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The Politcal Destabilization of Morrowind Under the Nerevarine

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Talyn Indoril's picture
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The fall of Morrowind as a power in Tamriel, and the scattering of the Dunmeri people, as we know, took place over the course of two decades spanning the end of the Third Era and the beginning of the Fourth. But to fully appreciate the events that led up to the dissolution of Morrowind and Vvardenfell, we must look, not to the events of the Red Year, but much further back, to the events surrounding the rise of the Nerevarine and the dissolution of the Tribunal. 
Now, one would think that the return of Saint Nerevar, the incarnate return of Lord Nervar, would have ushered in a "Golden Age" for the Dunmeri people. Alas, that was not to have been the case. Almost every Dunmer is familiar with the tale, even to this day. But, for those readers who may not be familiar with the history of the Nerevarine, I shall now summarize; 
Toward the end of the first millennium of the First Era, the armies of the Chimer, led by Nerevar Indoril and his Council, led an attack on the forces of Dumac at Red Mountain. The attack was ordered by our patron Azura, because the Dwemer were apparently in possession of The Heart of Lorkhan, and had developed both the tools and the means to tap into its power The battle was terrible, but inconclusive, for before the end game could be played out, the Dwemer and all their forces suddenly vanished from Tamriel. 
Now, Nerevar had been grievously wounded; But he had recovered Kagrenac's Tools during the battle, and entrusted their keeping to his friend and loyal general Voryn Dagoth (for whom my own parents named me, in fact). Nerevar went to his councilors, Vivec, Sotha Sil, and his wife Almalexia, and sought their advice on the disposition of Kagrenac's Tools. Nerevar had been warned earlier by Azura to destroy them, and to bury the Heart where it would never be found. 
But Nerevar's own wife and councilors betrayed and murdered him. They wanted to take possession of the Heart of Lorkhan and use its power to make themselves as gods. To the people, they made out that Nerevar had died of his wounds. But when they confronted Voryn Dagoth and demanded the Tools and access to The Heart, 
the faithful general knew the truth; For he knew what Azura had charged Nerevar concerning  Lorkhan's Heart and the Tools of Kagrenac. Furthermore, when the Tribunal committed their treachery and murdered their lord, Azura cursed the Chimer that day, marking us forever. General Dagoth tried valiantly to avenge his friend and lord, and tried to keep the Tools out of the hands of the duplicitous Tribunal. But Dagoth was overcome, and left for dead. The Tribunal took the Tools, and studying their use, made themselves living gods. 
At the end of it all, Azura promised that Lord Nerevar would one day return to put things aright.  
Voryn Dagoth, who had been left for dead, did not, in fact, die. He learned to tap into the Heart of Lorkhan without having to use the Tools of Kagrenac. He slept for centuries, awaking about the same year our beloved Queen Barenziah was born. Then Vivec, Sotha Sil and Almalexia returned to Red Mountain to refresh their powers, general Dagoth-- or Dagoth-Ur, as he now called himself-- met them in theHeart Chamber, engaged them in battle, and drove them from Red Mountain, taking from them Kagrenac's Tools. By now, Dagoth-Ur was twisted with rage and sorrow over the betrayal of his former friends. Some say the power of The Heart itself corrupted him. Some say that Dagoth-Ur himself was the first traitor,  unwilling to return the Tools of Kagrenac to Lord Nerevar in the beginning. In any case, he had now become known as The Sharmat, Dagoth-Ur. 
Now, in the late Third Era, a mer came to Morrowind, to Vvardenfell district, whom many now say was Nerevar reborn. He was acclaimed as the Nerevarine by the Ashlander tribes, and the Great Houses named him Hortator. 
But in all the hyms and histories of this tale, what no one seems to remember is the destabilization of the political infrastructure of Morrowind, which set us up for disaster in later years. 
The Dunmer who would be Nerevarine was apparently sent from Cyrodiil, paroled from the Imperial dungeons. It turned out that the last of the Septim emperors had sent him to Vvardenfell as a part of his spy network, in secret of course. His paymaster kept him from the knowledge of the true nature of his position until he was well on the path of Moon-and-Star. But, as an ordinary citizen-- and I use the 
term 'ordinary' advisedly-- the Nerevar began to accrue religious and political authority to himself. 
