Lore:Vastyr

Vastyr
Type	Settlement
Continent	Tamriel
Region	The Systres (Galen)
Subregions	See below
Demonym(s)	Vastyrean
Appears in	ESO

Vastyr ca. 2E 582

Vastyr on Galen's south coast

Vastyr is the largest settlement on the island of Galen, the northernmost part of the Systres Archipelago. Although the city's foundation is built above the ruins of older civilizations that once inhabited the island, by the Interregnum, it sat as an impressive deepwater port town on the eponymous bay. It is the seat of power for House Mornard, one of two major houses across the Duchy of the Systres. The city boasts a unique triple blend of High Isle, mainland, and druidic cultures, serving as a gateway between modern, industrious Tamriel with the esoteric and ancient customs of the Galen Druids.

Layout and Geography

Vastyr's architecture

Castle Mornard

Vastyr is built around the eponymous Vastyr Bay, located on Galen's southwest coast. It is a cove surrounded by a natural barrier that protects it from the mainland while providing locals with harborage. The southern region of the island is distinguished by its lush and scenic grasslands, stretching from coast to coast, and riddled with all sorts of creatures like butterflies and fauns.

Vastyr is a well-fortified city because it takes advantage of the natural terrain while providing strong coastal walls. The town can be divided evenly by the east and west. The west is the Cathedral District, which is centered around a place of worship for the divines called the Cathedral of the Evening, which sits atop the bluffs at the city's highest point. Much of the area is residential and gradually descends west to the western harbor from the center of town.

At the middle of both sections is the northern gate and Castle Mornard, the city's seat of power, but south of that is the city's central square and local wayshrine. Further south, at the bottom of the hill, is the rest of Vastyr's residential district and two paths to the city's main docks. The west path runs right along the beaches of a smaller bay between this eastern area and the Cathedral's bluffs. Along the mountain face is Vastyr's Vine District; the home of the city's druid population and the old tunnels that come from the original druid village.

Notable Locales

Castle Mornard Cathedral of the Evening Old Druid Tunnels

The Outlaws Refuge Vastyr Bay Wayshrines (Vastyr/Vastyr Outskirts)

Districts

Cathedral District Exterior Noble District

Vastyr Docks Vine District

History

Early History

Remnants of the Druidic architecture underneath the modern city of Vastyr

Before the city known as Vastyr was built, there were settlements here on the bay since the reign of the last Druid King in the early First Era. As the years went on, however, other races that once inhabited the island have settled on it, from the Lefthanded Elves to the Yokudans, the ancient Draoife and even the Sload. But by the time the All Flags Navy arrived on the Systres, the druids of Galen built a village on Vastyr Bay and the island at large was considered unclaimed territory. In the 1E 2240s, Baron-Admiral Bendu Olo saw the potential benefit of recruiting the druids and the island so he set forth to make contact. Captain Forvse Nelvilo of the Hopesfire flagship wrote in his journal of the moment Bendu Olo met the druids on Vastyr Bay.

The modern city was built sometime in the late First Era as a deepwater port and shipbuilding harbor for the All Flags Navy. It was made with a blend of Bretonic and druid cultures and offered a space for divine worship and discussion of the nuances of druidism. The city really changed when a majority of House Mornard moved to the archipelago in 2E 110 and their family patriarch, Phane Mornard became the regional governor under the Second Empire's ruler, Versidue-Shaie. Although the family's main concerns were elsewhere on the islands, House Mornard greatly invested into Vastyr because of the insistence of Phane's grandmother, Dorona Mornard. Her connection with the Wyrd and the Druids brought the house much closer to the culture tied to the Green.

Tribulations of the Second Era

The early half of the Second Era was marked with tribulation for not just the Potentate's controversial reign, but the decline of the Empire. Over the course of years, pretender kings and warlords attacked the islands about six times and one such event was the siege on Vastyr at the hands of the Gathering Storm. A fleet of Maormer pirates assaulted Vastyr in one of the bloodiest moments in the island's history, in 2E 365. Ships would bombard the city and burn it to the ground while sea mages used their weather magic to spread it. In time, the fleet gathered across the shoreline and their mages receded the tide to create a large tidal wave over the city. As people fled to higher ground, Vastyr's high walls had fallen and many people, especially those that tried to escape through the druid tunnels were taken by the waves. As much of the city was destroyed, many people fled into the wilderness.

