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"Situated on the southwestern shores of Valenwood, Woodhearth had humble beginnings as an Imperial settlement, constructed and maintained by the Emperors in order to facilitate trade with the region's Wood Elf settlements."
―Anonymous[src]

Woodhearth is one of the eight major cities located in the province of Valenwood, being the capital of the Greenshade region. Woodhearth is a melting pot of culture ranging from the High Elves of the Summerset Isles to the Imperials of Cyrodiil. Woodhearth is one of the busiest ports located across the Abecean Sea.

By game[]

Description[]

Geography[]

Woodhearth is one of the many port towns located along the Blue Divide, the sea in between the Valenwood mainland and the Isle of Auridon in the west. Woodhearth has had influence from the High Elves in the west since the city is the closest one to the provinces. Woodhearth is built on an area along the Drowned Coast where the marsh meets the sea, in a fertile grassland on the coast. The settlement built before Woodhearth has had several Graht-oak trees located in the southern district, in the marshes. As time went on, the Imperials of Cyrodiil began to build fortifications across the coast, creating a perimeter that would become the port town of Woodhearth. As time went on, the Imperials abandoned the settlement and the Altmer arrived into town. They built their own structures in the northern end as well as rejuvenated the harbor along the western shore. East of the city are several marshlands such as Rootwater Grove and the Shademist Moors. There are not many settlements located near Woodhearth, other than Longhaven, Diss, and Dread Vullain.

Traditions[]

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  • The Wood Elves of Woodhearth 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 Wood Elves of Woodhearth 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 healing from the local temple to get healed from an ailment.[1]
  • The Wood Elves of Woodhearth 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 Wood Elves of Woodhearth 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 Wood Elves of Woodhearth 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 Wood Elves of Woodhearth 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 Wood Elves of Woodhearth 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 Wood Elves of Woodhearth 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 Wood Elves of Woodhearth 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 Wood Elves of Woodhearth 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.[1]
  • The Wood Elves of Woodhearth 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.[1]
  • The Wood Elves of Woodhearth 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 Wood Elves of Woodhearth 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]
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History[]

First Era[]

The Maormer Conquest of Valenwood[]

Woodhearth, along with the other Ayleid cities in Valenwood, was flourishing in the trade with the foundation of the White-Gold Tower in Cyrodiil. Greater settlements such as Elden Root were being established in the eastern forest of Grahtwood. Things took a turn for the worst when the Maormer of Pyandonea invaded the Ayleid colonies along the coast, this included the towns of Woodhearth and Haven. They eventually moved into Elden Root and besieged the city, destroying their great libraries and universities, high atop of the Elden Tree.[3]

The Alesssian Reforms & Treethane's Independence[]

During the First Era, the provinces of Valenwood and Cyrodiil waged war against each other, even after the Alessian Reforms of Marukh. These conflicts arose when High King Borgas was killed during the Wild Hunt. The war ended after a series of losing battles and the Thrassian Plague, the province of Valenwood fell to the Empire. Several advancements were made in Valenwood, one of which resulted in the founding of Southpoint. The power the Camoran Dynasty had over Valenwood was diminishing, ensuring Valenwood would not join with the High Elves of Camoran, the Empire granted independence to the treethanes in different settlements across Valenwood. These cities included Woodhearth, Falinesti, Silvenar, Haven, Archen, and Elden Root went from simple trading posts to large civilizations with their own power across the realms.[4][5]

Origin of Woodhearth; the Green Pact Alliance[]

The Imperials established the town of Woodhearth as a trading post along the Blue Divide and to develop business with the Wood Elves of Valenwood. The reception from the Elves was curiosity, friendship, and hospitality, it was a treat to the tree people since it served as a port town and a fortress, protecting people from the threats of the forest such as the Hollow or the Lurcher. The town was attacked by several Bosmer tribes that were against the idea of Woodhearth; they retaliated by using Destruction Magic to destroy the walls of the town, they were driven back by the local Imperial Legion, with their superior weaponry.[6]

