Lore:Wayrest (kingdom)

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Wayrest
Type Region
Continent Tamriel
Province High Rock
Demonym(s) Wayrester[1]
Wayrestian[UOL 1]
Appears in Daggerfall
Wayrest ca. 3E 405
Crest of Wayrest
"Although Wayrest became a kingdom under the command of one family, the merchants continued to wield incredible power. Many economists have alleged that Wayrest's eternal wealth, despite all her hardships, comes from this rare relationship between the merchants and the crown... The message [here] is clear: the king and the merchants are joined and equal."
—Sathyr Longleat, Wayrest, Jewel of the Bay

Wayrest is one of the nine historical Breton kingdoms in the province of High Rock. It is located in the center of the province, at the mouth of the Bjoulsae River. Wayrest's fortune and immense wealth come from a unique, symbiotic alliance between its merchant lords and the crown dating back to its founding in the early-mid First Era. Even its kings, except for the Septim Dynasty of the Third Era, can trace their lineage back to a merchant prince.[1] By the late Second Era, the kingdom had one of the largest and richest populations in High Rock.[2] It is named after its capital city, Wayrest.[1]

History[edit]

For the history specific to the city, see the: History of Wayrest

Early History[edit]

Castle Wayrest

Though the settlement had existed hundreds of years prior, the Kingdom of Wayrest was founded in 1E 1100 when Farangel Gardner was granted the title of King. Ever since the Siege of Orsinium allowed the Iliac Bay to open for trade, Wayrest had been on the rise and with its promotion to Kingdom, made it fully capable of competing with Daggerfall to the west.[1] The Gardner Dynasty was the first family to rule Wayrest. Before their rule, the Wayrest settlement sat on both sides of the Bjoulsae River, but after the Gardners built a walled palace on the High Rock side, the settlement grew around it and within its walls.[1]

It is said that Farangel claimed the land and its immediate area for himself and cleared the forest for his settlement.[3] With its walls, he welcomed them with open arms and provided safety for barters and traders. Under his protection, even lesser merchants thrived, thus securing Wayrest's eternal wealth for future generations.[4] Sometime after Farangel's rule, Aphren Gardner assumed the throne as King.[1] He was known then as an infamous, ruthless leader and conquered many of his neighbors,[5] such as the fort of Wind Keep and the town of the same name.[6]

Aphren spent all his time away in his wars while his daughter, Princess Mira Gardner was left by herself in the fort, now known as Aphren's Hold. Even though she died in a siege of the fort, and the King died not long after,[7][5] the Gardner Dynasty continued on years later. One of Aphren's lasting legacies was building Castle Wayrest, the present-day seat of power for the capital city and the kingdom.[1] Many developments have occurred in the years since. Etien Lenac took the throne of Wayrest in 1E 1270, supposedly with help from other local nobles.[8] The Thrassian Plague hit the Iliac Bay and High Rock in 1E 2200. The population had been drastically reduced[9] but Wayrest had survived better than its peers. In the capital, locals had to hide in the Gardners' walled palaces[1] while its nobles fled to the Isle of Balfiera like the other kingdoms.[10]:6

At the time of the kingdom's ascension, High Rock was admitted into the Alessian Empire of Cyrodiil,[11] but by the late First Era, the kingdoms of High Rock and their relationship with the Alessian Order faltered and they left the Empire by 1E 2305.[11][12] Despite this change in alliances, the King of Skingrad, Desynan arranged the marriage of his son with the daughter of Queen Margert Gardner of Wayrest. This marriage instigated the War of Righteousness. Though it first raged in Colovia, the fight moved northwest into the Iliac Bay further cutting down on the region's population.[13][14] In an unspecified event in the First Era, Wayrest, Daggerfall, and the Isle of Balfiera joined together as the League of Unrest to fight against the Cyrodiils.[15]

Wayrest in the Second Era[edit]

House Mornard's banner
Emperor Durcorach the Black Drake

The War of Righteousness was costly for everyone involved and one of its consequences was that the Colovian kings had to sell non-essential territories like the Systres. The region had flourished under its new reigns with House Guimard and later the Second Empire.[12][16] Wayrest eventually saw to benefit from it when a local Breton house known as House Mornard held close ties to Potentate Versidue-Shaie. Both the house and Wayrest already had an understanding when the former harvested the Dragontail Mountains for materials the latter profited from. With the Mornards' connection to the Akaviri Potentate, Wayrest secured valuable trade deals all over western Tamriel.[17]

Shortly after House Mornard moved all their enterprises to the Systres Archipelago in 2E 110, their family patriarch became its Imperial Governor. As vassals to the Gardners of Wayrest, House Mornard owed some allegiance to Wayrest and wielded influence back home and in Cyrodiil. But communication between the Systres and High Rock became unreliable and seldom in the early Interregnum, with the threat of freebooters and marauders. But House Mornard themselves often ignored messages from Wayrest and used excuses to cover it. A rival house also in the Systres, House Dufort, used their inaction to gain favor.[17][18]

