As a proud member of the Aldmeri Dominion, and having played both Oblivion and Skyrim as an Altmer, I was very pleased when Zenimax announced that players will be able to explore part of the Summerset Isles (Auridon, the big island between Summerset and mainland Tamriel). As it stands, however, there isn’t a huge amount of lore on the Summerset Isles, and what little information there is is spread thinly between several different sources. So I thought I’d compile all existing lore on this playable region, such as what the cities look like, their history, etc. Look below for a list of sources.
Hopefully, those of you interested in Altmer lore will find out something new and get a slightly better idea of what to expect before your travels in the Summerset Isles. Feel free to give any feedback/criticism or mention any lore I’ve missed out.
Cities of Auridon:
Firsthold:
Firsthold is a city located in the north of Auridon in the Summerset Isles.[1] Gleaming spires come into view once within sight of the city. High cliff palaces of the ancient capitol, as well as the Abecean Sea, can be seen from the Royal Palace balcony.[2] The great river Diceto passes through the Royal Parks of the city[3] where there are also hedge mazes.[13] Firsthold is home to the Great Orrery whose spheres are made up of genuine celestial mineral gathered by the Sun Birds of Alinor, who traveled to Aetherius during the Merethic Era.[4] The Great Orrery spun backwards on the night of Queen Ayrenn’s disappearance in 2E 563.[5] On 2E 230 the Mages Guild was founded in the urban center of Firsthold by Vanus Galerion.[6] An Altmer scholar named Ahrtabazus wrote and published a book called “The Faerie Chain” in Firsthold in 2E 456.[7]
Skywatch:
Skywatch is a city located in Auridon in the Summerset Isles.[1] There have been internal conflicts between Skywatch and Firsthold during the First and Second Era which often sparked into full war.[8] The Sload have layed siege to Skywatch for millennia. In the year 1E 1301 the Sload succeeded in an event called the Sack of Skywatch.[9]
It’s worth noting that the hero of the Sload, the so-called King of Worms, Mannimarco,[9] is an antagonist in The Elder Scrolls Online.[12] This may mean Skywatch is due for another Sload invasion very soon…
![[Image: iGelNN4.png]](https://image.cemmos.net/99893cfa71cdacaa6c4e322dc4454aa83acd1509?url=http://i.imgur.com/iGelNN4.png)
Coastline:
There is scarcely a year throughout the First or Second Eras when the Maormer (a race of pale, almost transluscent Elves with blank eyes)[11] did not ravage the coastlines of the Altmer.[8] As a result, the Altmer have built a great navy to defend itself.[8]
Possible Locations in Auridon:
The following three locations are from The Elder Scrolls: Arena which takes place in the Third Era. As a result these locations might have different names, or may not even exist in the Second Era.
West Guard and Vulkhel Guard are towns in Auridon. Silsailen Point is a village in Auridon located west of Skywatch.[10]
The Trebbite Monastery belongs to the Trebbite Monks, a faction of Altmer whose credo has ever been for pure Altmer bloodlines on the Summerset Isles, and among the royal families most of all.[2]
I haven’t included the location of the Trebbite Monastery on the map since it is only ever mentioned in the book “The Firsthold Revolt” which first appeared in The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. The monastery might be located within Firsthold, or possibly in the surrounding countryside. Whether it existed during the Second Era isn’t known.
![[Image: 3N732X6.png]](https://image.cemmos.net/e16c4c99d710910dc984bdc6f416036cb88a61d4?url=http://i.imgur.com/3N732X6.png)
Sources:
1. Ask Us Anything: Aldmeri Dominion (Part 1)
2. The Firsthold Revolt
3. Words and Philosophy
4. Pocket Guide to the Empire, Third Edition/Arena Supermundus: The Tapestry of Heaven
5. Ayrenn – The Unforeseen Queen, By Headmaster Tanion of the College of Aldmeri Propriety
6. Origin of the Mages Guild
7. The Faerie
8. Pocket Guide to the Empire, Third Edition/The Blessed Isle: Alinor and The Summersets
9. Pocket Guide to the Empire, Third Edition/Other Lands
10. Map of Summerset Isle from TES: Arena
11. The Wolf Queen, Book IV
12. The Elder Scrolls Online: Alliances at War
13. King Edward, Book IV
