Lore:Breton

The UESPWiki – Your source for The Elder Scrolls since 1995
< Lore: Races(Redirected from Lore:Glenumbrans)

Contents

Illustration of a typical Breton male

Bretons (from the Ehlnofex beratu meaning "half")[1] are a hybrid[2] race of both human and elven ancestry that primarily inhabit their ancestral homeland of High Rock, and the Systres Archipelago.[3][4][5] Bretondom originated from the Nedes of High Rock and Aldmer interbreeding[6] for centuries as far back as the Merethic Era.[7][8] This mixed ancestry gives Bretons a unique perspective on Nirn's oldest feud: the conflict between men and mer.[UOL 1] The Bretons' Nedic ancestors are referred to as the Druids of Galen (or proto-Bretons)[UOL 2][9] by retroactive nomenclature,[7][8][10][4] while Clan Direnni are primarily credited as being their Aldmer ancestors.[7][8] Bretons are also distantly related to the Reachfolk.[nb 2][11][12]

The Direnni left a significant mark on the Bretons. The race's obsession with nobility, status, and lineage can be traced back to their days as vassals of Clan Direnni.[13] Bretons possess an inborn and instinctive bond for the magical arts, often attributed to their elven blood.[14][15][16] They are known for their intelligence and have a quick and perceptive grasp of spellcraft, enchantment, and alchemy.[17][18][19][16] Bretons lack the innate Altmeri weakness to magical attacks,[20] and even the humblest among them possess some resistance to destructive and magical energies.[16][21][22] However, their much shorter lifespans place the Bretons at a disadvantage relative to their elven counterparts, whose naturally longer lives grant them far more time to study, refine their skills, and establish their reputations.[23][24][25][26] Bretons are regarded as the second-best sorcerers after the Altmer by some,[27] while others consider them to be equal.[28] It is often difficult for an individual Breton to leave a lasting mark on the greater magical community; the same widespread mystical aptitude that grants their people natural talent also makes it harder for Breton mages to truly stand out.[25] Despite this, Bretons have managed to produce some well-known mages,[UOL 3] with notable figures such as Voernet, Druid King Kasorayn, and Gyron Vardengroet.[25]

Bretons have also retained a connection to their human druidic forebears, and are believed to be the reason for their "shrewd resourcefulness".[29]:28 Druidic spellcraft (which differs from the arcane) is said to be the first truly Breton creation.[30] Bretons have a natural affinity for environmental manipulation,[31] which druids believe should be utilized to enhance or perfect nature, reshaping it just as their god Y'ffre once did.[32][33] What it means to be a Breton is considered an age-old quandary by their people.[34] To make sense of it all, some may focus on a specific aspect of their culture, or seek to blend it all together.[30][35][36] Some Bretons hold their elven heritage in high esteem, which may influence them to worship Phynaster, the patron deity and "teacher" of the Direnni.[37] Others attempt to seek out the druidic roots of their Nedic ancestors and reconnect with nature.[34][30]

High Rock is fractious and divided politically,[38] which is seemingly encouraged by the layout of the land itself.[39] Warfare between kingdoms accounts for much of Breton history.[15] Despite this, Bretons across the province share many facets of culture, including language, bardic traditions, and heroic tales.[38][39] Bretons make up the peasantry, soldiery, magical elite, and ruling families of the feudal kingdoms competing for power within High Rock,[38][40][39] but they are found across Tamriel, often as merchants or mercenaries.[12] Knighthood is pivotal to the Breton identity; its earliest practitioners served under Clan Direnni,[41][42] but knights are credited with kickstarting High Rock's modern cultural history through tales of liberating the race from their elven oppressors.[43] These knights of old set the example for those that followed by going on grand quests for adventure and glory.[UOL 1] In their free time, Breton youths of all walks of life imitate knights through chivalric pursuits in their thoughts or by their actions.[38] Indeed, the profession encapsulates the traditional chivalric principles of Breton society,[43][44][45] and the "quest-obsession" that has become a national identity for High Rock.[38]

Appearance[edit]

A male Breton displaying a remnant of elven blood: pointed ears (ESO)

Whether Bretons are humans or elves is a topic of debate,[7] with most people believing that they are the former.[6] The earliest Bretons were referred to as Manmeri,[38] Half-Elves,[1] and possibly Chimera (from the Altmeri word for "change"),[46] and were more elven in appearance.[1] These elf-like physical features included pointed ears, angled faces, slender bodies, and distinctive eyes.[7] Although the terms are archaic, some modern Bretons such as druids embrace this heritage and still refer to themselves as Manmer or Half-Elves.[33][32][35] Due to their mixed heritage, Bretons have been described disparagingly as "degraded hybrids" or a "mongrel race".[1][2]

When the Manmer fully transitioned to modern Bretons is unknown, though by the fourth century of the First Era, the ethnicity of the Druids of Galen was already "Breton-y".[8] Modern Bretons, by and large, are pale-skinned[47] and slightly built, less muscular than Nords and Redguards.[40] Compared to the other human races, Bretons have more rounded and softer features.[48]:126 Bretons also typically have straight or wavy hair,[47] and possess more defined features such as high and delicate cheekbones, sensuous lips,[49]:173 and have been depicted with pronounced brow ridges.[50] Some Bretons even display pointed ears much like elves.[51][29]:28 The Bretons' elvish physical features have waned and become more human over time, but have not vanished.[7]

History[edit]

Origin[edit]

High Rock, home of the Bretons

The province of High Rock is the ancestral home to the modern day Breton people, and by tradition the name High Rock originates from humanity.[52][53] Before them, there's evidence that a beastfolk population were High Rock's original inhabitants, though they did not build permanent communities, and what interactions they had with men or mer are unknown.[54] Considered a cursed and hostile race in the modern day, the dreugh are thought to have once had a great civilization that flourished around the Iliac Bay before the First Era.[28] Legends abound of the hill giants, a race of giants from Skyrim that migrated to the present day region of Rivenspire, bringing along their massive mammoths. Though they are no longer around, giant remains found within a cavern system in the region gives credence to this theory.[55][56][nb 3]

Bretons themselves originated from Nedes and Aldmer interbreeding[6] for centuries as far back as the Merethic Era.[7][8] Who first arrived in High Rock is debated in scholarly circles: some believe that Nedic civilization and their Druid King were already established in the province when the Aldmer arrived,[7] while others claim that the Nedes arrived in High Rock after, encountering the elves gradually with a variety of reactions and outcomes.[57][54][UOL 4]

The Nedic ancestors of the Bretons were a people that survived in ancient High Rock by tapping into and nurturing nature.[9][33] They followed Y'ffre's True Way (later known as Druidism),[34] in which the eponymous god took the forefront of their faith. Under it, one is to lead a life connecting with and valuing the natural world.[58] Some reverence was also shown to the stars, especially the Ritual constellation.[33] These Nedes are known by the retroactive nomenclature, the Druids of Galen,[7][8][10][4] (or proto-Bretons)[UOL 2][9] and what would become their moniker is derived from a mythical "Galen", an entity or place which druids first came about.[9] Regardless of the origin, it is agreed that the True Way was born in High Rock.[59]

There is evidence of human settlements in High Rock dating back at least a thousand years before recorded history.[60] Archaeological excavations have dated the ruins of Nedic habitation to as early as ME 1000, predating Ysgramor by centuries.[57] The Nedes of Stormhaven had strained relations with the neighboring Orc clans, which regularly clashed with other Orc clans and their Nedic neighbors.[61]

The Aldmer that settled High Rock did so sparsely and in very specific locations,[UOL 4] and it is speculated that there was internal strife between the various Aldmer clans of High Rock.[UOL 5][62] The most successful of these settlers were from Clan Direnni,[54] who came from the Summerset Isles in the Middle Merethic Era and captured the Adamantine Tower.[63][64] Some believe the Direnni were following their destiny to rule from Balfiera, while others believed that they were exiled.[65] The Direnni didn't enslave the Nedes as the Ayleids of Cyrodiil did; instead, they ruled them as a noble caste. The elves established a system of feudal vassalage over their new subjects and took Nedic concubines.[1][64] They inevitably interbred with their human subjects, producing Half-Elven children (also known as Manmer).[1][38]

The Direnni, Druids, and the Wyrd[edit]

Symbols for the Druid King (top), the Beldama Wyrd (left), the Glenmoril Wyrd (right), and later Frii (center)

The Druids of Galen led the new race when it first emerged,[UOL 6] as children begat from Elf-Nede relations were considered sub-mer and not accepted by their Direnni parents. Instead, they were given privileged positions among the Nedes, which eventually led to a recognizable mixed-blood human caste dubbed "Bretons", from the Ehlnofex "beratu", meaning "half".[7][1] These Bretons were only allowed to marry humans, and over time, the Bretons' human features became more prominent than their elven traits.[1] Shortly after the Breton race emerged, Druidic spellcraft became the first truly Breton creation, and "druid" as a distinct identity was fully realized.[33][30] Though the term Manmer is archaic in the modern day, Breton druids embrace this heritage by still referring to themselves as such,[33][32] and believe in Breton's ability to enhance or perfect nature.[32] Indeed, the modern Breton has a natural affinity for environmental manipulation.[31]

Eventually, the witches of the Wyrd diverged from the True Way in a religious schism, ultimately driven away by what they called the "excesses of the Elves".[33] In druidic belief, mortals[33] were not meant to separate themselves from nature, as one can rejuvenate and enjoy Y'ffre's bounty through it.[66][67] While the druids revere nature, they were not keen to isolate themselves and worship the untamed wilds.[33][68] Therein lies the primary difference in culture between druids and the Wyrd: the Wyrd abandoned civilization in favor of living in the wilds.[33] They believe that they are nature itself: the forest, the plants and beasts within it, even the weather.[69][33] In contrast, druids accepted what they interpreted as their "proper place" as people, and embraced the idea that civilization can coexist alongside nature.[33][68][67][70] The Druids of Galen and the Wyrd disapproved of each other's lifestyles: the druids found the ways of the Wyrd unsavory, and the Wyrd thought the druids were no better than city-dwellers.[70] Druids would much later practice self-isolation to varying degrees[35][67][71] as a response to historical encroachments and deprivations.[33][68]

While the Aldmer maintained control of Tamriel, Clan Direnni coexisted peacefully alongside their Nedic and Half-Elven subjects.[57] The Direnni ruled largely through their Nedic clients,[UOL 4] while the "Meriphilic"[72] Druids of Galen used their fearsome magic to enforce their influence over early Bretons, and the Wyrd avoided politics altogether.[73] Some Manmeri devotional idols from this period depict Mara as an elven woman in a lover's embrace with a man, suggesting Aldmeri culture may have been welcomed with relatively open arms.[74] However, their comity would not last: localized groups of Bretons displeased with mer butted heads with their elven overlords long before they officially came to blows.[8]

First Era[edit]

Chrysamere (ESO)

The earliest written account of the existence of a Breton is from the late Merethic Era, which is the blacksmith Asterie Bedel, who is credited with the creation of the legendary artifact Chrysamere.[75] The history that followed would see the Breton peoples venturing out of High Rock and into other provinces. In 1E 20, the sage and author Voernet traveled to Artaeum to meet with Iachesis, the Ritemaster of the Psijic Order.[76] The Breton Archmage Gauldur, who was contemporary with High King Harald, became cemented in Nordic oral traditions despite an age-long campaign to erase his legacy.[77][78] During the Alessian Slave Rebellion, Alessia hired many Breton and Nordic warbands as mercenaries with promises of land and trade concessions. After the Alessian Cyrodiils achieved victory, the mercenaries that participated were assimilated into the Nibenese culture.[79]

Written in 1E 200, the Tamrilean Tractates speak of an early encounter between a Nord hunting party and the Bretons. The Bretons were scarcely recognizable as men, and the Nords attacked them thinking they were Aldmeri. The Nords ceased their assault when one of the Bretons spoke in broken Nordic, and the hunting party brought news of this race back to Windhelm. The Nords believed the Manmeri from beyond the Reach were descended from human slaves taken during the Night of Tears. Upon forming the First Empire of the Nords, High King Vrage made the liberation the Bretons from their elven masters his first priority.[38] Vrage's initial campaign brought him as far as the Bjoulsae, but progress was impeded by elven magic, and the elves were also aided in battle by many of their Breton vassals.[38] Though the Aldmer kept hold of their lands for most of the era,[54] some sources claim that all of High Rock was conquered by 1E 240.[80] To support their pillaging parties, the Nords founded many fortified towns along the coasts around this time, such as Daggerfall, Camlorn, and Reich Gradkeep.[54]

Tired of outside influence, the Druids of Galen advocated for druidic rule of High Rock, making them a target of virtually every faction vying for control.[72] The rising Direnni Hegemony saw them as a threat, and the Alessian Order was intolerant of their religion.[33] Ultimately, the druids split from Bretondom around 1E 330. Following the guidance of Y'ffre's visions,[59] a song, or an Elder Scroll,[72] Druid King Kasorayn led somewhere between a few thousand to a million druids on an exodus to the Systres.[59][72] A few remained on the mainland.[67]

Triquetra Tattoo (around forehead)

When the Druids of Galen arrived in the Systres, the Draoife terraformed a barren volcanic island into a lush and verdant volcanic paradise and named it Y'ffelon. The druids then swiftly expanded across the archipelago into the three other islands,[81] sprouting life where it was once barren.[72] The dissolution of the Druids of Galen was brought about with the event known as the "three mornings of sail", where priest-navigators set out to sea on enchanted vessels outside the archipelago. Their outside experiences and their interactions with different races resulted in three sects developing, each with their own interpretation of Y'ffre's will; the Stonelore, Eldertide, and Firesong Circles.[67][72] Despite their separation, to symbolize their unity matters more and that they share the same goals, the druidic circles came to shaping knot-work into a triquetra,[82] a symbol that would become adopted by civilized Bretons.[83] Kasorayn himself took on the role of an observer after he helped establish the druids on the isle, and only intervened when necessary. The druidic monarchy ended after heretics from the Allwither Order murdered Kasarayn. The heretics are speculated as wanting to seize the Ivy Throne[62] to enact revenge on their former elven oppressors back in High Rock.[84] Though the Allwither heretics were defeated,[62] prophecy would deem that the title of Druid King remain vacant for thousands of years.[85] The Druid King's symbology would disappear almost overnight.[68][86]

The Rise and Fall of the Direnni Hegemony[edit]

Symbol of Clan Direnni (ESO)

After much infighting between the mer of High Rock over who would rule the province,[62] circa 1E 355, Clan Direnni established their Hegemony after they emerged victorious through political maneuvering and devious machinations.[80] However, some consider the Direnni's rule in the years leading up to its establishment as part of the Direnni Hegemony as well.[72][59][67] The Nord's holdings in High Rock were threatened and ultimately lost as a result of the War of Succession erupting in 1E 369,[60] which ended in 1E 420.[87] It is said that King Edward of Daggerfall and King Moraelyn of Ebonheart used the Horn of Summoning to expel the Nords from High Rock.[88] The historical fiction King Edward places Edward as being born after the Nords were expelled from High Rock, however.[89]

After gaining influence and purchasing the Isle of Balfiera in 1E 461,[90][91][92] Ryain Direnni led Clan Direnni to conquer all of High Rock by 1E 477.[80][91][93] His Breton legions were supposedly the first to sack the Orc hold of Orsinium,[91] though what's known as the "First Orsinium" is usually dated much later to the ninth or tenth century of the First Era.[94][95][96] As the Direnni Hegemony expanded geographically, the elves, who were few in number, passed increasing powers of administration to the Breton caste.[1] Clan Direnni was inspired to outlaw the religion of the Alessian Reform by Rislav Larich's victory against Emperor Gorieus, and began pushing into Imperial territory.[93] The timeframe between 1E 480 and 1E 482 would see a coming conflict with the Alessian Order. Seeing the threat the Order posed, Aiden Direnni signed the Rights Charter in an effort to muster much-needed troops for the coming conflict.[91] With the aid of Breton knights, Aiden's army defeated the Alessians at the Battle of Glenumbria Moors on the 8th of Sun's Dawn in 1E 482. [41][97] The Bretons of the Glenumbra Moors celebrate the Day of Release to commemorate this victory.[98] A popular song from the Second Era memorializes the Bretons' role in turning the tide against the Alessian generals, and commemorated the Direnni clansmen who were instrumental in defending High Rock.[99]

Thoroughly spent, the Direnni withdrew to Balfiera, and their hegemony fell circa 1E 498.[1][80][UOL 7] With most of High Rock free from elven control by 1E 500,[38] the Breton kingdoms began establishing themselves around this time,[100] The Bretons' rise to prominence in High Rock initially started through villages being founded in tactical locations, such as Wayrest, which started as a fishing hamlet possibly as early as 1E 800.[96] As the emerging Bretons absorbed the remaining Nordic population, Nordic cities such as Camlorn were assimilated rather than conquered, and High Rock would be definitively Breton by the end of the First Era.[54]

Balfiera, home of Clan Direnni

Though the province was in Breton hands, it was by no means a cohesive nation. Clan Direnni's retreat to Balfiera left no united government, and High Rock fractured into a hundred squabbling fiefdoms.[54] The elf-blooded nobility of Greater Bretony took up the mantle Clan Direnni left behind, maintaining the feudal hierarchy their elven predecessors forged and placing their noble families, the oldest of whom the elven blood flowed strongest within, in the position of aristocracy. The new noble class, consisting of highborn Bretons, justified their ascension to aristocracy and the preservation of the peasant class by disassociating themselves from their elven heritage. The Bretons vilified the Direnni, and redefined themselves around the notion that they were not elves. The Breton nobility fabricated a history of noble resistance to Direnni rule to suit the narrative that Breton cultural identity had no elven roots. In time, a merchant class sprouted and thrived, trading around Tamriel's coasts.[1] In addition to the conflicts over borders and crowns, the Bretons were left to deal with the encroachment of the wilds upon their settlements: the Direnni renounced their covenant with the Earthbones after their retreat, which legends claim they did out of spite. This pact protected Direnni roads and townships from the forest and the beasts that inhabited it.[52]

During the late-fifth century, violence against the Direnni began under King Festrien Spenard I. Supported by vassals from House Aurmine, the despot king's Knights of the Pale Order slaughtered the Direnni wholesale during the latter years of their flight from High Rock. Knights of the Pale Order kept lists of Direnni warriors and magisters they slew.[101] In spite of the vilification of the Direnni and disassociation from their elven heritage, at least some Bretons would continue to emphasize their elven blood.[102]

