Lore:Magical Transportation

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Initializing a self-teleportation spell

Magical Transportation is performed primarily by means of teleportation magic. Such forms of magic fall under many different schools, including Mysticism, Conjuration, and Thaumaturgy. Teleportation can occur via spell or via any of the other more stable methods listed below.

Portals[edit]

A temporary, freestanding portal

Portals, also known as Aurbisal conjunctions, are magical rifts that enable teleportation when entered.[1] Skilled mages can use portal magic to travel across Tamriel, even bypassing major obstacles, both man-made or natural.[2] However, the performer must know exactly where to generate the portals or he will face catastrophic consequences. This is, the mage must have been there or, at least, see clearly where the portal will spawn.[3][4] Portal seeds are a common component in apprentice-level portal creation.[5]

Before its disbandment, the Mages Guild offered instant transportation between their main halls for a small fee. This service was available to members and non-members alike, though members are generally given a significant discount.[6] It also had a subsidiary known as the Travelers League, which was only available to high ranking members and could teleport someone from anywhere in the world. This group were present in the Iliac Bay during the fifth century of the Third Era.[7]

Besides the Mages Guild, both the Tribunal Temple and the Church of the Nine offered teleportation spots in their shrines for those with the skills to use the relevant spells or the money to buy the related scrolls. This kind of teleportation used magic derived from the Tribunal or the Nine Divines, respectively.[8][9]

The Dragon Cult constructed a special portal to Sovngarde at the temple of Skuldafn, which was used by Alduin. It is activated by a special staff entrusted to a Dragon Priest that guards the portal.[10]

The vampire Valerica of the Volkihar Clan, created a portal to the Soul Cairn using finely ground bone meal, purified void salts, and soul gem shards, which have to be placed in a silver-lined portal vessel, blood then needs to be added to this vessel to act as a reacting agent.[11]

Shadow magic can be used to visit shadow realms- alternate versions of the world.[12][13]

Teleporters[edit]

Frostcrag Spire teleportation pads

In the Western Reach, there are transportation pads near the small village of Snowline.

The Battlespire, had a magical transport vessel called the Star Galley, which was constructed by Imperial Battlemage and Artificer Clarentavious Valisious, it gave access to the other college sections. The vessel was normally kept in the Star Galley Crib. The Battlespire was also connected to a pillar of light on Tamriel, which when entered would arrive at the Weir Gate in the Battlespire.

Frostcrag Spire has teleportation pads to every Mages Guild hall in Cyrodiil, which were created by Arch-Mage Taris Rendil.[14]

In Stormhold prison, there are warp pads scattered about that can transport the user back to Helga in the Dungeon Camp.[15] Additionally, some of the crystals found in its tunnels are capable of the same effect when activated, becoming inert after one use.[16]

In the wilds surrounding Dawnstar, there are warp runes that can be stood upon that transport the user back to Dawnstar.[17] Additionally, some runes can be carried and used to achieve the same effect, but only once.[18]

The ancient Dunmer fortresses around Vvardenfell are connected by magical means, such that anyone carrying the correct Propylon Indices can jump instantly from one to the next around the loop. Only one index exists for each fortress however, and most have been lost over time as the forts have been abandoned by their creators.[19] A Master Index that could be used to travel to any of the fortresses could be created by combining all the existing indices.[20]

The Redguards have their own form of teleportation magic as illustrated with Arlimahera's Altar, a device created by the eponymous queen of Hammerfell, who used it as an escape device from her own fortress in Bangkorai. It requires the use of two Yokudan runestones.[21]

Gates[edit]

A Gate to Oblivion

The Barsaebic Ayleids had a realm of nexus gates which acted as portal pathways, called the Eld Angavar.

The Khajiit have portals called moon gates, a well-known one is the Moon Gate of Anequina, which when attuned through a proper ritual can teleport one to Jode.[22]

Mehrunes Dagon uses Oblivion Gates to invade Tamriel through the use of Daedra, however, the Gates can also be entered to access The Deadlands. These Gates are held open by a Sigil Stone.