Sometime in the mid-Second Era, the Kingdoms of High Rock went to war with each other in the Battle of Granden Tor and in the years since experienced peace. That was until Durcorach, the Longhouse Emperor of Cyrodiil invaded High Rock with his Reach horde in 2E 541. His invasion in High Rock began with his attack on Evermore and continued along the Bjoulsae River to reach Wayrest. As the Reach horde traveled west, people all over Stormhaven fled to find safety in Wayrest. The Siege of Wayrest lasted for forty-seven days and nights but because Durcorach's siege was only relegated to its outer walls and not the harbor, it was a long stalemate. Only when he decided to leave for Daggerfall did he establish his defeat.[19]

The young heir of House Cumberland, Emeric proposed to King Gardner to supply Wayrest's merchant ships with the Menevia Elite Dragoons and surround Durcorach in Glenumbra. As the Reachfolk attacked Daggerfall's gates, Emeric led these soldiers against their rear, completely catching them by surprise. Emeric in the end slew Durcorach the Black Drake and tore down his banner. Within a fortnight later, the Kings of Wayrest, Daggerfall, Shornhelm, Evermore, and Camlorn gathered together to form the first Daggerfall Covenant.[4][19][20]

High Rock prospered in the years since, and Wayrest saw even further prominence in 2E 561 when the largest source of orichalcum in history was discovered in the Cumberland region just outside of Wayrest city's walls. The ore production increased to over two tons per month, bringing in large swathes of wealth to the city and House Cumberland. Earl Emeric proposed to King Gardner that this money be used to enhance the kingdom's fleet and trade all over High Rock. As a result, Emeric garnered more influence and prestige. But despite the flourishment in Wayrest, tragedy struck when the Knahaten Flu hit the kingdom.[4][20]

High King Emeric and the Daggerfall Covenant[edit]

King Emeric, the Earl of Cumberland
Queen Maraya

Though the Knahaten Flu resulted in countless deaths across Tamriel, it brought significant changes with it. In 2E 563, the entire Gardner royal family died of the flu. Though he was reluctant at first, Emeric, as the ideal choice became the King of Wayrest.[4][20][21] As he writes in his autobiography, Triumphs of a Monarch, a halo of gold outlined the sun on his coronation and that this was an omen of approval from the Divines that turned all of his detractors into trusty allies.[21]

Emeric had a lot to deal with in his new station. The kingdom's distant vassal, the Systres Archipelago had been left destitute when Duke Avrippe Mornard sealed the islands off in 2E 565 and prevented anyone from moving in and out after the flu hit the islands. This came to Emeric's disapproval, and with House Mornard losing favor with Wayrest, the Duforts lied in wait for their opportunity.[18] But ever since his rise to power, questions have been raised about who Emeric's wife and queen should be. The first likely choice was Princess Rayelle, the daughter of King Ranser of Rivenspire.[22]

His brother offered her early and often. Emeric made up his mind with her, but when he went to Sentinel and met Princess Maraya, he was lovestruck and decided that there was no one else for him.[22] The two married in the spring of 2E 566 and invited the other kings of the Covenant. With this marriage, Wayrest established a trade agreement with Sentinel and ushered prosperity for both parties. Noticeably, King Ranser was not present at the ceremony but that was far from his mind as his new marriage and trade issues in the Iliac Bay took more priority to him.[22]

Ranser took great offense to Emeric's rejection and on the Last Seed of that year, the King led an army from Rivenspire.[22] House Mornard, rattled by Emeric's disapproval, joined Ranser's war with Wayrest.[18] The north came down like a lightning strike, but Wayrest was not aware of their approach until just as he marched into Alcaire and Menevia.[22] As the conflict escalated, Emeric made contact with Kurog gro-Bagrakh, who at the time, was an Orcish chieftain trying to build a kingdom in Skyrim, and offered him to make it in Wrothgar.[23]

As Shornhelm's advance guard reached the city's gates, Emeric believed that if the Oldgate Lancers scattered his ill-prepared local militia, Ranser would take the city in about an hour. However, thanks to Emeric and his Cumberland Guard, the Oldgate Lancers retreated north and by the time Ranser's siege force reached Wayrest, they had the walls tightly secured.[22] This second Siege of Wayrest was another lengthy attack on the city, that thanks to the Lion Guard, allowed it to hold on for so long. The tide changed in Emeric's favor when the Redguards came in full force from across the bay. Ranser's full retreat, however, was later stilted in Rivenspire when they found Shornhelm set ablaze by Kurog and his Orcs,[24] taking revenge for Orsinium's downfall in the last two hundred years.[24][25]

