Histories of Tamriel: 4E205 - 2a823 By DovahFahliil : The Elder Scrolls Series Discussion

» Wed Mar 11, 2015 6:36 am

A year ago I began creating a alternate future of what would occur throughout Tamriel after the conclusion of Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. To support and explore this I've created several pieces of art and written a lot of exposition lore like you would find in-game. These are not to be taken as canon, and I do not own any property copyrighted by Bethesda. These are merely inspirations of the wonderful universe they've created.

DovahFahliil

DovahFahliil.deviantart.com

» Wed Mar 11, 2015 9:35 am

The Skyrim Population Boom - By DovahFahliil

The Skyrim Population boom occurred between 4E208 and 4E216. It was the direct result of 'The Great Endeavor' as it's come to be known by the common folk, taken up by Ruvaak'Se'Brom, known then as Ruvaak Wolf-Born. The endeavor was facilitated by the three points of the Black Dragon, Black Dragon Trading, The Talons, and The Order. Through these, thousands were employed and brought into Skyrim. The boom was a result of several major factors, the headquarters in Winterhold, Dunmer hiring preference, increased pay, creation of the Gold roads and the claiming of the title Warmaster.

The three points of the Black dragon, though created the demand for a adequate population base, was not credited with the main migrations. The first migration came from Ruvaak claiming the title of Warmaster.

The role of Warmaster is a very obscure Orc tradition, where a individual Orsimer can claim the title, is thereby branded for life as Warmaster and thus given near ultimate power over the entire population of Orsimer. While this might sound attractive, the drawback was that it was expected that every Orc either swear fealty to the new Warmaster, or challenge him/her to a fight to the death. The result being that no Warmaster lasted for very long. Often dying days after claiming the title. Ruvaak of course was able to claim the title and hold it for the entirety of his life. Soon most every Orsimer in Tamriel was traveling to Skyrim to either challenge him, or join. The longer he stayed alive, the fewer Orcs there were that were willing to challenge him. Most were inducted into the Order or into the Talons, adding to the strength and effectiveness of those structures. Skyrim soon had a higher Orsimer population than Orsinium.

The second migration was a combination of the institution of higher pay, Dunmer hiring preference, and first among the factors, the basing of Black dragon trading in Winterhold.

Jarl Kaldar at the time Ruvaak Wolf-Born was first starting the business, caught wind of the endeavor and saw an opportunity. Winterhold at the time was suffering greatly, having lost most of it infrastructure during the great collapse. With no reasonable draw except the College of Winterhold, the city was ghost of it's former self. Kaldar offered unprecedented preference to Ruvaak in exchange for rebuilding Winterhold, building a port and bringing in a population base. This created the focal point in which the migration would draw towards, then radiate from. The tale of near double usual pay soon had people coming in droves by land and sea. This created an perpetual supply and demand, as the need for food and supplies grew, so did the availability of labour to feed the demand. Furthermore this created a catchall effect, those looking for opportunity in Winterhold sometimes stopped on the way, and never continued their journey, swelling the already established towns and villages.

Hiring preference was an unspoken factor in that it was well known Ruvaak was a friend of the Dunmer. At the time the Dark Elves were suffering in Skyrim due to the nationalist bigotry installed by the Stormcloak Rebellion. 'Skyrim for the Nords' had, during the civil war, become a common slogan and created a lot of tension in the province. With the establishment of Black Dragon Trading in Winterhold, a former haven for Dunmer refugees, along with the removal of the less than accommodating Jarl and the seating of Kaldar, Dark Elves were soon flocking from all over the Empire. It is also rumored that Ruvaak used his Dunmer contacts in Windhelm and Solstheim to spread the news that Dark Elves would be welcome, and families would be given discounted prices on land in the Hold.

