torchbugs,
whose hives light the branch platforms.

#### Strange Customs

The Bosmer have many customs that are unique to Valenwood. The Rite of Theft is
a cherished Bosmeri custom, though one which outsiders have trouble
appreciating. The Bosmer steal from each other, and upon return of the stolen
item, they demand a boon commensurate to the item's worth. Outsiders who
understand the Rite of Theft may use it to their own advantage. Three Altmer,
the so-called "Heroes of the Sanctuary", once used the Rite of Theft to secure a
safe port of Summerset ships.

Another custom is the practice of the Mourning War, common in the tribes outside
of the cities. When a tribe member is slain, he or she is symbolically replaced
via a hostage-taking raid on a neighboring tribe. If the deceased was an
especially powerful or prestigious member of the tribe, multiple captives may be
taken to replace them. The captive or captives undergo a period of physical
torture, supposedly to test their worthiness, and then are joyously welcomed
into the clan. Traditionally, the victim was given the deceased tribe member's
position, possessions, and family, though this practice may be rarely honored in
modern ages.

#### Skilled Adventurers

As some of the greatest hunters and scouts in all of Tamriel, many Bosmer leave
their villages to seek out greater challenges. They are born warriors, excelling
at martial combat, and they have a natural connection with beasts and plants.

Those that have ignored the Pact and turned their back on Y'ffre are expelled
from their tribe. An exiled Bosmer usually has no other option than to seek out
adventure elsewhere.

\columnbreak

#### Bosmer Names

Most Bosmer have only their given name, but it is not unheard of to have a
family name, which is typically descriptive of their skills or ancestry.

**Male Names:** Aengvir, Athragar, Baenlin, Brenor, Calthindor, Deros, Drinlin,
Elseer, Faenir, Fangaril, Filalmoth, Firras, Gelin, Hadran, Inluin, Lenor,
Malgoth, Niden, Ording, Rollin, Saldir, Thranor, Urunil

**Female Names:** Aerin, Althel, Belwen, Candel, Distel, Elphinia, Erwin,
Evelie, Fangil, Ganwen, Glaras, Herdor, Indanas, Laen, Miniel, Nara, Pishna,
Ralion, Sednel, Thralin, Uunril, Zifri

**Family Names:** Arrow-Catcher, Blood-Letter, Daintyfoot, Flameheart,
Greenwood, Longshot, Many-Legs, The Bold, Tree-Killer, Woodwalker

#### Bosmer Traits

Your Bosmer character has a variety of natural abilities in common with other
Bosmer.

***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your
Wisdom score increases by 1.

***Age.*** Bosmer live two to three times as long as humans; with a 200-year-old
Bosmer being old and a 300-year-old Bosmer being very, very old.

***Alignment.*** Most Bosmer are good, preferring to avoid violence if they can.
Many Bosmer religiously follow the tenets of the Green Pact, but they are not
otherwise known to be expressly lawful.

***Size.*** Bosmer are often a head smaller than humans. They are rarely over 5
and a half feet tall. Your size is Medium.

***Speed.*** Your base walking speed is 35 feet.

***Y'ffre's Favor.*** While you abide by the Green Pact, you gain Y'ffre's
patronage and protection. You can cast *animal friendship* with this trait. Once
you cast the spell, you can't cast it again with this trait until you finish a
short or long rest. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for this spell. In
addition, you can communicate with plants in a limited manner. They can
understand the meaning of your words, though you have no special ability to
understand them in return. You have advantage on all Charisma checks you make to
influence them.

***Bosmer Resilience.*** You have advantage on saving throws against being
poisoned or diseased, and you are resistant to poison damage.

***Natural Archer.*** You have proficiency with the shortbow and longbow.

***Quick and Nimble.*** You have proficiency in the Acrobatics skill.

***Languages.*** You can speak, read and write Common and Bosmeris.

\pagebreakNum

## Elsweyr

Elsweyr is a province that lies on the southern coast of Tamriel, and is home to
the feline Khajiit. It is divided into two major climates along the lines of the
regions Anequina and Pellitine. Anequina encompasses the northern half of
Elsweyr. The region is dominated by harsh badlands and dry plains, which gave
rise to a hardened warrior culture among the local Khajiit that view their
neighbors to the south as decadent and depraved. Pellitine encompasses the
southern half of Elsweyr. The region is considerably more fertile than the arid
north, and is replete with jungles, rainforests, and river basins. The Khajiit
of Pellitine are consequently wealthier than their neighbors to the north, whom
they derided as uncouth barbarians. The seat of the Mane, Torval, is located
here.

### History

The Khajiiti creation myth explains the hot deserts of northern Elsweyr and the
wet and poisonous Tenmar Forest in the south to be made by Nirni as revenge for
being tricked by Azurah.

By the beginning of the First Era, sixteen realms in the region of today's
Elsweyr existed. These were not comparable to the kingdoms of men and mer, as
those Khajiiti realms were not fighting each other for power or land. Instead
they were existing in harmony and complementary. Each such kingdom was
specialized on providing goods or services and shared it with their neighbours.

\columnbreak

Ne Quin-al, also known as Anequina in Cyrodilic, for example provided their
excellent trained fighters of the Two-Moons Dance to Torval in exchange for fish
and other goods from the sea. Influence and power shifted constantly, and the
dominance of the regions cycled through the kingdoms depending on the phases of
Masser and Secunda. For example, Ne Quin-al was in power at full moons, while
Torval was when both moons were half, or Senchal when they were both new.

The political balance in the sixteen Khajiiti kingdoms proved stable enough for
thousands of years. Neither the Alessian Empire nor the Bosmer of Valenwood
dared to extend their borders too far into the lands of the Khajiit, but caused
increasing animosity between the Khajiiti realms. Until, After two millennia,
the political landscape of the Khajiiti territory changed drastically with the
emerging Thrassian Plague of 1E 2260. It expanded along the trading routes
deep into the realm of the Khajiit and caused a mass mortality. The balance
between the sixteen kingdoms was finally destroyed.

The remains of the original sixteen realms were two realms with opposing
cultures: The northern Ne Quin-al with it's many warrior clans, and the wealthy
southern Pa'alatiin, also known as Pellitine in Cyrodilic. Both kingdoms fought
for centuries, but none of both could ever gain the upper hand of Elsweyr.

With the rise of the Reman Dynasty in 1E 2703, the new found Second Empire begun
to expand. Also the two kingdoms of Anequina and Pellitine could not resist the
Empire's power and were conquered. And although the two kingdoms were in the
same Empire, they could not stop fighting one another.

\pagebreakNum

The ongoing strife between Anequina and Pellitine was finally resolved by the
Khajiit themselves. Keirgo of Anequina and Eshita of Pellitine married in 2E 309
and combined the two conflicting kingdoms, aware of the political impact, into
one: The Elsweyr Confederacy. The reason for the name is a matter of debate;
either a reference to the old Khajiiti proverb "A perfect society is always
found elsewhere", or to the Sands Behind the Stars, in Ta'agra called Llesw'er.

The formation of the new kingdom did not bring the expected peace. The cleft
between tribal culture of the north and nobility of the south was still present,
and gave rise to rebels, leading to the capture of the southern capital by
northern Khajiit.

As the rebellion kept going on, Mane Rid-Thar-ri'Datta—the spiritual leader of
the Khajiit—revealed the Riddle'Thar Epiphany in the Temple of Two-Moons Dance
of Rawl'kha in 2E 311. Rid-Thar-ri'Datta was since then known as the First Mane.
The Mane, usually nonpartisan, used Riddle'Thar to proclaim a new system of
dividing the powers in Elsweyr. Bound to the dance of the two moons—their
different phases—the power in a region shifted between the nobility of the
cities and the chieftains of the deserts. The Mane itself was overseeing this
shift of powers, and as this system was implemented it finally brought peace to
Elsweyr some time around 2E 324—lasting under many more Manes.

Two hundred years after the rebellion—that followed the formation of the Elsweyr
Confederacy—the Knahaten Flu ravaged the land of the Khajiit just as unprepared
as the Thrassian Plague before. The flu appeared in Elsweyr the first time on
Sweet Street in the Black Keirgo slums of Senchal. First dismissed as a toxin in
the goods by the city's elders, it spread over to Dagi's Pride, Squint-Eye, and
the docks of Alabaster. The expansion of the flu accelerated, soon to be in
Torval, Orcrest, Dune, Corinthe, and everywhere between.

As the Khajiit were focused on fighting their own extinction, Colovian armies,
in the time of the Longhouse Emperors, invaded the northern part of Elsweyr and
annexed it. Their invasion went as far as Riverhold and Orcrest, until they were
fought back there in 2E 562.

