Lore:Daggerfall

The UESPWiki – Your source for The Elder Scrolls since 1995

This article is about the city. For the kingdom, see Daggerfall (kingdom).

Daggerfall
Type Settlement
Continent Tamriel
Province High Rock
Region
Demonym(s) Daggerfallian[UOL 1]
Appears in Arena, Daggerfall, ESO
Daggerfall ca. 2E 582
Map of High Rock
"Daggerfall greets those search [sic] for rest, and hope to challenge those who search for glory..."
—In-game description in Arena

Daggerfall (also called Daggerfall City)[1][2] is the capital city of the eponymous kingdom in High Rock,[3] as well as the largest city in the province's western region, Glenumbra. It is found on a giant bluff overlooking the Iliac Bay.[4][UOL 2] Daggerfall is one of the oldest cities in the province[5] and by virtue of its age, prosperity, and prominence, it was considered the de-facto capital of High Rock by the Third Empire.[6] The city also wields vast cultural influence across southern High Rock and its people have an obsession with the past and quest for glory.[5][7][8]

Layout and Geography[edit]

Castle Daggerfall
Daggerfall's harbor district

Daggerfall is a large walled city on the coast of High Rock, specifically on the north side of a bay at the southernmost point of Glenumbra, around where the Iliac Bay meets the Eltheric Ocean.[9][10] As the Book of Life puts it, Daggerfall is located north of the highest bluffs, south of the moors, west of the hills, and east of the sea.[3]

More specifically, Daggerfall is built at the top of a tall, steep hill that towers over the coast but gradually inclines down into the forests to the northeast. The city is cradled in a river valley of a mountain that anchors the western peninsula of High Rock and is generally well-defended.[4] Several islands exist just outside of Daggerfall, namely the Glenumbra Banks[11] and Sword's Rest Isle.[12]

The mountain's caves extend endlessly under the earth and have been used by people for years. The caves underneath Daggerfall are described as measureless, and legend has it that the Horn of Summoning was buried somewhere beneath it.[13] On a more tangible and visible surface, the Themond family of Bretons built a large mine behind the Daggerfall Cathedral, and after its abandonment, deceased members were buried in front of it.[14] A refuge for the city's outlaws which inconspicously lies underneath Castle Town has two entrances, one on the eastern wall near the city gates and another hidden in the Harbor District. It was created from a part of the city's sewer system[15] and is even used by people from outside like the Red Rook bandits of King's Guard.[16] Daggerfall is neighbored by several settlements, one of which includes Reich Gradkeep to the east.[17]

Daggerfall is divided into several districts but the most important are Castle Town, which is the northern central district that contains the main city gate and its guildhalls. Also, the Harbor District, which is the city's main port-of-call on the Eltheric Ocean, and the Trade District, the southern district across the Lorais River from Castle Town that contains the local marketplace and the Cathedral. There are many landmarks between them, such as the lake behind the cathedral and the local wayshrine in northernmost Castle Town. Towering over the marketplace basin and the Harbor District thoroughfare is Castle Daggerfall, the king's seat of power. The path up to the castle is a large set of stairs on a street that connects Castle Town with the Cathedral's lake. The castle itself is at the base of the great mountain, which is also the water source of Daggerfall's Lorais River.[18][UOL 3] It flows down into the cathedral lake from the west and further down into the marketplace basin from the north until it splits Castle Town and the Trade District, and leaves the city eastward.[4]

Notable Locales[edit]

The Temple of Kynareth
†Either this location was destroyed or its associated faction is dissolved. See the linked page for more information.

