Major regions of The Elder Scrolls

This article lists the major regions of the Elder Scrolls that have a major effect on the Elder Scrolls series of video games. Many regions and realms exist, but this article extrapolates upon the realms that are involved with the games in the series.

Cosmology
Aurbis
Aurbis is the realm in which The Elder Scrolls universe is set. It is the foundation of everything, including Oblivion, Aetherius, Mundus and the Outer Realms.

Aetherius
Aetherius is a spirit realm where the source of magicka resides. Immortal spirits reside in Aetherius, including ex-mortals who have learned how to become immortal. It exists "beyond" the mortal realm of Nirn and beyond the realm of Oblivion. Aetherius is the home of the stars and Magnus, god of Magic. These beings fled creation after deeming it a failure, and thus do not involve themselves in mortal affairs

Battlespire
:See also: The Elder Scrolls Legends: Battlespire

Battlespire is a magical academy that trained elite Battlemages for the service of the Cyrodiil Empire of Tamriel. It is located on the border between the "normal", human dimension and Oblivion, the dimension of Daedra.

The origins of Battlespire are unknown, but at some point of the Third Era of Tamriel the academy has been utterly devastated and nearly destroyed by the advancing forces of Daedra led by Daedra Prince Mehrunes Dagon and armed with fearful Daedric Crescents. This assault was aimed to conquer Tamriel and the rest of the mortal world but was stopped by the last surviving graduate of Battlespire who defeated Dagon and closed the interdimensional portal.

Oblivion
:Main article: Oblivion

Oblivion is the realm inhabited by Daedra. While Oblivion is most often described as "The Elder Scrolls version of Hell," the metaphor expressed in the game actually implies a complex supernatural cosmology. Oblivion is the void surrounding Nirn, the mortal plane of existence. The planets, nebulae and other astral bodies in the sky are the mortals' view of the spheres of the Daedra floating in that void. Stars are holes on the inner surface of Oblivion through which the energy of Aetherius shines into the mortal realm. This is also true of the sun, which is known as Magnus. The exception is the constellation of the Serpent, Sithis, which is made up of unstars (through which, presumably, the energy of Oblivion shines into Aetherius).

Nirn
:Main article: Nirn

Nirn is the fictional planet on which The Elder Scrolls series of games are set. Its name means "arena" or "the battleground" in the Elven language (Ald Ehlnofex). Nirn is also known as Mundus (the "Mortal Plane"), and is located in Aurbis, between the Aetherius (the "Immortal Plane"), and Oblivion. Nirn is named "Mortal Plane" because the species which inhabit it die. The planet is orbited by the two moons Masser and Secunda, while Nirn orbits its sun, called Magnus. The continents of Nirn include Akavir, Aldmeris, Atmora, Pyandonea, Tamriel, and Yokuda.

Continents of Nirn

Tamriel
:Main article: Tamriel

Tamriel is the continent where the events of The Elder Scrolls series of games take place. The name Tamriel is said to mean 'Starry Heart', however, according to Arena, it is also Elvish for 'Dawn's Beauty'.

Tamriel consists of nine provinces, Black Marsh, Cyrodiil, Elsweyr, Hammerfell, High Rock, Morrowind, Skyrim, Summerset Isles and Valenwood. In addition the city state of Orsinium is currently seeking provincial status.

Akavir
Akavir ("Dragon Land" in the native Akaviri language) lies some 4,200 miles to the east of Tamriel and is the homeland of the Akaviri, who are further divided into four sub-races: the Kamal, the Tsaesci, the Tang Mo, and the Ka Po' Tun. Little else is known about the continent or the people of Akavir, as few Tamrielians have ever dared to cross the vast ocean which separates it from Tamriel. It is believed that humans lived in Akavir at one time, but were eventually "eaten" by the Tsaesci, who have themselves launched several attacks upon Tamriel in past ages.

It is stated in game dialogue in Oblivion that the Nerevarine (the hero of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind) has departed for Akavir in the interim between Morrowind and Oblivion. A story taking place in Akavir can be found in the Oblivion book Report: Disaster at Ionith.

Aldmeris
Little is known about Aldmeris (called Ehlnofey in the Elven tongue), other than that it is rumored to be located far to the south of Tamriel and is supposedly the ancestral home of the Aldmer. It is possible that some Aldmer still inhabit the continent, but whether or not this is true remains a mystery, as all expeditions to find Aldmeris thus far have ended in failure. Some have even suggested that the continent does not actually exist at all.

Some believe it not to be a real place, but pleasant memories the Elves have of the dawn before the gods left Nirn.

Atmora
Atmora is a frozen, unlivable land. In the Elvish tongue Atmora means "Elder Wood". Atmora was once warmer though still an icy place, populated by the Nedes, which were organized into clans and fought in civil wars for hundreds of years. More than 4,000 years ago, a man named Ysgramor travelled to the distant continent of Tamriel. He founded the capital city of Saarthal, which was soon razed by the Aldmer, the ancestors of all Elves. Ysgramor retreated to Atmora with his two sons, and raised an army of 500 Nedic warriors known as the Five Hundred Companions, to take revenge against the Falmer, who were almost completely eradicated. Ysgramor founded Skyrim, the first human kingdom of Tamriel.

Pyandonea
The kingdom of Pyandonea is series of islands to the south-west of Tamriel. Sometimes regarded as a continent, the islands are covered with rainforests and a habitat for water spirits. It is also the homeland of the Tropical Elves (or "Maormer"). The king of Pyandonea is the immortal Orgnum Thras, a wizard who claims to be God-Snake of Satakal. Three centuries ago, the island broke its alliance with the Summerset Isles, and Orgnum waged war against Tamriel. Potema, queen of the Kingdom of Solitude tricked Orgnum by convincing him that she would assist in overthrowing the current emperor, her half brother, Antiochus. Potema's scheme made Orgnum and his entire attacking fleet begin their assault against Tamriel. When Orgnum's Fleet passed near Artaeum, the homeport of the Psijic Order, a magical storm destroyed the entire fleet including Orgnum. The storm was created by the Psijic Order under the payroll of Potema.

Yokuda
Yokuda lies to the west of Tamriel and was the homeland of the Redguards. It was once a prosperous continent and the birthplace of the Yokudan civilization. 3500 years ago, Yokuda was devastated by a series of earthquakes, which sunk the land. Some believe it was caused by natural tectonic shifts, while the Redguards believe it was caused by wizards during a civil war.

The warrior class of the Yokudans, also known as Ra Gada, or "Forebearers", sailed east to settle down in Hammerfell, where they were known as Redguards. The nobles of Yokuda are known as the Na-Totambus, or "Crown". Little is known about the continent or the people before they sailed to Tamriel.

Thras
Homeland of the Sload, or slug-men. Thras is a chain of coral islands in the Abecean Sea west of Tamriel.

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