Isle of Summerset

"Not a single isle at all but an archipelago of two major islands and a dozen smaller ones, the land called Summerset is the birthplace of civilization and magic as we know it in Tamriel. On its idyllic sea-kissed shores live the Altmer, the High Elves."

- Imperial Geographic Society

The Isle of Summerset, Isle of Sumurset, Summerset Isle or simply Summerset is the largest island out of the province of the Summerset Isles. Summerset is the largest region in the entire continent of Tamriel, with rolling hills throughout the land, and rugged mountains all over the coast. It is the birthplace of modern civilization in Tamriel, as well as the modern race of the Elves.

By game

 * Summerset (Online)

Northern Summerset
The lands of Northern Summerset are very diverse, from the wetlands in the west coast to the rugged hills in the eastern valley. This region more or less surrounds the mountains of Eton Nir. Areas in the east and west are not directly connected, with the only paths being through the scenic King's Haven Pass and the not so scenic and more dangerous, Karnwasten. The most notable settlements are the cities of Cloudrest, which resides in the highest alps of Eton Nir, and Lillandril, on the western end of the wetlands that looks towards the Sea of Pearls. Beyond that, the legendary forest of Ebon Stadmont sits on the rim of Eton Nir, just before the central vineyards.

Central Summerset
The Plains of Central Summerset stretch from the western bay to the eastern coast, in this large stretch of open land, are the vineyards of Russafeld, perhaps the most famous winery in southwest Tamriel. To the southeast of the area are several ruins, including the Keep of the Eleven Forces and the ruined estate of Tor-Hame-Khard. The largest settlement in the central plains is the city-state of Shimmerene, which has earned the nickname of the City of Lights. On the other side of the region is the center of Summerset's theatre culture, the township of Rellenthil has been the home of the House of Reveries for many years, being well-renowned throughout the island.

Southern Summerset
Southern Summerset, unofficially known as Varyllis is largely mountainous, with most of it inaccessible due to the perilous alps. Along the coastline is various ruins and caves, one notable here is the Colossal Aldmeri Grotto, a vast cove utilized by the pirates of the ocean. The largest settlement is the city-state of Alinor, which is the capital of the province, which is situated on the Oleander Coast. On the other side of the mountains is the city-state of Sunhold, which is equal in size as Alinor, serving as the home of the province's strongest navy. The city-state of Dusk is located on the eastern coast, overlooking the sea south of Auridon. This city anchors the region along with Alinor.

The Aldmeri Expansion onto Summerset
"The Aldmer, the progenitor races of all elves, arrived in Tamriel from their original home in Aldmeris or Old Ehlnofey in ancient times. We don’t know what precipitated this exodus or even the location of Aldmeris if it still exists today. Most scholars believe that the Aldmer settled Summerset first, and then spread out across the rest of Tamriel, but there is some evidence to support the theory that Summerset was only one of several initial settlements of the earliest Aldmer."

- Imperial Geographic Society

With their ancestral homeland of Aldmeris looming away in the distance, the Aldmer travel to the north, where they arrived on the shores of the modern-day Summerset Isles and leading the helm was High Lord Torinaan, who landed on the shores of Auridon, establishing the city-state of Firsthold, where the rest of the Elves spread across into Summerset Isle. Before they lived there, creatures of legends such as the Gheateus and the Illyadi had prospered on the land, to which the Elves had dispatched to nigh extinction. But even before Summerset was untamed, ancient ruins and structures had dotted the landscape, from the Ceporah Tower on Artaeum, to the ruins of modern-day Cloudrest. Eventually, the land had grown into a booming civilization, from lowly farmers and tribes to wealth clans and merchant lords. Settlements such as Alinor, Sunhold, and Skywatch had grown into large kingdoms, with the former becoming the modern-day capital. But out of this rising civilization, none was held more sacred than the Crystal Tower, a vast tower that overlooks the entire land from the heights of Eton Nir. In it houses the crystal known as Transparent Law, which protects the island from the threats of Oblivion, reminiscent of the Dragonfires in Cyrodiil. The Crystal Tower is considered the beacon of hope, as well as the symbol of everything the Elves hold dear. Many scale the mountain to learn from the halls of Crystal-Like-Law.