Districts[edit]

History[edit]

For the history of the kingdom and region, see the: History of Daggerfall

Early History[edit]

Daggerfall Overlook, the city's original seat of power

Historians have surmised that a human settlement of some kind existed where Daggerfall is located since long before recorded history, but the first time it was used to refer to a general area was around 1E 246, during the Skyrim Conquests[3] of the Nordic Empire under High King Vrage.[6] According to the Nord's census, the Book of Life, Daggerfall's population totaled 216 people, and these people typically thrived on the land as coastal fisherfolk or raised livestock on the fertile land. The settlement thrived under the Nords, and even though High King Borgas' death marked the decline of the Nordic Empire, Daggerfall continued to prosper as it expanded militarily.[3]

Cities such as Daggerfall and nearby Camlorn lost touch with their Nordic roots and became thoroughly Bretonic over many years of assimilation and commerce.[24] At some point in time,[Note 1] the kingdom was ruled by King Corcyr I, who banned Dark Elves from entering the city.[25][Note 2] Years later his successor, King Edward, drove out the Nords from High Rock. The weapon he used to achieve this, the Horn of Summoning, was reportedly buried in Daggerfall's extensive cave system.[13] The Direnni Hegemony, which rose to prominence around 1E 355,[26] used Daggerfall as a minor base of operations when they went to war with the Alessian Order. One of Castle Daggerfall's first residents was Raven Direnni, the master enchantress who helped secure victory in the Battle of Glenumbra Moors in 1E 482.[3][27]

The power of the Direnni Hegemony faded over the next several centuries, while Daggerfall's grew. King Thagore of Daggerfall's victory over Glenpoint in 1E 609 cemented his kingdom's position as the preeminent economic, cultural, and military force in southern High Rock. In 1E 950, King Joile declared war on the kingdom of Orsinium and led Daggerfall's armies into the Siege of Orsinium. Many Breton warriors plundered ivory from the Orcs,[3] Daggerfall's ivory trade played a big part in the region's economic expansion.[28] However, their gains from the Siege of Orsinium were trivial compared to those of Wayrest, as Orsinium's downfall opened trade throughout the Bjoulsae River. The trade boom which resulted ended Daggerfall's effective monopoly over the Iliac Bay, and within several decades, Wayrest would surpass Daggerfall as the predominant trade power of the region. In 1E 1100, the Kingdom of Wayrest would be formed, one of Daggerfall's greatest rivals.[3]

After Empress Hestra incorporated High Rock into the Alessian Empire in 1E 1029,[29] the city flourished.[6] In 1E 2200, however, the Thrassian Plague had spread across Tamriel, starting from the continent's western harbors. In High Rock and the Iliac Bay, Daggerfall was the first port to contract the disease, and in turn, the Iliac Bay's population drastically decreased.[3][30]

Daggerfall in the Second Era[edit]

The Gates of Daggerfall, where Emperor Durcorach was defeated
Emperor Durcorach the Black Drake

In 2E 455, during Queen Donella's reign,[1] the city was terrorized by a serial killer known as the Daggerfall Devil, who claimed dozens of innocent lives. In early Evening Star, the killer was caught and due for execution. However, he was able to evade death by making a deal with the Daedric Prince of Fate and Hidden Knowledge, Hermaeus Mora. On the 7th of Evening Star, the Daggerfall Devil escaped to Apocrypha.[31]

In the sixth century of the Second Era, following the Battle of Granden Tor, the kingdoms of High Rock experienced a dozen years of peace. Ships from Daggerfall traded in every port across Tamriel. That peace was threatened, however, when Emperor Durcorach of the Longhouse Emperors invaded High Rock in 2E 541. After a lengthy siege on Wayrest that yielded no results,[32] the Emperor diverged his forces and set his sights on Daggerfall.[33] As the Reachmen were about to mount their attack on the city's gates, they were flanked by Emeric of Cumberland and his army of Wayrest's finest warriors. The Emperor was defeated by Emeric and the King of Daggerfall, Bergamot, was able to finish off the rest with his group of knights.[32]

Only a fortnight later, the kings of High Rock banded together to create the Daggerfall Covenant,[32] with Wayrest as its capital, much to the chagrin of Daggerfall's citizens. Daggerfall was positioned to play a central role in the Covenant, but Wayrest's growth outpaced their own thanks to the Cumberland family, who judiciously exploited newly-discovered ore deposits. Bergamot's successor, Folbert the Wide, aided Wayrest during Ranser's War and participated in the wider Daggerfall Covenant of 1E 567. He evidently believed that, while Wayrest had been lucky in recent years, their luck was sure to run out, and when it did, Daggerfall would rise to the top again.[1]