The war largely ended with the Battle of Markwasten Moor and the Daggerfall Covenant became stronger than ever.[20][24] Freedom of trade was guaranteed all over the alliance and with Emperor Varen Aquilarios' disappearance in 2E 578, the Covenant looked to great prospects in Cyrodiil.[20][21] But with everything settled on the mainland, Emeric looked to punish House Mornard for their involvement in the war. Avrippe Mornard was stripped of his title as Duke of the Systres and replaced by Donoven Dufort. They could keep their holdings, especially their main settlement, Vastyr but if they ever stepped out of line again, the House would be eliminated.[18][26]

Much had happened since Ranser's War. The Supernal Dreamers, a cult of Vaermina wreaked havoc across the Stormhaven countryside and tried to mind control Emeric.[27] Emeric later traveled across the Covenant's territories, such as Rivenspire to determine Ranser's successor between House Tamrith and House Dorell,[28] Bangkorai to stabilize the region and assist his cousin, Queen Arzhela of Evermore,[29] and High Isle to parlay with his rival alliances, the Aldmeri Dominion and Ebonheart Pact and find a truce.[30] Emeric would become the first in a long line of monarchs to rule Wayrest as the progenitor of the Cumberland Dynasty.[1][4]

Wayrest and the Third Empire[edit]

Imperial banner of the Third Empire

By the late Second Era, the Cumberlands and the Covenant were no longer active. Witch-kings ruled the province and its kingdoms feuded with each other until Tiber Septim arrived to easily conquer them.[31][32] The Battle of the Bjoulsae was one such battle, in which a surprise attack at dawn annihilated Wayrest's navy.[33] The kingdom welcomed the Third Empire with open arms, especially the Imperial Navy's Northwest Fleet, who heavily guarded the Iliac Bay against pirates. At the time, Wayrest suffered from an inferiority complex with Daggerfall as evident with its ruling house.[2] After the Cumberlands ruled the kingdom, it was the Horley Dynasty, and after them was the Septim Dynasty,[1] some of whom would later become Emperors in Cyrodiil.[34]

Several years after incurring the Wolf Queen's wrath in the War of the Red Diamond,[35] Wayrest's first known Septim king was Cassynder, the son of Emperor Pelagius III and Empress Katariah.[34][Note 1] What Cassynder's reign was like in Wayrest is unknown, however in 3E 193, he vacated his throne due to health concerns and left it to his half-brother, Uriel Lariat. His decision to pass him his crown was what adopted Uriel into the Imperial Family.[34][36] Likewise, Uriel's reign over Wayrest is not currently documented but after nine years in 3E 202, Uriel left to become the Emperor after Cassynder's passing.[36][37]

Uriel's lineage did not inherit Wayrest's throne as his son Andorak was given Shornhelm, where their line continued to rule well into the Third Era.[37] Cephorus II, the Septim that took his place as Emperor, was greatly disliked by the Bretons for being the first non-Breton in the Septim family and for not spending any of their childhood in High Rock. Compared with Uriel Lariat, known later as Uriel IV, the difference in appeal was staggering. This bias was one of two factors in High Rock's lack of action in the Camoran Usurper's Invasion. The other was a lack of proper leadership to unite the Iliac Bay. The King of Wayrest, for example, was in their minority and could not lead his people. It took Baron Othrok of Dwynnen to bring others together to defeat the Camoran Usurper.[38]

The House of Wayrest in the late Third Era[edit]

Barenziah, the new Queen of Wayrest
King Eadwyre of Wayrest

By the late Third Era, Wayrest was ruled by King Eadwyre and Queen Carolyna, whom together had their only child, Elysana in 3E 389,[10]:15 the first year of the Imperial Simulacrum.[10]:9[39] Unlike the other kingdoms of High Rock in the east, Wayrest was not as directly affected by the conflicts. It was involved in the War of the Bend'r-mahk at an unknown capacity and it reportedly lost,[40] presumingly from Skyrim who attacked both High Rock and Hammerfell.[41] In 3E 392, Queen Carolyna passed away from unknown causes.[10]:15 Sometime later, Eadwyre went to the Imperial City on business with Emperor Uriel Septim VII, who at the time was impersonated by his battlemage, Jagar Tharn.[42]

Eadwyre visited the Queen of Morrowind, Barenziah to comfort her in her time of grief. At the time, she was also in the Imperial City and had just discovered her husband, King Symmachus was killed in Mournhold. After learning about Jagar Tharn's plot from the ghost of his assistant, Ria Silmane, the two plotted against him and provided enough information for the Eternal Champion to gather pieces of the Staff of Chaos and defeat him. Eadwyre and Barenziah quickly fled to Wayrest and wasted no time getting married after being in love with each other for so long. With their marriage, Barenziah's children, Helseth and Morgiah came with her.[42]

