The Blackfeather Court is a feudal court of Crow Daedra[1] that rules over Crow's Wood and other parts of the Evergloam. They were hatched by a Nether-Niece of Nocturnal called the Crow Mother, whom they served. The Court is locked in a constant state of war with the wolves and giant bats that inhabit Crow's Wood. The crows charge a toll on visitors to the realm, but are seldom taken seriously.[2] Each vassal of the Court is a creature of darkness and shadows, imbued with a small portion of Nocturnal's power. The crows refer to Nocturnal as their Mighty Mistress.[3]
Some time in the Second Era, a Dunmer member of the Mages Guild named Rulantaril Oran came to the Crow's Wood in search of forgotten spells. He did this by creating an enchanted chest to open a portal to the realm, which he hid in a small cave near the city of Davon's Watch in Morrowind. By striking a deal with the Crow Mother, Rulantaril came to the Court as a student and learned the secret magic of the crows. In return, he was to stay by the Crow Mother's side. Seeking to fool her, Rulantaril locked the Crow Mother within her tower, but ended up trapped inside with her because of the deal. His son, Telbaril, entered the realm in search of his father in 2E 582.[4] Groups of adventurers, enticed by the chest, began to enter the Crow's Wood as well. The Blackfeather Court charged these adventurers tolls of flesh and silver, demanding to be brought silver trinkets or the corpses of dead bats to devour. The adventurers were then given citizenship of the Court, along with vassal servants.[5] The crows helped in Telbaril's search for his father, but it is unknown if Rulantaril or the Crow Mother survived the ensuing hunt.[4]
When portals to the Clockwork City were opened from Evergloam by Nocturnal around 2E 582, the Blackfeather Court entered Sotha Sil's realm. There they stole the Skeleton Key from a Clockwork Apostle, who in turn had stolen it from Sotha Sil. The Court hid the key, but later helped the Vestige recover it after they chased away the rivaling Exarchs of Dross crows.[6]
The Blackfeather Court subsequently journeyed to Tamriel in search of treasure within the Ayleid ruins of Arpenia in Blackwood. However, the crows became trapped within the ruins, transfixed by the mirrors they encountered within. The crows had never encountered their own reflections before, and a cult of Nocturnal worshippers known as the Whispering Shadows used this to their advantage. By harnessing Nocturnal's power from the trapped crows, the cultists began to open a connection to the Evergloam within the ruins. This ritual was ended when the Vestige entered Arpenia and smashed the mirrors, freeing the Duke of Crows and his subjects.[7] While trapped within the ruins, the crows had laid many eggs; mercenaries from Leyawiin were sent to Arpenia to recover these eggs, hired by two competing clients who were attempting to respectively save or destroy the eggs.[8]
One of the pieces of the Tales of Tribute, a popular card game originating from the Systres Archipelago played continent-wide during the Interregnum in Second Era[9] bore the image of Duke of Crows. A deck themed after him and the Blackfeather Court was part of the game.[10][11]
The University of Gwylim's Antiquarian Circle excavated the Shadow Queen's Cowl alongside poetry associated with the Blackfeather Court.[12]
GalleryEdit
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The Shadow Queen's Cowl
See AlsoEdit
- For game-specific information, see the ESO article.
BooksEdit
- The Blackfeather Court by Ulysa Rervam, Proctor of Daedric Studies — A treatise on the Blackfeather Court
ReferencesEdit
- ^ ESO Live - Lore of Clockwork City
- ^ Crow's Wood in ESO
- ^ Duke of Crows' dialogue in ESO
- ^ a b A Son's Promise quest in ESO
- ^ Decree of the Court quest in ESO
- ^ Clockwork City storyline in ESO
- ^ Glittering Lies quest in ESO
- ^ Conflict of Interest quest in ESO
- ^ The Secret Origins of Tribute — Brunile Dufont, Games Scholar
- ^ Tales of Tribute: Series One — The Founders
- ^ High Isle Preview—Exploring Tales of Tribute's Patrons
- ^ The Shadow Queen's Cowl method of acquisition in ESO