Lore:Lillandril

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Lillandril
Type Settlement
Continent Tamriel
Province Summerset Isles
Region Summerset Isle
Appears in Arena, ESO
Lillandril ca. 2E 582
Map of the Summerset Isles
"Welcome to Lillandril, the High Elven hold on the northern coasts of Summurset. The people fight here for honor and glory. Come, challenge our land, if you dare..." —In-game description in Arena

Lillandril is one of the eight major cities in the province of the Summerset Isles,[1] situated on the western hills of the Summerset Isle. The city is known for scholarly pursuits, various institutes such as the College of Sapiarchs and the Illumination Academy were both found in vicinity of the coastal-town.[2] The city's symbol is the Flask of Lillandril, an enchanted bottle that absorbs the magic used against the bearer. Despite its infamy, it has been embraced by the people as a cultural symbol.[3]

Layout and Geography[edit]

The College of Sapiarchs

Lillandril is built atop the hills on the northwest coast, where the land gives way to the ocean to form the lowland and sunken basin. The roads are flooded by water but gradually rise above it as it gets closer to the settlement. Even though it is a port town, it is intricately built on the hillside, slowly rising around it until it reaches the upper platform and the Kinhouse, well above sea level and with a grand view of the surrounding waters. The open-aired main street, which coils around the mountain leads to the upper platform, and everything in between is crowded alleys and stairways. At the height of Lillandril lies the portal master, who guards an egress that transports people to the College of Sapiarchs.[4] It is an academic compound built atop of an island off the coast of Lillandril, where many kings and queens of Summerset go to study on their way to their throne.[5] Lillandril is neighbored by several settlements, such as Karnwasten Moor to the southwest and Marbruk Brook to the southeast.[1]

Notable Locales[edit]

History[edit]

The Flask of Lillandril

For countless centuries, Lillandril was known as the center of higher learning,[2] with the Illumination Academy and the College of Sapiarchs serving these purposes. Throughout the First and Second Eras, the cities of Summerset often engaged in conflict with each other, eventually blossoming into full-scale warfare. Lillandril would often battle Alinor from the south.[8]

Sometime around 1E 470, a group of Altmer discovered a magical flask with the ability to absorb magic from wherever. With its potential power, the founders used it to perform various tasks for barons across the province and to keep the Bosmer of Valenwood in check. They later disappeared and crash-landed in a coral reef on what is now Stros M'Kai.[9] When Mount Firesong erupted in the Systres archipelago in 1E 2484, people from Lillandril witnessed smoke from a distance and smelled brimstone.[10] The Alinor-Lillandril skirmishes, one of their many conflicts throughout history took place in 2E 230.[11]

In 2E 582, the tension between the College of Sapiarchs and the Mages Guild had grown exponentially since they established themselves in town. The Sapiarch, Haladan was murdered by a member of the Mages Guild, Emile Oncent, who confessed to the situation. But because of the nature surrounding his confession, a newcomer was tasked to uncover the truth and both Emile and Haladan's apparent relationship. The newcomer uncovered their hidden plot to cure vampirism for their mutual friend, Norasea, but Haladan was killed by one of her feral friends. It is unknown whether their secret was exposed to the public and Emile was sparred, or if the information was kept hidden to honor the pair's secret and thereby sparing Norasea of an execution. Regardless, the situation had been resolved.[12][13]

In 3E 110, the kings of the Summerset Isles formed a unified alliance to combat the Maormer[14] in their last-known invasion of the province, the War of the Isle.[15] Despite having assistance from Emperor Antiochus and the Imperial Navy, the Maormer were defeated because of a supernatural storm accredited to the Psijic Order.[14][16]

During the Imperial Simulacrum in the late Third Era, the city-state of Lillandril was an active settlement. It was ruled by King Corridalf and had a rivalry with Alinor.[7] During that decade, the Eternal Champion traveled through town on their quest to re-assemble the Staff of Chaos, after acquiring the fourth piece in Elsweyr. They ventured to the city's Mages Guild and spoke with their loremaster, Corim Ashlen on the location of the Crystal Tower, where the fifth piece was located. The guildhall was previously attacked by the priesthood of the Mad God, who sought a diamond that could reveal the tower's location. The champion retrieved the artifact from the Temple of the Mad God and returned it to Ashlen. Using the gem's power, the loremaster scribed the tower's location for the champion.[17]

Known Rulers[edit]

For the longest time, the Psijic Order served as counselors to the rulers of the Summerset Isles. If anyone wanted their counsel, their best method was either through a select few places or the kings themselves. They continued this service up until their island of Artaeum first vanished in the Second Era, around when the Mages Guild was formed. When they returned several years later for the Third Era, they continued where they left off[18] until Artaeum disappeared a second time sometime in the Fourth Era for whatever reason.[19]

  • The Second Era
    • Unnamed Kinlady of Lillandril (ca. 2E 582)[4]
  • The Third Era
  • The Fourth Era — Once the Thalmor came into power, they abolished the monarchy across the Summerset Isles.[20]

Culture and Society[edit]

For more information, see the: Culture and Society sections on the Altmer page.

