Author's Note: These musing are constructed in a "As Is" basis from my own writings. New and more complete information is added as more knowledge is uncovered, but for the sake of authenticity, I present the following in as base and "raw" a manner as possible, as to catalog my findings, musings, and general ideas of the world I find myself in.

My name is Baan Dar. Not The Baan Dar (My apologies to possibly confused Khajiit readers everywhere), just A Baan Dar. I know nothing of my childhood or how I came to be. The farthest back my memory spans is a strange dream prior to awakening in the hold of a slave barge off the coast of Vvardenfell. I knew my name, my race (Bosmer for the curious), how to read, write, mathematics, and how to deduce things. But I had no knowledge of the world around me. These journals served as my own personal understanding of the world around me and helped me piece together the fabric of this world. I share them with you now, in the hopes that perhaps...they will help you question that which you take for granted and help see things in a new light.



As I finally find a piece of paper to put these initial musing to, I must profess I am aghast at just how much memory seems to be missing. I understand the language and know that these things I use are a quill, inkpot, and paper, but my knowledge of the world outside is woefully incomplete and lacking.

After my initial processing (How I knew I was skilled with a Bow, Light Armor, Conjuration, Illusion, and Alteration remains a mystery to me), I found a most fascinating object: A Book! How I know what a book is when I can't even know what land I am in is something that haunts me, but I knew for a fact that regardless of what was in said Book was the key to understanding the world around me, even if it was only a little piece of it.

The book's title was The Firmament, a overview guide to this place's constellations and their meaning. That there are Three "Guardian" - or Major - constellations, each with four "Charges" - or minor - assigned to them. Most peculiar was the revelation of a Fourth major constellation that fits neither Guardian or Charges category. It is a roving constellation named "The Serpent". How a formation of stars can wander the heavens (How the devil do I know of stars and not the constellations of this land?) is beyond my ability to comprehend. The book makes mention that the cycle of the Serpent is somewhat traceable, so perhaps there is some logic to it that eludes the scholars of this place.

Also interesting is the fact the book assigns a number of constellations the female aspect. The Lady, Steed, Lover, and Shadow are all specifically addressed as "she" and the Guardian The Thief is also identified as such. This is interesting because it presents a small imbalance in the nature of the constellations - where four are identified as genderless (The Golem/Atronach, The Tower, The Ritual, and the Serpent) and four are identified as males (The Warrior, The Mage, The Apprentice, and the Lord). More striking to me is how these groupings tend to reflect broad definitions of behavior. The Feminine Aspect, for example, are all signs of cunning and stealth. The Male Aspect, by comparison, are the base expressions of violence and aggression. The Genderless Aspects seem to operate under the manipulation of the physical world around them, if the book's descriptions are to be believed.

I wonder then why they are not classified more in this manner, as opposed to the one presented. And why is the Serpent considered a threat to the other constellations?


I have finally found someone willing to answer my questions! All it took was the returning of a lost ring and he became a positive wellspring of information! I have since learned that my location is that of Vvardenfell, a large island in the province of Morrowind of something known as the "Tamrielic Empire", which encompasses the provinces of Skyrim, Morrowind, Cyrodiil, and Black Marsh. My colleague hinted at other provinces, but failed to name them in his eagerness to be complete. The ruler of this Empire is Uriel Septim VII, which obviously suggests there were six others before him. I could not get an accurate age of the Empire from my excitable friend, and general assumption is that it has been around forever.

From other people in the settlement, I have learned that there are local diseases to be wary of, and that one possible means of dealing with it is becoming an Initiate at "The Temple", where I could receive free Cure Disease. While "The Temple" obviously refers to a religion, all my inquires are met with a blank eyed stare that I have come to realize is the other person questioning my sanity. So I will have to be more overt in my questions as to what exactly religion entails here. What strikes me about this "Temple" is that by becoming an initiate, I am awarded "free" cures. To me, this suggests the common layperson must pay for such a service, meaning a tiered worship structure. If my assumptions are thus far correct, this suggests the priesthood of the "Temple" is likely very rich by the standards of their parishioners.

I also learned of creatures known as "Daedra". What they are, what they represent is unknown to me. Given the mentioning of "Daedric Cults" it is implied to be some kind of alternative religion, but those I talked to swear them off as evil and how the cultists are "bad people" that will attack on sight. This warrants further investigation.

Further conversation reveals one disease in particular to watch out for. It is known only as Corpus, and from the description affects the aggression centers of the brain as those afflicted become incredibly hostile, and also extremely strong. The strength aspect may not be completely natural, as the conversation suggests a possible mutation of the victim (Those infected are appearently very easy to spot), and there is no known cure for those afflicted with the disease.

More information about these elusive Daedra, though it only serves to present an even more incomplete picture. Apparently, there are shrines devoted to these beings all over Vvardenfell that are unmistakable due to extremely unique architecture. This raises even more questions for me: Why would a fringe religion that is inhabited by "bad people" announce their presence with such overt signs of worship such as the construction of the shrines?

The Altmer (High Elf) woman I spoke to remarked that the Empire's culture - even it's language - can be traced back to her people, who are poets and artists beyond compare. She is a commoner.

I have managed to find yet another Book in the only shop in this community. The owner - a friend to the fellow I brought the ring back to - did not mind that I read the whole thing without paying for it. It is entitled The Lives of the Saints and seems to be a supplement to the local "Temple" religion. It seems to serve the purpose of being a primer of those who are historically significant to the region, while wrapped in the religious trapping of veneration. This leads me to assume the locals get the majority of their history through the Temple, meaning this is likely a highly religious land. It may also explain the blank eyed stares.

