User:Alpha Kenny Buddy/Lore:Slavery

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Slavery is the practice of owning an individual as propety. It was once widespread throughout Tamriel, whether it was the practice of using defeated enemies as slaves or selling your own children to combat hunger, and the Dunmer have raided Black Marsh for slaves for ages. In fact, enslavement of Humans, Orcs, Argonians and Khajiit by Elven races was traditionally permitted. The Ayleids, often depicted as brutal slavemasters of whole races, lost their hold on heartland Tamriel after the rebellion in 1E 242, led by Slave Queen Alessia. Even the former slave race Imperials pursued slavery, as Tiber Septim's army sold captive Bretons into slavery after the Battle of Sancre Tor.

Origins

Add info about Ayleids and other ancient cultures

Slavery by Region

Altmer Slavery

The High Elves are known for enslaving goblins, using them for menial tasks such as mucking out dung pits and cleaning floors. Often being beaten by their elven owners, this has been known to give the goblins forms of mental trauma with escaped goblins still sweeping and being frightened of others. Goblins have also been used traditionally by the Altmer to supplement their armies. The High Elves have also been noted to enslave more intelligent races, such as the Dunmer Ulvul Llaren.

Argonian Slavery

The Archeins are a tribe of Argonians infamous for their kleptocracy. They were often embezzling money and power to themselves at the expense of their race. Some of these examples include selling other Argonians into slavery for the Dunmer or exploiting their land for foreign interest, such as the Empire.

To help with the building of their city, Mazzatun the Argonian tribe of Xit-Xaht often captured people for months, using them for labor in Mazzatun. The Xit-Xaht rarely talked next to those prisoners, but the members of the tribe were noticed to never stop moving, as they pointed and whipped as if they were mad, with one of the captives believing that the tribe would turn feral without the guidance of their leader.

Bosmer Slavery

Non-city Bosmer have the custom of the "Mourning War". After the war-time death of a tribe member, the clan responsible for their death is raided for captives. Typically only one, but if the deceased was of notable importance multiple hostages may be taken. These captives serve as "replacements" for the slain Bosmer and are physically tortured for an extensive period of time. When finally mentally broken, the hostages are instead happily welcomed into the clan and mentally bewildered by this sudden change of behavior, submitting to their torturers. Typically, they're also given the possessions, position and family of the Wood Elf they're replacing, though in modern times this is less common.

Breton Slavery

Bretons participated in the slave trade sometime before the formation of the Daggerfall Covenant. The island of Amenos was a stronghold for slavers of High Rock, though by the time of High King Emeric this was no longer the case.

Dunmer Slavery

Slaver camp near Tear

Since the advent of the Third Era, slavery was illegal throughout the Empire, but protected by law in Morrowind. This exception was granted by Tiber Septim in the Armistice of 2E 896 as a concession to the Dunmer, who saw the use of slaves as their ancient right. Recent developments have seen the rise of Abolitionists such as the Twin Lamps, often with support from members of the leading families on Vvardenfell. Nonetheless, slavery is still in very widepread use in the province and the topic provokes strong reactions.

"We are disappointed that the Imperial Cult does not speak out against the inhumane practices of slavery in Morrowind. But perhaps you are right. It is by demonstrating our superior commitment to civilization and humanity that we best disprove the Dunmer's barbaric insistence that we are no more than animals." -- Im-Kilaya, Head of the Argonian Mission in Ebonheart

House Dres thrives on mass-abduction of Argonian and Khajiit into slavery, often with the support of local rival warlords, selling their own kind. Dres families work Argonian slaves on large Saltrice plantations on the southeast coast of Morrowind, while others profit from the slave trade itself. They hold thousands in their infamous slave-pens of Tear, to be shipped by smugglers to cave holding pens on the Bitter Coast. The plantations of House Hlaalu nobles make widespread use of slaves as farm labor. In comparison, slavery was uncommon among the members of theHouse Redoran, though some of their warriors used slaves like gladiators in ancient Rome, pitting them against beasts for entertainment.^{[citation needed]} House Telvanni uses slaves as servants for housework and as labor in mines. Towns like Molag Mar, Suran and Tel Aruhn have regular slave markets. In a shrewd political maneuver, King Helseth, representing his own house of Hlaalu, formed an alliance with House Dres. Subsequently, he renounced the slave trade in 3E 430, setting the remaining Houses of Indoril and Redoran against him in a bloody civil war. Helseth emerged from the war battered, but without the loss of his essential powers, leaving the slave trade generally destroyed, and slavery without a foothold in all of Tamriel, although the practice persists in remote areas away from Mournhold.

Khajiit Slavery

Circa 2E 582, Khajiiti pirates raided Deshaan for Argonian slaves.

The Thazahrr Cartel is a slavery organization founded by the Khajiit, Thazahrr-ra, one of the few women in history to have the "-ra" honorific in their name. It is based in Abah's Landing in southern Hammerfell and handles the slave industry in the region. Only a few Khajiit make up its ranks as the group is also comprised of Imperials, Bretons, and Redguards. By 2E 582, Thazahrr Goldfang was the sixth person to take the name and rank of Merchant Lord in the cartel. When the Shadow Conglomerate emerged in power, the cartel lost prominence, something that Thazahrr Goldfang hoped to reclaim and in turn, acquire the same honorific as her ancestor.

Maormer Slavery

The Sea Elves are no strangers to piracy and slavery, selling slaves to the Imperials and using distinctive manacles unique to their race. They were reported to use Snake Magic to influence the minds of their captives and ensorcelled locks when capturing slaves to ensure that they remained docile and compliant.

Nord Slavery

The City of Kings was built by Snow Elf slaves of the Nords.

Orsimer Slavery

The Orcs believe that in the afterlife every wife has a thousand slaves catering to their every whim.

Reachfolk Slavery

As a fractured society, each of the Reachfolk Clans has its own set or rules and policies. Certain clans, such as Crow-Wives, Dreadhorns, and Thornroots were known for keeping slaves and captives. This was not a practice accepted by many other clans, such as Hillhunters. Freedom was considered to be of great importance in the Reach. Ard Caddach of Markarth offered food, freedom, and protection to all his subjects, former captives of the other clans were free in Markarth. Wayward Guardians were known to detest captivity and slavery, "not wishing a fate like that on anyone."

Notes

• Ken Rolston, the lead designer of Morrowind, compared the slavery in the game to be closer to the Roman Empire's methods of slavery rather than more contemporary instances.

See Also

• Morrowind article on Slavery.

References

Note: The following references are considered to be unofficial sources. They are included to round off this article and may not be authoritative or conclusive.