Info Darkness Calls ~Lore thread~

[IntrepidVenture]

State of the World
Skyrim
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Skyrim is technically at peace. The brutal civil war that nearly tore the province apart ended forty years ago in a stalemate. This means that Skyrim is in a state of limbo, not fully a province of the Empire, but neither is it fully independent. Ulfric's descendants rule the Pale, the Rift and Eastmarch holds, while the descendants of imperial loyalists rule the Reach, Falkreath and Haafingar holds. The three remaining holds, Winterhold, Whiterun, and Hjaalmarch, have declared themselves neutral, their jarls and thanes carefully refraining from favouring an imperial or independent Skyrim.

Factions found throughout Skyrim

Dawnguard
Ever since Isran reformed the Dawnguard sometime in 4E 201, they have gained influence and numbers, so much so that they have small outposts in each of the nine holds. Though Harkon was destroyed, vampires remain in the wilds, and so the Dawnguard's task remains the same; to guard mortals from the predations of blood sucking undead.

Headquarters- Fort Dawnguard, the Rift

Current leader- Agmaer Sohriksen, nord male

The Vigilants of Stendarr

Once, their order was destroyed by the Volkihar of Skyrim, the scattered vigilants regrouped and reformed their order. However, their losses have left them even more suspicious of magic users than ever before, and many a mage has been hauled to the Vigilant Keep for 'questioning'. Though a force for good, the reformed vigilants can be overzealous in their quest to vanquish evildoers. Because of this, they are often unwelcome in cities.

Headquarters- The Vigilant Keep, the Pale

Current leader- Keeper Larina Caesisius, imperial female

Cult of the Tenth Divine
No one is quite sure where these mysterious, raving priests have come from, ranting and raving about the birth of a new god. What can be agreed upon, is that wherever they appear, bad things happen soon after. Though hold guards, Imperial legionnaires, and even the Thalmor, have attempted to put a stop to their operations, the cult endure, and perhaps more worryingly, are gaining followers at an alarming rate.

Headquarters- Unknown

Current leader- Unknown

Circle of the Wyrm

A coven of necromancers, said to be lead by a powerful lich, these nefarious defilers of graves have recently begun raiding the tombs and barrows of Skyrim, though their purpose is still unclear.

Headquarters- Unknown

Current leader- Unknown

The Northern Wolves

Though the civil war is long since over, there remain some hardcore believers that Skyrim should be for the nords, and the nords alone. When Ulfric agreed to peace, these few felt he had betrayed by their 'high king'. Thus, the Northern Wolves were formed, a band of ruthless brigands that attack imperial-aligned holds and their former brothers in arms with little distinction.

Headquarters- Unknown

Current leader- Hjakell Stone-Fist
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[IntrepidVenture]

Whiterun hold

Whiterun hold is one of the more central holds of Skyrim...and the wealthiest. Even during the war, they were known as the most neutral of the nine. While this certainly garnered some anonymity from both sides, Whiterun also suffered the least. In recent years, they have had troubles with instigators from both imperial and nord sides. The whiterun guard and Companions generally deal with them, keeping the trade routes open.

Factions found throughout Whiterun hold

The Companions
Created after Ysgramor and his five hundred companions, the companions are a band of warriors that have dwelt within Jorvaskr for centuries. They are lead by the circle, who in turn answer to the harbinger. Currently ,they deal as an elite policing force, dealing with threats that the hold guard cannot handle.

Headquarters- Jorvaskr
Current Leader- Caldr Bjornson

The city of Whiterun
Located on a bluff that gives the city a commanding view of the surrounding hills and plains that make up the majority of the hold, Whiterun has long been the commercial heart of Skyrim. It's continued neutrality does nothing to hinder the wealth that has flowed into it for generations.

Though the war is over, Whiterun's aging defences have gone through somewhat of a remodel, with the stone wall surrounding the city proper having been reinforced, and an outer wooden palisade arcing around the front of the city.

Inside this arc, is where caravans and traders of all types ply their wares, luring the inhabitants of the city out to spend their coin. The guard force of Whiterun has almost doubled since the war, with retired soldiers from both sides, too young to be unable to fight, give up their faction allegiances to protect the people of Whiterun.

Jarl Frothar, eldest son of Balgruuf the greater, rules the city with a stern but fair hand. He is generally well liked, unlike his half-siblings, who have secured thanehood inside the city.

Headquarters-Dragonsreach

Current leader- Jarl Frothar​