About a century later, Duke Ruffe Mornard's rise to power marked a major turning point in not just Vastyr's history but for his house and power across the islands. In 2E 478, he seized a full third of the rival house, Dufort's land on High Isle and exiled its leadership to Amenos. And although his reign is remembered as despotic, his ancestors revere him as a rebuilder and patron of the new Vastyr. Bernique Mornard at the time was known as the "mother of Vastyr" decades after the siege and the city's new seat of power, Castle Mornard is a memorial dedicated to her. Mornard coin and comfort from their holdings allowed Vastyr to rebuild and redefine itself in the post-Second Empire era.

House Mornard dominated the archipelago for years until their response to the Knahaten Flu in 2E 562 bungled that opportunity. As a major port in High Rock supply chain, the Systres was greatly afflicted with the disease and in response, Duke Avrippe Mornard decided to close every port and barred anyone from entering or leaving the islands. The then High King of High Rock, Emeric frowned on the Duke's decision and eventually revoked their dukedom status when they sided with King Ranser in his civil war against the Daggerfall Covenant. While their rivals, House Dufort brought the Systres out of destitution, House Mornard retreated to Vastyr and focused more on their administration in Amenos and Galen. By the time the Alliance War was in full swing, Vastyr and House Mornard were ruled by Count Leonard Mornard.

The Firesong's Wrath and the Dreadsails' Invasion

In 2E 582, the Sea Elves of the Dreadsails launched a series of attacks on Galen and Bacaro Volorus of the Society of the Steadfast arrived to assist House Mornard and their subjects. Over the course of time, investigations revealed that the Dreadsails, led by Sealord Nalos were planning to attack Vastyr with support from the Firesong Circle and interrogated Sir Stefan Mornard for intel about Vastyr's defenses. Once he was rescued, Stefan Mornard felt that the best course of action was to recruit both the Eldertide and the Stonelore Circles in the defense for the city while their archdruids could safeguard their sacred seeds from within.

The Dreadsails and Firesong approached Vastyr Bay and bombarded the city from afar. After the first wave of attacks, Stefan was separated from his father but met up with a mainlander ally in the Cathedral District's port. In time, the invaders overran the city and hunted the archdruids for their sacred seeds. Once they rendezvoused with Count Leonard, Stefan and the mainlander went to find the Eldertide Archdruid, Ellic while the Count and Bacaro Volorus gathered citizens in the Cathedral of the Evening, the city's most defensible spot beside Castle Mornard.

In the heat of the battle, Sealord Nalos was killed by Captain Siravaen of the Gilded Blades and the mainlander, but the cathedral was razed to the ground and the Firesong were able to recover both sacred seeds. Many people, including the archdruids and Count Mornard, were killed in action. Despite their victory, it came at the cost of others but Vastyr persevered and Stefan inherited the title of Count.

After their victory over Archdruid Orliath on Y'ffelon, heroes of Galen gathered in Castle Mornard to celebrate, and with all three pieces of the Druid King's regalia, it was split between three people. Laurel of the Stonelore Circle kept the staff, Count Stefan held onto the crown, while Bacaro Volorus took the gauntlets. Not long afterward, knights of the Ascendant Order disguised themselves as House Mornard knights and ransacked Castle Mornard's library to eventually find the Druid King's crown. Allies from across the Systres would lead an assault on Mount Firesong one last time to defeat the Ascendant Lord.

Gallery

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  Count Leonard Mornard of Vastyr

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  Vastyr Wayshrine

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  Vastyr

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  Vastyr Cathedral District

See Also

• For game-specific information, see the Elder Scrolls Online article.

Books

• Druid Food of Vastyr by Castus Marius, Travel Writer — A traveller's experiences with druid-grown food in Galen
• Siege of Vastyr by Rilos Moret — A description of the Gathering Storm's attack on Vastyr
• Song of Vastyr — A song about the city of Vastyr
• Systres History: Vastyr by Varona Vedralu, Senior Lecturer, University of Gwylim — The history of Vastyr over the eras