Lore:Blacklight

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Blacklight
Type Settlement
Continent Tamriel
Province Morrowind
Region Redoran
Appears in Arena
Blacklight (Arena)
Map of Morrowind
"Blacklight holds the northern tip of Morrowind, and to the east is Dagoth Ur in all its fiery glory..."
—In-game description in Arena

Blacklight is one of the eight major cities on the mainland of Morrowind,[1] situated on the northwest point of the province, near the Velothi Mountains. Blacklight is most well known as the capital of the Great House Redoran,[UOL 1] whose values revolve around the virtues of maintaining honor and persevering through hard-work as a valiant warrior.[2] Since the provincial capital, Mournhold, was sacked by the Argonians in the Accession War of 4E 6, Blacklight has become the new capital[3] and the Council of Great Houses have been held in the city's Rootspire.[4]

Layout and Geography[edit]

Blacklight is the capital of the Great House Redoran, and by extension their district, which spanned all of northwest Morrowind, from Silgrad Tower and Veranis Hall to the far south,[UOL 1] the towns of Ald'ruhn and Maar Gan from across the Inner Sea in the east,[5] or even Raven Rock in the frontier to the north.[6] The town has hedge mazes in its parks and the city harbors are marked by wharves and piers.[7] The city's region and its neighboring borderlands has been riddled with bandits and thieves since the early First Era and as far as the late Third Era. They are typically held up in caves throughout the mountains and would raid villages and farms on both sides of the border.[8]

One of the most well-known examples was the Blacklight Raiders of the First Era, a band of Breton adventurers that attacked other bandit clans and raided tombs across the land. But as time went on, they robbed villagers in the Blacklight region for their family heirlooms and sacred relics.[9] By the Fourth Era, Blacklight's size and scope rivaled that of Mournhold.[4] Blacklight was neighbored by several settlements, one of which included Cormar View to the west.[1]

Notable Locales[edit]

History[edit]

According to the historical-fiction novel, King Edward, King Cruethys of Ebonheart visited the King of Blacklight and brought his younger brother, Prince Moraelyn along so that he would not cause trouble. He sent the prince into town to have his knife mended and had the local stableboy, Mith serve him as his guide to the city. Seeing no need for an escort, Moraelyn left the stableboy behind, but Mith relentlessly followed suit through four blocks and the city wharves before the prince was able to evade him. Once Moraelyn reached the smith however, he realized that his coin pouch was stolen by Mith and the guards were called him, even though he was able to dispatch them with ease, he retreated to the hedge maze of a local park where Mith found him later. The two shared a laugh and quickly became friends. The stableboy became one of Moraelyn's first companions before he became a well-known champion of Tamriel.[7]

Since roughly 2E 530, House Redoran has continuously improved on Blacklight as a whole.[4] By 2E 582, the Great House Dunmer of Blacklight would finance operations on the then sparsely-populated Vvardenfell, specifically in the upper northwest region for exploitable resources.[13] By that time, House Redoran held vast control over Vvardenfell's western region, from Gnisis to Suran, and even in Balmora,[14] but made much of their business with House Hlaalu, much to their dismay.[15]

By the late Second Era, Tiber Septim and his Imperial Army stationed themselves west of Blacklight and nearby Cormaris View for their invasion of Morrowind. House Redoran assembled a motley defense of Redoran mercenaries, and an elite unit of house nobles, Buoyant Armigers, and Ordinators, however, the other Great Houses refused to bolster the western flank for their own reasons. The situation was changed when Vivec announced a peace agreement would be arranged with Tiber Septim, called the Treaty of the Armistice. House Redoran agreed to the treaty, grateful enough to not face an army of such a scope alone.[16] At some point after Vvardenfell was opened to the public in 3E 414,[17] the Redoran Council moved to their newly-occupied territory, Ald'ruhn by the decree of the Archmaster, Bolvyn Venim.[18]

During the Imperial Simulacrum in the late Third Era, the city-state of Blacklight was an active settlement. It was ruled by Queen Vermith and had a rivalry with Ebonheart.[10] After the Red Year left Morrowind in a state of ruin and grief, the Argonians of Black Marsh took swift advantage and invaded the province in a conflict known as the Accession War.[19][20] The capital city, Mournhold was sacked by the Argonians, but with their army, House Redoran was able to withstand the invasion, but the damage had already been done. Their own capital, Blacklight was proclaimed the capital of Morrowind[3] and the Council of the Great Houses would convene in the Rootspire. Since the last thousand years, Blacklight had improved substantially and its grandeur rivals that of Mournhold.[4]

Known Rulers[edit]

  • The First Era
    • Unnamed King of Blacklight[7]
  • The Third Era

Gallery[edit]

  • The Banner of House Redoran

  • House Redoran armor

  • Redoran-style architecture

Notes[edit]

  • In a similar situation as the town of Balmora, the city of Blacklight has both a localized Tamrielic name, which is "Blacklight," while the Dark Elves have their own equivalent which is translated into Dark Elvish.[21]
  • 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, Blacklight's gladiatorial team would have been called "the Dark Knights".[UOL 2]

See Also[edit]

Books[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Map of Morrowind – The Elder Scrolls: Arena
  2. ^ Understanding House Redoran — Remoran Redoran, Grand Historian for the House
  3. ^ a b Adril Arano's dialogue in Skyrim: Dragonborn
  4. ^ a b c d e Cindiri Arano's dialogue in Skyrim: Dragonborn
  5. ^ Guide to Ald'ruhn
  6. ^ History of Raven Rock, Vol. II — Lyrin Telleno
  7. ^ a b c d e King Edward, Part IV — Anonymous
  8. ^ King Edward, Part X — Anonymous
  9. ^ Llotha Nelvani's dialogue in ESO
  10. ^ a b c Blacklight location and rumors in Arena
  11. ^ East Empire Company (4th Era Map) – The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
  12. ^ The Red Year, Vol. I — Melis Ravel
  13. ^ ESO Live Episode 15: Lore-time with Lawrence Schick — The Imperial Library
  14. ^ Vvardenfell in ESO: Morrowind
  15. ^ Hlaalu Construction Syndic — Manaran Renim, First Clerk of House Affairs, Vvardenfell
  16. ^ On Morrowind — Erramanwe of Sunhold
  17. ^ A Short History of Morrowind — Jeanette Sitte
  18. ^ Athyn Sarethi's dialogue in Morrowind
  19. ^ Lymdrenn Tenvanni's Journal — Lymdrenn Tenvanni
  20. ^ Brand-Shei's dialogue in Skyrim
  21. ^ Interview With Three Booksellers — Jobasha, Codus Callonus, and Dorisa Darvel

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 Concept Map of Morrowind – The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
  2. ^ Original TES: Arena texts at the Imperial Library
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