Lore:Kingdoms of High Rock

High Rock

The Kingdoms of High Rock initially started through villages founded in tactical locations, such as Wayrest, prospering and becoming fully fledged powers. Breton kingdoms grew around the eight major cities of Daggerfall, Camlorn, Wayrest, Shornhelm, Northpoint, Evermore, Farrun and Jehanna. These kingdoms gave rise to many dynastic families and houses, such as the Cumberland Dynasty, Gardner Dynasty and Spenard Dynasty. Another major kingdom predominately inhabited by Orcs that originated in the region of Wrothgar, is called Orsinium.

Camlorn

Camlorn

Camlorn (sometimes called Camlarn) is situated on the coastal highlands of Glenumbra. Camlorn and the surrounding region is a melting pot of several different Breton cultures and its people fancy themselves as more refined and metropolitan compared to their neighbors in Daggerfall. The kingdom's nobility consider themselves an aristocracy of poets and artisans. It has also greatly benefitted from trade coming from either the Eltheric Ocean or the Iliac Bay. As of 3E 432, Camlorn was one of five major kingdoms in High Rock. Camlorn was founded by the Nords during the Nordic Empire's occupation of High Rock in the early First Era. It started as a Nordic city but as their influence started to wane and the Breton population increased, Camlorn was fully assimilated by the locals. One of the city's first rulers was a figure known as the Iron Son, who wielded a powerful sword made from Black-Iron and created a powerful dynasty. Interestingly, maps of the Direnni Hegemony circa 1E 484 had a myriad of discrepancies, among which include Camlorn's omission when compared to other maps. A member of the Antiquarian Circle, Verita Numida believed it was a deliberate choice from the Direnni to mask their shrinking territories.

Sometime around 2E 70, the Duke of Camlorn's daughter was kidnapped by a group of bandits who demanded a large ransom of money. One knight stepped forward and rescued her, the knight, Justin Dufort. As a reward, Sir Justin earned the Duke's favor and a small amount of gold, but in the long term, his family name had increased influence and turned into a prosperous merchant family. Since then, House Dufort became one of two families to dominate the Duchy of the Systres. Camlorn acquired its status as a kingdom sometime in 2E 301 and every year held a grand celebration in the capital city.

In 2E 478, the Gardners of Wayrest had troubles with an "Ascendant Camlorn" and was entirely occupied with the situation. So much so that they ignored the coup that rose in the Systres, when House Mornard seized one-third of Dufort's land and exiled their leadership to Amenos. It later took part in the Battle of Granden Tor and sometime later, in the province's dozen years of peace, Camlorn became an independent city-state by 2E 541.

The city was ransacked during Emperor Durcorach's invasion of High Rock in 2E 541, after his failed siege against Wayrest. When the Reach was defeated a year later at Daggerfall's gates, Camlorn and its monarch gathered with other Breton kingdoms to form the First Daggerfall Covenant under the newly named High King of Wayrest, Emeric of Cumberland. The Kings of the Covenant were invited to Emeric's wedding in the spring of 2E 566 and were later drawn to Ranser's War, a civil conflict against the Kingdom of Rivenspire and their allies. The war later gave rise to the Greater Daggerfall Covenant, which now incorporated the Redguards of Hammerfell and the Orcs of Wrothgar.

During the Interregnum in 2E 582, the Bloodthorn Cult invaded Glenumbra and after a failed attempt at sabotage in the Beldama Wyrd Tree, they made their way north toward Camlorn and worked with the resurrected Faolchu. The undead werewolf made contact with a local named Jonathan Telwin and inflicted him with lycanthropy. With this condition, Jonathan traveled to Camlorn and spread it among the populous in the middle of the night. People mistook the howls for wild dogs but it became a lot clear that the city was infested with a pack of bloodthirsty werewolves.

The Captain of the City Guard, Darien Gautier led a defense against the attack and managed a holdout in the city's inn with survivors. Camlorn was taken over by Faolchu and his pack while the royal family was forced to flee with refugees to nearby Aldcroft. In time, the Lion Guard prepared to retaliate and built their siege camp south of the city's gate but when Faolchu's forces took it over, it split the army in half by each side of the camp. General Gautier enlisted the help of an Agent of the Covenant and managed to reunite with General Mendin's forces while retaking the camp. With one more push into the gate's courtyard, the Lion Guard had entered the city.

General Gautier sent the Agent to locate his son, Darien and help him in the relief effort. They found him in the inn in Camlorn's western district and with the help of a local alchemist, Alinon, they managed to cure citizens of lycanthropy and round up weapons for the city's defense. The invading force had greatly dwindled and all that was left was Faolchu, who was held up in the ruined Camlorn Keep. In a final battle, the werewolf general was defeated and Camlorn was liberated. As their plans fell apart, the Bloodthorn Cult took hold in Cath Bedraud while the Lion Guard prepared for a final attack in King's Guard.

The historical-fiction series, the Wolf Queen recounts how Emperor Pelagius Septim II and his wife, Quintilla met. In the autumntide of 3E 63, the widowed Prince Pelagius II and his son, Antiochus traveled to Camlorn to pay court to King Vulstaed's daughter, Princess Quintilla, well-renowned at the time as a beauteous princess, accomplished as well as a maiden and sorceress. Pelagius II arrived at the city-state to find it terrorized by a great demon werewolf and together with the princess, defeated the monster and bound it into a yellow soul gem. The prince then fashioned the gem into a ring and proposed to the princess. Legend has it though that the soul of the wolf stayed with them until the birth of their first child, Potema. They later went on to have two more children, the brothers Cephorus I and Magnus. The book also attributes the soul gem as the source Pelagius III's infamous madness, making it one of the several possible theories.

During the Imperial Simulacrum in the late Third Era, the city-state of Camlorn was an active settlement. It was ruled by King Edward and had a rivalry with Daggerfall. After acquiring the fifth piece of the Staff of Chaos, the Eternal Champion made their way north into High Rock to seek out the Crypt of Hearts and eventually stumbled into Camlorn where they met Senior-Brother Halfas Varn of the Brotherhood of Seth. The cult had acquired an ancient map with a code that could decipher the dungeon's location on an Elder Scroll but it was stolen by Brother Barnabas of Tethis, who in turn stowed away to the Mines of Khuras. The Eternal Champion delved deep into the dungeon and returned to Halfas Varn with the map intact. The mage-priest was able to locate the Crypt of Hearts and sent the Eternal Champion on their way to the dungeon. After the champion's monumental victory over Jagar Tharn, Imperial-loyalists would retrace the champion's steps throughout their journey across the Empire, stopping in Camlorn.

