Description
The Imperial City in the heartland of Tamriel is the ancient seat of power and the capital of the Empire of Tamriel. From the First Era until now, the White Gold Tower is the central of the Tamriel cultures and the beacon of the Imperial authorities.
The White Gold Tower was once the Ayleid city with its gleaming white architecture and magnificent statues. Below the city, there is a complex underground sewer, structures and labyrinths; and still exist to these days. Only small number of these labyrinths and sewers are mapped, maintained and controlled by the Imperial. Some large parts are not, and one needs extra hands and securities venturing these locations.
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The Imperial City
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Above ground, the gleaming Imperial City is clearly seen from miles. The city is walled in circle shape. Inside the city there are seven districts, Green Emperor Way or the Palace District, Market District, Arena, Arboretum, Talos Plaza, Elven Gardens and Temple District. There are two other smaller walled districts outside the city, Arcane University in the southeast and the Imperial Legion in the northeast. The last district is the harbor, the Imperial Waterfront, in the southwest.
The Green Emperor Way, is the central district with the Imperial Palace, the White Gold Tower, is located. The Emperor Uriel Septim VII with the Elder Council controls and rules the provinces of Tamriel from the Imperial Palace. Inside this White Gold Tower is also stored the Elder Scrolls, powerful tools of prophecy and divination, guarded with fanatical devotion by the blind Moth priests and the Imperial Legion.
A cemetery of the nobles and important persons surrounds the Imperial Palace. From this district six gates lead to other districts in the city.
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The Imperial Palace
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Council Chamber
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The Elder Scrolls Library
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Elven Gardens District
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Start from the northwest, the district of Elven Gardens, is the pleasant residential area, supported with two well-known inns, Luther Broad's Boarding House and The King and Queen Tavern.
Talos Plaza in the west part of the city is an exclusive residential area and the main gate of the city. The district is supported with an exclusive inn. The Tiber Septim Hotel is an expensive hotel for prosperous and important visitors of the city. In the center of the district, stands a statue of Akatosh, the Dragon God of Time, in his dragon aspect. A famous spot for chattering and meeting. One of the famous people who live in this district is the artifact collector Umbacano. His manor just across the street of the statue of Akatosh.
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Statue of Akatosh of Talos Plaza District
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Temple District
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Temple District is the location of the great and ancient Temple of the One. The temple is nearly as old as the White Gold Tower and was created back in the First Era, after the Queen Alessia established the Empire of Men from the ruins of the Ayleid. Inside the temple is where the Dragonfire burn. It is said, "...So long as you and your descendants shall wear the Amulet of Kings, then shall this Dragonfire burn -- an eternal flame -- as a sign to all men and gods of our faithfulness. But should the Dragonfires fail, and should no heir of our joined blood wear the Amulet of Kings, then shall the Empire descend into darkness..."
In the Temple District, an inn called The All-Saints Inn opens its door for visitors and pilgrims alike. The gateway in the southwest leads to the Waterfront district.
Arboretum is the garden in the southeast of the city. In this area, stand the statues of Nine Divines: Akatosh, Kynareth, Zenithar, Julianos, Stendarr, Mara, Dibella, Arkay, and Talos or Tiber Septim in the middle, encircled by other statues of Gods. The gateway in the southeast leads to the Arcane University.
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Arboretum
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The Arena
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Statue of Alessia
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Statue of Morihaus
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Next is the Arena district. This is location of the Arena, the place of gladiator combat. Two groups fight in scheduled time, the blue team and the yellow team. Visitors must bet on a match before they can enter the Arena to enjoy the show; or join one of the groups as a combatant. The business is handled professionally in the basement of the Arena, called the Bloodworks.
Two statues landmarks the district, the statue of Queen Alessia in the south part of the district and the statue of Morihaus in the north. Queen Alessia is the first ruler of Cyrodiil Empire and the founder of the Nine Divines; while Morihaus is depicted as a pit fighter who led Alessia's armies in the taking of White Gold Tower to end the Ayleid Hegemonies.
Market District is the most busy district of the Imperial City. All kind of people and races from throughout of Tamriel can be seen here. All kind of items are traded here, from weapons and armors to the alchemy ingredients and books. The merchants here are officially regulated by the Office of Imperial Commerce. Aside from the official regulator, the merchants formed their own group to control the price and the economic balance; the group is named as the Society of Concerned Merchants.
