TESO:Ask Us Anything

Comment : These questions and answers are compiled from their "Ask Us Anything" article series. By ZeniMax Online Studios Obviously the Elves and the Nords have never got along too well - are the nations in the factions entirely happy with the alliance, or are there rogue/rebel groups within, say, Skyrim or Morrowind? – By George Trotter The foundation the Ebonheart Pact was built upon—one of mutual desire for survival—makes for a deeply complex and ever-shifting political atmosphere. The Argonians, Nords, and Dark Elves have set aside their differences, for now, to unite under one banner against their shared enemies—but to say that everyone is happy or even content with the Alliance would be a far cry from the truth. A certain level of distrust and resentment roils just beneath the surface for many members of the Pact. While some are openly accepting or critical of the Alliance, most Pact members you’ll encounter fall somewhere in between, and hold their true feelings about the arrangement close to their chest. It really depends on each individual character’s perspective and life experiences. Most you encounter are not willing to bring up their personal feelings to a stranger, but you will meet some who are very open with their praise or disdain for the choices their leaders have made. To what extent will the Tribunal feature in the Ebonheart Pact storyline, and how far along in the main quest will we learn about the pretender to the Tribunal? – By Josh James As the rulers of Morrowind, both spiritually and politically, the Tribunal are quite prominent in the Ebonheart Pact – especially Almalexia, who’s been handling temporal affairs since the recent Akaviri invasion. But a pretender to the Tribunal? Mother Morrowind would dismiss the idea as absurd. Clearly impossible. Are many changes being made to Skyrim to make it differ or stand out from the Skyrim we have recently come to know and love? If so, could you detail some of these changes? – By Brandon Donio The Elder Scrolls Online is set 1,000 years earlier than Skyrim, so you may notice that some of the ancient Nord ruins are a little less worn and weathered than in Skyrim’s time. You’ll also find towns, like Nimalten in the Rift, that are gone and nearly forgotten by Skyrim’s Fourth Era, but are alive and thriving in ESO’s Second Era. What are the meanings of these Ebonheart Pact insignias you used for the Facebook and Twitter icons? I suspect that the one for Morrowind represents the Tribunal, due to the three 'spikes'. The one for Skyrim represents... the Dragonborn? What about the one for Black Marsh? – By Yamir Ortiz Good guesses—and correct. The one for Black Marsh is a stylized rendering of an Argonian’s face – but whether it depicts some ancient hero or ruler of Black Marsh history, or just represents the race as a whole, only the Argonians know. And they’re not telling. Where is the main base of Ebonheart Pact? In which city will we find Jorunn the Skald-King? – By Douglas Reis Silva The throne of Eastern Skyrim is in Windhelm, but the great city of Mournhold is the capital of the Ebonheart Pact, and it is there that Jorunn presides over the Great Moot. Last time we had the chance of discovering the land of Morrowind, the different feelings to the Great Houses and the House Wars was one of the most intriguing aspects to the game. Will we have an opportunity to join the houses? If so, which of them will be joinable? I just so loved the mushroom houses. – By Greg The rivalries between the Dunmer Great Houses have deep roots, and they are all important players in the politics of Morrowind. In fact, House Telvanni – they of the mushroom towers – are estranged from the other Houses at the time of ESO, and refused to join the Ebonheart Pact. (We’ll share more about them in the future, you can be sure.) Your characters will have opportunities to help (or hinder) all the other Great Houses of Morrowind, though formal adoption into their ranks won’t be part of the game at launch. How did the Aldmeri Dominion come to be formed in the first place? – By Luke Heys It was really the brainchild of Queen Ayrenn, after assuming the throne of Alinor. Having traveled Tamriel extensively before returning to Summerset, she was aware of the dire threats menacing the world, and saw it as the proper duty of the Elves to put things right. At the same time, the Wood Elves and Khajiit were facing troubles of their own and in need of allies, so they came together to form the Dominion. What made the Bosmers decide to join the Dominion? - By Tamás Várfalvi After the recent civil war between the Camorans, Valenwood was in disarray and vulnerable. The Cabal who were running the Imperial City took advantage of this by