Following the Warp in the West in 3E 417, in the twilight years of the Third Era, the kingdoms of High Rock favored diplomatic solutions to their problems rather than violence. Despite that, local skirmishes continued on the regular between neighboring nations like between Camlorn, Evermore and Northpoint. By 3E 432, the Kingdom of Camlorn recently celebrated the marriage between Duke Senhyn's daughter, Lady Kelmena, and the Prince of Daggerfall, Camaron. Their union suggested a possible unified kingdom along the province's western coast, in conjunction with Daggerfall's already established relationship with its former rivals, the Kingdom of Sentinel. By the end of the Third Era, Camlorn was one of five kingdoms in High Rock.

Daggerfall

Daggerfall

Daggerfall is located in the southwest portion of the province, on the north half of the Iliac Bay. Throughout much of history, Daggerfall was one of the largest kingdoms in High Rock, from the early First Era before the rise of its rival, Wayrest and its incorporation into the Third Empire, to the turn of the Third Era. It is named after its capital city, Daggerfall.

While there is substantial archaeological evidence to suggest that humans have lived where Daggerfall city is now located, at least a thousand years before recorded history, the first time the name is used for a specific area was discerned around 1E 246, during the Skyrim Conquests helmed by High King Vrage and the Nordic Empire. One of the earliest mentions of the name in recorded history comes from a record in their census, the Book of Life. By tradition, historians perpetuate the myth that Daggerfall's name comes from the knife the first chieftain used to create the borders. The Third Era author of "A History of Daggerfall", Odiva Gallwood believes other myths have equal validity.

Daggerfall was one of many fortified coastal towns built by the Nords during their occupation and its people were able to thrive on the land and the sea as fisherfolk. However, when High King Borgas was killed in 1E 369, Skyrim was in disarray as the War of Succession pitted the holds against each other and severely weakened the Nordic Empire's hold beyond its borders. The story of how High Rock was able to liberate itself from Skyrim is one established in legend and it involved the mythical heroes and companions, King Edward of Daggerfall and King Moraelyn of Ebonheart.

According to legend, Edward and Moraelyn utilized an ancient artifact known as the Horn of Summoning to free High Rock and their spirits from the Nords. Most people believe that the Horn was buried with Edward in his tomb underneath Daggerfall City, but in actuality, it was laid elsewhere in Tamriel. The elves of Clan Direnni played a significant part in High Rock's liberation and reigned over the region as the Direnni Hegemony. In the years since the Nords' expulsion, the Kingdom of Daggerfall had only grown stronger as it greatly expanded its military. At the time, it was ruled by chieftain-kings. When Aiden Direnni invoked the Rights Charter, many Breton citizens were enlisted to fight the war against the Alessians and Daggerfall served as a minor base of operations for the elves.

The Crest of Daggerfall bears Akatosh

The Battle of Glenumbra Moors, while it brought victory to the Direnni Hegemony, destitute them as they failed to stop the emergence of Greater Bretony's nobility. As well as their modern-day knightly orders (chief among them included Daggerfall's Knights of the Dragon) who were able to push them back to their home on the Isle of Balfiera. All of High Rock was free from elven control by 1E 500 and as Daggerfall continued to grow, in 1E 609, it was able to establish itself as a predominant kingdom and power in southern High Rock after King Thagore defeated Glenpoint's army. It has held onto this title ever since.

For much of the tenth century in the First Era, Daggerfall was ruled by King Joile, who witnessed the original Orsinium's growth, the Orcish raiders' attack on denizens of the Bjoulsae River and the blockade on Wayrest's trade lanes. In 1E 948, the king wrote a letter to Gaiden Shinji, leader of the Order of Diagna about his grievances to the situation. Only when King Golkarr applauded these raiders did Joile decided to act and declare war on the Orcs.

The Siege of Orsinium, as it is remembered in history, was a thirty-year-long conflict in which the kingdoms of Daggerfall and Sentinel united to destroy the original kingdom of Orcs. The Knights of the Dragon, at the time led by Lord Trystan, worked in tandem with the Order of Diagna and the orders grew to respect each other in the process. Much to their chagrin, however, King Joile enlisted Mercedene, leader of the Winterborn mercenaries from the Reach, and gave her power over Lord Trystan.

King Joile and Gaiden Shinji executed King Golkarr in Grudgement Hall, Orsinium. But despite the death of the Orcish king, the siege relented and Baloth Bloodtusk reinforced the city. The Redguard gallant believed that the war had lasted longer than it otherwise should have and wanted King Joile to call it off. Lord Trystan proposed a duel between the Redguard and Baloth Bloodtusk to put an honorable end to the war. The King had other ideas in mind, however, and had General Mercedene kill both warriors in the midst of their duel. It became apparent that King Joile's reason for starting the war was not well-intention, but rather, it was a means to conquer and expand his kingdom. This act of betrayal resonated with Lord Trystan and the Knights of the Dragon, who withdrew from Joile's conquest.

Joile and the Daggerfall Army traveled south into Hammerfell via the Bangkorai Pass in 1E 973, but their invasion was short-lived as they were confronted by six Maidens of the Spirit Sword named Cegila, Julia, Kati, Makela Leki, Patia, and Zell. In the end, only one of the six Maidens survived and Joile's army was defeated single-handedly by Makela Leki, who activated her Shehai. Joile was decapitated by the maiden and his armies scattered. The Siege of Orsinium ended in 1E 980 and although Daggerfall was successful in their assault, the Orcs' downfall gave rise to their most direct competitor, Wayrest, which formally became the Kingdom of Wayrest in 1E 1100.

Flaccus Terentius' painting of Daggerfall's street (ca. Folbert's reign)

After Empress Hestra incorporated High Rock in 1E 1029, Daggerfall's capital was able to flourish as an important settlement but much like the rest of western Tamriel, it was devastated by the Thrassian Plague, which originally broke out in 1E 2200. While the nobility of Daggerfall and other kingdoms traveled to Balfiera for refuge, generally speaking, the Iliac Bay's population decreased by half.

It saw a further decline with the War of Righteousness between 1E 2321 and 2331, the conflict that spelled the end of the Alessian Empire and came after High Rock left the Empire. In an unspecified event in the First Era, the kingdoms of Daggerfall, Wayrest, and the Isle of Balfiera joined together as the League of Unrest to fight against the Cyrodiils.

Starting from the early fourth century of the Second Era, the Kingdom of Daggerfall was ruled by House Deleyn, who are descendants of the First Era hero, the Ivory Lord. Donel Deleyn started this dynasty in 2E 342 and political marriages with nobles from Aldcroft and Northmoor strengthened the house's power. Daggerfall under King Maxevian participated in the siege against the Province of Orsinium mainly orchestrated by Shornhelm. By his order, a regiment of knights stayed behind in Watcher's Hold to prevent any Orcish incursion from coming west.

