Lore:Rivenspire

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Rivenspire
Type Region
Continent Tamriel
Province High Rock
Subregions Boralis
Eyebright Feld
Westmark Moor
Demonym(s) Hillmen
Appears in ESO, Legends
Rivenspire, circa 2E 582

Rivenspire is a region that forms the northern tip of High Rock. It is a gloomy place, with jagged rock formations punctuating the rather bleak lowlands. The towering, flinty crags, windswept moors, and narrow canyons strike many folk as oppressive, even threatening. The King's Guard mountain range separates Rivenspire from the Glenumbra and Stormhaven regions to the south.[1] Being far from the Iliac Bay, Rivenspire has a reputation as the backwater of High Rock.[2]

The hillmen are the people of Rivenspire,[2][nb 1] who are shaped by its tortured landscape.[3] Descriptions for the hillmen include "surly",[2] "gloomy", "laconic", and having "little to say to strangers".[3] They are also known for their "overactive imaginations".[4] Much of the creatures of the region are also hostile. Hillmen hunters make a decent living off of the pelts of wolves and giant bat, as well as from spider venom.[5] Restless spirits are known to haunt the region's forts,[6] and rumors exist of "evil fog" where the souls of fallen sailors stir off the coast of Rivenspire.[7]

Eyebright Feld forms the southwest area, Westmark Moor forms the southeast, and the foggy northern coast is known as Boralis. The city of Northpoint is found in eastern Boralis. The city of Shornhelm dominates northeastern Eyebright Feld, near the center of Rivenspire. Westmark Moor has no major cities, but there are several settlements, and it is well known for its burial grounds, including the legendary Crypt of Hearts.[1]

Much of Rivenspire's landscape was influenced by the failed metaphysical Tower of Erokii (now known as the Doomcrag),[8] which housed the Light of Life artifact. When it was built was unknown, but the request was made by Anumaril, an Ayleid active during the time of the Alessian Slave Rebellion. The Ayleids who settled in Rivenspire described it as a "Land of Cold Rocks" when they arrived,[9] and began to use the tower to change the barren wastelands of the region into one full of life. The Light of Life became the Lightless Remnant, a corrupting influence on the land when the natives that were there before the Ayleids settled Rivenspire attacked them and damaged the Light of Life, spreading a corrupting influence upon the land. This corrupting influence became further amplified when it was touched by vampires.[10] Rivenspire would later be freed of its influence, and the Lightless Remnant would be transported to Coldharbour.[11]

History[edit]

Rivenspire is predominantly inhabited in modern times by Bretons. Rivenspire's dark history haunts the region's people,[6] which include a number of atrocities and despots. Around the time of the Alessian Slave Rebellion, Rivenspire's natives eliminated the Ayleids that migrated to the region as these elves attempted to transform the barren wastelands they called the "Land of Cold Rocks"[9] into a region full of life. The Ayleid's Light of Life was damaged in the conflict and became the Lightless Remnant of the Doomcrag, a corrupting influence upon Rivenspire. This corruption was further amplified in the Second Era when it was touched by vampires.[10] This gave way to a vampire crisis that was perpetuated by one of Rivenspire's noble houses, the Montclairs.[12]

The lost Redguard tribe, the Silverhoof Horsemen, arrived in High Rock shortly after the Direnni Hegemony dissolved. The Breton kingdoms still needed time to establish themselves, and thus Silverhoof can be found near the coast west of Shornhelm. They became "Bretonized" due to interacting with their neighbors over the centuries while retaining significant elements of their original culture.[13]

Legends abound of the hill giants, a race of giants from Skyrim that migrated to Rivenspire, bringing along their massive mammoths. Though they are no longer around, giant remains found within a cavern system in the region give credence to this theory.[14][4][nb 1] Stories in the region speak of the "trammeling" of the giants long ago.[15] The artifact Chrysamere was used in a protracted siege of the Fellthunder Clan of giants in Rivenspire.[16]

They Hay-Crown Chub Loon once inhabited the region, and were viewed as omens of good harvests, until one winter in Rivenspire when hungry farmers discovered that they were delectable. The naivety of the Chub Loon endeared them to the druids, whose mission is to protect nature. As a result, the druids brought the Hay-Crown Chub Loon with them when they fled to High Isle, where they continued to survive.[17]

Northpoint itself wouldn't be established until the 1E 800s, when a Breton trader formed the settlement as a stop along the Daggerfall-Solitude shipping route.[18] House Tamrith has holdings primarily in the western half of Rivenspire, and it was their thriving trade with lands to the south that led to strong ties with Stormhaven and Wayrest. The rivalries between Tamrith and the houses of Dorell and Montclair date back to the late First Era, and each helped the region prosper in their own way.[19] House Dorell are the descendants of the founder of Northpoint, and have held a barony since the days of Empress Hestra circa 1E 1029 (they even ruled Shornhelm for several generations in the First Era).[18]