sending in Colovian troops to grab up some of the Wood Elves’ northern territory. Seeking an ally to help repulse the Colovians, King Aeradan of the Bosmer turned to Queen Ayrenn and her new Dominion. How do you intend to portray the cannibalism of the Bosmer? From what do you draw inspiration for the jungles of Valenwood and the culture of the Bosmer? Any Ayleid enclaves to run across deep in the jungles? - By James Craven For the Wood Elves, cannibalism is a matter of ritual significance, and typically quite private within a family or tight-knit group. There’s actually a lot of background on Valenwood and the Bosmer in Elder Scrolls lore, though you may have to dig a little to find it. After Empress Alessia’s “slave army” drove the Ayleids from Cyrodiil, many of them took refuge in Valenwood, so Ayleid ruins are actually rather common in the southern jungles. The buildings of Alinor are said to look like they are "made from glass or insect wings." If the Summurset Isles are traversable at release will we see a design reminiscent of this? And will we see the Crystal Tower for that matter?! - By Callum Parker When The Elder Scrolls Online launches, the playable part of the Summerset Isles will be Auridon, the big island between Summerset and the continent that includes the cities of Firsthold and Skywatch. The architecture of the High Elves is fanciful, certainly, but it’s also practical, constructed of real-world materials. Architects can’t make buildings out of poetry! Some people are worried that your interpretation/version of the Aldmeri Dominion isn't as extreme as they were described in the "Pocket Guide to the Empire." Is the Dominion that is present in TESO a less extreme precursor of the Dominion that was established in 2E 830? – By Charlie Vorholzer Yes – and remember, the “Pocket Guide to the Empire” was written by enemies of the Dominion – every Elder Scrolls lore book reflects the point of view of its author(s), even the PGE. The Aldmeri think their cause is just and actions taken in its name are righteous. Their opponents, on the other hand, regard them as racist authoritarians out to return the humans of Tamriel to a condition little better than slavery. Elsweyr is infamous for its Moon Sugar production. What do Altmer and Bosmer think about this? – By Lord Andrew Most of the uses of moon-sugar are benign, and just satisfy the Catfolk’s insatiable craving for sweets. It’s only when moon-sugar is refined into the dangerous narcotic skooma that it becomes a problem. No government approves of skooma. Will leaders like Queen Ayrenn get involved in the actual fighting between the alliances or does she prefer to pull strings from the save capitol? – By Matt Donn The three alliance leaders have distinct personalities, and will make different choices. Queen Ayrenn is less tradition-bound than most Elves, and wants to see the situation for herself rather than rely on reports. She prefers to be where the action is. Will the Camoran dynasty be somehow involved in the Dominion's politics? It seems to be somehow related to the foundation of the first Thalmor -- will we get to know a bit more about the origins of this political group? – By Jérémy Haut The Camoran dynasty ruled (or at least influenced) Valenwood ever since it was founded back in 1E 1. With the end of the second Empire the Camoran dynasty is trying to return to its former glory. At the time of The Elder Scrolls Online, Camoran Aeradan is King of the Wood Elves – so, yes, the Camorans play a definite role. The politics of those in and around the Camoran dynasty continue to inform everything that happens in Valenwood. Why did the Aldmeri Dominion change Valenwood's capital city? And why is a Bosmer city the capital of the Dominion, despite the fact that Altmer are the true leaders? – By Tamás Várfalvi The High Elves proposed Elden Root in Valenwood as the capital of the Aldmeri Dominion for strategic reasons – it helps bind the continental races to the Elves of Summerset to have the capital on Tamriel – and for mystical reasons, about which we can say no more! Who rules Elsweyr? Do they have nobles, ruling families, or something similar? Will the Mane make an appearance in game? – Combined Question by Nick Pantring & Mark Mullinger In the northern deserts of Elsweyr, the nomadic tribes are ruled by tribal chiefs while southern Elsweyr with its merchants, farms, and arts has a long-established Khajiiti nobility. The Mane, who is the Khajiiti spiritual leader and combines these two ways of life into one culture, will definitely be making an appearance in The Elder Scrolls Online. I'd like to know more about the Knahaten Flu. How it came to be and was treated? – By Will Manson There are many theories as to the origin