\columnbreak

Lord Gharesh-ri, Speaker for the Mane, organized the remnants of the Mane's
Legion to maintain order and use newfound knowledge of an alleviating tea.
However, all this did not prevent further spreading of the flu and many more
dead. When hope was almost lost, unexpected help came from the Altmer of
Summerset Isles, bringing direly needed physicians, healers, and supplies. This
aid gradually defeated the Knahaten Flu and saving the Khajiit. In return, the
Khajiit joined the Aldmeri Dominion in 2E 580.

### The Mane

The Mane is a unique breed of Khajiit, which acts as the leader of the Elsweyr
Confederation. Elsweyr's current mane is Mane Akkhuz-ri. Khajiit tradition holds
that only one Mane can be alive at one time and, more specifically, believe that
there is actually only one Mane who is reborn again and again in different
bodies. There has been no recorded incident of more than one Mane contending for
power, although whether due to the truth in the Khajiit belief or whether the
ruling Mane takes care of any potential rivals is unknown. Manes can only be
born under a rare alignment of the moons Masser and Secunda when, according to
legend, a third moon actually appears.

In older days the Khajiit would shave off their manes in deference to the Mane,
braiding them into locks which the Mane would incorporate into its own mane. The
Mane is so weighted down by the hair that movement is difficult without aid and
they often travel the countryside by means of a palanquin. As the population
grew, however, this became impractical, although the Khajiit still remove their
manes and the current Mane still wears the hair of its tribe and Warrior Guard
which includes several hundred in number.

Though the Mane is the spiritual leader of all of Elsweyr, the Khajiit are led
in their beliefs by mysterious figures known as "Clan Mothers", whose duty it is
to disseminate the cultural myths among their kind, and who maintain autonomy
from the Mane and the disparate tribal leaders. It is widely held that the Clan
Mothers are greatest force among the Khajiit. It is they, ultimately, who
control both the harvest and refining of Moon Sugar, and thus they who are seen
as the most influential.

\pagebreakNum

> ##### Moon Sugar
>
> The moon sugar of Elsweyr is the holiest of substances to the Khajiit. They
> speak of sugar as others speak of the soul or the life force. The Khajiit
> understand it to be "crystallized moonlight", caught in the water of the Topal
> Sea and brought to the sugarcane groves of the Tenmar by the force of the twin
> tides.
>
> Moon sugar has a variety of uses; it is alternately a seasoning and a magical
> ingredient, a source of communion with the holy moons and a dangerous and
> addictive drug. It has analgesic and soporific effects; it makes users
> "happy and stupid". In humans, its consumption causes a euphoric state
> followed by complete exhaustion. Khajiit are relatively resistant to these
> effects because they consume it in some form every day, but over-consumption
> can cause the euphoric state and even addiction.
>
> Moon sugar is commonly refined into a more potent and addictive form known as
> skooma. Skooma is a hallucinatory narcotic that is extremely addictive. Its
> victims are left in constant, alternating states of delusional euphoria and
> lethargy.

### Torval

Torval is a city found in the southern forest region of Pellitine. It is known
as the home of the Mane. The Mane and their tribe live in exotic palaces, which
are surrounded by symmetrical sugarcane gardens where the Mane would meditate.
The Mane's Warrior Guard patrols the sacred grounds, preventing anyone from
entering and disturbing the Mane.

Like other areas in Elsweyr, Torval contains a Temple of Two-Moons Dance, with
this one, in particular, being known for producing great fighters and excellent
training in all of Tamriel.

### Senchal

Senchal is known for being an infamous, yet influential, port city in southern
Tamriel. It is filled to the brim with crowded bazaars and open-aired markets.
The highly-populated harbor contains all sorts of pirates and smugglers that
operate across the southern sea, and the Topal Bay. It is possible to buy
anything in Senchal, including a fresh corpse. Supposedly, the Sload of Thras
would buy corpses from Senchal's black market and ship it on their airships

The most well-known district of Senchal is Black Keirgo, the slums of Senchal.
It is considered squalid and dangerous, with a large Moon Sugar influence. There
are illegal sugar dens located throughout the streets, consisting of all sorts
of people, even nobility.

On the 16th of Sun's Dawn, commonly known as Heart's Day, King Dro'Zel was
visited by a bard from the town of Gil-Var-Delle, who recounted the ancient tale
of Polydor and Eloisa. The tale had left Dro'Zel in dismay and anguish, so much
so that he summoned Molag Bal to destroy the town, leaving a haunting husk of
the former settlement.

\columnbreak

Sometime later by the 6th of Sun's Dusk, King Dro'Zel was named one of the new
Advisors to Emperor Reman Cyrodiil III. After the Emperor was assassinated,
Versidue-Shaie proclaimed the arrival of the Second Era and his new position.
The only person clapping was King Dro'Zel.

Senchal is possibly the city that was affected the most by the Knahaten Flu.
Entire neighborhoods were razed amidst the chaos to cure the flu in Senchal.
These ruins were never rebuilt.

### Corinthe

Corinthe is a city located on the northern edge of the region of Pellitine,
known for carpenters and woodworking. The main gate in Corinthe is known for its
stature, being called the Great Gate of Corinthe. Corinthe once contained a
place known as the Grand Archive, which held text of ancient Elsweyr in the
Merethic Era. The land surrounding Corinthe is open savannahs, populated by the
Desert Lynx, which are totem animals of the pastoral Khajiit tribes. They are
used in managing moving herds. Corinthe is the home of the First Corinthe
Hussars, horsemen that utilize the Pellitine Mustang that live in the area.

Outside of the city outskirts is the ruins known as the Temple of Agamanus. The
Temple was dedicated to Agamanus, the Sphinx of Gazia. At one point, the temple
had fallen into disrepair and obscurity, along with Agamanus' history.

### Dune

Dune is a prominent merchant town with a bustling crowd of caravans and herders,
as well as, an artistic one, with painted pavilions and statues with intricate
carvings of gold, red, and black. Dune is located near the borders of Valenwood
in the west, and Cyrodiil in the northeast. To the northeast, near the exact
border to Cyrodiil lies Fort Sphinxmoth. Which was established to control the
feuds between both the Khajiit and the Wood Elves, though it would waver between
control, either by the Empire of Cyrodiil, or one of the warring tribes.

Dune is a large metropolis built on the hills that lead into the rest of
Anequina. Dune is heavily-fortified, but not without its artistic attributes.
The high walls and battlements of Dune are ornate, with crescent moons adorned
across the walls. But despite this, Dune's walls are made out of wood, with
some buildings falling into disrepair. But regardless, Dune continues to stand.

\pagebreakNum

The doors in Dune are decorative. The streets and thoroughfare have painted
pavilions and decorative statues. They are also very clean for what it is,
dung-free but with constant traffic from herders. Dune is also known for
teahouses, such as the Sweet Plethora teahouse. Dune is also the home of the
Moon Sugar Press.

Like the rest of Elsweyr, there is a Temple of Two-Moons Dance in Dune. Dune is
split into three districts. A temple district with chantries dedicated to Jone,
Jode, and Lorkhaj. A merchant district in the north for local guilds, as well
as, various artisans. And a residential district found in between the previously
mentioned districts and the Temple of Two-Moons Dance. There are thoroughfares
that run through the borders of these districts.

### Rimmen

Rimmen is seen as the epitome of Elsweyri hospitality. It is an oasis in the
harshlands of Northern Elsweyr, as tropical plants and trees grow on artificial
canals that flow from the great Anequinian aqueducts across the Kingdom of
Rimmen. It is built atop of a hill that descends into the High Savannah, which
is the upper tier of Northern Elsweyr, anchored by Riverhold to the west. Just
to the south is a large ravine where the Scar desert begins.

Outside of the city's walls are water fields on the steppes for Moon Sugarcanes
and several small farmhouses. Further south towards the S'rendarr's Cradle
Adeptorium is the expansive Rimmen Necropolis, which despite the name, it is not
a part of the city. It was supposedly created from a superstition that has
fallen out of favor.

The aqueducts empty in the town square, into relaxing pools of water where
several people pass the time to relax and meditate. The Artisans District is
found in the northwest of Rimmen. In the center is various craft stations
covered by a large Khajiiti pergola. On the path to the Rimmen Palace is the
Baandari Bazaar, an expansive marketplace found along the canal. Continuing
north is the northern district, where the Tonenaka Shrine is found. When the
Akaviri of the then-defunct Second Empire entered Anequina, they brought their
culture with them, and it changed Rimmen forever. They built the Tonenaka in the
traditional Akaviri style. It is described to hold ten-thousand statues crafted
from sculptors across southern Tamriel. Along with the shrine, there is the Hall
of the Lunar Champion, initially built for the Khajiiti Mythic-Hero, Khunzar-ri.
Castle Rimmen overlooks the entire city, and it is where the King and Queen of
Anequina live.

