thescholarlynord-blog

[thescholarlynord-blog]

The Power of Skyrim

The Old Kingdom, Fatherland and the Throat of the World. Home of the eternal outsiders to Tamriel.

The Temple of Auriel.

 The first known inhabitants of Skyrim, after the time of the Ehlnofey, are the Falmer. Little is known about their society, but they built great structures, as seen in the remnants of the Temple of Auriel.

Ysgramor, Harbinger of Us All.

 As great as Falmer society might have been, it was no match for the onslaught of Ysgramor’s 500 Companions during the Return. For years, this war for the control of Skyrim waged, with the Nords emerging as the victors. The Falmer were driven underground.

Alduin, the World-Eater and Firstborn of Akatosh,

 Now the dominant power in Skyrim, the Nords eventually found themselves unable to bear the increasing cruelty of the Dragon Cult. Kyne took pity upon the struggles of Men and when they rose to challenge the wyrms and their God-King, she whispered to Paarthurnax and bade him aid them. In the final battle, the Nords used the power of the Elder Scrolls to banish Alduin.

High Hrothgar, home of the Greybeards.

 The Nords continued to fight the remnants of the Falmer and the Dragon Cult into the 1st Era. Once these threats were finally broken, King Vrage the Gifted set his sights outside of Skyrim; the Skyrim Conquest had begun. For 2 centuries, the Nords ruled from Morrowind in the east to High Rock in the west, before the War of Succession broke their grip.

The Amulet of Kings.

 When the Slave Queen Alessia rose up against the Ayleids, the Nords were her allies. This alliance continued to be important for the Alessians, especially at Sancre Tor. Angering the Nords resulted in the most holy site of the Alessian religion being occupied.

Pale Pass.

 The Nords joined Reman Cyrodiil during the Akaviri invasion, though things were hardly calm between the nations. Both in Karthspire and Winterhold were there rebellions against the Remans.

Jorunn, the Beard-Queen.

 After the fall of the 2nd Empire, Skyrim split into 2 kingdoms; east and west. Of Western Skyrim, we know little, except that it was reportedly suffering from internal struggles, such as a civil war in the Falkreath area, possibly all of western Skyrim. Despite this, the Nords of Falkreath held their kingdom against the advancing forces of Chief Kurog, future king of Orsinium.

 Eastern Skyrim fared better. After the Second Akaviri Invasion and the beginning of the Ebonheart Pact, the Eastern Nords proved their strength. As important as their Argonian and Dunmer allies were, it was those of Atmoran blood who stood for the majority of the Pact’s military power.

Potema, the Wolf Queen.

 The Nords joined Cyrodiil under Talos early and the two of them began the conquest of Tamriel. Later, the Wolf Queen of Solitude, Potema, would use Skyrim as the heart of her rebellion; the War of the Red Diamond. Nearly tearing the Empire asunder, Potema eventually lost the war, but Skyrim was never successfully invaded. Instead, the Nords were given amnesty for their treason in return for fighting against the Wolf Queen, once her one and only child had died.

Jagar Tharn.

 When Jagar Tharn took the throne, he sparked the Imperial Simulacrum, where wars broke out all across Tamriel. In this war, the Nords fought with the Redguards and Bretons. The details of this war are unknown, but Skyrim won and absorbed many miles of Hammerfell and High Rock.

The Forgotten Hero, at the Battle of the Red Ring.

 The Aldmeri Dominion invaded Cyrodiil in 4E171. During the Battle of the Red Ring, the Skyrim Legions under General Jonna attacked the Imperial City from the east. When the Aldmeri tried to retreat from their impossible situation, they were unable to break through the Nord legionnaires.

Balgruuf the Greater.

 Skyrim has stood on its own and as an important ally to others in the conflicts of Tamriel. The survival of the Empire might be dependent on its continued alliance with those of Atmoran blood.