The earliest known Yokudans encountered by Bretons were the Silverhoof Horsemen, who came to Tamriel centuries before the Ra Gada, while the Direnni Hegemony was dissolving and the Breton kingdoms were forming. This opportune moment in history allowed the Horsemen to firmly establish themselves in Rivenspire without significant organized resistance from the locals. They would become "Bretonized" by their neighbors over the centuries, but retained significant elements of their original culture.[100]

Bretons on the World Stage[edit]

By the time the Druids of Galen fled the mainland circa 1E 330, the Breton peoples had already encountered the Dwemer, though such occurrences with them were minimal.[103] Circa 1E 420, when the self-exiled Clan Rourken relocated to Volenfell in Hammerfell, south of High Rock, it opened up new trade opportunities for the Bretons.[104] The historical fiction King Edward, set around the time period before the arrival of the Redguards to Tamriel, showcases the negative attitudes the people of High Rock had towards the Chimer,[nb 3] who were characterized as thieves and kidnappers, with myths claiming that they sprouted from the ground.[89] They were banned from Daggerfall for a time.[105]

The Systres Archipelago

Eventually, the differences in the beliefs of the three major Systrean drudic circles nearly led to conflict. This was avoided thanks to the appearance of a common enemy, the Sinistral Elves, who fled to the Systres circa 1E 660 to escape the Yokudans. Their invasion was temporarily halted when Y'ffelon's volcano of Mount Firesong erupted sometime around 1E 668. Regardless, the Sinistral Elves took over the archipelago, and the druidic circles were forced into hiding. With the coming of the Ra Gada in 1E 785, what remained of the elves were purged, and the Yokudans quickly left to sail eastward. In the end, only the druids remained.[106]

This was only the first Yokudan "warrior wave".[107][106] The next wave, known as the Tavan wave,[108] came around the time of Yokuda's sinking in 1E 792.[109] The Tavans captured a harborage from the beastfolk, which they named Hegathe (the Aldmeri name for Hammerfell), and used it as a staging ground for conquest.[104][110] Before their arrival, the Bretons and the elves established an outpost at what is now Sentinel in order to protect fisherfolk and seafaring merchants from inland Orcs and other dangers.[104] The next warrior wave, led by Grandee Yaghoub, quickly discovered and established control over this port with little resistance. Yaghoub conscripted the locals to serve as masons and servants in the building of his new palace, Samaruik, and the rest of the city.[110] The kings of the Ra Gada continued to raid Breton coastal cities and trading vessels,[111] and the Cyro-Nords from Colovia who plundered the Iliac Bay annually were pushed out by them.[112] The descendants of the Yokudans, the Redguards, would later become established as historical enemies to the Bretons.[31]

Baloth Bloodtusk and Gaiden Shinji, assassinated by King Joile's general during the Siege of Orsinium

Orsinium was built on the boundary between western Wrothgar and Rivenspire in the ninth or tenth century of the First Era.[94][95][96] King Golkarr of the Orcs amassed an army and was determined to seize control of the Bjoulsae River,[113][114] upon which the nomadic Breton Bjoulsae River Tribes lived.[115] They intended to force Wayrest to pay to make use of the river.[114] In 1E 874, Warlord Thulgeg's army of Orcs and Goblins attempted to flee Hammerfell for Orsinium in High Rock, but were blocked at Bangkorai Pass by the Bangkorai Garrison.[95][116]

In 1E 948, King Joile of Daggerfall sent a letter to Gaiden Shinji of the Order of Diagna proposing a joint attack on Orsinium. Joile cited that the Orcs were raiding along the Bjoulsae and impeding traffic to the heart of the land as reason enough to make war against the Orcs. Agreeing to provide aid, an alliance was formed between the Order of Diagna, Daggerfall, and Sentinel. The armies amassed and began a 30-year long campaign known as the Siege of Orsinium.[96][94] In that time, King Joile plotted to betray the Redguards and invade Hammerfell. Joile and his Reachman general Mercedene assassinated Gaiden Shinji and Orcish hero Baloth Bloodtusk. Daggerfall's own Knights of the Dragon, though they failed to stop the assassination, defeated General Mercedene.[117] In 1E 973, Joile's invasion of Hammerfell proceeded, but he was stopped by the Ansei warrior Makela Leki at Bangkorai Pass.[118] The Siege of Orsinium finally ended in 1E 980 when the allied forces breached the city's defenses, overran it, and razed it to the ground.[94]

With the Bjoulsae River region opened up for trade after the siege, the Bretons experienced an economic boom. The kingdom of Evermore was founded by the Bjoulsae River Tribes,[119] and Wayrest also established a presence on both banks of the river. The Masconian Trade Way was formed by the hard-working traders and merchants of the Bjoulsae, greatly expanding commerce and marginalizing piracy.[96] Daggerfall developed a burgeoning ivory trade, which originated with ivory plundered from Orsinium following its sacking.[120] The uneasy truce between the Bretons and Redguards over Orsinium transitioned into economic relations between the two races.[121]

The First Empire[edit]

In 1E 1029, Empress Hestra pursued the Gray Host from Verkarth to Bangkorai Pass, where the Bretons held the line and fractured the undead forces, easing the Empire's hunt. Hestra was impressed, and offered High Rock admission into the First Empire, which they accepted.[95] Thus, the Bretons joined the Empire of Men and accepted Alessia's Eight Divines.[1]

The All Flags Navy

The Thrassian Plague circa 2200, which spread outward from cities like Daggerfall and Hegathe, cut the population of the Iliac Bay, and Tamriel as a whole, in half.[60][122] After several years, widespread belief emerged that the Sload were responsible for maliciously inflicting the disease on Tamriel.[122] To hold them accountable, the Alessian Emperor granted command of an Imperial fleet to the Colovian King of Anvil, Bendu Olo.[123] Bendu sought out allies to bolster his forces, and many Breton sailors and warships helped form what would become known as the All Flags Navy.[124] Some Bretons among the initial fourteen ships which formed the basis of the All Flags Navy were Captain Lisolda Davaux of the King's Jest, Renwic Moorcroft of the Pristine Halberd, and Coin-Baron Nemic Santerre of the Silver Lantern.[125] Bendo's call also attracted knightly figures such as Lady Joslin Garick and Baroness Belene Chatillon.[126][127] The local Stonelore Circle also lent a ship and druids for the coming conflict.[128] Sometime around 1E 2243, the Navy arrived in the Systres Archipelago, where they established the Navy's largest base and shipyard within High Isle's Gonfalon Bay.[123] After various skirmishes, the Navy launched a final assault on Thras in 1E 2260. The entire landmass was sunk into the ocean, catching half the fleet in a giant whirlpool. The remaining influential figures returned to the Systres, where these representatives of each race signed the Concordat of Fraternity on All Flags Islet, in hopes to bring about peace and cooperation.[123]

Skingrad in Cyrodiil

Angry merchants from Wayrest called their fellow Bretons to secede from the Alessian Empire circa 1E 2300, citing prejudice against elven heritage and increasing Imperial tithes to support their position.[129] High Rock formally reasserted its independence in 1E 2305.[95] Despite resenting this secession, the Alessian Order did not intervene until King Desynan of Skingrad and Queen Margert Gardner of Wayrest arranged a marriage between their children. Fearing a dynastic alliance between High Rock and Colovia, Arch-Prelate Zirnius forbid the union, and when Desynan appointed an official to approve the marriage anyway, Zirnius dispatched his legions to punish the Colovians. This conflict was initially "anarchy, local uprisings, and shifting alliances" that were contained within the Colovian Estates, but later shifted to Breton lands within the Iliac Bay.[130] The Legions of Piety and Grace were sent under Abbot-General Priscus Mactator to reconquer the Bretons, but could not break through the Bangkorai Garrison.[95] This loss would embolden the rebelling Colovians, officially kickstarting the War of Righteousness in 1E 2321.[53][nb 5] The Alessian Order's heavy losses in the west forced them to tax and conscript people from eastern Cyrodiil, causing angry Nibeneans to rebel and slay the Arch-Prelate and destroy the Order's great cathedral at Lake Canulus. With no leadership or income, the Alessians in High Rock abandoned their invasion.[130]

Statue of Martinne Guimard

Although the Systres had been claimed by Colovia after the All Flags Navy's victory over the Sload, the financial costs of the war led them to sell the archipelago to High Rock Coin-barons circa 1E 2327. Duchess Martinne Guimard became the archipelago's new ruler, and in 1E 2328, named the largest island High Isle in honor of High Rock. To the delight of the Systreans, their archipelago was not only untouched by the War of Righteousness, but remained "an untouched cradle of Breton history". Druidism was alive and well, and Breton culture was at the forefront thanks to the Bretons who stayed behind after the assault on Thras.[53]

High Rock was independent once more, but the secession came at great cost. The War of Righteousness halved the population of the Iliac Bay a second time.[60] The Alessian collapse struck the stubborn Bretons harder than the other races, as they had no unified governing structure. Warring fiefs would rage across the peninsula in the coming centuries as various rulers attempted to assume control.[131] The Systres remained in Breton hands, despite later transferring from House Guimard to House Mantel, but in 1E 2484, Mount Firesong erupted once more, devastating the island and killing many of the inhabitants. Starvation and illnesses among the lower classes led to political unrest. The Stonelore Circle managed to pull the city folk back from the brink of death by developing sprawling pastoral and agricultural operations, leading to a renaissance of Druidism. This time period was referred to as the Green Years.[132]

The Second Empire[edit]

The first appearances of the Akaviri in Tamriel were pirates (later assumed to have been scouts for an invasion force).[109] These raiders established themselves on the islands to the west of Wayrest around 1E 800, antagonizing the Bretons of the region.[96] Finally, around 2700, Akaviri legions invaded northern Tamriel,[133] which prompt the people of Wayrest to move within the walled estate of the Gardners for protection in 1E 2702.[96] With the Akaviri invasion, the population of the Iliac Bay was halved a third time. It is said that if Daggerfall had not been hardened and fortified through wars in its first thousand years of existence, the Akaviri may have dominated the Iliac Bay into modernity.[60]

The Second Empire was established in 1E 2703 after Reman Cyrodiil suppressed the Akaviri invasion of Tamriel at the battle of Pale Pass.[112] With the Akaviri's numbers and tactics boosting his power, Reman went on to pacify most of Tamriel.[133][112] An alliance known as the League of Unrest was created between Daggerfall, Wayrest, and Balfiera to stop Reman's forces, but they were defeated and High Rock was absorbed.[134] In an effort to make Cyrodiil more cosmopolitan, Reman I incorporated many elements of High Rock society into his own.[135] Though conquered, High Rock's virulent sectarianism would remain intact.[38]

The distant shores of the Systres were also affected by Reman Cyrodiil's ambitions. In 1E 2704, the Reman Empire reclaimed the archipelago and reinstalled Breton Coin-barons, which marked the end of the Green Years.[136] The High Rock Coin-barons committed various injustices when they utilized their merchant fleet to move illicit goods. The Coin-barons were also involved in slavery, which was a part of Breton culture at that time, and established a slaver fort on Amenos.[UOL 8][137] Over time, the Spire of the Crimson Coin on High Isle, where many grim and debaucherous celebrations took place, became a sort of monument to the excesses of these rulers.[138][139]

As part of the Second Empire, High Rock's soldiers participated in the 80-year Four Score War against Morrowind. According to the historical fiction 2920, The Last Year of the First Era, a Breton man named Cassyr Whitley of Dwynnen defected from the Imperial army and spied on the Dunmer's behalf. After Whitley's mistake cost Morrowind the fortress of Ald Marak, he returned to High Rock, where he met the Dunmeri exile Turala. When Turala's coven and child were lost to an Orcish raid, Whitley deceived her into believing the attack was perpetrated by assassins employed by Duke Brindisi Dorom of Mournhold, prompting her to summon Mehrunes Dagon for revenge.

Second Era[edit]

Mages Guild Banner

High Rock had been possibly the most prosperous and stable province under the Reman Dynasty,[1] and continued to benefit under by the Akaviri Potentates. Concurrent with the rule of Versidue-Shaie, urban Bretons started systematically organizing themselves alongside the hierarchy the Mages Guild sometime after its founding in 2E 230. The Mages Guild became a formidable force within High Rock,[38][40] but it was not officially sanctioned within the Second Empire until the Guild Act of 2E 321. The Guild Act also standardized regulation of trade and transactions across the Empire, and was adopted as de facto law across Tamriel, including in High Rock.[140]

Circa 2E 312, the Bretons on Betony were attacked by War Chief Yzzgol and his Seamount Clan. King Renwic attempted to defend his island with necromancy and an ancient Ayleid relic, but failed. Yzzgol exterminated the Bretons and renamed the island Betnikh.[141][142] King Casimir II of Wayrest formed an alliance with a dragon named Nahfahlaar some time during the second century, which was ended by the Dragonguard in 2E 369.[143] Circa 2E 428, High Rock was plagued by the Curse of the Crimson Moon, a werewolf crisis which prompted the creation of the Order of the Silver Dawn to hunt werebeasts.[144]

The Interregnum and the Three Banners War[edit]

The Second Empire collapsed with the assassination of Akaviri Potentate Savirien-Chorak in 2E 430, marking the start of the Interregnum. Left without a Dragonborn Emperor, the Empire of Cyrodiil was passed between petty warlords for centuries. High Rock fared much better than the other provinces at this time, despite being fractious in nature.[54] Another Orsinium was accepted as a territory of the Second Empire during Savirien-Chorak's reign,[114][145][140] and Frostbreak Fortress was built to help defend it.[146] With the Second Empire's fall, Orsinium lost its protection, and an assault spearheaded by the Bretons of Shornhelm destroyed it once more in 2E 431.[114][147] The Bretons seized the land, and the Orcs scattered across northern Tamriel.[148][149]

Races of the Daggerfall Covenant

In 2E 542, Reachmen under Durcorach the Black Drake invaded High Rock, sacking Evermore and Camlorn. They were defeated at the gates of Daggerfall by Emeric of Cumberland, which led to the formation of the first Daggerfall Covenant, signed by the kings of Daggerfall, Camlorn, Shornhelm, Wayrest and Evermore. In 2E 563, Emeric became the king of Wayrest. Three years later, King Ranser of Shornhelm invaded Wayrest, angry at Emeric for rejecting his daughter's hand to instead wed Maraya, daughter of King Fahara'jad. The Covenant defeated him at Markwasten Moor with the help of the Orcs, who were promised the return of Orsinium for their aid.[147] Enraged by this, Ranser ordered his Spymaster to round up many Orcs in Rivenspire to be interrogated and executed. The Spymaster would end up murdering hundreds of innocent Orcs during the course of Ranser's War.[150][151]

House Dufort knights in Cyrodiil during the Three Banners War

These events led to the formation of the Greater Daggerfall Covenant, an alliance between Emeric, the Redguard King Fahara'jad, and King Kurog gro-Orsinium of the Orcs.[152] Kurog demanded restitution for the ivory Bretons looted during the Siege of Orsinium as part of his terms for joining the Covenant.[120] The Covenant became an economic powerhouse as trade flourished.[153] The Covenant later fought in the Three Banners War during King Emeric's bid for the throne of Cyrodiil.[152] The kings of the Daggerfall Covenant looked to Reman I as a model Emperor, and saw themselves as the spiritual heirs to the Second Empire.[148] To promote their claim, the Covenant claimed it would restore "the glory of Reman's legacy" by promoting freedom, worship of the Divines, and trade.[153] Race relations between the Bretons and Orcs generally improved,[154] despite persistent anti-Orc sentiment.[155] The Direnni elves were also accepted within the Covenant's borders.[156]

Fate of the Systres Archipelago[edit]

A clash with the Ascendant Order on High Isle

With the destruction brought by the Three Banners War, the Ascendant Order gained traction as a pan-Tamrielic movement.[UOL 9] Many common folk were drawn in by leaders of the faction, the Ascendant Lord and his Ascendant Magus, who promised the downfall of the tyrants growing richer and powerful from misery and bloodshed.[157] Breton-influenced, the Ascendant Order likened themselves to a knightly order, though most other orders thought of them as nothing more than well-armed fanatics.[UOL 9] Nevertheless, they infiltrated nearly every level of Breton society,[158] and established the Systres Archipelago as their main base of operations.

