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"I walked the streets of Dune in the early afternoon. The painted pavilions and sculptures were intertwined with carvings of glinting golds, reds, and blacks, all beckoning you to take in their beauty and touch. The sandy thoroughfare I strolled upon was mostly dung-free, despite drovers passing, expertly wrangling their herds of cattle and horses."
Flaccus Terentius[src]

Dune is one of the eight major cities in the province of Elsweyr, situated along the western provincial border in the region of Reaper's March. Dune is a merchant's metropolis amidst the war-torn grasslands of the March, also known for their tea parlors.

By game[]

Description[]

Geography[]

The city-state of Dune is situated within the provincial border region of Reaper's March, specifically, in the region of Dawnmead. Reaper's March and the twin provinces are divided by the Crescent River, which starts at the end of the Strid River. Dune is on the eastern side, towards the border into Cyrodiil. Among the land that Dune sits in, there are several settlements with the most notable one being Fort Sphinxmoth, the regional bulwark of Reaper's March. The townships of S'ren-ja and Pa'alat are found beyond the city limits. The Thizzrini Arena is also found here. Northward are a series of ruins, such as the stronghold mentioned above of Sphinxmoth Legion Fort, and the Ayleid ruins of Fardir's Folly. The gate into Cyrodiil found north of Dune leads into the West Weald wilderness, near the Priory of the Nine.

Dune itself is the largest settlement in all of Reaper's March, being an impenetrable wall built atop a plateau overlooking the region. Dune is split into four separate districts, each used differently. The Market District is the center of Dune, being built around a town square that is made as the central marketplace, bein referred to as, the Stalls. The Northern District contains the local inn, the Walker's Stay, as well as, a Crafting Alley and local chapters of guilds (i.e., the Fighters Guild and Mages Guild). To the south lies one of the two temple districts, with this one containing monasteries dedicated to Jone, Jode, and Lorkhaj. Disciples often wander around the gardens and meditate. Finally in the center contains the Temple of Two-Moons Dance, which is one of two in Reaper's March. This is the largest temple in Reaper's March. Inbetween these districts are alleys containing more merchants.

Traditions[]

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  • The Khajiits of Dune celebrate the New Life Festival on the 1st of Morning Star. It is a day of celebration where the drinks are free and people party in the streets all day. It truly is, a day of merriment.[1]
  • The Khajiits of Dune celebrate the South Wind's Prayer on the 15th of Morning Star. It is a day to pray to the Gods for a bountiful harvest, and it is for citizens who cannot afford to heal from the local temple to get healed from an ailment.[1]
  • The Khajiits of Dune celebrate Heart's Day on the 16th of Sun's Dawn. It is in honor of a legend passed down from generation to generation about a couple named Polydor and Eloisa. Every inn in Tamriel become free for visitors arriving into town.[1]
  • The Khajiits of Dune celebrate the First Planting on the 7th of First Seed. It is the day that begins the harvest, where neighbors reconcile their difference, bad habits are dropped, and the clerics heal people for free.[1]
  • The Khajiits of Dune celebrate the Second Planting on the 7th of Second Seed. The holiday is ideally the same holiday as First Planting, to improve one’s soul, and to improve relationships with others.[1]
  • The Khajiits of Dune celebrate the Mid Year Celebration on the 16th of Mid Year. A day to distract everyone from the increased taxes. It is a day celebrating the halfway mark in the year, where many warriors feel blessed and venture to dungeons they normally cannot defeat.[1]
  • The Khajiits of Dune celebrate the Merchant's Festival on the 10th of Sun's Height. It is a day that benefits the consumer in the market. Traders and Gypsies drop the prices on their stock. The only place that does not celebrate it is the Mages Guild. This is the same day as the Summoning of Boethiah.[1]
  • The Khajiits of Dune celebrate Sun's Rest on the 20th of Sun's Height. It is a day when the workers of Tamriel take a day to relax, businesses across town are closed in observance of this day. Some people have to have to leave the province to actually buy something.[1]
  • The Khajiits of Dune celebrate Harvest's End on the 27th of Last Seed. It is the final day of the harvest, and it is where the people eat the crops they have grown since the First Planting. Travelers are given the option to join a farmer’s family for a feast.[1]
  • The Khajiits of Dune celebrate Tales and Tallows on the 3rd of Hearthfire. It is the day of superstition where the elderly do not speak for an entire day, in fear of evil spirits entering their body. The Mages of Tamriel favor this day since it is a day to study the oldest forms of magic.[1]
  • The Khajiits of Dune celebrate the Witches' Festival on the 13th of Frostfall. A day when Lord Hollowjack of Detritus spreads his influence across Tamriel. Monsters and Ghouls swarm across Tamriel, terrorizing the innocent. Many people do not dare to leave their home, in fear of being nabbed by these creatures.[1][2]
  • The Khajiits of Dune celebrate the Warriors Festival on the 20th of Sun's Dusk. It is a day where many warriors gather to practice their fighting prowess. Travelers buy weapons in stores since their price's drop by half. Young children foolishly buy weapons, only to stab themselves by mistake.[1]
  • The Khajiits of Dune celebrate the North Wind's Prayer on the 15th of Evening Star. It serves as a thanksgiving to the Gods for the year's harvest. It is a day when the local temples heal and bless anyone for a lower price.[1]
  • The Khajiits of Dune celebrate the Old Life Festival on the 31st of Evening Star. It is a day of rest, where many leave the events of the passing year behind and to reflect their past. They rest for the New Life Festival.[1]