In 2E 576, the city of Rimmen was ruled by King Hemakar and Queen Numara. As
Emperor Varen Aquilarios was occupied in Cyrodiil, Euraxia Tharn was sent on
Imperial business to Rimmen, where the King welcomed her kindly. This proved to
be the King's greatest mistake. Using her militia of Nibenese mercenaries,
Euraxia Tharn conquered Northern Elsweyr and executed the royal family. She was
known as a tyrant across Anequina, from Rimmen to Riverhold. As time went on,
Queen Euraxia imposed heavy and costly taxes such as the fur tax, built
siege weapons meant to destroy Rimmen should the people rebel, and even work
with a cult of necromancers led by Zumog Phoom. Euraxia's forces spanned
across Northern Elsweyr, eventually taking Riverhold in the western hills.

Because of the ongoing Three Banners War, the Aldmeri Dominion were pre-occupied
in Cyrodiil, and so the Khajiit are on their own in the war against the foreign
occupier. Lord Gharesh-ri has promised to commit forces to liberate the city.

\columnbreak

### Khajiit

Hailing from the tropical province of Elsweyr, Khajiit are feline humanoids,
known for their grace and intellect. Nomadic and inquisitive, the Khajiit rarely
stay in one place for long.

#### Children of the Moon

Khajiit come in many breeds, or furstocks. The Alfiq are a diminutive form of
Khajiit resembling typical house cats, and the Senche are tiger-like Khajiit
that lend themselves towards being used as steeds. Ohmes are visually similar to
mer, especially Bosmer. Cathay, Dagi, and Suthay have a humanoid build with fur,
tails, claws and cat-like heads. Every furstock also has its Raht variant, which
is typically of greater stature. All furstocks are intelligent, and there are
rumored to be sixteen or more.

The morphology of Khajiit is determined at their date of birth, intrinsically
tied to the phases of Jone and Jode, the Lunar Lattice. After birth, Khajiit
look very similar, and smaller than human newborns. Within weeks after, their
individual morphology becomes more clear, and their growth is faster than that
of humans.

Khajiit anatomy differs greatly from both men and elves, not only because of
their fur, tail, and sometimes toe-walking stance, but also their digestive
system and metabolism. They have a sweet tooth and use a sweet spice called moon
sugar in almost every dish.

The typical bipedal Khajiit dresses in an ample shawl of brightly-colored cloth,
known as a budi, for defense against the harsh rays of the sun. This shirt is
tightly fastened in braids down the right side, in order to prevent any part of
the torso fur from being seen, as the exposure of such in public is deemed both
offensive and unsightly. In battle, those who walk upright traditionally don
medium-weight armor, exquisitely fashioned from loose-fitting leather overlaid
with lacquered and highly-burnished metal plates. While leather caps are
generally preferred, those with the means to procure such will often don helms
of fluted silver. Furthermore, most Khajiit bedeck themselves with jewelry,
trinkets, and occasionally even herbs such as Nightshade. Their tattoos often
have deep cultural and religious significance, as they signify their race,
tribe, and the gods of their worship.

#### Dual Society

The Khajiit are divided by two disparate ways of life: the civilized jungles and
river basins of southern Elsweyr, which have ancient mercantile traditions, a
stable agrarian aristocracy based on the exportation of saltrice and moon sugar,
and a thriving artistic culture, which contrasts greatly with the nomadic tribe
or pride-centric Khajiit of the dry northern wastes and grasslands, where
aggressive and territorial raiders occasionally unite under a single chieftain.

#### Guardians and Charlatans

Khajiit, who are commonly targeted for racial discrimination, have had to deal
with being kidnapped and sold into slavery. This harsh reality has made them
take self-defense very seriously. The majority of Khajiit use their claws as
weapons, and many have formed groups that utilize their natural gifts in various
forms of martial arts.

Other Khajiit welcome the black market with open paws, taking to a life of
piracy, smuggling moon sugar, and the more potent skooma, to the many different
lands. Khajiit's natural abilities make them superb thieves and acrobats, as
well as fearsome warriors.

\pagebreakNum

#### Khajiit Names

Each Khajiit has a single name in their language, Ta'agra, but it is also common
for a Khajiit to go by their Tamrielic name, usually given to them by men or
mer. These common names are typically descriptive of the their personality or
quirks.

**Male Names:** Akrah, Azbishan, Balag, Dazur, Eilun, Fa'alar, Ghadar, Hilan,
Jahirr, Khasar, Lansur, Maniz, Malirzzaka, Nakkhu, Oblan, Pinar, Rakhad, Razur,
Sabra, Tabil, Urjen, Vashpar, Yan, Zaban, Zino

**Female Names:** Abizah, Azum, Bakkhara, Bindu, Darali, Elamusa, Fedura, Hani,
Inama, Kala, Kiasha, Manabi, Mura, Nayya, Pinirai, Samati, Sebazi, Shuzura,
Tahara, Tohiba, Urbani, Vaifa, Yana, Zara, Zurka

**Tamrielic Names:** Ashenfur, Black-Paw, Clevereyes, Dawnwalker, Dusty-Claw,
Elf-Biter, Firebreath, Four-Toes, Iron-Ear, Kink Tail, Silvertongue, Soft-Fur,
Sugar-Claws, Tender-Paws, Wet-Whiskers

___

An important aspect of Khajiit names are honorifics, more commonly among males
than females. They reflect their status in life or society, and can change
accordingly. Thus, it is considered improper and insulting to apply a wrong
honorific. Commonly a Khajiit takes up just one honorific at a time, as using
two either shows great ignorance or great pride. They also sometimes are given
in terms of endearment, banter or deceit. Rarely, even non-Khajiit take up
Khajiit honorifics.

Honorifics are usually a prefix before or suffix after a Khajiit's name, usually
separated by an apostrophe, uncommonly a hyphen, or rarely without separation.

##### Khajiit Honorifics

| d10 | Male | Female | Short Form | Meaning |
|:---:|:-----|:-------|:-----------|:--------|
| 1   | Dar  | Daro   | —          | Most ancient title; nimble fingered, lithe of tongue, inquisitive, acquisitive, clever |
| 2   | Do   | Do     | —          | Rarely taken by females; master of Khajiit martial arts, renowned warrior, guard of the Mane |
| 3   | Dro  | Dra    | —          | Wise and witted, elder, patriarch or matriarch, grandparent |
| 4   | Ja   | —      | J          | Young adult, bachelor, inexperienced |
| 5   | Jo   | Ko     | —          | Learned, wizard, physician, scholar |
| 6   | —    | La     | —          | Unmarried, graceful maiden |
| 7   | Ma   | Ma     | M          | Child, virgin, apprentice |
| 8   | Ra   | Ra     | R          | Rarely taken by females; leader of soldiers, trade, or governance |
| 9   | Ri   | Ri     | —          | Rarely taken by females; rarely awarded title for great leaders; chieftain, king, speaker, Mane |
| 10  | —    | —      | S          | Adult |

\columnbreak

#### Khajiit Traits

Your Khajiit heritage manifests in a variety of traits you share with other
Khajiit.

***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Dexterity score increases by 2.

***Age.*** The lifespan of Khajiit is about one hundred years.

***Alignment.*** Most Khajiit are chaotic, considering laws more akin to
suggestions.

***Speed.*** Your base walking speed is 35 feet.

***Darkvision.*** You have a cat's keen senses, especially in the dark. You can
see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in
darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only
shades of gray.

***Keen Senses.*** You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

***Cat's Claws.*** Your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make
unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 +
your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed
strike.

***Languages.*** You can speak, read, and write Common and Ta'agra.

***Subraces.*** There are many distinct furstocks of Khajiit. Choose one from
the following subraces.

> ##### Khajiiti Speech
>
> Khajiit typically do not use the first person "I" when referring to
> themselves. Some khajiit believe that to do so would be incredibly rude and
> self-important. Instead, many Khajiit refer to themselves as "this one",
> "he/she/they", "Khajiit", or simply their name. Similarly, Khajiit may refrain
> from using the second person "you", but this does not happen as often.
>
> Khajiit speak with a raspy voice, but never without an elegant rhythm. Their
> speech has been described as mysterious, which may be a kinder way to say that
> the listener is never sure whether the Khajiit is lying or not.

\pagebreakNum

##### Alfiq

The Alfiq are a diminutive form of magically gifted Khajiit resembling typical
housecats. Their resemblance to common housecats has led many to treat them as
such, whether by downplaying their intelligence, or even cooing or attempting to
cuddle them. While it is rumored that Alfiq are mute, they are in fact capable
of speech, a misconception which may derive from scholarly reduction of Alfiq to
the status of housecats, or from a disinclination of Alfiq to talk in the
presence of outsiders. Due to the disrespect that Alfiq get as a result of their
form, they rarely travel outside Elsweyr. All these factors resulted in Alfiq
resenting being labeled as housecats, which they consider patronizing and
irritating. The various misconceptions, however, do allow Alfiq to pose as
housecats in order to serve as information gatherers. Alfiq wear clothing, but
as they are unable to naturally put it on themselves, they have others do it for
them, or use magic to clothe themselves.

