Lore:Haven

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Haven
Type Settlement
Continent Tamriel
Province Valenwood
Region Grahtwood
(Long Coast)
Appears in Arena, ESO
Haven ca. 2E 582
Map of Valenwood
"Haven lies on the southern edge of Valenwood. She seems a place of safety in an otherwise dangerous world..."
– In-game description in Arena

Haven is one of the eight major cities in the province of Valenwood,[1] located on the stormy waters of the Long Coast. Haven is an important trading post and port city that has changed hands constantly over the course of years, from the Imperials to the Altmer.[2] It is considered the gateway into Grahtwood, the greater region of southeast Valenwood and it is also a key link in the Lane, a major sea route that runs along Tamriel's southwest coast.[3] Haven acquired its name because it seems to be a safe place in a dangerous world.[4]

Layout and Geography[edit]

The Aquifer
The Harbor side of the Fort

Haven is built on the southeast coast of Valenwood, in a clearing between the shallow marshes and the steep ridges that separates it from the rest of the mainland.[5] Haven is at the epicenter of several trade routes. From the sea, it is an in-between stop on the Lane, an active sea route on the Southern Sea between Auridon and Elsweyr, as well as a gateway between the sea and the rest of the mainland.[3][6]

While on land, it is a halfway point between Southpoint, which lies on the other side of the region to the west, and Elden Root, the biggest city in the province's southeast quadrant.[5] The beaches outside of Haven are known to contain well-preserved rare fossils and shells that circulate across the provinces.[7]

Haven is built in a small crater, at the base of a hill. The city is lowest in the north half, but places such as the Mages Guildhall and the gates are built above the incline and even have stairs leading to them. The south half of Haven is called the Fort, a walled-off sea keep that is built on a steep hill that looks over the north side and the docks.[5] All of the import that goes into Haven has to go through the Fort, but smugglers have always looked for ways around it.[8] The mound west of the Fort is called Widow's Rock and at its base is the entrance to the Aquifer, an old Colovian-styled sewer that runs underneath Haven.[3] Haven is neighbored by several settlements, including Cormeir Spring to the far north-northwest, Heimdar City to the northwest, and Elsweyr to the northeast,[1] toward Torval.[9]

Notable Locales[edit]

  • The Aquifer
  • Haven Palace[4]

Districts[edit]

  • Fisherman's Isle
  • The Fort
  • Haven Docks

History[edit]

Early History and the Treethane's Autonomy[edit]

The White-Gold Tower
The Imperial Sewers under Haven

Haven's founding dates back many years ago at an unspecified time in the Merethic Era. It flourished with trade following the construction of the White-Gold Tower along with other significant cities at the time, such as Ceyatatar and Silvenar.[10] From what can be surmised, Haven was originally a settlement inhabited by Wood Elves, independent from the rest of the region until it was claimed under the Camoran Dynasty. It began with King Eplear's reign, which started at the beginning of recorded history in 1E 0 and each of these nations was ruled by a treethane that served under the Camorans.[11]

This era of rule continued for many years until the Second Empire invaded Valenwood and conquered the province in 1E 2714. To disrupt the Camoran monarchy's influence over their people, the Empire granted the treethanes full autonomy, including Haven, and turned them from local trading hubs to full-fledged nations of their own regard.[11] Haven was governed by the Second Empire,[2] who built upon the city's foundation and turned it into a more Colovian-esque environment. They even built a sewer system called the Aquifer, which extended underneath the city and emptied out from the southwest.[3]

Haven had been the prime trading post in the area for many years since its independence. That was until 1E 2729, when it had lost much of its business to the newly-built colony of Southpoint.[12] After the Second Empire dissolved in 2E 430, the Camoran Empire tried to annex these nations but they had become too culturally different to become one united identity. But without one government to mediate their ambitions, Haven and the other nations went to war with each other and all fell apart. Sometimes even outside forces like the Maormer attacked these nations,[11] such as when Haven and Woodhearth were sacked by the Sea Elves sometime around 2E 455.[10]

Haven in the Second and Third Eras[edit]

The Battle of Haven
The Necromantic Ritual

By the time the High Elves came into Haven, they built over the old Imperial foundation and converted it into their racial architectural style.[2] During the Interregnum in 2E 582, Haven had seen little activity from the local natives until it was visited by the Gold Fleet, a large fleet of Aldmeri Dominion ships that were en-course for Khenarthi's Roost on an important diplomatic mission with some of the Dominion's highest authorities. Haven saw an intense amount of activity when the first few ships arrived at the port.[8]

