Lore:Mournhold

, the City of Light and Magic, also known as the City of Gems, the City of Love and Charity and as Mourning Hold    was the capital city of Morrowind and the largest and oldest city in the province. Mournhold is located in the heart of the   region of Morrowind's southern mainland, and is the district seat of  . It was a temple-city of the  , and during the Third Era the greater city area was named Almalexia after its  , one of the living gods of the  , with only the central temple compound retaining the name Mournhold. 

Almalexia disappeared from the city in 3E 427, amid rumors that she had been slain by the  . In  , the city was sacked during the Argonian invasion, and the capital of Morrowind was moved to  .  By  , the last traces of Almalexia were being removed from the Temple, and the city was once again solely referred to as Mournhold. 

Mournhold was a truly ancient city, possibly predating the   themselves, and was rumored to be built over the ruins of a vast   city. However, there were no ruins visible on the surface. The rumor proved true in   following the discovery of   beneath the city, with its vast domes and unique machines.  
 

History
The Royal City of Old Mournhold
thumb|left|A manor in the buried ruins of Old Mournhold circa  thumb|right|Map of Morrowind
The rivalry between Ebonheart and Mournhold dates back nearly to the dawn of history. At one time, the two city-states had been one, ruled over by Clan  , whose royal house held the High Kingship of Morrowind. Ebonheart later split into two separate city-states, Ebonheart and Mournhold. 

The royal city of Old Mournhold was destroyed at the end of the First Era in   by the Daedric Prince Mehrunes Dagon. Almalexia and Sotha Sil came too late to prevent this destruction, but they managed to banish Mehrunes Dagon back to Oblivion.  Upon his defeat, Dagon sought to have a final laugh, and flung a piece of Mournhold into his realm with the inhabitants intact. 
 
Mournhold in the Interregnum
Mournhold circa  |thumb|left
During the  , Mournhold served as the capital of the  , an alliance of the three races of eastern Tamriel— s,  , and  s—following their joint victory in expelling the  .  The   of the Pact convened in the city, and was presided over by Jorunn the Skald-King, High King of Eastern  . 

In  , the city was infiltrated by the Maulborn, a secretive Daedric cult posing as a charity organization. Because of this, the city was on high alert and no one could enter without being registered. Part of the Maulborn force managed to enter the Tribunal Temple through the sewers and opened portals to   inside. They were eventually defeated by the  , who worked with Almalexia to eradicate the Maulborn threat. However, the cult was able to steal the artifact   from the temple. 

During the Tiber Wars, the city was sacked by the Imperial legions,  and was subsequently placed under military rule for a dozen years. Following its conquest by Tiber Septim and General Symmachus, it was gradually returned to civilian government and Queen Barenziah later ruled the Imperial Province of Morrowind from here.
 
The City of Almalexia
thumb|right|Map of Mournhold in the late Lore:Third Era|Third Era
In response to  's rising greatness, Almalexia commissioned an expansion and rebuilding effort in Mournhold. As a whole, the city then became known as Almalexia in her honor.  The historic center of the city, containing the Tribunal Temple compound, retained the name of Mournhold. 

During the   in the late  , the city-state of Mournhold was an active settlement. It was ruled by King Zirik, and it had a rivalry with various cities, including  ,  , and  .  It was neighbored by several settlements, including   in the east,   in the north,   in the west,   in the northwest,   in the southwest, and   in the south. 

During the Arnesian War, the city came under attack in the ensuing revolt and General Symmachus was slain. Barenziah fled and abdicated her throne to her uncle, King Llethan. Llethan eventually died (amid rumors of being poisoned), and Helseth took the throne.

The Royal Palace of King Helseth formed the center of the inner city and was home to the king, his mother Barenziah and a Royal Guard garrison, as well as   services. The Temple to the north housed the High Chapel, home to Almalexia. The chapel also included the offices of the Archcanon, an infirmary, and the personal guard of the goddess, the Hands of Almalexia.

The city had five primary sections:  , the  ,  ,  , and the  . The ruins of Old Mournhold, upon which the city of Almalexia was built, were accessible through the city's sewer system.

The Fall of Almalexia
In the late Third Era, Mournhold suffered a series of cataclysms. Fabricants, creatures created by the reclusive god Sotha Sil, suddenly appeared in the city in   and began attacking all who lived there. The Dwemer ruin   was suddenly revealed in the attack, and subsequently became accessible though Plaza Brindisi Dorom. The creatures were defeated, but then the living god Almalexia disappeared amid rumors that she had gone mad, murdered Sotha Sil, and unleashed his creatures on the city, finally being slain by the Nerevarine.
Mournhold during the Red Year|thumb|left
Following the aftermath of the Red Year in  , Mournhold was the center of relief efforts to Vvardenfell led by House Redoran.  Around a year later, the city was sacked by the invading Argonians of Black Marsh and Morrowind's capital was moved to Blacklight.  Mournhold was still being rebuilt in  , a shadow of its former self.   was renovated and the last traces of Almalexia were removed.  Plaza Brindisi Dorom now houses a large building used by House Indoril to accommodate the new priests and pilgrims who come to pay their respects at the  . 

 

Notes
thumb|right|Wretched Spire
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, Mournhold's gladiatorial team would have been called "the Blade Dancers". 
A part of Old Mournhold was ripped from Tamriel during Mehrunes Dagon's attack in 1E 2920.  This fragment was transported to a region of the Deadlands known as  , hidden and protected by unknown means. These ruins became the settlement known as  , and acted as a sanctuary for mortals and for Daedra who do not wish to be summoned or bound to any master.  Due to the strange passage of time within Dagon's realm, six hundred years on Nirn was the equivalent of mere decades for the mortal inhabitants of Wretched Spire. 

References