| This article could benefit from an image. See Help:Images for information on how to upload images. Please remove this template from the page when finished. |
The Thirr River is, by some measure, the largest river in Morrowind in terms of volume, width and length, and in effect divides the mainland into equal halves. Owing to the sheer number of political powers occupying the settlements on its banks, it is perhaps the most hotly-contested territory between the great houses outside of Vvardenfell itself.
GeographyEdit
The Thirr begins in the canyons of Shipal-Shin, at Narsis, the capital of Great House Hlaalu, and winds through the land until reaching the Imperial city of Old Ebonheart, where it runs into the Inner Sea. The northern half of the river runs through the region of Aanthirin, and the southern through the Thirr Valley. Two vast lakes form part of the river, being Lake Coronati, just north of Narsis, and Lake Andaram, which drains into the river from the east. It is from the city of Dres Horak on Lake Andaram that Great House Dres ship slaves and saltrice to the rest of Morrowind. Great House Redoran also maintain the settlements of Ald Iuval and Ald Marak on the banks of the Thirr, although these have grown isolated and vulnerable to the Hlaalu in recent years, who operate vast slave plantations all across the western bank.
As if this was not enough, a major tributary, the Kanit River, runs through Othreleth Woods before joining the Thirr. As a result, a vast amount of mainland Morrowind is connected by water, with only Great House Telvanni lacking a port somewhere. The river is as a result, a major trade artery, and the Tribunal Temple has established the canton city of Almas Thirr to collect dues from this trade, while also providing a rare bridge over this colossal waterway.
HistoryEdit
In the time prior to the Armistice between the Tribunal and Tiber Septim, the river was dominated by the Great Houses Redoran and Indoril, with Hlaalu maintaining a hold over more meagre territories surrounding Narsis. The Indoril maintained a number of chapel holdings on the west bank, with the Indoril Llathsa ruling from the now-ruined Tur Julan, and the Indoril Moraelyn ruling from the city of Khalaan, that stood in the current location of Old Ebonheart. Great House Redoran held the Thirr Valley region and Othreleth Woods, all as part of their Waters March, with its capital at the now crumbling Ald Iuval.
The arrival of Tiber Septim changed this, with the Redoran having weakened themselves against the Imperial legions, and several Indoril lords in effect destroying their own cities rather than permit Imperial occupation - or accommodation, for many of the Indoril objected to the Armistice itself. Tur Julan was abandoned, following an agreement between the lord of that place and the Daedric Prince, Azura. Khalaan was given over to Oblivion, although the Empire would still recognize the value of the site, and build it back up into a central powerhouse controlling trade on the Thirr.
Great House Hlaalu took advantage of the weakness of the two rival houses (and of the indifference of the isolationist Dres around Lake Andaram), expanding their territory to encompass almost all of the Waters March, and up along the west bank of the Thirr to the Inner Sea, with the northernmost extent of their control being marked by the great city of Andothren.
PoliticsEdit
With the Tribunal Temple, the Septim Empire, and four Great Houses maintaining settlements on the Thirr, and a vast wealth of trade flowing through it, political tensions are inevitable. Those are greatest between Great House Hlaalu, which seeks expansion into further, wealthier lands (and protection of its trade between Narsis and Andothren), and Great House Indoril, which remembers the territories it has lost, and thinks of the Hlaalu as traitors to the traditions of Resdayn.
The Hlaalu have, with the establishment of Nav Andaram, already begun settling the east side of the Thirr, but House War has yet to break out. The main powers on this part of the Thirr, are Indoril Ilvi of Roa Dyr and Atran Oran, of Oran Plantation. Between them, from the city of Almas Thirr, the Temple seek to maintain the peace, being ostensibly neutral in this dispute, even if the interests of the Temple align rather more with the traditionalist Indoril than the Empire-backed Hlaalu.
The Empire itself seems content for trade to flow, although doubtless benefits from the Indoril being on the back foot in this wealthy region of Morrowind. House Dres, meanwhile, do not seem to care much for the world beyond their own borders, and have thus far remained undisturbed by Hlaalu expansion - the Hlaalu, for their part, have yet to provoke them, despite the proximity of Narsis to the Deshaan Plains.
House Redoran is the final power on the Thirr River, with their two remaining settlements of the Waters March flanking the river at the northern exit of Lake Coronati. Surrounded on all sides by Hlaalu territory, it remains to be seen if these places can hold out, although they have been spared so far, perhaps due to Hlaalu prioritizing the Indoril, and perhaps because of the traditional role of these settlements in suppressing piracy and protecting trade along the river itself.
PlacesEdit
A list of places found on the banks of the Thirr:
Cities and SettlementsEdit
Metropolises (Tier I)Edit
- Old Ebonheart — The main Imperial hub in Morrowind, built on the ruins of the historical Ebonheart.
Cities (Tier II)Edit
- Almas Thirr — A large Tribunal Temple city and pilgrimage site spanning the Thirr River.
Towns (Tier III)Edit
- Hlan Oek — A riverside town with a foul reputation.
Villages (Tier IV)Edit
- Roa Dyr — A chapel-city of Indoril located in east Aanthirin near Thirr river.
Outposts (Tier V)Edit
- Aimrah — Great House Indoril's outpost on Lake Andaram.
- Felms Ithul — A velk farming settlement on the east bank of the Thirr River.
- Gol Mok — A tiny Hlaalu fishing village, located near the mouth of the river Thirr River.
- Idathren — A quiet fishing village on the west bank of the Thirr River.
- Indal-ruhn — A rundown riverside port, handling inbound freight for Great House Hlaalu.
- Rilsoan — A small fishing village on an island in the Indoril part of the Aanthirin region.
- Selyn — A settlement of farmers south of Roa Dyr.
- Velonith — A rural settlement with both mining and agricultural interests.
Unreleased PlacesEdit
These places are planned, in development, or partially complete and available in the section files. Due to the ever-changing nature of unreleased content, only major locations on the concept map are listed here.
Metropolises (Tier I)Edit
- Narsis
Towns (Tier III)Edit
- Dres Horak
Villages (Tier IV)Edit
- Ald Iuval
- Othmura
- Hlerynhul
Outposts (Tier V)Edit
- Sadrathim