The last major factor of this period was the creation of the Gold Roads. The gold roads are, to this day, the main trade roads refurbished and used by Black Dragon Trading. At the time there were only three Gold Roads in existence, with all three running through Skyrim. The High Wind road connecting Daggerfall to Blacklight, the Sky Hammer road going from Solitude to Sentinel, and the Sky Heart road connecting Winterhold to Bruma through to Anvil. Like veins and arteries, these roads allowed the population of Tamriel to shift and circulate, bringing those who were qualified to work into Skyrim, and those who were found lacking out.

By the end of 4E216, Skyrim's population had tripled, with nearly half of it's permanent residents being Orsimer and Dunmer, with smaller populations of Bosmer and Altmer.

» Wed Mar 11, 2015 8:39 am

The Effects of Red Mountain Ash Trade - By DovahFahliil

Red Mountain Ash emits from Red Mountain in the Daedric wastes, which to this day is in a near constant state of eruption. Periodically throwing ash into the sky where it settles in Morrowind and collected by Ash Harvesters employed by Black Dragon Trading. It has many practical uses, most popularly in the creation Dragon soil, which is a misnomer, in that Dragon soil is any soil mixed properly with Red Mountain Ash.

Dragon soil is responsible for nearly seventy percent of the food produced and distributed in Tamriel today. It is essential in the north where the harsh winters are prevalent, and is directly responsible for the development of Skyrim as an agricultural heavyweight.

Skyrim land is especially rocky, requiring that most crops be vegetables with shallow root systems. Added with the harsh and often long winters, food sourcing was dependent on the hunting of wildlife, which put a fairly short threshold on the population cap before the introduction of the soil. At the time the preservation of food was near impossible, and import tariffs often made such foods from other provinces a luxury. Red Mountain Ash changed all that. When mixed properly with the soil, a process that to this day is kept a closely guarded secret, the ash enriches the soil, allowing for much larger, hardier growth, while more importantly preventing the soil from freezing solid. This allowed for much larger harvests, the cultivation of much harsher terrain, and nearly tripled Skyrim's food production.

The other two main practical uses were Dragon stone and steel. These were more widely used in tandem for construction purposes, as armor and weapons made by the steel are for members of the Talons and Order exclusively.

Dragon Stone is a kind of poured stone; using a combination of chemicals, smaller rounded stones, sand and Red Mountain Ash, the mixture is poured into a form and hardened under a hot sun. Most Dragon Stone is made in the deserts of Hammerfell, which in turn has become one of the provinces most lucrative exports. Lighter, and stronger than most any other building material known to Tamriel, the stone is highly sought after and often requires a contract with the company to build. A particular benefit to this stone is the fact it maintains a mild temperature no matter it's location. Making it ideal for harsh conditions of extreme cold or extreme heat.

Dragon Steel is still largely a mystery, it's creation is a tightly guarded secret, though it, along with Dragon Stone, are responsible for most of the standing fortified structures today. The only people allowed to have armor and weapons created by the steel are the Talons and the Order. It is even illegal in most provinces for anyone outside those two organizations to possess such items, unless special circumstances are in place. The steel can be found on military ships, houses, forts, and is one of the main components in the rebuilding of Saarthal, the capitol of the Volk Empire. It is lighter than quicksilver and as strong as dragon bone.

All of these products were strictly regulated by Black Dragon Trading, and ultimately reshaped the economy of Tamriel, as well as the political landscape.

» Tue Mar 10, 2015 10:52 pm

The Mer Migration: Death of the Stormcloaks - By DovahFahliil

The Skyrim Population boom occurred between 4E208 and 4E216. It was the direct result of 'The Great Endeavor' as it's come to be known by the common folk, taken up by Ruvaak'Se'Brom, known then as Ruvaak Wolf-Born. The endeavor was facilitated by the three points of the Black Dragon, Black Dragon Trading, The Talons, and The Order. Through these, thousands were employed and brought into Skyrim. Of these that were employed a large number of them were Mer of some sort or another. Orsimer, Dunmer, Bosmer and Altmer all migrated to Skyrim with the promise of employment and community.