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Market District and statue of Pelagius I
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Market District and statue of Uriel III
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Various merchants and stores that can be found here are:
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Weapons and Armors: Slash 'N Smash, The Best Defense, A Fighting Chance, and Stonewall Shields.
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General Traders: Jensine's "Good as New" Merchandise, The Copious Coinpurse, and Three Brothers Trade Goods.
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Bookstore: First Edition.
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Alchemy Ingredients: The Gilded Carafe and The Main Ingredient.
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Traders: Spell and Magic Items Traders: Mystic Emporium, Edgar's Discount Spells, and Rindir's Staffs.
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Clothing and Luxuries: Divine Elegance, and Red Diamond Jewelry.
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Inns: The Feed Bag, and The Merchants Inn.
An Imperial sponsored publicity office is located here. The Black Horse Courier is run by a group of Khajiit who hunt for news and delivers them to various cities in Cyrodiil.
There are two statues in the Market District, the statue of Uriel Septim III near the gateway to Elven Gardens, and the statue of Pelagius I, the son of Tiber Septim, near the gateway to Arena. The gateway in the northeast leads to the Imperial Legion compound.
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The Imperial Legion
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The Imperial Legion compound is located separated in the northeast. Here is the Headquarter of the Imperial Legion as well as the armory and the prison. The troublemakers and various prisoners are locked in this prison. Not many know that the prison is connected to the ancient Ayleid labyrinth. The Legion knows this and the area is sealed.
The Imperial Legion leader is Adamus Phillida. He is known for so long fighting the Dark Brotherhood. As this guide is written, he has led the Legion for about 40 years, surviving many attempts from the assassin guild to claim his life.
The Arcane University is the place where all aspiring mages wish to enter. It is the headquarters of the Mages Guild. The area is closed to non-members and low level recruits. To enter, an aspiring mage needs a recommendation letters from various guilds in the land. The Mages Guild is currently led by Archmage Hannibal Traven, a powerful anti-Necromancy mage. During his rule, Necromancy was banned from the Mages Guild, an action that was regretted by some high-ranking mages.
A special Imperial Legion; called Imperial Battlemages are guarding the university. They are quite handy with spells as well as the blade and armor.
The Arcane University contains various pavilions of magical studies, such as the Lustratorium (for Alchemy study), Chironasium (for Enchanting study), Praxographical Center (Spellmaking Center) and the Mystic Archives (the arcane library). In the center of the circular compound is the Arch-Mage's Tower.
The Arch-Mage's Tower consists of a Lobby, the Council Chambers, the Arch-Mage's Quarter and the Imperial Orrery in the basement. This is the seat of power of the Mages Guild. The Arch-Mage and the Council members control and manage the whole Mages Guild throughout Tamriel.
The Imperial Orrery is the second contraption in Tamriel that study the celestial bodies. The first one was created by Dwemer thousands years ago in the island of Stros M'Kai of Hammerfell. Sadly the lack of spare parts made this complicated contraption in disrepair.
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Arcane University
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Waterfront District
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Waterfront is the harbor of the Imperial City, located in the southwest outside of the city. This is the area where the ships from throughout of Tamriel come for trading, transporting goods and other economical businesses. An underground route connects the Waterfront to the Temple district.
Waterfront inhabitants are mostly the lowest classes of the Imperial City society. Beggars and ruffians are common views in this district. Thieves Guild is widely known operates in this area, yet the Imperial Authorities has difficulties to capture the guild's main leaders or the number one leader of the guild, the Grey Fox. The beggars here are quite protective to any inquiries about this Grey Fox, it is obvious that a symbiotic relation is maintained by the guild and the beggars. It is even said that the beggars are under the personal protection of the Grey Fox.
Recent Events
The Emperor Uriel Septim VII and the Imperial family were assassinated by a Daedric Cult known as the Mythic Dawn. During the attack the Emperor and the Blades tried to escape through the Imperial Legion prison to the Ayleid labyrinth beneath the prison. A young prisoner was entangled in the event, and entrusted the Amulet of Kings by the Emperor right before his demise. He was tasked to deliver the Amulet to the leader of the Blades. This starts the series of events that later is known as the Oblivion Crisis. The young prisoner turned hero later is known as the Champion of Cyrodiil.
