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Firsthold

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"When High Lord Torinaan came to this isle, our city sprang from his first step onto its rocky shores. Be welcome to First Hold, birthplace of the High Elves who carry our past..."
―Arena greeting when entering the city.[src]

Firsthold or First Hold is one of the eight major cities located in the province of the Summerset Isles and is the capital of both the Auridon region and the Vafe region on Auridon. As its name describes, Firsthold is the first settlement on the Summerset Isles and is perhaps the very first modern settlement on Tamriel, predating Windhelm and Elden Root.

Description

Geography

The city has two entrances located on the southern and eastern gate. Despite being on the coast, Firsthold doesn't have a port. Firsthold has the Diceto River running inside the city similar to Real World Venice. The castle is located on the northern district on the cliffs. The guilds are located on the southern edge of the city, next to each other but divided by the river in the middle.

Traditions

Click to show
  • The High Elves of Firsthold 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.[OOG 1]
  • The High Elves of Firsthold 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.[OOG 1]
  • The High Elves of Firsthold 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.[OOG 1]
  • The High Elves of Firsthold 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.[OOG 1]
  • The High Elves of Firsthold 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.[OOG 1]
  • The High Elves of Firsthold 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.[OOG 1]
  • The High Elves of Firsthold 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.[OOG 1]
  • The High Elves of Firsthold 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.[OOG 1]
  • The High Elves of Firsthold celebrate the Witches' Festival on the 13th of Frostfall. A day where the creepy ghouls and creatures of the night gather to terrorize the denizens of Tamriel. Many have not dared to wander the streets at night, in fear of being nabbed by a creature.[OOG 1]
  • The High Elves of Firsthold 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 by weapons in stores since their price's drop by half. Young children foolishly buy weapons, only to stab themselves by mistake.[OOG 1]
  • The High Elves of Firsthold 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.[OOG 1]

Background

Appearance

Gleaming spires come into view when in sight of Firsthold.[1] High cliff palaces of the ancient capitol, and the Abecean Sea, can be seen from the royal palace balcony.[1] The cathedrals of Firsthold are devoted to Auri-El.[2] The great river Diceto passes through the royal parks of the city, where there are also hedge mazes and Kanthleaf plants.[3][4]


History

Dawn Era

When the Aldmer High Lord Torinaan discovered Auridon during the Dawn Era, he and his sailors founded the city of Firsthold on the island's northern tip.[5] Many creatures attempted to attack the city and kill the Aldmer settlers, raising the idea among its citizens to find another new land to settle. Torinaan however, did not allow the attacks to go on for long, and used Varla Stones to summon the power of the Magna Ge and smite the creatures from the isle.[6]

Second Era

Main article: Firsthold (Online)

Vanus Galerion, a Psijic of Artaeum, student of the famed Iachesis, and founder of the Mages Guild, first began operating out of the urban center of Firsthold.[7] Almost immediately after the Mages Guild was formed in 2E 230 it had to hire guards, and the knightly Order of the Lamp was formed the following year.[7][8]

The noted scholar Ahrtabazus published "The Faerie Chain" in Firsthold in 2E 456.[9]

The Great Orrery at Firsthold, whose spheres are made up of genuine celestial mineral gathered by travelers during the Merethic Era, is the only legacy of the Sun Birds of Alinor. Their expeditions to Aetherius are among the most famous attempts in history, although they were eventually dissolved due to the untenable expenditures required to reach magic by magicka.[10] The Sapiarchs reported that on the night of Princess Ayrenn's disappearance in 2E 563, the Great Orrery spun backward.[11]

In 2E 582, High Kinlady Estre, the leader of the Veiled Heritance, visited Firsthold after her disguise had been revealed. The leader at the time, High Kinlord Rilis XIII, was unaware of the news, and allowed her into the city. She then called upon her leader, Mehrunes Dagon, and summoned many Daedric minions to besiege the city. She was stopped by the Vestige, who killed her and closed the Oblivion gates. The damage to the city was still dreadful, but was fixed sometime later.[12]

Third Era

Main article: Firsthold (Arena)

Amiel Septim met with the Archmagister of the Mages Guild in Firsthold in the year 3E 80.[13] The Eternal Champion visited the city in 3E 389.[5] Barenziah's child, Morgiah, was once the Queen of Firsthold during the Third Era.[14] Lady Gialene, daughter of the King of Skywatch, attempted to usurp Morgiah with help from the Trebbite Monks, who stirred the local peasants to a revolt, however Gialene was unsuccessful.[1]

During the Imperial Simulacrum, the Eternal Champion had at one point visited the city in their quest to find pieces of the Staff of Chaos.

Trivia

  • When Arena was going to be a Tournament based game, Firsthold's team was known as the Reapers.[OOG 2]

By game

Appearances

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Firsthold Revolt
  2. ↑ Feyfolken, Book II
  3. ↑ King Edward, Book IV
  4. ↑ Words and Philosophy
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Arena
  6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named TLoF
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Origin of the Mages Guild
  8. ↑ Mages Guild Charter
  9. ↑ The Faerie
  10. ↑ Pocket Guide to the Empire, Third Edition: Birthsigns
  11. ↑ Ayrenn – The Unforeseen Queen
  12. ↑ Events of Online
  13. ↑ The Wolf Queen, Book I
  14. ↑ A Game at Dinner
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.
  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 Holidays in Arena
  2. ↑ Go Blades


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