of the Knahaten Flu – some believe in natural causes, while others blame the Argonians since they are immune to it. There are also many, er, entrepreneurs who claim they have effective cures. As a player, you’ll have to decide for yourself what to believe. What is the significance of a lion adorning the crests of both the Bretons and the Daggerfall Covenant as a whole? – By Gallagher Clausner When the Breton Lion Guard became High King Emeric’s elite knightly order, he adopted the lion as his personal crest, and thereafter it became the martial symbol of the Daggerfall Covenant. At the time the game takes place, how long have the Redguards been in Tamriel? Are they regarded as something of a newcomer race? – By Emmy Mariner The Ra Gada that brought the Yokudans to Tamriel began around 1E 800, approximately 2,700 years before ESO – so only the Elves are likely to still regard the Redguards as newcomers. Based on known lore and from previous Elder Scroll titles, the Orcs traditionally seem to keep to themselves and too their strongholds, with the odd exception. What is the motivation for the Orcs and the Orsinium Kingdom in joining the Daggerfall Covenant? What connects these three races of unlikely allies to band together as they have? – By Wade Johnson As a race, the Orcs have what we would call an inferiority complex. They’ve been kicked around Tamriel and looked down upon by the other races since the beginning of time, and they crave respect. It was a big deal for the Orcs when, in relatively recent history, Orsinium was finally admitted into the Second Empire as a full province. The clans that have joined the Daggerfall Covenant remember that period of recognition, and seek to revive it. The Bretons promised the Orcs could revive Orsinium unmolested, and that once the Covenant re-established the Empire, Orsinium would once again be an Imperial province. How are the Breton and Redguard peoples reacting to the alliance with the Orcs? They are historical enemies, the Redguards and Bretons destroyed Orsinium several times, the alliance may be formed purely out of necessity, but surely the people would be unhappy about the alliance. – By Aron Grafhorst It’s definitely an alliance of convenience, much as when the Nords and Orcs marched to the aid of the Dwarves at the Battle of Red Mountain. Individual Bretons and Redguards may not be happy about it, but the residents of their border towns say it’s better to have the Orcs marching against their enemies than raiding their flocks and their farms. The Redguards and Orcs have always respected each other as honorable opponents – and while the Orcs may not trust the Bretons, as a general thing, they do trust King Emeric, who’s proven reliable. And serving side-by-side is building trust between the races. I wonder how you will make the Alik'r Desert come alive. In so many MMOs the deserts are neglected and just full of sand and rocky hills with little to no vegetation, snakes, scorpions and buzzards. Which usually leads to being totally bored in desert zones. How do you plan on making them interesting? – By Lori Brock The Alik’r Desert has a vibrant ecology, from small critters like lizards up to apex predators such as dunerippers and giant scorpions. And nearly everything in it is either venomous or carnivorous. You won’t be bored – because if you let your guard down, you’ll be dead. Will the religious differences within the three races, particularly those of the Orcs and Redguards, be emphasized? Will there be Daedra-worshipping cults? – By Emmy Mariner Political alliances and enmities can either mitigate or exaggerate religious differences. The leaders of the Covenant are eager to suppress religious conflicts between Bretons, Redguards, and Orcs in the interest of solidarity. And Orcish leaders, such as King Kurog, emphasize that the Orcs of Orsinium worship Mauloch, who absolutely isn’t a Daedric Prince at all, honest. It’s those other Orcs who worship the Daedra Lord Malacath. How long ago was it that the High Elves were pushed back out of Hammerfell and High Rock? Are there any lingering effects of the invasion still felt during ESO? – By Chris Acciardi The Direnni Hegemony, in which High Elves ruled most of what is now the Daggerfall Covenant, was in decline by 1E 500, so it’s a good 3,000 years since the Bretons began home rule in High Rock. When the Redguards arrived in Hammerfell a few centuries later, Clan Direnni had already retreated to Balfiera Island in the Iliac Bay, where they still reside. I am a huge fan of the Elder Scrolls games and I have played a Breton since Morrowind, so I'm definitely joining the Daggerfall Covenant. My question has to deal with the Forsworn faction. Will they be implemented in the game, either