Lore:Bergama

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This article is about the city. For the barony, see Bergama (barony).

Bergama
Type Settlement
Continent Tamriel
Province Hammerfell
Region Alik'r Desert
(Hollow Wastes)
Appears in Daggerfall, ESO
Bergama ca. 2E 582
Bergama (city) in the region

Bergama is a large city found in the dry canyons of the Alik'r Desert, in the province of Hammerfell. Despite its intentional location in the deep desert, Bergama is a bustling trading hub that provides travelers with a safe sanctuary in the harsh desert environment.[1][2] It was established by the Na-Totambu, the former nobility of Yokuda as a place to preserve their ancient tradition and customs from Tamrielic influence.[3] In the present day, Bergama is associated with their descendants, the Crowns.[1] It is the capital city of the eponymous barony, which is completely surrounded by the unconquered Alik'r Desert territory.[4]

Layout and Geography[edit]

The Open Air-Markets of Bergama
Map of Bergama (Daggerfall)

Bergama is a large and fortified city that, geographically, is located in the Hollow Wastes of the Alik'r Desert, in a canyon that bridges Myrkwasa with northeastern Alik'r[5] but politically, it is found in the southern half of the Bergama barony, near the border.[6] The land outside of it is largely uninhabited, save for Alik'ri nomads like the Ash'abah,[1], the desert creatures, and the oasis of Ogre's Bluff.[7] Ancient and decrepit mausoleums, such as the Gharm Graveyard and the Cairn of Marquis Barovar exist outside of Bergama, and these places are defiled by grave robbers and haunted by wraiths.[1][8]

The city's architecture uses large, sturdy domes to insulate the desert heat, and ornate walls made of heavy stone to defend it.[1] The city can be divided three ways by the dense, western district, the northern open parkland, and the Hall of Judgment area. The latter contains the aforementioned Hall of Judgment, a Ra Gada-era palace that currently serves as the city's seat of power. It is surrounded by desert gardens and palm trees. The northern section is a large open square and the Stone Oasis Inn, the city's main tavern and inn. The western section contains one of the city's most well-known landmarks, the bazaar. It is an open-aired market with businesses active all day and night.[1] Above the bazaar is a series of tall, hovering bridges that intertwine all over the city.[5] At different points, they contain the city's signal fires, which are used whenever Bergama is about to come into contact with an enemy.[9]

Notable Locales[edit]

History[edit]

Early History[edit]

The Hall of Judgment

Bergama's origins date back to the ninth century of the First Era. The Hall of Judgment was built when the Ra Gada first embarked on Hammerfell,[10] which was at least 1E 808.[11] The Na-Totambu eventually built the town as one of their settlements in the Alik'r Desert and thousands of years later, they have continued to uphold Yokudan culture.[3] Today, many Crown families are descended from the original nobility.[2]

In an unspecified time, Bergama was devastated by a deathly plague that rendered any survivors terribly ill, including the city's sworn protectors. An Alik'ri warlord named Emeesh Poison-Tongue caught wind and attempted to take advantage of this by uprooting the city at night. The only person who stood watch at the time was the sworn blade, Zoreh the Tenacious. Despite her affliction, she acted quickly by lighting Bergama's signal fires, in the hopes of tricking Emeesh's raiders that the plague had passed and Bergama's defenders were ready. Zoreh's gambit paid off but even as Emeesh's raiders fled, she killed as many enemies as she could before her immediate death. To this day, Bergama honors her sacrifice with the Signal Fire Sprint, a tradition of the city's New Life celebration.[9]

Bergama in the Second Era and onwards[edit]

When High King Ramzi died from the Knahaten Flu that initially broke out in 2E 560, a young Prince Fahara'jad made a pilgrimage from Bergama to Sentinel and declared himself King, much to the chagrin of the Crowns.[1] In the mid-Second Era, the town was governed by Magistrate Sulma, a Forebear, and during her tenure, she received criticism from Crown officials, thus leading to mistrust between both sides.[12]

In 2E 582, people began to disappear and rumors started to spread around town. Justice Istah and his bailiffs began to undertake an investigation and had garnered distrust from fellow Crowns for working with the Forebear magistrate. Suffice it to say, the Justice employed an adventurer to help them uncover the truth. But while the adventurer was out sleuthing, the Justice was falsely incarcerated. The adventurer was able to solve the issue and revealed the Magistrate's dealings with the Withered Hand. In the hopes of supplying the necromancers with bodies, the Magistrate believed that her city could have been spared from their conquest of the Alik'r Desert. Whether the truth was revealed or not is unknown but Bergama moved on from the situation.[13]