The Flask of Lillandril was a powerful artifact discovered by its ancient scribes. Despite its association with the High Elves, however, it was not of elvish origin.[21] The wielders of the flask in the early First Era fled the southern provinces for Daggerfall and sought refuge with the Direnni in fear that Wood Elf assassins would track them down. The founders were killed and the flask was lost on Stros M'Kai,[9] where it was later discovered by Cyrus the Restless in 2E 864.[22] Ever since their victory over Jagar Tharn, many Imperial-loyalists re-traced the Eternal Champion's steps through their journey, which meant they would have stopped in Lillandril.[23]

The Altmer have a common disinterest with the divine, Stendarr, who is known by many names, such as the Apologist of Man. Despite this, the Sect of Harmonious Masters, mages from Lillandril, have dedicated their lives to working with Stendarr's light and adapting it into the School of Restoration. The order believes they are honor-bound to teach all races their spells, so long as they are willing to learn from it.[24] While other groups such as the Resolutes of Stendarr use the god's light to smite and defeat evil, others such as the Harmonious Masters or the Temple of Stendarr use it to heal.[25]

The name is also used for male Altmer, either directly using "Lillandril" or spelling it alternatively as "Lillandriil".[26] By the Fourth Era, Lillandril was a major port on the East Empire Company's southwest lines, between the cities of Dusk and Stros M'Kai.[27] The first iteration of the Aldmeri Dominion used an alloy called Lillandril Steel in the manufacturing of their longbows.[28]

Gallery[edit]

  • Lillandril (ESO)

  • The Banner of Lillandril

  • Lillandril (Arena)

  • Lillandril Hexmage (Legends)

Notes[edit]

  • 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, Lillandril's gladiatorial team would have been called "the Crimson Guard".[UOL 1]
  • A string file from Daggerfall Preview contains the name "Lillendril Caernim" for player characters, which perhaps lent (or borrowed) its name to the city.

See Also[edit]

Books[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Map of Summurset Isle – The Elder Scrolls: Arena
  2. ^ a b Our Blessed Isles: A Guide — Runilstir the Surveyor
  3. ^ Lillandril Banner, Hanging furnishing in ESO: Summerset
  4. ^ a b c d Lillandril in ESO: Summerset
  5. ^ a b On the College of Sapiarchs — Adandora, Chronicler at Large
  6. ^ Meet the Character - Quen — Tundellde
  7. ^ a b c Lillandril location and rumors in Arena
  8. ^ Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition: The Blessed Isle: Alinor and the Summersets — Imperial Geographical Society, 3E 432
  9. ^ a b Elven Artifacts vIII — Ith-Mok
  10. ^ Systres History: Volume 5 — Trilam Heladren, Associate Dean of Eltheric History, University of Gwylim
  11. ^ Alinor Eye Crest major adornment description in ESO
  12. ^ Murder In Lillandril quest in ESO: Summerset
  13. ^ Haladan's Research Journal — Haladan
  14. ^ a b Brief History of the Empire v 1 — Stronach k'Thojj III
  15. ^ Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition: Other Lands — Imperial Geographical Society, 3E 432
  16. ^ The Wolf Queen, v5 — Waughin Jarth
  17. ^ Crystal Tower main quest in Arena
  18. ^ Fragment: On Artaeum — Taurce il-Anselma, 3E 400
  19. ^ Tolfdir's dialogue in Skyrim
  20. ^ a b Rising Threat, Vol. IV — Lathenil of Sunhold
  21. ^ J'ffer's dialogue in Redguard
  22. ^ A Legendary Flask story quest in Redguard
  23. ^ A Minor Maze
  24. ^ Rituals of the Harmonious Masters — Aritanwe of Lillandril
  25. ^ Aura of the Righteous — Ptolus the Bright, Resolute of Stendarr
  26. ^ Altmer Names in Arena and Daggerfall
  27. ^ Map of the East Empire Company – The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
  28. ^ Crafting Motif 25: Aldmeri Dominion Style — Aicantar of Shimmerene, Sapiarch of Indoctrination

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.

  1. ^ Original TES: Arena texts at the Imperial Library
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