High Rock

High Rock is a western region of the fictional Empire of Tamriel in the Elder Scrolls universe. It borders on Hammerfell to the south and Skyrim to the east. It is mainly populated by the Bretons. The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall, named after the city-state of Daggerfall, is partly set in this province. High Rock, along with the Summerset Isles, is the only province of tamriel, not to share a land-border with Cyrodiil.

Geography

High Rock encompasses Greater Bretony, the Dellese Islands, and, by tradition the Western Reach. Its geography is quite varied depending on which region of the province one visits. The forested peaks of the northern Wrothgarian Mountains is occupied mainly by herders, and small hamlets. The only truly cosmopolitan cities lie along the Iliac bay, the enclosed body of water across from which sits Hammerfell. Here a number of kingdoms have prospered due to trade around the bay and up the Bjoulsae River, such as Wayrest. Inland, the country-side rises into the windswept plateau of North Kambria. This area is known for its many small villages and towns, and for the many grim fortifications that dot the hills and crags around them. In the past these castles were homes to the many petty kings and lords that ruled the massive patchwork of small nations that used to make up High Rock. Many of these fortresses are now in ruins, as the Empire has been demolishing them since the time of Tiber Septim to prevent them from being used as bases for future rebellions.

History

Until relatively recently, High Rock resisted all attempts at true unification. Originally the land was a province of the Aldmeri, the elves who ruled all of Tamriel during the Merethic Era. When the Nord invaders of the First Era discovered High Rock, they found the human inhabitants so intermarried and intermingled with the elves who ruled the land that they could scarecly be told apart. The Nords took it upon themselves to liberate High Rock, believing these humans to be descendants of human slaves taken by the elves, but they never got very far. The elves were strong and crafty with magic, and many of the humans fought with the elves against the Nord invaders. Because of this the borders of the First Empire never extended far beyond the Bjoulsae River.

Ironically, it was the bloody crusade of the Alessian Order that finally doomed the elves. Although the elves defeated the Alessians at the Battle of Glenumbria Moors, the cost of that battle was so high that the Elves could no longer maintain their hold over the land. The emerging human nobility revolted and drove the Elves out, though North Kambria remained a stronghold of elven power long into the First Era. The new Breton nobles soon turned on each other, and began fighting over the spoils of victory. The various vicious battles between different towns and duchies are still a source of tension and anger between Bretons to this day. A famous expression in High Rock is, "Find a Hill, become a King," which is what many petty despots did during the First and Second Eras as well as the Interregnum. Breton history is filled with stories of petty battles and squabbles between various kings, dukes, lords and knights.

High Rock was eventually conquered and united by Tiber Septim during the beginning of the Third Era. This was mainly due to the chaos and infighting of the Breton nobility. In fact, many Bretons allied with Tiber Septim against their neighbors in order to see them defeated, only to find themselves forcefully united under the new Emperor's will. As a result, many in High Rock continue to chafe under the Emperor's rule, and have taken part in the numerous revolts and periods of unrest throughout the Third Era.

Culture

High Rock society can be divided into a noble elite, a poor middle class of merchants, and a destitute peasantry. The High Rock nobility is an almost impenetrable mass of titles, family lines and hereditary claims that leaves most outsiders bewildered at its complexity. Though the Bretons are divided into numerous antagonistic groups, their manner of speech, architecture, and even clothing seems fairly uniform to an outsider. In fact it is said that an outsider need only visit one or two High Rock towns before he or she has a taste for the entire country. Bretons have a great tradition as being strong magic users and this is especially true in the larger cities. In places like Daggerfall and Wayrest, the nobility can trace its lines through the Mages Guild, and children are tested early for magical affinity. Magic is practiced by independent mages and medicine men in the more remote regions of the Wrothgarian Mountains.

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