In 2E 582, a conspiracy was uncovered involving the burgeoning Bloodthorn Cult and their assassination attempt on King Casimir. With help from Captain Aresin of the city guard, an adventurer was able to defeat the Reachmen assassins and save the King. For their service, King Casimir gave the adventurer the task of investigating the Bloodthorn Cult and their leader, Angof as they wreak havoc across Glenumbra.[34][35]

Daggerfall in the Third Empire[edit]

The ghost of King Lysandus

By the late Second Era, Daggerfall was recognized by the Third Empire as the de-facto capital of High Rock, by its antiquity, prominence, and prosperity.[6] In a map of other capitals in the Empire, Daggerfall is listed among them.[36] The city was in relative peace during these early years, although not long after the Battle of the Bjoulsae, Admiral Vasi Hadrach was assassinated by rebel Reachmen in a Daggerfall brothel.[37] Years later under Senecus Goddkey's reign over Sentinel, nobles from Daggerfall vacationed to the capital city across the bay.[38]

During the Imperial Simulacrum in the late Third Era, the city-state of Daggerfall was an active settlement. It was ruled by King Tristyctor and had developed rivalries with Camlorn and the Imperial City.[20] A census was held in 3E 401 which revealed the city's population to be over 110,000, well beyond that of other rivals like Sentinel or Wayrest.[3] Not long after this census, the War of Betony broke out between the Kingdoms of Daggerfall and Sentinel, and although the former emerged victorious, the events of the war have left a significant impact on Daggerfall and its people.[39]

In 3E 404,[39] on the 13th of Rain's Hand (the Day of the Dead)[40] King Lysandus' ghost returned and began haunting the city's streets at night with a horde of spirits. As he roamed around screaming vengeance, ghosts and wraiths terrorized the local populace. The city guard could barely fight back, and as more of them died fighting, more spirits joined Lysandus.[39] In 3E 405, an Agent of the Blades traveled to the Iliac Bay and over time, avenged the King by taking down the person who killed him, Lord Woodborne. Whether that was actually killing him in his home in Wayrest or revealing the truth is unknown, but with his downfall, the curse on Daggerfall city was lifted.[41]

Known Rulers[edit]

For a list of the kingdom's monarchy, see this section in the following article: Daggerfall.

Culture and Society[edit]

The Crest of Daggerfall
A Bretonic statue of Kynareth
For more information, see the: Culture and Society sections on the Breton page.

Daggerfall and the surrounding Daenia region are the home of Breton society's quest obsession. Young people from the lower and serf classes partake in heroic tasks and adventures to rise to the ranks of nobility.[7] The people are also obsessed with their past,[8] despite Bretons being unsentimental about history.[6] The city recognizes a couple of holidays much like the rest of the kingdom, namely Dancing Day on the 23rd of Midyear[42] and the Day of the Dead on the 13th of Rain's Hand.[40]

The kingdom's local temple is the Temple of Kynareth, whose patron deity, Kynareth is considered the kingdom's goddess-protector.[39] Two of her temples are located in the city but Daggerfall's main place of worship is the Daggerfall Cathedral in the Trade District, which worships the Divines as a whole.[43] The Knights of the Dragon is the kingdom's knightly order and has two garrisons in the capital city.[10] Although sometimes the Kingship of Daggerfall is known as the Dragon,[44] the dragon on the kingdom's banner represents Akatosh.[45]

Many noble Breton houses live in Daggerfall and have varying influence in the kingdom. One of these houses is House Silvelle, a noble trading house that took in the former heir of another local house, Bastian Hallix as a troubleshooter.[46] Others include, the Baelbornes,[47] the Bouchends,[48] House Diel,[49] the Laurents,[50][51] and the Themonds.[14]

Daggerfall is a central trading hub in western Tamriel and the Iliac Bay,[3][32] although, its importance has lessened since the rise of Wayrest.[6] Despite this, Daggerfall sees imports from all over the continent. Smugglers from Morrowind to the east sell scuttlers and bantam guars as pets[52] while some illicitly smuggle skooma.[53] The Larimar stones from the Systres are known as "sea-stones" by the merchants in Daggerfall because of their color.[54] Locally, the city's metalworks creates steel that the Knights of the Silver Rose use for their axes.[55] Pranks & Pleasures was a popular card game in Daggerfall during the mid-Second Era.[56]