In truth, the leaders of the Ascendant Order were nobles. The Ascendant Magus was Count Damard of House Dufort, while the Ascendant Lord was Lord Bacaro of House Volorus from Cyrodiil. Bacaro's partner and children were killed during the Colovian Revolt, and when the Three Banners War came around, he created the Society of the Steadfast as a humanitarian organization.[159] Lord Bacaro settled in his holdings on the Systres and over time built goodwill through his Steadfast Society. He then planned to leverage his reputation to lure the major players responsible for the Three Banners War to their deaths. The leaders accepted Bacaro's invitation to High Isle for peace talks, but the plot to assassinate them ultimately failed.[160][67]

Conflict on Galen

Concurrently, the druids on Galen were involved in a civil war orchestrated by Bacaro's unwitting pawn, Archdruid Orlaith of the Firesong Circle. When Orlaith failed to become the Druid King and forcibly unify the druids under one banner, Bacaro took matters into his own hands. Bacaro was also a member of House Merchad through his mother's bloodline, a noble house with ties to the last Druid King, Kasorayn. As its last living descendant, he sought to claim the Ivy Throne of the Druid King as a step towards taking the Ruby Throne.[161] The Vestige confronted Bacaro at Mount Firesong, where he had ascended into a false Druid King. Utilizing his newfound power, Bacaro enslaved the dormant spirit of the volcano, which was capable of decimating Tamriel's armies.[162] However, Volorus was defeated, saving the archipelago from destruction.[163][164]

What followed afterward was a more unified Systres Archipelago. The feudal Bretons and the druids that inhabited Galen began talks to build better relations, and the mending of wounds between the feuding noble houses of High Isle and Galen began.[35]

The Third Empire[edit]

During the Tiber War, a Nord-Breton alliance captured Sancre Tor in 2E 852. General Talos recaptured the city and integrated the Nordic forces, impressed by his thu'um, into his own army.[112] He executed the Breton leadership, and variously executed, enslaved, and sent the Breton forces back to High Rock.[165] Those Bretons who remained sought to counter Talos with Reach-magic, and in 2E 854, entrusted a Reachman to assassinate Cuhlecain and his general. Talos survived the attack, and went on to found the Third Empire[112]—though The Arcturian Heresy claims Talos himself slew Cuhlecain, and placed the blame on his enemies.[166]

At some point in their history, the Bretons were ruled by witch-kings.[167][UOL 10] Talos, now known as Tiber Septim, would easily conquer the squabbling Breton kingdoms, but would find it impossible to truly squash the sectarian conflicts between them that hampered trade and prosperity.[38][54] Septim opted to entrust a governor of his choosing to end the feud between High Rock's witch-kings, which was a successful endeavor.[168]

Third Era[edit]

Druids carrying a coffin in the Iliac Bay circa 3E 417[169]

The Dream of Kasorayn foretold of druids retaking their place on Tamriel, and a possible future where the druidic circles would unite under one banner and reestablish themselves as the Druids of Galen.[UOL 11][UOL 12][170][162] As previous attempts to reinvigorate their ways had led to great bloodshed,[62][170] druids instead began to seek a future which would not depend on a king or a prophecy to improve the world.[35] In this respect, Kasorayn's dream may simply be a metaphor, encouraging druids to live life as if the dream was close to fruition.[162] It is unknown what parts of the prophecy came true, but by the fifth century of the Third Era, druids were once again present in the regions surrounding the Iliac Bay.[169][UOL 13] "By the ArchDruid" is a common exclamation by Bretons of this era.[171][172]

By the Third Era, there were eight major Breton powers in the province of High Rock: the kingdoms of Daggerfall, Camlorn, Wayrest, Shornhelm, Northpoint, Evermore, Farrun, and Jehanna.[173] Since most Emperors in the Third Era were Bretons or raised in High Rock, Bretons were generally supportive of Imperial rule, but were often disgruntled by its ineffectual protection.[174] However, the decentralized nature of Breton society also fostered surprising resilience during times of upheaval.[54] One of the best examples of this was during the defeat of the Camoran Usurper, when four of the smaller Breton city-states—Dwynnen, Kambria, Phrygias, and Ykalon—led a united force that halted the Usurper's long northward advance and finally defeated him in the Battle of Firewaves in 3E 267.[174] Baron Othro, who had already gained fame for his defeat of the Lich of Castle Wightmoor during the Battle of Wightmoor fourteen years prior, formed the modern barony of Dwynnen, which would eventually grow into of the more powerful city-states in western High Rock.[174]

The Battle of Cryngaine Field

Other wars which occurred in High Rock during this Era included the War of the Bend'r-mahk in 3E 397, where Skyrim conquered land in the east which included the Kingdom of Jehanna. It later came to light that Jagar Tharn was behind Skyrim's aggression. When Emperor Uriel Septim VII regained his throne following the Imperial Simulacrum, great efforts were taken to revert the damage done by Tharn. At the other end of High Rock, the War of Betony was fought between Daggerfall and Sentinel over the eponymous island in 3E 405. The Battle of Cryngaine Field resulted in Daggerfall's victory, though at the cost of the life of their King Lysandus. His son and heir, Gothryd, was crowned the new king of Daggerfall after the war.[54]

The Numidium, responsible for the Warp in the West

On the 7th of Frostfall in 3E 417, the Warp in the West occurred. The roughly two dozen city-states comprising southwestern High Rock were suddenly, forcefully, and mysteriously united into two kingdoms: Daggerfall and Wayrest, with Orsinium taking control of part of the Wrothgarian Mountains in central High Rock.[175][176] The amount of squabbling kingdoms in High Rock was reduced from about a hundred to five. According to Imperial sources, it was the most unified High Rock had ever been.[54]

The populace and culture of the Systres remained largely Breton by 3E 433.[5] Despite this, some maps presented the islands as part of Hammerfell's territory just years prior during 3E 427.[nb 1]

Fourth Era[edit]

In the early Fourth Era, following the Oblivion Crisis and the destabilization of the Third Empire, the combined forces of Hammerfell and High Rock sacked Orsinium, leading many Orc refugees to flee east into Skyrim.[177]

High Rock was still part of the Empire when Titus Mede II ascended the throne of Cyrodiil in 4E 168, and assisted Hammerfell during the Great War. The Third Aldmeri Dominion took Hammerfell's southern coastline, leaving Hegathe the lone surviving state. Those who survived the March of Thirst joined Legion reinforcements from High Rock in northern Hammerfell in 4E 173, and the Dominion suffered losses in the province soon after. The Dominion withdrew in 4E 174. Bretons also participated in the climactic Battle of the Red Ring in 4E 175.[178]

Corsairs sack Wayrest (Legends)

In 4E 188, King Barynia of Wayrest was overcome by paranoia when rumors of conspiracy reached his ears. He purposely left his city vulnerable to outside attacks, hoping his enemies would be killed in the chaos. His actions led to the sack of Wayrest by Breton corsairs. The city's nobles hired an assassin from the Dark Brotherhood amid the conflict, though Barynia's fate is ultimately unknown.[179] The corsairs raided and destroyed the Dark Brotherhood sanctuary hidden in Wayrest before they departed.[179][180]

Circa 4E 201, the Stormcloaks looked to their neighbors in High Rock for aid in the midst of the Skyrim Civil War. The Bretons, who had good relations with the Empire, refused to respond to the Stormcloaks.[181]

Culture[edit]

A sketch of a northern guardsman by '¥R'

Bretons are an intelligent, individualistic, energetic, pragmatic, and humorous people.[UOL 14][182][96] They are said to enjoy intellectual pursuits; they often have an affinity for anything related to logic and ordered complexity.[19] Their love of knowledge and affinity for commerce drives them into a host of careers, including trading, the military, sailing, medicine, textiles, manufacturing, writing, theology, philosophy, banking, all kinds of artistry, and other scholarly pursuits.[96][76][183][184][185] Their scholarly institutions include the Invisible College of Daggerfall and Schools of Julianos.[186][187] Espionage has also proven to be one of their strong suits; Breton double agents, assassins, and spies have turned the tide of wars throughout recorded history.[112][188][189][190][191] Bretons value the principles of freedom, praising it in their tavern songs and propaganda,[99][192] but this only extends so far in practice.[192] In 2E 582, the people of Evermore were allowed to freely criticize Queen Arzhela and the royal family,[193][194] while using excessive profanity in the presence of nobility in High Isle was criminal.[195] In the Third Era, a prolific bard and poet Darius Shano is also said to have criticized nobility, commoners and the Divines alike, receiving much scorn, but was only executed after ridiculing Tiber Septim.[196]

Society[edit]

Politics[edit]

"You think politics here are something? Well, we Bretons invented politics."Anton Virane[11]
Breton nobles at a social gathering

High Rock is segmented into city-states, encouraging petty nationalism and infighting between the kingdoms. Most Breton cities are sprawling trade hubs with highly developed social strata. The poor peasantry lies at the bottom of the hierarchy, above them is a middle class of mostly merchants and artisans, and noble ruling families sit at the top. Additionally, there are the many autonomous knightly orders, as well as a small haughty magical elite.[40] The jockeying for power among the various powers of the Iliac Bay region is a deeply ingrained and even cherished part of Breton culture.[38] Breton society is fractious and quarrelsome, but internal conflict seems to disappear when their way of life is threatened by outside forces.[40]

Bretons' largely agrarian and feudal society, as well as their obsession with nobility, status, and lineage, was shaped by their days as vassals of Clan Direnni.[13][1][7] Bretons borrowed and modified their elven ancestor's feudal system to suit their needs, removing the aspect that forced people to stay in the same social class for their rest of their lives.[7][UOL 15] Indeed, their outlook is shaped from breaking free from their elven masters and taking High Rock for themselves. Thus Bretons live lives of excess and believe in upwards mobility to the extent that even those at the very bottom of the social ladder feel like they can always aspire to become better and advance to the top of the social ladder.[UOL 15] Despite this, there is still however a sense of elitism and otherism in Breton society. Some nobles may look down at common folk as inferior to them.[197][198]

Though Bretons of lower status have several paths to prosperity, becoming a nobleman by performing quests and services to curry favor with various rulers is considered the best way, which has created a cultural "quest obsession" among young Bretons.[38][199] The desire to find some great opportunity for fortune and glory has made Bretons venture all over Tamriel, even to such remote locations as Thirsk on the island of Solstheim, where one adventurous Breton once earned the position of chieftain.[87][200][201]

A noble from Daggerfall

Peerage[edit]

"Find a new hill, become a king"Breton Proverb[38]
High King Emeric Cumberland, leader of the Daggerfall Covenant

Across High Rock, traditions of the peerage differ slightly from region to region. The base rule of the eight kingdoms is that if a woman is ruling one of these areas, she is called the Queen. The husband of a Queen and the wife of a King is not necessarily of equal rank – they may not be Kings and Queens themselves. Their children are Princes and Princesses. Their grandchildren are also Princes and Princesses. If a male ruler dies, his wife takes the title Dowager Queen, providing there is not a Dowager Queen already. In the Kingdom of Daggerfall, it is permissible for there to be two persons with the same title. If a female ruler, who does not share rank with her husband, dies, there is no male equivalent to the word Dowager. Widowers of Queens usually take another title, either a lesser family title or one given by their children. There have been few men in the history of High Rock who have fallen from being addressed as King to being addressed as Mister at the death of their wife.[173]

Other regions in High Rock are ruled by Dukes and Duchesses, Marquises (or Marquesses) and Marquises (or Marchionesses), Counts and Countesses, Viscounts or Viscountesses, Barons or Baronesses, and Lords or Ladies. This is theoretically listed from highest to lowest rank, but the ruler of a territory outranks all other nobles, regardless of title.

Counts usually enjoy less autonomy than dukes and duchesses, as their territories are subservient to the duchies they are part of. However, they serve as vital links to guilds, churches, and scholastic organizations that might otherwise receive less attention from the duchy's rulers. Beneath counts and countesses, peerage hierarchy flattens considerably. Barons and baronesses stand above most, but these titles rarely carry robust land rights. Instead, they serve as titles of honor, granting the noble certain privileges at court. Dignitaries should address barons and baronesses as "my lord" and "my lady" respectively.[202]

Dwynnen, for example, is a Barony, and the Baron or Baroness of Dwynnen outrank any other noble in that territory, even Dukes and Counts. In theory, (again, this may not be the case according to local custom) the eldest son or daughter of a noble takes their parent's highest family title below their parents. Thus, the Duke of Northmoor, who is also the Marquis of Calder, had a daughter who became the Marchioness of Calder.[173]

Kings and Queens are always addressed as "Your Majesty" in conversation; Dukes and Duchesses, "Your Grace". All other rulers may be addressed with their title and name, or Lord or Lady and their name.[173]

One way of telling who is in charge of a region is to pay some attention to the names of taverns and shops in a region. By tradition, many of these are called names such as "The Duke's Fox" or "The Lady's Provisions." This, more often than not, is the title of the ruler. If the shop's name is, for example, "Lady Annisa's Provisions" or "Lord Boxworth's Fox", that is probably the name of a local titled merchant, not the ruler. A store with an unnamed ruler's title has probably been around for some time, and does not bother to change its name with the new name of the ruler.[173]

Emeric of Cumberland, as a result of being the architect of the Daggerfall Covenant, became High King and the first to ever claim supreme leadership over all High Rock. All the city-states of northwest Tamriel swore loyalty to the Covenant's Royal Council.[148] The various monarchs of High Rock were bound to him via trade agreements,[40] which included "dozens of compromises and carefully negotiated provisions".[148]

Houses and Noble Families[edit]

The Role of Magic among Bretons[edit]

Breton Spell-Knights
Breton mage that dabbled in the dark arts
"You Bretons have a reputation for mystical aptitude, but I would argue that the cost of that success has been a lack of lasting impact on the greater magical community. I could find numerous instances of Mage So-And-So making a splash with war magics for a few decades, and then dying. Or a great divinator prognosticating portentous events, and then dying. Breton mages burn brightly but briefly, I suppose, a sad commentary on the lifespan your uncaring gods have gifted your people."Divayth Fyr[25]

Bretons are known to be inventive wizards.[15] Magic permeates throughout all of Breton society, from the serf all the way up to the king.[UOL 3] Though no two mages weave their spells in exactly the same way,[203] the average Breton mage is said to perform "flamboyant gesticulations" when spellcasting.[204] Some Bretons are born with innate gifts for unique kinds of magic, such as thaumavocalism.[205] Due to the innate magical ability of Bretons, children are tested for their magical potential at an early age, and those who pass enter apprenticeship programs funded by the Mages Guild or independent sponsorships.[38] Children are known to practice illusion spells on each other in the streets of cities such as Daggerfall.[206] In more remote regions, such as Glenpoint and the Wrothgarian Mountains, witches and medicine men, barely distinguishable from Orcish shamans, hold sway over the superstitious peasants with feats of untutored, but often impressive, magical ability.[38] Many use their magical talents to earn success,[38] such as undertaking an ancient traditional role of a court mage.[36] Not much is known about the magical elite that sit right below the ruling families in the social hierarchy, but these gifted see themselves as above the rest.[38][40][39]

The Assistant Sapiarch of Culinary Arts of Summerset echoed a sentiment that Bretons were the second-best sorcerers behind the Altmer, though he believed the Bretons had the potential to perhaps do more if afforded equal opportunity.[27] Others estimate Bretons to be equal to Altmer in sorcerous ability.[28]

Subcultures[edit]

Breton culture, despite its seeming homogeneity, has many subcultures throughout the regions of High Rock. Many clans inhabit regions such as Greater Bretony, the Dellese Isles, the Bjoulsae River Tribes, and traditionally the Western Reach. They are, in fact, so culturally diverse that some have regarded "Breton" as a term of convenience.[38][39]

Bjoulsae River Tribes[edit]

Members of the Bjoulsae River Tribes
For more detailed information, see: Bjoulsae River Tribes

The Bjoulsae River Tribes (also known as the Horse-People of the Bjoulsae River, the River Horse Bretons, or simply the horsemen) are the indigenous groups of tribal Bretons that live in the Bjoulsae River region. While information on them is scarce, the horsemen are a nomadic, primitive folk that wear fur armor, bone necklaces, and turbans. As the name suggests, they are known for their horses. Their battle strategies and tactics are described as straightforward, which is the "way of the horse men", in the book The Mirror. Their greatest legacy is the modern-day Kingdom of Evermore, which was founded in 1E 983 after they helped suppress Orsinium, which opened trade through the Bjoulsae River region.

Druids[edit]

For more detailed information, see: Druids
Druids of the Stonelore Circle

Druids (also known as vinebeards) are children of the land whose kind have their origins in ancient High Rock. They are practitioners of Y'ffre's True Way (also known as Druidism), in which one is to lead a life connecting with, valuing, and stewarding the growth of the natural world referred to as the Green. The eponymous god takes the forefront of their faith, with some reverence also being shown to the stars. The True Way is a promise made to the "groves, to the seas, to the sky", and under the Oak's Promise, druids are to "stand strong, stay true, and shelter all". Druids serve in accordance to Y'ffre's will in roles such as priests, arbiters, teachers, healers, and soothsayers. Druids have little interest in the quarrels of monarchies, often leading many to believe that they are pacifists. However, as champions of nature, they are not afraid to defend their ancient sites from the cruelty of civilization, as violence and death are natural.

Y'ffre and his Earthbones sacrificed themselves during the Dawn Era to create the Green, an act which bound Nirn to the laws of nature. Their voices are sought by druids so they may best be their advocate, and to ensure a life guided by natural principles and the willfulness of nature. Druidic spellcraft (which differs from the arcane) is said to be the first truly Breton creation, and its practitioners utilize the wellspring of primordial energy the Earthbones left behind, which flows via lines through the ground. Junctions where this resource intersects are known as "bonelines", places where druidic spells exhibit strange properties, and where prayers carry deeper emphasis. It can be harnessed by druids to overcome their physical limitations, shapeshift into various animals, terraform the environment around them, or even invoke natural disasters to consume their foes. Druids are also known animists who can call upon nature spirits to aid them.


Glenumbrans[edit]

Camlorn Top Hats

In the mid-Second Era, the region of Glenumbra included Daenia, King's Guard and the Cambray Hills, each distinguishable by many unique elements. In southern Glenumbra, Daenia is the home of the Bretons' quest obsession: the practice by which young serfs or peasants perform great deeds to elevate their societal standing. Daenian tales commonly include lowly individuals going on great quests to attain respect, glory and status. Consequently, the people of Daenia have reputations as independent spirits. Daenia is also home to the Wyrd subculture, and nature-worshipping witches reside in the region's dense forests.[207]

Glenumbra's Cambray Hills, most prominent in Camlorn, has been a melting pot with an aristocracy described as poets and artists.[207] The region lends its name to the famed Cambray Hills Academy of Art.[208] The Cambray Hills are haunted, and ghost stories abound among the populace. Camlorn has served as an open market for goods coming in from the Iliac Bay and the waters west of High Rock, dealing peacefully with Daggerfall and Wayrest to its benefit. The swamp-dwellers of the eastern bogs are the Cambray Hills' largest subculture.[207] Though apparently originally founded during the First Era,[189] the modern iteration of the Barony of Dwynnen would be founded by the legendary Baron Othrok in 3E 253 after the Battle of Wightmoor. It would go on to become cultural center of the region in the Third Era.[174]

The northermost reaches of Glenumbra became known as King's Guard, after the mountain range separating Glenumbra from Rivenspire and Stormhaven. Crosswych is the center of trade between Glenumbra and its neighboring regions, and another cultural melting pot of Bretonic city-states. The Red Rook bandit clan originated in King's Guard as a loose group of hunters and highwaymen that targeted caravans traveling across regional borders.[207] Kambria is another notable city in this region, renowned for its picturesque nature and many libraries. Kambria rules over the windswept plateau in the north, which is still dotted with the fortresses that were ruined during the Tiber War.[38][174][209]

Highland Bretons[edit]

Claymores (Morrowind)
For more detailed information, see: Highland Bretons

The Highland Bretons are a Breton culture believed to inhabit highland strongholds, and renowned for the invention and usage of claymore. They were pioneers in employing these formidable two-handed swords. However, the Redguards later would quickly incorporate these massive shock weapons into their valiant melee tactics. Designed for use by solitary hero-adventurers rather than close-order troops, their claymores were favored in encounters with formidable beasts and otherworldly creatures.

There are a number of highland areas in High Rock, typically composed of woodland hills. The windswept plateau of North Kambria has many grim fortifications and small towns tucked into the folds and valleys that wind their way down to the northern coast. Remote highland regions include the Glenpoint Foothills and the Dragon's Toe of the Wrothgarian Mountains, near the border with Hammerfell. Witches and medicine men, barely distinguishable from Orcish shamans, hold sway over the superstitious peasants of these highlands with feats of untutored, but often impressive, magical ability. Jehanna is also found near a highland area of the province.