As many might have done, he took work with the Fighter's Guild in Balmora, and also studied at the Mage's Guild. He also joined the Tribunal Temple, perhaps trying to reconnect to his roots as a Dunmer, having been an Outlander.  
But the Reclamations must have been guiding him, or perhaps it was the force of prophecy; For in several short years, this fellow actually became master of both the Fighter's Guild, and the Mage's Guild of Morrowind. Indeed, if I remember correctly, he even made peace and reconciliation between the Mage's Guild and House Telvanni. In time, he also assumed the Archcannonship of the Temple, and who knows what else. 
In short, leaving out the Imperial presence, he-- The Nerevarine-- took essentially all political power in Morrowind into his own hands before addressing the resurrection of the Sixth House. It is this oft forgotten, overlooked, 'detail' that most historians miss in their interpretations of the currents of history. But for all that followed, it is vital. 
We know that after the Nerevarine destroyed Dagoth-Ur and The Heart of Lorkhan, he returned from Red Mountain and destroyed the remaining gods of the Tribunal as well. At that time, the Nerevarine was acclaimed throughout Morrowind as Hero, Saint, and Saviour. Even King Helseth deferred to him. 
But the Nerevarine had neither the taste nor the talent for administrative work; And the massive amounts of work needed to keep the guilds and Great Houses running smoothly was apparently quite distasteful to him. Nor had he even the foresight to establish an administrative staff to tend the dreary day to day business and paperwork. Being more of an adventurer, the Nerevarine put together a massive exploratory expedition, and then in roughly 3E 430, he left for Akavir. 
Did the Nerevar take any thought as to who would run things on Vvardenfell? Did he think to appoint anyone? Did he think to take up the establishment of an equitable and efficient system of governance. Alas, no. He simply left. And all the professional and tribal rivalries that his presence quelled, rose to the surface. Power struggles and maneuverings between the Great Houses, and King Helseth's 
court, and the remnants of the Temple, and the Guilds; It all made for political chaos and  economic uncertainty. Morrowind was practically paralyzed and defenseless. 
Azura, Boethia, and Mephala tried to warn us of the coming storm. But no one was in a state to hear or heed them. And those few who were, had no means to disseminate the intelligence. They were swept aside amidst the political infighting. King Helseth and the King Mother would have gotten things under control eventually, had they had more time. But time was not a luxury we were afforded, for the Gates of Oblivion opened upon us all. 
Mehrunes Dagon had once before come to Morrowind. He came to Mournhold itself, and wrought death and destruction. I was there in those days. I saw Almalexia herself defeat him and send him back to Oblivion. But the wounds she got in that battle were terrible. She-- a living god-- almost died. Yet despite the presence of both Almalexia and Sotha Sil, Mournhold had been razed to the ground. It had been a slaughter house. Perhaps had Vivec arrived in time, the Three could have saved the city. Alas, it was not to be.  
And this time, as the great Gates of Oblivion opened and The House of Troubles fell upon us, there was no Tribunal, nor Saint Nerevar, to aid us. 
The Bitter Coast and the Ascadian Isles fell quickly. Gates opened in the Ashlands  and the Grazelands, and the Daedra flooded the land. Ashlanders and the inhabitants of the West Gash fled to the old Dunmeri strongholds and tried to defend them. Many sought refuge in the old Daedric shrines to Azura, Boethia, and Mephala. But precious few survived.Most of the inhabitants of Vvardenfell's  west and southwest died. 
I was in Ald'Ruhn when the Daedra attacked. At first they seemed to flood over us from the Ashlands, but then a Great Gate opened in front of the city by the Silt Strider port. It belched forth a siege engine that destroyed the city walls and sent even more Daedra into the  city. Maar Gan had been wiped from the Ash. Fort Buckmoth was ablaze. The Redoran fought bravely, but were quickly overwhelmed. The city was doomed. Of the entire city, perhaps five of us survived. The slaughter was terrible. Old and young, male and female; All were slain in 
creatively horrible ways, and their souls captured in great black soul gems. No one could save us on that day, and I cursed the name of the Nerevarine. 