 Sources:

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:The_Alduin/Akatosh_Dichotomy

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Pocket_Guide_to_the_Empire,_3rd_Edition/Skyrim

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Pocket_Guide_to_the_Empire,_1st_Edition/Skyrim

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:The_Falmer:_A_Study

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Skorm_Snow-Strider%27s_Journal

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Pocket_Guide_to_the_Empire,_1st_Edition/Cyrodiil

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Pocket_Guide_to_the_Empire,_3rd_Edition/Cyrodiil

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:The_Legendary_Sancre_Tor

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Annals_of_the_Dragonguard

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Jorunn_the_Skald-King_(book)

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Guide_to_the_Ebonheart_Pact

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:The_Brothers%27_War

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:The_Second_Akaviri_Invasion

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:The_Arcturian_Heresy

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:The_Chronicles_of_King_Kurog

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:The_Wolf_Queen

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Biography_of_the_Wolf_Queen

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Brief_History_of_the_Empire

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:The_Third_Era_Timeline

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Battle_of_Sancre_Tor

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:The_Great_War_(book)

[thescholarlynord-blog]

Of Men and Magic: The Nords

[The first draft of the second chapter of the Men and Magic books, including the author’s own notes]

Men and Magic: Statement of Purpose

I am Imare “Half-Mer” Gaeian, of Cyrodiil [keep the nickname in? Must consult with the commissioner]. It has been my privilege to study history at the Imperial Library and with numerous private collectors of historical works. But in my studies, I have found little on the topic of magic as practiced by humans from a historical perspective. And, as such, I am writing these introductory works, to 1) give something back to the collections I have so richly learned from, and 2) introduce the good people of the Empire to an knowledge usually reserved for the well-learned. [and 3) to write this drivel for Councilor Hans Stormcrag in return for a much needed pay day]

 The Nords of Skyrim

For the second chapter of the series, I will try to outline the magical traditions of the Nords. Their image to the world around has often been one of simple minded barbarism and warmongering [a reputation well earned], but little is known about how they view magic outside of their frigid province.

 The Thu’um

Despite the best effort of scholars for hundreds of years, relatively little is known about the early Atmorans. The reason they descended upon the Falmer with vengeance is well known, as is the fact that their Divines at the time held a more bestial shape, but their society at large is not so easily recounted.

 One of the few things one can establish from the Merethic is that the Atmorans, be it from the beginning or at some point later in history, mastered the Thu’um. This is, to the best of my abilities, a form of magic centered around the Breath of the Nords (see ‘Children of the Sky’) and some of them can manifest it as a ‘shout’. Nord legend hold that this is due to the actions of Kyne, or Kynareth [nonsense!].

 This tradition of magic was widespread by the time of the 1st Era and all Nord kings and warlords were expected to have mastered the Thu’um [trust the Nords to settle the matter of who should rule by strength and not governing skill]. This lasted until the Tongue (Thu’um master) Jurgen the Windcaller founded the Way of the Voice. Now, only the Greybeards at High Hrothgar know the Thu’um anymore and seldom use their power. [add a part about Ulfric Stormcloak, perhaps? It is a documented fact that the Jarl of Eartmarch has used this power publicly, during the Markarth Incident]

 The Merethic

Besides the Thu’um, the Nords have had a number of known practitioners of the magical arts history did not forget [I’m guessing most of them were inconsequential as far as mages go]. One of the oldest known Nord wizards that can be verified to exist [by Nord standards, anyway] is Ahzidal (see ‘Ahzidal’s Descent’ by Halund Greycloak). In his day, he was [apparently] quite famous for his skill with magic, enchanting in particular, which earned him a role in the Return as the Enchanter for Ysgramor’s Companions.

 Little else is known about the magic of the Atmorans of the Merethic, though some [Nord] scholars propose the [preposterous] idea that the highest ranking priests of the time were granted great magical power by their animal-god totems. [or “by the Dragons”. Must consult commissioner for which they want in print]

 The First Era

One of the most famous mages in ancient history is Shalidor, the Nord [more credible scholarship has convincingly speculated that he was, in fact, more Breton than Nord] archmagi who created the infamous Labyrinthian inside an old Atmoran temple as a way to test the worthiness of potential students (see ‘A Minor Maze’).

