General:Ask Us Anything: Ebonheart Pact (Part 2)

Originally published November 26, 2012. The original article can be found here.
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This is our second installment of the ESO “Ask Us Anything” series, featuring more of your questions about the Ebonheart Pact and other general ESO topics.  Read on to learn more about this alliance, and see if we chose your question!

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''Will we be able to meet Joruun the Skald-King? What about the Tribunal of Morrowind, or the king/queen of Argonia? – By Brandon Donio

Yes, if you create an Ebonheart Pact character in The Elder Scrolls Online and make certain choices as you play, you will have the opportunity to meet Jorunn the Skald-King and members of the Tribunal.  As for Argonia’s royalty, at this point in Elder Scrolls history, Black Marsh (“Argonia”) isn’t ruled by a monarchy – but there are certainly plenty of other prominent Argonians to meet in the game.


Will the Companions be involved somehow? – By Jason Bryden

Yes, The Companions—the legendary group of Nord heroes you met in the city of Whiterun in Skyrim—have been part of Nord culture since Ysgramor’s arrival on the shores of Skyrim before the First Era, so they certainly have a presence in ESO.


To what extent will the Tribunal feature in the Ebonheart Pact storyline, and how far along in the main quest will we learn about the pretender to the Tribunal? – By Josh James

As the rulers of Morrowind, both spiritually and politically, the Tribunal are quite prominent in the Ebonheart Pact – especially Almalexia, who’s been handling temporal affairs since the recent Akaviri invasion. But a pretender to the Tribunal? Mother Morrowind would dismiss the idea as absurd. Clearly impossible.


Are many changes being made to Skyrim to make it differ or stand out from the Skyrim we have recently come to know and love? If so, could you detail some of these changes? – By Brandon Donio

The Elder Scrolls Online is set 1,000 years earlier than Skyrim, so you may notice that some of the ancient Nord ruins are a little less worn and weathered than in Skyrim’s time. You’ll also find towns, like Nimalten in the Rift, that are gone and nearly forgotten by Skyrim’s Fourth Era, but are alive and thriving in ESO’s Second Era.


Will we be able to travel through Black Marsh? It is said that only Argonians can travel to the heart of Black Marsh. Will every player have the option to go there? – By John Ward

All members of the Ebonheart Pact will have an opportunity to visit Shadowfen, the northwestern region of Black Marsh that borders on Morrowind and includes the ancient city of Stormhold.


''I've read that anyone can use any type of weapon or armor. Have you thought about having alliance-only weapon/armor styles? (For example, chitin armor available only to the Ebonhart Pact, since they have exclusive access to chitin in Morrowind.) – By Jeremy Eddy

Armor in The Elder Scrolls Online is regionally appropriate, whether it’s a loot drop, merchant stock, or quest reward; however, with the right skills and materials, you’ll be able to craft items in any racial style.


'''''I always imagine all of the nasty, poisonous creatures living in Black Marsh, and I think there's lots of potential there. Could you detail any of your favourite critters from Black Marsh? – By Brandon Donio

If we had to pick just one, the huge reptilian wamasu that lurk in the deep swamps are a big favorite around the ZeniMax Online Studios dev office.


'''''What are the meanings of these Ebonheart Pact insignias you used for the Facebook and Twitter icons? I suspect that the one for Morrowind represents the Tribunal, due to the three 'spikes'. The one for Skyrim represents... the Dragonborn? What about the one for Black Marsh? – By Yamir Ortiz

Good guesses—and correct. The one for Black Marsh is a stylized rendering of an Argonian’s face – but whether it depicts some ancient hero or ruler of Black Marsh history, or just represents the race as a whole, only the Argonians know. And they’re not telling.


''Where is the main base of Ebonheart Pact? In which city will we find Jorunn the Skald-King? – By Douglas Reis Silva

The throne of Eastern Skyrim is in Windhelm, but the great city of Mournhold is the capital of the Ebonheart Pact, and it is there that Jorunn presides over the Great Moot.


''Hi, I've been playing The Elder Scrolls games since Morrowind, and I have always played as an Argonian. Now that I've seen the screenshot on your website called 'Argonian soldiers', I'm a little disappointed, I was hoping for a more lizard, amphibian looking Argonian. I assume their faces are flat for helmet modeling, But I hope they'll look more like the one on the Ebonheart pact page. Also, they should have badass horns... So can you tell me, is this the final version of the Argonian? – By Rofaka

Customization of individual characters will allow for much more variety than we’ve been able to convey in the screenshots released so far.  Also, we’re still fine-tuning the ESO character models, including the Argonians.


''Last time we had the chance of discovering the land of Morrowind, the different feelings to the Great Houses and the House Wars was one of the most intriguing aspects to the game. Will we have an opportunity to join the houses? If so, which of them will be joinable? I just so loved the mushroom houses. – By Greg''

The rivalries between the Dunmer Great Houses have deep roots, and they are all important players in the politics of Morrowind. In fact, House Telvanni – they of the mushroom towers – are estranged from the other Houses at the time of ESO, and refused to join the Ebonheart Pact. (We’ll share more about them in the future, you can be sure.) Your characters will have opportunities to help (or hinder) all the other Great Houses of Morrowind, though formal adoption into their ranks won’t be part of the game at launch.