as a faction or through quests? If they are a faction, will they be just an enemy class or will they part of the Daggerfall Covenant, since the majority are indigenous Bretons? I always thought that their story was very interesting and wanted to know if it will be explored in ESO since they have been around at least since the First Era, well within the time the game takes place. – By Jason McKinney The Forsworn are a faction of the Reachmen that exist in the Fourth Era during the time of Skyrim. While the Reachmen are mainly of Breton stock, they have their own culture and society and don’t consider themselves Bretons – and the Bretons agree. The Reachmen definitely appear in ESO, as they’ve allied themselves with dark Daedric forces that have sacked the Imperial City. Reachmen clans have been giving trouble both to the Bretons of the Daggerfall Covenant and the Nords of the Ebonheart Pact. Heated politics is an important part of High Rock's culture. Bretons are known as "shrewd merchants," and High King Emeric himself is a merchant lord. What is the relationship -- if any -- between mercantile pursuits and politics in High Rock, and does it define a significant difference between the Daggerfall Covenant's motives for seeking the Ruby Throne and those of the other two alliances? - By Gallagher Clausner Certainly “Free Trade in Tamriel” is one of the stated goals of the Daggerfall Covenant, which to the Pact and Dominion just means “Let merchants from Wayrest and Sentinel dominate all trade.” According to the "Vampires of the Illiac Bay" book the area is known to have 9 families of vampires. Are they going to be a major threat for the Covenant in the game? – By Marcelo Abio Let’s just say that all of Tamriel is being threatened by the schemes of Molag Bal, the Daedric Prince who’s also known as the Father of Vampires. The Undead are a major threat across the continent! Why is the alliance called the Daggerfall Convenant? What made the Breton town of Daggerfall the main part of the name? – By Orange Jammonkey It’s an accident of history. The First, or Breton, Daggerfall Covenant was a treaty of mutual defense signed by the Breton Kings after the defeat of Durcorach’s Reachmen Horde – which took place at Daggerfall. That battle before the gates of Daggerfall was also the first major victory of the young Emeric of Cumberland. Throughout the Elder Scrolls series, there has been enmity towards the Orsimer on the part of the Bretons and Redguard. Even though the Orsimer are a part of the Daggerfall Covenant, will we see any level of enmity towards Orsimer NPCs and Orsimer players contained in quests, quest-giver dialogue or general NPC chatter/dialogue? – By Hwrath go-Khash A political treaty like the Daggerfall Covenant doesn’t necessarily change the attitudes of the people whose leaders signed the treaty. Some people, tired of conflict between the races, have embraced the alliance, while others still regard their old antagonists with suspicion, or even open hostility. Are the Breton, or Manmer as known to the elves, considered as half elves? I know their ancestors were elves, but their appearance is more humanely then elvish. – By Szalmási Tamás Though the Bretons have some Elven blood in them, both the Bretons and the Elves consider them to be humans. Will there be quests for the Gods of Yokudan, like there were in previous games for the Divines? – By Carlos Vidal The old Yokudan gods are definitely worshiped by the Redguards of Hammerfell, particularly the Crowns, who try to maintain the traditions of Yokuda in their new homeland. You’ll find that the priests of Redguard Divines such as Tu’whacca, Zeht, and Ruptga have an active presence in Hammerfell. Regarding Hammerfell, what's the relationship between the Crowns and the Forebears like at the time of ESO? – By Jamie Hinson There’s always tension between the Crowns and Forebears in Hammerfell, but when there are outside threats to contend with, the Redguards tend to draw together and focus more on their mutual enemies. I know that the Dwemer disappeared in the First Era but is there any chance we may see more than just their architecture and machines? Perhaps Yagrum Bagarn might make an appearance? – By Eric Abbott As far as anyone knows, all the Dwemer disappeared in the year 1E 668… Being the huge fan of Orcs I am, their culture interests me very much. Their worship of Malacath was the most interesting to me, but also the most confusing. Is Malacath widely accepted as a deity, or is it only certain, small groups that consider him their god? Also, will he make any kind of appearance in ESO? Most importantly, I'm confused on what he is and what his relation to the Orcs is. – By Daniel Molyneaux As with other races, the