***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Intelligence score increases by 1, and your
Strength score is reduced by 2.

***Size.*** You resemble a typical housecat. Your size is Tiny.

***Cantrip.*** You know one cantrip of your choice from the wizard spell list.
Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for it.

##### Cathay

Cathay are similar in appearance to Suthay, but they possess greater stature and
strength, and are often nicknamed "jaguar-men". Unlike Suthay, they have
plantigrade legs.

***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Strength score increases by 1.

***Size.*** Cathay are slightly taller than humans, often taller than 5 and a
half feet. Your size is Medium.

***Jaguar's Strength.*** You have proficiency in the Athletics skill.

\columnbreak

##### Dagi

Dagi have facial features that are comparable to that of lynxes, and are short
in stature, making them among the smallest of the furstocks. Due to their light
weight, they have been reported as being able to dwell in higher branches of
trees that cannot hold a Bosmer. Due to their inclination to climb trees, they
are compared to monkeys. Many Dagi are skilled spellcasters.

***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Intelligence score increases by 1.

***Size.*** Dagi are slight of stature, rarely taller than 4 feet. Your
size is Small.

***Tree Climber.*** You can climb trees that few others can. You have a climbing
speed of 35 feet and have advantage on all climbing-related checks. In addition,
you have proficiency in the Acrobatics skill.

##### Pahmar

Little is known of the Pahmar, except that they are comparable to tigers.

***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Strength score increases by 1.

***Size.*** Senche are slightly shorter than humans at 5 or 6 feet. Your size is
Medium.

***Tiger's Claws.*** Instead of 1d4, your damage die for *Cat's Claws* is 1d8.

\pagebreakNum

##### Ohmes

Ohmes are described as man-like, or man-faced, and visually like Bosmer, though
sometimes shorter. To avoid being mistaken as such, many Ohmes tattoo or paint
their faces to resemble a feline aspect. They are said to be the most common
kind of Khajiit to be encountered outside of Elsweyr, usually as adventurers or
diplomats

***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Charisma score increases by 1.

***Size.*** Ohmes are similar in stature to Bosmer, rarely taller than 5
and a half feet. Your size is Medium.

***Ambassador.*** Your man-like physique makes you a natural ambassador to the
other races. You have proficiency your choice of one of the following skills:
Deception or Persuasion. In addition, you can speak, read, and write one extra
languages of your choice.

***No Claws.*** Unlike other Khajiit, you do not have the *Cat's Claws* trait.

##### Senche

Senche are very often confused with the lesser sentient Senche-Tigers due to
Khajiit using the name Senche as collective term for all of their tiger-sized
catlike cousins. The Senche furstock is similar to Pahmar-raht in size. They are
very large, standing about as tall as an Altmer. Some say their weight is
comparable to that of twenty Altmer, which may be a bit of exaggeration. They
have yellow eyes and tawny fur, ribboned with stripes the color of dried blood.
Other Khajiit may use them as steeds if they are permitted to. Although they can
function as mounts and beasts of burden and war, they dislike being lowered to a
beastly status. They like to be seen as equals and thus dislike their riders to
be labeled as owners and handlers.

***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Strength score increases by 1.

***Size.*** Senche stand about as tall as an Altmer at 6 or 7 feet. Your size is
Medium.

\columnbreak

***Feline Build.*** You count as one size larger when determining your carrying
capacity and the weight you can push or drag. In addition, a Medium or smaller
creature can ride you as a mount if you allow it. In such a situation, you
continue to act independently.

##### Suthay

Suthay are similar in height and build to the race of man, but they are
completely covered in fur of different colors and patterns and have a tail.
Claws are present on hands and feet, and their heads appear very cat-like. Their
legs are digitigrade. Suthay are known to be for their bold spirit and for being
agile and sneaky. This makes them good adventurers and traders.

***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Wisdom score increases by 1.

***Size.*** Suthay are slightly shorter than humans, ranging from 5 feet to 6
feet tall. Your size is Medium.

***Natural Thief.*** You have proficiency with thieves' tools. In addition, you
have proficiency in the Sleight of Hand skill.

##### Tojay

Little is known of the Tojay, except that they live in the southern marshes and
jungle regions of Elsweyr, as well as the Tenmar Forest. They are thought to be
similar to Dagi, but more lithe.

***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Constitution score increases by 1.

***Size.*** Tojay are slight of stature, rarely taller than 4 feet. Your size is
Small.

***Marsh Inhabitant.*** You have proficiency in the Survival skill.

\pagebreakNum

# Chapter 6: Ebonheart Pact

___

*Time and again throughout history, armies of men have marched in from the rim
of Tamriel to conquer its center, enjoying a brief moment of power before
sliding into inevitable discord and decay. It's time to break this destructive
cycle once and for all. We need to defeat the armies of the Covenant and the
Dominion, depose their leaders, and bring their chastened successors into a new
Tamriel Pact, where wiser heads shall prevail.*

<p style='text-align: right; margin-top: -0.8em'>—Alla Lalleth</p>

___

The Ebonheart Pact is a military alliance between the Dunmer of the Great Houses
Dres, Hlaalu, Indoril, and Redoran of Morrowind, the Nords of the Kingdom of
Eastern Skyrim, and the Argonians of the tribes of Shadowfen and Thornmarsh in
Black Marsh. The sigil of the Pact is a dragon, and its colors are red and
black. They aim to wipe away the rash rule of the Empire and end once and for
all mortals' entanglements with higher power from beyond Nirn. The Pact is led
by Jorunn the Skald-King, who heads the Great Moot.

\columnbreak

The Ebonheart Pact was ratified by the pact of the same name in the city of
Ebonheart, adjacent to Vivec's Antlers where an unlikely alliance of Nords,
Dunmer, and Argonians warded off an Akaviri invasion. A Great Moot governs the
Pact. This council of equals from each of the member races is not only known for
hot tempers and loud voices, but also for mutual respect and an amazing will to
hold the Pact together against all odds.

When the Tribunal became aware of the dark happenings in Cyrodiil, they called
upon their allies to mount a righteous war against the corrupt and
disintegrating Empire, and prevent the other alliances from establishing another
bloody-handed tyranny in Cyrodiil.

> ##### Blood for the Pact!
>
> Before Ysgramor led the Nord people south, our ancestors flourished in the
> frozen continent of Atmora, and to this day our people prefer the bitter
> climes of northern Tamriel.
>
> The Dark Elves abide in Morrowind, a harsh land of ashfall and perpetual
> earthquakes.
>
> The Argonians endure the treacherous and impenetrable depths of Black Marsh.
>
> The alliance between our races was born in dark times, when Nord, Dunmer and
> free Argonians fought as one to repel the invasion of the Akaviri
> slavemasters.
>
> Our greatest strength is the adversity we have overcome.
>
> Our resolve is glacial, our might is forged in fire, and our courage,
> cultivated by the beasts of the jungle.
>
> We are Ebonheart. We are as one. And by this, our victory is assured.
>
> ___
>
> Jorunn

</div>

\pagebreakNum

## Skyrim

Skyrim, the northernmost province of Tamriel, is a cold and mountainous region
also known as the Old Kingdom, or Mereth. Though currently inhabited primarily
by Nords, the Elves whom they replaced had resided there since time immemorial.

The sovereign, the High King of Skyrim, is chosen by the Moot, a convention of
jarls. A jarl is a regional ruler chosen through heredity and, rarely, through
right of arms. The High King typically rules until death, though acts of
dishonor, particularly the appearance of cowardice, can lead to the recall and
reconsideration of the Moot. Since the Pact of Chieftains was signed in 1E 420,
the Moot does not give serious consideration to anyone but the High King's
direct heir unless one is not available. However, since the start of the
Interregnum, Skyrim has been split into a western and eastern half. Western
Skyrim is ruled by the descendants of Jarl Svartr, while Eastern Skyrim is ruled
by High King Jorunn.

Nord architects are masters of creating structures that last for generations.
Many ancient Nordic ruins built into the mountains dating back to the Merethic
and First Eras remain standing throughout Skyrim. They are towering, foreboding
structures of black granite. Some were settlements and temples from when the
Nords lived under the rule of the Dragon Cult and after; others are burial tombs
for the honored dead. Most modern buildings in Skyrim are built partly
underground to conserve heat, and are made with stones, with wood used only for
support, and roofs of straw. The Nords are known as masters of lumber
construction, and these houses are essential to keep in heat in the freezing
climate.

