Lore:Sunhold

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Sunhold
Type Settlement
Continent Tamriel
Province Summerset Isles
Region Summerset Isle
Appears in Arena, ESO
Sunhold ca. 2E 582
Map of the Summerset Isles
"Enter Sunhold and be welcome, for we wish all who come in peace a long and healthy life, and those who come in search of glory, a quick and merciful death..." —In-game description in Arena

Sunhold is one of the eight major cities in the province of the Summerset Isles,[1] found on the south-central coast of Summerset Isle. The city is one of the largest in the province, known for its narrow winding alleyways and tall impenetrable sea walls that have dealt with centuries of constant assault by the Maormer. But it is also widely known for containing one of the largest harbors, which is considered the heart of shipping in the province.[2] It also holds the largest naval fleet in Summerset.[3] Sunhold is also famed for its legendary lineage of gryphons that represent the city's burning symbol of defiance.[4]

Layout and Geography[edit]

Sunhold is found behind the southern mountains of Summerset Isle, buried deep in the forests on the coast. The city is amply described as a fortress, which is attested by its history of conflict and its overall layout. The main gate is found on the eastern side of the city, which is a large open park surrounded by a natural barrier of mountains. The city itself is known for its narrow alleys, labyrinthine streets, and intertwining bridges that travel northwest to the highest part of Sunhold. The harbor district makes up the city's southern section and spreads across the bay and the mountain ridge. The port is riddled with warehouses for shipwrights and fishmongers that sell their seafood across the city. While seafood is one of Sunhold's main sources of trade, a niche craft called sunglass smithing is passionately guarded by the city's artisans and is not taught leniently.[5] Sunhold is considered the sister city of Alinor and according to scholars, if the mountain did not separate the twin cities then they would have inevitably merged into a massive metropolis that has not been seen since Aldmeris.[2] Sunhold is neighbored by several settlements, including Archen Grangrove to the east, Glenview to the west, and Holly Falls to the north.[1]

Notable Locales[edit]

Districts[edit]

  • Harbor District
  • Merchant's District[3]

History[edit]

Sunhold's early history dates back to an ancient clan of Altmer that lived in the area. The tribesmen, Ulorome discovered a lowly egg in an abandoned nest of gryphons and took it back to the tribe for a hearty feast. The tribe reveled around the egg with ancient songs of hearth and family, which in turn gave it life and birthed a fledgling gryphon named Cel-hinwe. Ever since then, Ulorome's lineage ruled over modern-day Sunhold as kinlords and Cel-hinwe's progeny became the city's legendary dynasty of warrior gryphons, intertwined with the city's leaders, to the point where one cannot exist without the other.[4]

The city evolved into a sprawling fortress and a bustling metropolis that has long since been sought after by King Orgnum of Pyandonea. Thus began a long-lasting tradition of the Maormer attacking Sunhold.[7] One such incident involved Nurarion the Perfect, brother to the King of Sunhold in the Merethic Era, who used his voice of unrelenting destruction to thwart Orgnum's sea storms. But his voice was too powerful for his country to withstand, and so he was forced into exile, which eventually brought him to the mythic hero, Khunzar-ri.[8]

The Fall of Sunhold

By the mid-Second Era, the city of Sunhold was ruled by Kinlady Helenaere and like many others before her, had defended the city from the imposing Sea Elves. On one such occasion, Admiral Viscarne of the Storm Sharks sailed into the city's harbor only to find Sunhold completely devoid of people and ships, however at the city palace, as the Kinlady mounted on her gryphon-companion, Sunnawel, an army of gold crashed onto the Maormer fleet and razed their ships, driving them out of Sunhold.[7] When Queen Ayrenn opened Summerset Isle to the greater mainland, Helenaere was one of several people to argue against it.[3]

When the First Aldmeri Dominion was founded in 2E 580, Sunhold was used as the base of the Dominion's naval fleet but as the Alliance War took most of the alliance's attention and resources, it left the city undefended.[9] This, in turn, led to the taking of Sunhold. In 2E 582, the Admiral returns to the city and swiftly takes control of Sunhold, imprisoning citizens, burning domes, and capturing Sunnawel. The Kinlady was left defenseless and resorted to help from newcomers to retake her city. The endeavor was successful and Viscarne was slain at the height of Sunhold city.[10]

