Lore:Rivenspire

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Rivenspire
Type Region
Continent Tamriel
Province High Rock
Subregions Boralis
Eyebright Feld
Westmark Moor
Appears in ESO
Rivenspire, circa 2E 582

Rivenspire is a region which forms the northern tip of High Rock. It is a gloomy place with jagged rock formations punctuating the rather bleak lowlands. The towering, flinty crags, windswept moors, and narrow canyons strike many folk as oppressive, even threatening. The King's Guard mountain range separates Rivenspire from the Glenumbra and Stormhaven regions to the south.[1] Being far from the Iliac Bay, Rivenspire has a reputation as the backwater of High Rock.[2] The majority of creatures found in Rivenspire are of the aggressive type, including wolves and wraiths. Local hunters also make a living off the abundant giant bats and spiders.[1]

Eyebright Feld forms the southwest area, Westmark Moor forms the southeast, and the foggy northern coast is known as Boralis. The city of Northpoint is found in eastern Boralis. The city of Shornhelm dominates northeastern Eyebright Feld, near the center of Rivenspire. Westmark Moor has no major cities, but there are several settlements, and it is well-known for its burial grounds, including the legendary Crypt of Hearts.[1]

Much of Rivenspire's landscape was influenced by the failed metaphysical Tower of Erokii (now known as the Doomcrag),[3] which housed the Light of Life artifact. When it was built was unknown, but the request was done by Anumaril, an Ayleid active during the time of the Alessian Slave Rebellion. The Ayleids who settled in Rivenspire described it as a "Land of Cold Rocks" when they arrived,[4] and began to use the tower to change the barren wastelands of the region into one full of life. The Light of Life became the Lightless Remnant, a corrupting influence on the land when the natives that were there before the Ayleids settled Rivenspire attacked them and damaged the Light of Life, spreading a corrupting influence upon the land. This corrupting influence became further amplified when it was touched by vampires.[5] Rivenspire would later be freed of its influence, and the Lightless Remnant would be transported to Coldharbour.[6]

History[edit]

Rivenspire has been home to many. Though it is predominantly inhabited in modern times by Bretons, the lost Redguard tribe known as the Horsemen can be found near the coast west of Shornhelm.[7] There have been other migrants in days past. Ayleid ruins still dot the landscape, including the mighty tower known as the Doomcrag.[1] Legends abound of the hill giants, a race of giants from Skyrim that migrated to Rivenspire, bringing along their massive mammoths. Though they are no longer around, giant remains found within a cavern system in the region gives credence to this theory.[8][9][nb 1] Stories in the region speak of the "trammeling" of the giants long ago.[10] The artifact Chrysamere was used in a protracted siege of the Fellthunder Clan of giants in Rivenspire.[11] They Hay-Crown Chub Loon once inhabbited the region, and were viewed as omens of good harvests, until one winter in Rivenspire when hungry farmers discovered that they were delectable. The naivety of the Chub Loon endeared them to the druids, whose mission is to protect nature. As a result, the druids brought the Hay-Crown Chub Loon with them when they fled to High Isle, where they continued to survive.[12]

Northpoint itself wouldn't be established until the 1E 800s, when a Breton trader formed the settlement as a stop along the Daggerfall-Solitude shipping route.[13] House Tamrith has holdings primarily in the western half of Rivenspire, and it was their thriving trade with lands to the south that led to strong ties with Stormhaven and Wayrest. The rivalries between Tamrith and the houses of Dorell and Montclair date back to the late First Era, and each helped the region prosper in their own way.[14] House Dorell are the descendants of the founder of Northpoint, and have held a barony since the days of Empress Hestra circa 1E 1029 (they even ruled Shornhelm for several generations in the First Era).[13]

For all their differences, the noble houses of Rivenspire hold many of the same traditions. Each house keeps its own fighting force, though in times of war or other emergencies, it is not uncommon for house troops to join with the city guard to form a single fighting force in defense of the region.[14] The nobility of Rivenspire are known for burying their dead beneath the gnarled trees of Westmark Moor (except for monarchs, who are all buried in the great cemetery of Cath Bedraud in Glenumbra).[15]

In Ranser's War circa 2E 566, King Ranser of Shornhelm led reticent nobles in the region to war against Wayrest, cleaning out his coffers in an ultimately fruitless campaign. In the end, the retaliation against King Ranser despoiled Rivenspire, and it was still recovering over fifteen years later.[2] When Ranser was defeated, High King Emeric allowed a triumvirate of the three prominent houses to rule over Rivenspire until he found a suitable replacement to become the new King of Shornhelm. Shornhelm would remain kingless for years as a result.[14] Baron Wylon of Montclair asserted his claim to the throne, being the grandson and sole remaining heir of King Hurlburt (the king before Ranser),[10] but many seemed reticent to trust the Montclairs.[13]

A relatively small noble house, Ravenwatch, remained neutral throughout Ranser's War.[14] Though the house claims to prefer the shadows, Count Verandis Ravenwatch made a rare public announcement circa 2E 582 in which he called for the destruction of the Lightless Remnant, an ancient artifact in Rivenspire which had been studied unsuccessfully for generations. Lord Verandis believed the Remnant possessed a corrupting power, and he made its eradication the first priority of his house.[16] During that time, Rivenspire was plagued by feral vampires called bloodfiends.[17]

Maps[edit]

Notes[edit]

  • ^  Rivenspire in ESO was originally planned to include the spirits of these race of giants that were called "hill giants". The region would have also had Bretons with hill giant heritage called hillmen that were larger than the average person, similar to the half-giant race. These hillmen would have also had some Nordic heritage. Only a loading screen hinting at their existence remains in the final game.
  • The nobles of Rivenspire objected without success to the inclusion of Orcs in the Daggerfall Covenant.
  • Rumor has it that a pool or spring somewhere in the highest peaks of Rivenspire may grant immortality.[18]

See Also[edit]

Books[edit]

References[edit]

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