Lore:Gonfalon Bay

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Gonfalon Bay
Type Settlement
Continent Tamriel
Region The Systres
(High Isle)
Appears in ESO
Gonfalon Bay ca. 2E 582
Gonfalon Bay on High Isle's southeast coast

Gonfalon Bay is the largest settlement on the Systres Archipelago and its main port-of-entry. It is specifically located in the eponymous bay on the southeast coast of High Isle, in a region known as the Sapphire Coast. The city was built by a contingent of Breton and Colovian workers that lived on the isles to build ships for the great armada, the All Flags Navy.[1] Since then it is the island's center of commerce and boasts the majority of High Isle's population. Perhaps the biggest attraction to the city is the Colossus of Gonfalon Bay, a large edifice of Baron-Admiral Bendu Olo, a wonder of the world.[2]

Layout and Geography[edit]

The Gonfalon Gaming Hall
The Gonfalon Head Lighthouse

The body of water known as Gonfalon Bay is located on the southeast coast of High Isle, between Loch Abhain and the picturesque, green summer hills of the Sapphire Coast. Anchored on each side of the bay are two lighthouses, the Colossus View and Gonfalon Head lighthouses.[3] The latter of which is a sacred landmark for followers of Kynareth, the goddess of winds and patron of sailors.[4]

Because the city's main industry is maritime, the hills are open, stretching for miles on end to Castle Navire on the other side of the island. But despite this, there are a couple of noteworthy landmarks just outside the city walls. Across from the city's northern gate is the Baron-Admiral's Bridge, lt drawbridge that uses counterweights to pull the bridge apart for large ships to pass through the loch. Northwest of the western gate is a set of druidic circle ruins called the Druid's Gate and across the loch to the northeast is Abhain Chapel,[3] an expansive crypt that houses High Isle's nobility.[5]

The city itself is walled-off and densely populated. Dame Emisse Fairwind calls Gonfalon Bay, "a charming port city of pleasant squares and quaint alleyways".[2] It can be divided into four distinct districts, Firstly, the city proper is split between the upper level and the lower level. The upper level is more inland and contains not only the central square and marketplace but also Gonfalon Palace, a large home that stands proudly over the town.[nb 1] Stairs around the city square and inclines on the east side lead into the lower level. A residential quarter can be found here on the east side, along with the Temple of the Winds and Mandrake Manor, the home of Lady Arabelle Davaux, a former spymaster and investigator. The waterfront runs along the shore and at the center of the street is a drawbridge to Harbor Island, which contains the Gonfalon Gaming Hall. These districts are separated from the region by a natural barrier and a fortified parameter at each end of the bay. Outside of the city's inner west gate are the docks and local shipyards.[3]

Notable Locales[edit]

Districts[edit]

  • Exterior
  • Gonfalon Bay Docks
  • Harbor Island

History[edit]

Early History[edit]

Gonfalon Bay under construction
The Colossus of Gonfalon Bay

In 1E 2243, the All Flags Navy and its founding members landed on the Systres Archipelago to begin construction of the fleet, and to prepare for war against the Sload of Thras. Colovian engineers and their Breton and Orcish laborers began work on building shipyards across the isles, with the two significant shipyards being the ones in All Flags Harbor and Gonfalon Bay.[1] After the navy's victory over Thras, their master builder, Tobin Moorcroft wanted to build a monument to the navy's leader, Baron-Admiral Bendu Olo.[6]

Although the project was initially rejected by Bendu Olo himself, it was revived years later after the monument on All Flags Islet finished construction in 1E 2274. Tobin Moorcroft spearheaded the project and chose a rocky island southeast of Gonfalon Bay as the place to build it. He created an expert team of stone-carvers and craft-mages,[6] as well as a large force of Breton workers to turn the rock into a work of art. Many of these Breton workers brought their families from High Rock to live on High Isle and built villages around the shipyards, more specifically near Gonfalon Bay. The Colossus of Gonfalon Bay was completed in 1E 2290 and an elderly Bendu Olo returned to the islands to accept this honor.[7] The statue has since stood over the island as a key attraction to the city.[6]

Although the Breton population was the largest in Gonfalon Bay and the Systres, Bendu Olo proclaimed the island region an extension of Colovia shortly after his victory. When High Rock later seceded from the First Empire in 1E 2305, the relationship between Bretons and the Alessians strained to the point where the Emperor over in Cyrodiil wanted them removed from the Systres. The Colovians' refusal to push them out and other decisions culminated in the War of Righteousness and in time, the Bretons had full control of the Systres.[7]

The Bretons ruled for quite some time but when Mount Firesong erupted in 1E 2484, the Systres faced a severe blow and lost nearly one-third of the region's population. With no support from the mainland and the death of their high society, the Systres were on the verge of ruin until the druids intervened and ushered in a renaissance of faith called the Green Years. The island's maritime industry was abandoned in favor of a druid coalition living off the fat of the land. For a time, both the Druidfolk and the Breton city people lived as equals and looked to the future, distancing themselves from their feudalistic past.[8]

Return of feudal Systres and Breton houses[edit]

Gonfalon Bay after the Empire's arrival
Lady Arabelle Davaux

On the 11th of Sun's Dusk in 1E 2704, emissaries of the Second Empire arrived onto Gonfalon Bay with an entourage of Breton coin-barons to re-establish the Systres as property of Cyrodiil. These coin barons brought about the immediate return of the island's feudalism, but this time under Reman and later Versidue-Shaie's banner. The Breton overseers cultivated a reputation of joyful compliance and servility as they proudly waved the Potentate's banner in Gonfalon Bay, but behind this facade, they planned their escape from his rule.[9]