In 3E 110, the kings of the Summerset Isles formed a unified alliance to combat the Maormer[11] in their last-known invasion of the province, the War of the Isle.[12] Despite having assistance from Emperor Antiochus and the Imperial Navy, the Maormer were defeated because of a supernatural storm accredited to the Psijic Order.[11][13]

During the Imperial Simulacrum in the late-Third Era, the city-state of Sunhold was an active settlement. It was ruled by King Sauriil and had a rivalry with Shimmerene.[6] The city was subsequently sacked amid the Oblivion Crisis in 3E 433 and any refugee that survived the assault or the untamed seas fled to the Crystal Tower, which had fallen to the daedric horde sometime later. Among these survivors was Lathenil of Sunhold, who documented the Thalmor's rise to power and the events that transpired following the crisis. The information was later published and given the name, the Rising Threat.[14]

Known Rulers[edit]

Kinlady Helenaere

The progenitor of Sunhold's kinlord dynasty was Ulorome, who fathered the gryphon, Cel-hinwe. Since then, the city's symbol and spirit is personified in the kinlord's gryphon companion, which comes from a long line of gryphons starting with Cel-hinwe.[4][3] Judging by its descendant, Sunnawel, this lineage consists of Pale-Plume Gryphons,[15] who typically live in the southeast mountains near Dusk.[16]

For the longest time, the Psijic Order served as counselors to the rulers of the Summerset Isles. If anyone wanted their counsel, their best method was either through a select few places or the kings themselves. They continued this service up until their island of Artaeum first vanished in the Second Era, around when the Mages Guild was formed. When they returned several years later for the Third Era, they continued where they left off[17] until Artaeum disappeared a second time sometime in the Fourth Era for whatever reason.[18]

  • The Merethic Era
    • Ulorome[4]
      • Gryphon: Cel-hinwe[4] — The Maormer knew it as the "Red Wind" in legend.[4]
    • Unnamed King of Sunhold (ca. Late Merethic Era)[8]
  • The Second Era
  • The Third Era
  • The Fourth Era — Once the Thalmor came into power, they abolished the monarchy across the Summerset Isles.[21]

Gallery[edit]

  • Sunhold (Arena)

  • Sunhold Medic (Legends)

  • Map of Sunhold (ESO)

  • The Banner of Sunhold

Notes[edit]

  • Ilmindil the Incendiary was an ancient vampire and master pyromancer that served in the Undaunted in the midst of the Second Era. He was known by many names, the "Master of the Whiteflame" and the "Bearer of the Burning Heart"; among these titles, he also claimed to be an ancient kinlord of Sunhold.[22]
  • The city is spelled "Sunhhold" on the Elder Scrolls Anthology map, though this is likely a misspelling.[23]
  • 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, Sunhold's gladiatorial team would have been called "the Griffins".[UOL 1] This likely served as the inspiration for Sunhold having a gryphon mascot and long-standing history with the creatures.[4]

See Also[edit]

Books[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Map of Summurset Isle – The Elder Scrolls: Arena
  2. ^ a b Our Blessed Isles: A Guide — Runilstir the Surveyor
  3. ^ a b c d e Kinlady Helenaere's dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  4. ^ a b c d e f g The Flight of Gryphons
  5. ^ Sunglass Fishhook contraband in ESO: Summerset
  6. ^ a b c Sunhold location and rumors in Arena
  7. ^ a b The King of Vipers, Canto 17
  8. ^ a b Moon-Singer Feziya-ko's dialogue in ESO
  9. ^ Sunhold loading screen in ESO: Summerset
  10. ^ Sunhold Sundered quest in ESO: Summerset
  11. ^ a b Brief History of the Empire v 1 — Stronach k'Thojj III
  12. ^ Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition: Other Lands — Imperial Geographical Society, 3E 432
  13. ^ The Wolf Queen, v5 — Waughin Jarth
  14. ^ Rising Threat, Vol. I — Lathenil of Sunhold
  15. ^ a b Sunnawel in ESO: Summerset
  16. ^ Pale-Plume Fledging Gryphon mount description in ESO
  17. ^ Fragment: On Artaeum — Taurce il-Anselma, 3E 400
  18. ^ Tolfdir's dialogue in Skyrim
  19. ^ Ayleid Reference Text — Raelys Anine
  20. ^ Magic from the Sky — Irlav Jarol
  21. ^ a b Rising Threat, Vol. IV — Lathenil of Sunhold
  22. ^ Ilmindil the Incendiary's dialogue in ESO
  23. ^ Map of Tamriel — The Elder Scrolls Anthology

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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