| Northpoint | |
|---|---|
| Type | Settlement |
| Continent | Tamriel |
| Province | High Rock |
| Region | Rivenspire (Boralis) |
| Appears in | Arena, ESO |
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Northpoint (also spelled as North Point)[1] is one of the nine historical Breton kingdoms in the province of High Rock,[2][3] located on the northeast point of Rivenspire. Northpoint is an important trading center along the northwest trading route on the Eltheric Ocean, as well as the seat of power for House Dorell, one of the three major houses of Rivenspire. Their power extends across northern Rivenspire, including farmland around the city and beyond the sea.[4][5] As of 3E 432, Northpoint was one of five major kingdoms in High Rock.[6]
Layout and GeographyEdit
Northpoint is located at a very strategic point in Rivenspire. It hosts the only port in the entire region, where the Eltheric Ocean meets the Great Bay, and it is the last major settlement on Rivenspire's main road which circles around the southern face of the mountains. Northpoint sits at the top of Dore Elard, a mountain that overlooks the coast and provides a grand vista of the ocean and the beaches that surround it. There is a smuggler's tunnel underneath the mountain that leads straight to the lighthouse. The landscape around the city consists of grassy plains with privately-owned farmsteads and large rocky outcrops between the coast and the river in southern Boralis.[7] These farms were leased by House Dorell, becoming their second business endeavor after to sea trading.[4] The main road runs through these farmlands and around Northpoint's southwest wall to the coastline, where the city's port, Northsalt Village, is located. Beyond the village is a straight path to Westwind Lighthouse. Northpoint is neighbored by several settlements, including Normar Heights to the southwest.[3]
At the walled city's center is a large fountain and the seat of power, Dorell Manor. From there, Northpoint's three main roads disperse toward Lanthorn, the western gate, and the southern gate. South of Dorell Manor is the city's graveyard and along the southern walls are large towers. Some of the city's biggest buildings are located in the center, including the inn and the smithy, and further out are manorhouses and average homes. The marketplace is located along the northeastern wall of the city.[7]
Notable LocalesEdit
HistoryEdit
Early HistoryEdit
Northpoint was founded in the 9th century of the First Era by Breton entrepreneur Yric Flowdys during his routine summer trip between Daggerfall and Solitude. Yric made note of harborage on Rivenspire's coast, and the potential for its deep waters to accommodate large vessels. Believing it could serve as a waystation between the two coastal cities, for ships to restock, repair, or wait out storms, Yric constructed his harbor at Northpoint. Not long after, he oversaw the construction of a small walled keep and warehouse southeast of the port, on the peak of Dore Elard. Eventually, the town grew and Yric took on the mountain's name as his own. The newly christened House Dorell further developed their maritime endeavors and leased land beyond the town to farmers, establishing a new source of income.[4]
Over time, the town on the hill became known as Northpoint, and the port at Northpoint was renamed Northsalt Village.[4] When the province of High Rock was brought into the Alessian Empire in 1E 1029,[8] House Dorell were granted a barony by Empress Hestra brought great prosperity to the entire province throughout the First Era. The fortunes of both the House and Northpoint have constantly shifted with the flow of the northwest trade ever since. The fruits of their labor had eventually earned them the kingship of Rivenspire in the twenty-fourth century of the First Era, and ever since, House Dorell has been regarded as elite among the kingdom's nobility.[4]
Northpoint in the InterregnumEdit
By the mid-sixth century of the Second Era, House Dorell was led by Baron Alard Dorell,[4] and when King Ranser of Shornhelm declared civil war against High King Emeric, House Dorell answered the call to arms and joined Rivenspire's armies against the south. After the death of the King and his lineage, however, the leaders of Rivenspire's three great houses assembled together to form a triumvirate called the Council of the North, which ruled the kingdom in the interim.[9] Baron Dorell assumed the position along with Barons Esmark Tamrith and Wylon Montclair.[4][9][10] While Alard lived in the family estate in Shornhelm, his son, Ellic Dorell governed Northpoint and its environs from the family manor in town.[4]
In 2E 582, there was a plot conducted by House Montclair to take over Rivenspire, and the Baron's daughter, Lady Lleraya Montclair had set her sights on Northpoint. She arrived in the city and met with Ellic Dorell, promising him help.[11] She advised him to gather the city's people and as they gathered en masse, she used the Lightless Remnant to turn them into bloodfiends. Qariar helped some people escape to the Sloshing Tankard inn, but most of the city's citizens were turned into feral vampires, and Lady Montclair sealed Northpoint from the outside.[12] In Dorell Manor, Lady Montclair used the remnant for an illusion spell, a veil that charmed the nobles to her favor.[13][14]
Outside of the city, Baron Alard Dorell and the armies of Shornhelm amassed to retake the city. He sent several agents across the field to find a way into the city and discovered the smuggler's tunnel underneath the lighthouse on the north shore. A Shornhelm guardsman, Skordo the Knife, devised a plan for the members of the invasion force to enter the city and find a safe house from which to stage their attack. They eventually took over the manor of Baron Chirane and rendezvoused with Blademaster Qariar. Baron Alard sent an Agent of the Daggerfall Covenant to confront Lady Lleraya Montclair and find Ellic Dorell. With help from Verandis Ravenwatch, the Agent broke the veil and defeated the vampire mistress. For allowing Lady Montclair to take over the city and causing the death of many people, Baron Alard punished his son and relieved him of his status.[15] After securing Northpoint, the forces of Shornhelm gathered at the base of the Shrouded Pass for a final attack against Baron Wylon Montclair.[16]