While the king and queen were happy with each other,[42] Barenziah's status as the Queen of Wayrest was not wholly accepted by the people. Some members of the kingdom's knightly order, the Knights of the Rose did not like the prospect of a Dunmer heir,[10]:99 who at that time would have been Helseth, Barenziah's eldest child and Elysana's new older step-brother.[43] Many internal and external problems plagued Wayrest. With Nova Orsinium's founding in 3E 399, the peasantry in the Wrothgarian foothills was displaced, leaving the knightly order frustrated.[10]:99 With Eadwyre and Barenziah's elderly age, an heir to the throne was needed but neither choice was ideal. Elysana was sweet but lacked intelligence, while Helseth was the opposite, and many resented the idea of his reign. Barenziah's second child, Morgiah, however, had no ambitions for the throne, but public opinion was sharply divided on her.[44]

Wayrest had a nominal role in the War of Betony from 3E 402 to 403. With their grievances mentioned above, and the general threat of both Orcs in the north and pirates in the Iliac Bay, Wayrest did not send any of their forces to Daggerfall and Sentinel. They also had no concerns for Betony since anyone who entered the Bjoulsae River had to pay them tax anyway.[44] Regardless, advisors were sent to urge the Kings, Lysandus and Camaron from fighting. By the time they reached Daggerfall's camp, it was too late as Orcs intercepted them. They only spoke briefly with Lysandus before the battle.[45]

Wayrest's greater role in the war comes from the presence of a minor Lord in the kingdom and commander of its military, Lord Woodborne. He had ambitions for Wayrest's throne and was betrothed to Elysana, but felt threatened by Helseth's claim.[44][46] He tried to find support from Daggerfall for months but Lysandus rejected him. The only support he found was with the Orcs of Orsinium, who he promised to help settle their claims for recognition after becoming the King of Wayrest. Lord Woodborne later agreed to help fake Lysandus' death at the Battle of Cryngaine Field and secure his passage to the Isle of Balfiera.[44]

Knowing that Lysandus would offer advice to his son and successor, Gothryd after retirement, Woodborne had the Orcs kill him before he left Tamarilyn Point and buried in a tomb nearby. He hoped to find better chances of support from his childhood friend, Gothryd than his father.[44][46] The harsh circumstances of his death caused the ghost of King Lysandus to return and haunt his former capital city, Daggerfall. Seeking revenge against his killer.[44] In turn, his longtime friend, Emperor Uriel VII sent an Agent of the Blades to exorcise his spirit.[47]

The Heirs of Wayrest and Political Conspiracy[edit]

Prince Helseth of Wayrest
Lord Woodborne

The Agent reached the Iliac Bay in 3E 405, after a sudden storm washed them ashore in Privateer's Hold.[48] They disembarked into the region abroad and became tied into the politics of the kingdoms' royal families.[49] Morgiah was the first to contact the Agent and used them to send a message to the King of Worms. In a bid for higher power, the Princess arranged a deal with the necromancer to exert her influence on King Reman Karoodil of Firsthold. In that same year, Morgiah and Karoodil started a three-year engagement, and a letter of this news was circulated across the kingdom.[50]

Helseth was the second one to work with them. He needed them to send a blackmail letter to Lord Castellian, the head of Wayrest's Elder Council.[45] Helseth later brought up the Agent to his mother, who was the third person to talk to them. At the time, a chapter of the infamous and rare biography, The Real Barenziah, Part VI was purchased by King Gortwog gro-Nagorm of Orsinium and Barenziah feared they would publish it. However, the book was stolen by the King of Worms, so the Agent delved into Scourg Barrow to find it. It is unknown if they gave it to Barenziah or Gortwog, but that was the end of that situation.[51]

Elysana was the fourth member to talk to the Agent. Like Helseth before her, she sent them to find Lord Castellian and give him a cape as a present. But when they gave him the cape, it summoned three daedric seducers to kill him. The Agent escaped Castellian's guards and reported back to Elysana.[52] Elysana contacted them again later and asked them to escort her "cousin" across Wayrest to her contact. Unknown to them, it was an assassination attempt against them for investigating Lysandus' ghost. It was one of several coordinated by Lord Woodborne.[53]

After communicating with Lysandus' ghost, the Agent tracked down Lord Woodborne in his castle, Woodborne Hall in northwest Wayrest but whether he was killed or not is unknown. His diary, however, was vital evidence of his part in the King's death and was given to one of the higher powers in the Iliac Bay. With its contents revealed, Lysandus' spirit found peace and left the mortal realm.[54] The Blades likewise, tracked the Totem of Tiber Septim to Woodborne Hall and a battle ensued. Though the castle fell and many Blades died, the Totem was nowhere to be found but another Blades agent, Brisienna Magnessen believed it was in Castle Daggerfall.[55]

After helping each of the kingdom's families, the Agent entered the castle's treasury and stole the totem. With it in their possession, the most important figures across the Iliac Bay tried to contact them and get the totem. Eadwyre was the last member of Wayrest's royal family to seek them out but it is unknown if they met.[55] The Blades lost contact with the Agent in time and soon enough, the kingdoms engaged in an all-out war for power over the Iliac Bay. In a three-way clash with Daggerfall and Orsinium, near the Wrothgarian foothills, a large forest fire burst across the central High Rock-Iliac Bay region. In another fight, Wayrest directly fought Orsinium in Gavaudon and burned many villages along the Bjoulsae.[56]