 Shalidor also went on to create the now-lost isles of Eyevea, which was briefly in the possession of the Mages Guild during the 2nd Era. [reports from the time also says the spirit of Shalidor appeared to help the mages of the day. Would’ve sounded like hogwash, were it not for the fact that the Altmer mage Valaste wrote some of them. Still, another claim of a Nord’s spirit coming back from the dead? Hardly believable] Shalidor is also credited with the founding of Winterhold, though this is disputed [even among Nord scholars!]

 The Jarls of Skyrim [or chieftains] employed mages [no-name hedge-wizards and so-called ‘shamans’, I’m sure] in their courts, even before the Way of the Voice was established. This tradition was later exported to the emerging Cyrodilic Empire, and has continued in both nations ever since. [I’m more inclined to believe the Court Mage was introduced to Cyrodilic ministry through Alessia’s Ayleid allies]

 While the Nords at large never sought the patronage of the Daedra [read: they were, and are, superstitious barbarians unable to grasp the subtleties of the realms of Oblivion], witches have had covens in Skyrim for as long as anyone can remember, though few of them survive for very long.

 The only known exception to this is the Glenmoril Wyrd, most commonly situated in south-western Skyrim, near the High Rock and Cyrodiil borders. It is unknown if their reach ever spread to the rest of Skyrim, though they have been known to have a small presence on Solstheim. The Wyrd has strong ties with Hircine. Some have speculated that some of their members have joined with the Forsworn in their uprising against the Nords in recent years.

 The Mages Guild

With the Guilds Act of 2E231, the Mages Guild was spread to all corners of Tamriel, Skyrim included. This, in large part, removed the need for hedge-wizardry and Witches Covens and many Nords [yeah, right! I would’ve liked to see the old member rosters to verify this claim. Alas, they were lost before the 3rd Era] joined.

 With the disbanding of the Guild in the beginning of the 4th Era, the established sanctified magical studies in Skyrim all but vanished. [rephrase? Commissioner surely would want it removed]

 The College of Winterhold

In the Old Hold of Winterhold, an independent College has been researching magic for centuries, if not millennia. It can reliably be traced back to the 2nd Era and remained independent from the Mages Guild. This, in turn, allowed it to survive the disbanding of the Guild.

 Most of the Court Mages employed by the Jarls in the 4th Era have been educated here and the College is to be commended for the attitude of putting learning first [as opposed to the Synod and College of Whispers]. Albeit more secretive than the Mages Guild was, the College of Winterhold is not like the Telvanni or Psijiics and thus people can learn quite a bit of their policies without joining.

 Temples of the Divines

The Nords have always held firmly to the Eight Divines [mention Talos as historical context?], both in politics and personal life. [though their versions of these gods aren’t entirely correct, now are they?] As such, the Priests and Priestesses are important figures in Nord society. To an outsider, it can be very surprising to find that many, if not most, of these people are skilled healers and enchanters [and historically necromancers!!!].

 To the Nords, however, these skills are expected from their religious leaders and they are exempt from the distrust the Nords are showing to other mages in the aftermath of the Oblivion Crisis. More than that, the Nord Temples have produced some truly skilled practitioners of Restoration and Enchanting! [I was surprised to learn that this was actually true and not just something Councilor Stormcrag wanted included for the sake of it. As backwards as the Nords are, there would be no shame to study under these Masters]

[thescholarlynord-blog]

The Bard’s College of Solitude

Barbaric. Savage. Uncivilized. Uncouth. All words people in Tamriel would be likely to throw at Nords behind their backs, but there is a funny hypocrisy to them.

Skyrim, the Fatherland.

 One of the first things to consider is that the Nords have had a strong influence on Cyrodiil, as far as culture goes. According to in-world texts like Shezzar and the Divines, the Colovians seem to be, more or less, intended to be pseudo-Nordic as far as their culture goes, though Oblivion didn’t do much to portray this. But this isn’t about Oblivion.

The Bard’s College in Solitude.

 According to the Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition: Skyrim, the Bard’s College is described thus: 

“Founded during Skyrim's long Alessian flirtation, the Bards' College continues to flaunt a heretical streak, and its students are famous carousers, fittingly enough for their chosen trade. Students yearly invade the marketplace for week of revelry, the climax of which is the burning of "King Olaf" in effigy, possibly a now-forgotten contender in the War of Succession. Graduates have no trouble finding employment in noble households across Tamriel, including the restored Imperial Court in Cyrodiil, but many still choose to follow in the wandering footsteps of illustrious alumni such as Callisos and Morachellis.”