Hillmen of Rivenspire[edit]

Rivenspire shapes its people

The hillmen are the people of Rivenspire,[147][nb 3] known as the backwater of High Rock.[147] The region's people are shaped by its tortured landscape.[40] They've been described as "surly",[147] "gloomy", "laconic", and having "little to say to strangers".[40] They are also known for their "overactive imaginations".[56] Hillmen hunters can make a decent living off of the pelts of wolves and giant bats, as well as from spider venom, but must be wary of Rivenspire's many hostile creatures.[210] Restless spirits are known to haunt the region's forts,[211] and rumors exist of "evil fog" where the souls of fallen sailors stir off the coast.[212]

Rivenspire's dark history has haunted the region's people.[211] A number of atrocities and despots have made their mark, such as the violence against the Direnni under the orders of King Festrien Spenard I,[101] and the Purge of the Wyrd-Hags during Sun's Death under King Berthulic.[213][214] Fighting broke out between the natives and Ayleids who migrated to the region, resulting in incalculable damage. These elves had attempted to transform what they called the "Land of Cold Rocks"[215] into a region full of life, but their method for doing so, the Light of Life was damaged in the conflict. It became the Lightless Remnant, a corrupting influence on Rivenspire. This influence was further amplified when it was touched by vampires during the Second Era,[216] leading to a vampire crisis perpetuated by one of Rivenspire's noble houses, the Montclairs.[217]

For all their differences, the noble houses of Rivenspire hold many of the same traditions. Each house keeps its own fighting force, though in times of war or other emergencies, it is not uncommon for house troops to join with the city guard to form a single fighting force in defense of the region.[218] The nobility of Rivenspire are known for burying their dead beneath the gnarled trees of Westmark Moor (except for monarchs, who are all buried in the great cemetery of Cath Bedraud in Glenumbra).[219]

Knightly Orders[edit]

For more detailed information, see: Breton Knightly Orders
A Knightly Tournament

Breton society is famous for its knightly orders,[43] with notable examples including Daggerfall's Knights of the Dragon, the Knights of the Rose of Wayrest, the Knights of the Flame of Anticlere, and Dwynnen's Order of the Raven. Some Bretons served as knights under Clan Direnni sometime before the fall of the Direnni Hegemony.[41][42] However, it is commonly accepted that Bretons established their militant orders of knights when they became independent from Direnni elves. High Rock's cultural history is founded on tales of such noble and chivalrous knights, which supposedly fought for Breton liberation and drove the Direnni back to Balfiera Isle. The knightly orders were founded to carry on the tradition of nobles-in-arms and to ensure the province would have defenders at the ready should invading armies come to their gates.[43] The Lion Guard was one such order before the formation of the Daggerfall Covenant in the Second Era.[40] Breton knights espouse traditional codes of chivalric principles and are among the most prominent questers of High Rock.[44][45]

A Breton warrior

Historically, knightly orders were composed of the high-born, providing a place for excess nobility. As High Rock became more prosperous, the merchant classes increasingly joined.[43] It is more difficult for commoners,[197] but not impossible. Lady Joslin Garick, a captain in the All Flags Navy, is but one commoner who became a renowned knight.[126] Knighthood confers a measure of nobility, and can be rewarded to the lower classes for significant contributions to society. If the position was not achieved through conflict, the membership is nominal only, such as with the "merchant knights", great contributors to the economy who do not take up arms, but instead heavily contribute to a knightly order's finances.[43]

Most competent knightly orders require applicants to have some degree of martial knowledge or skill before they are considered for membership. Less reliable orders may grant promotions in rank over a knight's nobility, wealth, or charisma, but generally, a knightly order will require their members to be skilled warriors so as not to tarnish the group's reputation.[220] Etiquette, swordsmanship, archery, and medical skill are factors considered when assessing potential recruits.[221] The spell-knight is an archetype that encapsulates the Breton staples of knighthood and the arcane,[30][34][222] while the druid-knight brings the druidic arts into the lifestyle of a knightly order.[35][127] The Reachmen were inspired to breed their own hardy steeds when they saw how mounted Bretonic knights fought during their invasion of High Rock.[223]

Knights are addressed with the honor of "sir" or "dame". Knights subscribe to their own hierarchies and customs as dictated by their order. In most cases, these orders are governed by a marshal or a knight-commander. Regardless of the marshal's high station, their honorific remains the same.[202] In older chivalric orders, heavy rings served as a knight's symbol of membership.[101] Each of the Eight Divines have their own templar knightly order as the militant arm of their respective temples.[224] One of High Rock's most notable heroes was the Breton knight Eleidon, owner of the eponymous shield.[199]

Systreans[edit]

Druids and knights of Vastyr uniting against Maormer pirates

The Systreans are the inhabitants of the Systres Archipelago. Primarily the descendants of the Bretons who settled on High Isle following the All Flags Navy's raid on Thras,[53] the Systreans are major maritime traders, have their own knightly orders, and mostly follow a feudal society.[68][225] Of course, druids settled in the archipelago long before,[68] and though they prefer life in the forest, they have at times influenced and intermingled with the feudal Bretons.[132][84]

The Systres is an established neutral ground from conflicts, which the Bretons of High Isle greatly profit from.[4] House Dufort sells respite to people looking to get away from mainland troubles.[4] It is considered a home away from home for much of the Breton elite,[4] who treat it like a playground and resort.[UOL 15][UOL 1] High Isle elite always dress in their finest to project their status and their barely-hidden ambitions,[UOL 1] and the settlement of Gonfalon Bay has been described as "pompous".[UOL 6]

The isle of Galen developed a more working class population, and they are the most accepting of Druidism.[UOL 6] Unlike High Isle, where mainland influence established a feudal society long ago, most of Galen remained an untamed wilderness, with city Bretons are limited to the southern part of the land, in the city of [[Lore:Vastyr|Vastyr][.[225][UOL 6] The city features a blend of druidic and city Breton architecture, thanks to the House Mornard's connections to Druidism.[225]

The undesirables of Systrean society are taken to the lawless prison island of Amenos, where history shows its prisoners are forced into mining its resources.[136] At one point, some were taken to nearby Whalefall to be used for sport.[226][227]

Wyrd Covens[edit]

For more detailed information, see: Wyrd Covens
A Glenmoril Wyrd Sister

Wyrd Covens (also known as Wyresses, Wyrd Women, Wyrd Sisters, the Wyrd, Ward-Sisters, Name-Daughters, and nature-witches) are female-only, animistic witch covens that serve as wardens of the Green. They draw their power from the Earthbones, and revere nature and the elements. The leader of a coven is referred to as a "beldam".

The Wyrd originated from the ancient people that dwelled in High Rock who are referred to by retroactive nomenclature as the Druids of Galen. A religious schism brought about the Wyrd's separation from their druid brethren. The Wyrd abandoned civilization in favor of living in the wilds, and believe that they are nature itself: the forest, the plants and beasts within it, and even the weather. In contrast, while ancient druids revered nature, they were not keen to isolate themselves and worship the untamed wilds. The druids accepted what they interpreted as their "proper place" as people, and embraced the idea that civilization can coexist alongside nature.

Wyrd witches are primarily Breton, though membership also extends to outsiders, even those from other races. Once a singular entity, the Wyrd split into subgroups by the time of the last Druid King's voyage to the Systres. These sisterhoods remained behind on the mainland to safeguard the forests of High Rock, with some of the dozen or so covens even spreading throughout Tamriel.

Other Cultural Facts[edit]

Sex, Marriage, and Family[edit]

For more detailed information, see: Breton section in the Sex and Marriage articles
A Druidic arousal-inducing artifact (ESO)

Arranging fortuitous marriages are the norm among Breton noble families,[228][UOL 15] but having courtships before choosing a partner is another option. Suitors may woo the person they are courting with various gifts,[229] such as a bouquet of rare flowers, a serenade, or something more extravagant.[230] The practice of dowries exists in Breton marriages.[231] There is some societal expectations in your partner. A noble lady in a relation with her manservant would be considered forbidden love, for example.[232] Love charms are popular among Breton nobles and merchant lords who seek to improve their love lives.[233] Woman seeking to marry into the nobility may style their hair into a traditional updo.[234]

It is a tradition for Breton parents to keep their childrens' bronzed baby teeth in a jar as remembrances.[235] Some Breton families have retained heirlooms from their Nedic ancestors,[236] and tea sets are common family heirlooms.[237] Breton families host annual summer reunions, where they gather candleflies to illuminate their dinner, then release them into the evening sky after dessert.[238] Quilting and sewing circles are examples of hobby groups one might find in High Rock.[239][240] A quilt of "lost hope" may be crafted by a Breton mother and daughter to work through past regrets and sorrows.[241] Using malachite to make needles is popular among the Bretons of eastern High Rock.[242]

A Third Era joke book poked fun at Breton promiscuity.[243] The Prostitutes Guild has a large, almost palatial guildhouse located in an affluent part of Camlorn.[244] Some Bretons utilize drugs to enhance their bedchamber activities.[245] Waking Day is a Breton holiday originally invented to wake the spirits of nature which evolved into an orgiastic celebration of winter's end.[246] The druids of the settlement of Llanshara on the Systres isle of Galen possessed an artifact which caused extreme arousal to those in its vicinity.[247][248] This same settlement had a 'Ritual of Life's Commencement', an ancient tradition celebrating the creation of life through the sexual union of druids.[249] The Bretons of High Isle idolized mermaids as fertility icons.[250]

Bretons have the Law of Consanguinity, which bans marriage between close relatives,[251] though Breton nobility are often rumored to practice incest. Prominent Bretons like King Ranser allegedly slept with every sibling in his royal line; rumors even implied that his daughter Rayelle was a product of one such coupling. Other tales speak of pagan rituals, paint-slick bodies and mind-altering concoctions as having their places in "blood purity" customs. However, these stories are typically considered just that — stories — and most historians disregard them as poor grist and sensationalism.[68]

The Laumont line is rumored to have originated from a union of a Breton and a flame atronach, though this is dismissed by some members of the family as exaggeration or embellishment.[252] Though most sources claim [Lore:Haymon Camoran|Haymon Camoran]] was of Bosmeri Camoran lineage, a legend that he was the son of Molag Bal and a Breton woman has nonetheless persisted through the years.[253] The Breton Galthis was the lover of Vaermina, and became her Omen of a Hundred Prophecies.[254][255]


Death[edit]

For more detailed information, see: Breton Death Beliefs
A Breton graveyard
A Knight's Carved Sarcophagus

People of the northern regions of High Rock cremate their dead without exception, while burial remains common in the south. The Breton tradition of cremating the dead dates back to the days of High Rock's witch kings,[167] with cremains commonly being stored in urns.[256]

The Bretons of the south build stone cemeteries to house their dead, and the nobility has always been interred in ornate mausoleums. Many Breton cemeteries are designed to provide direct sunlight on certain graves on highly specific high holy days on the Breton calendar. The ancient cemetery of Cath Bedraud, home to the corpses of many generations of Breton royalty, is constructed in a series of concentric bands atop a hill, with the oldest, most prestigious graves positioned in the high center of the graveyard.[40] Southern Bretons also sometimes practice mummification.[257][258]

Language[edit]

For more detailed information, see: Bretic

The language of the Bretons is called Bretic.[259] It is not widely spoken anymore, but the Sephavre (sung during the observance of Broken Diamonds) is written in Old Bretic.[260] Before High Rock's integration into the Alessian Empire circa 1E 1029,[95] some Breton nobility were known to write in Aldmeris as a sign of their pride for their elvish heritage.[261]

Druids speak in their own language; Bretons from the Systres Archipelago have some loan words from them.[262][68] Druidic runes are referred to as draoifoglyphs.[263]

Names[edit]

For more detailed information, see: Breton Names

Bretons names follow a first and last name structure. The earliest recorded Breton from the Merethic Era had a surname.[75]

Holidays[edit]

For more detailed information, see: Breton Holidays
Two Bretons dressed for the Day of Release in Daggerfall (right)

The Bretons have been in Tamriel since before recorded history. Their holidays have remained almost unchanged since primitive times, though new holidays have been created to replace those which have lost popularity.[18] An example of a holiday is their celebration of Saturalia, which heralds the New Life Festival.[264] Originally a holiday held to celebrate a forgotten god of debauchery, Saturalia has transformed into a day where gifts are given, parades are held, and feasts are had.[265] Region specific holiday examples are Waking Day, invented by the people of the Yeorth Burrowland in prehistoric times to wake the spirits of nature after a long and cold winter, but has evolved into a sort of orgiastic celebration of the end of winter.[266] The celebration of Gardtide hearkens back to the old cult of the flower,[18] as this festival in Tamarilyn Point was originally meant to honor Druagaa, the goddess of flowers. Worship of the goddess is all but dead, but the celebration is always lively.[267]

Food[edit]

For more detailed information, see: Breton Cuisine
Donolon, a renowned Breton chef
Potage le Magnifique, a Breton dish

Breton cuisine is considered to be some of the very best in Tamriel, with many of Tamriel's greatest cooks having been Bretons.[268] Breton cuisine takes advantage of the effects of alchemy through cooking, with specific ingredients not mattering but the principles of composition, the balance of essences, flavors, oils, and herbs; the preparation of these meals can cause them to act as a potion might.[269]:28 The complexity of certain recipes means that some Breton cooks use sundials to track cooking times.[270] Examples of a light Breton meal include grilled and deboned rock pigeons, combwort chutney, ballom pudding, and syllabub (milk and cider).[271]

It is common practice for Breton families to store and serve cows' milk in porcelain pitchers.[272] Goat's milk is used to make cheese by the inhabitants of Stormhaven, which Bretons prize for its moistness.[273] Large ornate platters are used to present and serve beef roasts prepared in wine and spices for holidays.[274]

The chef Donolon was a legendary confectioner whose clientele included nobles and even Daedric Princes. Regardless of a person or entity's status, they might have to wait years to taste his most coveted creation, the Jubilee Cake.[275][276] The Surilie family are Bretonic vintners whose history stretches through at least three eras.[UOL 16][277] They produce some of the best wines in Tamriel, with it being particularly popular in Cyrodiil, where they established their vineyards at Skingrad, the wine-producing capital of Tamriel.[278][279]

Architecture[edit]

Construction of Breton villages and towns vary depending on their location. For example, buildings in mountainous regions such as Kambria are fully stone. In southwestern High Rock, buildings are comprised of wood or stone with thatched roofs. Breton cities are described as having an austere grandeur.[54][209] According to Imperial sources, function is valued over form, resulting in earthen, hand-crafted dwellings free from ornament.[40] In reality, Breton architecture often features patternwork, sometimes exceptionally ornate; basic patterns include common Breton motifs such as the trefoil and basic knotwork. More ornate examples on buildings such as castles, cathedrals, and guild buildings feature detailed friezes, bas reliefs, and intricate stained glass windows. The triquetra motif was particularly common during the mid-Second Era, and was featured on numerous Breton buildings, furniture and other crafts. Breton architecture features heavy use of the pointed arch, evident in their walls, doors, windows, and towers.[280] Pointed arches in Breton architecture are speculated to be a remnant of Direnni influence.[281]

Breton class stratification is reflected in their architecture, however, even the lower classes might have spaces that are fancy when compared to elsewhere.[UOL 15] Most people in High Rock live in small cottages in the countryside or townhouses in the cities; only the nobility and their servants live in large castles. Despite efforts under Tiber Septim to demilitarize the province by demolishing defensive structures, many villages are still surrounded by high walls, and fortresses dot the landscape.[38][209] In the Systres Archipelago, the norm is that medium end homes have red clay tile flooring, while high end homes have elegant parquet flooring.[UOL 17]

Breton architecture shares similarities to the "Western Imperial Style", a style synonymous with villages throughout the western Empire, but which also features prominently in Imperial centers in the east, such as Pelagiad and Caldera.[282][283] Both Imperials and Bretons have influenced Redguard cosmopolitan architectural styles.[284]

The druids create settlements where manmade constructions intertwine with and honor nature,[285][286] echoing the old druidic belief that civilization should develop alongside nature and not tame it.[67][nb 6]

Dutheil, the Mad Architect, was a Breton architect from the mid-Second Era whose talents led him to work for multiple Daedric Princes across the various planes of Oblivion, in exchange for the opportunity to commit vengeance against those that wronged him. He was known for his black-spired castles, with some being built on Nirn, such as the Crypt of Hearts.[287][288][289][290]

Fashion: Armaments, Cosmetics, etc.[edit]

Female Breton Fashion in 2E 582

Influenced by constant warfare, Breton fashion is very utilitarian with various flairs,[40] while Breton arts and crafts are influenced by their time under the Direnni.[13] Examples of both together are Breton armor and weapons, which are ornate but practical,[40] yet they also display a sophistication reminiscent of elven elegance.[13] For clothing, Breton men like to look good in their everyday wear while they're at their trades,[291] while women may add a feminine flair to their clothing.[292] Those seeking to display their wealth do so through rich fabrics and glistening ornamentation.[293] The nobility prefers clothing that is elegant yet austere, which harkens back to High Rock's tradition of knightly orders.[294] Nobles typically wear simple yet elegant robes over their clothing when traveling to avoid sullying them, and display their wealth through the metal fastenings holding the robes together.[295] Nobles from Wayrest are known to throw dress-up parties utilizing suits of fur from various animals, including werewolves.[296]

Breton plate armor

Breton arms are described as standard fare, in that when one thinks of a sword, a Breton blade will typically appear. Despite this, Breton arms and armaments are not unvaried and have can have their own flair, such as that shields may be emblazoned with lion heads, or staves can be carved and adorned with enchanted gems.[297] The mass-produced, one-handed, double-edged heavy broadsword commonly used by the Imperial Legions of the Third Empire were inspired by elaborate, decorated Breton broadsword designs. Broadswords are commonly used with shields, and Bretons favor the heavy tower shield. Highland Bretons were the first to use the heavy two-handed sword called the claymore, but their Redguard neighbors quickly adapted them to their own styles of fighting.[298] Breton bows tend to be longbows—weapons made of one piece of springy wood. Yew, elm, and ash are common in Breton longbows, as the wood is dense and strong, but flexible if tillered properly.[299] The Bretons of old were said to have put skyshard silvers into the hilts of their swords, while early mages are believed to have built staves from roots of the Wyrd Tree.[300]