The Miracle of Peace and Onward[edit]

Queen Elysana of Wayrest

All of this came to an abrupt end on the 9th of Frostfall, 3E 417, when the Warp in the West changed the Iliac Bay from a war-torn land of several nations to a peaceful region under its four kingdoms. When confronted about it by their Imperial Ambassador, Naigon Strale, Eadwyre said he did not want to give out their tactics while Barenziah gave a plain, "we do not know". By the time the Warp ended, it was the 11th of Frostfall, and Wayrest controlled land from eastern Anticlere to half of Gavaudon, but the land between them was greatly ruined, "desolate no-man's land" as Naigon Strale described it.[56]

The race to usurp Wayrest's throne ended in 3E 418,[UOL 1] when Eadwyre passed away. Details on what happened are unclear, but Elysana and Helseth engaged in a power struggle that ended with Elysana on top as the Queen of Wayrest. One of her first decrees was to banish Helseth and Barenziah. As the turmoil in Morrowind ended, they returned east where Helseth became the new King of Morrowind after his uncle, Athyn Llethan.[43][56]

Elysana went on to have two children with a royal consort. Her victory over Helseth proved her ability to maneuver the political landscape.[UOL 1] By the late Third Era, she was considered the most feared ruler in the west[31] and everyone, from admirers to enemies considered her the second "Wolf Queen".[UOL 1] In around 3E 432, Elysana and Wayrest allied with Orsinium, leaving many to wonder what their next move was.[31] What became of this alliance is currently unknown, but Orsinium fell again in the early Fourth Era by Breton and Redguard forces.[57]:Part 1, Chapter 6

By the late second century of the Fourth Era, Wayrest was ruled by the Barynia family.[58] In 4E 188,[59] a plot was hatched to overthrow King Barynia, by detractors that saw him as a weak ruler. Two of these nobles, one of which was Arenthil Wethrin, kidnapped Princess Barynia and held her captive in Dreughside. That plan, however, failed and the princess was freed.[60] Weeks later, the King became aware of the conspiracy against him and let the capital fall to corsairs while he made his escape. It is unknown if the assassin killed the King or let him escape. In any case, his daughter, the Princess took up his throne as Queen while Wayrest lied in ruins.[58]

Culture and Society[edit]

A Shrine of Akatosh
The Port of Wayrest
For more information, see the: Culture and Society sections on the Breton page.

Wayrest is known for its merchants and their close association with the kingdom's wealth and influence. Even before its rise as a kingdom, it was acknowledged as a master of trade in the Iliac Bay, having helped form the Masconian Trade Way and continues to rival Daggerfall as its major trade center.[1][14] Most of its ruling families are descendants of merchant families, like the Gardners and the Cumberlands.[1][4] With this status, Wayrest established many connections across High Rock and Tamriel as a whole, such as with House Tamrith in Rivenspire,[61] the Colovians of Skingrad,[13] and even historically with Orsinium.[4][23][31]

Wayrest sits in an ideal spot, at the strategic head of the Iliac Bay, where it meets the Bjoulsae River region to the east, in the geographical center of the province, Stormhaven.[62] To the west are its rival kingdoms on the Iliac Bay; Daggerfall, and Sentinel, as well as many countries of varying power[63] that lead into the Abecean Sea.[64]:5 And to the east, is the Bangkorai region and its main settlement, Evermore, the so-called "Crossroads at Realms' End" that connects further out east and south.[4]

Wayrest takes advantage of this by taxing anyone moving in and around them. Anyone who chooses to proceed east into Wayrest's waters has to pay tax[44] and anyone who tries to dock on the city's protected harbors has to pay whatever tax is set by the merchants.[64]:5 Many mines exist in the Wayrest region.[65] It was actually the large discovery of orichalcum lodes outside of the city that elevated House Cumberland to its grand status as the kingdom's second royal dynasty. As of the mid-Second Era, it was the largest vein in recorded history and the house's meteoric rise resulted in great wealth and regional envy.[4]

Pirates are everpresent in the Iliac Bay, and Wayrest has had to deal with it over many centuries.[1] The western Bjoulsae River region, where Wayrest's capital sits as the largest settlement, hosts dozens of small islands that pirates and smugglers used as hideouts for several years. The most notorious of these islands was Blackheart Haven,[66] but Balfiera was their main refuge in the late Third Era, until after the War of Betony when it was declared haunted.[44] Some of these pirates are even of Akaviri-descent.[1] The Third Empire managed to stave off these pirates when the Imperial Navy's Northwest Fleet made Wayrest their home, but in time, the capital fell to corsairs in 4E 188.[59]