\columnbreak

The Nords long ago divided the province into nine geopolitical regions known as
holds, each of which has a ruling jarl. Each hold is a large area of land
roughly equivalent to a county in Cyrodiil, each individually governed by a jarl
who maintains court in the hold's capital city. There are nine of them in total:
Haafingar, Hjaalmarch, The Pale, Winterhold, Eastmarch, The Rift, Whiterun,
Falkreath, and The Reach.

### History

Skyrim's history is mostly that of the Nords. The Nords believe the sky, Kyne,
breathed life into them at the summit of the Throat of the World, which is
considered the tallest mountain in Tamriel by some. Most historians tend to
portray Ysgramor as the first Nordic settler of Skyrim, ushering in concurrent
waves of immigration from Atmora. Some other historians argue that the early
Nedic peoples settled in Skyrim after arriving from Atmora well before the
arrival of Ysgramor.

In ancient times, Skyrim was ruled by the malevolent Dragon Cult. This early
society revolved around the worship of dragons through intermediaries known as
dragon priests, who ruled as gods above men. Sometime in the late Merethic Era,
the mythical Dragon War saw the overthrow of the Dragon Cult when Alduin,
Akatosh's firstborn, was defeated atop the Throat of the World. The veneration
of animals gods was eventually replaced by the Eight Divines.

The Aldmer and Snow Elves occupied Skyrim until the late Merethic Era, when a
wave of Nordic immigration from Atmora, led by Ysgramor, finally established
Nordic supremacy in modern-day Skyrim. These early settlers called the land
"Mereth", after the Elves that roamed the untamed wilderness.

\pagebreakNum

The arrival of Ysgramor and the proto-Nords sparked a long, antagonistic chain
of conquests that ultimately expelled the Elves from Skyrim. The instigating
spark of conflict was the infamous Night of Tears, where the Elves attacked the
human settlement of Saarthal. According to Imperial scholars, the Elves realized
that this newer race could outpace their relatively stagnant own. Others posit
that the human inhabitants had discovered a powerful artifact, the Eye of
Magnus, that the Elves desired. Nonetheless, Ysgramor escaped the carnage,
returning to Skyrim with his now legendary band of Five Hundred Companions,
slaughtering the Elves and establishing man as the foremost race in Skyrim.
Ysgramor's clan expanded their territory, and it continued to expand and
contract by winning and losing territories in Morrowind and High Rock during the
First Era. Elven rule of Skyrim is thought to have ended under the reign of King
Harald in the second or third century of the First Era, though pockets of Snow
Elves hid away in the wilderness.

In 1E 241, King Vrage the Gifted, Harald's son, began the aggressive expansion
now known as the Skyrim Conquests, which would culminate in the First Empire of
the Nords. Within a span of fifty years, the descendants of Ysgramor ruled all
of northern Tamriel, including most of present-day High Rock and the whole of
Morrowind. Some Nord leaders wanted to turn south to Cyrodiil, but the Jerall
Mountains proved to be too big a barrier, and northern Cyrodiil too poor a
prize.

Over the next few centuries, Skyrim expanded and contracted as battles were won
and lost. The Conquests, and the Empire, came to an end in 1E 369 with the death
of King Borgas, the last of the Ysgramor line, during the Wild Hunt of the
Bosmer of Valenwood. When the ruling council or Moot was unable to choose Jarl
Hanse of Winterhold as the new High King, the ensuing civil war tore the Empire
apart. The war concluded in 1E 420 with the Pact of Chieftains, but the Empire
lost its holdings in High Rock and Morrowind, and Skyrim was divided into
independent kingdoms.

In the years after 1E 420, the Dwemer of Clan Kragen migrated into Skyrim from
Morrowind, following in the footsteps of Clan Rourken's exodus. Clan Kragen
founded the city of Arkngthamz, which flourished despite constant attacks from
the Nords. The success of Arkngthamz encouraged other Dwemer clans to settle in
Skyrim, and these joined with Clan Kragen to form a loose alliance of four
city-states that were considered unassailable. Clan Kragen's presence eventually
extended further west into the Dragon's Teeth Mountains, where they carved out
an even larger bastion called Arkngthamz-Phng. The prosperity of Skyrim's Dwemer
city-states was relatively short-lived, as the discovery of rich deposits of
Aetherium and the creation of the Aetherium Forge immediately shattered the
alliance and launched decades of internal conflict. With the Dwemer distracted
and weakened, the Nords under High King Gellir finally conquered the squabbling
city-states in only three years, though the Dwemer would return a century later
and reclaim their former holdings. When the entire Dwemer race disappeared
around 1E 700, they left behind the Falmer, Snow Elves who they had allowed to
take refuge with them and then twisted into rebellious slave monsters. They
remained under the ground, occasionally making forays to the surface and
creating legends among the Nords of their presence and malevolent intent.

\columnbreak

> ##### Stagger and Sway
>
> ___
>
> *A love song*
>
> ___
>
> O my sweet love, she waits for me,  
> Through storm and shine, cross land or sea.  
> I run to her and together we, 
>
> ___
>
> Sway as we kiss  
> Sway as we kiss
>
> ___
>
> Her graceful shape I heave on high  
> And in one hand I hold her nigh  
> Her waiting lips are never dry
>
> ___
>
> Sway as we kiss  
> Sway as we kiss
>
> ___
>
> Come the morn she goes  
> The taste of her remains  
> And in my mind, I see us sway  
>
> ___
>
> Sway as we kiss  
> Sway as we kiss

Late in the First Era, an invasion from Akavir cut through Skyrim. Even though
Nords don't "meet invasions with pitchers of mead", they were unable to stop the
mighty Akaviri Dragonguard, and it took the united armies of Cyrodiil to stop
their advance at the Battle of Pale Pass. The Nords were understandably
impressed, and for the first time, the whole of Skyrim pledged allegiance to one
man: Reman Cyrodiil, one of the first Dragonborn recorded in history and the
founder of the Second Empire of Man.

After the assassination of High King Logrolf in 2E 431, a dispute over the
succession resulted in Skyrim's division into two independent kingdoms. It began
when Jarl Svartr of Solitude challenged the legitimacy of Logrolf's heir,
Freydis, and a Moot was convened. Although Freydis was accepted by the Crown of
Verity, a magical artifact crafted to test the worthiness of potential rulers of
Skyrim, and named High Queen in Windhelm, a partial Moot held in Solitude
declared Svartr to be High King. From then on, Skyrim was divided into two
kingdoms. In the east, Freydis and her successors ruled over the Rift,
Eastmarch, the Pale, and Winterhold, while in the west, Svartr and his
successors ruled over Falkreath, Whiterun Hold, Hjaalmarch, and Haafingar.
Today, Eastern Skyrim fights in the Three Banners War as a member of the
Ebonheart Pact, while Western Skyrim remains neutral.

### The Old Ways

Ysgramor and the Atmorans brought with them the worship of animal gods: the
hawk, wolf, snake, moth, owl, whale, bear, fox, and most importantly the dragon.
Over time, as Nord beliefs evolved, the traditional Nordic Pantheon of Divines
emerged as personifications of natural forces and ideas. Many scholars believe
that the Nordic Pantheon is the same as the orthodox pantheon, merely with
different names (there are certainly many parallels), and many Nords who have
adopted the Divines evidently have this understanding.

\pagebreakNum

The isolated Nordic tribe in Solstheim, the Skaal, carry on a tradition very
similar to the old tradition of animal worship. The Skaal venerate all of
nature, believing that certain parts of their environment, such as the winds,
the trees and the sun, were given to them by the All-Maker, a benevolent,
unknowable creator deity. Wolves and bears are especially sacred to the small
tribe. All aspects of nature must constantly be in harmony, for this is what
gives the Skaal their shamanic powers.

### The Throat of the World

The Throat of the World is the highest peak in the province of Skyrim. Some
consider it the highest mountain of all Tamriel, but most historians agree that
Red Mountain is higher.

Seven thousand steps lead up the mountain to its summit, where the settlement of
High Hrothgar is located, and where the Greybeards live their lives of absolute
silence. The legends of the Nords state that mankind was formed on the mountain
when the sky breathed onto the land. Their Songs of the Return therefore
describe Ysgramor's voyage to Tamriel from Atmora as a return rather than an
exodus. Many pilgrims travel to the mountain and climb the seven thousand steps
to its peak.

During the Dragon War, the great dragon Alduin was lured to the top of the
mountain by a group of Nords. After seeing that they could not defeat him, the
Nords sent him forward in time using an Elder Scroll. The event created a hole
in time itself atop the mountain, called the Time-Wound, or "Tid-Ahraan".

### Windhelm

Windhelm is a city in northeastern Skyrim, close to the border with Morrowind,
and is the only substantial city in the Hold of Eastmarch. It is not only the
oldest city in Skyrim, but is the oldest continuously inhabited human settlement
in Tamriel. Windhelm was once the capital of the First Empire of the Nords and
the old palace of the Ysgramor dynasty, the Palace of the Kings, still stands in
the center of the city. Like most Nord cities, Windhelm has a Hall of the Dead
where bodies are interred, overseen by a Priest of Arkay who ensures that
corpses are properly consecrated and cared for.