Northpoint in the Third EmpireEdit
By the late-Interregnum, the kingdoms of High Rock were in a weak and fractured state, which made them easily conquered by Tiber Septim.[6] Historically, Northpoint was a city ruled by the Barons of House Dorell, a major faction that swore fealty to the Kingdom of Rivenspire seated in Shornhelm.[4] By the late Third Era, however, Northpoint was recognized as a fully-fledged kingdom in its own right, separate from its equal, Shornhelm.[2]
During the Imperial Simulacrum in the late Third Era, the city-state of Northpoint was an active settlement. It was ruled by Queen Elona and had a rivalry with Evermore and Shornhelm. When the Warp in the West took place in 3E 417, the kingdoms of Northpoint and Evermore took advantage of the chaos claim territory around them. Their expansion was careful to avoid confrontation with the kingdoms of the Iliac Bay (Daggerfall and Wayrest) or even Skyrim's forces in the post-War of the Bend'r-mahk. Despite that, however, border skirmishes had become a common occurrence between neighbors, specifically Northpoint, Evermore, and even Camlorn. By the waning years of the Third Era, Northpoint was one of the five kingdoms left in High Rock, quietly watching its neighbors with distrust.[6]
Known RulersEdit
- The First Era
- Baron Bouchard Dorell (ca. 1E 2260)[17]
- The Second Era
- Baron Alard Dorell (2E ? – 2E 566)[4]
- Lord Ellic Dorell (2E 566 – 2E 582)[4]
- The Third Era
CultureEdit
Traditionally, Northpoint has been the seat of power for Rivenspire's general northern region, Boralis as well as its patron house, Dorell.[5] Before it was a modern-day kingdom, however, it was a barony first established in 1E 1029,[4] one that answered to the historical Kingdom of Rivenspire.[9] While the Kings and Queens of High Rock are typically buried in Cath Bedraud, a grand cemetery in northernmost Glenumbra,[18][19] HBarons of House Dorell were buried in the Sanguine Barrows, a sprawling graveyard in Westmark Moor.[19] Over time, Northpoint has elevated to the status of kingdom[2] and even expanded its borders in the wake of the Miracle of Peace.[6]
According to local legends, there is an immortal and legendary leviathan called Ithguleoir that is said to haunt the Eltheric Ocean, from Northpoint to the Glenumbra Banks.[20][21] There is a children's chant from Northpoint that is in reference to the ruins nearby, which goes as follows: "Do not dally, do not linger, in the tomb they call Orc's Fingers".[22] The story goes that a long time ago, there was an Orcish warrior that came to the region for spoils and battle but died to a lich in the ruins.[23]
When Yric Flowdys founded his new port, he minted several gold coins to commemorate the city's complete construction. Officially, there were only one hundred of these coins, and most of them are lost in private collections. However, according to Reginus Buca's research, those numbers were fabricated by archaeologists to inflate their value. In addition, some coins were counterfeited, using lightweight alternatives to gold.[24] By the Fourth Era, Northpoint was a major port in the East Empire Company's northwest lines. The ships that docked or passed through Northpoint came from other neighboring cities, such as Farrun, Hegathe, Sentinel, Solitude, and Wayrest.[25]
GalleryEdit
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North Point (Arena)
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Northpoint Lieutenant (Legends)
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Northpoint Captain (Legends)
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Northpoint Herald (Legends)
NotesEdit
- 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, North Point's gladiatorial team would have been called "the Slayers".[UOL 1]
See AlsoEdit
- For game-specific information, see the Arena and Elder Scrolls Online articles.
BooksEdit
- Northpoint: An Assessment by Chancellor Regina Troivois — A treatise on House Dorell of Rivenspire
ReferencesEdit
- ^ a b North Point location and rumors in Arena
- ^ a b c Etiquette With Rulers — Erystera Ligen
- ^ a b Map of High Rock – The Elder Scrolls: Arena
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Northpoint: An Assessment — Chancellor Regina Troivois
- ^ a b Baron Alard Dorell's dialogue in ESO
- ^ a b c d Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition: The Sons and Daughter of the Direnni West: High Rock — Imperial Geographical Society, 3E 432
- ^ a b c d e f g Northpoint location in ESO
- ^ Bangkorai, Shield of High Rock — King Eamond
- ^ a b c Shornhelm, Crown City of the North — Lord Wylon, 39th Baron Montclair
- ^ House Tamrith: A Recent History — Chancellor Regina Troivois, the Department of Interior Affairs
- ^ Lord Ellic Dorell's dialogue in ESO
- ^ Blademaster Qariar's dialogue in ESO
- ^ Lady Lleraya Montclair's dialogue in ESO
- ^ Count Verandis Ravenwatch's dialogue in ESO
- ^ The Liberation of Northpoint story quest in ESO
- ^ Puzzle of the Pass story quest in ESO
- ^ Letter of Execution
- ^ Catacombs of Cath Bedraud — Victor Croquel
- ^ a b The Barrows of Westmark Moor — Sathyr Longleat the Elder
- ^ Fine Ceramic Leviathan Pitcher contraband text in ESO
- ^ Ithguleoir
- ^ Orc's Finger Ruins loading screen text in ESO
- ^ Lothson Cold-Eye's dialogue in ESO
- ^ Northpoint Founding Coins antiquity codex entries in ESO: Greymoor
- ^ Map of the East Empire Company – The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
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.