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Revision as of 16:45, 3 August 2020

Not to be confused with Camonna Tong.
"The Morag Tong executes writs and performs special duties as the ruling houses direct. Guild members never harm or steal from any brother or sister - regardless of rank. Never betray our secrets or our identities. If you break any of these rules, you must immediately speak with a Master to regain your good standing or you may be targeted for execution."
Eno Hlaalu[src]

The Morag Tong, also known as the Forester's Guild[2] or Forest Guild,[3] is a guild of assassins operating out of Morrowind. The Empire, during their occupation of Morrowind, sanctioned the guild to perform public, private, and House War executions,[4] and while the Empire opposes murder, the Morag Tong was considered a legitimate means to assassinate a target,[5] with even the Imperial Cult showing respect for the guild.[6]

The Morag Tong are considered to be a powerful threat due to their connection to Morrowind's government.[7] The Morag Tong is believed to have originated under the guidance of Mephala,[1][8] who they also call the "Night Mother" or "Black Hands Mephala".[9] Morrowind Great House Redoran disapproves of the Morag Tong, seeing them as criminals and murderers, and refuses to do business with them.[10] The Dark Brotherhood is the sworn enemy of the Morag Tong.[4]

By game

Background

Rules and requirements

The Morag Tong looks for people who are able to appear different from who they are. They prefer members to be experienced in illusion magic, light armor, short blade, acrobatics, and sneaking. In order to join the Morag Tong, one must find the Grandmaster, who remains hidden, traditionally in Vivec.[11] Members of the Tong are only allowed to assassinate their target while carrying the proper writ, and have no way to choose which writ they will have to execute.[12]

Harming or stealing from a fellow member of the Morag Tong results in expulsion, with the same punishment being applied for the betrayal of secrets or betrayal of identities. Those who are expelled must speak with a Master of the Tong in order to regain their status, or risk being targeted by a writ.[13] Murdering civilians is seen as dishonorable and incompetent, while killing a target is seen as sacred and honorable.[14]

Duties

The Morag Tong concerns itself with honorable executions. Writs from as early as the First Era exist, and offer an insight into their philosophies. The early writs provided hints towards where and when the target was to be executed, and also made direct references to Sithis.[15] The Tong executes writs and performs special duties by the command of the ruling Great Houses.[13] Upon retirement, members of the Morag Tong are sent to Vounoura.[15]

Ranks

  • Probationer
  • Associate
  • Blind Thrall
  • Thrall
  • White Thrall
  • Thinker
  • Brother
  • Knower
  • Master
  • Exalted Master
  • Grandmaster

Morag Tong assassins, primarily those of Knower rank or above, typically keep an assassination journal, from which the Thralls can learn.[16] Writs are created by the Grandmaster of the Tong, who reads petitions which are sent to him by those who wish to hire their services, if the petition is accepted, a writ is signed.[12]

By tradition, when a new Grandmaster arises, he honorably executes the previous Grandmaster before taking their position.[17]

Artifacts

Ebony Blade

One of the artifacts associated with the Morag Tong is the Ebony Blade, a weapon belonging to the Daedric Prince Mephala.[18]

Threads of the Webspinner

27 belts, rings, shoes and amulets are part of the artifacts of the Morag Tong. They had been lost for a long time during the Third Era, until being retrieved during the rise of Dagoth Ur.[19] They were created during a pact between Sanguine and Mephala, being given to the members of the Morag Tong, but the Dark Brotherhood stole them.[20]

Equipment

Morag Tong Assassin card art

A Morag Tong Assassin.

Morag Tong armor is made from chitin, leather, and other materials gathered from animals. They form a very distinct outline for the assassin. Their weapons are often in the shape of a crescent.[3]

History

Merethic Era

The Morag Tong is believed by some to have found its origins alongside the founding of Morrowind, as during the early days of Resdayn the province was ripe with assassinations.[15] The Tong was founded to prevent violence, through keeping House politics from escalating into House Wars.[12]

First Era

During the First Era the government of Morrowind officially sanctioned the Morag Tong to operate within the province.[12] During the Four Score War, the Morag Tong was responsible for the assassination of both Reman Cyrodiil III and his son, Juilek Cyrodiil, and thus brought about the end of the Reman Dynasty.[21][2] The death of Reman was ordered by the Duke of Mournhold, and despite the attempts of Sotha Sil and Vivec to prevent the assassination from coming through,[22] it did occur.[23]