The Elven races of Tamriel; Beyond Summerset
"The Aldmer changed over time culturally according to their new environments, being at first temperamentally and then physically very distinct "races" separate from one another. The ones who stayed in Summerset became known as the Altmer; in Valenwood, Bosmer; in Morrowind, Chimer and Dwemer; in Cyrodiil, Ayleid; and in High Rock, a mix between Nedic and Aldmer birthed the Bretons. The Orsimer or Orcs were also created at this time; Aldmer warped by the destruction of their leader Trinimac, who it is said became the Daedra Prince Malacath. This disparate chorus may have been crafted consciously by the Daedra or by the shifts of the earthbones, but the reason why is not necessary for this history. Change they did."

- Imperial Geographic Society

As time went on, the Elves had grown contempt with the Blessed Isles, and so had decided to move beyond the realms of Summerset, and into the mainland of Tamriel, where the Beastfolk had reigned over since the dawn of time. Many sects of Elves had moved out the Summerset Isles and into the lands of Tamriel, with the first being the Dwarves, who moved into the wastelands of modern-day Morrowind, out of the sub-continent of Vvardenfell. The Dwemer were well ahead of their time, building automatons and steam-powered machinery that the races of Tamriel have yet to fully-utilized. Of these movements, none was more well-known than the followers of Veloth, a wealthy Chimeri noble that heeded the words of Boethiah, gathering his followers for the promised land, which is Morrowind. As time went on, the Chimer changed into the modern-day race of the Dark Elves. Part of why Veloth left Summerset was because of the nobilities ill-treatment of the unfortunate, and homeless, and so he and his people had left. But the Chimer were not the only ones to leave of the haughty nature of the Elves.

A sect of Elves traveled across the Cape of the Blue Divide, where they settled onto the lands of Valenwood. Here, the Aldmer became the modern-day Wood Elves, following divine laws known as the Green Pact, which resulted in their exclusively-carnivorous lifestyle, protecting the Green to their death. In legends, when Boethiah defeated Trinimac and swallowed him whole, the waste that was left behind became Malacath, the Daedric Prince of Sworn Oaths. Malacath had become a vile form of his former-self, along with his followers, which became the Pariah-folk, the Orsimer. The Orcs moved north towards the Wrothgarian Mountains and the Dragontail Mountains. Another well-known movement was the Ayleids, who were the first to establish an Empire in the continent of Tamriel, ruling out of the modern-day Imperial City. The Ayleids worship the Daedra, much to the dismay of the Aldmer, and so they left Summerset and established their illustrious Kingdom, using the Nedes as slaves. The Ayleids went extinct when the Nedes rebelled in the Alessian Slave Rebellion in the first era. The Aldmer that remained on the Summerset Isles became the High Elves, who have kept their ways to this day. Other races such as the Snow Elves moved to modern-day Skyrim and others such as the Sinistral Elves ended up on the doomed island of Yokuda.

Regions

 * Central Summerset
 * Northern Summerset
 * Southern Summerset

Settlements

 * Alinor
 * Alinor Royal Palace
 * The Golden Gryphon
 * Plaza of the Hand
 * Temple of the Divines
 * Alinor Docks
 * Oleander Coast Winery
 * Outlaws Refuge
 * Cloudrest
 * Cloudrest Aerie
 * Dusk
 * Lillandril
 * The Shrewd Brew
 * Barra'tee
 * Illumination Academy
 * College of Sapiarchs
 * Shimmerene
 * Anchors Aweigh Inn
 * The Ruins Bazaar
 * Monastery of Serene Harmony
 * Shimmerene Waterworks
 * Shimmerene Dockworks
 * Sunhold
 * Cey-Tarn Keep
 * Crystal Tower
 * Rellenthil
 * Russafeld
 * Sea Keep
 * Sil-Var-Woad

Ruins

 * Ald Mora Ruins
 * Corgrad Wastes
 * Direnni Acropolis
 * Cathedral of Webs
 * Ebon Sanctum
 * Eldbur Ruins
 * Eldbur Sanctuary
 * Keep of the Eleven Forces
 * Red Temple Catacombs
 * Temple of the Mad God
 * Tor-Hame-Khard

Caves

 * Colossal Aldmeri Grotto
 * Eton Nir Grotto
 * Karnwasten
 * King's Haven Pass
 * Rellenthil Sinkhole
 * Saltbreeze Cave
 * Welenkin Cove

Landmarks

 * Abecean Sea
 * Alaxon'ald
 * Archon's Grove
 * Augury Basin
 * Belport Run
 * Caomus River
 * Coral Forest
 * Eastern Pass
 * Ebon Stadmont
 * Eton Nir
 * Garden of the Sacred Numbers
 * Gryphon Aerie
 * Gryphon Run
 * Oleander Coast
 * Sea of Pearls
 * The Vaults of Heinarwe
 * Wasten Coridale