Wayrest's coat of arms depicts a shield with three pale, yellow roses,[67][51] however, the significance of this is unknown. The kingdom's knightly order is known as the Knights of the White Rose, or the Knights of the Rose.[68] Wayrest's patron among the Eight Divines is Akatosh,[69] the Dragon God of Time and chief deity of the Divines.[70] His temple, the Akatosh Chantry is found all over the kingdom, in its cities and temple settlements.[69] Though Akatosh has always been Wayrest's patron, the merchant class always preferred Zenithar, the God of Labor and Commerce.[UOL 1]

A holiday that has since cemented itself across Tamriel but was initially based in Wayrest was Saturalia, on the 25th of Evening Star. It heralds the New Life Festival season for the Bretons and is a time of gift-giving, parties, and parades.[71][72][73] Combined with Wayrest city's status as a trading hub, traders from the Daggerfall Covenant helped establish Saturalia across the continent through word of mouth.[74]

Though Wayrest's population consists mostly of Bretons, several other races and subcultures live in the wilderness. Wayrest borders the southern Wrothgarian Mountains, where Orcs are commonplace in the Iliac Bay.[64]:80 And as such, many Orcish strongholds exist in the Wayrest region, from Sashnorog to Tricerrath. Barbarians and Giants also live in strongholds, as do harpies in harpy nests.[65] The most prominent vampire bloodline in the region are the Montalions[69] and so several vampire haunts exist across the land.[65]

Geography[edit]

Stormhaven

Wayrest is located on the north side of the Bjoulsae River, near where the river meets the Iliac Bay proper. More specifically, it is located on the south-central coast of Stormhaven, in the geographical region of Menevia,[75] not to be confused with the Third Era county of the same name. As the mid-Second Era Imperial scholar, Flaccus Terentius described it, Stormhaven's countryside is "a charming realm of rolling hills, lush flood plains, rocky outcrops, and copses of ancient woodland". Were it not for the constant, thunderous weather and its gloomy weather, the region would be idyllic and picturesque.[4]

The Wayrest region's climate, much like most of the High Rock-Iliac Bay, is a temperate woodland.[76] The kingdom's capital is located on the western coast, east of the strait between the region's large island to the west and the mainland to the east. A small lake is located in the northwest section of the kingdom, near the three-way point between Wayrest, Menevia, and Orsinium Area. On its west shore is the town of Cathlech, and on its east shore is the town Tuncart. Just to the northwest is the nearby human stronghold, Woodborne Hall.[69] Some volcanic activity is present in Wayrest, as seen in the caves of Masterwing Tower.[65]

Many cities dot the region, from the southern coast to its northern border. These included Aldwych, Burgbeth, Crossdale, Eastbrone, Easttale, Eastwark, Eastwold, Fontwell Heath, Galloing Garden, Graywold, Holhead Court, Holshire Rock, Holwich, Kirkmarket, Knightsbrugh, Lamwold, Longhope End, Longley Borough, Merhope Hall, Merwark Hollow, Newvale, Oxvale Borough, Penwall Derry, Penwood, Reyford Moor, Ripford, Singdale, Tamgate, Tunmont, Vanlech Court, Vantown, Warmore, and Westwall Heath.[69]

In 3E 405, the Kingdom of Wayrest was neighbored by several other regions, including Gavaudon to the east, Menevia to the west, Mournoth to the south across the Bjoulsae River in Hammerfell, Orsinium Area to the west-northwest, and the Wrothgarian Mountains to the north-northeast.[63]

Notable city-states and regions that are part of the Kingdom of Wayrest are:

Notable Locations[edit]

Grimdale Moor
A town near the northern border toward the Wrothgarian Mountains
Unnamed Island
A large island west of the capital city and southeast of Menevia. Its biggest settlement is the city of Penwall Derry
Wayrest
The capital city of the kingdom, located on its western shore across from an island
Woodborne Hall
A fortress formerly owned by Lord Woodborne. It is just northwest of Tuncart near the region's northern lake.

Known Rulers[edit]

Castle Wayrest

Although the various dynasties go by their own names, such as the Cumberland Dynasty,[4] the current family that rules the kingdom is collectively known as the House of Wayrest.[10]:15 By the late Third Era, each of Wayrest's leaders, except for the Septim family of the Third Era, could trace their background to a merchant prince. According to Sathyr Longleat, writer of Wayrest, Jewel of the Bay, there is also purportedly no other kingdom in Tamriel, of comparable age, that can count each of their dynasties on one hand. No king has been deposed because of revolution or assassination either.[1]

The kingdom observes the law of succession, where the monarch's blood-related child takes their place as ruler. This law was a factor in the late Third Era around King Eadwyre's later years. Wayrest's court is known as the Elder Council,[52] the Elder Circle,[45] or simply the Court of Wayrest.[56] Much like the rest of High Rock's kingdoms, monarchs are interred in Cath Bedraud, the sprawling cemetery complex in northern Glenumbra.[4]