Sometime in the sixth century of the Second Era, the kingdoms of High Rock engaged in all-out warfare with each other in the Battle of Granden Tor but in the years since experienced peace. At the time, Daggerfall would have been ruled by King Bergamot, who also led the Knights of the Dragon in the capital city's defense against Emperor Durcorach and his Reachmen horde. Upon realizing how weak their own kingdoms were and as a means to collectively unite against any foreign threat, the kings of High Rock formed an alliance known as the Daggerfall Covenant. Daggerfall was quick to propose their city as the capital but Wayrest's recent growth brought it to their favor. When the Knahaten Flu of 2E 560 passed, it claimed King Bergamot and left the throne to Folbert the Wide.

With this alliance, Folbert was present with the other kings in Emeric's wedding in 2E 566 and later Daggerfall became instrumental in Ranser's War not long after. Despite the alliance with Wayrest, however, King Folbert believed the city's rise in prominence was a stroke of luck and that if the kingdom overextended itself, Daggerfall would come in and rise back up top. This did not come up in his lifetime, however, as he passes away. An oracle of the Wyrd named Marieve was able to predict King Folbert's death and by 2E 582, the throne was held by Casimir. Although the kingdom remained affiliated with the Covenant, the King was adamant to make the Knights of the Dragon a separate entity from the Covenant's greater armies. But when the Bloodthorn Cult invaded Glenumbra, the knightly order assisted the Covenant and the Lion Guard on their final attack in Cath Bedraud.

The province of High Rock was fully incorporated into the Third Empire after Tiber Septim easily corralled the squabbling kingdoms and employed the provisional governors to end the witch-kings' reign and feuds. By the time the Tiber War was in effect across the continent, Daggerfall's capital city was considered the de-facto capital of the province, by virtue of its ancient history, prominence, and prosperity. In a map of other capitals in the Empire, Daggerfall is listed among them. By Cyrodilic tradition, the Kingdom of Daggerfall was able to retain its right to have a royal court. When Sentinel was governed by Senecus Goddkey, nobles from Daggerfall traveled to the capital city for an exotic retreat.

While it is unknown where Daggerfall sided in the war, western High Rock was entrenched in the War of the Red Diamond. The Elder Council in the Imperial City split the Imperial armies between the western army in the Iliac Bay and the eastern army in coastal Morrowind. In the summer of 3E 125, King Cephorus of Gilane was able to reconquer western High Rock. Meanwhile, the death of his niece, Kintyra II around the same time sparked outrage toward Potema and Uriel III, which inspired more people to the Empire's cause.

The war ended when Uriel III was defeated by Cephorus I at the Battle of Ichidag in 3E 127. By then, the kingdoms of High Rock turned toward the Empire and received new levels of autonomy and independence. In early 3E 266, the throne of Daggerfall was contended between Helena and her cousin, Jilathe. It was because of this the Kingdom of Daggerfall could not rally other leaders in the Iliac Bay to fight the Camoran Usurper.

Even though the Imperial Simulacrum passed at the turn of the century, fractious wars continued to plague the continent. The Iliac Bay was the center of one such conflict, as it involved the Kingdoms of Daggerfall and Sentinel, and the small island of Betony. The island's local lord, Mogref agreed to become a vassal to King Lysandus and Queen Mynisera of Daggerfall for protection and monetary reasons.

One person who pushed for the vassalage was the Archpriest of Kynareth, Vanech, who believed Betony was the holy land of his patron. Complications arose when King Camaron of Sentinel intervened by citing a two-hundred-year-old agreement. Despite the counsel of their own respective wise women, who foresaw their deaths in the conflict, both kings pressed forward with the War of Betony in 3E 402.

The war began with a sea battle on the Daggerfall Bluffs, aptly named the Battle of the Bluffs. Daggerfall came out victorious thanks to Lord Bridwell, general of the Daggerfall military. In the next subsequent battles, the battle in Glenpoint's foothills and the Siege of Craghold, Daggerfall claimed victory. Over the course of the war, Lysandus' court sorceress, Medora Direnni and his mother, Nulfaga became more adamant to end the war but as enthusiastic as Lysandus was to his victory at hand, Nulfaga left the Court of Daggerfall and retired to her castle in the Wrothgarian Mountains.

Her departure made King Lysandus reconsider the war and attempted to negotiate with King Camaron in Reich Gradkeep, with its lord, Graddock serving as a neutral mediator. The summit took place in the city's palace and was initially civil. It was decided on the Treaty of Reich Gradkeep that both kingdoms would have joint lieges of the island. This solution was never presented to the kings as Archpriest Vanech switched the treaty for another, one that would have caused offense to King Lysandus. According to legend, Lord Bridwell smashed the fake treaty with his battle axe, which created chaos in the palace. The region's capital city was in a bloodbath and both kingdoms continued their fight out in the wilderness.

The generals were able to quell their armies and Daggerfall returned to their camp for the final battle. The kingdom's armies made their base in Ravennian Forest while Sentinel camped in Yeorth Burrowland, with Cryngaine Field between them. While the armies were away, Queen Mynisera discovered her husband's affair with Medora Direnni and banished her from the court. When this news reached Lysandus, he decided to leave his life as King behind so that he could spend the rest of his life in anonymity with Medora on Balfiera. He made a deal with his son, Prince Gothryd, and orchestrated a plan to fake his death. Lord Woodborne of Wayrest met with Lysandus in camp and escorted him to Tamarilyn Point while an imposter would take his place.

A week later, the Battle of Cryngaine Field commenced and in the heat of battle, an unnatural fog conjured by the dragon-familiar, Skakmat enveloped the battlefield. Gothryd killed the imposter, with the narrative being that Sentinel's archers fired blindly into the fog. Gothryd, who was popular among soldiers was crowned behind the battlefront and led the army for the rest of the battle. While texts on the war written by Fav'te and Vulper Newgate claim that Gothryd killed King Camaron in a confrontation, it was Lord Bridwell who defeated him. The Sentinel army, led by Lord Oresme surrendered and Betony was fully relinquished to the Kingdom of Daggerfall in 3E 403.

