Lore:Indarys

The Staff of Indarys

Count Andel Indarys of Cheydinhall

The Indarys family is a clan of Dunmer originally from the province of Morrowind. Since the Dunmer first moved to Cheydinhal in the late Third Era, they have cemented themselves in County Cheydinhal in northeastern Cyrodiil.^[1] The county's symbol under their rule comprised of thorns and vines,^[2] which matched two of their prized family heirlooms, the Staff of Indarys and the Thornblade.^[3] The county's knightly order, the Knights of Thorn adopted these symbols as their coat of arms.^[4]

HistoryEdit

Cheydinhal's coat of arms

It is unknown just how old the Indarys family is, however, Count Andel Indarys of Cheydinhal claimed that his family heirlooms, the Staff of Indarys and the Thornblade had been held in Castle Cheydinhal for generations,^[3] even though he was the first of his kind to become Count.^[1] In 2E 582, Fevyn Indarys was a student in Vivec City and Llavelea Indarys was a monk in the Holamayan monastery to the east on Vvardenfell's coast.^[5]

Since half a century before the Oblivion Crisis, Dunmer migrants from Morrowind came across the Valus Mountains to live in Cyrodiil, specifically Cheydinhal to escape the Tribunal Temple and the province's strict society. Among them was Andel Indarys, at the time a common Hlaalu trader, who quickly gained footing and became the Count of Cheydinhal. Some have theorized that Andel Indarys was working with the Kingship of Morrowind, Helseth and Barenziah.^[1]^[6]^[7]

In 3E 427, House Redoran built Indarys Manor on the landmark known as Bal Isra in northwestern Vvardenfell. It is unknown whether it was owned by the house brother, Banden Indarys, or someone else. At around the same time, Brelyn Indarys was a battlemage and member of the Verethi Gang of smugglers held up in Mannammu near Pelagiad. In that same year, the Fighters Guild of Balmora was tasked with clearing out the cave and eliminating their leader, Dovres Verethi. Whether Brelyn survived the ordeal or not is unknown.^[8]

In 3E 431, Farwil Indarys founded the Knights of the Thorn. In their early years, they made grand boasts and told make-believe stories, but conflicted with the city guard, who were left with the actual work.^[9] In 3E 433, Countess Llathasa was discovered brutally murdered on the steps of Cheydinhal's County Hall. Scandals were quick to manifest, particularly toward the Count. With already established rumors of debauchery, rage, and infidelity, the mystery of the Countess' death let people like Alessia Ottus to speculate that there was some kind of conspiracy.^[1]

Later that year when the Oblivion Crisis occurred, an oblivion gate opened in front of Cheydinhal's west gate. Farwil Indarys decided to lead six of his knights into the gate to prove their strength but were easily defeated. Only Farwil and his longtime friend, Bremman Senyan were left. It was not until the Hero of Kvatch arrived that the gate was destroyed, but it is unknown if they destroyed the gate themself, and whether Farwil and Bremman survived in the end.^[10]

In 4E 48, Ilver Indarys and twenty Knights of the Thorn were occupied in the south while Cheydinhal was attacked by Umbriel and its undead army of wormies. By the time its people left the city and made their way to the Imperial City, Ilver and the knights found Cheydinhal abandoned. While trying to find them, they saved two Imperial soldiers, Mazgar gra Yagash and Brennus in an abandoned farmstead. The two then pointed them to the Blue Road, where the group would be, ahead of the horde.^[11]^{:Part 2, Chapter 12} The knights eventually found them and relayed their intel to the people and Legionnaires in command.^[11]^{:Part 3, Chapter 4}