The Telvanni, contrary to popular reports, were hardly bothered-- at first. The towers of the Telvanni in the east  stood firm and unconcerned; Some of the most powerful wizards in Tamriel were the Telvanni, after all. The Daedric hordes could neither penetrate their mystic wards, nor could they stand before their destruction magic. 
But, they were besieged. They were safe, but no supplies could come to them or be sent out. Many Redoran refugees fled to Sadrith Mora, Tel Vos, Tel Fyr, Tel Branora, Tel Aruhn, and Tel Uvirith. The Telvanni gave them shelter, and together, the mage lords and warriors discovered the secrets of closing the Oblivion Gates. They had much success, but they were being worn down. 
One day, it all suddenly stopped. The Gates closed and the Daedra disappeared. At the time, it was a mystery. Only later did we hear reports from Cyrodiil. 
How many lives could have been saved had the Nerevarine stayed with us? One of the most powerful spellswords in Morrowind's history, and he had abandoned us. And because of him, there was no more Tribunal left to defend us from Mehrunes Dagon. And more than even this, he abandoned us after first crippling our sociopolitical infrastructure. The task of rebuilding in the beginning years of the Fourth Era was daunting under the conditions. And then, The Red Year fell upon us. 
Now, some speak of mystical cities, or similar nonsense. Some say that the Ministry of Truth in Vivec somehow caused Red Mountain to violently erupt. Nonsense. I was there in those days. 
By the time the Oblivion Crisis was over, the Tribunal had been gone for about ten years. Without Vivec's power to sustain it,  Baar Dau fell upon the High Fane, destroying it, along with much of the city. Without Vivec's power, the asteroid resumed its original velocity and struck down, creating Scathing Bay. But the idea that The Ministry of Truth's impact was responsible for the cataclysmic eruption of Red Mountain is a complete fiction. 
What really caused the eruption of Red Mountain? It was the Thalmor. 
In the early years of the Fourth Era, the Third Aldmeri Dominion was on the rise. The Thalmor wanted to be able to devote their resources to the heart of the Empire and protect their eastern flanks. But to do that, they needed to eliminate the Telvanni threat; For only the Telvanni mages and the Redoran spellswords could have halted their advance northward. They took advantage of the weakened state of Morrowind's  military and political forces. The damage done already by the Oblivion Crisis left us weakened and weary. 
A Thalmor expeditionary force was sent to the Dagoth-Ur crater of Red Mountain. Our forces decimated, they were hardly noticed. It was later thought, however, that they were attempting to retrieve the remains of Lorkhan's Heart. They were unsuccessful. However, with their clumsy magics, they did manage to set off the eruption of Red Mountain. Vvardenfell was laid waste. All that had been left after the Oblivion Crisis was gone. The devastation reached as far north as Sheogorad, as far south as the Deshaan Plains, and even  to the Velothi Mountains in the west and the Telvanni Islands in the east.  
Although they lost their expeditionary force, the Thalmor quickly took advantage of the situation, encouraging the Saxhleel-- the Argonians-- to invade Morrowind the following year. The Saxheel had been nearly untouched by the Oblivion Crisis, and their forces were at full strength. 
The forces of Black Marsh swept across the land almost unopposed. They swarmed up the eastern coasts of Vvardenfell. By then, we were too tired to put up much resistance. House Dres fell quickly. And House Telvanni not long after. We were destroyed. And who could blame them? For the years of slavery and degredation imposed upon them by our people, they exacted terrible revenge. 
The Redoran tried to help, as the Telvanni had provided shelter and magic for them during the Oblivion Crisis, and the Redoran are nothing, if not honourable. But it was ultimately to no avail. Although the Redoran were eventually able to turn back the Argonians,  it was far too late. There was nothing in Vvardenfell worth holding now, anyway. How the Children of the Hist rejoiced! Morrowind was finished as a nation. 
And the Aldmeri Dominion moved unopposed into the Nibenay Basin and the Colovian Highlands. The Argonians held the Deshaan Plain and the Velothi Mountains. 
I had been at Tel Fyr with one of my old teachers Divayth Fyr. I and his four daughters with me were able, with Redoran assistance to make our escape. Fyr himself insisted we go, and covered our escape, bringing terrible destruction down upon the Marsh Lizards. 
As I consider the state in which Morrowind was left by the Nerevarine, and Morrowind's fate after the Oblivion Crisis, the Red Year, and the Argonian Invasion... Really-- It might have been far better for us had Dagoth-Ur triumphed.   
 
