Vivec City

"Finally the bones of Horde Mountain landed and became the foundation stones for the City of Swords, which Vivec named after his own sigil, and the net fell across it all and between, or became as bridges between bones, and since its segments had been touched by his holy wisdom they became the most perfect of all city streets in the known worlds."

- Anonymous

Vivec City, Vivec, Vivace, or The City of Swords, is one of the four major cities located in the Vvardenfell district of Morrowind and is the capital of both the Ascadian Isles and the Island of Vvardenfell. The city of Vivec is one of three settlements created in honor of the Tribunal, namely Vivec, the Warrior-Poet.

Geography
The city of Vivec is located on the southern side of the Inner Sea, a large body of water that separates the mainland of Morrowind from the Isle of Vvardenfell. Vivec is situated on the open bay of the Ascadian Isles, the inner grazelands of Vvardenfell that consist of several different islands and lakes such as Elmas Island and Lake Amaya. Vivec consists of several mer-made islands called Cantons, which were built by Dunmer of House Hlaalu during the Interregnum of the Second Era. The Cantons are made of several levels that are populated by local traders and artisans; they can be compared to towns, especially since the stronghold of Molag Mar is a canton in Molag Amur. Cantons serve different purposes and are occupied by some of the Great Houses of Morrowind. The Foreign Quarter of Vivec is where many foreign interests are located in the city, the Fighters Guild and Mages Guild have halls in the canton. Originally, foreigners were not able to enter the city and so, the Foreign Quarter was made for foreigners. Nowadays, anyone can arrive into Vivec and bask in its glory.

Three of the cantons are occupied by Houses Hlaalu, Redoran, and Telvanni from west to east respectively. The Hlaalu Canton was one of the first out of the three to be built during the Second Era, it leads into the Bitter Coast and the fortress city of Ebonheart. The Telvanni Canton in the east was the last one, by 2E 583, the Telvanni canton was merely a large square hole in the Ascadian Bay. The Redoran Canton is located inward from the city, much closer to the city center. Further downward, the St. Delyn and St. Olms cantons are closer to the Palace of Vivec and is where the nobility live in. The Temple Canton is more south and is where the Hall of Justice and the Library of Vivec, the Ordinators are headquartered here. The Palace of Vivec is located on the southernmost end of the city and is a large building resembling a Xanmeer from Black Marsh. This is where Vivec the Warrior-Poet lives and is where he governs the city.

Early Years
Vivec City was founded in the golden age of the Tribunal by Vivec, for whom it was named after. With his valued weapon known as Muatra, he pierced the monster Horde Mountain, making it into a big bag of bones. When the bones landed, they formed the foundation of Vivec City. A net then fell over the city, creating bridges and other connections to the bones.

The Daedric Prince of Madness Sheogorath saw the city of Vivec as a mockery of the heavens and as punishment, Sheogorath tricked the Baar Dau moon into crashing into Vivec City. When Vivec learned about the situation, he froze the moon in the sky with a single gesture and the grace of his countenance. The moon then served Vivec as the citadel for Temple Ordinators.

Second Era
During the Alliance War, the construction of Vivec City was underway. Vivec, however, contracted a mysterious illness which jeopardized the city, as it caused the meteor Baar Dau to gradually descend down on the city. With the help of the Vestige, Vivec's power was fully returned around 2E 582 and he was able to once again place the meteor back into suspension.

Third Era
During Tiber Septim's conquest on Morrowind, Vivec announced that he'll negotiate plans about making Morrowind an Imperial Province allied with the Septim Empire.

In 3E 427, the Nerevarine Prophecy had come to fruition. The Nerevarine arrived at the city to find informants under the orders of Caius Cosades of the Blades. Sometime later, the Nerevarine was tasked in freeing Mehra Milo, who was one of the informants. After completing the Fourth and Fifth Trails of the Prophecy, the Nerevarine ventured to Vivec one last time to meet with Archcanon Tholer Saryoni. Saryoni pointed the Nerevarine to Vivec himself to arrange a meeting. Vivec gifts the Nerevarine the Wraithguard and a Plan to Defeat Dagoth Ur. From there, the Nerevarine ventured to Red Mountain and defeated Dagoth Ur at his citadel.

In 3E 433, a rogue Telvanni wizard named Frathen Drothan lead the Drothmeri Army in search for the Daedric Artifact known as Mehrunes' Razor. The army appeared at Vivec City on the 6th of First Seed where he learns the location of the Dagger in Cyrodiil.

Fourth Era
After the defeat of Dagoth Ur, the Tribunal began to fade away. Almalexia went mad, killed fellow Tribunal Sotha Sil at his Clockwork City, and blamed it on the Nerevarine at her city of Mournhold. Later, the Nerevarine killed Almalexia at her palace in Deshaan. At some point Vivec disappeared, it is unknown whether he was killed or not. Regardless, his influence on Vivec City diminished and the Baar Dau started to move again.

The greatest minds of Morrowind came together and built a device known as the Ingenium, which is a machine that uses souls to keep the Baar Dau from falling on Vivec. Sometime later, a Dunmer man named Ezhmaar Sul tried to rescue his lover, Ilzheven from being taken by the Ingenium. Unfortunately, the Ingenium exploded causing the Baar Dau to crashing into Vivec City in 4E 5.

After the impact, the area once known as Vivec City is now known as the Scathing Bay. The ruins of Vivec resemble ash islands and shattered stones, surrounded by boiling water.

Trivia

 * Vivec City's layout is very reminiscent of the ancient city of Tenochtitlan in that the city is built on artificial islands with river canals going through them. Both the Aztecs and the Dunmer of Vivec use the canals to transport goods and other items across the city.

By Game

 * Vivec City (Morrowind)
 * Vivec City (Online)