\columnbreak

In 2E 572, it was sacked by the Akaviri army of Ada'Soom Dir-Kamal, and the
then-ruler of the city, Mabjaarn Flame-Hair was slain in battle along with her
daughter Nurnhilde. The Palace of the Kings was one of the few of the city's
original structures that survived these events, but it was badly damaged. The
palace court was temporarily displaced as High King Jorunn elected to repair the
rest of city first, before completing the palace.

### Solitude

Solitude is a major port city on the northern coast of the province of Skyrim.
It is famous for being the northernmost town in Tamriel. After the downfall of
the Second Empire and the assassination of King Logrolf, Jarl Svartr of Solitude
challenged the legitimacy of Logrolf's heir, Freydis, leading to the division of
Skyrim into two kingdoms. Solitude then became the capital of Western Skyrim. It
is one of the wealthiest cities in Skyrim, serving as the foremost merchant town
along its north coast.

### Falkreath

Falkreath is a major city near the southern border of Skyrim. It is known for
its vast graveyard and melancholy atmosphere. Some of the greatest warriors and
noble jarls in all of Skyrim are buried in Falkreath's graveyard. The pine
forest that surrounds Falkreath is vast, covering a large part of Falkreath
Hold. In the city's general vicinity are ancient Nordic ruins and abandoned
towers that have been used by the local bandits as redoubts.

Sometime before 2E 437, the Orcs under the command of Yashnag gro-Yazgu had
taken control of Western Falkreath Hold, posing a threat not only to the
city-state of Falkreath, but the sovereignty of the whole Western Skyrim. The
Jarl of Falkreath was slain by Yashnag, leaving the hold to his son, Hakkvild.
Yashnag's orcs continued to be a serious threat for Jarl Hakkvild, forcing the
young jarl to take to arms and challenge the Orc chieftain in an ancient ritual.
In the end, Yashnag was slain by Jarl Hakkvild, who took the name
"Yashnag-Slayer" after his victory. With their leader dead, the Orcs fled back
into Wrothgar, and Hakkvild reclaimed all of Falkreath. Years later, Kurog
gro-Bagrakh's Orcs attempted to reclaim the land that used to belong to Yashnag,
but this time the Nords were able to defend themselves and repel the invaders.

\pagebreakNum

### Riften

Riften is a city built on the shores of Lake Honrich, nestled within the Fall
Forest. It lies close to Skyrim's borders with Cyrodiil and Morrowind, and
enjoys robust trade with the latter via the nearby pass through the Velothi
Mountains. Riften is also the home of the Thieves Guild in Skyrim, and has
become infamous as a town where the aspiring rogue or thief can rise among the
criminal underworld.

### Whiterun

Whiterun is a city in central Skyrim. It is divided into three districts: the
Plains District, used as a marketplace where all the merchants, stalls and inns
are located; the Wind District, used as a residential area; and the Cloud
District, where the palace of Dragonsreach is located. The Gildergreen tree,
grown from a sapling from the legendary Eldergleam, is an ancient tree located
in the city, worshipped by followers of Kynareth.

The mountain on which the city was built was discovered by members of the Five
Hundred Companions of Ysgramor, who discovered the Skyforge, an abandoned forge
with the ability to smelt superior Skyforge Steel. The local elves feared the
Skyforge as a relic of the gods. Following Ysgamor's death, Harbinger Jeek of
the River built the mead hall of Jorrvaskr beside the Skyforge, founding the
settlement. This group became the Companions, a famous band of mercenaries.

### Markarth

Markarth is a city in western Skyrim, and the capital of The Reach. It is noted
for its Dwemer architecture and the extensive ruins of a Dwemer city,
Nchuand-Zel, beneath Understone Keep.

Control of Markarth and the Reach has changed many times. Markarth was inhabited
by the Dwemer until their disappearance in 1E 700. The natives of the Reach, a
people of mixed Breton descent, assumed control of the city and the surrounding
lands. After the collapse of the Second Empire, Markarth, along with the whole
Reach, was ruled by the Reachmen under the Despot of Markarth. The Reachmen
conspired with Mannimarco and the Tharns to further Molag Bal's Planemeld, and
Nchuand-Zel was occupied by Daedra. Vanus Galerion stormed this complex some
time before 2E 581 while hunting Mannimarco.

### Nord

The Nords are the children of the sky, a race of tall and fair-haired humans who
are hardened by the harsh environment and climate of Skyrim. They are fierce,
strong and enthusiastic warriors, and many become renowned warriors, soldiers
and mercenaries all over Tamriel.

#### Strong-willed and Strong-armed

Nords are the tallest of the human races and have fair skin and fair colored
hair. They are known for their powerful physique and modest intellect. Most
Nords wear animal skins or cotton clothing.

Nords are fierce competitors and strongly believe in fighting for status and for
sport. Favoring brute strength over wit, the nords are suspicious of mages and
don't believe in using social status or wealth to garner favor. It is very
common for nords to have scars and bruises, or be seen walking out of a tavern
with a bloody nose and a flagon of ale.

\columnbreak

#### Music and Mead

There are two things most Nords love: music and mead. Nords tend to be
superstitious, and their folklore reflects this. Nordic names, often chosen
based on omens, are given in a special ceremony when the child is young. Nords
are generally tolerant of outsiders to Skyrim, though often do not make them
feel welcome. In particular, Nords often still hold a bitter resentment towards
elves. Any unexplained misfortune is often blamed on the Falmer, or Snow Elves.

#### The Hall of Valor

The Nords are considered to be a devout people with grim religious beliefs.
Among other things, they have long believed that Alduin, the World-Eater, would
eventually return and bring about the end of the world. As dark as their belief
systems are viewed to be, all Nordic traditions extend one bright, shining hope
for Nords: Sovngarde, the Hall of Valor, where Nords who have proven their
mettle in battle or died valiantly are welcome to experience euphoric bliss and
camaraderie, free from time and boredom.

Some stories claim the place was built by, and still inhabited by, the elusive
Shor. It is little surprise that cowardice is the worst trait a Nord can
exhibit, for "a Nord is judged not by the manner in which he lived, but the
manner in which he died".

#### Born for Battle

Fierce warriors, and enthusiastic soldiers, Nords can be found throughout
Tamriel offering their talents as mercenaries and sellswords. Proving oneself in
battle is a way for any nord to increase their status. Raised from birth, they
are always searching for new ways to increase their martial skills.

\pagebreakNum

Nords are also talented sailors. They are known to have dominated warring
nations with their natural talent at sea, and have been vanguards of nautical
trade.

#### Nord Names

Every Nord has a given name, but only some Nords have clan names. Sometimes, a
Nord will be given a title, which can be used before or after their given name.
A title is usually a description of a great feat or a personality trait. Such as
Heinrich the Ugly or Lyra Wolf-Child.

**Male Names:** Arnbjorn, Balbus, Carsten, Daglin, Erik, Fjol, Gunder, Hans,
Iver, Jayred, Keld, Larthjar, Manheim, Nels, Olav, Regner, Sten, Torbal, Ulfgar,
Valdemar, Wilmuth, Yngvar

**Female Names:** Aeta, Bergritte, Dagny, Elda, Fryssa, Greidil, Hilde, Igna,
Jala, Katria, Lillith, Margret, Nura, Olga, Ruki, Svenja, Temba, Una, Vori,
Ysolda

**Clan Names:** Blackthorn, Ebonhand, Firebeard, Hairy-Breeks, Ironhand,
Long-Tooth, Ravencrone, Stonearm, Twice-Killed, War-Bear, Windcaller

#### Nord Traits

Your Nord character has certain characteristics in common with other Nords.

***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Constitution score increases by 2, and your
Strength score increases by 1.

***Age.*** Nords reach adulthood in their late teens and live less than a
century.

***Alignment.*** Most nords are hardworking and good-hearted. They take comfort
in their traditions and are distrusting of outsiders. They tend toward the good
alignments.

***Size.*** Nords are the largest of men, ranging from 6 to 7 feet tall. Your
size is Medium.

***Speed.*** Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

***Cold Weather Expert.*** You are accustomed to living in a cold and harsh
climate. You are proficient in the Survival skill. In addition, you have
resistance to cold damage.

***Nordic Resilience.*** You have advantage on all Constitution saving throws
against non-magical effects. You do not have advantage on saving throws made to
maintain concentration on a spell.

***Toughness.*** Your hit point maximum increases by 1, and it increases by 1
every time you gain a level.

***Tool Proficiency.*** You gain proficiency with the artisan's tools of your
choice: smith's tools, brewer's supplies, or mason's tools.