As part of the formal peace treaty, the newly-named King Gothryd proposed to the Princess of Sentinel, Aubk-i, and while some viewed it as a gesture toward peace and friendship, others like members of the Royal Court of Sentinel saw her as a political prisoner. Despite the measures taken for Lysandus' retirement, he was assassinated and in her grief, Medora Direnni tried to conjure his spirit. After many failed attempts and more powerful rituals, a host of undead was summoned and plagued the Isle of Balfiera. Coincidentally on the 13th of Rain's Hand, known in Daggerfall as the Day of the Dead, the ghost of King Lysandus appeared in Daggerfall's capital and haunted its streets at night with his own host of ghosts in 3E 404. King Gothryd became distrusted among his citizens and rumors circulated about how he killed his father in the Battle of Cryngaine Field.

In 3E 405, an Agent of the Blades was sent to the Kingdom of Daggerfall by the Emperor, Uriel VII to investigate King Lysandus' hauntings and to assist in a small personal manner related to the Dowager Queen, Mynisera. However, a supernatural storm created by Nulfaga caused their ship to wreck off Daggerfall's coast and washed them ashore in Privateer's Hold, a dungeon near the Daggerfall-Tulune border. The Agent was able to escape the dungeon and embark across the Iliac Bay, where they became involved in the politics and affairs of the region.

After the Blades had besieged Woodborne Hall in Wayrest, Lady Brisienna Magnessen made contact with the Agent and gave them the task of retrieving the Totem of Tiber Septim from Castle Daggerfall, believing that King Gothryd was given the totem by Lord Woodborne before the siege of his home. After the Agent took the totem, various people involved in the Iliac Bay, from the kingdoms' monarchy to the Empire made contact with the Agent in the hopes of obtaining the totem and its godly power. Gothryd was one of these individuals, however, instead of a cordial letter, the king sent his knights to take it by force but it is unknown if the Agent complied with them.

In fact, what became of the Agent and the Totem is unknown to history as the Blades lost contact with them since their last encounter with Lady Brisienna. In 3E 417, a magical phenomenon known as the Miracle of Peace occurred over the Iliac Bay and changed it ever since. At the time, the kingdoms warred against each other and laid waste to the region. A three-way clash between Daggerfall, Wayrest, and Nova Orsinium took place on the 9th of Frostfall, and the land between them was destroyed as a fire started in Daenia and Ilessan Hills, and spread northeast toward Ykalon and Phrygias.

The Miracle of Peace occurred on the 10th of Frostfall and once it passed, it was suddenly the 11th of Frostfall. The forty-four nations in the Iliac Bay became four Imperial counties; the previous kingdoms, which had expanded and encroached on these smaller countries. Daggerfall took over much of the western Bretonic-Iliac Bay region, from as far as Ykalon and western Anticlere and now shared its border with Wayrest. Peace had been achieved, and not just across the Iliac Bay but the entire province. High Rock encompassed five major kingdoms and the newly formal province of Orsinium. Daggerfall in the late years of the Third Era only prospered as King Gothryd and Queen Aubk-i had their first child, Camaron. At the turn of the era, they celebrated his marriage with Lady Kelmena of Camlorn, which suggested a possible alliance with the kingdom.

Evermore

Evermore

Evermore, sometimes spelled Evermor, is a city on the banks of the Bjoulsae River in eastern High Rock, located near the border with Hammerfell.

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. These lands were subject to frequent attacks from the Reachfolk of the mountains, who asserted their birthright to the city and aimed to reclaim their ancestral homeland. Southern Bangkorai included the Fallen Wastes region of Hammerfell, and Evermore's rulership of it was often contested by the Redguards of Sentinel. Evermore served as a crucial trading hub, strategically positioned to benefit from trade routes spanning the Tamriel. It linked High Rock of the Bretons, the southern and central regions of Hammerfell inhabited by the Redguards, the Orcish city of Orsinium to the north, and Skyrim through Dragonstar and Markarth, territories inhabited by the Nords and Reachfolk respectively.

The lands in northern Bangkorai, encompassing the place where the city of Evermore was built, and the areas extending northward, were once a part of the Reachfolk homeland. The city itself was founded in 1E 983 by the Bjoulsae River Tribes, after the fall of Orsinium opened the Bjoulsae for trade and transport. According to the Decretal of Fiefdoms by Empress Hestra, the city's earliest leader was "Barron Guy Marde of ye Rivver Banke", an ancestor of House Guimard, the ruling house of Evermore during the mid-Second Era.

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. After the Reachmen were defeated, Evermore, along with Daggerfall, Shornhelm, Camlorn and Wayrest, signed the first Daggerfall Covenant.

In 2E 582, Evermore and its lands were again attacked by the Reachmen led by Uela. The Empire attempted to infiltrate the city in preparation for the arrival of the Seventh Legion, but Covenant agents were helped in preventing the city's treachery by Uela, who wanted to take Evermore for herself. Uela was ultimately killed before ever reaching the city, and the Seventh Legion's invasion was subsequently repelled.

In the Third Era, the lands of Evermore became fragmented and the Fallen Wastes region was returned to Hammerfell. During the Imperial Simulacrum in the late Third Era, the city-state of Evermore was ruled by King Tristynak. It had a rivalry with North Point and the Imperial City. Evermore was neighbored by several settlements, including Black Wastes to the west, and Dunkarn Haven to the east. Before the Warp in the West, it was one of eight de jure kingdoms in High Rock. Following the Warp, Evermore's borders expanded drastically and it became one of the five remaining kingdoms in High Rock.

Farrun

Fharun Stronghold

Farrun (or Fharun) is a northern port city on the north shore of High Rock, and one of eight kingdoms in the province. It is known for its icy winters.{ The kingdom of Farrun has existed since the First Era, one notable citizen of Farrun in the First Era was Lord Storig, who commanded the vanguard of the Imperial army at the Battle of Bodrum in 1E 2920 during the Four-Score War. By the Second Era it was an Orcish stronghold by the name of Fharun, named after the Fharun Clan. The stronghold was infamous for its Breton-designed prison complex, which was notorious even among the Orcs.

Fharun was also home to archivists of Malacath, who protected a sacred scroll that supposedly contained the words of Malacath himself. During the Interregnum, the clan was led by Chief Bazrag gro-Fharun, a Malacath worshipper. Bazrag refused to bend the knee to the Trinimac-worshipping King Kurog, despite being an old friend of the king. Because of this, Fharun did not join the Daggerfall Covenant in 2E 567 and didn't take part in the Alliance War of 2E 582.

Following the end of the Planemeld, Kurog began a concerted effort to rebuild his seat of Orsinium and unite the whole of Wrothgar under his rule. Bazrag and several other clan chiefs resisted, and Kurog enlisted the aid of the Vosh Rakh to assassinate the chiefs. Fharun was seized by the Vosh Rakh, who threw their captives into the prison and released the prisoners to kill them. Bazrag was rescued from such a fate by the Vestige, and returned to Orsinium to foil Kurog's assassination attempt. Following the death of Kurog, the surviving chiefs appointed Bazrag as king, uniting Wrothgar and ending the worship of Trinimac. The Vosh Rakh fled from Fharun Stronghold, although it is unknown if the settlement was reclaimed by the remaining clan members.

