General:Elder Scrolls Online - Knowledge Base

This page is a list of select questions and answers found on the ZeniMax Knowledge Base, a support desk related to Elder Scrolls Online, which answered a variety of questions from fans. It was subsequently discontinued and is no longer available on the site. Answers given by ZeniMax contain information that can be used as a reference in lore articles.

Questions and Answers

What do the Aldmeri Dominion symbols represent? (Originally published February 22, 2013. Wayback Machine copy can be can be found here.)

The Aldmeri Dominion has adopted as its symbol the eagle sigil of the High Elves of Summerset. For the Altmer, the high-soaring eagle represents their ancestors the Aedra, who came from the heavens and were trapped in physical form by the creation of Nirn. The Khajiiti symbol depicts Nirn's two moons—Masser and Secunda—and the Cat-folks' claws. The Bosmeri symbol represents the Green Pact with Y'ffre the Forest Deity.

What are the meanings of these Ebonheart Pact insignias you used for the Facebook and Twitter icons?

The Nord dragon insignia honors both the Dragonborn and the history of their people's struggle against the power of the dragons. The three spikes of the Morrowind insignia refer to the three living gods of the Tribunal honored by most Dark Elves—Almalexia, Sotha Sil, and Vivec. The insignia for Black Marsh is a stylized rendering of an Argonian's face—but whether it depicts some ancient hero or ruler of Black Marsh history, or just represents the race as a whole, only the Argonians know. And they're not telling.

What is the significance of a lion adorning the crests of both the Bretons and the Daggerfall Covenant as a whole?

When the Breton Lion Guard became High King Emeric's elite knightly order, he adopted the lion as his personal crest, and thereafter it became the martial symbol of the Daggerfall Covenant.

The Aldmeri Dominion foundation doesn't match established lore, does it?

Over time, there have been several federations in southwestern Tamriel known as the Aldmeri Dominion. None lasted very long, and due to the insular nature of the High Elves, their histories are poorly understood in Cyrodiil and the other provinces. The Aldmeri Dominion founded by Queen Ayrenn in 2E 582 is the First Dominion; the federation founded in 2E 830 is the Second Dominion; while the Elven empire of the Fourth Era (as seen in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim) is the Third Dominion – or possibly the Fourth. (It's a matter of some debate among historians of Elven affairs.)

What is the social and legal opinion of slavery in Tamriel during this time period?

It varies by jurisdiction. The Clans of the Reach, for example, certainly keep captured enemies as slaves – but they're barbarians. In most civilized realms, slavery is illegal, with the obvious exception being Morrowind. Under the terms of the Ebonheart Pact, the Dark Elves have had to liberate their Argonian slaves, but they still have slaves of other races, the most common of which are Khajiit.

Is Malacath widely accepted by the Orcs as a deity, or is it only certain groups that consider him their god?

As with other races, the religious practices of the Orcs vary from place to place and from clan to clan. Some Orcs worship the Daedric Prince Malacath; some Orcs (including most of those in the Daggerfall Covenant) worship the Divine named Mauloch and insist he is not a Daedra at all; and some Orcs couldn't care less whether their god is a Daedra, and worship him under either name. In such matters of metaphysics, it's difficult (if not impossible) to determine what the "truth" really is.

Are the nations in the Pact entirely happy with the alliance?

The foundation on which the Ebonheart Pact was built—a mutual desire for survival—makes for a deeply complex and ever-shifting political atmosphere. The Argonians, Nords, and Dark Elves have set aside their differences, for now, to unite under one banner against their shared enemies, but it would be a far cry from the truth to say that everyone is happy or even content with the Alliance. A certain level of distrust and resentment smolders just beneath the surface for many members of the Pact.

While some are openly accepting or critical of the Alliance, most Pact members you'll encounter fall somewhere in between, and hold their true feelings about the arrangement close to their chest. It really depends on each individual character's perspective and life experiences. Most of those players will encounter are not willing to reveal their personal feelings to a stranger, but players will meet some who are very open with their praise or disdain for the choices their leaders have made.

Why did the Aldmeri Dominion change Valenwood's capital city? And why is a Bosmer city the capital of the Dominion, despite the fact that Altmer are the true leaders?

The High Elves proposed Elden Root in Valenwood as the capital of the Aldmeri Dominion for strategic reasons – it helps bind the continental races to the Elves of Summerset to have the capital on Tamriel – and for mystical reasons, about which we can say no more!

How did the Aldmeri Dominion come to be formed in the first place?

It was really the brainchild of Queen Ayrenn after she assumed the throne of Alinor. Having traveled Tamriel extensively before returning to Summerset, she was aware of the dire threats menacing the world and saw it as the proper duty of the Elves to put things right. At the same time, the Wood Elves and Khajiit were facing troubles of their own and in need of allies, so they came together to form the Dominion.

What made the Bosmer decide to join the Dominion?

After the recent civil war between the Camorans, Valenwood was in disarray and vulnerable to external threats. The Cabal who ran the Imperial City took advantage of this by sending Colovian troops to seize some of the Wood Elves' northern territory. Seeking an ally to help drive back the Colovians, the Bosmer King Aeradan turned to Queen Ayrenn and her new Dominion.

Why are maps of the northern Ebonheart Pact coastlines hanging in the Maormer embassy on Khenarthi's Roost?

The Maormer are based in the southern seas close to the Aldmeri Dominion, but they are committed seafarers and some rove waters well beyond their home territories. As a people they also prize nautical maps from far-flung regions of Tamriel, so it's a point of considerable pride for the Maomer delegation that the embassy in Mistral has such maps on display.