Ebonheart: A History

The Ebon Heart of Morrowind: A History

by Qualia Tarvix

Although its early history is murky, mired in myth and native superstition, Imperial palaeognosticators date the founding of Ebonheart to very early in the First Era. Atop its rocky outcrop, commanding views over the surrounding land, the early settlement would have enjoyed a natural defensive position, just as it does today.

We know little of Ebonheart's first inhabitants. The city is first recorded as Khalaan -- literally "Heart of Ebony" -- a probable reference to the missing god Shezarr. Though rarely worshiped by elves, Shezarr is thought to have been venerated by the elves of this region, for unknown reasons. The ancient Nordic sagas mention a great temple or monastery dedicated to Shezarr somewhere directly south of Red Mountain and north of Mournhold, which scholars have traditionally interpreted as a reference to Khalaan.

The histories do not agree on whether Ebonheart or Mournhold was founded first, but there can be little doubt that these two settlements represent the earliest true "cities" in the Resdayn of the Chimer. The geography of Veloth's pilgrimage suggests that Ebonheart must surely have been settled first, but significant geological upheaval in the millennia since those mythic days makes such inferences speculative, at bestIn any case, the two cities remained peers until the advent of the Tribunal Temple, which saw Mournhold elevated to the seat of the goddess Almalexia, and thus preeminence of status. Ebonheart's temple of Shezarr, if it did indeed exist, would likely have also have vanished around this time, as there are vague references to a "massacre of monks" and a "razing of egregious sanctuaries" in the annals of the Temple's histories, unreliable as they may be.Unfortunately for Western scholars, the social and religious earthquakes that accompanied the ascension of the Tribunal as god-kings were accompanied by a thorough cleansing of the historical record, which in some cases extended to outright vandalism of priceless ancient sources.

Following a period of Nordic rule, Ebonheart fell into the hands of the House Raathim, a once-powerful Dark Elf aristocratic family. The Raathim ruled the city for generations, perhaps growing powerful enough to rival the mighty philosopher-princes of House Indoril and the muck-magnates of House Hlaalu. The city continued to vie with Almalexia for local dominance, and even petitioned Sotha Sil to make his home in the city in order that they might compete with their neighbor on equal terms. The annals record that the god-sorcerer's only response was to silence Ebonheart entirely for a generation, so that no sound could be heard or uttered within its administrative boundaries. The city's inhabitants learned to communicate with looks and secret hand signals, which ultimately aided them in their covert struggles against their neighbours. The silent language of Ebonheart is still used to this day by Dark Elf agents and con artists.

Despite these setbacks, the Raathim period was relatively stable, until the city's peace -- and that of all Resdayn -- was disrupted by the campaign of Tiber Septim. Upon witnessing the strength of Septim's forces, Ebonheart surrendered to the Imperator. Tragically, though, the city burned to the ground that very night, set alight by religious fanatics in a frenzy of desperate arson. With the signing of the Treaty of the Armistice, the ruling Raathim were confirmed in their stewardship of the city, and began a rebuilding program. The reigning lord of the time, Theranis Raathim, made such an impression on the Emperor with his prowess in friendly melee tournaments that Septim decided to make Ebonheart his new military headquarters in Morrowind Province, bestowing on the city a status long denied by the Tribunal Temple.

In keeping with this new Imperial dignity, the city was rebuilt in a Western style, and a great citadel was constructed to control the heartland of Morrowind and enforce the Emperor's control over the Inner Sea. Upon Morrowind's reorganization into Imperial Districts, Ebonheart was given the privilege of a special administrative zone, rather than subjecting it to rule from rival Mournhold. The Raathim line even gave rise to an Empress, Katariah I Septim, whose long reign was much celebrated by the common people of Tamriel. In 3e 414, when Vvardenfell was opened to settlement, the island's colonization was organized and negotiated through Ebonheart's institutions, and peace enforced by the strength of the Imperial Legions headquartered there. Since then, the lords of Ebonheart have styled themselves Dukes of Ebonheart and Vvardenfell.

As Vvardenfell District's colonization has proceeded apace, the attentions of Ebonheart have shifted across the Inner Sea. At the time of publishing, Duke Vedam Dren has established a new seat on the island, where the rush of colonists and exports can be more readily overseen. There is little doubt that Ebonheart -- now commonly called "Old Ebonheart" -- will only prosper further as the facilitator of this new frontier of Empire.