The largest populations of elves to travel to the province during this time were the Orsimer and the Dunmer. Both races already had a long history in Skyrim, but being home to the Nords any communities of these races were on the fringes of major Nord society. With Black Dragon Trading rising in success, so was the need for skilled laborers and specialists. Ruvaak'Se'Brom, then known as Ruvaak Wolf-Born claimed the obscure Orc title of Warmaster, an old tradition where a single individual can claim leadership of the entire race, and it was at the time every true Orc's duty to either swear fealty, or challenge Ruvaak to a fight to the death. Ruvaak was able to face every challenge, and as years went by fewer Orsimer were willing to challenge his claim, choosing instead to follow his lead.

This was the beginning of the Mer Migration of the fourth era. Soon Skyrim was flooded with Orsimer, becoming the province with the largest Orsimer population. Most were folded into the Talons or the Order. There were holdouts of course, Orcs who long ago abandoned the lifestyle, but most notably was the king of Orsinium, the supposed Orc capitol in Tamriel, Gortwog gro-Nagor. After the claiming of the title of Warmaster, Orcs following the old way soon began deserting the lands of Orsinium, turning it into a shadow of it's former self, with only those dwelling in the once great city following the King's lead.

Many took Gortwog's unwillingness to challenge Ruvaak as evidence of his unworthiness to rule.

Along side this races migration to Skyrim, another was taking place alongside it, but for very different reasons. The dunmer in skyrim had long been established in Skyrim for the last fifty years, and many cities like Winterhold and Windhelm had long since possessed a hearty dunmer population. But with rise of the Stormcloak Rebellion, old hatreds were given new life. With the Rebellion came a nationalist bigotry, 'Skyrim for the Nords' was a common battlecry and soon Dark elves began to leave the province under that harsh light.

Ruvaak knew that many Dunmer in the area, along with the surrounding provinces were living in poverty, so it is rumored that he used his contacts in the remaining communities in Skyrim along with Solstheim to put out the word that Dark Elves would receive special favor in hiring for company projects, along with discounted prices on land in Winterhold for families. Ruvaak at the time was known and trusted throughout the local communities of Dunmer, which in turn caused a clamor to reach Winterhold. Most of those willing and available to move were those on the outskirts of traditional Dunmer society. Thus the makeup of the Dark elf populace that settled in Skyrim did not bring with it many of the trappings of their society. While most were able to reach their destination, a few Orsimer and Dunmer settled in the towns and cities along the way, swelling the populace.

While the migration mainly consisted of Dark Elves and Orcs, there was a smaller movement of Altmer and Bosmer, mainly dissidents fleeing the Aldmeri Dominion and Thalmor agents. These were smuggled in by various underground groups, and while Wood Elves were relocated, High Elves were immediately folded into The Order. All in all, Black Dragon Trading had more than enough of a workforce to achieve its ends.

The unexpected outcome of the Mer Migration was the final death of the Stormcloaks.

While the traitor Ulfric Stormcloak had been dead for almost a decade, the Stormcloaks continued to fight, their raids and ambushes becoming more intense as the migration continued. The remaining leadership of the separatists was devout sect who began to assign Ulfric with godlike status. They began associating the increase of elvish presence in Skyrim as the Empires incursion and attack on Nord sovereignty. Soon Black Dragon Trading became the symbol of Imperial tyranny in the province. They unfortunately underestimated their new target. Soon Stormcloak raids and ambushes on caravans and villages were met with disastrous failure. As failures began to mount, rebel leadership began to get desperate, pressing local farms to provide them with food, shelter and supply. This tactic soon alienated any support from the peasantry, with nobility to follow.

With no support, no resupply, the separatists soon fell into banditry, the once great uprising becoming another gang in the wilderness.

The last Stormcloak soldiers to be encounter were ten bodies at the base of the Windhelm Talos statue, having committed suicide in despair.