Talsgar, the Wandering Bard.

 When dismissing the Nords as uncivilized, uncouth and so on, do keep in mind that the Bard’s College has a reputation across Tamriel and it has been a staple of one of the major Holds in Skyrim since the 1st Era.

[thescholarlynord-blog]

The Power of Cyrodiil

Cyrodiil, Dragon Empire, the Starry Heart of Tamriel and Seat of the Sundered Kings. Home of the most powerful Empires in Tamriel’s history.

Ayleid Guardian. 

Of the Hearthland High Elves, we only know some. They ruled Cyrodiil in a collection of city-states, more than a single nation, where Nenalata is perhaps the most famous for being the last, enduring well into the Alessian purges of all things elven.

           One thing is certain, however, and that is thus; the Ayleids were truly a power to be feared. Not only did the Slave-Rebellion have the aid of the Nords and Ayleid city states, but also of the Divines themselves. The demigod Morihaus-Breath-of-Kyne and Pelinal Whitestrake, the Divine Crusader, both fought with the humans.

The White-Gold Tower.

With the Slave-Rebellion ended and the Ayleids defeated, it signaled the beginning of the most enduring Empire on Tamriel. The 1st Empire of Cyrodiil lasted from approximately 1E243 to 2321.

           The Alessian Empire was centered in the Nibenean Valley, with its holdings waxing and waning. Sancre Tor, a religious center for the Empire, was subject to the relationship between Cyrodiil and Skyrim, having to endure siege and occupation by the Nords.

           At its largest, the Alessian Empire appears to have encompassed parts of southern Skyrim, parts of western Cyrodiil, the Nibenean Valley and High Rock. Neighboring kings and rulers, be they human or elven, seem to have found it necessary or prudent to pay homage to Alessian Emperors like Gorieus. Despite the Empire having adopted the hatred for elves as an official stance by his coronation, Indoril Nerevar, Dumac Dwarfking and Ryain Direnni were in attendance. King Borgas of Skyrim, ally to the Alessians, also outlawed the traditional Eight Divines of the Nords in favor of the Alessian doctrine in Skyrim and the “Shadow of Borgas” was ended only a hundred years later by Wulfharth the Ash-King.

           After the Skyrim Conquests ended, it is likely that the Alessian Empire remained the single most powerful nation in Tamriel for a long time, though they never could dominate their neighbors.

Reman Cyrodiil, as depicted at Sky Haven Temple.

When the Akaviri invaded towards the end of the 1st Era, the final result was that Reman Cyrodiil had not only united the fractured Cyrodiil against the invaders, but Skyrim (possibly also High Rock) and what remained of the invaders as well.

           The Akaviri revolutionized how warfare was done in Tamriel and the Reman Dynasty seemed unstoppable. Even with the Living Gods of Morrowind, the Almsivi, directly leading the war effort on behalf of their people, the Cyrods gained the upper hand just as the Reman line died out.

           The 2nd Empire of Cyrodiil did not die with the Remans, however, and demonstrated just how powerful its armies still were when the Potentate Versidue-Shaie decided to annihilate the military forces of all of his vassals. The 2nd Empire would endure another 100 years after the end of this war.

The Alliance War.

With the end of the 2nd Empire Cyrodiil became the arena for countless ambitious warlords in the following 5 centuries known as the Interregnum. In the 580th year of the 2nd Era, 150 years after the fall of the 2nd Empire, the Three Banners War, or the Alliance War, began. The military dominance once displayed by Cyrodiil was gone.

Talos Stormcrown, Ysmir and Heir to the Seat of Sundered Kings, as depicted in Windhelm 4E201.

In the last days of the Interregnum, the King of Falkreath, then part of Colovia, Cuhlecain began his campaign to unify Cyrodiil. It began in the Reach, where they joined with an army of Nords at Old Hroldan, where the power of Cuhlecain’s general, Talos and his ashen ally, would become known to all. Later, at Sancre Tor, his Voice and cunning would gain him the support of Skyrim against the rest of Tamriel.

