The Blood-Forged (or Bloodforged) are magically empowered individuals whose molten bodies have been imbued by blood, Nirncrux, and iron by the Bloodroot Forge, an ancient Nedic site being operated by the Dreadhorn Clan and their Minotaur allies in 2E 582.[1]
OriginsEdit
Sometime during the early years of the Interregnum, Gherig Bullblood's Reachmen clan followed the signs laid by their Crow Mother for 30 days and nights, tracing crow-picked corpses through the Jerall Mountains, until finally, they found Hircine's champion: the minotaur known as Domihaus the Bloody-Horned.[2] The creature grabbed Gherig by the neck, taking the pendant from his neck, which indicated that he was a descendant to the Keptu clan. Noting his heritage, Domihaus began to chant, reshaping the stones and initiating a blood ritual in which both Domihaus and Gherig took part. This ritual linked Gherig Bullblood to the home of his ancient ancestors, which he felt called to him to rediscover it. This ritual marked the beginning of an alliance between Domihaus and the Dreadhorn clan.[2]
With the union of blood, Gherig's clan was reborn as the Dreadhorn clan, which revered Hircine through his champion Domihaus the Bloody-Horned,[3] whom the clan hoped would lead them to reclaim the lands their ancestors lost to the Nords.[2]
The Dreadhorn clan traveled to Craglorn and discovered Hircine's Boon, the Bloodroot Forge, and began to work it. The forge was built for the purpose of harvesting Nirncrux, and it was said to rival the ingenuity of the Ayleids and the Dwemer.[4] Any settlers near the area were either sacrificed or enslaved, and forced to mine Nirncrux to feed the forge. Weapons and Nirncrux Heartstones of great power were created using the forge,[5][6] and the Reachfolk of the Dreadhorn Clan started to turn themselves into the Blood-Forged.[1]
RitualEdit
Blood-Forged are comparable to Briarhearts, but their creation instead involves a nirncrux heartstone being used in place of a briar heart,[5] resulting in a being that is an amalgamation of blood, nirncrux, and iron.[7] Their flesh and blood became stone and fire as a result of the ritual performed in the Bloodroot Forge.[5] Unlike the Briarheart Ritual, Bloodforged ritual does not require the assistance of Hagravens.[8] The Blood-Forged ritual was performed on Minotaurs as well as on the Reachfolk.[1]
Notable Blood-ForgedEdit
- Gherig Bullblood — Reachfolk leader of Dreadhorn Clan.
- Stoneheart the Heartstone — Reachfolk magician of the Dreadhorn Clan and author of the guide to crafting armor and weapons in the Bloodforge style.
GalleryEdit
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The Blood-Forged ritual, heart being replaced with a Nirncrux Heartstone
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A Blood-Forged Reachman
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Briarhearts undergo a similar ritual to Blood-Forged
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Domihaus the Bloody-Horned
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A Blood-Forged Minotaur
NotesEdit
- Heartstones originating from the Red Mountain also can be utilized in similar fashion, although those returned with their usage do not share characteristics with Blood-Forged individuals. Ildari Sarothril and Falx Carius were two of such individuals.[9][10]
See AlsoEdit
- For game-specific Blood-Forged information, see ESO article.
- Nirnblooded
ReferencesEdit
- ^ a b c Events of Blood for Blood in ESO
- ^ a b c Meet the Character - Domihaus the Bloody-Horned — Gherig Bullblood
- ^ Crafting Motif 55, Dreadhorn
- ^ Nicolard's Notes on the Forge — Nicolard Lia
- ^ a b c Filand's dialogue in ESO
- ^ Horns of the Reach and Update 15 Preview
- ^ Blood-Forged skin description in ESO
- ^ Horns of the Reach key art
- ^ Events of March of the Dead in Skyrim: Dragonborn
- ^ Events of Old Friends in Skyrim: Dragonborn