Lore:Mournhold

Mournhold
Type	Settlement
Continent	Tamriel
Province	Morrowind
Region	Deshaan (Lagomere)
Demonym(s)	Mournholdian, Almalexian
Appears in	Arena, Tribunal, ESO

The High Chapel circa 3E 427

Mournhold, the City of Light and Magic, also known as the City of Gems, the City of Love and Charity and as Mourning Hold was the capital city of Morrowind and the largest and oldest city in the province. Mournhold is located in the heart of the Deshaan region of Morrowind's southern mainland, and is the district seat of House Indoril. It was a temple-city of the Tribunal Temple, and during the Third Era the greater city area was named Almalexia after its patron deity, one of the living gods of the Tribunal, with only the central temple compound retaining the name Mournhold.

Almalexia disappeared from the city in 3E 427, amid rumors that she had been slain by the Nerevarine. In 4E 6, the city was sacked during the Argonian invasion, and the capital of Morrowind was moved to Blacklight. By 4E 201, the last traces of Almalexia were being removed from the Temple, and the city was once again solely referred to as Mournhold.

Mournhold was a truly ancient city, possibly predating the Dunmer themselves, and was rumored to be built over the ruins of a vast Dwarven city. However, there were no ruins visible on the surface. The rumor proved true in 3E 427 following the discovery of Bamz-Amschend beneath the city, with its vast domes and unique machines.

History

The Royal City of Old Mournhold

A manor in the buried ruins of Old Mournhold circa 3E 427

Map of Morrowind

The rivalry between Ebonheart and Mournhold dates back nearly to the dawn of history. At one time, the two city-states had been one, ruled over by Clan R'Aathim, whose royal house held the High Kingship of Morrowind. Ebonheart later split into two separate city-states, Ebonheart and Mournhold.

The royal city of Old Mournhold was destroyed at the end of the First Era in 1E 2920 by the Daedric Prince Mehrunes Dagon. Almalexia and Sotha Sil came too late to prevent this destruction, but they managed to banish Mehrunes Dagon back to Oblivion. Upon his defeat, Dagon sought to have a final laugh, and flung a piece of Mournhold into his realm with the inhabitants intact.

Mournhold in the Interregnum

Mournhold circa 2E 582

During the Three Banners War, Mournhold served as the capital of the Ebonheart Pact, an alliance of the three races of eastern Tamriel—Nords, Dunmer, and Argonians—following their joint victory in expelling the Second Akaviri Invasion. The Great Moot of the Pact convened in the city, and was presided over by Jorunn the Skald-King, High King of Eastern Skyrim.

In 2E 582, the city was infiltrated by the Maulborn, a secretive Daedric cult posing as a charity organization. Because of this, the city was on high alert and no one could enter without being registered. Part of the Maulborn force managed to enter the Tribunal Temple through the sewers and opened portals to Oblivion inside. They were eventually defeated by the Vestige, who worked with Almalexia to eradicate the Maulborn threat. However, the cult was able to steal the artifact The Judgment of Saint Veloth from the temple.

During the Tiber War, the city was sacked by the Imperial legions, and was subsequently placed under military rule for a dozen years. Following its conquest by Tiber Septim and General Symmachus, it was gradually returned to civilian government and Queen Barenziah later ruled the Imperial Province of Morrowind from here.

The City of Almalexia

Map of Mournhold in the late Third Era

In response to Tiber Septim's rising greatness, Almalexia commissioned an expansion and rebuilding effort in Mournhold. As a whole, the city then became known as Almalexia in her honor. The historic center of the city, containing the Tribunal Temple compound, retained the name of Mournhold.

During the Imperial Simulacrum in the late Third Era, the city-state of Mournhold was an active settlement. It was ruled by King Zirik, and it had a rivalry with various cities, including Narsis, Necrom, and Tear. It was neighbored by several settlements, including Amber Forest in the east, Darnim Watch in the north, Eagle Moor in the west, Ebonheart in the northwest, Old Keep in the southwest, and Silnim Dale in the south.

During the Arnesian War, the city came under attack in the ensuing revolt and General Symmachus was slain. Barenziah fled and abdicated her throne to her uncle, King Llethan. Llethan eventually died (amid rumors of being poisoned), and Helseth took the throne.

The Royal Palace of King Helseth formed the center of the inner city and was home to the king, his mother Barenziah and a Royal Guard garrison, as well as Imperial Cult services. The Temple to the north housed the High Chapel, home to Almalexia. The chapel also included the offices of the Archcanon, an infirmary, and the personal guard of the goddess, the Hands of Almalexia.

The city had five primary sections: Godsreach, the Great Bazaar, Plaza Brindisi Dorom, Royal Palace, and the Temple Courtyard. The ruins of Old Mournhold, upon which the city of Almalexia was built, were accessible through the city's sewer system.

The Fall of Almalexia

In the late Third Era, Mournhold suffered a series of cataclysms. Fabricants, creatures created by the reclusive god Sotha Sil, suddenly appeared in the city in 3E 427 and began attacking all who lived there. The Dwemer ruin Bamz-Amschend was suddenly revealed in the attack, and subsequently became accessible though Plaza Brindisi Dorom. The creatures were defeated, but then the living god Almalexia disappeared amid rumors that she had gone mad, murdered Sotha Sil, and unleashed his creatures on the city, finally being slain by the Nerevarine.

Mournhold during the Red Year

Following the aftermath of the Red Year in 4E 5, Mournhold was the center of relief efforts to Vvardenfell led by House Redoran. Around a year later, the city was sacked by the invading Argonians of Black Marsh and Morrowind's capital was moved to Blacklight. Mournhold was still being rebuilt in 4E 201, a shadow of its former self. Mournhold Temple was renovated and the last traces of Almalexia were removed. Plaza Brindisi Dorom now houses a large building used by House Indoril to accommodate the new priests and pilgrims who come to pay their respects at the New Temple.

Gallery

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  Plaza Brindisi Dorom, circa 3E 427

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  Great Bazaar (Morrowind)

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  Godsreach (Morrowind)

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  City Center (ESO)

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  Mages Guild guildhall (ESO)

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  Plaza Brindisi Dorom, circa 2E 582

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  Royal Bazaar (ESO)

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  Girvu Stables (ESO)

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  Mournhold Taskmaster (Legends)

Notes

Wretched Spire

• Arena was originally conceived as a fighting game featuring a tournament that took the player to each of Tamriel's cities to challenge different gladiatorial teams. According to a file from that stage of development left behind in the final game, Mournhold's gladiatorial team would have been called "the Blade Dancers".
• A part of Old Mournhold was ripped from Tamriel during Mehrunes Dagon's attack in 1E 2920. This fragment was transported to a region of the Deadlands known as the Sever, hidden and protected by unknown means. These ruins became the settlement known as Wretched Spire, and acted as a sanctuary for mortals and for Daedra who do not wish to be summoned or bound to any master. Due to the strange passage of time within Dagon's realm, six hundred years on Nirn was the equivalent of mere decades for the mortal inhabitants of Wretched Spire.

References

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.