Lore:Dark Anchors

Dark Anchors fall in Cyrodiil

Dark Anchors were metaphysical devices which were used to weaken the barrier between Nirn and Coldharbour, allowing the two realms to be merged. They were created in the Black Forge using an interstitial alloy known as Tyranite Calx, and further infused with soul gem fragments and trace other components. The chains were comprised of ebony-alloy cold-iron. Dark Anchors were created for use in the Planemeld, Molag Bal's attempted conquest of Nirn which occurred after the Soulburst. Singular Dark Anchors are capable of pulling portions of Nirn into Coldharbour.

The Planemeld

The Great Shackle

The Great Shackle is the ultimate Dark Anchor; a massive device capable of completing the Planemeld on its own accord. The flames used to forge the Great Shackle were fueled by a substance called the Charcoal of Remorse. Once cast, the device was quenched in the Blood of a Thousand Innocents.

Powering the Planemeld

"The nightmare began with muffled trumpets. Then silence. The toll of a bell. Even the wind died down. Then it came. First the grinding, shrieking metal scraping and unraveling. Chains descended from the skies, giant claws drew Daedra to Nirn and sent more souls to Him. Molag Bal's Dark Anchors, forged in the Slave Pits of Coldharbour."
—Flaccus Terentius

It takes considerable power to form a connection to Nirn across Oblivion. Due to the considerable power required to form connections to Nirn across Oblivion, Soul Shriven are useless. Powerful mortals, especially magic-users, provide the most effective and clean source of energy, but most of the power for Dark Anchors came from elemental Atronachs. Flame and Frost Atronachs provided enough power, but volatile Storm Atronachs provided the most, and thus a great number were used to launch the Dark Anchors and the Great Shackle.

Creatures used to power the Planemeld through the Great Shackle were entrapped within a prism. Magicka conduits were used to drain the life force of imprisoned organisms. This energy was volatile; reversing the flow of energy through the magicka conduits would break the control locks and overload the prism. This destroyed the source of power, ultimately depriving the Planemeld of precious fuel.

Dolmen construction was interrupted in the Wrothgarian Mountains, as the Orcs of the newly-built Orsinium used the Black Worm Clan's ancient power stones to construct the city. The stones were stolen before the anchors even began to fall, forcing the cultists to start anew.

Ending the Planemeld

During the joint invasion on Coldharbour by the Fighters and Mages Guilds in 2E 582, the Vestige and Vanus Galerion entered the Black Forge to destroy the Great Shackle. They succeeded, but soon learned the Shackle had created a Planar Vortex, whose existence threatened to swallow Nirn. The two guilds mustered their forces, and with the aid of the last Ayleid king, the army was able to reach the Planar Vortex. Those who survived the assault on Molag Bal's inner sanctum were joined by Meridia, who was responsible for giving the guilds a safe haven in Coldharbour. The Vestige unleashed the Light of Meridia at the Planar Vortex's core, destroying it and effectively ending the Planemeld.

See Also

• For game-specific information, see the Elder Scrolls Online article.

Books

• The Black Forge by Kyngald Nazkrixor — A report outlining the construction of the Great Shackle
• Powering the Dark Anchors — Notes on inner workings of Dark Anchors and the methods of powering them
• The Source of Power — Notes on the forging of the Great Shackle and its role in the Planemeld

Gallery

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  The Great Shackle

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  Inside the Black Forge, where the Dark Anchors were constructed

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  Dolmen concept art

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  Concept art of a Dark Anchor portal