Lore:Solstheim

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Solstheim
Type	Region
Continent	Tamriel
Province	Morrowind
Appears in	Bloodmoon Dragonborn

A map of Solstheim (Bloodmoon)

Solstheim, sometimes misspelled Soulstheim, is a large island in the Sea of Ghosts to the north of Tamriel. Geographically, Solstheim is very diverse; it is located northwest of the large island of Vvardenfell in Morrowind and east of Skyrim. Despite being in the general area of Morrowind, its climate is more like that of Skyrim, especially in the northern parts of Solstheim. According to Nord legend, it was originally a part of the mainland until a titanic battle between two Dragon Priests ended in Solstheim being sundered from the rest of Skyrim. Unlike the other islands of Tamriel, it was not officially part of any province until the early Fourth Era, when it became part of Morrowind. Prior to this, it was still considered an Imperial territory and was frequently attributed to the lands of Skyrim. The Empire had a small foothold at Fort Frostmoth in the warmer southern reaches of the island, and the ambitious East Empire Company sent mining expeditions slightly further north to Raven Rock. The local Nords live in isolated tribal communities such as the Skaal, and many of them resent the outsiders' claims to the island. Late in the Third Era, rumors spread that the Nords attempted to capture the whole of Solstheim, intended to destroy Fort Frostmoth, and that the funding ran out for the Raven Rock colony.

When the Red Mountain erupted in 4E 5, heralding the Red Year, the force of the eruption devastated Raven Rock and Fort Frostmoth. The cataclysm marked a turning point for Solstheim both ecologically and politically. Red Mountain continuously spewed ash northward, blanketing the island's southern half and allowing flora and fauna native to Morrowind to thrive there. Meanwhile, the Dunmer Great House Redoran, which had already begun settling in Raven Rock in 4E 1, took advantage of the near-total loss of the Fort Frostmoth Imperial garrison to strengthen its presence, and many Dunmer refugees also began to arrive from Morrowind following a brutal Argonian invasion. In 4E 16, the High King of Skyrim granted Solstheim to Morrowind to serve as a refuge for the Dunmer, formalizing the island's passing into Dunmer hands. The island passed into the jurisdiction of House Redoran. Also during the early years of the Fourth Era, the House Telvanni wizard Neloth established Tel Mithryn, a settlement grown from fungi brought from Vvardenfell.

During the invasion of a floating city from Oblivion named Umbriel in the Fourth Era, Prince Attrebus Mede, along with his companion Sul, visited Sathil, a small village on Solstheim, in search of the legendary Umbra Sword. Hleryn Sathil, the Dunmer who established the village, was once allied with House Indoril, but left the house as well as Morrowind in 4E 16. In 4E 201, inhabitants came under the influence of Miraak, who used them to rebuild his temple.

Oddly, Solstheim was not on any of the older Imperial maps, suggesting its discovery by the Empire is relatively recent.

Notes

• It has been confirmed by Bethesda that the alternative spelling, Soulstheim, is incorrect.

Gallery

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  A map highlighting All-Maker stones in Solstheim (Bloodmoon)

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  Skaal village during the day. (Bloodmoon)

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  Raven Rock, circa 4E 201 (Dragonborn)

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  A map circa 4E 201 highlighting a source of stalhrim (Dragonborn)

References

Note: the following references are not found in game. They are included to provide a rounder background to this article, but may not reflect established lore.

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