In any event, these people are as follows:

Nerevar is the first named and seems to be celebrated as a national hero, significant for uniting Morrowind together from a collection of tribes. Veloth comes in second and it seems both Nerevar and Veloth hold similar importance as Veloth is credited as the prophet who lead the exodus to Morrowind from their ancestral home. The Daedra are mentioned here - most baffling the mention of "Good" Daedra. Predating the Temple, perhaps?

Rilms, Aralor, and Seryn are next listed, all three being relevant more for virtues then actual accomplishment. Rilms is a beggar, Aralor is a penitent and reformed criminal, and Seryn a healer that took the ills of others onto herself. This entry actually fascinates me, because it is to my knowledge that the Restoration School cannot accomplish such a feat (How I know what "Restoration School" is and what it does is another of those damnable holes in my memory).

Next comes Felms, who is mentioned to be a powerful warlord who was illiterate but divinely inspired. Given his nature as the patron of Butchers and Fishmongers, this suggests a rather ominous figure in Vvardenfell's history. Likely someone too impossible to forget, some the Temple decided to venerate to soften the memory.

After Felms is Roris, a radical martyr whose tale of suffering is likely used as a means to justify the hatred of another group of people - the Argonians. Olms is next, who is referenced as a Zealot yet is the Patron of Clerks? Even more baffling, Delyn who comes after Olms is credited as a creative soul who was the founder of modern understanding of Temple Law and practices...yet she is the patron of glassworkers and other crafters? I understand the logic, but Olms and Delyn seem to be deliberately marginalized for unknown reasons.

The final two in the book are Meris - a healer and peacemaker - and Llothis, who is described as "a friend to the Tribunal"(?) and a moral bridge between the gods and mortal kind. Literally "the atypical priest". Again, someone who sounds deliberately marginalized. At least I can make an educated guess and assume this "Tribunal" is either the ruling body of the Temple or a generic name for their pantheon (Assuming there is any difference between the two, I suppose).


My latest encounter was not a pleasant one. A Imperial Guard member gambling and boozing upstairs of the shop. Remarks about how citizens pay for "protection". Given the rumors of a missing tax collector and a smuggling cave right outside of the town, it's possible the Imperial Legion is corrupt.

A local scout helped fill me in on my Daedra questions. Specifically, I now know there are "Good" Daedra and "Bad" Daedra - and the Bad Daedra are individuals known as Mehrunes Dagon, Malacath, Molag Bal, and Sheogorath. The scout refused to divulge any more then their names, but it is more then I had before. He also mentioned a group called the "Ordinators" - the Temple's police force, perhaps? The Scout also gave me an overview of the Island's geography - namely a place of hostile wastelands, arid grasslands, and regions of volcanic activity. Along with the disease, I'm beginning to wonder why anyone lives here.

In giving his overview, my Scout friend made a passing remark about "Ashlander Tribes", bringing to mind Lives of the Saints where Nerevar united the tribes. Possible correlation?

The Scout also identified the region we inhabit is called "The Bitter Coast", called "The Smuggler's Coast" by some. Rain, bogs, and disease make this an ideal location for illicit activity and may help explain the Legion's corruption in the town. He also mentioned something about a region called "Sheogorad", which he made out to be a set of small, relatively inaccessible islands. The name reminds me of one of the "Bad Daedra" - Sheogorath. Correlation? Also why would a region be named after one of the "Bad" Daedra to begin with?

Upstairs I also found the establishment's Tradehouse Notice and learned some random facts about the region. Despite belonging to an Empire, Morrowind has a King in the form of one Hlaalu Athyn Llethan, of the House Hlaalu (Merits further investigation). Also reading the rules of the establishment, it's clear this place is violating well over half of them. Again, it speaks of rampant corruption in the region - if not the island as a whole.

A few random facts. I learned of the various races that make up the Empire, that the Khajiit seen in Vvardenfell are the Suthay-raht variety, and the Argonians - whom hatred of is enshrined with the tale of Saint Roris - are actively enslaved.

I have received a small primer in regards to the Great Houses of Morrowind. Hlaalu (The house of the present day King) is very pro-Empire and tends to sympathize with the Empire and its needs. Redoran seems to be a warrior society with its own code and laws. Telvanni are known as the "Wizard-Lords" of Morrowind. Indoril are aggressively anti-Imperial traditionalists, and Dres is an agrarian House, also anti-imperial with a large hand in the Slave Trade. Slavery, it seems, is very much legal here in Vvardenfell ad the traditional slave labor consists of Humans, Orcs, Argonians, and Khajiit.

I also learned of four "Guilds" - which seem to be official establishments. The ones backed by the Empire seem to be the Fighter's Guild and Mages' - which I don't see the need to elaborate on as their names are simple and straight to the point - and a Imperial transplant called the Thieves Guild. This must be more of that elaborate High Elven culture seeping into the Empire that the Altmer woman told me so much about. The Thieves Guild appearently is not very well established, its presence objected to by the local criminal syndicate called the Camonna Tong.

I've discovered another book, this one appearently a work of fiction, entitled The Wraith's Wedding Dowry. As a work of fiction, I doubted it would give many insights into this land, but if it is to be believed I did learn two potential things: The Sheogorad region is home to many caves and hollows that can serve as hide aways, and is home to the Shrine of Malacath - one of the "Bad Daedra". The second thing is it told me that Orc people traditionally are married on the stroke of Midnight. A peculiar custom that speaks of a fascinating history.

I believe I shall rest here a few days before preparing myself to venture further inland to explore the wonders - and inevitably the dangers - of this place. The ultimate weakness is ignorance after all, and it's sad to say but this village I find myself in is woefully filled to the brim with ignorance.