Second Era

At the start of the Second Era the Morag Tong rose in popularity,[15] until they killed the ruler of the Empire, this time killing Potentate Versidue Shaie[24] in the Senchal Palace. After his assassination, the Morag Tong was said to have written their name in the blood of the Potentate,[25][15] though it has also been argued that this was merely an attempt to frame the Morag Tong for his death.[26][27] With the death of the Potentate, as well as other high nobility of Tamriel,[12] the Morag Tong began to fall apart, and the Dark Brotherhood gained new members in the form of former assassins of the Morag Tong.[28] Whether they truly killed the Potentate or not is irrelevant, as the Morag Tong was blamed, and in 2E 324, the Tong became outlawed throughout Tamriel, with the exception of Morrowind.[15]

After the fall of both the Reman Empire and the Longhouse Emperors, the reputation of the Morag Tong was on the rise again, though it was far from the respect they once commanded.[29]

Third Era

During the Third Era, House Wars were greatly limited through the usage of the Morag Tong, which enabled public peace and rule of law to continue to exist within the province.[30] During the rise of Dagoth Ur, the Morag Tong fought a shadow war against the Dark Brotherhood on Vvardenfell, as well as the cult of Mehrunes Dagon. They successfully killed both the local Night Mother,[31] as well as another leading figure on Vvardenfell.[32] They also assassinated several prominent figures, including Mistress Therana and Baladas Demnevanni of House Telvanni,[33][34] General Larrius Varro of the Imperial Legion,[35] Councilor Dram Bero of House Hlaalu,[36] and various other Great House members.[37][38][39][40][41] A total of four attempts were made on the life of Athyn Sarethi.[42][43]

Oblivion Crisis

Little is known about the Morag Tong during the Oblivion Crisis, except that they attempted to assassinate the commander of the Drothmeri Army at Sundercliff Watch,[44] which was commanded by a member of House Telvanni who aimed to overthrow the Empire.[45]

Fourth Era

When the Red Mountain erupted during the Red Year, the Morag Tong scattered, vowing to one day reunite.[46] This occurred sometime before, or during, 4E 201, when the Morag Tong was hired by House Hlaalu in an attempt to assassinate Lleril Morvayn of House Redoran, due to the death of Vilur Ulen.[47] The Great House had sent some Redoran Guard to their headquarters in an attempt to kill the assassins, but the guardsmen had failed, and were instead killed themselves. The Last Dragonborn eventually wiped out their presence on Solstheim, by killing the assassins at Ashfallow Citadel, and thus saving Councilor Morvayn.[48] Even so, it did result in writs being signed on the Dragonborn.[49][50]

Gallery

Appearances

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 The Anticipations
  2. 2.0 2.1 Varieties of Faith in the Empire
  3. 3.0 3.1 Crafting Motif 30: Morag Tong Style
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Morag Tong" dialogue topic in The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
  5. Night Mother Rituals!
  6. For my Gods and Emperor
  7. Beware the Shadowscales
  8. Varieties of Faith: The Dark Elves
  9. Dialogue with Eno Hlaalu
  10. House Redoran Advisory
  11. The Black Glove
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 Honorable Writs of Execution
  13. 13.0 13.1 "rules" dialogue topic in The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
  14. "Morrowind lore" dialogue topic in The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 Fire and Darkness
  16. Naryu's Journal, Vvardenfell
  17. Dialogue with Eno Hlaalu during "Grandmaster"
  18. With Regards to the Ebony Blade
  19. Events of "Threads of the Webspinner"
  20. Dialogue with Eno Hlaalu during "Belt of Sanguine Fleetness"
  21. Pocket Guide to the Empire, First Edition: Cyrodiil
  22. 2920, vol 07 - Sun's Height
  23. 2920, vol 12 - Evening Star
  24. Mysterious Akavir
  25. The Brothers of Darkness
  26. Sanctioned Murder
  27. History of Pellitine: An Overview
  28. Sacred Witness
  29. Meet the Character – Naryu Virian
  30. "House Wars" dialogue topic in The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
  31. Events of "Execute Severa Magia"
  32. Events of "Execute Durus Marius"
  33. Events of "Writ for Mistress Therana"
  34. Events of "Writ for Baladas Demnevanni"
  35. Events of "Writ for Larrius Varro"
  36. Events of "Writ for Dram Bero"
  37. Events of "Writ for Mavon Drenim"
  38. Events of "Writ for Galasa Uvayn"
  39. Events of "Writ for Guril Retheran"
  40. Events of "Writ for Ethal Seloth and Idroso Vendu"
  41. Events of "Writ for Toris Saren"
  42. "latest rumors" dialogue topic in The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
  43. Events of "Guard Sarethi Manor"
  44. Soiled Writ of Assassination
  45. Drothan's Journal
  46. Dialogue with Ravyn Imyan
  47. The Ulen Matter
  48. Events of "Served Cold"
  49. Random encounters with Morag Tong Assassins in The Elder Scrolls V: Dragonborn
  50. Writ of Execution