Hollow City The Hollow City is a large city in central Coldharbour , and is the only safe location in the whole realm for Nirn - dwellers . The city was once , long ago , the Ayleidic city of Delodiil in Cyrodiil , devoted to Meridia , and her power continues to shield it from the influence of Molag Bal . For unknown reasons , she managed to use much of her power to push the city into the realm of Molag Bal . The Hollow City is very unique , because it can only expand through the help of the Vestige by completing quests and making sure the scattered invasion force returns safely to the city . History . When it was on Nirn , Delodiil was populated by both men and Ayleids . They worshiped Meridia at a glorious cathedral , and their city ' s prosperity was ensured by magical crystals called the Lights of Meridia . Delodiil was a rival city to the much more militaristic city - state of Abagarlas , in which the people worshiped Molag Bal . The King of Abagarlas , Anumaril , vowed to completely destroy Delodiil and sacrifice all of its citizens in His name . Unfortunately for him , he couldn ' t find the city , and his own home was completely destroyed by Meridia in retribution for desecrating a shrine of hers around which Abagarlas was built . In 1E 484 , Delodiil was besieged by the minions of Molag Bal , who poured out of portals from Coldharbour . While everyone outside the gates were slain , those inside managed to hold the city . One of their chief defenders was the last Ayleid king , Laloriaran Dynar , who was present during the attack . It soon became clear that the forces of Molag Bal were too great , and that the city would eventually fall . However , Meridia saw an opportunity to both save Delodiil and fight back . Using the portals Molag Bal had opened , she transported the entire city , with all its inhabitants , into Coldharbour . Due to the enchantments protecting Coldharbour , the inhabitants of the city were scattered all across the realm . However , Delodiil itself arrived largely intact , and served as a shelter for many of those who remained . Meridia had thus succeeded in inserting a portion of her own power into Coldharbour , creating a space there that was safe even from Molag Bal himself . Many of the original inhabitants of the Hollow City were killed or captured shortly after the city was transported , having arrived in other parts of Coldharbour , far from the city . Nearly all of the remainder fled or died over the next few centuries . Even King Dynar was captured by Molag Bal and imprisoned in the Lightless Oubliette . However , the enchantments protecting the Hollow City were maintained by Meridia , who disguised herself as a woman known as the Groundskeeper . In 2E 582 , a force of Fighters Guild and Mages Guild members invaded Coldharbour from Tamriel to stop the Planemeld . They rescued Laloriaran Dynar and used the Hollow City as their base of operations , opening portals within it to transport reinforcements and supplies from Nirn . They were ultimately successful in preventing the Planemeld , vindicating Meridia ' s strategic decision to create the Hollow City centuries before . Notable items . Inside the Fighters Guildhall : Restoring the Hollow City . During the quests The Army of Meridia and The Hollow City , the Vestige must rescue the scattered invasion force of Coldharbour , including Vanus Galerion and King Laloriaran Dynar . As the Vestige rescues their allies , the city will offer more services such as crafting stations , banks , taverns , and more . The shops and services usually open up after rescuing 10 – 13 people . Characters . There are many characters in the Hollow City , though most arrive after completing certain quests . A few characters are already in the Hollow City by default , usually having been there when the city was first pulled in from Nirn . Others arrive to serve as vendors after a number of people have been rescued : Fighters Guild . After completing Light from the Darkness , the following characters are found in the Fighters Guild : After escaping the Tower of Lies , the following characters will appear in the guildhall : After shops and services open up , the following characters will appear in the guildhall : Mages Guild . The following characters appear after Breaking the Shackle is completed : After shops and services open up , the following characters will appear in the guildhall : Cliffs of Failure . If they are rescued during The Endless War , the following characters appear in the Hollow City Library : One of three characters will appear in the House of Darkness if chosen during the Endless War : ( Note , it is possible to save all three Mages Guild members , and whowever you chose in the War ) . Everfull Flagon . After Special Blend is completed , the following characters will arrive in the Hollow City : Library of Dusk . After completing The Library of Dusk , the following characters are rescued and go to the Consultants ' House : Court of Contempt . After completing the Court of Contempt , the following characters are rescued and go to the Hollow City Library : Wisdom of the Ages . One of the two characters will arrive , depending on whether you sided with them during " Wisdom of the Ages " : The Moonless Walk . One of the two characters will arrive , depending on whether you sided with them during " An Unusual Circumstance " : ( It is possible , but difficult , to get both characters ) . The Soul - Meld Mage . One of the two characters arrive at the Dark Alchemy Lab , depending on who is saved during " The Soul - Meld Mage " : Facilities . Upon rescuing all of the civilians , shops , taverns , banks , crafting stations , houses and more will open up in the city .