For all their differences, the noble houses of Rivenspire hold many of the same traditions. Each house keeps its own fighting force, though in times of war or other emergencies, it is not uncommon for house troops to join with the city guard to form a single fighting force in defense of the region.[19] The nobility of Rivenspire are known for burying their dead beneath the gnarled trees of Westmark Moor (except for monarchs, who are all buried in the great cemetery of Cath Bedraud in Glenumbra).[20]

In Ranser's War circa 2E 566, King Ranser of Shornhelm led reticent nobles in the region to war against Wayrest, cleaning out his coffers in an ultimately fruitless campaign. In the end, the retaliation against King Ranser despoiled Rivenspire, and it was still recovering over fifteen years later.[2] When Ranser was defeated, High King Emeric allowed a triumvirate of the three prominent houses to rule over Rivenspire until he found a suitable replacement to become the new King of Shornhelm. Shornhelm would remain kingless for years as a result.[19] Baron Wylon of Montclair asserted his claim to the throne, being the grandson and sole remaining heir of King Hurlburt (the king before Ranser),[15] but many seemed reticent to trust the Montclairs.[18]

A relatively small noble house, Ravenwatch, remained neutral throughout Ranser's War.[19] Though the house claims to prefer the shadows, Count Verandis Ravenwatch made a rare public announcement circa 2E 582 in which he called for the destruction of the Lightless Remnant, an ancient artifact in Rivenspire which had been studied unsuccessfully for generations. Lord Verandis believed the Remnant possessed a corrupting power, and he made its eradication the first priority of his house.[21] During that time, Rivenspire was plagued by feral vampires called bloodfiends.[12]

In the 13th of Frost Fall, Bretons along with the rest of Tamriel celebrates the Witches Festival to defy their superstitious fears. Ghosts, demons, and evil spirits are mocked and celebrated by both occult occurrences and outrageous costumes.[22] On this day, portals between Nirn and the Daedra Lord Hollowjack's demi-plane of Detritus are opened.[23] At night, Jaque o' the Hollow is resurrected from his hidden hollow in Rivenspire, who then proceeds to curse riders all across Tamriel to ride headless throughout the night, clutching a carved pumpkin atop their mounts. This led to his legend spreading far east past High Rock.[24][25]

Maps[edit]

  • Map of Rivenspire (ESO)

  • Rivenspire concept art (ESO)

  • Map of High Rock (Oblivion)

  • Rivenspire coast at night

  • Hollowjack Horse Rider

  • The Sanguine Barrows circa 4E 201

Notes[edit]

  • ^  Rivenspire in ESO was originally planned to include the spirits of these race of giants that were called "hill giants". The region would have also had Bretons with hill giant heritage called hillmen that were larger than the average person, similar to the half-giant race. These hillmen would have also had some Nordic heritage. Only a loading screen hinting at these hill giant's existence remains in the final game, but the term hillmen still appears as a demonym for Rivenspire's people in the book The Fury of King Ranser in reference to Ranser.
  • The nobles of Rivenspire objected without success to the inclusion of Orcs in the Daggerfall Covenant.
  • Rumor has it that a pool or spring somewhere in the highest peaks of Rivenspire may grant immortality.[26]

See Also[edit]

Books[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Events of ESO
  2. ^ a b c d The Fury of King Ranser — Wafimeles Masteret (Lorekeeper)
  3. ^ a b The Improved Emperor's Guide to Tamriel: High Rock — Flaccus Terentius, 2E 581
  4. ^ a b Breagha-Fin's loading screen in ESO
  5. ^ Ilyes, huntsman — Ilyes
  6. ^ a b One Tamriel: See the Sights of Rivenspire on the official ESO
  7. ^ Overheard at The Crow's Foot Inn
  8. ^ Telenger the Artificer Answers Your Questions 2 — Telenger the Artificer
  9. ^ a b The Remnant of Light — Beredalmo the Signifier
  10. ^ a b Wynaldia's dialogue in ESO
  11. ^ Events of The Lightless Remnant in ESO
  12. ^ a b Bloodfiends of Rivenspire — Nalana, Advisor to House Tamrith
  13. ^ The Horse-Folk of Silverhoof — Doctor Nabeth al-Gilane, Khefrem Academy of Yokudan Heritage
  14. ^ Barrowton's Journal — Barrowton
  15. ^ a b Shornhelm, Crown City of the North — Lord Wylon, 39th Baron Montclair
  16. ^ Loremaster's Archive - Infinite Archive — Master Malkhest
  17. ^ Hay-Crown Chub Loon in ESO
  18. ^ a b c Northpoint: An Assessment — Chancellor Regina Troivois
  19. ^ a b c d House Tamrith: A Recent History — Chancellor Regina Troivois, the Department of Interior Affairs
  20. ^ The Barrows of Westmark Moor — Sathyr Longleat the Elder
  21. ^ House Ravenwatch Proclamation — Count Verandis Ravenwatch
  22. ^ The Witches Festival Returns on the official ESO website
  23. ^ Elder Scrolls Online - Crown Crate Season Announcement
  24. ^ Hollowjack Rider Horse mount description in ESO
  25. ^ Hollowjack Rider Guar mount description in ESO
  26. ^ On Immortality — Anonymous
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