Silgrad's setting for TESV [Discussion]

[Brima]

Finalized story framework, minus endgame spoilers.

MODULE SUMMARY

In this unofficial module for Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, the Argonians of Black Marsh have been a presence in mainland Morrowind for nearly two centuries. An army is stationed in the border outpost of Silgrad Tower, and its namesake keep has become a prison for one man, the prophet Velos Hadreth. Will you work to liberate him in hopes of leading the Dunmer of Silgrad in rebellion, or side with the forces of An-Xileel as they try to reassert their hold on the city?

 

Originally a Velothi border outpost, Silgrad Tower expanded to become a full-fledged city in the Hlaalu style during the early Third Era. Many major buildings were damaged when it was taken by the Argonians in 4E6, and have been left to decay over the centuries rather than being repaired or added to. The Tower, the only remnant of the original fortress, is located in the Argonian District.

01 == Upper Chambers, or the “Argonian District”, “Saxheel District”
The highest and most defensible part of Silgrad Tower. Contains the Argonian administrative center (home to a transplanted Hist tree) and other key structures, including the Tower itself.

02 == Downtown, or the “Central District”
The Red Plaza is located in the center of the city. Linked to the river through Riverside by canals. Will become the city square again if the Argonians lose control of Silgrad Tower. The old Tribunal Temple has been abandoned, and a shoot trimmed from the Great Hist is growing in the front courtyard. A few statues and religious artifacts remain inside.

03 == Riverside
Formerly lower rent housing and docks for Dunmer. Now houses the Argonian army, and is the center of water traffic in and out of Silgrad.

04 == Eastside
Once held the Dunmer upper middle class. Foreign artisans and craftspeople brought in by the Argonians now live here. So do a few highly skilled Dunmer.

05 == Slums
The majority of Silgrad's Dunmer live and work here in enclave.

SIGNIFICANT CHARACTERS

VELOS HADRETH
An ex-Blind Moth prophet, imprisoned in Silgrad Tower for over two hundred years, Hadreth is both a symbol and a sore point for the region’s Dunmer.

ONWADAL
The aging, bitter, and brutal General of the Argonian forces stationed at Silgrad Tower. Onwadal has served in the city for over three decades, and yearns to return to the Black Marsh.

HULEEYA
Present Argonian governer of Silgrad Tower. Onwadal rides roughshod over her a great deal of the time: she has yet to stand up to him on any matter of significance. She “inherited” the problem of Hadreth when she arrived several years ago, and has taken a particular interest in his case.

SULEEDAL (STILLS-THE-WATER)
Head of the Argonian Shadowscales in Silgrad Tower. She's the Governer's "left hand", but has mostly been left to her own devices. She may also be receiving independent orders from the Black Marsh.

SEEWUL (STIRS-THE-WATER)
Young Argonian Shadowscale and member of the City Watch, assigned to trail the protagonist and/or work with them openly while they’re in Silgrad Tower.

TEDAVE OTHRENDU
Priest of the New Temple who works as a healer in the Slums. Contact for the Dunmer resistance.

ANZIAH DREN
A female Dunmer, leader of the bandits in the ancestral hill tombs east of Silgrad.

ALAMMU NERON
Idealistic Dunmer warrior and low-ranking member of House Redoran. Volunteered to join the rebels in the Slums from Blacklight six months ago. Moravi directed him to them with some reluctance, and may ask for news of him.

ULAM MORAVI
Local Dunmer warlord who rules Soluthis from the ruins of the Parkeep, overlooking the Deepen Moor. Criticized by the Dren bandits in the tombs east of Silgrad for doing very little to help them. In Moravi's mind, they are poorly organized, and he's never been able to properly back them up because House Redoran has never had the forces to spare to launch an attack on Silgrad or the inclination to do so: the Council fears retaliation in southern Morrowind, where the Argonians are much better entrenched, if they attack the outpost.

SADELA ARETH
A former student of the ancient Telvanni necromancer Mistress Dratha, Areth survived the Red Year and resettled Tel Gavos several decades ago.

BARHES ENDES
Imperial Commander at Rift Watch.

THE MAIN QUEST

Release I – Silgrad Tower
Endgame spoilers omitted. All quests in this release take place in the city.

The first key scene in the main quest is the player meeting Velos Hadreth in the Tower. There are several reasons given as to why they might have been allowed to meet with him, depending on character race and background: they may also have snuck in.

An Argonian Shadowscale, Suleedal, “offers” to personally escort them to Eastside after the interview concludes and they attempt to exit the Tower: once they part company with her, they are free to explore the rest of the city, and complete a series of quests for the Argonians or for the Dunmer which will prove instrumental in determining the prophet's fate - and the fate of the outpost.


Release II – Surrounding Regions
Tentative only. Our focus is on finishing Release I first. These areas and quests would become available to the player once he or she finished the main quest in Release I.

In Release II, the player may leave Silgrad Tower to negotiate with key actors in the surrounding region and help further the interests of the faction they chose to support in Release I (Dunmer or Argonian).

1. Meet with or capture/eliminate the bandit queen Anziah Dren in the hill tombs east of Silgrad.
2. Negotiate with or eliminate Ulam Moravi, the local Dunmer Warlord who rules Soluthis from the ruins of the Parkeep.
3. Meet with Barhes Endes, Imperial Commander of the Rift Watch border fort.
4. Meet with or eliminate the Telvanni wizard, Sadela Areth, at Tel Gavos.

Edit: Typos...