History[]

First Era[]

The Looter's Paradise & the Dakarn Cats[]

In the late First Era, around the Second Empire, the Border Scouts at Fort Sphinxmoth defended the area from the constant bandits and raiders. But at one point, the Scouts disappeared, leaving the region open for slaughter between rival clans, with the biggest conflict coming between the Vinedusk Tribes and the Dakarn Clan. Passing merchants were slaughtered and raided, and control over Sphinxmoth Legion Fort was shifting between the two factions, inadvertently, a "Looter's Paradise." The situation between the Vinedusk and the Dakarn had grown into high crime as the Dakarn Clan established a criminal empire from both Dune and the Thizzrini Arena. But when these groups reformed, like the Dakarn became the Duneguard Outwalkers, bloodshed in Reaper's March dwindled significantly, and Fort Sphinxmoth was ultimately abandoned.[3]

Second Era[]

Main article: Dune (Online)

The First Battle of Dune; the Planemeld[]

During the Planemeld on the 2nd of Sun's Height, 2E 581, the city-state of Dune was attacked by the Daedra of Coldharbour, via a Dark Anchor found on the outskirts, in an undisclosed village. Dro-m'Athra and Daedric Titans invaded Dune, burning through the defense against the Daedra. Dune would have been lost had a rag-tag group of Fighters Guild hunters help defeat the Daedric Titan, and by extension, the invasion force. The Titan was slain when a spear was plunged its gullet, and it was cut gravely from the armpit. Lightning had struck Dune's walls and streets, as the storms of Coldharbour had enveloped the skies of Dawnmead. Ultimately, these hunters died in combat, but Dune was saved and rebuilt without a moment's notice.[4]

The Second Battle of Dune & the Lunar Champion[]

During the Interregnum in 2E 582, the city-state of Dune was once again attacked by the Daedra, from the warlocks of the Stonefire Cult. The First Aldmeri Dominion, under the command of Queen Ayrenn and the Lunar Champion, fought the Daedra at Dune, with the Moon Hallowed traversing around the battlefield and closing portals in the city. Javad Tharn had infiltrated the Two Moons Path, with the newly-named Dark Mane, the Lunar Champion's twin sister. After a grueling battle deep in the Den of Lorkhaj, Tharn and the Dark Mane were killed. The Lunar Champion traveled further the Two Moons Path, where the Lunar Champion continued their journey and was named the Mane of Elsweyr. From then on, the three provinces of the Dominion were at peace with one another, paving the way for a bright future. But a call to action would arrive when Vanus Galerion approached the Moon Hallowed.[5][6]

Third Era[]

Main article: Dune (Arena)

Dune during the Imperial Simulacrum[]

During the Imperial Simulacrum from 3E 389 to 3E 399, Emperor Uriel Septim VII was imprisoned along with Talin Warhaft in the Deadlands by Jagar Tharn. Tharn planned for months to capture the throne, and he was able to achieve so in the span of ten years. Tharn had a powerful weapon called the Staff of Chaos, and he split it into nine pieces and scattered them across Tamriel, the staff was the only thing keeping Uriel Septim and Warhaft in Oblivion. A warrior escaped his clutches and traveled all corners of Tamriel to retrieve the missing pieces. The hero was known as the Eternal Champion, and he assembled the staff and defeated Jagar Tharn at the Imperial Palace. The Eternal Champion had at one point visited the city of Dune in their quest to recover the pieces. The city of Dune was under the rule of King Ab'ir.[7]

Minor Events[]

  • 2E 560 – The city-state of Dune was afflicted by the Knahaten Flu, as the entire province was as well. The talented alchemist from Dune, Ubraz, was one of the leading figures in curing the disease. He traveled to Orcrest, but had ultimately succumbed to the flu.[8][9]

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • In an earlier stage of development, Arena was going to be a tournament-based game, where each city had their own gladiatorial team. Dune's team was known as the Blades.[UL 1]

Appearances[]

References[]

Notice: The following are unlicensed references. They are not copyrighted by a ZeniMax Media company, but can still be considered part of The Elder Scrolls lore and are included for completeness.
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