Lore:Greenheart

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Greenheart
Type Settlement
Continent Tamriel
Province Valenwood
Region Greenshade
(Wilderking Court)
Appears in Arena, ESO
Greenheart ca. 2E 582
Map of Valenwood
"Greenheart lies on the southern edge of the Elden Grove. Beautiful trees fill the City-State, making it seem more like a forest than a thriving metropolis..."
—In-game description in Arena

Greenheart is one of the eight major cities in the province of Valenwood, presiding high above the southern coast of the province. At the city's highest point lies the seat of power for the mythical deity known as the Wilderking.[1][2] From their throne, they rule over the surrounding region known as the Wilderking Court and is worshipped by the tribal Bosmer that inhabit it.[3][4]

Layout and Geography[edit]

Greenheart ruins
The local wayshrine

Greenheart is located in south-central Greenshade, along the region's coast on the Southern Sea. More specifically, it is in the southwest corner of Wilderking Court[1] and even considered on the southern edge of Elden Grove.[5] It is built on a large mountain, on its eastern face. The mountain is the source of a river that starts as a series of waterfalls, flows through the city's ground floor, and empties into the sea below. Nereid's Smile is a blue, illuminating flower that grows around Greenheart.[6] Greenheart is neighbored by several settlements, such as Marbruk Field to the northwest and Tarlain Heights to the far east-northeast.[7]

Greenheart's main entrance lies at its base, beside the river. The town's western gate hangs over and meets the road toward the Drowned Coast. The town is made up of one long and winding path that scales up the mountain.[1] Throne Tunnels created by the Wilderking's successor, Aranias with her earth magic,[8] intertwine throughout the mountain and reach the Throne Plateau, the settlement's highest point and where the Wilderking's throne is located.[1]

Greenheart is partially created with greenspeaking, as evident in its bridges, arches, and spiraling trees. Its ruined buildings in the mid-Second Era were noticeably designed in the Altmer architectural style,[1] as well as other, overgrown ruins in its vicinity, like the Labyrinth and Spinner's Cottage,[9] both of which are also associated with the Wilderking.[10][11] By the late Third Era, Greenheart became sizeable settlement filled with beautiful trees, making it feel more like a forest than a city.[5]

Notable Locales[edit]

†Either this location was destroyed or its associated faction is dissolved. See the linked page or reference for more information.

Districts[edit]

  • Throne Plateau[1]

History[edit]

The Wilderking

Greenheart's origins are unknown. However, the story of the Wilderking is ancient. The Altmer boy named Ostion, who possessed an extraordinary power to shift the land to his whim, was sent by powerful people and with builders to create a great city in Valenwood. But the Green refused his command, and the two would come to struggle and eventually forget about their purposes and the people that relied on them. In time, they remembered and set aside their differences to form together as the Wilderking.[12]

One of the Wilderking's largest displays of power was establishing the modern-day region of Wilderking Court. When war broke out in southern Greenshade, he created a wall of bramble to protect it, with Bramblebreach as its sole opening.[13]With his powers he bent Bramblebreach and Greenheart to his whim.[14] The latter became the Wilderking's seat of power, and his throne lied in a tower at the city's summit.[1] Greenheart may have been an established settlement by 1E 2920 as it is mentioned in Carlovac Townway's historical fiction and period piece, 2920, The Last Year of the First Era.[15]

In 2E 582, the Veiled Heritance sent two of their agents, Andur and Aranias, to kill the Wilderking and destabilize the Green. Using their magic, Andur led a path of destruction through Greenheart, but feeling the forest's pain, Aranias realized her mistake and connection to the Green. The Wilderking's powers slowly diminished all over the court. Even in Greenheart, he lost control of the Hollow that guarded the town. The Vestige was sent to Greenheart to stop them and help Aranias fulfill her destiny of succeeding the Wilderking. On the Throne Plateau, Aranias tried to stop Andur until the Vestige delivered the final blow and defeated him. After the Vestige placed the Wilderking's crown in the garden, Aranias made her final transformation into the Wilderqueen.[16]

As the Wilderqueen, power was restored to the Valenwood, and she swore allegiance with the Aldmeri Dominion. However, the Veiled Heritance was still very much a threat, so she sent the Vestige to Woodhearth.[16] What happened to Greenheart after her ascension is unknown, but in time, it turned into a bustling city and the seat of a king. During the Imperial Simulacrum in the late Third Era, the city-state of Greenheart was an active settlement. It was ruled by King Colas and had a rivalry with Eldenroot and Woodhearth.[5]

Known Rulers[edit]

The Throne of the Wilderking
For more information on the Wilderking, see the following article: Wilderking

The Wilderking holds significant power over Greenheart. Standing guard over the settlement are the Hollow, stone constructs that enforce the Wilderking's will, and protect both Wilderking Court and Greenheart.[2] Anyone that wishes to gain an audience must be approved by their "gatekeeper", the spinner that lives in a cottage south of Bramblebreach and east-northeast of Greenheart.[10]

Gallery[edit]

  • The Throne Tower

  • A stone bridge over the waterfall

  • Natural bridges

  • The Throne Tunnels

  • Greenheart (Arena)

  • Greenheart Knight (Legends)

Notes[edit]

  • Greenheart Woods is one of several possible dungeons the Warrior can enter for a job. What its relationship with the city of Greenheart is unknown.[17]
  • Arena was originally conceived as a fighting game featuring a tournament that took the player to each of Tamriel's cities to challenge different gladiatorial teams. According to a file from that stage of development left behind in the final game, Greenheart's gladiatorial team would have been called "the Defenders".[UOL 2]

See Also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Greenheart in ESO
  2. ^ a b Hollow Guardian's dialogue in ESO
  3. ^ The Wilderking Legend — Unknown
  4. ^ Doriel's dialogue in ESO
  5. ^ a b c d e f Greenheart location and rumors in Arena
  6. ^ Hartmin's dialogue in ESO
  7. ^ Map of Valenwood – The Elder Scrolls: Arena
  8. ^ Wilderking's dialogue in ESO
  9. ^ Greenshade in ESO
  10. ^ a b Spinner Maruin's dialogue in ESO
  11. ^ A Tangled Knot quest in ESO
  12. ^ Sumiril's Book
  13. ^ Elengil's dialogue in ESO
  14. ^ Henodras' dialogue in ESO
  15. ^ 2920, Frostfall — Carlovac Townway
  16. ^ a b Throne of the Wilderking story quest in ESO
  17. ^ Job Places in Blades

Note: The following references are considered to be unofficial sources. They are included to round off this article and may not be authoritative or conclusive.

  1. ^ The Dreadful Theft of the Sun's Dusk Ale — Rascien Wickersly
  2. ^ Original TES: Arena texts at the Imperial Library
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