Male Breton Fashion in 2E 582

Breton armor consists primarily of leathers, chainmail, scale mail, and plate armor, with tabards and heraldry added to the mix.[UOL 1][301][297] The wealthy are known to add additional materials in the forging process of their plate armor to vary the color of their armor.[297] Bretons see tanning as a fine art. Quality pieces can use soft hides from animals such as guars and cattle strategically placed at areas such as the joints of a gorget, or a wolf's hide for vambraces.[297] Werewolf leather is prized by both armorsmiths and alchemists, and it is known to be utilized especially by Glenumbrans.[296][302] For metals, Bretons are known to use a variety: iron and steel are common, with ebony among the more exotic options.[303] Paladins from Daggerfall found a way to make armor stronger than ebony using rubedite, a red ore.[304] Enchanted armor created with metalworking tools blessed by Akatosh and Zenithar was coated with a rubedite metal enamel, then tempered with captured dragonflame.[305]

Tradition dictates that mages Tamriel-wide wear sturdy and practical robes, as magic itself is their armor.[306] Magic as armor is especially true for Breton mages, who are known for utilizing their natural magical talents to stand their ground against the fiercest opponents in battle by summoning fierce daedra to aid them, or augmenting themselves with wards and bound armor.[307] Bretons utilize cloth to craft their light-weight armor, which may be structurally reinforced using bone, horn, or cartilage. The outer layer of jerkins and breeches may contain damask or ornamental silk. Underneath that is a layer or layers of durable fabrics such as cambric or burlap, which are often quilted or padded for protection from blows.[308] Distinct from mages are spell-knights, comparable to the Tamrielic tradition of battlemages, who may don heavy armor and wield melee weapons along with their spells in combat.[30][309] Breton spell-knights are known for full plate armor of varying materials, and due to their combat style, their enemies who survive are left scarred from flame and sword.[303][222] The armor used by the Daggerfall Covenant, notably their helmets and shoulder cops, were influenced primarily by Breton knightly orders.[310]

The Daggerfall Covenant's primarily Breton-Knight and Second Empire influenced armor

Druidic armorers, best described as plant-shapers, use their magic to improve their equipment's defensive and offensive traits. Their work is essentially vegetation carved and coaxed into intricate structures with a density nearly that of iron.[311][312] The wood used remains alive, aware, and unharmed. Druids also use leather for their armor, but with a sense of loss and respect for the animal it was harvested from.[312]

Tattoos from various Bretonic subcultures

In honor of their patron's sacrifice, its tradition for the Knights of St. Pelin to mix the blood of a new recruit into ink for tattoos featuring sword and wing iconography.[313] The Glenmoril Wyrd are thought to use spriggan sap in their tattoo ink, so that the wearer may form a more intimate bond with nature.[314] Druidic tattoos, which can be quite colorful, have been made out of mystic ink, and these markings can serve to respect, give in to, or placate nature.[315][316][317][318]

Hair discs have been utilized by Breton nobility.[319] Boarbristle brushes and straight razors are common Breton tools.[320] The "Breton Tonsure" is a hairstyle in which a part of the hair around the scalp is shaved and left bare.[321] "Azure Ombre" is a blue hairstyle created through an alchemical process by the Breton Dabienne Geontene during the Interregnum, whose dyeing methods were also adopted by people of other races.[322] Blue-haired Breton women were still common into the late Third Era.[323] Mariner beard oil is used by Gonfalon Bay sailors to keep their facial hair lustrous.[324] Away from the waves, elaborate up-dos are traditional in Breton high society, with illustrated guides available for brides seeking to marry into Breton families.[234] Seasalt spray is also used in these elaborate styles.[325] Breton nobles from High Isle use powdered pearls as an ingredient for mouthwash and also whiten the teeth.[326] Bretons employ manicure sets complete with nail clippers and more in fanciful shapes.[327]

Bretons utilize a variety of perfumes, colognes, and other scents. Aromatic scents of rain and smoke are popular,[328] and their bedchambers may smell of sweet smelling oil known as "Mara's bosom".[329] Some Bretons apply musk of black bears behind the wrists and ears,[330] and Breton royalty like that of Cumberland employ alchemists to create colognes just for them.[331] Some wealthy Bretons favor "Orc sweat cologne" to "unleash their inner Orc."[332] Not every Breton fragrance is meant to please other Bretons. The sisters of the Glenmoril Wyrd apply an herbal fragrance along their legs, as the guardian wolves who they live alongside seem to enjoy it.[333][334]

Domesticated Animals[edit]

Bretons raise a variety of domesticated animals for various purposes. Livestock such as Cows, Horses, Sheep, Pigs, and pets such as Dogs and Cats, can be found throughout High Rock.[335]

The Shornhelm Shepherd is a dog bred for sheep herding in Rivenspire's rugged terrain. They are known for their strength, speed, and their fierce loyalty, and they can be used as guard dogs.[336] The Great Daenian Hound are gentle giants bred by the Beldama Wyrd as protectors and companions. They were adopted as trackers by the werewolf-hunting Silver Dawn.[337][338] The Menevian Coachdog is known for its white coat with dark spots. They are perceptive and serve as deterrents to roadside hazards for the carts and coaches they often accompany.[339] The Breton Terrier, originally bred to kill rats around the Iliac Bay's docks, is known for its joyful disposition.[340] The Glenumbra Border Wolf resembles Breton dog breeds in coloration, and has been bred as a mount to carry couriers though harsh weather and the dark of night.[341]

Wealthy Bretons often let Piebald Cats wander the hidden passages of their manor homes. This tradition arose thanks to infestations of Sheogorath's never-there beetles, which the cats eventually purged.[342] The Indigo Senche-Panther, a Senche originally bred to be mounts by a reclusive family in Rivenspire, is said to hunt werewolves for amusement.[343] The Senche-Serval mounts originating from the Summerset Isles[344] have also seen some use in High Rock and the Systres. The Ashgray Senche-Serval breed, once only possessed by nobles of House Mornard, became a more common mount throughout Tamriel after the house fell on hard times.[345] The Knights of the Silver Rose utilized Senche-Servals to rid their fortress of pests and other troubles.[346]

The Evermore Painter's Moth, local to the eponymous city, is a moth whose natural pigments are utilized by artists for their paintings, a notable example being the portrait of Duke Blaise Guimard. Artists have domesticated and have even raised sanctuaries for these insects.[347] The ravens of Rivenspire, some of the smartest of Tamriel, have often served as companions.[348] The blue cockerals of Alcaire are known for their "noble duty" of screeching at daybreak which continues throughout the morning.[349] Two Chub Loon breeds are kept for companionship in the Systres. The Hay-Crown breed are seen as omens of good harvests, and they were originally from Rivenspire where they were rendered extinct, but those that were taken to High Isle survived.[350] The Fellbraun Chub Loon is native to the island of Galen, and are seen as a blessing from Y'ffre.[351]

The Bretons are known to keep a variety of mounts. They are integral to the way of life of the Bjoulsae River Tribes, and the power and splendor of Breton mounted knights has been proven in battle.[223] The Daggerfall Dapple Horse, favored by long distance riders, comes from the Farwatch region in Glenumbra.[352] The Coalsmoke Forge Horse was bred by Breton blacksmiths for the strength to work long hours.[353] In the King's Guard region of Glenumbra, the superstitious believe species of ram bred as steeds bring good luck.[354] Over in the Systres, the Oaken Order tamed green-hued mountain goats as mounts and companions.[355] Originally a Direnni creation,[356] Quasigriffs are cousins to Gryphons, and those of the Baysong breed are a colorful and flightless creatures adored by noble riders in the Systres.[357]

Maritime and Mercantile Industry[edit]

Bretons have a thriving and often intrepid merchant class that intersects with maritime activities.[1] "Merchant princes",[358] "warrior-merchants",[40] and "merchant knights"[43] are some societal archetypes, and Bretons that are encountered outside High Rock are often merchants or mercenaries.[12] Indeed, Bretons are often described as shrewd merchants, and as a race they are said to value prosperity over glory.[15] The Improved Emperor's Guide to Tamriel stereotypes Bretons as worshipping money over the Divines.[40] Sometimes Breton's merchant-oriented side of society manifests in a darker way via illicit activities. Breton lackeys and merchant lords have been involved in cartels, drugs, piracy, or at times even slavery.[359] High Rock's Coin-barons participated in slavery and other illicit practices during the First Era.[UOL 8][137]

Breton shipbuilders

Some of the earliest known Breton-made vessels are contained in the oral histories of the druids. It is said that Y'ffre taught the last Druid King how to sing seaworthy vessels into existence, and he in turn taught the druids to do the same. The plants and trees of High Rock are said to had been altered to the exact specifications needed to be used as materials for this endeavor.[59] Similarly, scholars theorize that the trees of the Systres island of High Isle were also influenced by the druids to be well suited for shipbuilding.[360]

By the mid-Second Era, Bretons dominated in the naval shipbuilding industry, centering most operations along their prime trade routes. In the Systres Archipelago, the Bretons of House Dufort became perhaps the premier shipbuilders of Tamriel. Vessels from Dufort Shipyards, which entered every navy, were ranked among the finest. Due to "integrated business concerns", they shared a mutual reliance with their rivals House Mornard, as Dufort vessels transported and protected a great deal of Mornard trade goods.[360][361]

The Bretons of High Rock primarily utilize the waters of the Iliac Bay, the Eltheric Ocean,[207] and the Bjoulsae River for trade. Strategic and economic concerns have led to a great deal of naval warfare over the years.[114] The Masconian Trade Way was created as an anti-piracy measure.[96][40] Not even the Bjoulsae River is safe, as its small islands often serve as bases for sea raiders.[362] One notorious island was known as Blackheart Haven, after a pirate captain that secured a fearsome reputation among the locals.[363][362]

A typical Breton merchant ship is a large wooden vessel rigged with square sails. These ships have also been utilized to carry troops.[40] Warrior-sailors from High Isle often take on posts on escort ships to hone their martial prowess on the seas.[364] During the Second Era, Breton ship architect Jeromec Lemal sought to revolutionize naval warfare by including thicker masts, extra backstays, a narrower keel, lighter ballastas, reinforced hulls, and other improvements.[365]

The Bretons of the Systres Archipelago export many raw materials and trade goods.[366] Primary industries include logging, mining, and shipbuilding.[136] An especially important commodity is Eltheric Ammonite, which washes up in the archipelago's shore. Collectors covet their beauty, while mages find them attractive as a perhaps more ethical raw source of magicka than soul gems.[366] Larimar is another important trade good, a milky-blue gemstone exclusive to the Systres, making it extremely rare and expensive.[263][136] Though it has become a highly coveted rarity over time,[136] shipments of Frog-Metal from the Systres isle of Amenos are still exported.[367] Druid-crafted volcanic jewelry has also been exported.[263]

The biggest source of Orichalcum in history was found near Wayrest circa 2E 561, which improved trade throughout High Rock.[148][368] Feathers belonging to Harpies, such as those from the Shrieking Scar in the Daggerfall highlands, are valued for use in quality calligraphy sets and kites.[40][369] Earthenware is a common form of pottery in High Rock, and is used for goods such as chamber pots.[370] Bretons engage in a great deal of interprovincial trade. Under the Daggerfall Covenant, goods of Hammerfell reached a broader market in High Rock, including luxuries such as tapestries, embroidered throw pillows, and delicious pomegranate wine. As a downside, trade became restricted and less frequent with eastern Skyrim, which joined the enemy Ebonheart Pact, and some dependent on Nordic trade went out of business.[371] The Bretons of High Isle, though, greatly profited due to their neutrality in the conflict.[4]

Recreation: Art, Sports, etc.[edit]

The Key Harp, favored in High Isle

Bretons have a variety of recreational activities. Bardic traditions serve as a unifying legacy for the Bretons,[39] with examples including works such as "The Gonfalon Maid" celebrating love, "Blessings of Y'ffre" for the eponymous god,[372] or "The Battle of Glenumbria Moors" for the historical and pivotal victory.[99] Kieran the Bard, a noted literary figure, inspired shrines called Kieran Theatres throughout the Iliac Bay,[373] while the bard and poet Darius Shano serves as a reminder to not deal with daedra.[196] Named the Poet-Champion by Potentate Savirien-Chorak, Nynelle Dumaris rose to prominence with her famous sonnets A Lissome Sprite and Fearless as the Sun following her victory in a poetry tournament in the Imperial City in 2E 400.[374][375][376] A painting called "Frolicking Trolls of Eastmarch", which depicts smiling frost trolls dancing in the snow, is said to be how a Breton imagines the frost trolls of Skyrim.[377]

Bretons play a variety of musical instruments. Lutes and drums are standard,[378] but they also play a variant of a lyre known as a talharpa,[379] and bugles often sound during war campaigns.[380] They have bellowing instruments known as concertinas,[381] while key harps are the favored instrument in High Isle.[382] Druids purportedly began using pan flutes after a group of Fauns proffered how to make them.[383] The Stonelore druids are known to wear a bracelet of bells during their ritual dances around fires.[384]

Bretons have a multitude of recreational activities, including a sport called "Bretonball", which is played with rackets.[385] Racing rowboats is a centuries old pasttime centered around the Bjoulsae River.[386] Shuttlecocks, traditionally used as a lure in falconry, were repurposed into a sport involving making it fly with wooden paddles.[387] Triangle Chess involves a three-sided board.[388] Khimera, themed around the Chimeras of legend, is a traditional Breton yard game played by children.[46] The denizens of High Isle enjoy "Proof", a murder mystery role-playing card game based on the Investigator Vale book series.[389]

Religion[edit]

Breton cathedral on High Isle
A statue of Arkay (ESO)

Bretons believe two opposing forces, called the Light and the Dark by some, have existed since before the gods were born. There are different interpretations, but they are said to be antithetical to each other, and evenly matched, but defy mortal conceptions of good and evil. They are technically immortal, as they do not live, only exist. The Aedra and Daedra are seen as pale reflections of the eternal conflict between the Light and Dark. Their endless struggle creates energies that distort their surroundings, and those energies are so powerful that life can appear.[390]

The undead and the Daedra tend to align with the Dark, as their natures are more akin to it. Mortals and the creatures of Mundus are more aligned with the Light. The evils of mortalkind more attuned to the Dark are incredibly dangerous. Magic is believed to come directly from the impersonal, intermingling energies swirling about both entities. Black magic is more a matter of intent than effect: destruction spells on their own are not black magic, for example, but are black magic when cast upon innocent people. The defeat of Daedra strengthens the light just a little. Conversly, the destruction of a Tamrielic creature strengthens the Dark. The gods are believed to mostly align with the Light, save for an ambiguous few. Mortals and those that reside in Aetherius can perceive traces of the Light and Dark; the Light inspires most mortals to behavior deemed good by human standards. What the denizens of Mundus can perceive of the Dark is utterly evil by human standards; those who have visions of the Dark are often driven mad. The Dark is described as an emptiness that draws the soul in to be twisted and destroyed.[390]

According to the forbidden texts of Stormhaven's Priory of the Golden Staff, Mehrunes Dagon was created by the Magna Ge to unmake the flawed creation of Mundus in accordance to Magnus's plans.[391][392] Some think Bretons are not disposed to "excessive religion",[60] while others consider them nearly as devout as Colovian Imperials.[40]

Religious History[edit]

The Wyrd Tree

The earliest Bretons, the Manmer, worshipped gods derived from the faiths of their Nedic and Aldmer ancestors, including Sheor[393] and Hircine.[9] These Manmer inherited a form of nature worship from the Nedes, but this faith split into two separate subcultures. The witches of the Wyrd became their own entity due to the elves, and these witches continue to worship "old gods of the ancient past".[9] Druidism, on the other hand, arose shortly after the Bretons first came about,[33][30] and their Y'ffre-centric religion survived in the Systres Archipelago after their exodus.[3] Druidism would later be reintroduced to mainland Tamriel, specifically around the Iliac Bay.[169][UOL 13]

Details of Aldmeri religious influence among the earliest Bretons are sparse. Evidence of peaceful cultural diffusion of religion between men and mer exists in the form of unearthed ancient idols of Mara as depicted in the elven pantheon.[74] Interestingly, Sheor is depicted positively in a lovers embrace with this elven Mara figure,[74] when Sheor is demonized in modern Breton religion,[37] just as the pantheon equivalent of Lorkhan was demonized by Aldmer.[394] Worship of elven gods still exists in modern Breton culture; Bretons that emphasize their elvish blood are often drawn towards Phynaster.[37] The gods Magnus and Y'ffre are traditionally associated with elven pantheons.[102] Druids claim that though the Nedes did not know the name "Y'ffre" until the "daughters and sons of … Anuiel" introduced it, they still felt Y'ffre's presence in their hearts and channeled his power.[33]

Most Bretons transitioned to the Eight Divines under the Alessian Empire. The Eight Divines are worshipped widely in mainstream Breton culture,[40] but other traditional deities still persist nonetheless. Sheor, Phynaster, Y'ffre and Magnus have significant cults in High Rock.[102]

Daedra worship is often seen in a negative light among Bretons. During the time of the Three Banners War, it was described as something needing to be cleansed.[153] Negative sentiments against it required intervention from King Kurog, who legitimized his people's religious worship among their Daggerfall Covenant allies by claiming that Mauloch wasn't a Daedric Prince like Malacath.[395] High King Emeric and his counselors tolerated the Spirit Wardens of Azura due to their charitable contributions, their ability to be inconspicuous, and their ability to produce potions capable of combating the nightmares inflicted by the Vaermina cult known as the Supernal Dreamers.[396] The Knights of the Silver Rose ousted a count of Daggerfall for his worship of Meridia during this time period.[397]

Major Gods[edit]

Akatosh

The Dragon God of Time is acknowledged as the first of the gods to emerge from the Beginning Place. He embodies endurance, invincibility, and everlasting legitimacy.[102] Akatosh is hailed by the Akatosh Chantry in the Iliac Bay, and the Order of the Hour is his sword.[398][399] He is the patron deity of Wayrest and the Isle of Balfiera.[400]

Arkay

Arkay (also spelled Ark'ay)[401] is the god of burials and funeral rites, and is associated with the seasons.[102] According to a Breton story, Arkay was originally a mortal who ascended to godhood. As the God of the Cycle of Birth and Death,[80] he is charged with keeping the balance of death and life in the universe.[401] In the Iliac Bay, the Order of Arkay celebrates the Blessed Neutrality that Arkay stands for. They do not offer blessings, for to give favor or disfavor upon one would upset the eternal balance. Their libraries and sages are some of the finest in Tamriel.[402] The Knights of the Circle are the military arm of the Order.[403] Arkay is the patron deity of the Ilessan Hills and Shalgora.[404] Arkay is also the patron of House Tamrith, who are devout followers of the Light.[405][406] The scions of House Tamrith study the Way of the Light and obey Arkay's teachings.[407] Their holy symbols bear the crest of House Tamrith and the symbol of the Light of Arkay.[408] Arkay's holy relics can be used to combat the undead.[409]