Kurog's Orsinium eventually fell, and at some point Fharun became the Breton city-state of Farrun, where an unnamed king was known to have fought a war against Solitude and its allies some time late in the Third Era. During the Imperial Simulacrum in the late Third Era, the city-state of Farrun was an active settlement. It was ruled by King Tristyrick, and it had a rivalry with Jehanna. Farrun was neighbored by several settlements, including Cloud Spring to the southeast, Dunlain Falls to the south, and Jehanna to the east.

Jehanna

Jehanna during the Imperial Simulacrum

Jehanna (also called Jehenna or Jelhana) is situated on the icy shores of the Northern Coast. Nestled in the snow-covered forests of the Western Reach, it is described as being as beautiful as its name.

The Western Reach was conquered by the First Empire of the Nords, and incorporated into Skyrim's holdings, prompting many Nordic colonials to settle in the region until they were viciously displaced by the Direnni Hegemony. The fall of the Hegemony fractured High Rock into various fiefdoms of walled city-states. Jehanna as a name is recognized among the people of Tamriel, and by the scholars in the mid-Second Era. The Jehanna Road is a major roadway that runs near the Bjoulsae River in Bangkorai and rolls northeast into the Wrothgarian Mountains near the Murtag Stronghold. According to High Rock lore, during rituals to imbue white elks, moonlight glints off glittering snowflakes with the intelligence of ghosts captured from the frigid seas near Jehanna. In 2E 582, an isolated dock with the name Jehanna Docks could be found just to the east of Fharun Stronghold. By 2E 864, the modern-day kingdom of Jehanna had been marked on maps of the province.

During the Imperial Simulacrum to the late-Third Era, the city-state of Jehanna was an active settlement. It was ruled by King Bedyctor and had a rivalry with Farrun. When the War of the Bend'r-mahk occurred at the time, the land around Jehanna and other nations like Elinhir were engulfed in warfare with the Nordic warlords of nearby Skyrim. By the time, Uriel Septim VII returned to the throne in 3E 399, Jehanna had fallen under the control of Skyrim and the landscape was swiftly claimed by their Counts. By the waning years of the Third Era, resistance in the cities was feeble at best, but the fight remained strong toward the border.

Northpoint

Northpoint

Northpoint (also spelled as North Point) is located on the northeast point of Rivenspire. Northpoint is an important trading center along the northwest trading route on the Eltheric Ocean, as well as the seat of power for House Dorell, one of the three major houses of Rivenspire. Their power extends across northern Rivenspire, including farmland around the city and beyond the sea. As of 3E 432, Northpoint was one of five major kingdoms in High Rock.

Northpoint was founded in the 9th century of the First Era by Breton entrepreneur Yric Flowdys during his routine summer trip between Daggerfall and Solitude. Yric made note of harborage on Rivenspire's coast, and the potential for its deep waters to accommodate large vessels. Believing it could serve as a waystation between the two coastal cities, for ships to restock, repair, or wait out storms, Yric constructed his harbor at Northpoint. Not long after, he oversaw the construction of a small walled keep and warehouse southeast of the port, on the peak of Dore Elard. Eventually, the town grew and Yric took on the mountain's name as his own. The newly christened House Dorell further developed their maritime endeavors and leased land beyond the town to farmers, establishing a new source of income.

Over time, the town on the hill became known as Northpoint, and the port at Northpoint was renamed Northsalt Village. When the province of High Rock was brought into the Alessian Empire in 1E 1029, House Dorell were granted a barony by Empress Hestra brought great prosperity to the entire province throughout the First Era. The fortunes of both the House and Northpoint have constantly shifted with the flow of the northwest trade ever since. The fruits of their labor had eventually earned them the kingship of Rivenspire in the twenty-fourth century of the First Era, and ever since, House Dorell has been regarded as elite among the kingdom's nobility.

By the mid-sixth century of the Second Era, House Dorell was led by Baron Alard Dorell, and when King Ranser of Shornhelm declared civil war against High King Emeric, House Dorell answered the call to arms and joined Rivenspire's armies against the south. After the death of the King and his lineage, however, the leaders of Rivenspire's three great houses assembled together to form a triumvirate called the Council of the North, which ruled the kingdom in the interim. Baron Dorell assumed the position along with Barons Esmark Tamrith and Wylon Montclair. While Alard lived in the family estate in Shornhelm, his son, Ellic Dorell governed Northpoint and its environs from the family manor in town.

In 2E 582, there was a plot conducted by House Montclair to take over Rivenspire, and the Baron's daughter, Lady Lleraya Montclair had set her sights on Northpoint. She arrived in the city and met with Ellic Dorell, promising him help. She advised him to gather the city's people and as they gathered en masse, she used the Lightless Remnant to turn them into bloodfiends. Qariar helped some people escape to the Sloshing Tankard inn, but most of the city's citizens were turned into feral vampires, and Lady Montclair sealed Northpoint from the outside. In Dorell Manor, Lady Montclair used the remnant for an illusion spell, a veil that charmed the nobles to her favor.

Outside of the city, Baron Alard Dorell and the armies of Shornhelm amassed to retake the city. He sent several agents across the field to find a way into the city and discovered the smuggler's tunnel underneath the lighthouse on the north shore. A Shornhelm guardsman, Skordo the Knife, devised a plan for the members of the invasion force to enter the city and find a safe house from which to stage their attack. They eventually took over the manor of Baron Chirane and rendezvoused with Blademaster Qariar. Baron Alard sent an Agent of the Daggerfall Covenant to confront Lady Lleraya Montclair and find Ellic Dorell. With help from Verandis Ravenwatch, the Agent broke the veil and defeated the vampire mistress. For allowing Lady Montclair to take over the city and causing the death of many people, Baron Alard punished his son and relieved him of his status. After securing Northpoint, the forces of Shornhelm gathered at the base of the Shrouded Pass for a final attack against Baron Wylon Montclair.

By the late-Interregnum, the kingdoms of High Rock were in a weak and fractured state, which made them easily conquered by Tiber Septim. Historically, Northpoint was a city ruled by the Barons of House Dorell, a major faction that swore fealty to the Kingdom of Rivenspire seated in Shornhelm. By the late Third Era, however, Northpoint was recognized as a fully-fledged kingdom in its own right, separate from its equal, Shornhelm.