» Wed Mar 11, 2015 1:53 am

The SkyHammer Union - By DovahFahliil

The years between 4E205 and 4E216 were a time of unprecedented change, brought on by 'The Great Endeavor' started by Ruvaak'Se'Brom, then known as Ruvaak Wolf-Born. One of the earliest, and greatest was what has become known as the SkyHammer Union, the creation of good relations and trust between Skyrim and Hammerfell.

At the time Hammerfell was an independant kingdom for the first time in centuries, having singlehandedly and at great cost driven the Thalmor from their land. The government, a republic of nobles at the time, was struggling to deal cities in ruin, and a silent political civil war. The two main factions were the traditional isolationist Crowns, and the urbanite progressive Forebears. For many eras these two factions have had a history of bloody conflict, the Crowns often oppressing the Forebears, and in response the Forebears rising in rebellion. When the Empire abandoned the Province to the Thalmor, the two factions for the first time united in the face of the larger foe. After securing the province, the two factions, reluctant to return to their bloody past, began silent fight for political dominance, with neither winning the struggle.

Hammerfell's relationship with Skyrim like most other provinces was tainted with a troubled history. The two Kingdoms had in the past waged wars, winning and losing land to each other, building up a distrust over the centuries. That coupled with the nationalist bigotry instilled and developed by the Stormcloak Rebellion, good relations with each other was the farthest thing from the minds of either people.

When Ruvaak began the endeavor he targeted Hammerfell as his first inter-provincial trade partner. The Aldmeri Dominion had quietly lobbied the East Empire Trading company to cut off trade with the province to weaken it for future conquest. This gave Ruvaak the opening he needed. It is said that he used hired mercenaries with which he had a previous relationships with local to Taneth, a city of Hammerfell, to find influencial and skilled individuals across the province approach. Most were of the Forebear affiliation and moderate Crowns, who were willing if not eager to have means to rebuild their once great nation.

During this time many of these individuals rose in station and power within the Noble Council, some say Ruvaak used his wealth and growing influence to facilitate this, but nothing has been proven. It is also rumored that Ruvaak supplied the Hammerfell military with high quality weaponry, but once again that has yet to be proven.

Other than the usual trade, the most important export of Hammerfell was cheap stone from the many quarries, and the biggest import was cheap lumber from Skyrim. The source of wood provided an inexpensive building material for many of the Kingdoms poor who had lost their livelyhood in the war.

As time went on it soon became clear that the biggest export and import was labor. The people of Hammerfell were expert stonemasons, while the people of Skyrim were expert carpenters, and soon each was being shipped to the opposing province to provide the appropriate labor. Soon enough every major city with a Black Dragon Trading Office had a population of Nords living in it, while every major City of Skyrim now had a population of Redguard. This of course forced a reaction from the nationalists of both provinces, but with the presence of the Talons, and the weight of influence of Black Dragon Trading, these reactions never gained much momentum.

The result of this new relationship would lead to the formation of the SkyHammer Gold road, the creation of the Black Council, and the eventual reunification of Hammerfell with the Empire.

» Wed Mar 11, 2015 6:58 am

The Lost Children of Helgen - By DovahFahliil
The Helgen Citadel was the first of it's kind in Skyrim. It's size and quick construction startled the Aldmeri Dominion so bad that they attempted to annex Skyrim from the empire before more could be built. One of the most unique things about the citadel was the Hall of Ivy.

The sad fact is Tamriel is in no short supply of unwanted children. While many are taken in by close family members, there are still a many left to the streets and wilderness of Nirn. Skyrim itself had an influx of homeless orphans during and after the Stormcloak Rebellion. Many parents went of to war only to never return, leaving children with no real means of supporting themselves or paying the city taxes to keep their homes. The problem became so bad an orphanage was created in the city of Riften, but in the end it only had so many beds, and with the wars end, the demand was outpacing the supply.