religious practices of the Orcs vary from place to place and from clan to clan. Some Orcs worship the Daedric Prince Malacath; some Orcs (including most of those in the Daggerfall Covenant) worship the Divine named Mauloch, whom they insist is not a Daedra at all; and some Orcs could care less whether their god is a Daedra or not, and worship him under either name. In such matters of metaphysics, it’s difficult (if not impossible) to determine what the “truth” really is. What kind of prominent Argonian figures will we meet? – By LaJaveyon Saunders You will meet the Archcanons, such as Heita-Meen, who administer Argonian affairs above the tribal level (at least in northern Black Marsh), as well as the Keeper of the Hatching Pool in Shadowfen. What are ESO's plans for including "the Way of the Sword" as a part of Redguard history and combat mastery? Will Redguards or other races be able to become Master Ansei or learn the Shehai? – By Elisabeth Bailey Many, if not most, Redguards admire and revere skill with swordplay, and visit schools like the one at Leki’s Blade where they can hone their mastery. Alas, it seems the Ansei’s ability to summon the Shehai, or “spirit sword,” was lost when the Ansei died out in the long First Era. Lost forever? Who can say? You've stated what the Ebonheart Pact symbols mean, but what do the Aldmeri Dominion symbols represent? I'm guessing the Khajiiti symbol means Masser, Secunda, and the mysterious third moon that only appears when the Mane is born. As for the Bosmeri symbol, I'm guessing it represents either the Green Pact or Elden Grove. – By Andrew Shuter Good guesses. The Khajiiti symbol depicts the Two Moons and the Cat-folks’ claws, while the Bosmeri symbol does in fact represent the Green Pact. I'm a mer at heart, and my favorite race of Elves is the Falmer (Snow Elves). I was intrigued by their appearance in TES V: Dawnguard and would like to know will we learn anything more about their race, history, or culture in ESO? – By Sean Ferrel-Wyman In the Second Era, the Snow Elves are a near-forgotten legend, and the fact that they’ve degenerated underground into the feral Falmer of Skyrim is a deep secret. But secrets can be discovered, and the Falmer may make a future appearance in ESO. The Blades have been a central part of the character's main storyline in Elder Scrolls games. To what extent, if any, will The Blades be involved in ESO? – By Christian McAllen At the time of ESO, remnants of the Akaviri Dragonguard who protected the Emperors are still around, but they have not yet re-formed into the secretive Blades of later eras. About the Eight Divines, how much has their influence grown and will we see an involvement in ESO? – By Hector Rivera The Imperial Eight Divines are devoutly worshiped in Cyrodiil and much of the Daggerfall Covenant. In other regions reverence for the Eight varies – even which divinities make up the Eight varies from culture to culture. Something that is in big debate on every single forum I've seen as of late is the life expectancy of the different races of Tamriel for roleplaying purposes. Can you please elaborate and give us some numbers to work with for each race or at least the Elven races (Altmer, Bosmer, and Dunmer)? – By Nathan Payne / Andrew Hudson Elves live two to three times as long as humans and the “beast-races” (Orcs, Khajiiti, Argonians). A 200-year-old Elf is old; a 300-year-old Elf is very, very old indeed. Anyone older than that has prolonged his or her lifespan through powerful magic. What is the social and legal opinion of slavery in Tamriel during this time period? – By Bill Mottola It varies by jurisdiction. The Clans of the Reach, for example, certainly keep captured enemies as slaves – but they’re barbarians. In most civilized realms, slavery is illegal, with the obvious exception being Morrowind. Under the terms of the Ebonheart Pact the Dark Elves have had to liberate their Argonian slaves, but they still have slaves of other races, the most common of which are Khajiit. Are we going to encounter Dragonborns in ESO or learn shouts ourselves? – By Hawk Bullmer The line of Reman Cyrodiil of the Second Empire was certainly Dragonborn, but they died out at the end of the First Era, and between then and the date of ESO, no “legitimate” Dragonborn has been confirmed by being able to light the Dragonfires in the Imperial City. As for shouts (i.e., thu’ums), at the time of ESO, they are considered a legend out of the distant past. The Ayleids are said to have “At one point controlled the entirety of what is now the Imperial Province of Cyrodiil.” Does that mean we are only going to see Ayleid ruins in Cyrodiil or in other provinces like High Rock or Valenwood? – By Ian Barber The Ayleids were