During the Imperial Simulacrum in the late Third Era, the city-state of Northpoint was an active settlement. It was ruled by Queen Elona and had a rivalry with Evermore and Shornhelm. When the Warp in the West took place in 3E 417, the kingdoms of Northpoint and Evermore took advantage of the chaos claim territory around them. Their expansion was careful to avoid confrontation with the kingdoms of the Iliac Bay (Daggerfall and Wayrest) or even Skyrim's forces in the post-War of the Bend'r-mahk. Despite that, however, border skirmishes had become a common occurrence between neighbors, specifically Northpoint, Evermore, and even Camlorn. By the waning years of the Third Era, Northpoint was one of the five kingdoms left in High Rock, quietly watching its neighbors with distrust.

Orsinium

Orsinium's location in High Rock circa 3E 433

Orsinium (which literally translates to "Orc-Town" in Aldmeris) is the city of the Orsimer and the provincial seat of the region of Wrothgar, which came to be known as the Orsinium Area in the late Third Era. It has been sacked and rebuilt many times over the centuries, as the Orcs are often at odds with their Breton and Redguard neighbors. Orsinium was first built in High Rock, straddling the boundary between western Wrothgar and Rivenspire. In the mid-Second Era, the city was relocated to eastern Wrothgar. In 3E 399, it was relocated again to a site between Wayrest, Menevia, and the Wrothgarian Mountains. By 4E 201, Orsinium had been moved a third time, farther south to an area between Hammerfell and Skyrim.

The exact date of the first Orsinium's founding is unknown, but it is known to have grown powerful as early as the ninth century of the First Era.

It is said 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. During the First Era, 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, as their people were dependent on a rare, shaggy, giant centipede herd-beast that can only survive at high altitudes, here is where the first Orsinium would be founded.

While the Direnni lay claim to the first sacking of Orsinium by Ryain Direnni with the help of his Breton legions, who was active around the fifth century of the First Era, the polity that would become the First Orsinium that the orcs of later eras hoped to re-establish is usually dated to the tenth century of the First Era, when Chieftain Torug gro-Igron brought the Orcish people together and founded a village in the western Wrothgarian Mountains. Though this dating is likely incorrect, as there was known to be a powerful Orsinium in the ninth century, and Torug is said to have died "long before" 1E 950, Thanks to the cooperation of several Orcish clans, particularly Igrun, Morkul, Shatul, and Tumnosh, 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. They would eventually be joined by orc clans from other regions, like those who were fleeing Hammerfell due to the Ra Gada invasion. Warlord Thulgeg led a group of Orcs and Goblins from Hammerfell on an exodus to High Rock in 1E 874 after being driven out of the province by the Redguards, eventually leading them northeast through the Dragontail Mountains before they finally reached Orsinium.

King Golkarr of the Orcs amassed an army and was determined to seize control of the Bjoulsae River, upon which the nomadic Breton Bjoulsae River Tribes lived. They intended to force Wayrest to pay to regularly use the river for travel and trade. 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, the armies of Daggerfall (High Rock), and Sentinel (Hammerfell). The Bjoulsae River Tribes also agreed to lend their aid. The armies amassed and began a campaign for the destruction of Orsinium. Two years later, in 1E 950 the siege began. Guthrag Stone-Talker's diplomatic prowess was acknowledged as one of the factors in postponing the siege for more than a decade.

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.

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. Certain accounts suggest that the Redguard victory was attributed to the sacrifice of Armiger Rhina from the Order of Diagna.

The Bretons experienced a period of economic expansion after they razed Orsinium, for the Bjoulsae River region was greatly opened up for trade. The kingdom of Evermore was founded by the Bjoulsae River Tribes, and Wayrest also established a presence on both banks of the region. The Masconian Trade Way was formed by the hard-working traders and merchants of the Bjoulsae River. Not only did it bring about a decline in piracy, it also led to a great expansion of the Bjoulsae's trade and community. One such factor that contributed to this was Daggerfall's ivory trade, which originated with ivory plundered from Orsinium following its sacking.

The artifact Chrysamere was present in the first sacking of Orsinium.

King Kurog's Orsinium circa 2E 582

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. A poetry joust was held there in 2E 581. In 2E 582, he sent invitations to the mightiest warriors of Tamriel to come and help him build the united Orc nation. One of the warriors who came was the Vestige, who helped Kurog drive the last of the Winterborn out of Wrothgar. However, Kurog, angered by the constant discord between the clan chiefs, and manipulated by his mother Alga, reached for desperate measures. He orchestrated an attack of Malacath cultists on the temple of Trinimac in his city, and pinned the blame on Bazrag gro-Fharun, chief of a Malacath-worshipping clan and Kurog's political opponent. Simultaneously, he commanded Vosh Rakh, a brutal and violent cult of Trinimac who were led by his mother Alga, to attack Fharun Stronghold and tried to imprison Bazrag. He also made the Vestige convince the chiefs of Morkul, Shatul and Tumnosh clans to attend his moot, where he planned to murder them. The Vestige eventually learned about Kurog's treachery and sided with Bazrag against the Orc king. Together, they rescued some of the chiefs at the moot and killed Kurog and Alga.

Afterwards, Bazrag was crowned the new king of Orsinium. He promised to continue working on Kurog's vision of a united Orsimer people equal to the other races, while also trying to retain peace and not force this vision on anyone. Since Orsinium's membership in the Daggerfall Covenant was based solely on the agreement between Kurog and High King Emeric, the kingdom considered leaving the Covenant with the passing of Kurog. It is unknown which decision was reached.

The stronghold of Orsinium circa 3E 417

At some point later, the Orcs again lost control of Orsinium. The land was then won back by the Orc hero Gortwog gro-Nagorm of the Minat tribe in 3E 399, who was disputing claim on the land, made by the Breton noble Lord Bowyn. Gortwog won the land by defeating Lord Bowyn in a duel. Named Nova Orsinium, the city was rebuilt on a mountainside between Menevia and Wayrest, at the site of Torug's original Orsinium. As the city harbored statues of Orc heroes such as Mauloch and Torug, and was built of iron, it was likely that Nova Orsinium would provoke the same reaction from its neighboring kingdoms as the first city did. However, the land prospered, as Gortwog proved to be a diplomatic as well as a political genius. Following the events of the Miracle of Peace, Gortwog used the Numidium to conquer substantial territory of central High Rock. Its application for elevation to Provincial status, which was proposed to Tiber Septim at the founding of the Third Empire, was finally beginning to be reviewed by Emperor Uriel Septim VII. Orsinium's alliance with its former foe Wayrest gave promise for a stable future and a lasting government. Gortwog sent out many adventurers to explore the dungeons of Tamriel in search of treasure, to prove the wealth of the Orcs.

