Lore:Iliac Bay

The   (also spelled Illiac Bay, sometimes called Starfall Bay ) is the large bay separating the southern coast of   from the northern coast of  . Southwestern High Rock and northern Hammerfell are often referred to collectively as the Iliac Bay region. The Imperial Navy's Northwest Fleet is charged with its protection.   

History
There is evidence of human settlements around Iliac Bay dating back at least a thousand years before recorded history.  Before or soon after the start of the  , Aldmer came to High Rock from the  s and intermarried with  s, eventually creating the Breton race.  The Skyrim Conquests brought most if not all of the High Rock portion of the Iliac Bay region under the control of the Nords around  , though they would lose control around   because of  .  They apparently never controlled  , which likely wasn't founded until several hundred years later.  Over time, the emerging Bretons peacefully supplanted the remaining Nordic population. 

left|thumb|Map of the Iliac Bay region and Yokuda
Before  , northern Hammerfell was populated by beastfolk and Nedic people. But then Yokudan warrior fleets, called the  , brought refugees fleeing a natural disaster.  They drove away the natives, and since they were no longer Yokudans, they came to be called Redguards, a corruption of "Ra Gada".  They disliked outsiders of any sort, and this isolationism was the primary reason why the   failed to gain a foothold here, and why traditional beliefs among the Redguard are still strong today.   Although an   of the   settled here in  , they did not settle near the Iliac Bay region and disappeared before the Ra Gada arrived.  Many Redguards dislike outsiders (although most Redguards around the Iliac Bay are relatively tolerant), and Hammerfell did not join the Septim Empire until  . 

The   was generally a difficult time to live in the Iliac Bay region. Half the population of the region died several times: once because of the  , once because of the War of Righteousness, and again because of an Akaviri invasion.  The general history of the Iliac Bay is said to be one of insurrections, wars, and plagues as the many provincial powers in Hammerfell and High Rock maneuvered for power. 
 
The Third Era began relatively peacefully as the reigns of   and Pelagius I brought about a golden age.  However, the Iliac Bay region became heavily involved in the  , when a disagreement over the succession of the Imperial throne led to seven years of war.  Years later, many kingdoms in the region managed to set aside their squabbles and unite against the  , whose bid for power had brought strife and war throughout the region and beyond.  He was decisively defeated in a massive land and naval battle known as the   in  .  

Relative peace existed for over a hundred years, until the   in  , when Skyrim defeated the forces of High Rock and Hammerfell and expanded into their territory.  In  , a land dispute between   and   erupted into the short  . It was described as typical of Iliac Bay warfare: "sincere, frighteningly violent, and peaceably resolved".  However, a lot of bad blood remained between the citizenry of each province due to the viciousness of the war.  

The Warp in the West
 

Following this Miracle of Peace, Sentinel grew to encompass the entirety of the Iliac Bay's southeast shore, from Abibon-Gora to Satakalaam, and Daggerfall and Wayrest took over large tracts of territory in southern High Rock.   The peace between Daggerfall and Sentinel is apparently holding. While some minor border skirmishes still occur occasionally, and emerging alliances may threaten to break the peace, no human kingdoms seem willing to reignite conflicts.   At least, not against each other.

Orsinium
Orcs have been present around the Iliac Bay since time immemorial and have been a relatively constant security concern to their neighbors, whether or not they control territory of their own. Redguard and Breton kingdoms united to annihilate the Orc province in eastern High Rock, Orsinium, in the First Era.  A new iteration, sometimes called Nova Orsinium, emerged and prospered in the Third Era, and rose to become a major power in the Iliac Bay region following the Miracle of Peace.   However, the peace for them did not last long, as early in the  , Breton and Redguard kingdoms once again put aside their differences to attack the Orcs, eliminating Orsinium once again, and many Orc refugees were escorted from the chaos into western Skyrim. 

thumb|right|The Lore:Adamantine Tower|Adamantine Tower on the Isle of Balfiera

Geography
The waters of the Iliac Bay are known for being relatively tranquil. The great rolling waves which characterize the   and the oceans disappear upon entering the bay.  From there, the bay stretches northeast into the continent, to the mouth of the  . Together, the bay and the river roughly separate High Rock and Hammerfell. The area of High Rock near the Iliac Bay primarily has a temperate climate and rolling hills, while Hammerfell's portion tends to be more arid, rocky, and inhospitable.   The   of High Rock cap the Iliac Bay region to the north, while the   of Hammerfell form most of the eastern border, along with the Alik'r Desert. Many islands dot the Bay itself, notably  ,  , and the  .

Redguards and Bretons predominantly populate the modern-day Iliac Bay. They worship a wide variety of deities and the rich history of the Iliac Bay has imbued the region with diverse cultures, traditions, and numerous unique holidays.   There are modern professions of all kinds across the Iliac Bay; besides the typical soldiers, priests, traders, and thieves, there are artists, writers, weavers, scholars, even bankers.   Vampires have always been a significant concern; numerous clans of them pervade the area.  Fears of Akaviri pirates and invasions have also been with the people of the Iliac Bay since the First Era, although they haven't been seen for quite a while.  A great variety of interesting creatures roam Iliac Bay, such as Dragonlings, large flying lizards which physically resemble the even larger, unrelated race of  . 

Notable Places
Adamantine Tower: Found on a small island in the Isle of Balfiera, it is considered the oldest structure in all of Tamriel, and a neutral meeting place for negotiating provinces. 
 : A field on the island of   where the decisive battle of the eponymous war occurred in  .
 : One of the oldest and largest cities of High Rock, it has long considered itself the capital of High Rock, by virtue of its antiquity, prominence, and prosperity. 
 : One of the biggest tourist destinations in all of Hammerfell. 

See Also
For game-specific information, see the Daggerfall article.

References