The kingdom's rulers live in Castle Wayrest, located in the center of town in the Palace District[77] and on the north end of Wayrest Boulevard. It was originally built by King Aphren Gardner[1] and is arguably the most famous castle in all of Tamriel. It takes a classical approach to stone-keep architecture and helped set the standard for noble housing for centuries since.[78]

  • The First Era
    • King Farangel Gardner (1E 1100 – 1E ?)[1][79]
    • King Aphren Gardner[1] — No specific date was given on when Aphren Gardner ruled Wayrest. What is known is that he ruled early in the First Era,[5] presumingly after Farangel founded the kingdom and dynasty in 1E 1100.
    • King Etien Lenac (1E 1270 – 1E ?) — The start of Etien's reign would have occurred during the Middle Dawn, a period of history in which linear time was disrupted for roughly a thousand years.[80]
    • Queen Margert Gardner (ca. 1E 2319)[13]
  • The Second Era
    • King Casimir II (ca. 2E 369)[81]
    • King Gardner of Wayrest (2E ? – 2E 563) — This king was the last Gardner in the dynasty and was killed in the Knahaten Flu along with the rest of his family.[4][22]
    • High King Emeric (2E 563 – 2E ?) — Emeric started the Cumberland Dynasty after ascending to the throne. Three years later, he married Maraya of Sentinel, and one year after, he became the High King of the Daggerfall Covenant.[4][22]
  • Unnamed ruling house of Wayrest – According to the Pocket Guide to the Empire's 1st edition, the royal family had an evident inferiority complex with its rivals in Daggerfall.[2] It is unknown whether this was still the Cumberlands or the Horleys.
  • Horley Dynasty[1]
  • The Third Era
    • King Cassynder (3E ? – 3E 193)[34]
    • King Uriel Lariat (3E 193 – 3E 202)[34][37]
    • Unnamed King of Wayrest (ca. 3E 266) — By the time the Camoran Usurper was en route to the Iliac Bay, this monarch was in their minority.[38]
    • King Tristore (fl. 3E 389 – 3E 399)[82]
    • King Eadwyre (3E ? – 3E 418) — Eadwyre was already King of Wayrest when his first wife, Carolyna passed away in 3E 392, and he was already elderly by the time he married Barenziah.[42] Eadwyre passed away roughly in 3E 418, a year after the Warp in the West.[56][UOL 1]
      • Consort:
        • Queen Carolyna (3E ? – 3E 392)[10]:15
        • Queen Barenziah (fl. 3E 405 – 3E 417) — Eadwyre married Barenziah not long after they fled the Imperial City, sometime during the Imperial Simulacrum.[42] But the exact year it happened is never given.
    • Queen Elysana (3E 418 – 4E ?) — Elysana won over her step-brother Helseth, who with Barenziah, returned to Morrowind.[43] Elysana was still the Queen of Wayrest by 3E 432 before the Oblivion Crisis took place a year later.[31]
  • The Fourth Era
    • King Barynia (4E ? – 4E 188) — It is unknown whether Barynia was assassinated by the Dark Brotherhood or if he was allowed to escape.[58]
    • Queen Barynia (4E 188 – 4E ?)[58]

Notes[edit]

  • ^  The Madness of Pelagius establishes that Magnus Septim was the King of Wayrest when the War of the Red Diamond occurred but The Wolf Queen retcons this by having him the King of Lilmoth. While the latter is considered historical fiction, the former is discredited for an incorrect record of Pelagius' early years. This was confirmed by the writer for both texts, Ted Peterson.[UOL 2]

See Also[edit]