In the early Fourth Era, following the Oblivion Crisis and the destabilization of the Third Empire, Orsinium was once again sacked by the combined forces of Hammerfell and High Rock, and many Orc refugees fled east into Skyrim. The kingdom eventually reformed at a new location between Skyrim and Hammerfell, where it would be guarded by the Seventh and Fifteenth Legions.

Shornhelm

Shornhelm

Shornhelm (sometimes spelled Sharnhelm) is located in the center of Rivenspire. Shornhelm was once the seat of power for the Kingdom of Rivenspire, the north-central region of High Rock and it was aptly ruled by the Riven-King. If no monarch is present, then the regency council, the Council of the North takes over. It is a triumvirate of the kingdom's three major houses, Dorell, Montclair, and Tamrith. The city acquired the epithet of the "Crown City of the North" for its status.

The Bretons of the Shornhelm heights and nearby Markwasten Moor have a long and storied history that dates back to ancient times, such as the Trammeling of the Giants in legend, and the Purge of the Wyrd-Hags in the Year of Sun's Death (1E 668). The Bretons of Shornhelm and even lancers from Oldgate were present in the Battle of Glenumbria Moors in 1E 480, in an event remembered as the Charge of the Montclair Knights (often erroneously called the Charge of the Shornhelm Knights).

In the mid-fifth century of the First Era, Shornhelm was ruled by House Spenard, a despotic dynasty that lasted for one hundred and eighty years, starting from King Frestrien Spenard I all the way to King Frestrien Spenard VI. And while there have been many tyrant kings in Rivenspire, none lived up to the Spenard's reign. Their territory was always in a perpetual state of famine and one of the vassal clans, House Aurmine patronized the notorious knightly order, the Knights of the Pale Order. They were later dissolved by House Dorell and they faded away in the annals of history. Amalien of the University of Gwylim claimed that each of the six kings were one person and that Frestrien Spenard was a vampire. Coincidentally, the vassal-clans were also accused of being vampires back in their time.

Shornhelm and the rest of Rivenspire were hit greatly by the Thrassian Plague in 1E 2260, and while most of the population was affected by the pandemic, the noble and merchant class of Shornhelm quarantined themselves in the Fevered Mews. They eventually emerged from the caves after over five months, only to find the entire kingdom virtually de-populated. Shornhelm came under the control of House Dorell by the twenty-fourth century of the First Era and held the kingdom for many generations. Their control had cemented their place in the kingdom's upper echelon, where they maintain their position to this day.

Shornhelm Castle

In 2E 4, the Akaviri Potentate, Versidue-Shaie placed specially trained wolves in Shornhelm which caused a panic in the city, according to Mirannah of Gwylim. The region of Orsinium was sanctioned as an official Imperial Province under the Akaviri Potentate, at the time ruled by Savirien-Chorak. By with his death in 2E 431, the Bretons of Shornhelm took up their arms and laid waste to the province.

By the Second Era, Shornhelm had been ruled by House Branquette, and one of the most well-known monarchs was its twenty-first monarch, King Hurlburt Branquette, who reigned over the Kingdom of Rivenspire between 2E 522 and 2E 546. He led his kingdom in the historical Battle of Granden Tor, which led to several years of peace in High Rock. King Hurlburt married Countess Iphilia of House Montclair and later sired his crown prince, Phylgeon. When Emperor Durcorach the Black Drake invaded High Rock, his forces were destroyed by the combined armies of High Rock's kingdoms led by Earl Emeric of Cumberland in 2E 542. King Hurlburt and Shornhelm joined together with Emeric and created the first iteration of the Daggerfall Covenant. The King died two years later, and so the royal houses of Rivenspire became divided on which son to sponsor to take the throne. The fourteen-year-old Phylgeon was championed by House Montclair for the throne, but both House Branquette and House Tamrith endorsed the older half-brother, Ranser.

The hidden maneuvering that led to the political race's conclusion is largely lost to history. Baron Phylgeon's advisors contended that he was the legitimate heir to the throne, not only because of his heritage but by quoting the famous codicil, the Bretonnick Natalitie, which declared that "Howse Mount Clayre" was the royal house of Shornhelm. The Council of the North reviewed the claim, but one day, the codicil mysteriously disappeared and Ranser came forward with a long-lost decree from the Direnni that named House Branquette the royal delegates of Rivenspire. In a narrow victory, Prince Ranser won the crown and was proclaimed King of Shornhelm, and while House Montclair wanted Phylgeon to pursue it further, he declined and preferred to stay the house Baron. Ranser later had a daughter, Princess Rayelle and when Earl Emeric was named King of Wayrest, he began to search for a bride. At first it was Princess Rayelle, but he later married Princess Maraya of Sentinel, which strengthened relations with Hammerfell.

King Ranser took great offense to Rayelle's rejection and saw fit to wage civil war with the rest of the Daggerfall Covenant in 2E 566. Ranser's War began in the spring of that year and every royal house of Rivenspire, from Montclair to Dorell, the entire kingdom, and even House Mornard of the Systres rallied behind the king. Count Phylgeon did not have faith in his brother's cause and offered to serve as a peace envoy between the two kings. While Emeric's response is lost to history, Ranser's angry answer was quite clear and well-known, and so Phylgeon relented and leased the Montclair knights to Ranser's armies.

After a failed siege against Wayrest, Shornhelm's armies fled north back to their domain, but found their capital city on fire, caused by the Orcs of Orsinium, led by King Kurog gro-Bagrakh. It was their revenge for the sack of Orsinium, some one hundred and thirty-five years earlier. Unable to retreat back home and caught between the Bretons and Orcs, Ranser took his armies east into Markwasten Moor, where the final battle commenced, as most historical documents dictated.

The Battle of Markwasten Moor ended with a resounding defeat, but what most people did not know was that Ranser and a small contingent of soldiers retreated to a nameless tor that overlooked ruined Shornhelm. Ranser had a plan to create an unstoppable army, with the help of his court magician, Reezal-Jul. Only a blood sacrifice was needed to fulfill the ritual and his plans, but he was slain by his trusted Captain, Dathieu, whose name was struck from history. His armies and confidants were now undead skeletons, and instead of pursuing Emeric's armies, remained on the tor to strengthen his position. That site was hence named the Traitor's Tor, and his soldiers remained vigilant on the tor for fifteen years after the war until Ranser was ultimately defeated and the curse was lifted.