The Merchants Guild has a chapter in Daggerfall and members in good standing are awarded a small, golden anvil emblematic of Zenithar.[57] The Architects Guild were also present in Daggerfall, with one of their most well-known projects being Castle Thorn in the mountains of Skyrim.[58]

Historically, there is a summer shipping route between Daggerfall and Solitude, and since then, Northpoint[59] and Morkul Stronghold were added as stopovers on the route.[60] An alternate route used by the East Empire Company in the Fourth Era branches Daggerfall with Hegathe and Farrun.[61] People will use the phrase, "from Daggerfall to Necrom" to emphasize the size of something since these are the furthest anchored cities on Tamriel.[62][63]

Many people sail into Daggerfall's harbors but from the north, people are advised to look out for the Glenumbra Banks, shifting sand bars that are constantly changing throughout the seasons. Local pilots in the city are especially wary of the banks between Mid Year and Sun's Height and are left wondering how they can change so drastically overnight. Some people believe that mythical leviathan, Ithguleoir, fills the old bank channels and dredges new ones.[11]

Gallery[edit]

  • Daggerfall (Arena)

  • Castle Daggerfall (Daggerfall)

  • Daggerfall's victory during the Warp in the West
    (Daggerfall)

  • The Mages Guild in Castle Town (Online)

  • The marketplace (Online)

  • The local wayshrine (Online)

  • The outlaws refuge (Online)

  • Daggerfall Mage
    (Legends)

  • Daggerfall Phantom
    (Legends)

  • A noble from Daggerfall
    (PGE1)

  • Map of Daggerfall
    (Daggerfall)

Notes[edit]

  • ^ "The Real Barenziah, v 4" credits King Edward with reclaiming High Rock from the Nords, which would place him somewhere between 1E 369 to 1E 420, which is the span of the War of Succession which saw the Nords lose their holdings acquired during the Skyrim Conquests.[64] By contrast, "King Edward, Part X" claims the Bretons drove the Nords out of High Rock before Edward was even born. "King Edward, Part I" says he was active some time "before the Redguards came [...]", which would place him possibly before the Silverhoof Horsemen arrived in the Sixth Century of the First Era.
  • ^ The book King Edward was written before the introduction of the Chimer in later game entries. The Chimer would not become Dunmer until around 1E 700, which is after the timeline of the book.
  • Arena was originally conceived as a fighting game featuring a tournament that took the player to each of Tamriel's cities to challenge different gladiatorial teams. According to a file from that stage of development left behind in the final game, Daggerfall's gladiatorial team would have been called "the Guardians".[UOL 4] Castles brought back many of these arena teams to compete in an event known as the Dragon Games, but renamed Daggerfalls's arena team into the "Daggerfall Dragons".[65]
  • The city was planned to appear in the cancelled Oblivion game for PSP.

See Also[edit]