Books[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Wayrest, Jewel of the Bay — Sathyr Longleat
  2. ^ a b c Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition: High Rock — Imperial Geographical Society, 2E 864
  3. ^ King Farangel's Beer Ballad
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n The Improved Emperor's Guide to Tamriel: High Rock — Flaccus Terentius, 2E 581
  5. ^ a b c Blaise Pamarc's dialogue in ESO
  6. ^ Mathias Raiment's dialogue in ESO
  7. ^ Princess Mira's dialogue in ESO
  8. ^ Kingmaker's Trove antiquity codex entries in ESO: Greymoor
  9. ^ 1. The Thrassian Plague
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h The Daggerfall Chronicles — Ronald Wartow
  11. ^ a b Bangkorai, Shield of High Rock — King Eamond
  12. ^ a b Systres History: Volume 4 — Trilam Heladren, Associate Dean of Eltheric History, University of Gwylim
  13. ^ a b c On the War of Righteousness — Valenca Arvina, Historian-in-Residence at Gwylim University
  14. ^ a b A History of Daggerfall — Odiva Gallwood
  15. ^ Maiko K'Elmar's dialogue in Redguard
  16. ^ Systres History: Volume 5 — Trilam Heladren, Associate Dean of Eltheric History, University of Gwylim
  17. ^ a b History of House Mornard — Dorothea Errard
  18. ^ a b c d Systres History: Volume 7 — Trilam Heladren, Associate Dean of Eltheric History, University of Gwylim
  19. ^ a b Triumphs of a Monarch, Ch. 3 — His Majesty King Emeric
  20. ^ a b c d e Guide to the Daggerfall Covenant
  21. ^ a b c Triumphs of a Monarch, Ch. 10 — His Majesty King Emeric
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i Triumphs of a Monarch, Ch. 6 — His Majesty King Emeric
  23. ^ a b The Chronicles of King Kurog, Book IV — Zephrine Frey, Chronicler of Wayrest
  24. ^ a b c The Fury of King Ranser — Wafimeles Masteret (Lorekeeper)
  25. ^ Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition: The Wild Regions — Imperial Geographical Society, 2E 864
  26. ^ Emeric's Judgment — King Emeric
  27. ^ Vaermina's Gambit story quest in ESO
  28. ^ The Crown of Shornhelm story quest in ESO
  29. ^ Bangkorai in ESO
  30. ^ High Isle in ESO: High Isle
  31. ^ a b c d e Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition: The Sons and Daughter of the Direnni West: High Rock — Imperial Geographical Society, 3E 432
  32. ^ Krisandra's dialogue in Redguard
  33. ^ Amiel Richton' biography – The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard
  34. ^ a b c d e Brief History of the Empire v 2 — Stronach k'Thojj III
  35. ^ The Madness of Pelagius — Tsathenes
  36. ^ a b The Third Era Timeline — Jaspus Ignateous
  37. ^ a b c Brief History of the Empire v 3 — Stronach k'Thojj III
  38. ^ a b The Fall of the Usurper — Palaux Illthre
  39. ^ Brief History of the Empire v 4 — Stronach k'Thojj III
  40. ^ Lathon's dialogue in Oblivion: Knights of the Nine
  41. ^ Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition: The Throat of the World: Skyrim — Imperial Geographical Society, 3E 432
  42. ^ a b c d e Biography of Barenziah, v 3 — Stern Gamboge, Imperial Scribe
  43. ^ a b c A Game at Dinner — An Anonymous Spy
  44. ^ a b c d e f g h The Daggerfall Chronicles/Narrative
  45. ^ a b c Blackmail story quest in Daggerfall
  46. ^ a b Lord Woodborne's diary — Lord Woodborne
  47. ^ Introduction in Daggerfall
  48. ^ Privateer's Hold story quest in Daggerfall
  49. ^ Instructions from the Empire story quest in Daggerfall
  50. ^ Morgiah's Wedding story quest in Daggerfall
  51. ^ a b Barenziah's Book story quest in Daggerfall
  52. ^ a b Elysana's Robe story quest in Daggerfall
  53. ^ Elysana's Betrayal story quest in Daggerfall
  54. ^ Lysandus' Revenge story quest in Daggerfall
  55. ^ a b Totem, Totem, Who Gets the Totem? story quest in Daggerfall
  56. ^ a b c d e The Warp in the West — Ulvius Tero
  57. ^ Lord of Souls — Greg Keyes
  58. ^ a b c d The Corsair Conspiracy episode in Legends
  59. ^ a b Cicero's Journal - Volume 2 — Cicero
  60. ^ Enter the Shadows episode in Legends
  61. ^ House Tamrith: A Recent History — Chancellor Regina Troivois, the Department of Interior Affairs
  62. ^ Stormhaven loading screen text in ESO
  63. ^ a b Map of the Iliac Bay (labeled) – The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
  64. ^ a b c Daggerfall User's Guide
  65. ^ a b c d Wayrest dungeons in Daggerfall
  66. ^ Blackheart Haven loading screen text in ESO
  67. ^ Wayrest's Crest – The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
  68. ^ Knights of the Rose in Daggerfall
  69. ^ a b c d e Wayrest in Daggerfall
  70. ^ Varieties of Faith... — Brother Mikhael Karkuxor of the Imperial College
  71. ^ Saturalia holiday description in Daggerfall
  72. ^ Saturalia Tree decoration description in Blades
  73. ^ New Life Festival Interview — Countess Aurorelle Edrald, Marwig Yeomcroft, Priestess Phaziyya, and Mochtuinne Eye-Tooth
  74. ^ Loremaster's Archive - Tamriel's Holidays — The Impresario
  75. ^ Wayrest in ESO
  76. ^ Climate Map of the Iliac Bay – The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
  77. ^ Wayrest Castle in ESO
  78. ^ A Travel Guide to Tamriel Castles — Astinia Isauricus
  79. ^ The Improved Emperor's Guide to Tamriel: High Rock — Flaccus Terentius, 2E 581
  80. ^ Loremaster Celarus' dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  81. ^ Atlas of Dragons — Brother Mathnan
  82. ^ Wayrest location and rumors in Arena

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. ^ a b c d e f Ted Peterson's Posts in Campaign 7/The Evening Star Parade – Loranna's RP
  2. ^ Time and Place inconsistencies – The Imperial Library
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