With their defeat at the previous Battle of Markwasten Moor, not only was King Ranser presumed dead but with him was House Branquette's dynasty. The Crown of Shornhelm was also lost to the war. The Council of the North led by Baron Alard Dorell, Baron Esmark Tamrith, and Baron Wylon Montclair continued to govern over the kingdom until further notice and tried their best to re-instate order and peace across the country. There was a common sentiment across Rivenspire that the kingdom needed a king, something that Baron Montclair believed that he could accomplish. Not only was he a direct descendant of King Hurlburt through his father, Phylgeon, but he also re-discovered the Bretonnick Natalitie, which claimed that "Howse Mount Clayre" was appointed rulership of "Sharn Helm" and its contingent land. The Baron set forth his plan for the throne of Rivenspire.

After all these years of Wylon Montclair's preparations, the Baron's plans came to fruition with his annexation of Shornhelm's upper district in 2E 582. He bribed the city guard and attacked other nobles before he took the upper district. As the Shornhelm City Guard were unable to withstand the Montclair Knights, the Daggerfall Covenant was tasked in the city's retaking, as they assembled south in Oldgate. Countess Eselde Tamrith returned to the kingdom took up the mantle of head of House Tamrith after news of her father's death a few months prior, only to find the capital city entrapped in conflict. The Countess, Baron Alard Dorell, and Count Verandis of House Ravenwatch gathered at the Chapel of the Divines, where they would devise their strategy to retake the upper city.

An Agent of the Covenant approached the meeting and was caught up in the situation. They delved into the occupied upper district and defeated the two traitorous guards that allowed Montclair's annexation. The Montclair court mage, Reezal-Jul kidnapped three nobles and attempted to flee via the Fevered Mews before he was confronted by both the Agent and Verandis Ravenwatch. Despite their best efforts, the Argonian escaped west into the Eyebright Feld but regardless, the city was liberated but the looming threat that House Montclair posed was ever-present. High King Emeric arrived after the city was freed and believed that the threat was far greater than it may have seemed. With his blessing and his forces, the pursuit for both Reezal-Jul and Baron Montclair commenced, but before the Agent could continue further, he was sent to Castle Ravenwatch by the High King, where they would assist Count Verandis and learn about Montclair's history.

After the Baron's defeat at the hands of both Count Ravenwatch and the Agent, all of Rivenspire celebrated and gathered in Shornhelm for the coronation of the kingdom's new ruler. It was decided that either Countess Eselde Tamrith or Baron Alard Dorell would be given the crown but it was the High King that chose one of them to lead. The Countess believed that she would make a thoughtful leader, one that had the people's best interest at heart. Her first act as Queen would have been to restore the people's faith and return their lives to some form of normalcy. The Baron on the other hand believed that Rivenspire needed a decisive leader and a firm hand to guide them in troubled times. His first act as King would have been to bolster the kingdom's defenses and enlist hundreds of youth to restore their strength. It is unknown who was chosen at the end of the day, but Rivenspire was finally at peace.

Because of the fractured state of High Rock's kingdoms, Tiber Septim was able to conquer High Rock with ease and incorporated the province into the Third Empire. Shornhelm had been the seat of power for Rivenspire kingdom since at least the First Era, and since then it has encompassed other large settlements such as Northpoint and their noble family, House Dorell. But by the late Third Era, Shornhelm and Northpoint were kingdoms in their own right, no longer tied together. While the exact borders are currently unknown, the kingdom acknowledges the Crypt of Hearts as within its borders.

With the death of Emperor Uriel Septim IV in 3E 247, his son, Andorak was disinherited from the throne by the decree of the Elder Council, and instead his cousin, Cephorus II of Skyrim ascended to the throne. For the next nine years, Andorak and his loyalists waged a minor civil war against the Empire. The Council granted Andorak and his allies the Kingdom of Shornhelm, an act that the Sage, Eraintine described as, "Tiber Septim's heart beating no more". Andorak's dynasty continued to rule there since at least the late Third Era by the tail end of the fourth century.

During the Imperial Simulacrum in the late Third Era, the city-state of Shornhelm was an active settlement. It was ruled by King Rodore and had a rivalry with North Point and Wayrest. When the War of the Bend'r-mahk broke out in 3E 397, some of High Rock's territories were absorbed by Skyrim's counts. Maps from this time depict the Crypt of Hearts, land that was part of Shornhelm under Skyrim's border. By the waning years of the Third Era, these territories barely changed hands since the conflict occurred thirty-five years ago.

Wayrest

Wayrest

The Kingdom of Wayrest is located in the center of the High Rock province, at the mouth of the Bjoulsae River, named after its capital city, Wayrest.

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 in 1E 800. Wayrest prospered greatly after the Fall of Orsinium in 1E 980 when the commerce of all of Tamriel began to pass through its gates. The kingdom of Wayrest was established in 1E 1100 as a result of the downfall of Orsinium. Today the city can boast the largest and richest population in High Rock. During its early years, the kingdom was ruled by the Gardner Dynasty.

In 2E 541, the city was besieged by a horde of Reachmen, led by Durcorach the Black Drake, for fifty-seven days. After the Reachmen were defeated, Wayrest, along with Daggerfall, Shornhelm, Evermore and Camlorn, signed the first Daggerfall Covenant. During the Ranser's War in 2E 566 - 2E 567, Wayrest was besieged again, this time by the forces of King Ranser of Shornhelm. His army stood firm, but after the other kingdoms of the Covenant and the Redguard sailors from Hammerfell came to Wayrest's aid, Ranser and his troops were forced to retreat back to Shornhelm.

Emperor Cassynder and his half-brother Uriel Septim IV had been kings of Wayrest before they took the throne of Empire.

Shortly before Warp in the West, Wayrest was bordered by the regions of Menevia, Orsinium Area, Gavaudon, Wrothgarian Mountains, and Mournoth. During that time, it was ruled by King Eadwyre. After the Warp in the West, Wayrest became greatly enlarged, stretching from the former Anticlere to half of Gavaudon.. After Eadwyre died, his daughter Elysana and stepson Helseth briefly fought over the throne, but eventually Elysana won and banished Helseth and his mother, Barenziah.

In 4E 188 the kingdom of Wayrest was sieged by corsairs. A spy who was infiltrating the Dark Brotherhood was given the task of assassinating King Barynia. Fearing for his life and knowing about the conspiracy against him, he made a deal with the pirates and would betray his own kingdom by leaving the city gates open for them, so they could come in and destroy the conspirators who plotted to assassinate him. The Forgotten Hero would aid the city defenders in driving off the corsairs from the city gates. It's unknown if the Forgotten Hero spared the life of King Barynia and allowed him to sail away with the pirates, or if the hero went through with the contract and ended the king's life.

References

Note: The following references are considered to be unofficial sources. They are included to round off this article and may not be authoritative or conclusive.