General:Notes on Akavir

Book Information
Source:	The Essential Site Storyboard
Archived Link:	Xanathar's Library
Writer(s):	Michael Kirkbride

Notes on Akavir

A description of Akavir

---

This is a longer version of Mysterious Akavir, a book that featured in The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind.

---

The continent of Akavir, as stated in the Pocket Guide to the Empire, located in the east side of Tamriel continent, and the inhabitants of this great continent have became menace to Tamriel resident even from the first Era. Several wars between Tamriel and Akavir have been noted by the historian. The most famous one is the Battle of Pale Pass in Skyrim when Reman I of Cyrodiil defeated the full force of Akavir invaders in 1E2703. This event led the rise of the second Empire of men. However this is also the beginning of the downfall of the Second Empire. Because the Reman I realized that the empire of Elves in the south of Tamriel start to threaten the weakened Empire of Humans after the war, therefore he decided to accept some of the Akaviri who surrendered to the Humans.

But the Empire in the end fell to the Akaviri high-ups after the last of the Reman line was assassinated by Morag Tong, the deadly Assassins Guild from Morrowind. The Akaviri high-ups are known as Potentates. Potentate Versidue-Shae was the ruler of the Empire after that event. However these Akaviri rulers were ended also in the hands of assassins. Dark Brotherhood, a new formed society of the outlawed Morag Tong members, ended the reign of Akaviri Potentates, and Tamriel entered the chaotic time.

We can see the remains of these Akaviri influences in the formed of weapons. Dai-Katana, Katana, Wakizashi, and Tanto are the weapons of the Akaviri invaders, and these weapons now become common weapons on the face of Tamriel.

The other great war is noted by Stronach in his book A Brief History of the Empire Part III, when the Uriel V, the powerful Emperor of Septim Dynasty attacked Akavir in 3E 268. However this was but a failure and the Emperor himself was killed in the last Battle of Ionith. Here is the excerpt of that book:

"Turning the attention of Tamriel away from internal strife, Uriel V embarked on a series of invasions beginning almost from the moment he took the throne in 3E 268. Uriel V conquered Roscrea in 271, Cathnoquey in 276, Yneslea in 279, and Esroniet in 284. In 3E 288, he embarked on his most ambitious enterprise, the invasion of the continent kingdom of Akavir. This was ultimately a failure, for two years later Uriel V was killed in Akavir on the battlefield of Ionith. Nevertheless, Uriel V holds a reputation second only to Tiber as the great warrior emperor of Tamriel."

And this is a detailed description about the infamous inhabitants of Akavir:

Akavir means "Dragon Land" ('Aka'=Dragon in the Ehlnofex-- thus, 'Akatosh'). Tamriel means "Starry Heart". Atmora means "Elder Wood". Only the Redguards know what Yokuda ever meant.

Akavir is the kingdom of the beasts. No Men or Mer live in Akavir, though Men once did. These Men, however, were eaten long ago by the vampiric Serpent Folk of Tsaeci. Had they not been eaten, these Men would have eventually migrated to Tamriel. The Nords left Atmora for Tamriel. Before them, the Elves had abandoned Aldmeris for Tamriel. The Redguards destroyed Yokuda so they could make their journey. All Men and Mer know Tamriel is the nexus of creation, where the Last War will happen, where the Gods unmade Lorkhan and left their Adamantine Tower of secrets. Who knows what the Akaviri think of Tamriel, but ask yourself: why have they tried to invade it three times or more?

There are four major nations of Akavir: Kamal, Tsaesci, Tang Mo, and Ka Po' Tun. When they are not busy trying to invade Tamriel, they are fighting with each other.

Kamal is "Snow Hell". Demons live there, armies of them. Every summer they thaw out and invade Tang Mo, but the brave monkey-folk always drive them away. Once Ada'Soom Dir-Kamal, a king among demons, attempted to conquer Morrowind, but Almalexia and the Underking destroyed him at Red Mountain.

Tsaesci is "Snake Palace", once the strongest power in Akavir (before the Tiger-Dragon came). The serpent-folk ate all the Men of Akavir a long time ago, but still kind of look like them. They are tall, beautiful (if frightening), covered in golden scales, and immortal. They enslave the goblins of the surrounding isles, who provide labor and fresh blood. The holdings of Tsaesci are widespread. When natives of Tamriel think of the Akaviri they think of the Serpent-Folk, because one ruled the Cyrodilic Empire for four hundred years in the previous era. He was Potentate Versidue-Shae, assassinated by the Morag Tong.

Tang Mo is the "Thousand Monkey Isles". There are many breeds of monkey-folk, and they are all kind, brave, and simple (and many are also very crazy). They can raise armies when they must, for all of the other Akaviri nations have, at one time or another, tried to enslave them. They cannot decide who they hate more, the Snakes or the Demons, but ask one, and he will probably say, "Snakes". Though once bitter enemies, the monkey-folk are now allies with the tiger-folk of Ka Po' Tun.

Ka Po' Tun is the "Tiger-Dragon's Empire". The cat-folk here are ruled by the divine Tosh Raka, the Tiger-Dragon. They are now a very great empire, stronger than Tsaesci (though not at sea). After the Serpent-Folk ate all the Men, they tried to eat all the Dragons. They managed to enslave the Red Dragons, but the black ones had fled to (then) Po Tun. A great war was raged, which left both the cats and the snakes weak, and the Dragons all dead. Since that time the cat-folk have tried to become the Dragons. Tosh Raka is the first to succeed. He is the largest Dragon in the world, orange and black, and he has very many new ideas.

"First," Tosh Raka says, "is that we kill all the vampire snakes." Then the Tiger-Dragon Emperor wants to invade Tamriel.