considerably more widespread than in just the province of Cyrodiil – at the height of their civilization, they were spread across Tamriel from High Rock to Black Marsh, and though their ruins are most frequently encountered in Cyrodiil, you might find one in any province but Skyrim, Morrowind, and Summerset. Outside Cyrodiil they are most common in Valenwood, because after the Slave Revolt of St. Alessia, the Ayleids who fled Cyrodiil largely took refuge among the Wood Elves of the south. I read in your last article about the Daggerfall Covenant that the city of Lainlyn would be featured in the game. Does that mean we’ll learn more about the origin and the culture of the harpies? Will we be allowed to attend Riglametha? Will the Dragonsword of Lainlyn be featured in the game? – By Jérémy Haut There will be adventures set in the Alik’r Desert port town of Tava’s Blessing, which is the precursor of Lainlyn. You will meet members of the Lainlyn family, for whom the town will later be renamed, and there are adventures in the desert with harpies, but that’s all we’ll reveal at present! In the time the game takes place does Orsinium exist as a major city? Or as a kingdom? – By Alon Saban Thanks to the treaty with the Daggerfall Covenant, Orsinium has been restored to the Orcs of Wrothgar, and they are rebuilding and reoccupying it. Southern Wrothgar is under the control of King Kurog of Orsinium, but north of the city the region is still a patchwork of strongholds. I am a huge fan of The Elder Scrolls games and I have played a Breton since Morrowind, so I'm definitely joining the Daggerfall Covenant. My question has to deal with the Forsworn faction. Will they be implemented in the game, either as a faction or through quests? I always thought that their story was very interesting and wanted to know if it will be explored in ESO, since they have been around at least since the First Era, well within the time the game takes place. – By Jason McKinney Though the Reachmen are related to the Bretons, they consider themselves a separate race (and so do the Bretons). The Reachmen are not a playable race, as they’re basically enemies to everyone (and like it that way), but you will see them causing trouble in High Rock, Hammerfell, Skyrim, and even Cyrodiil. The Forsworn are a Fourth-Era faction of the Reachmen that actually hearkens back to the Reach culture of ESO’s era, so they don’t appear as such, but the Reachmen of our time resemble them. In The Elder Scrolls V, players found that a number of Orcish Strongholds dotted the Skyrim landscape. What’s their history? Now that the Orcs and Nords are on opposite sides, how will they play a role in the storyline? – By Chris Orcs live in strongholds in the mountains throughout northern Tamriel. Most of them keep to themselves, staying out of the wars of Men and Elves. The Orcs of Wrothgar, who are signatories to the Daggerfall Covenant, are the exception, having long had ambitions of nationhood. Based on known lore and from previous Elder Scrolls titles, the Orcs traditionally seem to keep to themselves and to their strongholds, with the odd exception. What is the motivation for the Orcs and the Orsinium Kingdom in joining the Daggerfall Covenant? What connects these three races of unlikely allies to band together as they have? – By Wade Johnson As mentioned above, the Orcs of Wrothgar have long been ambitious to have their own state, and these ambitions have been repeatedly crushed over the millennia. Their membership in the Covenant is one more attempt at organization and recognition. Are the Striped Senche mounts Khajiit or just beasts? – Gidorick Moon Bishop Hulan says, “Many hairless ones are confused by the term ‘senche,’ since we Khajiit use it to mean a variety of things. It is used as ‘senche’ and ‘senche-raht’ to refer to two of the seventeen distinct furstocks, or ‘breeds,’ of Khajiit. The senche-raht, in fact, are the largest of us! But we also use the term ‘senche-tiger’ to refer to our more catlike cousins of lesser sentience. Indeed, depending upon the appearance of these cousins, we might even call them ‘senche-leopards’ or ‘senche-panthers.’ So you see that the term ‘senche’ is very flexible indeed, as changeable as the Moons.” Is it proper to drink in a "Temple of the 7 Gods", or is it considered as a desecration, or a very disrespectful behavior? – Elloa Lady Cinnabar of Taneth says, “Context is everything! Drinking in a temple can be completely respectable, especially if part of the drink is poured off as a libation for the Divines. However, drunken misbehavior, unless called for in a specific ritual, should be avoided, lest it give offense to the pious, who may demand that the inebriates be punished for their disrespect.”