A statue of Dibella, Goddess of Beauty (Daggerfall)

Dibella

The Goddess of Beauty is very popular. She has many different cults dedicated to different aspects of her worship: some are dedicated to women, some to aesthetics and art, and others to erotic instruction.[102] In the late Third Era, the House of Dibella was responsible for the administration of temples dedicated to Dibella in the province of High Rock, and its militant branch, the Order of the Lily, was also active in the province at this time.[410] Dibella is the patron deity of the regions of Koegria and Menevia,[411] and is venerated as a member of the Breton pantheon.[102]

Jephre

Jephre (also known as Jeh Free)[412] is the God of the Forest and the spirit of the "now". Jephre is typically considered an elven god, and is understood to have turned himself into the Earth Bones and established the laws of nature.[102] He is still revered by some Breton hunters and farmers.[40] The Beldama Wyrd also worship him.[413] Bretons respect the Vicars of Jephre, a group of his adherents who are known defenders of the natural world.[414] The druids recognize Jephre as Y'ffre, the Green-King, the Slumbering Father of Nirn, who is their primary deity.[33]

Julianos

The God of Wisdom and Logic is a favorite of Breton mages. He is the god of history, literature, law and contradiction.[102] In the Iliac Bay, temples dedicated to him are known as Schools of Julianos.[415] As their name implies, these temples are considered educational institutions.[416] They are believed to have spread the term "magicka" to describe the "power associated with performing magic".[417] The templar knightly order associated with the School of Julianos is the Knights Mentor.[418] Julianos is the patron deity of the regions of Daenia, Dwynnen and Tulune.[419]

Systrean statue of Kynareth (ESO)

Kynareth

The Goddess of Air is a patron to sailors and travelers. Legend holds she was the first to agree to Lorkhan's idea to invent the mortal plane, and she provided a space for its creation. Kynareth is associated with rain.[102] The island of Betony is considered holy land of Kynareth. This was a factor for Daggerfall's involvement in the War of Betony. It was also the reason why the conflict escalated to the Battle of Cryngaine Field, which ended the war.[420] The Temple of Kynareth does her work in the Iliac Bay. In the Third Era, her Temple contained the greatest physicians in Tamriel; their ability to cure magical and mundane diseases was said to be unrivaled.[421] The Kynaran Order is the militant arm of the Temple.[422] Kynareth is the patron deity of Alcaire, Daggerfall and the Wrothgarian Mountains.[423] The air spirits Amaro, Pina, and Tallatha, are acknowledged as the fingers of Kynareth by the Skeffington Coven.[424]

Magnus

Magnus is the god of sorcery, who withdrew from creation at the last second. He is represented by a golden eye, an astrolabe or a telescope, but a staff is his most common symbol. Legend holds that he can possess powerful wizards and lend them power.[102] Breton followers of Magnus sometimes use wicker effigies as stand-ins for themselves when performing certain rituals.[425]

One known Breton sect that worshipped Magnus is the Priory of the Golden Staff. The Priory believed in Magnus's grand design for the Mundus, and his disappointment at the flaws introduced into his creation. They also believed that some of the Magna Ge once sought a tool to unmake what had been made wrong, in order that it could be remade in accordance with the Architect's plan.[391]

Mara

Mara is the Mother-Goddess, and is married to Akatosh in Breton lore.[102] She is the patron deity of several regions of High Rock, such as Anticlere, Betony, Glenumbra Moors, and Northmoor.[426] In Anticlere, the 21st of Last Seed is known as Appreciation Day, an ancient holiday of thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest. It is considered a holy and contemplative day devoted to Mara, the goddess-protector of the region.[427] Temples dedicated to the Divine are administered by the Benevolence of Mara, a religious organization dedicated to Mara and her teachings, and can be found in major urban centers throughout the province.[428] The Maran Knights are a controversial knightly order dedicated to Mara and the protection of her temples.[429]

Phynaster

Phynaster is an Altmer hero-god who is the patron deity and teacher of the Direnni. He is often worshipped by Breton mages who care about their elven blood.[102]

Sheor

Also known as the Bad Man, Sheor is the source of all strife. He originated as a god of crop failure, and is believed to be a demonized version of the Nordic Shor.[102] Some sculptings created by the Bretons' Nedic ancestors have been found in Glenumbra, which portray what appears to be their version of Sheor before he was villianized, paired with Mara as an Aldmer.[74]

Systrean statue of Stendarr (ESO)

Stendarr

Stendarr (also known as Shandar) is known as the God of Mercy, and is the patron of magistrates, rulers, and knights errant. He is a god of compassion and righteous rule.[102] Temples dedicated to the Divine can be found throughout the Iliac Bay. Administered by the Temple of Stendarr, a religious organization dedicated to Stendarr and his teachings, the temples offer healing and training to the population of the Iliac Bay. Some mock their compassion, calling them sentimental fools and tenderhearts; but everyone depends on Stendarr when Sai, the God of Luck, abandons them.[430] The Crusaders, also known as the Knights of Stendarr, are a knightly order dedicated to him which protect his temples against its adversaries, such as the Citadel of Ebonarm.[431] Stendarr is the patron deity of Bhoriane, Phrygias and Urvaius.[432]

Zenithar

Zenithar (often shortened to Z'en) is the God of Work and Commerce, a cultivated god of merchants, artisans, and middle nobility. His faithful tout him as a god "that will always win".[102] He teaches Bretonkind that they will be rewarded if they work hard. He also teaches them to be wise in their spending, and to never steal from others. Many of his rewards are those of the spirit: being productive, whether farming, smithing, or creating, honors Zenithar. Zenithar wishes for his faithful to find joy in their work.[433] In the Iliac Bay, the Resolution of Zenithar pays heed to the god.[434] Zenithar is not merely the God of Merchants and Commerce; he is also a warrior god. The militant arm of the Resolution, the Knights of Iron, represent this part of him.[435] Zenithar is the patron deity of Gavaudon, Kambria and Glenpoint.[436]

Minor Gods[edit]

Baan Dar

Baan Dar (also known as "the Bandit")[412] is noted to be a considerable force within the lands of High Rock by Arkan the Wise, a Second Era scribe of Daggerfall. The First Scroll of Baan Dar, which Arkan transcribed, say Baan Dar manifests across Tamriel to aid people in times of need.[437] This aspect to his character is explored in the historical-fiction novel, King Edward, when Queen Aliera praises him along with other gods for bringing her husband Moraelyn and son Edward back to her safely.[412] He is known to be revered by the Thieves Guild branch in the Iliac Bay.[438]

Druagaa

The Old Goddess of Flowers. A festival named Gardtide is still held in her honor on the 1st of Rain's Hand every year by the people of Tamarilyn Point, a coastal region of Menevia in central High Rock.

Ephen

Ephen (also known as S'ephen)[417] is the center of a temple-cult who worships him as The God of the Wild[UOL 18]. He was a Chimer noble that was active during the early First Era. In death, he was given the duty of safeguarding the Horn of Summoning and eventually the Staff of Chaos. Statues of Ephen depict him wielding a hammer, atop of an anvil of adamantium,[88] and shrines dedicated to him can be found across the Iliac Bay.[373]

Jhim Sei

Jhim Sei is little known, though their sphere of influence may revolve around music, since in the historical fiction King Edward, they are compared to Jephre, the elven God of Song and Forest.[412] There are shrines dedicated to Jhim Sei across High Rock.[373]

Mara's Tear (left) and Shandar's Sorrow (right)

Mara's Tear and Shandar's Sorrow/Stendarr's Sorrow

Mara's Tear and Shandar's Sorrow, originally mortal lovers in a forbidden relationship, are the ancient Bretonic interpretations of the moons. After Shandar suffered a mortal wound defending his lover, the goddess Mara took the two mortals and placed them in the heavens so they could always be together, and the light of their love could shine upon the world as moonlight.[439] Ancient druids had Mara's Tear and Shandar's Sorrow as witnesses to sanctify rituals.[62][440]

Notorgo

Notorgo is known as the Messenger God.[UOL 18] He is mentioned in the King Edward series of books, where Queen Aliera praises Notorgo along with other gods for bringing her husband Moraelyn and son Edward back to her safely.[412]

Q'Olwen

Little is known about this deity, except that it is associated with those in pursuit of lore.[UOL 18] Q'Olwen is worshipped in the Iliac Bay area, where shrines to him can be found.[373]

Raen

Raen is the Breton God of Agriculture.[UOL 18] Reliquaries of Raen can be found across the Iliac Bay region.[373]

Reymon Ebonarm

Reymon Ebonarm is the God of War, a deity of some significance to the Bretons.[441] He is featured in the Bretonic historical novel King Edward. He has shrines in the Alcaire, Daenia, Daggerfall, Dwynnen, Ilessan Hills, Kambria, Wayrest, and the Wrothgarian Mountain regions of High Rock.[373]

Sai

Sai is the God of Luck. He was born a mortal and had the talent to spread luck to others, but not to himself. Legend says he was a soldier, struck down in his first battle just as it was won. Ebonarm appeared to him, and offered him immortality if he agreed to spread his luck around. He said the gods were overworked, and thought Sai's inborn talent would balance things out. He readily agreed, and he was told that he could keep his body for a time before it began to fade.[442] Excessive worship of Sai causes the disease known as Sai's Affliction. Sufferers of the disease have been abandoned by Sai, and long for the god's presence. They are driven to incessant gambling, seeking proof of the god's favor. This usually leaves the victim in poverty or debt.[442] Followers of Sai sometimes convert to worshipping Stendarr when Sai abandons them.[443] Reliquaries dedicated to Sai can be found throughout the Iliac Bay region.[373]

Sethiete

Sethiete (also called Seth)[444] is a deity that is worshipped across Tamriel. The nature of Sethiete is unknown, but what is known is his influence. His places of worship are known as the Temples of Sethiete, and one of his temples is a landmark in the city of Camlorn that anchors the main street with the Royal Palace.[445]

Vigryl

Vigryl (also called Vir Gil)[412] is the God of the Sea worshipped in the Iliac Bay region.[373][UOL 18] People pray to Vigryl to bring them better weather.[UOL 18]

Saints[edit]

The Bretons have saints that are affiliated with a god, and have usually performed great deeds.

Statue of Saint Stental

Ellenica

Saint Ellenica was a priestess of Arkay.[409] Her prayer book is a holy relic, and contains passages that can be read to put the dead to rest.[446] She was buried in Flyleaf Catacombs with her prayer book, which was retrieved in 2E 582.[447]

Marben

Saint Marben is a saint of Arkay.[409][448] Saint Marben's Fingerbone is a holy relic of Arkay, and was buried at Sanguine Barrows until it was retrieved from Saint Marben's grave in 2E 582.[449][450]

Octavien

Saint Octavien was a Priest of Arkay who was slain with a scythe by Daedra worshippers.[451] The broken scythe blade that killed Octavien is a holy relic of Arkay. It was buried in a tomb near Lorkrata Hills until it was retrieved by a Knight of Arkay in 2E 582.[452]

Saint Pelin

Pelin

Saint Pelin the Martyr was a Breton priest of Stendarr that ascended to the role of sainthood following his divine act in the defense of the Bangkorai Garrison in 1E 1029, which in turn, brought the province of High Rock into the First Empire of Cyrodiil. He had become a folk hero to the Bretons of Evermore and the greater region of Bretonic-Bangkorai, memorialized by the chapel of St. Pelin in Evermore, the Order of Saint Pelin, the knightly order of the Kingdom of Evermore, and the great cemetery called Pelin Graveyard.

Stental

Saint Stental slew the demon of Overlook Hill (also called "the Leaper"), rescuing the three Sisters of Kynareth from an untimely death.[453] A statue dedicated to him was built where the demon was slain.[454]

Vitache

Saint Vitache is the Patron of Millers, Scissor-Grinders, and Bathhouse Attendants. She was honored daily by the millers of Northglen in 2E 582.[455]

Revered Persons[edit]

Kasorayn, the last Druid King

Druid King

The Druid King (or Druid Queen and Archdruid) is more accurately described as a title rather than a person. It is a position for the highest authority among the druids, and a philosophical figure that is revered in High Rock. The role of Druid King is not inherited, as titles among the druids are earned.

The Druid King has the authority to bind and command the nature spirits safely, entities that are as unpredictable as nature itself. The Druid King has dominion over nature in that they can bring prosperity or make nature run amok.

Eleidon

Eleidon was a renowned holy Breton knight of legend. He was recorded in Breton history as a highly esteemed individual, admired for his bravery and unwavering commitment to set all wrongs right and fight against any injustices. Many stories exist about Eleidon's gallant and brave deeds, including a particularly well-known tale in which he saved a baron's daughter from certain death at the hands of a warlord. In recognition of his noble acts, the baron expressed his gratitude by commissioning the creation of an enchanted shield, known as Eleidon's Ward. This artifact was imbued with magical properties, allowing the wielder to heal wounds.

Gyron Vardengroet (The Sage)

Gyron Vardengroet is an immortal wizard of legend that was born in the early years of the Second Era, and was prophesied by the Gods as a champion that would be sent down to guide others and bring wisdom. His exploits would earn him the title of The Sage, and Great Sage. Physically, he is described as a tall, bald, and bearded Breton with dark eyes, an indigo robe trimmed with gold, a pointed wizard's hat, and an intricately carved staff. He is the primary figure in the books The Sage, Feyfolken, and The Final Lesson. Gyron has monuments erected in his reverence in both High Rock and Hammerfell. He was listed alongside Voernet and Druid King Kasorayn as one of the most powerful Breton mages in history. According to Divayth Fyr, "Gyron Vardengroet" was not his real name.

I'ric Harad Egun

I'ric Harad Egun (sometimes shortened to I'ric) was the Altmer archmagister of the Crystal Tower, believed to be alive sometime in the early-mid First Era. His name is widely known and is comparable to the likes of Moraelyn, the Witch-King of Ebonheart, and Ebonarm, the God of War. According to the historical fiction, King Edward, his name is implied to have significant weight, and so throughout the story, he is simply referred as the ArchMagister. He is worshipped at altars in High Rock and Hammerfell.

Kieran

Kieran the Bard is a figure that is shrouded in mystery. Some of his stories have been lost, while others were successfully documented. His recorded tales fall into three categories dubbed the Woodland Cycle, Castles and Kings, and an unnamed lustful category. Some stories have become mere shells of the original and are now simple bedtime stories, and it is unknown if his stories are based on true events, allegory, or if they were simply written to entertain. He has shrines called Kieran Theatres in Hammerfell and High Rock, and he is of significance to Bretons. A Bretonic ruler of a kingdom neighboring the Bloodfall Kingdom is rumored to have had a tale of Kieran staged for the Old Life Festival.

A statue representing the Viridian Sentinel

The Viridian Sentinel

The Viridian Sentinel protects the human inhabitants of northern Bangkorai from the beasts and witches that live in the forest. According to the legend of the Viridian Sentinel, long ago the Direnni forged a covenant with the Earth Bones to protect their settlements located throughout all of High Rock from the wild. The Bretons, who displaced the Direnni, had no such arrangement, and as a result their farms in Bangkorai were gradually overrun by the wilderness. The people were pushed to the brink of starvation, causing a young boy called Greenward to pray to Stendarr for salvation. Stendarr taught him to forge a new pact with the forest, giving him the power to restrain the natural creatures within. He thus became the first Viridian Sentinel.

The Viridian Sentinel has great power over the forest, and can use this power to perform potent feats of magic. When the Glenmoril Wyrd became bound to the forest, they also gave some deference to the Sentinel due to that connection (though they had not been a party to the original pact). Although Viridian Sentinels were known for their longevity, over time, the Sentinel ages like other mortals, and must pass on their power and title to a new mortal before death. Their eyes age at a normal rate, however, and therefore a Sentinel usually requires a monocle when reading to counteract deteriorating eyesight.

Artifacts[edit]

Chrysamere

Chrysamere[edit]

Chrysamere (also called the Chrysamere Blade, or the Chrysamere) is an ancient adamantium claymore artifact with offensive capabilities only surpassed by its defenses. It has magical properties which, unlike most weapons, are defensive in nature: it heals the wielder, grants them resistance to fire, and reflects hostile spells. It is unaligned, and is not a Daedric artifact. Chrysamere was forged in the late Merethic Era by the Breton swordsmith Asterie Bedel, who delighted in using the techniques of both man and mer in her creations. In Chrysamere's case, this most clearly manifests in the placement of her maker's mark, a "mage's knot" within the heart of the sword that is said to harken back to the earliest days of Bretonic culture. Chrysamere is also said to have been influenced by the magic of Breton society's Elven forebears, and it gained further enchantments over time. Chrysamere does not typically stay with one swordsman for long, for it chooses not to favor one champion. It has earned the title of the Sword of Heroes, but it also goes by other names such as the Sword of Kings and the Blade of Blades. Chrysamere is considered a holy weapon, and in this context it is referred to as the Sword of the Paladin, or simply the Paladin's Blade.