At that same time, a marriage between a Crown and Forebear causes controversy in the community.[3] The Crown bride, Tiela was left at the altar while the Forebear groom, Casnar at-Tarin was nowhere to be found. An adventurer was sent out to find the groom and found him hiding from hired thugs in his home. The adventurer was able to negotiate with the gang leader, Uncle Thakh gro-Ram, who offered to help Casnar and have his men escort him to the altar. Despite Tiela's father, Jagnas' best efforts to call it off, the wedding was a success.[14]

In 3E 405, Bergama was ruled by an unnamed Baron and hosted the Akatosh Chantry.[6] In the dead of night, on the 9th of Frostfall in 3E 417, the Miracle of Peace swept across the Iliac Bay and magically altered its political landscape. A Blades agent named Briarbird wrote her account of the events. After a gigantic sandstorm blew over and buried her camp, she reached Bergama by nightfall and discovered the town in chaos. The barony had been captured by the Kingdom of Sentinel, at the time ruled by Queen Akorithi and the Lord of Bergama's fortress was in ruins. It was the 11th of Frostfall and everyone, except Akorithi's soldiers had completely missed the previous day.[15]

Known Rulers[edit]

The town of Bergama is overseen by a Magistrate.[10] Despite the Crowns' power over the settlement, the Magistrate can be a Forebear. Under their authority is the Justice, the head of security in Bergama. The people of the town can elect the Justice and although they answer to the Magistrate, they keep their own counsel.[2] The Justices themselves are famous beyond Bergama.[16]

  • The Second Era

Culture and Society[edit]

One of the Signal Fires
The Barony of Bergama
For more information, see the: Culture and Society sections on the Redguard page.

Bergama and its locals perpetuate myths and legends. The people will siphon duneripper blood and make tonics from it because of a belief that it will prolong their life.[17] Another legend is the story of how an evil Orcish sorcerer turned a hundred baby monkeys in Bergama into gold statues.[18]

Despite Bergama's affiliation with the Crowns,[1] under the Third Empire, the region at large had a patron deity in the form of Akatosh, whose temple, the Akatosh Chantry had many chapters across the barony.[6] The Fighters Guild in Bergama is one of several in the Iliac Bay's desert region that also functions as a temple to Ebonarm, the God of War.[19][20]

The Redguards of Bergama observe the New Life Festival (1st of Morning Star) with the Signal Fire Sprint. A long time ago, Zoreh the Tenacious was able to single-handedly defend the town by lighting Bergama's signal fires. In honor of her sacrifice, everyone from the youth, the elderly, and even the injured can participate in the New Life celebration with a recreation of Zoreh's sprint. It starts when someone sounds the horn, symbolizing the warlord's approach and the participants begin their run. The sprint can be done either as a team or solo.[9]

Coinciding with the Old Festival, which is observed across the Third Empire, the Alik'r Desert at large observes the 18th of Evening Star as Baranth Do, which means "Goodbye to the Beast of Last Year" in Yoku. It is a local new Year celebration people dress as demonic representations of the last year and revel for the new one.[21] The Alik'r also acknowledge other holidays, including Ovank'a (12th of Morning Star),[22], the Festival of Blades (26th of First Seed),[23] Fiery Night (29th of Sun's Height),[24] and Dirij Tereur (5th of Frostfall).[25]

Gallery[edit]

  • Bergama (Daggerfall)

Notes[edit]

  • Bergama is the name of a municipality in the İzmir Province of western Turkey.

See Also[edit]

Books[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i The Improved Emperor's Guide to Tamriel: Hammerfell — Flaccus Terentius, 2E 581
  2. ^ a b c Justice Istah's dialogue in ESO
  3. ^ a b c A Betrayal of Our Heritage — "Nworc at-Traeh"
  4. ^ Map of the Iliac Bay – The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
  5. ^ a b c d e f Bergama in ESO
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Bergama in Daggerfall
  7. ^ Alik'r Desert in ESO
  8. ^ Bergama dungeons in Daggerfall
  9. ^ a b c Aubatha's dialogue in ESO: Holiday Special
  10. ^ a b Magistrate Sulma's dialogue in ESO
  11. ^ Holidays of the Iliac Bay — Theth-i
  12. ^ Qadim's dialogue in ESO
  13. ^ a b Gone Missing quest in ESO
  14. ^ Left at the Altar quest in ESO
  15. ^ The Warp in the West — Ulvius Tero
  16. ^ Burnished Judgment Badge treasure text in ESO
  17. ^ Notes of Adalabar, hunter — Adalabar
  18. ^ Golden Monkey Statuette treasure text in ESO
  19. ^ Fighter Trainers in Daggerfall
  20. ^ Citadel of Ebonarm in Daggerfall
  21. ^ Baranth Do holiday description in Daggerfall
  22. ^ Ovank'a holiday description in Daggerfall
  23. ^ Festival of Blades holiday description in Daggerfall
  24. ^ Fiery Night holiday description in Daggerfall
  25. ^ Dirij Tereur holiday description in Daggerfall
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