The Jade Dragoons under General Endare were sent to Haven to help the city guard maintain peace and watch out for smugglers. The next day after Haven was practically empty and General Endare left with her militia to seek out Ayleid ruins inland, leaving the city completely defenseless.[8]

The Jackdaw Pirates, led by Captain Gjarma Raven-Hair used this opportunity to take over and pillage the city. But shortly after, a Khajiiti galleon under Lord Gharesh-ri led the charge to retake Haven. By the time the Prowler had arrived, the city was engulfed in conflict. An Agent of the Dominion joined the fray and slowly thwarted their plans. They rendezvoused with Lord Gharesh-ri and his militia by the east gate and gradually defeated each of Gjarma's high-ranked crewmates. The Fort had been sealed away, so the Agent was forced to infiltrate the compound from the Aquifers. They defeated the pirate captain at the Fighters Guildhall, where she was performing a ritual to engulf Haven in a sea of undead.[13] Recognized for their actions, the Agent was sent to Elden Root to lend their help to the King of the Wood Elves.[14]

During the Imperial Simulacrum in the late Third Era, the city-state of Haven was an active settlement. It was ruled by King Silrim and had a rivalry with Southpoint.[4]

Known Rulers[edit]

For the longest time, the treethanes of Valenwood served the Camoran Dynasty until the Second Empire assumed control of the province. They shifted power to the Camoran treethanes, who then ruled independent powers such as Haven.[11] At some point in time, Haven's leader was known as the Governor.[15] By the Third Era, it was ruled by a King/Queen.[4]

  • Unknown Period
    • Unnamed Governor of Haven[15]
  • The Third Era

Culture and Society[edit]

The Temple of the Eight
Fisherman's Isle
For more information, see the: Culture and Society sections on the Bosmer page.

As stated previously, Haven is a major port in the Southern Sea. As a stop on the Lane, it finds ships coming from Auridon in the Blue Divide, to Elsweyr and Khenarthi's Roost.[3][6] Smugglers import all sorts of contraband through Haven's docks, such as moon sugar,[3] and even scuttlers from distant Morrowind.[16]

Local Bosmer had benefitted from the cultural diffusion with the Altmer. Haven and even Port Velyn on the Strident Coast supplied the people with a reliable supply of metal weapons and Bosmer swordsmanship had evolved with introduced to Altmer advisors and techniques.[17] When the High Elves arrived in Haven, they introduced a New Life Festival tradition called the War Orphan's Sojourn. They make a pilgrimage to the Temple of the Eight in the Tarlain Heights, where they make a donation for the children.[18]

Gallery[edit]

  • Haven (Arena)

  • Map of Haven ca. 2E 582 (ESO)

  • Map of the Aldmeri Dominion ca. 2E 864

See Also[edit]

Books[edit]

Notes[edit]

  • Arena was originally conceived as a fighting game featuring a tournament that took the player to each of Tamriel's cities to challenge different gladiatorial teams. According to a file from that stage of development left behind in the final game, Haven's gladiatorial team would have been called "the Red Spears".[UOL 1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Map of Valenwood – The Elder Scrolls: Arena
  2. ^ a b c The Aquifer loading screen text in ESO
  3. ^ a b c d e f A Smuggler's Plan
  4. ^ a b c d e Haven location and rumors in Arena
  5. ^ a b c Haven in ESO
  6. ^ a b Captain Henriel's dialogue in ESO
  7. ^ Rare Fossil contraband text in ESO
  8. ^ a b c Anirtur's Diary — Anirtur
  9. ^ Map of Elsweyr – The Elder Scrolls: Arena
  10. ^ a b Ayleid Cities of Valenwood — the Esteemed Historian Homfrey at the University of Gwylim, 2E 455
  11. ^ a b c d Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition: The Wilds Remain: Valenwood — Imperial Geographical Society, 3E 432
  12. ^ The Founding of Southpoint — the Provincial Office of Governor Zantonius
  13. ^ Unsafe Haven story quest in ESO
  14. ^ Trouble at the Tree story quest in ESO
  15. ^ a b Faltonia's Promise
  16. ^ Morrowind Fauna, Part One — Holia Asellio
  17. ^ Common Arms of Valenwood — Mistral Aurelian Teriscor
  18. ^ War Orphan's Sojourn daily quest in ESO

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.

  1. ^ Original TES: Arena texts at the Imperial Library
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