With the reconstruction of Winterhold, Ruvaak'Se'Brom, then known as Ruvaak Wolf-Born, pushed to have a orphanage created to replace the faciliity in Riften, even to go as far as hiring Constance Michel, the former Riften Orphanage manager.

With Winterholds population boom, the children were exposed to many different cultures and races, developing a world view and attitude that echoes even now in our society. Cities in other provinces attempting to rid themselves of their homeless orphans began shipping them to Winterhold. Soon collection caravans were coordinated, sent out all over Tamriel to pick up those unwanted, some orphans, and some merely children of indiscretion .

The amount of children sent to the facility would later plateau, but even to this day a caravan might bring back a dozen children at once from one province. While better managed, with a higher supply of families willing to take in those in need, the problem of available parentage was still prevalent. At some point a child would reach an age where finding suitable parents was no longer possible and education was more important, lest the children begin their life in poverty and crime.

To remedy this, Ruvaak had the Halls of Ivy built inside the grounds of the Helgen Citadel. A place where older children could be sent to learn the basic skills they would require to survive in the world. With instructors specializing in magic, hunting, alchemy, music, politics and combat tactics.

The reputation of this hall grew so much over time that sons and daughters from all over skyrim were sent there to recieve an education. It has become common practice that children from aristocratic families not set to inherit titles are sent to the hall to hopefully improve their lives and the family standing in other ways.

Torygg the Younger, illegitimate son of High Queen Elisif was one of the first royal children to attend, and later his direct descendant Emperor Volk Sharp-Tooth would become an alumnis.

» Wed Mar 11, 2015 7:34 am

Shaper Mages: Sculpting the Living Earth - By DovahFahliil

The 4th Era was not kind to the practitioners of magic. The great war saw the death of many mages on both sides of the battlefield, along with the disbandment of the mages guild. Without a centralized school and governing body, many groups boasting to be its successor began petty rivalries and never truly becoming the force the Guild once was.

One of the few places of magical learning of prestige was the College of Winterhold, created in the first era, the college had long weathered the comings and goings of empires and rulers alike. In the 4th Era however saw the College along with Winterhold in decline. The great collapse and the College's survival caused a great deal of resentment among the local Nords, whose relationship with magic wasn't good to start with.

As with many things, that relationship to magic changed during the 'Great Endeavor', a period of time between 4E205 and 4E216. The establishment of Black Dragon Trading Headquarters in Winterhold not only brought new life to the city, but the College as well. With the influx of people there was fresh recruits streaming to Winterhold to learn the arcane arts. With some assistance from Black Dragon Trading, there was a rebirth of magic, new spells and ancient knowledge were discovered. The great library grew, the entire facility was expanded to accommodate the new apprentices. The help many of the members of the College provided in reshaping and rebuilding Winterhold closed the rift between the city and the College. As a result Winterhold became a capitol of magical learning.

One of the things to come out of this influx was the Shaper Mages. Specifically trained and employed by Black Dragon Trading, these mages possessed the knowledge to change the very shape of stone without a chisel or pick axe. A shaper could merge many boulders into one, create archways or solid foundations. These mages were used extensively throughout Tamriel, though it is suspected that each and every shaper is a member of the Order.

The first few of these mages were instrumental in reconstructing Winterhold, specifically in raising the stone breakers off the coast, preventing the surging waves of the Sea of Ghosts from reaching shore, and preventing the icebergs from obstructing the harbor. Though none have managed to prove this, many say the stone pillars come straight from Nirn's bones itself.

It is to be pointed out that though many shapers can create a fortress out of solid stone, there is no stone on earth that is as strong as Dragonstone, and is one of the few materials that no Mage has managed to change.

» Tue Mar 10, 2015 7:11 pm

Elder Scrolls: Politcial Map Tamriel - by DovahFahliil

http://dovahfahliil.deviantart.com/art/Elder-Scrolls-Politcial-Map-Tamriel-514973885

This is a map produced by the Imperial Library in Saarthal by the Imperial Cartographer Association. It describes in great detail all the roads, population centers, provinces, nations and empires of Tamriel in the 4th era, set before the beginning of the 'Great Endeavor'. It accompanies in the compendium "Histories of Tamriel" and is considered the most accurate maps of that time.