Peace was eventually brought into Woodhearth between the Green Pact Bosmer and the Imperials in town. The Wood Elves established treehomes along the southern district that connect through each other on the treetops. It gave Woodhearth a special connection to the green. As time went on, Woodhearth naturally moved to the Wood Elves, when the Bosmer became an effective power in the Second Empire. A Treethane was established in Woodhearth, to ensure the power of the Bosmer further. The Treethanes of Woodhearth have become notorious throughout Valenwood for their sheer determination and their fair judgment for the denizens of Woodhearth. The Treethanes would continue to rule the city of Woodhearth, even in the Second Era and beyond.[6]

Second Era[]

Main article: Woodhearth (Online)

Trouble in Woodhearth; Pelidil's Gambit[]

During the Interregnum in 2E 582, Vicereeve Pelidil stole the Staff of Magnus from the city of Marbruk and used it to create a shade of Prince Naemon, the Prince of Alinor. Naemon had perished after an unfortunate encounter in Elden Root with the Orrery. Pelidil, with the help of the Veiled Heritance plans to destroy the Aldmeri Dominion and to seek revenge for Naemon, by slaying Queen Ayrenn of the Dominion. After stealing the staff, Pelidil traveled to the city of Woodhearth and remained in hiding, with a planned assassination attempt on Ayrenn. Treethane Fariel believes that there is a spy amidst the Thalmor, she felt that it was best to root them out from the shadows. Fariel and Razum-dar of the Eyes of the Queen plan to root out the traitor by having Raz disguised as Queen Ayrenn and to tour the Imperial Underground, a place avoided by many. Raz asked one of his close friends, a warrior named the Vestige, to travel with them as Ayrenn and to uncover the assassin at the sewers. While in the Underground, the two were attacked by Asteril, a young member of the Thalmor and the assassin of the Veil. She disappeared into the sewers with the Vestige following suite. They discovered orders from Pelidil and sent it to Fariel and the Thalmor.[7]

Betrayal in the Thalmor; Pelidil's Demise[]

Members of the Thalmor, including the leader of the Woodhearth Thalmor, Oromin believed that Asteril would never betray the Dominion. The Vestige and Oromin traveled to the Thalmor Resting Quarters to interrogate Asteril about the rest incident. They arrived in late, and Asteril was found murdered in her room. Razum-dar found a hidden path to the underground near Asteril, the Vestige enters the underground to find a dying heritance member named Laryaril on the floor, she explains that Pelidil is gathering an army and is currently besieging the fortress of Seaside Sanctuary in the north. It will be the staging grounds of Siege on Woodhearth. With this news, Treethane Fariel and the Thalmor of Woodhearth begin to plan a counterattack on Pelidil's Forces to reclaim the Seaside Sanctuary.[8]

Third Era[]

Main article: Woodhearth (Arena)

The War of the Blue Divide; the Woodhearth Blockade[]

During the Imperial Simulacrum in 3E 397, the province of Valenwood and the western subcontinent of the Summerset Isles waged war against each other across the Blue Divide in a conflict called the War of the Blue Divide. The Altmeri Navy surrounded the city along the western coast and tried to starve the people through a blockade. This endeavor proved to be tiresome since the Wood Elves are known to be willing cannibals. The Wood Elves preserve the forest and see any meat as valuable food. After battles, the feast on the enemies flesh since it would have been a waste. Valenwood was ravaged by war during the Simulacrum; they have the War of the Blue Divide in the west and the Five Year War in the east with the Khajiit.[9]

Woodhearth during the Imperial Simulacrum[]

The Imperial Simulacrum started from 3E 389 to 3E 399, when 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 Woodhearth in their quest to recover the pieces. The city of Woodhearth was under the rule of Queen Laredia.[10]

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • In an earlier development stage, Arena was going to be a Tournament-based game, where each city had their own gladiatorial team. Woodhearth's team was known as the Nomads.[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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