Morrowind

 

Morrowind Resdayn
Capital	Baan Malur
Languages	Dunmeri, Velothi
Ethnic groups	Dunmer (Ashlanders), Argonians, Nords
Religion	New Temple
Demonym(s)	Resdaynian, Maneventian
Government	Feudal oligarchy

Morrowind  listen (Dunmeri: Resdayn  listen; Cyrodilic: Maneventia) is a country in northeastern Tamriel, and historically one of the nine provinces of the Tamrielic Empire. It is the homeland of the Dunmer or Dark Elves, descendants of the Chimer who followed Saint Veloth out of Alinor in the Merethic Era.

Volcanism has had a profound impact on the geography, history and culture of Morrowind. The immense, active Red Mountain, located centrally on the ash-ridden island of Vvardenfell, has had two major eruptions in recorded history, with the catastrophic latter triggering a refugee crisis.

Morrowind borders Skyrim to the west across the Velothi Mountains, Cyrodiil to the southwest across the Valus Mountains, and Black Marsh to the south across the Arnesian Jungle. It is bounded on the north by the Sea of Ghosts, and on the east by the Padomaic Ocean.

Name

Main article: Names of Morrowind

Morrowind has been known by many names throughout history. The current name is a poetic translation of the Velothi endonym Resdayn (variously translated as "wind of morning", "arrival of morning", "dawnrise", "dawning place, toward which the wind calls us", etc.), which originated in the Merethic Era.

In Imperial historiography, Resdayn (or its Imperialized form Resdania) is typically reserved for the pre-Tribunal period, while the modern country is known by the calque Maneventia. The Dunmer nonetheless continue to use Resdayn today, viewing Maneventia as a holdover from the Imperial era.

Geography

Vvardenfell

The withered Ashlands at sunset

Main article: Vvardenfell

Vvardenfell (Dwemer for "City of the Strong Shield"), also known as Black Isle, is the central island of Morrowind, containing Red Mountain. It is separated from mainland Morrowind by the Inner Sea.