» Tue Mar 10, 2015 10:21 pm

Elder Scrolls: Black Dragon Flags

-Black Dragon Flag

http://dovahfahliil.deviantart.com/art/Black-Dragon-Flag-426295910

This is the Black Dragon flag, much simpler than the tapestry, and would hang outside the outposts and watchtowers. Also it would hang on all gates and towers of any Black Dragon buildings or protected towns. Each division of the military arm of Black Dragon Trading; the Talons, would carry this into any formal battle.

-Black Dragon Tapestry

http://dovahfahliil.deviantart.com/art/Black-Dragon-Tapestry-426273708

This is a representation of the black dragon tapestry. This would be hung inside the main hall at the head of the room for everyone to see. A more basic tapestry would be hung in the outposts and watchtowers. The tapestry features the symbol of black dragon trading and the DovahFahliil, the four powers of the Blackreach Tribunal; Morrowind, Skyrim, High Rock, and Hammerfell.

» Tue Mar 10, 2015 6:57 pm

Odmi the Wanderer - By DovahFahliil

Odmi the Wanderer was born around 4E232 to Talsgar the Wanderer and an unnamed Dunmer woman in the city of Cheydinhal in the province of Cyrodiil. While most of his young life is considered a mystery, he apparently inherited his father's wandering spirit, starting his travels around 4E249, traversing most of Tamriel for over twenty years before settling in Bruma to write his memoirs. While most of the original books were destroyed by the Third Daedric Invasion, many copies still exist, and are highly sought collectors item. The tomes, while a compendium on the entirity of his travels, mainly delt with his interactions with the DovahFahliil, and is credited with their popularization among the peoples of Tamriel before the Boethian host invaded.

This was important at the time because of the scism the Dinok’Se’Wuth’Laas, death of the old life, created. The Dragon Elves were the first new race to appear in Tamriel for several centuries, and the manner in which this birth was orcestrated by Ruvaak'Se'Brom, the first dragon lord, created a great amount of tension among the peasantry, middle order and aristocracy. Tamriel politics over night became about those who associated with Dragon Elves, and those who didn't. While there could not be much done openly, Black Dragon Trading maintaining a major grip on the Imperial Economy, many of those who distrusted the new peoples used their power to keep DovahFahliil influence out of their lands and Kingdoms. An action later considered costly when the daedric host entered Nirn and began their conquest.

Odmi, like many others, had only seen a few Dragon elves, from afar. This was mainly due to the decision to have the Talons be the official face of Black Dragon Trading. So while Odmi traveled for nearly three years, he had yet to actually speak to a Dragon Elf until he arrived at the docks of Winterhold. There he met Dir'Se'Rook, a bondmate of a bosmer family living in the Vivec District of the city. Soon a friendship grew, and through this relationship Odmi traveled through nearly all of DovahFahliil society.

He learned about the Edicts, the rules set down by the living god Drog'Bromah, Lord father of the dragon Elves. He saw the triplet citadels of Skyrim, he learned about the stations of service each DovahFahliil inhabits, he met Ruvaak'Se'Brom, the First Dragon Lord, and even Brii'Se'Brom, his successor.

His account of these events, publication and distribution to the general populace was the main reason anyone at that time knew anything about what the Dinok was truly about. Odmi spent the rest of his days living in Bruma as a celebrity of Tamriel.

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For more visit: http://dovahfahliil.deviantart.com

» Wed Mar 11, 2015 4:45 am

I like your style

Did you make that political map all on your own or did you use a base?

» Wed Mar 11, 2015 4:49 am

Thank you for the compliment. I used Morcrofts contour map as a base and rendered it from there.