           After Talos had usurped Cuhlecain and become Emperor of all Men, he turned his gaze to Morrowind, rather than the Aldmeri Dominion. Here he was given the Numundium by Vivec and it was his tool to become the Emperor of Tamriel, not mortal armies of flesh and blood, unlike Reman and his Legions.

           In Skyrim, Talos is revered. His myth is that of the Nord-become-Emperor and the Pocket Guide to the Empire pushes the view of Skyrim as the beginning of Man’s history on Tamriel. The High Throne of Skyrim, in the city of Solitude, has strong ties to the Septim Dynasty and the Empire.

Emperor Titus Mede II as of 4E201.

With the loss of the Septim Dynasty, the Empire began to fall apart. Slowly, but surely, the Empire loses its provinces.

The Amulet of Kings.

Cyrodiil’s power has waned and waxed, and was at its height under Reman and his Akaviri military methods. As powerful as Talos was, the 3rd Empire was built on an alliance between Cyrodiil and Skyrim. And with the Stormcloak Rebellion, that alliance might break, something many in Skyrim fear. Legate Rikke and Jarl Balgruuf most notable among them.

 Sources

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Rislav_The_Righteous

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Pocket_Guide_to_the_Empire,_1st_Edition/Cyrodiil

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Pocket_Guide_to_the_Empire,_3rd_Edition/Cyrodiil

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Pocket_Guide_to_the_Empire,_1st_Edition/Skyrim

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Pocket_Guide_to_the_Empire,_3rd_Edition/Skyrim

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:The_Last_King_of_the_Ayleids

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Bangkorai,_Shield_of_High_Rock

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:The_Adabal-a

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Shezarr_and_the_Divines

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:The_Legendary_Sancre_Tor

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Battle_of_Sancre_Tor

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Five_Songs_of_King_Wulfharth

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:The_Rise_and_Fall_of_the_Blades

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:History_of_the_Fighters_Guild

Setting of the Elder Scrolls Online

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Remanada

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:The_Arcturian_Heresy

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:On_Morrowind

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:The_Wolf_Queen

http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Loading_Screens#Solitude

[thescholarlynord-blog]

The War of the Bend’r-mahk and the Reach

As described in the Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition for Skyrim, Hammerfell and High Rock, the Nords won a war against the Crowns and Bretons and swallowed up miles of their lands.

Map of TES Travels: Shadowkey

Dragonstar is the most famous of the places taken by the Nords in the War of the Bend’r-mahk. It was not fully conquered: Split between the Redguard resistance in the west and the Nord invaders in the east, scarcely a day went by without acts or terror.

A Briar Heart comes to life.

The Forsworn, a radical group of Reachmen who could no longer stand living under the boots of the Nords, permiate the Reach as of 4E201.

The Reachmen can be described as barbaric compared to the norm in Tamriel. According to Cedran at the Markarth Stables, blood sacrifices and communing with Daedra were part of the old ways the Forsworn are trying to restore. Thus the presence of shrines to Molag Bal and Namira should not be considered coincidental in the Reach.

The House of Horror.

If we go back to the Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition we can find 2 entries on the Reach. Once as part of Skyrim and the Western Reach, which is part of High Rock.

For the Reach that is part of Skyrim, there is very little to say. It’s only uncommon feature is that it is remarkably racially diverse for a Hold in Skyrim. The Western Reach, on the other hand, matches the Reach we see in 4E201 much closer.

Markarth

The people of the Western Reach are described as a mongrel race, albeit with little Nordic blood in their veins, that are hostile to the Empire and everyone else. Orcs are a common feature in their lands, and their land is described as mountainous.

The Bear of Markarth.

Since the Reach we see in Skyrim more closely matches the Western Reach that was once part of High Rock, my hypothesis is that the Reach we see in 4E201 was once divided into the Reach and the Western Reach, but it was reunited under the Jarl of the Reach as a result of the War of the Bend’r-mahk, almost 250 years before the Stormcloak Rebellion.