Druid King's Regalia

Druid King's Regalia[edit]

The Druid King's Regalia consists of a crown, a gauntlet, and a staff which were created by the god Y'ffre. These gifts were worn with wisdom and mercy by the line of Druid Kings,[440] and serve to legitimize one's ascension to the Ivy Throne.[170] After the death of Kasorayn, the last Druid King, they remained dormant within sacred seeds entrusted to the three main Druidic Circles.[62] The regalia supposedly has no innate power of their own,[67] but after a pretender stole the Druid King's Regalia, they almost brought upon the Green Scourge which would have called forth the wrath of nature upon Tamriel but they were slain before being able to do so.[162]

Eleidon's Ward

Eleidon's Ward[edit]

Eleidon's Ward is an enchanted shield especially built for Saint Eleidon, a renowned holy Breton[456]:241 knight of legend. One of the many stories about him is that he saved a baron's daughter from sure death at the hands of a warlord, and the baron spent all his riches on the creation of the shield to show his gratitude. Eleidon's eponymous shield grants the wielder the opportunity to heal their injuries.[44]

Lady Garick's Sacred Shield

Lady Garick's Sacred Shield[edit]

Lady Joslin Garick was a premier captain for the All Flags Navy. Aside from her exploits, she was known for what she referred to as her "Sacred Shield". This eponymous ward she claimed was blessed by a saint of Arkay, though long after her passing, legends would paint it as Arkay himself who endowed his power into it. The shield was said to preserve the wielder's life, in that no injury would befall them. The legends seemed to have some merit, for her crew would always return safely. However, the one instance she left her shield behind, she and her crew met their demise during the All Flags Navy's assault on Thras.[126][457]

Ring of the Pale Order

Ring of the Pale Order[edit]

The Ring of the Pale Order was a signet ring belonging to a prominent member of the Bretonic Knights of the Pale Order, who were known for their persecution of the Direnni when they fled to Balfiera around the end of the Fifth Century of the First Era. The ring is said to give off a cold surge of power and a deep nagging paranoia, and it invigorates the wielder as they inflict damage to their wielder. However, the more people who accompany the wearer, the less potent the enchantment. Thus, members of this knightly order were known for keeping their own company, and rumors abound of them and their associates being vampires or resorting to dark magics. It was not uncommon to see members of the Pale Order covered in blood yet growing stronger as battles went on.[458][459]

Shade Sickle

Shade Sickle[edit]

The Shade Sickle is a Breton-made weapon with the ability to separate the living from their shadows. This leaves its victims fated to gradually become hapless beings akin to thralls. Though mortal in origin, it is now a daedric artifact associated with the Daedric Prince Nocturnal, who was given the weapon at one point after its potential was realized. Nocturnal considers it a powerful instrument of her will. Despite its common appearance, the blade is preternaturally sharp, and those who gaze at it experience a deep sense of foreboding.

Gallery[edit]

Appearances[edit]

Miscellaneous[edit]

Notes[edit]

  • Bretons traditionally fulfill the role of being the European medieval race of The Elder Scrolls universe.[UOL 19]
  • Bretons pull from many influences, such as from the real-world Bretons,[citation needed] the Celtic,[UOL 20] and the French.[UOL 21]
  • ^ The Morrowind Codex map denotes provinces by color, and has the Systres Archipelago with the same color as Hammerfell.[461]
  • ^ Although they are thought to share descent, Bretons do not consider themselves kin to the Reachmen, and the Reachmen do not see themselves as Bretons.[462][463] This sentiment is shared by other races.[464]
  • ^ Rivenspire in ESO was originally planned to include the spirits of these race of giants that were called "hill giants". The region would have also had Bretons with hill giant heritage called hillmen that were larger than the average person, similar to the half-giant race. These hillmen would have also had some Nordic heritage. Only a loading screen hinting at these hill giant's existence remains in the final game, but the term hillmen still appears as a demonym for Rivenspire's people in the book The Fury of King Ranser in reference to Ranser.
  • ^ 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.
  • ^ The book On the War of Righteousness states that the Alessian Order refrained from sending a military response to High Rock until after the marriage between the children of King Desynan of Skingrad and Queen Margert Gardner of Wayrest in 1E 2319.
  • ^ In the Systres Archipelago, druidic architecture is intended to invoke the feeling of a culture that has embraced nature yet is not primitive.[460]
  • In A History of Daggerfall, the Direnni were originally described as native Bretons. Although they are described to be predominantly Altmer in later content, they still have some humans in their ranks.
  • House Telvanni in Morrowind often prefers to hire Bosmer and Bretons as mercenaries to ensure they are left in peace.[465]
  • Bretons have a higher tolerance to alcohol but take longer to recover.[466]
  • Artist Dennis Mejillones, who created the NPC model art for Skyrim, mentioned this in regards to the aesthetic of Bretons: "I put all my [facial] features in the game, so I can make myself in the game, so I actually drew my eyebrows that's one of your options, and the facial hair -- all that stuff. So I even had screen capture somewhere of myself [as] my character the game, it was the Bretons." Jonah Lobe asks, "So basically the Bretons are Cubans?" to which Dennis responded, "Basically yeah, in my mind [laughs]!"[UOL 22]
  • Julian Lefay, the game director of Daggerfall, has a thick Danish accent, and narrates the introduction and endings of Daggerfall himself. He also voices the Ghost of King Lysandus, which would mean the Bretons, at least those of Daggerfall possessed the real world Danish accent of Lefay. However, this was obviously not carried forward for later games.[467]

See Also[edit]

