Tear

Template:City infobox

"Thousands of wretched captives, mainly Argonians but including not a few khajiits and even Imperial citizens, pass through the infamous slave-pens of Tear, the Dres capital, from whence most find an early death on the plantations which surround that ill-omened city."

―Imperial Geographic Society

Tear or Dres is one of the eight major cities in the province of Morrowind, situated on the southeasternmost point of the province, near the border to Black Marsh. Tear is the ancestral capital of the Great House Dres, whose sphere of influence has involved agriculture and the hard-working spirit of the Dark Elves. They are known for practicing Slavery.

By game

• Tear (Arena)

Description

Geography

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Traditions

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The Dark Elves of Tear 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. The Dark Elves of Tear 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. The Dark Elves of Tear 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. The Dark Elves of Tear 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. The Dark Elves of Tear celebrate Jester's Day on the 28th of Rain's Hand. The holiday’s purpose is unknown, likely to celebrate the Daedric Prince of Madness and Whimsicality, Sheogorath. It is a day to play pranks on each other and to have overall fun. The Dark Elves of Tear 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. The Dark Elves of Tear 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. The Dark Elves of Tear 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. The Dark Elves of Tear 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. The Dark Elves of Tear 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. The Dark Elves of Tear 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. The Dark Elves of Tear 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. The Dark Elves of Tear 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. The Dark Elves of Tear 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. The Dark Elves of Tear 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.

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The Dark Elves of Morrowind celebrate Saint Jiub's Fair, which commemorates the achievements of Saint Jiub, who had slain the Cliff Racers of Vvardenfell, fighting them for two days. He was anoited to Sainthood by Vivec, being dubbed Saint Jiub the Eradicator.

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• The Dark Elves of Tear are said to sell their slaves to the Sload of Thras, who would then use them in their practices of Necromancy. Tear is one of two locations where the Sload buy bodies on Tamriel, the other being the city-state of Senchal. Both are large merchant settlements.

History

First Era

The Ruddy Man, in legends, was the carapace of Molag Bal in the previous Kalpa, one where the Dreugh were the dominant race. Those who don the carapace would become the Ruddy Man and would wreak havoc throughout the lands. The Tribunal, Vivec fought against the Ruddy Man on the outskirts of Gnisis, in the isolated sea cave, Koal Cave. Their battle resulted in the formation of the West Gash, a large grazeland that cuts through Western Vvardenfell like a slash. The Ruddy Man's second known appearance was at the city-state of Tear, ten years later. It was worn by a shaman of the House of Troubles, but instead of using it as armor, it fused with the shaman's body. Vivec had ultimately defeated the Ruddy Man by taking a giant form. He gave the remains to the mystics of the Number Room, and so the Ruddy Man has yet to appear since.

Second Era

In 2E 572, the Dark Elves of House Dres joined the Ebonheart Pact, an alliance consisting of Morrowind (except for House Telvanni), Black Marsh border regions, and Eastern Skyrim. House Dres had undergone a drastic change when slavery had become limited, to non-existent. The Dres were unable to practice slavery onto any race, considering that the Argonians were now their allies. At one point, Grandmaster Omin Dres, leader of House Dres had re-located into the city-state of Kragenmoor, which is traditionally the territory of House Hlaalu. Tear's expansive slave trade was dismantled for the time being. All the while, House Telvanni continues to practice slavery.

Third Era

Main article: Tear (Arena)

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 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 Tear in their quest to recover the pieces. The city of Tear was under the rule of King Nisath.

Fourth Era

When Red Mountain erupted in 4E 5, the Red Year, the inner mainland of Morrowind was largely unaffected, but the coast around Tear was affected. An earthquake had occurred after the initial eruption, and the dam was cracking, causing water to seep into the plantations. Many farmers were attempting to save their livestock and family, until the southern wall of Tear had collapsed, ensnaring many people in the destruction. Once everything had settled, the people of Tear, poor or rich were helping each other, from the crumbled buildings and walls. Since Tear is built on a marsh, the surrounding water was slowly swallowing the city, and the unstable ground caused the walls to crumble. Tear was vulnerable, even with the upcoming Accession War.

Minor events

• 2E 862 – The powerful Khajiiti crime boss, S'rathra had orchestrated a series of raids on Tear plantations, freeing various Khajiiti slaves from House Dres. Among the conflict was Cyrus the Restless, who would fight for Hammerfell's freedom in the Tiber Wars, which led to the province's proper integration into the Third Empire.
• 3E 407 – An abolitionist called "The Lopper" set about assassinating several minor housemen and slavers of House Dres. The perpetrator was a Khajiit slave named Kazagh with the help of the master's daughter Peliah and her father's sword.

Gallery

Baron of Tear in Legends.

Tear circa 2E 850.

King Nisath of Tear.

Tear is also known as Dres, according to this official map.

Trivia

• In an earlier stage of development, Arena was going to be a tournament-based game. Where each city had their own gladiatorial team. Tear's team was known as the Immortals.

Appearances

• The Elder Scrolls: Arena
• The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard (mentioned only)
• The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard: The Origin of Cyrus!
• The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (mentioned only)
• An Elder Scrolls Novel: The Infernal City (mentioned only)
• The Elder Scrolls: Legends (mentioned only)

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.