In the end of Oblivion Crisis, the force of Oblivion led by Mehrunes Dagon himself finally invaded the Imperial City. Throughout the city, Oblivion gates opened and the Imperial Legion fought a losing battle against the invading Daedra. In the Temple District, Mehrunes Dagon set foot on the mortal realm and easily wiped the defending Legion.
Martin Septim accompanied with the Blades and the Champion of Cyrodiil also defended the Imperial City. In desperation, Martin Septim rushed into the Temple of the One. He crushed the Amulet of Kings, and merged it with his blood and soul. The sacrifice of Martin Septim let Akatosh, the Dragon God of Time, materialized in the mortal realm as a fiery dragon. The epic battle between Akatosh and Mehrunes Dagon on the mortal realm is legendary.
Eventually, the Daedric Prince of Destruction was defeated, and the Dragon released all its remaining power to seal the broken barrier between realms, and in the end the Dragon turned to stone. The mortal realm was saved. The magnificent Dragon statue now stands on a broken Temple of the One. It is reported that whoever touch the statue will receive the blessing of Akatosh.
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Statue of Akatosh
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Not long after the epic battle between Mehrunes Dagon and Akatosh, another epic battle shocked and stunned the citizens of the Imperial City. It was the battle between the Divine Crusader and the ancient Ayleid king Umaril the Unfeathered. The battle took place in the sky, above the Imperial City. Eventually the Divine Crusader defeated Umaril, however, after the Ayleid king slain, the Divine Crusader himself vanished. Yet from time-to-time, people reported that they saw the Divine Crusader walked among them.
Other notable events during this period are:
Adamus Phillida, the Imperial Legion commander was retired, and succeeded by Giovanni Civello. This retirement however, brought a disaster to Adamus Phillida. In Leyawiin, he was murdered by the Dark Brotherhood. Giovanni Civello vowed a vengeance to this assassination, and he will continue fighting the Dark Brotherhood.
In war between the Mages Guild and the Necromancer, Hannibal Traven, the Archmage of the Mages Guild decided to a take a drastic method in order to defeat Mannimarco, the leader of the Necromancer. The Archmage Hannibal Traven sacrificed his soul into a soulgem in order to weaken the near immortal Mannimarco. His sacrifice is proven effective, in the final showdown in the Echo Cave, Mannimarco was eventually killed by the new Archmage.
Also, The Orrery of Arcane University was repaired during this period, now the scholars and the mages can study the celestial bodies extensively. However, the future of the Orrery is still in question as it is dependent on the Dwemer relics from Morrowind or Hammerfell.
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The Imperial Orrery
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Despite of the strict guarding of the Imperial Legion and Moth priests, one of high-ranking and very skilled thieves of the Thieves Guild managed to enter the Imperial Palace and stole one of the Elder Scrolls. It is unknown what the Thieves Guild did to the scroll, one thing for sure that the activities of Thieves Guild in Waterfront District are increasing, and the Imperial Watch has difficulties facing this guild.
Prior to the stealing of the Elder Scrolls, the Imperial Watch led by its captain, Hieronymus Lex, sacked the Waterfront District for the leader of the Thieves Guild, the Gray Fox. However, he failed, Gray Fox escaped. Eventually, Hieronimus Lex was transferred to Anvil. It is rumored that the Gray Fox was behind this transfer.
The collector Umbacano of the Talos Plaza reported his discovery of the ten of ancient Ayleid statues. These statues are highly prized by the collectors and archeologists alike. Sadly, following the event he disappeared in the expedition to the Ayleid ruins of Nenalata.
Agronak gro-Malog, the Imperial Arena Grand Champion was defeated. It is rumored that there is a dark secret behind his fall. Nothing comes out from the Arena Bloodworks though.
There was a dispute among the merchants in the Market District as one of the merchants sold with intolerable discount prices. Upon extensive investigation, it was revealed that the trader of The Copious Coinpurse retrieved the goods from a gravedigger. He was shocked to know this and vowed not to deal again with the gravedigger. He later joined the merchants group of the Society of Concerned Merchants, and the balance of economic was restored.
The vampire hunter companion of the Order of the Virtuous Blood was reformed after one of the founders was known to be actually a vampire. The order is based in the Temple District, collecting any information about vampire, helps any vampire hunter and rewards anyone who showed them vampire dust as a prove that a vampire was killed.