Books[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o The Bretons: Mongrels or Paragons?Phrastus of Elinhir
  2. ^ a b Crimes of the Daggerfall CovenantAicantar of Shimmerene, Sapiarch of Indoctrination
  3. ^ a b Systres HistoryTrilam Heladren, Associate Dean of Eltheric History, University of Gwylim
  4. ^ a b c d e f g High Isle Preview—The Zone from the official ESO website
  5. ^ a b Breton Race Backgrounds in Oblivion Remastered
  6. ^ a b c Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition: All the Eras of Man, A Comprehensive History of our HistoryImperial Geographical Society, 3E 432
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Modern Day Bretons: Man or Mer? — Vastyr Historian Filibert Beauchamp
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Loremaster's Archive - Tamriel's DungeonsDhulef
  9. ^ a b c d e f Loremaster's Archive - The Druid Circles of GalenLaurel of the Stonelore
  10. ^ a b Breton Race Description in Arena
  11. ^ a b Anton Virane's dialogue in Skyrim
  12. ^ a b c Skyrim - The Adventure Game Race descriptions
  13. ^ a b c d Crafting Motif 5: Breton StyleDoctor Alfidia Lupus
  14. ^ Breton Race Description in Shadowkey
  15. ^ a b c d Daggerfall Covenant game guide on the official ESO website
  16. ^ a b c Breton dialogue topic in Morrowind
  17. ^ The SageAegrothius Goth
  18. ^ a b c Holidays of the Iliac BayTheth-i
  19. ^ a b King Edward, Part IX — Anonymous
  20. ^ High Elf racial abilities in Morrowind and Oblivion
  21. ^ Shifty Tom's dialogue in ESO
  22. ^ Captain Blackheart's LogCaptain Blackheart
  23. ^ Interview with a Dark Elf
  24. ^ The Real Barenziah, v 2 — Anonymous
  25. ^ a b c d Loremaster's Archive - House TelvanniDivayth Fyr
  26. ^ Margrette Canne's dialogue in ESO
  27. ^ a b The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook Vol. 2 — Erin Kwong, Victoria Rosenthal
  28. ^ a b c Daggerfall User's Guide
  29. ^ a b Betrayal of the Second Era Limited Edition Art and Lore Book
  30. ^ a b c d e f g Legacy of the BretonsStefan Mornard
  31. ^ a b c Introduction to the Lore of The Elder Scrolls Online
  32. ^ a b c d Draoife Storystone codex entries in ESO: High Isle
  33. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Wyrd and Druid — Archdruid Barnabe's Discourse with Mainlanders, 2E 553
  34. ^ a b c d Meet the Character - Sir Stefan MornardKnight Commander Jourvel
  35. ^ a b c d e f Sir Stefan Mornard's dialogue in ESO: Firesong
  36. ^ a b Count Damard Dufort's dialogue in ESO: High Isle
  37. ^ a b c Varieties of Faith: The BretonsBrother Mikhael Karkuxor of the Imperial College
  38. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition: High RockImperial Geographical Society, 2E 864
  39. ^ a b c d e f Provinces of Tamriel
  40. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v The Improved Emperor's Guide to Tamriel: High RockFlaccus Terentius, 2E 581
  41. ^ a b c Alana Relin and Commander Parmion's dialogue during A Step Back in Time in ESO
  42. ^ a b Knight of the Direnni passive during A Step Back in Time and The Nameless Soldier quests in ESO
  43. ^ a b c d e f g The Knightly Orders of High RockLady Cinnabar of Taneth
  44. ^ a b c Tamrielic LoreYagrum Bagarn
  45. ^ a b Dame Helenie's QuestSir Randyl of the Order of the Albatross
  46. ^ a b The Beast of GalenPhrastus of Elinhir
  47. ^ a b Breton Race Description in Daggerfall
  48. ^ The Art of Skyrim
  49. ^ The Infernal CityGreg Keyes
  50. ^ Illustration of a typical Breton male
  51. ^ Pointed Ears for Bretons during Character Creation in ESO
  52. ^ a b The Viridian Sentinel
  53. ^ a b c d Systres History: Volume 4Trilam Heladren, Associate Dean of Eltheric History, University of Gwylim
  54. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition: The Sons and Daughter of the Direnni West: High RockImperial Geographical Society, 3E 432
  55. ^ Barrowton's JournalBarrowton
  56. ^ a b Breagha-Fin's loading screen in ESO
  57. ^ a b c Frontier, ConquestUniversity of Gwylim Press, 3E 344
  58. ^ Druid Audrine's dialogue in ESO: High Isle
  59. ^ a b c d e Exodus of the DruidsDruid Laurel of the Stonelore Circle
  60. ^ a b c d e f A History of DaggerfallOdiva Gallwood
  61. ^ Nedic Hex Totem codex entries in ESO: Greymoor
  62. ^ a b c d e f g Druid King Kasorayn's dialogue in ESO: Firesong
  63. ^ Before the Ages of ManAicantar of Shimerene
  64. ^ a b OnceBeredalmo the Signifier
  65. ^ Bailiff Erator's dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  66. ^ Druid Farel's dialogue in ESO: High Isle
  67. ^ a b c d e f g h i Druid Ryvana's dialogue in ESO: High Isle
  68. ^ a b c d e f g h Loremaster's Archive - Bretons & High IsleLady Arabelle
  69. ^ Wyress Demara and Wyress Linnae's dialogue in ESO
  70. ^ a b Wyress Matilde's dialogue during Sojourn of the Druid King in ESO: Firesong
  71. ^ Druid Peeska's dialogue in ESO: High Isle
  72. ^ a b c d e f g Systres History: Volume 1Trilam Heladren, Associate Dean of Eltheric History, University of Gwylim
  73. ^ High King Emeric's dialogue in ESO: Firesong
  74. ^ a b c d Manmer Coupled Idol codex entries in ESO: Greymoor
  75. ^ a b Loremaster's Archive - Infinite ArchiveMaster Malkhest
  76. ^ a b Fragment: On ArtaeumTaurce il-Anselma, 3E 400
  77. ^ Lost LegendsTalsgar the Elder, Archivist of Winterhold
  78. ^ Daynas Valen's NotesDaynas Valen
  79. ^ The Legendary Sancre TorMatera Chapel
  80. ^ a b c d e The Daggerfall Chronicles — Ronald Wartow
  81. ^ Secrets of AmenosMiramel Charascel, Chairperson of the Gonfalon Bay Historical and Social Society
  82. ^ Druidic Knotwork Body Tattoos body markings description in ESO
  83. ^ Crafting Motif 93: Ancestral Breton StyleSerge Serlyn, "Military Scholar of Much Renown"
  84. ^ a b Systres History Addendum: The Druids of GalenVarona Vedralu, Senior Lecturer, University of Gwylim
  85. ^ The Annotated Dream of KasoraynZamshiq af-Halazh, Associate Folklorist at the University of Gwylim
  86. ^ Stonelore Circle Effigy in ESO
  87. ^ a b Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition: SkyrimImperial Geographical Society, 2E 864
  88. ^ a b The Real Barenziah, v 4 — Anonymous
  89. ^ a b King Edward, Part X — Anonymous
  90. ^ Rislav The RighteousSinjin
  91. ^ a b c d A Life of Strife and StruggleKing Laloriaran Dynar
  92. ^ Tower of AdamantHrerm House-builder, Bards College, Solitude
  93. ^ a b Rislav The RighteousSinjin
  94. ^ a b c d Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition: OrsiniumImperial Geographical Society, 3E 432
  95. ^ a b c d e f g Bangkorai, Shield of High Rock — King Eamond
  96. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wayrest, Jewel of the BaySathyr Longleat
  97. ^ The Last King of the AyleidsHerminia Cinna
  98. ^ Day of Release information in Daggerfall
  99. ^ a b c The Battle of Glenumbria Moors
  100. ^ a b The Horse-Folk of SilverhoofDoctor Nabeth al-Gilane, Khefrem Academy of Yokudan Heritage
  101. ^ a b c Ring of the Pale Order codex entries in ESO: Markarth
  102. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Varieties of Faith...Brother Mikhael Karkuxor of the Imperial College
  103. ^ Logbook of Druid AnwasDruid Anwas
  104. ^ a b c Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition: The Sons and Daughter of the Direnni West: High RockImperial Geographical Society, 3E 432
  105. ^ King Edward, Part IV — Anonymous
  106. ^ a b Systres History: Volume 2Trilam Heladren, Associate Dean of Eltheric History, University of Gwylim
  107. ^ Redguards, History and HeroesDestri Melarg
  108. ^ Crafting Motif 28: Ra Gada StyleLady Cinnabar of Taneth
  109. ^ a b Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition: Other LandsImperial Geographical Society, 3E 432
  110. ^ a b Sentinel, the Jewel of Alik'rThe Unveiled Azadiyeh, Songbird of Satakalaam
  111. ^ Yokudan King's dialogue in ESO
  112. ^ a b c d e f Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition: CyrodiilImperial Geographical Society, 2E 864
  113. ^ The Great Siege of Orsinium
  114. ^ a b c d e Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition: The Wild RegionsImperial Geographical Society, 2E 864
  115. ^ The MirrorBerdier Wreans
  116. ^ Scholar Cogline's dialogue in ESO
  117. ^ The Ashes of Our Fathers quest in ESO: Orsinium
  118. ^ From The Memory Stone of Makela LekiMakela Leki
  119. ^ The Royal House of King EamondSeneschal Derric Andras of Castle Evermore
  120. ^ a b Tusks of the Orc-Father codex entries in ESO: Greymoor
  121. ^ The Improved Emperor's Guide to Tamriel: HammerfellFlaccus Terentius, 2E 581
  122. ^ a b 1. The Thrassian Plague
  123. ^ a b c Systres History: Volume 3Trilam Heladren, Associate Dean of Eltheric History, University of Gwylim
  124. ^ Journal of Tsona-EiTsona-Ei
  125. ^ The All Flags Navy Started Here
  126. ^ a b c Cynric Ginise's dialogue in ESO: High Isle
  127. ^ a b Systres Knightly OrdersEdana Augier, Knight Chronicler
  128. ^ The Sea Stone
  129. ^ Secession Stamp Block codex entries in ESO: Greymoor
  130. ^ a b On the War of RighteousnessValenca Arvina, Historian-in-Residence at Gwylim University
  131. ^ Noble Knight's Rest codex entries in ESO: Greymoor
  132. ^ a b Systres History: Volume 5Trilam Heladren, Associate Dean of Eltheric History, University of Gwylim
  133. ^ a b Legacy of the DragonguardKiasa-Veda, the Chronicler of Blades
  134. ^ Maiko K'Elmar's dialogue in Redguard
  135. ^ Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition: The Seat of Sundered Kings: CyrodiilImperial Geographical Society, 3E 432
  136. ^ a b c d e Systres History: Volume 6Trilam Heladren, Associate Dean of Eltheric History, University of Gwylim
  137. ^ a b High King Emeric's dialogue in ESO: High Isle
  138. ^ Spire of the Crimson Coin loading screen in ESO: High Isle
  139. ^ Squire Rayan's dialogue in ESO: High Isle
  140. ^ a b High King Emeric Answers Your QuestionsHigh King Emeric
  141. ^ Rozag gro-Khazun's dialogue in ESO
  142. ^ King Renwic's dialogue in ESO
  143. ^ Atlas of DragonsBrother Mathnan
  144. ^ Purifier's JournalPurifier Cyrus
  145. ^ Crafting Motif 8: Orc StyleDoctor Alfidia Lupus
  146. ^ Frostbreak Fortress loading screen in ESO: Orsinium
  147. ^ a b c d e The Fury of King RanserWafimeles Masteret (Lorekeeper)
  148. ^ a b c d e Guide to the Daggerfall Covenant
  149. ^ Orcs of SkyrimThora Far-Wanderer
  150. ^ Marisette's dialogue in ESO
  151. ^ Gerard Althen's dialogue in ESO
  152. ^ a b Triumphs of a Monarch — His Majesty King Emeric
  153. ^ a b c True Heirs of the EmpireErystera Ligen
  154. ^ Orcs? Could Be Worse
  155. ^ Orcs: The Vermin Among UsAbsolon Sorick
  156. ^ A Warning to the Aldmeri DominionErystera Ligen
  157. ^ Meet the Character(s) - The Ascendant Lord and MagusAdandora, Chronicler-at-Large
  158. ^ The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle & Update 34 Now Live on All Platforms on the official ESO website
  159. ^ The Society of the SteadfastPhrastus of Elinhir
  160. ^ The Ascendant Storm quest in ESO: High Isle
  161. ^ Lord Bacaro's JournalLord Bacaro Volorus
  162. ^ a b c d Druid Laurel's dialogue in ESO: Firesong
  163. ^ Events of The Hidden Lord in ESO: High Isle
  164. ^ Events of The Ivy Throne in ESO: High Isle
  165. ^ Battle of Sancre Tor
  166. ^ The Arcturian HeresyThe Underking, Ysmir Kingmaker
  167. ^ a b Corpse Preparation
  168. ^ Krisandra's dialogue in Redguard
  169. ^ a b c Death cutscene in Daggerfall
  170. ^ a b c Archdruid Orlaith's dialogue in ESO: Firesong
  171. ^ Breton exclamations in Arena
  172. ^ Breton exclamations in Daggerfall
  173. ^ a b c d e Etiquette With RulersErystera Ligen
  174. ^ a b c d e The Fall of the UsurperPalaux Illthre
  175. ^ Map of Iliac Bay – The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
  176. ^ The Warp in the WestUlvius Tero
  177. ^ Lord of SoulsGreg Keyes
  178. ^ The Great War — Legate Justianus Quintius
  179. ^ a b Episode 2: The Corsair Conspiracy quest in The Fall of the Dark Brotherhood in Legends
  180. ^ Cicero's Journal - Volume 2Cicero
  181. ^ Dialogue between Ulfric Stormcloak and Galmar Stone-Fist in Skyrim
  182. ^ The Real Barenziah, v 5 — Anonymous
  183. ^ Banker's BetPorbert Lyttumly
  184. ^ 16 Accords of Madness
  185. ^ The RefugeesGeros Albreigh
  186. ^ Crafting Motif 71: Coldsnap StyleLandal Gevont, Scholar of Goblins, Invisible College of Daggerfall
  187. ^ School of Julianos faction information in Daggerfall
  188. ^ Battle of Sancre Tor
  189. ^ a b 2920, First SeedCarlovac Townway
  190. ^ Words and Philosophy
  191. ^ Chance's FollyZylmoc Golge
  192. ^ a b True Heirs of the EmpireErystera Ligen
  193. ^ Garel Green-Garters, Usquebald Emax, Moumou Edier, Sextus Denter, Marcius Cipius, and Nari Buteo's dialogue in ESO
  194. ^ A Royal EmbarrassmentAemilianus Falto, "A Concerned Citizen"
  195. ^ Timeo Dubroc's dialogue in ESO: High Isle
  196. ^ a b 16 Accords of Madness, v. IX
  197. ^ a b Albense Varin's dialogue in ESO: High Isle
  198. ^ Charbel Pamarc's dialogue in ESO: High Isle
  199. ^ a b Famed Artifacts of TamrielYagrum Bagarn
  200. ^ The Cake and the DiamondAthyn Muendil
  201. ^ Thirsk, a History -- RevisedBereditte Jastal
  202. ^ a b Noble Ranks and TitlesHercian, Steward at Castle Navire
  203. ^ Loremaster Celarus' dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  204. ^ Wind and SandAfa-Saryat
  205. ^ Meryline Barthel's dialogue and actions during the quest A Father's Pride in ESO
  206. ^ Fahamal, TraderFahamal
  207. ^ a b c d e Glenumbra's PeopleAldous Brousseau
  208. ^ Cambray Hills Academy of Art Sketchbook item description in ESO
  209. ^ a b c Charwich-Koniinge, Volume 1 — Charwich
  210. ^ Ilyes, huntsmanIlyes
  211. ^ a b One Tamriel: See the Sights of Rivenspire on the official ESO website
  212. ^ Overheard at The Crow's Foot Inn
  213. ^ Lorkrata Hills loading screen in ESO
  214. ^ Shornhelm, Crown City of the NorthLord Wylon, 39th Baron Montclair
  215. ^ The Remnant of LightBeredalmo the Signifier
  216. ^ Wynaldia's dialogue in ESO
  217. ^ Bloodfiends of RivenspireNalana, Advisor to House Tamrith
  218. ^ House Tamrith: A Recent HistoryChancellor Regina Troivois, the Department of Interior Affairs
  219. ^ The Barrows of Westmark MoorSathyr Longleat the Elder
  220. ^ Traditions of the Lion Guard
  221. ^ List of required skills for all Knightly Orders in Daggerfall
  222. ^ a b Crypt of the Heart - Draft — Ariana Dumas
  223. ^ a b Witch Knight Charger mount description in ESO
  224. ^ Temples and Templar Knightly Orders in Daggerfall
  225. ^ a b c Systres History: VastyrVarona Vedralu, Senior Lecturer, University of Gwylim
  226. ^ Louna Jolvanne's dialogue in ESO: High Isle
  227. ^ Lendanor's dialogue in ESO: High Isle
  228. ^ Druid ScapegoatsDruid Nivienne of the Eldertide Circle
  229. ^ Countess Ilise Manteau's dialogue in ESO
  230. ^ Julien Rissiel's dialogue in ESO
  231. ^ Meet the Character - Forge-Mother AlgaTugha
  232. ^ Mathias Raiment's JournalMathias Raiment
  233. ^ Breton Love Charm item description in ESO
  234. ^ a b Breton Braids for Breton Brides item description in ESO
  235. ^ Bronzed Baby Teeth item description in ESO
  236. ^ Nedic Sword Pommel item description in ESO
  237. ^ First Era Rivenspire Tea Service item description in ESO
  238. ^ Temporary Candlefly Lantern memento description in ESO
  239. ^ Lovelorn Comforter item description in ESO
  240. ^ Lovelorn Quilt item description in ESO
  241. ^ Lost Hope Quilt item description in ESO
  242. ^ Malachite Needle item description in ESO
  243. ^ JokesButha Sunhous
  244. ^ Mystery of Talara, v 4Mera Llykith
  245. ^ Amorous Incense of Mara item description in ESO
  246. ^ Waking Day holiday in Daggerfall
  247. ^ The Sea Runs Restless quest in ESO: Firesong
  248. ^ Minahel's NoteMinahel
  249. ^ Ritual of Life's Commencement
  250. ^ Ebony Mermaid Figurine item description in ESO
  251. ^ The Story of Princess Eselde
  252. ^ Ludovic Laumont's hireling correspondence #203 in ESO
  253. ^ The Daggerfall Chronicles, pg.8
  254. ^ To Dream Beyond Dreamsthe Omen of a Hundred Prophecies
  255. ^ Abbot Durak's dialogue in ESO
  256. ^ Breton Funeral Urn item description in ESO
  257. ^ Mummies in Daggerfall
  258. ^ Defiler Spirit in ESO
  259. ^ King Edward, Part I — Anonymous
  260. ^ Broken DiamondsRyston Baylor
  261. ^ House Tamrith Official Seal codex entries in ESO: Greymoor
  262. ^ Isobel Veloise's dialogue in ESO: High Isle
  263. ^ a b c Oakensoul Ring codex entries in ESO: High Isle
  264. ^ Saturalia Tree Decoration in Blades
  265. ^ Saturalia information in Daggerfall
  266. ^ Waking Day information in Daggerfall
  267. ^ Gardtide information in Daggerfall
  268. ^ Gianna's dialogue during To Kill an Empire in Skyrim
  269. ^ The Infernal CityGreg Keyes
  270. ^ Bronze Windowsill Sundial item description in ESO
  271. ^ Picnic at Pelin (A Horror Story)DeWitte Bourbois
  272. ^ Porcelain Milk Pitcher item description in ESO
  273. ^ Cheeses of Skyrim: Riften, FalkreathB.
  274. ^ Spiced Brewet Serving Platter item description in ESO
  275. ^ Chef Donolon's dialogue in ESO
  276. ^ Ache for Cake quest in ESO
  277. ^ Surilie Brothers Wine appearance in Skyrim
  278. ^ Gaston Surilie's dialogue in Oblivion
  279. ^ Skingrad Rumors in Oblivion
  280. ^ Appearance of Breton settlements and furniture in ESO
  281. ^ Breton Well, Storm Grey codex entries in ESO: High Isle
  282. ^ Caldera dialogue topic in Morrowind
  283. ^ Pelagaid dialogue topic in Morrowind
  284. ^ Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition: HammerfellImperial Geographical Society, 2E 864
  285. ^ Glimmertarn: A Stonelore CommunityManon Rolaine
  286. ^ Initiate Hinadin's dialogue in ESO: Firesong
  287. ^ To All Who Pass ThroughDutheil
  288. ^ The Endless Stair loading screen text
  289. ^ Tubidan the Alarmist's dialogue in ESO
  290. ^ Requisition OrderDutheil
  291. ^ Wayrest Suede Doublet Ensemble costume description in ESO
  292. ^ Corseted Riding Outfit costume description in ESO
  293. ^ High-Collared Coin Ball Gown costume description in ESO
  294. ^ Soiree in Camlorn Evening Suit costume description in ESO
  295. ^ Courtly Traveling Attire costume description in ESO
  296. ^ a b Menninia's dialogue in ESO
  297. ^ a b c d Arms and Armor of the Breton Champion, Vignac Antieve of Evermore
  298. ^ Garothmuk gro-Muzgub's dialogue in Morrowind
  299. ^ Bowyer and FletcherHoary Durotzel, the Wood Butcher of Ska'vyn
  300. ^ Ancestral Breton Style antiquity entries and motif description in ESO
  301. ^ Armored Knights Pack various costume descriptions in ESO
  302. ^ Hide of the Werewolf generic and unique items dropping in Glenumbra in ESO
  303. ^ a b Spell Knight Armor equipment in Skyrim
  304. ^ Rubedite Ore surpassing Ebony Ore in ESO
  305. ^ Daggerfall Paladin costume description in ESO
  306. ^ Undeniable Truths of AttireElenuume the Impeccable
  307. ^ Breton Race Description and related content in Legends
  308. ^ Clothier: Light Armor BasicsLady Eloisse, Fifth Countess Manteau
  309. ^ Folly in FixationEstiraamo
  310. ^ Crafting Motif 26: Daggerfall Covenant StyleGeneral Baryctor Stelanie
  311. ^ Y'ffre's Will Style motif description in January 2023 Crown Store Showcase
  312. ^ a b Crafting Motif 115: Y'ffre's Will StyleNauriel Elaia, Head Arborist of the Systres Horticultural Society
  313. ^ Knights of St. Pelin Body Marks body markings description in ESO
  314. ^ Glenmoril Wyrd Body Markings item description in ESO
  315. ^ Touch of the Draoife Face and Body Marks item descriptions in ESO
  316. ^ Y'ffelon's Face and Body Brand item descriptions in ESO
  317. ^ Eldertide Face and Body Ink item descriptions in ESO
  318. ^ Touch of the Draoife Face and Body Marks item descriptions in ESO
  319. ^ Bronze Hair Disc item description in ESO
  320. ^ Case of Fine Shaving Articles item description in ESO
  321. ^ Breton Tonsure description in ESO
  322. ^ Azure Ombre appearance in ESO
  323. ^ Female Breton cosmetic options during Character Creation in Daggerfall
  324. ^ Mariner Beard Oil item description in ESO
  325. ^ Seasalt Spray item description in ESO
  326. ^ Powdered Pearl Mouth Rinse item description in ESO
  327. ^ Decorative Manicure Set item description in ESO
  328. ^ Eau de Amenos item description in ESO
  329. ^ Mara's Bosom Aromatic Oil item description in ESO
  330. ^ Bear Musk Oil item description in ESO
  331. ^ Cologne of Cumberland item description in ESO
  332. ^ Orc Sweat Cologne item description in ESO
  333. ^ Glenmoral Guardians in ESO
  334. ^ Glenmoril Wyrd Leg Cologne item description in ESO
  335. ^ Passive Creatures locations in Daggerfall
  336. ^ Shornhelm Shepherd pet description in ESO
  337. ^ Great Daenian Hound description in ESO
  338. ^ Silver Daenian Werewolf Tracker pet description in ESO
  339. ^ Menevian Coachdog pet description in ESO
  340. ^ Breton Terrier pet description in ESO
  341. ^ Glenumbra Border Wolf mount description in ESO
  342. ^ Piebald Cat pet description in ESO
  343. ^ Indigo Senche-Panther mount description in ESO
  344. ^ Sapiarchic Senche-Serval mount description in ESO
  345. ^ Ashgray Senche-Serval mount description in ESO
  346. ^ Silver Rose Senche-Serval mount description in ESO
  347. ^ Evermore Painter's Moth pet description in ESO
  348. ^ Eyebright Raven pet description in ESO
  349. ^ Alcaire Blue Cockeral in ESO
  350. ^ Hay-Crown Chub Loon in ESO
  351. ^ Fellbraun Chub Loon in ESO
  352. ^ Daggerfall Dapple Horse mount description in ESO
  353. ^ Coalsmoke Forge Horse mount description in ESO
  354. ^ King's Guard Ram description in ESO
  355. ^ Oaken Order Mountain Goat description in ESO
  356. ^ Quasigriff description in ESO
  357. ^ Baysong Quasigriff description in ESO
  358. ^ Northpoint: An AssessmentChancellor Regina Troivois
  359. ^ Abah's Landing Merchant LordsTamonir, Master of Secrets for the Queen of Taneth
  360. ^ a b A History of Shipbuilding, Vol. 1 of 27Edana Augier, Systres Historian
  361. ^ History of House DufortKaera Metrick, House Historian and Chronicler
  362. ^ a b Blackheart Haven loading screen in ESO
  363. ^ Glirion the Redbeard's dialogue in ESO
  364. ^ Sailor-at-Arms costume description in ESO
  365. ^ Jeromec Lemal's dialogue in ESO
  366. ^ a b Mysteries of the Eltheric AmmoniteKaladiran, Arcane Naturalist
  367. ^ Captured by the Dreadsails — Sailor Lerisa Bruhl
  368. ^ Triumphs of a Monarch, Ch. 10 — His Majesty King Emeric
  369. ^ Harpy Feather Calligraphy Set and Harpy-Wing Kite items in ESO
  370. ^ Ceramic Shornhelm Chamber Pot item description in ESO
  371. ^ Comments of Maxence, bankerMaxence
  372. ^ High Isle bardic performances in ESO
  373. ^ a b c d e f g h Associated shrine locations in Daggerfall
  374. ^ The Poet-Champion of VastyrChanter Milius, Priest of Dibella
  375. ^ A Lissome SpriteNynelle Dumaris, Poet of Galen
  376. ^ Fearless as the SunNynelle Dumaris, Poet of Galen
  377. ^ "Frolicking Trolls of Eastmarch" item description in ESO
  378. ^ Bisquelas the Bard's dialogue in ESO
  379. ^ Dozzen Talharpa
  380. ^ Lion Guard Bugle item description in ESO
  381. ^ High Isle Concertina item description in ESO
  382. ^ Key Harp in ESO
  383. ^ Druid's Whispering Willow Flute, Play Pan Flute emote descriptions
  384. ^ Druid's Whispering Willow Flute|High Isle Concertina item description in ESO
  385. ^ Bretonball Victory Plaque item description in ESO
  386. ^ Bjoulsae Racing Oar item description in ESO
  387. ^ Gull Feather Shuttlecock item description in ESO
  388. ^ Noble House Triangle Chess Set item description in ESO
  389. ^ Proof! item description in ESO
  390. ^ a b The Light and the DarkIrek Unterge
  391. ^ a b Doombringer Celdina's TestamentDoombringer Celdina
  392. ^ Meet the Character - Sister CeldinaCaptain Rian Liore
  393. ^ Curator Nicholas' dialogue in ESO
  394. ^ Varieties of Faith: The High ElvesBrother Mikhael Karkuxor of the Imperial College
  395. ^ Ask Us Anything: Daggerfall Covenant (Part 1)
  396. ^ Master Altien's dialogue in ESO
  397. ^ Artifact Record: Opal CharmChief Archivist Bartholomew
  398. ^ Akatosh Chantry faction information in Daggerfall
  399. ^ Order of the Hour faction information in Daggerfall
  400. ^ Patron deities for Wayrest and the Isle of Balfiera in Daggerfall
  401. ^ a b Ark'ay The GodMymophonus the Scribe
  402. ^ Order of Arkay faction information in Daggerfall
  403. ^ Knights of the Circle faction information in Daggerfall
  404. ^ Patron deities for Shalgora and the Ilessan Hills in Daggerfall
  405. ^ House Tamrith Prayer Shawl item description in ESO
  406. ^ Inspirational Illuminations of the Light item description in ESO
  407. ^ House Tamrith: A Recent HistoryChancellor Regina Troivois, the Department of Interior Affairs
  408. ^ House Tamrith Holy Symbol item description in ESO
  409. ^ a b c Alvaren Garoutte's dialogue during Archaic Relics in ESO
  410. ^ House of Dibella and the Order of the Lily faction information in Daggerfall
  411. ^ Patron deities for Koegria and Menevia in Daggerfall
  412. ^ a b c d e f King Edward, Part 2 — Anonymous
  413. ^ Witch Cults of Northern High RockWafimeles Masteret (Lorekeeper)
  414. ^ Priest of the Green costume description in ESO
  415. ^ School of Julianos faction information in Daggerfall
  416. ^ The Ransom of ZarekMarobar Sul
  417. ^ a b King Edward, Part XII — Anonymous
  418. ^ Knights Mentor faction information in Daggerfall
  419. ^ Patron deities of Daenia, Dwynnen and Tulune in Daggerfall
  420. ^ The Daggerfall Chronicles/Narrative
  421. ^ Temple of Kynareth faction information in Daggerfall
  422. ^ Kynaran Order faction information in Daggerfall
  423. ^ Patron deities of Alcaire, Daggerfall and the Wrothgarian Mountains in Daggerfall
  424. ^ 2920, Hearth FireCarlovac Townway
  425. ^ Magnus Cult Wicker Effigy item description and appearance as a common contraband item from Glenumbra in ESO
  426. ^ Patron deities of Anticlere, Betony, Glenumbra Moors and Northmoor in Daggerfall
  427. ^ Appreciation Day in Daggerfall
  428. ^ Benevolence of Mara faction information in Daggerfall
  429. ^ Maran Knights faction information in Daggerfall
  430. ^ Temple of Stendarr faction information in Daggerfall
  431. ^ Crusaders faction information in Daggerfall
  432. ^ Patron deities of Urvaius, Bhoriane and Phrygias in Daggerfall
  433. ^ Mysteries of the Divines
  434. ^ Resolution of Zenithar faction information in Daggerfall
  435. ^ Knights of Iron faction information in Daggerfall
  436. ^ Patron deities of Gavaudon, Kambria and Glenpoint in Daggerfall
  437. ^ The First Scroll of Baan DarArkan
  438. ^ Parchment mentioning him during A Noble's Debts in Daggerfall
  439. ^ Mara's TearZhen
  440. ^ a b Elder Verline's dialogue in ESO: Firesong
  441. ^ The Ebon Arm — The Imperial Library
  442. ^ a b King Edward, Part IX — Anonymous
  443. ^ Follower of Stendarr dialogue in Daggerfall
  444. ^ Gideon location and rumors in Arena
  445. ^ Mystery of Talara, v 1Mera Llykith
  446. ^ Saint Ellenica's Prayer Book quest item description in ESO
  447. ^ Matthiaume's JournalMatthiaume
  448. ^ Edweg's Resignation NoteEdweg
  449. ^ Edweg's dialogue during Archaic Relics inESO
  450. ^ Saint Marben's Fingerbone quest item description in ESO
  451. ^ Talisman of Saint Octavien item description in ESO
  452. ^ Cesabelle's dialogue during Archaic Relics in ESO
  453. ^ Saint Stental
  454. ^ The Statue of Saint Stental's location near Dreughside in ESO
  455. ^ Northglen Farm OpportunitiesMarge Gaercroft
  456. ^ The Morrowind Prophecies: Game of the Year Edition — Peter Olafson
  457. ^ Amunara's dialogue in ESO: High Isle
  458. ^ Ring of the Pale Order description and bonus in ESO
  459. ^ Ring of the Pale Order codex entries in ESO
  460. ^ a b Firesong Developer Preview—The Zone on the official ESO website
  461. ^ Map of TamrielMorrowind Codex
  462. ^ Ask Us Anything: Lore
  463. ^ Arthenice Belloq Answers Your QuestionsArthenice Belloq
  464. ^ Orsimer Enemies Ear Collection contraband in ESO
  465. ^ Races dialogue topic in Morrowind
  466. ^ Alcohol stats for Bretons in Arena
  467. ^ Daggerfall Cinematics

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.