One way of gaining access to the Soul Cairn is using the Voidgate in the Battlespire, which required a void guide to be activated.[23]

A temporary Shift Gate was used by the Eternal Champion to travel from the Imperial City sewers to another city somewhere in Tamriel. Teleportation between cities was said to be common at the time.[24]

The College of Sapiarchs uses a large portal at the highest level of Lillandril to transport people from the main island to the college located across the waters. It is guarded by the Portal Master and it sits atop of a large dias.[25]

Transitus Network[edit]

A Transitus Shrine

During the Alliance War, the three alliances established individual Transitus Networks in Cyrodiil, a form of teleportation magic involving the maintenance of lit braziers. This temporary teleportation network allowed troops to instantaneously travel between keeps and outposts, although the networks seemingly had limited range and required constant maintenance by groups of mages when pushing deeper into enemy territory.[26][27][28] Transitus Networks are made up of small stone shrines, which glow with a cold blue flame when active.[29] Although similar in appearance, they are unrelated to the ancient wayshrines, which can only be utilized for teleportation by exceptional individuals.[30]

Short Range Spells[edit]

An Alfiq casting a teleportation spell (ESO)

A variety of spells and magics exist for bursts of speed, close-range teleportation and other manners of movement. Levitation was a common spell up until its restriction in 3E 421, allowing the caster to float off the ground. It was frequently used by the Telvanni as far back as the Second Era and still after the magic's restriction, typically in their towers to allow access to different floors.[31][32] [33]

Sorcerers commonly used lightning magic to travel short distances by "riding the lightning".[34][35]

Nightblades were known for their "shadow-step" spell, which allowed them to instantly teleport to any nearby location. Similarly, they could summon shadowy versions of themselves and translocate to these copies at will.[36][37][38]

Templars were capable of channeling their "aedric spears" to rapidly charge to any point in range.[39]

Dragonknights wielded a spell to grow arcane, Dragon-like wings which they used to leap great distances.[40][41]

In a similar manner, Wardens called upon spirits of agility to enhance their speed which presented itself in the form of illusory wings.[42] That wasn't all they could do however, they possessed frosty, rune-like portals which brought foes and allies alike to their location[43] and could launch restorative vines to both heal and bring themselves to an ally.[44]

Incantations pleading the Constellations for bursts of speed also existed, as demonstrated by one Clan Direnni scholar of the second era.[45]

The Montalion clan of vampires located in the Iliac Bay have an affinity for teleporation.[46] Vampires of Lamae Bal's brood could dissolve into mist to quickly travel short distances.[47]

Gallery[edit]

Portals[edit]

Gates[edit]

Teleporters[edit]

Short Range Spells[edit]

Other[edit]

See Also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Azandar's dialogue in ESO
  2. ^ War of Two HousesDrelisa Hlaalu, House Historian
  3. ^ Lady Clarisse Laurent's dialogue in ESO
  4. ^ Gabrielle Benele's dialogue in ESO
  5. ^ Portal Seed
  6. ^ Erranil's dialogue in Morrowind
  7. ^ Travelers League in Daggerfall
  8. ^ Almsivi Intervention's effect in Morrowind
  9. ^ Divine Intervention's effect in Morrowind
  10. ^ The World-Eater's Eyrie quest in Skyrim
  11. ^ Valerica's JournalValerica
  12. ^ Shadowkey multiplayer
  13. ^ Events of Woe of the Welkynars in ESO
  14. ^ Frostcrag Spire MemoirsTaris Rendil, Arch-Mage
  15. ^ The places in Stormhold
  16. ^ Warp Crystal in Stormhold
  17. ^ The places in Dawnstar
  18. ^ Warp Rune in Dawnstar
  19. ^ Folms Mirel's dialogue in Morrowind
  20. ^ Master Index plugin in Morrowind
  21. ^ Skyward-Eyes' dialogue in ESO
  22. ^ Jode's Core quest in ESO
  23. ^ Voidgate in Battlespire
  24. ^ Imperial Dungeons quest in Arena, Ria Silmane's dialogue in the Arena manual
  25. ^ Portal Master Astirhil's dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  26. ^ Vother Herendas' dialogue in ESO
  27. ^ Felycie Canis' dialogue in ESO
  28. ^ Viriniel's dialogue in ESO
  29. ^ Transitus Network in ESO
  30. ^ Wayshrines of TamrielBeredalmo the Signifier
  31. ^ Tel Galen in ESO
  32. ^ Telvanni Towers in Morrowind
  33. ^ Tel Mithryn in Dragonborn
  34. ^ On the Utility of Shock MagicVanus Galerion
  35. ^ Bolt Escape ability in ESO
  36. ^ Teleport Strike ability in ESO
  37. ^ Stepping through Shadowsthe Glimmering Foxbat
  38. ^ Shadow Image ability in ESO
  39. ^ Focused Charge ability in ESO
  40. ^ Dragon Leap ability in ESO
  41. ^ To Smite with Dragon Claws
  42. ^ Falcon's Swiftness ability in ESO
  43. ^ Frozen Gate ability in ESO
  44. ^ Nature's Grasp ability in ESO
  45. ^ Norianwe's dialogue during The Gates of Adamant in ESO
  46. ^ Vampires of the Iliac Bay, Chapter II
  47. ^ Mist Form vampire ability in ESO