Voryn Dreleth, Skingrad, The West Weald, E4 198 
Feline Erotica's picture
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Joined: 02/23/2015

Compelling piece.  Really gives a bold new perspective to the whole "Nerevar big hero am winning again" thing that seems to be a given in a lot of other texts and apocrypha.  Well done.

Zhen Xiang's picture
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Joined: 11/03/2014

Anyone else here think that Dagoth had the right idea?

Talyn Indoril's picture
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Thanks. I appreciate the kind words. It was something that really had bothered me since The Elder Scrolls IV, in fact. But by the time we got to Skyrim, well-- I thought that SOMEONE should try to set the record straight. ;)

Zhen Xiang's picture
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So the Thalmor caused the eruption huh, my hate for them increases

Talyn Indoril's picture
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Yes, they did! AND it was through their incompetence, no less. Now, there's bits of Heartstone all over the place-- Imagine what might happen if a certain "critical mass" of the remnants of Lorkhan's heart could be recovered? 

Zhen Xiang's picture
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God Help Us All CALL THE AKAVIRI

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Very well done, my friend! This a quite an eye opening piece. Damn those Thalmor scum!

Although, I doubt things would have been any better with Dagoth Ur. Sure, Morrowind would have more likely remained in tact, but the rest of Tamriel would have had to dealt with his mutant armies, and if the Oblivion Crisis occurred while they were warring for dominance in Cyrodiil, history would have turned out just as grim I would think.

 

Talyn Indoril's picture
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Oh, certainly. But this historical analysis is coming from a Mer who remembers Morrowind's better days, and longs for a return to those halcyon times. Most of Tamriel would doubtless be in just as poor a state in the Fourth Era under Dagoth Ur; On the other hand, I think most Dunmeri would have done comparatively well for a while. Master Race, and all that.

Of course, we know what happened to the Ayleids and their eventual overthrow at the hands of Men. And, frighteningly, the Dunmer are perhaps ripe for a really brutal dictator, able to rally the people's sense of pride and old prejudices. Rather like Germany in the 1920s after the Treaty of Versailles.

H'mmmm. That might be an interesting story to write.

Tailin Sero's picture
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Joined: 01/25/2014

The Thalmor are evil, but they are anything but clumsy. The Heart vanished (set free). There was no reminance of it or its powers.

The Red Year was a result of the Ministry of Truth crushing Vivec City. Not Thalmor plans, though it did greatly help their cause.

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Very true, I think, the Dunmer would have had a rocken time ruling Tamriel with Dagoth, even if it turns out short.

I'd read the heck out of that story!

Talyn Indoril's picture
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I risk to differ. The Elder Scrolls detail the infinite permutations of past and future, none of which ever really crystalize until the Scroll is read-- nearly impossible because the Elder Scrolls encompass all of specetime as understood on Nirn, and neither the minds of men nor mer can grasp them.

And in fact, since Arena, there have been varying versions of Tamrielic lore, many different versions of single events being folded into the narrative. For example, The Warp in the West, The Dragon Break, Where Were You When the Dragon Broke, and The Dragon Break Reexamined all treat the same (or closely related group of) subjects.

I'm not trying to rewrite Lore-- Just add a possible, plausible, alternate historical contribution.