Books[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c The Improved Emperor's Guide to Tamriel: High Rock — Flaccus Terentius, 2E 581
  2. ^ First Scroll of Baan Dar — Arkan the Gifted
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j A History of Daggerfall — Odiva Gallwood
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Daggerfall in ESO
  5. ^ a b Glenumbra's Towns and Cities — Ansur Belote
  6. ^ a b c d e f Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition: High Rock — Imperial Geographical Society, 2E 864
  7. ^ a b Glenumbra's People — Aldous Brousseau
  8. ^ a b Wayrest, Jewel of the Bay — Sathyr Longleat
  9. ^ Map of Glenumbra – The Elder Scrolls Online
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Daggerfall (city) in Daggerfall
  11. ^ a b Beware the Glenumbra Banks — Garric the Pilot
  12. ^ Sword's Rest Isle loading screen text in ESO
  13. ^ a b c The Real Barenziah, v 4 — Anonymous
  14. ^ a b Tsiniuc's dialogue in ESO
  15. ^ Daggerfall Outlaws Refuge in ESO
  16. ^ Daggerfall Outlaws Refuge loading screen text in ESO
  17. ^ Map of High Rock – The Elder Scrolls: Arena
  18. ^ a b Shiftless Gaven and Panhandler Thomas' dialogue about the river during Back-Alley Murders
  19. ^ Banker's Bet — Porbert Lyttumly
  20. ^ a b c Daggerfall location and rumors in Arena
  21. ^ Ilessan Tower loading screen text in ESO
  22. ^ Crafting Motif 71: Coldsnap Style — Landal Gevont, Scholar of Goblins, Invisible College of Daggerfall
  23. ^ Mystery of Talara, v 1 — Mera Llykith
  24. ^ Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition: The Sons and Daughter of the Direnni West: High Rock — Imperial Geographical Society, 3E 432
  25. ^ King Edward, Part IV — Anonymous
  26. ^ The Daggerfall Chronicles — Ronald Wartow
  27. ^ The Last King of the Ayleids — Herminia Cinna
  28. ^ Tusks of the Orc-Father antiquity codex entries in ESO: Greymoor
  29. ^ Bangkorai, Shield of High Rock — King Eamond
  30. ^ 1. The Thrassian Plague
  31. ^ Pact of the Daggerfall Devil
  32. ^ a b c d Triumphs of a Monarch, Ch. 3 — His Majesty King Emeric
  33. ^ Secret History of the Longhouse Emperors — Councilor Vandacia
  34. ^ Blood and the Crescent Moon story quest in ESO
  35. ^ Bloodthorn Assassins story quest in ESO
  36. ^ Map of Tamriel – Provinces of Tamriel
  37. ^ Amiel Richton' biography – The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard
  38. ^ Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition: Hammerfell — Imperial Geographical Society, 2E 864
  39. ^ a b c d The Daggerfall Chronicles/Narrative
  40. ^ a b Day of the Dead holiday description in Daggerfall
  41. ^ Lysandus' Revenge story quest in Daggerfall
  42. ^ Dancing Day holiday description in Daggerfall
  43. ^ Daggerfall Cathedral in ESO
  44. ^ Knights of the Dragon
  45. ^ Pitof's dialogue in ESO
  46. ^ Meet the Character - Bastian Hallix — Pungent Adder
  47. ^ Athel Baelborne's dialogue in ESO
  48. ^ Bastian Hallix's dialogue in ESO: Blackwood
  49. ^ Contract with House Diel — Lord Alain Diel
  50. ^ Stibbons' dialogue during the quest The Jeweled Crown of Anton in ESO
  51. ^ Lady Clarisse Laurent's dialogue during the quest The Jeweled Crown of Anton in ESO
  52. ^ Morrowind Fauna, Part One — Holia Asellio
  53. ^ Cap'n Dugal's Journal, Part 1 — Captain Torradan ap Dugal
  54. ^ Larimar Gems antiquity codex entries in ESO: Greymoor
  55. ^ Crafting Motif 106: Silver Rose Style — Chief Archivist Bartholomew
  56. ^ Pranks & Pleasures Card Game treasure text in ESO
  57. ^ Golden Anvil of Zenithar treasure text in ESO
  58. ^ Architectural Survey Summary Report — Tarnolvar, Chief Surveyor of the Architectural Guild, Daggerfall Branch
  59. ^ Northpoint: An Assessment — Chancellor Regina Troivois
  60. ^ Naryu's Journal/Wrothgar — Naryu Virian
  61. ^ Map of the East Empire Company – The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
  62. ^ Tsrava's dialogue in Oblivion
  63. ^ Sondivel's Journal — Sondivel Ulres
  64. ^ Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition: Skyrim — Imperial Geographical Society, 2E 864
  65. ^ Gladiatorial Glory event in Castles

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.

  1. ^ Ted Peterson's Posts in Campaign 7/The Evening Star Parade – Loranna's RP
  2. ^ From Morrowind to Skyrim: how Bethesda built its latest gameworld - Official Xbox 360 Magazine
  3. ^ a b ESO Cut Content - Daggerfall-related dialogue
  4. ^ Original TES: Arena texts at the Imperial Library
Retrieved from "https://en.uesp.net/w/index.php?title=Lore:Daggerfall&oldid=3347539"