***Languages.*** You can speak, read, and write Common.

\columnbreak

\pagebreakNum

## Morrowind

TODO

\pagebreakNum

### Dunmer

Dunmer, or dark elves, are the Daedric-worshiping elves from the alien province
of Morrowind. "Dark" is a term used not only for their darkened skin tone, but
also from their ill-fated history and general cultural philosophies.

#### Skin of Twilight, Eyes of Sunlight

The ashen skinned elves are typically the same size and shape as the human
races, which makes them shorter than their Altmer cousins, but taller than the
Bosmer. Their skin tone ranges from green, to varying shades of gray, to light
blue, and their red glowing eyes make their appearance exceptionally unique.
More often than not, their hair is jet black, but it can range in color from
white, to gray, shades of dark brown, and on rare occasions, dark red.

Dunmer are exceptionally well-rounded warriors. Notable for their powerful
intellect, agile physique, and natural strength, Dunmer are exceptional
militants, mercenaries, and warriors. Their natural martial gifts and resilient
heritage makes them strong survivors.

#### A Curse As A Reminder

Before the dark elves were known as they are today, they were called the Chimer,
or People of the North. They were a dissident tribe of Aldmer who followed
their prophet Veloth and worshiped the three 'good' daedra. They traveled to
Morrowind, where they warred with the Dwemer and Orcs.

After the Battle of Red Mountain, the Living Gods of the Tribunal—Almalexia,
Sotha Sil, and Vivec—betrayed their oath to Azura, which forever cursed the
Chimer with skin as black as ash, and eyes red with fire. They were from then on
known as the Dunmer.

The Dunmer have always had a grim outlook, which may either be due to their
unfortunate past, or perhaps a cause for it. They are generally disdainful, and
distrusting of other races and those born outside of Morrowind, which they refer
to as outlanders. Nationalistic and proud, the Dunmer are also ruthless and
cruel, but they are also exceptionally loyal and have strong family values
maintained by ancestral worship. They are not quick to trust anyone who claims
to be a friend, but once a Dunmer gives someone their loyalty, the Dunmer is a
firm friend or ally for life.

Another dark side of Dunmer history is their extensive use of slavery. Mostly
Argonian and Khajiit slaves were used, but so were men and mer in rare cases.
Their vengeful nature and long history of ill repute prevents them from gaining
significant influence with the other nations.

> ##### Ashlanders
>
> Unlike their settled brethren, the Ashlanders are nomadic, and live in
> migrating encampments of large tents throughout Vvardenfell. Native tribes
> rule without laws or government and live strictly by codes, rituals, and
> ancient traditions usually dictated by a wise woman or seer and implemented by
> a clan leader. They worship their ancestors and the Daedra, unlike the settled
> Dunmer who worship the Living Gods of the Tribunal.

\pagebreakNum

#### The Great Houses

Morrowind is ruled by five Great Houses: House Hlaalu, House Redoran, House
Telvanni, House Indoril, and House Dres. The Great Houses traditions derive from
ancient Dunmer clan and tribes, but now function as political parties. Dunmer
Great House membership is largely a matter of birth and marriage, but outlanders
may also become retainers of a Great House, or may be adopted into a Great
House.

**House Hlaalu** governs western-central Morrowind from its ancient capital of
Narsis and is largely concerned with business and diplomacy, seeking to
strengthen ties with at times unconventional allies such as the Empire. Although
profit is often a primary objective, traditional Hlaalu practice recognizes the
value of a good reputation over money.

**House Redoran** governs northwestern Morrowind from the city of
Blacklight, close to the border with Skyrim. The main focus of House Redoran is
maintaining the traditions of the settled Dunmer and, more specifically, the way
of the warrior.

**House Telvanni** governs eastern Morrowind. The house comprises mainly highly
egocentric and ambitious mages, and is known to many as the house of the master
wizard. Here, it is common to rise through the ranks by eliminating or otherwise
'indisposing' other members. The Telvanni, in general, do not interact with
other Houses or Guilds.

**House Indoril** governs the heartland of Morrowind from the historic capital
city of Almalexia. The Indoril are orthodox and conservative supporters of the
Tribunal Temple and Temple authority, and have always held prominent positions
within the Temple hierarchy. Throughout history, the fates of House Indoril and
the Temple have been closely linked.

**House Dres** governs south-eastern Morrowind from the city of Tear. The Dres
have a mainly rural but still very wealthy agrarian agricultural society,
maintaining vast saltrice plantations on the plains and marshes surrounding
Tear. The Dres are also the Dunmer that ship slaves to the other Great
Houses, keeping thousands of captives, mostly Argonians, in their infamous
slave-pens of Tear and the surrounding plantations.

#### Dunmer Names

Dunmer typically have given names and family names. Those that are the
traditional inhabitants of Vvardenfell, known as Ashlanders, also have unique
tribe names.

**Male Names:** Alanil, Aren, Balyn, Boler, Dathus, Evo, Fevris, Gaelion, Hort,
Liero, Meryn, Nels, Orval, Ranor, Sarayn, Tavryn, Tendris, Traven, Uthrel,
Varon, Vedam

**Female Names:** Almsi, Amili, Arara, Badala, Balynu, Bronosa, Dalyne, Diren,
Ethal, Faras, Gadela, Gelaa, Hlava, Indrasi, Madrana, Nela, Orea, Rila, Sia,
Teranya, Urila, Valdrana, Wren

**Family Names:** Andrano, Arvel, Belas, Dralas, Darethi, Drethen, Falen, Galen,
Helvi, Hlaalo, Indaren, Marvel, Moren, Nelas, Omoril, Ralas, Romori, Rothandus,
Sarandas, Selaren, Telas, Uveran, Varyon, Veleth

**Ashlander Names:** Addarari, Asserbassalit, Assunudadnud, Daririnaddunumm,
Esatliballit, Gilu, Hairshashishi, Kil, Mirshamammu, Nerendus, Rapli, Serimilk,
Timmiririan, Yassabisun, Zabamat

#### Dunmer Traits

Your Dunmer character has a variety of natural abilities in common with other
Dunmer.

***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Dexterity, Strength, and Intelligence
scores increase by 1.

***Age.*** Dunmer live two to three times as long as humans; with a 200-year-old
Dunmer being old and a 300-year-old Dunmer being very, very old.

***Alignment.*** Dunmer tend to be neutral with a propensity for chaos. They
have rejected many of the traditions that were set before them, while adopting
their new customs of their own.

***Size.*** Dunmer have average builds similar to humans, and their height is
between 5 and 6 feet tall. Your size is Medium.

***Speed.*** Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

***Fire Resistance.*** You have resistance to fire damage.

***Fire of Red Mountain.*** You know the *green-flame blade* cantrip. In
addition, when you use the Attack action, you can substitute one attack with
this cantrip. You must finish a short or long rest in order to cast the cantrip
in this way again. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for this cantrip.

***Ancestor Guardian.*** Your ancestors protect you from harm. You can cast
*protection from evil and good* targeting yourself with this trait. Starting at
3rd level, you can cast *hellish rebuke* with it as a 2nd-level spell, and
starting at 5th level, you can also cast *spirit guardians* with it as a
3rd-level spell. Once you cast a spell with this trait, you can't cast that
spell with it again until you finish a long rest. Intelligence is your
spellcasting ability for these spells.

***Dunmer Combat Training.*** You have proficiency with the longsword,
shortsword, shortbow and longbow.

***Languages.*** You can speak, read and write Common and Dunmeris.

\pagebreakNum

## Black Marsh

TODO

\pagebreakNum

### Argonian

Argonians, also known as People of the Root, or Saxhleel in their native tongue
of Jel, are the reptilian natives of the swampland known as the Black Marsh. The
other races of Tamriel sometimes refer to them as "lizards" or the "Lizard
Folk", which can be considered derogative. Argonians possess the most alien
personalities in all of Tamriel, perceived by other races as to have no
personality nor emotions.

Outside of Argonia, little is known of their homeland or native culture, and
their alien physiology and customs are not well understood by scholars. They
have been perhaps the most misunderstood of all the intelligent races.

Despite their alien outlook, some Argonians make an effort to understand and, in
their own manner, befriend people of other races. Such Argonians make faithful
and skilled allies.

#### Alien Ancestry

The Argonian's reptilian nature comes through not only in their appearance, but
also in how they think and act. The other races mistake them to be cold and
calculating, but that is mostly because their physiology lacks the ability to
express emotions in a noticeable way to non-Argonians.

Although their physical appearance is reptilian, they are much more amphibious
in reality. They have small gills behind their ears, instinctively swim in a the
same style as an eel, and are capable of growing feathers. Their females have
mammalian breasts, although they lay eggs.

#### The Hist

The Argonians owe their strange lifestyles to their connection to the Hist, a
species of giant spore trees growing in the innermost swamps of Black Marsh.
Argonians are known to have deep connections with the Hist, licking the leaking
sap of their trunks in religious rites. Some claim the trees are, in fact, a
sentient race, more ancient than all the races of man and mer.