By 2E 110, a patriarch of the Breton noble house, Mornard was instated to be the Imperial Governor of the Systres. His house was later granted dukedom while another family, House Dufort was given the lesser title of barony. Since then the two houses have maintained control over Gonfalon Bay, and the archipelago ever since, even into the Interregnum. In 2E 566, the Duforts were named Dukes of Systres while the Mornard lost their holdings in High Isle and were given a county.[10] At some point in time, they built a villa on Harbor Island but lost it to House Dufort after the transition in power. When they refused to pay the upkeep, Duchess Elea Dufort sold it to the game-baron, Razhamad and it became the Gonfalon Gaming Hall, where people can play the game, Tales of Tribute.[11]

In 2E 582, ships carrying leaders of the Three Banners War were set to land in Gonfalon Bay at the behest of Lord Bacaro Volorus but never arrive. The Breton noble and investigator, Lady Arabelle Davaux was hired by Lord Bacaro to investigate and met with Gonfalon Bay's dockmaster, Arnauld. Arabelle enlisted the help of a mainlander to find more clues around the city. When they went to the Gonfalon Head Lighthouse, they found it attacked by a group of lawless knights called the Ascendant Order and later retrieved the Kynareth headpiece of the lighthouse from Ascendant members.[12] The investigation eventually brought them to Castle Navire where they were confronted by the Ascendant Magus. After an attack on the castle, an earthquake ruptured all over High Isle and the seismic force was strong enough to shatter the Colossus of Gonfalon Bay.[13]

Culture and Society[edit]

Tales of Tribute
A Systrean statue of Kynareth

As Lady Arabelle puts it, the sights and sounds in Gonfalon Bay are like other cities on the mainland, but the cultural influence of the maritime trade, the local knightly orders, and the druidic society makes the difference.[14] Every week, the locals of Gonfalon Bay celebrate an informal holiday to Kynareth called Angler's Day. Taverns will sell fish-based food at a discount price like Hundred-Year Bisque or Grilled Sweet and Sour Sea Adder. Meanwhile, anglers can drink for free in whatever establishment they can find.[14]

One of the oldest known establishments in the city is the Ancient Anchor Inn, which is located in the city's upper level between the square and the central gate. It is named for the historical piece that hangs over its door. By the mid-Second Era, the inn was owned by the Render of the Loch, a shark hanging above the upstairs mantle that beat the previous owner, Captain Maciana Stormspray in a fight.[15]

Gonfalon Bay is the birthplace of a classical card game called the Tales of Tribute. Although the game takes aspects from other card games, its manufacturing takes place in Gonfalon Bay. Since its inception, the game has become popular all over Tamriel. The cards are primarily made from pasteboard, which is both durable and common in the Systres Archipelago. Printers and painters use various pigments from all over the mainland and use squid ink to write numerical information. This detail in particular is used to determine a forgery. The token was originally made out of larimar, which is mined from nearby Amenos, but by the mid-Second Era, coins were mostly made from ivory or common materials like iron, limestone, and sandstone for a cheaper product.[16]

Gallery[edit]

  • The Banner of Gonfalon Bay

  • Gonfalon Bay

  • Gonfalon Bay (Online)

  • Gonfalon Palace

  • The Ancient Anchor Inn

  • Gonfalon Square Wayshrine

  • Map of Gonfalon Bay

Notes[edit]

  • ^  Gonfalon Palace's purpose has never been explicitly stated. One source says that Duchess Elea Dufort rules from Gonfalon Bay, assumingly from the palace while another states that Castle Navire is the seat of power of not just the Systres, but for the Duchess and her family. The castle was House Dufort's home long before they became dukes in 2E 566 and people have ruled the Systres since the mid-late First Era.

See Also[edit]

Books[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Systres History: Volume 3 — Trilam Heladren, Associate Dean of Eltheric History, University of Gwylim
  2. ^ a b Visitor's Guide to High Isle — Dame Emisse Fairwind
  3. ^ a b c Gonfalon Bay in ESO: High Isle
  4. ^ Light-Keeper Menoit's dialogue in ESO: High Isle
  5. ^ Abhain Chapel loading screen text in ESO: High Isle
  6. ^ a b c The Colossus of Gonfalon Bay — Miramel Charascel, Chairperson of the Gonfalon Bay Historical and Social Society
  7. ^ a b Systres History: Volume 4 — Trilam Heladren, Associate Dean of Eltheric History, University of Gwylim
  8. ^ Systres History: Volume 5 — Trilam Heladren, Associate Dean of Eltheric History, University of Gwylim
  9. ^ Systres History: Volume 6 — Trilam Heladren, Associate Dean of Eltheric History, University of Gwylim
  10. ^ Systres History: Volume 7 — Trilam Heladren, Associate Dean of Eltheric History, University of Gwylim
  11. ^ Brahgas' dialogue in ESO: High Isle
  12. ^ Of Knights and Knaves story quest in ESO: High Isle
  13. ^ People of Import story quest in ESO: High Isle
  14. ^ a b Loremaster's Archive - Bretons & High Isle — Lady Arabelle
  15. ^ Khordetta's dialogue in ESO: High Isle
  16. ^ The Secret Origins of Tribute — Brunile Dufont, Games Scholar
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