Lore:Merethic Era Wars

Merethic Era — First Era — Second Era — Third Era — Fourth Era

A Nord warrior

The following is a list of all known wars and conflicts during the Merethic Era. Due to the limitation of sources, the order of events is approximate and should not be taken as necessarily chronological.

Conquest of the Summerset Isles

Early Merethic Era

The Aldmer fleeing Aldmeris land on the isle of Auridoon at Nine-Prow Landing. Thanks to the dangerous beasts in the region, such as the Gheatus, Ilyadi and Welwa the Aldmer consider sailing onward to a safer destination, but High Lord Torinaan rebuffs them and uses magic to slay them rendering the area safe. The city of Firsthold is founded not far from Nine-Prow Landing.

The elves would then colonize the rest of the Summerset Isles, moving their capital to Alinor and making the transition from Aldmer and Altmer. Land was taken at the expense of naive Goblin Tribes, but trade links were also made with them. The King of Alinor entered a trade agreement with the Coral-Splitter tribe for the ore in their tribe. However the Goblins refused to swear absolute fealty to the King of Alinor, so the Elves conquered and enslaved them, and the whole of the Summerset Isles were under the Elves dominion.

Nedic/Iron Orc Wars

Late Merethic Era

During periods of rapid Nedic advancement in metal and stonecraft, conflicts between the Iron Orcs and Nedes of Craglorn became more common and intense. This resulted in a fundamental rearrangement of Iron Orc civilization. From a largely peaceful, shamanistic society into a community of miners, smiths, and warriors.

The Return

Late Merethic Era - 2nd Century 1E

The Return refers to the Atmoran conquest of Skyrim following the Night of Tears.

Major Battles

• Night of Tears — Also known as the Crying Night) is the night an Elven force attacked and burned the first human city of Skyrim, Saarthal, built by the first Nordic inhabitants. In retaliation, Ysgramor, the leader of the human colonization effort and the founder of the Companions, drove the elves out of Solstheim and Skyrim.
• Battle of Lake Honrich — 13th Suns Dusk 1E 139, Nordic forces push out the Snow Elves from Lake Honrich, which is more sparsely populated than other areas.
• Battle of the Moesring — The final stand between the Nords and the Snow Elves which took place in the Moesring Mountains of Solstheim.
• Sinmur's Defeat — Ysgramor and the Five Hundred Companions fought a large-scale war with the Giant chieftain Sinmur and his kin. Both sides suffered severe casualties and the conflict culminated in a final battle between the two leaders in Sinmur's barrow. As they dueled, Ysgramor shattered Sinmur's club and finally slayed him with his legendary battleaxe, Wuuthrad.

Dragon War

Alduin's Wall depicting the Dragon War

Late Merethic Era

The dragon priests in Tamriel became more tyrannical and the populace eventually rebelled some time in the Merethic Era, leading to the Dragon War. Some dragons turned against their own kind and taught the Nords powerful magic that allowed them to turn the tide of the war in their favor. After a long and bloody campaign, the rule of the dragons was ended, and the remaining wyrms fled to remote areas.

However remnants of the Dragon Cult would persist into the First Era, the last known holdout being in Forelhost Monastery, which was discovered in 1E 139 during the reign of High King Harald. The armies of Skyrim laid siege, taking the monastery in 1E 140 after having used the Thu'um to knock down the walls, however the cultists had committed mass suicide by poisoning the water source, killing many of the besiegers who drank without realizing this. This is the last known sighting of the Dragon Cult in life, however for siding with the dragons many of it's followers would be re-animated as draugr as they were denied entry into Sovngarde, menacing nordic ruins.

Major Events

• Conquest of Elsweyr — Kaalgrontiid and his dragon horde conquer Elsweyr's sixteen kingdoms. The dragons were later tricked into imprisonment in the Halls of Colossus by the Khajiit hero Khunzar-ri and his companions, Nurarion the Perfect, Flinthild Demon-Hunter, Anequina Sharp-Tongue, and Cadwell the Betrayer.
• Alduin's Banishment — The Ancient Nord Heroes use an Elder Scroll to eject Alduin from their time, propelling him into the future.
• Siege of Forelhost — The last known event in the Dragon War, the armies of Skyrim lay siege to the monastery for a year before shouting down the walls with the Thu'um. However the cultists committed mass suicide rather that be captured or die in battle.

War of the Pines

Merethic Era

A little-known war in ancient Skyrim. Arnvid the Unbound received a fatal war-wound during the conflict.

Wars of Yokuda

Late Merethic Era

The Na-Totambu, the royalty of the Yokudans, fight to a standstill among themselves to decide who will lead the charge against the Lefthanded Elves. Leki intervenes and a victor emerges. Diagna, an avatar of the HoonDing, brings orichalc weapons to the Yokudans, which prove instrumental in defeating the elves.

The Narfinsel Schism

Narfinsel circa 2E 582

Late Merethic Era — 1E 198

A centuries long civil war between the more conservative Aedra-worshiping Ayleid clans and the more decadent, vigorous clans that had adopted Daedra-worship begins.

The Aedra worshipping Barsaebics were driven out of the Heartland into northwest Argonia, and thereafter organized opposition to Daedra-worship in Cyrodiil was effectively over, ending the conflict.

Major Events

• Scouring of Wendelbek — The conflict reached its climax in 1E 198 when King Glinferen of Atatar led a combined force of Daedraphile warriors against the traditionalist Barsaebics of Ayleidoon, with the Barsaebics losing and sent into exile in Argonia.