Most Argonians are born with a connection to the hist, able to feel their
presence in their minds at all time, but the further they travel from Black
Marsh the weaker the connection gets. It is said that Argonians that are
connected to the Hist have unique souls that set them apart from men and mer.

Argonians born without this connection, usually those born outside of Black
Marsh, and are viewed by others of their kind as disadvantaged because they
can't understand the most simple of Argonian gestures. Until these Argonians
hear the Hist, they are considered to have an incomplete understanding of the
world.

> ##### Argonian Speech
>
> Argonian can master Common, but their mindset results in a speech pattern
> distinct from other humanoids.
>
> Argonians rarely use inflection in their speech, which can make their meaning
> difficult to interpret.
>
> Argonians use active verbs to describe the world. An Argonian in cold weather
> might say "This wind brings cold" rather than "I feel cold". Argonians tend
> to define things in terms of actions, rather than effects.

\pagebreakNum

#### Cautious and Loyal

Because they are hard to understand, humans and elves treat Argonians as
cold-blooded in nature. Although this is physically true, Argonians create deep
and long lasting bonds with their own people and allies. Part of this
misunderstanding is in part attributed to their emotionless demeanor, which
makes them nearly impossible to get to know. They are also notoriously slow to
trust outsiders.

At their core, Argonians are fiercely loyal allies, making the difficulty of
learning their ways and getting to know their tribes well worth the effort.
Allied Argonians will fight to the death to protect anyone they deem to be
family or friend.

A remarkable trait of the Argonians is their ability as a culture to forgive and
forget quickly. The many tribes of the Black Marsh believe that hating each
other is to hate themselves, as they are all People of the Root. They believe
that it is better to forget and move on, not dwelling on the past or the future,
and simply focus on the present.

#### Distrustful and Isolationist

History has not always been kind to the Argonian people. The ancient Chimer of
Morrowind first utilized the Lizard Folk as slaves centuries before their Dunmer
ancestors would do the same. Imperial forces have made several attempts to break
through the thick swamps and jungles of the Black Marsh and had set up bases
around the coastlines, essentially annexing their culture from the rest of
Tamriel.

#### Argonian Names

Argonians take their names either from Jel, their native tongue, or from the
common human language. They use simple descriptive names, usually based on an
individual's notable deeds, actions, or appearance. For example, an Argonian
traveler may be called Nhakik, which translates as "wander", or an Argonian who
is a notable swimmer may be called Swims-with-Haste, in Common. Both their
Jel names and their common names are frequently hyphenated, but not always.

**Male Jel Names:** Ah-Ra, Asheeus, Bar-Neeus, Chanka, Deeh, Geel, Jee-Tah,
Motuu, Nexith, Oosh, Pad-Ei, Resari, Skeehei, Tanaka, Teeka, Uta-Ra, Vara-Zeen,
Wanum-Neeus, Xal-Geh, Yelus

**Female Jel Names:** Am-Eepa, Asska, Beek-Ja, Churasu, Dakee, Deel, Ei-Ei,
Geeh, Heek-Sa, Jukka, Kal-Mei, Leetu, Meerana, Nam-Ja, Pekai-Vilax, Reesa,
Sisar, Tulut, Wih-Jat, Xula

**Tamrielic Names:** Black-Scale, Cuts-with-Words, Deepswimmer, Dusty-Claws,
Eyes-like-Night, Follows-the-Sun, Juggles-Scorpions, Keen-Eyes, Purple Plumes,
Sings-to-Lions, Walks-in-Ash

#### Argonian Traits

Argonians share certain racial traits as a result of their reptilian descent.

***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Constitution score increases by 2, and your
Dexterity score increases by 1.

***Age.*** Argonians are hatched from eggs, and typically live less than a
century.

***Alignment.*** Most argonians are neutral good. They often see themselves as
protectors and guardians.

***Size.*** Argonians are between 5 and 6 feet tall, but their frills and
feathers often make them appear larger. Your size is Medium.

***Speed.*** Your base walking speed is 30 feet, and you have a swimming speed
of 30 feet.

***Amphibious.*** You can breathe air and water.

***Argonian Resistance.*** You have advantage on saving throws against being
diseased. You are immune to poison.

***Protective Scales.*** You have tough, scaly skin. When you aren't wearing
armor, your AC is 11 + your Dexterity modifier. You can use your natural armor
to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A
shield's benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor.

***Bite.*** Your fanged maw is a natural weapon, which you can use to make
unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 +
your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed
strike.

***Languages.*** You can speak, read, and write Common and Jel. Jel originates
from the Hist, and involves a lot of non-verbal body cues that convey meaning
and mood. Uniquely in Tamriel, Jel has no verbal tenses.

\pagebreakNum

# Chapter 7: The Planemeld

Lyris: Think of the most miserable, depressing place you've ever been in your
life. That's paradise compared to Coldharbour.

The Dark Anchors were all metaphysically moored to a colossal construction in
Coldharbour called the Great Shackle. Once an area was sundered from Tamriel,
the pieces would reform as a pocket realm of Coldharbour before joining the
**Planar Vortex**, an inter-planar realm where Nirn and Coldharbour converged.

Knowing that the artifact that caused the Soulburst could be used to undo it,
Mannimarco imprisoned Sai Sahan within the Halls of Torment, a prison stronghold
in Coldharbour.

\pagebreakNum

# Races

## Imperial

Imperials are the well-educated and civilized men of the cosmopolitan province
of Cyrodiil. Although not as physically impressive as some of the other races,
the Imperials have a confident authority about them that they have been able to
use to their advantage with the surrounding nations.

<!-- ### From Slave To Master

The Imperial race emerged out of the original Nibenese tribesman, Nedes and
Cyro-Nords in the Merethic Era. They were subjugated by a race of Aldmer, the
Ayleids, but a rebellion against these rulers, formed under the guidance of
Slave-Queen Alessia, would prove so successful that Ayleids were driven to
extinction. Alessia founded the First Cyrodilic Empire, and as its first
Empress, she established a new religion, a fusion of the Nordic and Aldmeri
pantheons known as the Eight Divines.

The Empire traces its founding to the moment when Saint Alessia received the
Dragonfires and the Amulet of Kings from Akatosh; she used the Amulet to drive
the Daedra out of the mortal realm. Akatosh told Alessia that as long as the
Dragonfires remained lit and her heirs wore the Amulet of Kings, the gates of
Oblivion would remain shut and Tamriel would be spared the depredations of the
Daedra. -->

### Diplomats and Soldiers

Known for their impressive citizen armies, the Imperials are exceptionally
disciplined and treat the law with the utmost respect. As shrewd diplomats and
remarkable negotiators, the Imperials have had great success subduing other
nations, bringing peace and prosperity to many societies. When their authority
is questioned, their martial prowess and extraordinary organization of their
military usually makes quick work of any dissenters.

\columnbreak

### Cosmopolitan Culture

The defining feature of Imperial culture is its cosmopolitanism. Although some
individuals may be the most arrogant bigots in Tamriel, culturally the Imperials
are very conciliatory and congenial, making them skilled diplomats and traders.
It's easy to understand given their geography and cultural schisms: Cyrodiil
borders almost every other province, and the historical separation yet
underlying unity and interaction of the Cyrodilic regions made the Imperials
well practiced at building bridges and maintaining order.

### Imperial Names

Imperials have both given names and family names.

**Male Name:** Aventus, Baro, Caius, Decentius, Ennodius, Floretius, Gaius,
Helvius, Iniel, Janus, Kastav, Luther, Mallus, Nermus, Octavius, Pelagius,
Rallus, Sergio, Titus, Valgus, Xander, Zedrick

**Female Names:** Alexia, Astria, Britta, Cania, Dynari, Ettiene, Faustina,
Gemma, Herminia, Isobel, Julitta, Lyra, Mariana, Nebia, Peregrina, Rona, Selena,
Tertia, Una, Viera, Vitrroia, Ysabel

**Family Names:** Aerius, Amatius, Berne, Caro, Deltian, Felannus, Gratius,
Herennius, Jannus, Loran, Mallius, Nuccius, Rian, Silver, Tunifus, Urgelian,
Valga, Wavrick

### Imperial Traits

***Ability Score Increase.*** Your ability scores each increase by 1.

***Age.*** Imperials reach adulthood in their late teens and live less than a
century.

***Alignment.*** The militant Imperials are often lawful good, but sometimes
lean towards neutral, given their stringent laws and institutions.

***Size.*** Imperials range from 5 to 6 feet tall, and vary in build. Your size
is Medium.

***Speed.*** Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

***Diplomat.*** You have proficiency in the Persuasion skill and one skill of
your choice.

***Languages.*** You can speak, read, and write Common.