Solstheim Solstheim is an island located northeast of Skyrim and northwest of Vvardenfell . It is the setting for the add - on , and the add - on . It is home to the Skaal , but also Dunmer refugees from Morrowind since the early Fourth Era following the Red Year . Solstheim was controlled by the East Empire Company but politically a part of Skyrim until 4E 16 , when the High King of Skyrim gave the island to the province of Morrowind . History . Merethic Era . Creation . According to Skaal legend , the island of Solstheim was created sometime in the Merethic Era , when a Dragon Priest , who was known in those days as The Guardian discovered that another dragon priest , then known as The Traitor , was seduced by a dark spirit named Herma - Mora and secretly plotted against his dragon - worshiping overlords , he proceeded to confront him . The two fought against each other for days in the northern regions of Skyrim . The battle was said to be so destructive that a piece of land was torn apart from the mainland of Skyrim . Thus , Solstheim was created . Battle of the Moesring . Towards the end of the Merethic Era , the Snow Elves had been hunted down to near extinction by the invading armies of Ysgramor . Mereth had already been purged of Snow Elves , so the ancient Nord s turned their attention to Solstheim where a great number of skirmishes were said to have taken place . The Battle of the Moesring is considered to be the final stand between the Nord and Snow Elf armies . Initially , the ancient Nords cut great swaths through the enemy ranks with their superior weapons , and it was said that the slopes of the Moesring " ran red with Elf blood . " The Snow Elf armies were led by the Snow Prince , a powerful warrior , and as he killed a Nord woman named Jofrior in front of her twelve - year - old daughter Finna . In rage , Finna threw her mother ' s sword at the Prince which struck him in the chest and killed him . His death shattered the spirit of the remaining Snow Elf warriors . Many fled , and those that remained on the battlefield were killed . News of his death spread across the land , reaching even the isolated and scattered tribes of Snow Elves across Skyrim . The Dwemer erected some buildings on the island , up until about 1E 700 ; a few ruins of these can still be found across Solstheim . Third Era . Fifth Century . In 3E 427 , the town of Raven Rock was founded by the East Empire Company , due to the rich source of ebony found on the southern part of Solstheim . It took several months to build up the town , and the mine eventually started to provide plentiful sources of ore . There was almost no Imperial presence except for Fort Frostmoth , Raven Rock , and the mine , which over the years had become an important source of Ebony for the Empire . The Nerevarine visited Solstheim in 3E 427 , during the where they saved the people of Solstheim from the Daedric Prince Hircine and his Werewolf minions . Later in 3E 433 , it was stated that the Nords wished to capture the whole island , and that the money for the mines had run out by this time . Fourth Era . First Century . During the events recounted in , in 4E 49 , the Dunmer population of Vvardenfell and Morrowind were forced to flee to Solstheim after the Argonian political faction known as the An - Xileel invaded their homeland , sometime in 3E 433 during the Oblivion Crisis . In 4E 5 , the Red Mountain erupted , which caused severe damage to the landscape ; and a great number of people lost their lives while many cities were completely destroyed . These events took place from 4E 5 to 4E 6 . In 4E 16 , after this devastating cataclysm which nearly destroyed the Dunmer culture , the High King of Skyrim gave the island as home for the surviving refugees of Morrowind . On the 30th of Rain ' s Hand in 4E 10 , some miners who were digging in Raven Rock Mine broke through a wall which lead to some Nordic ruins , which were later revealed to be Bloodskal Barrow . The East Empire Trading Company assigned a professional explorer , Gratian Caerellius , and his aid , Millius , to explore the ruins . The two men went into the tomb , but their adventure eventually came to a close when they discovered a mysterious puzzle and a blade , known as the Bloodskal Blade . As the two men attempted to figure out the puzzle , they were set upon by Draugr and Millius was killed . Caerellius continued on , but eventually collapsed due to his serious injuries . Just before he died he wrote these last words in his journal : " " Last entry - I ' ve lost track of time and my strength is fading . I can ' t even stand anymore . My wounds refuse to heal . I ' m afraid this tomb will become my resting place . If anyone finds this journal , please send these notes to my superiors at the East Empire Company and tell my wife that I love her . May Arkay guide me to my final rest . " " When the East Empire Company discovered Caerellius ' death it was announced that a cave - in had caused the " accident . " The company then closed off that section of the mine to avoid any further expenses or inquiry . Second Century . In 4E 170 , the Ebony deposits in Raven Rock Mine dried up and the East Empire Company ceased its operations on Solstheim . This disrupted the economy and caused a mass exodus of the non - Dunmer inhabitants . The population was cut in half which transformed Raven Rock into a primarily Dunmer settlement . Geography . The geography of the island in the Fourth Era bears similar traits to both Vvardenfell and Skyrim . In the north the high cliffs of glaciers and crevasses lead further south to the Moesring Mountains which are covered by snow and ice , the whole area is dominated by an arctic climate similar to that found in Winterhold and the northern parts of Skyrim . The south half of the island is reminiscent of the Dunmer homeland , it features a jagged and nearly life - barren landscape , with scattered burnt trees , the whole area is covered with ashes spewed from the Red Mountain . Solstheim is divided into the four regions : Felsaad Coast , Hirstaang Forest , Isinfier Plains and Moesring Mountains . A small village named Sathil was built in the early Fourth Era by House Sathil . Wildlife . There is a huge variety of wildlife on Solstheim , being both docile and hostile . Netches can be commonly found on the shores in the southern regions of the island , along with Ash Hopper s , Burnt Spriggans and Ash Spawn which can be found on the jagged landscape until it reaches the northern climate in the center of the island . A Silt Strider can also be found near Tel Mithryn , tamed by the Dunmer Revus Sarvani . There is also the Felsaad Tern which is a bird native to Solstheim and can be found in the Felsaad Coast . Pearl Oysters can be found abundantly along the sandy shores all over Solstheim . The Riekling is a common hostile creature in the northern regions of the island , and the Rieklings is known for taming the Bristlebacks which can be found throughout the island . The arctic climate is home to creatures like Werebears , deer , bears , snow foxes and Spriggans . Ensleth Valley has a good hunting : elk , deer and muskrey are among the animals that can be found in the valley . It is known that a Frost Giant haunts Mount Moesring by midwinter . People . According to literature , the first inhabitants of Solstheim were of Atmoran descent , also known as Nords . They had strong ties to the Ancient Dragon Cult . There is also a small tribe of Skaal people inhabiting a village in the east ; they are a separate branch of Nords with different beliefs and customs . The East Empire Company brought Imperial workers to the islands , until the ebony mines ran dry in 4E 16 . The Island was offered to the Dunmer people by the High King of Skyrim . Since then , they have inhabited Solstheim ' s southern and south - eastern areas . Government . It is unclear how much control Skyrim had over Solstheim , it seems to have had different governing entities during different time periods , as there are several Nordic Tombs and Dwemer Ruins scattered across the island . Moreover , the Skaal seem to have never been affiliated to any governmental society , other than their own traditions . In 4E 16 , the island was handed over to the Dunmer of Morrowind . From then on , Solstheim was under the jurisdiction of House Redoran , one of the Great Houses of Morrowind . Military . At the time of the Dragonborn visit , the official military in Solstheim is the Redoran Guard . The guards duty is to protect House Redoran and the people of Raven Rock from any dangers that threatens their society . They often have to deal with the Ash Spawn , who regularly attack Raven Rock . Daedric influence . Hircine . At the time of the events that unfold during , the Daedric Prince Hircine was known to have significant influence over the island and its people . Hircine was able to physically manifest for a hunt on Solstheim with his Werewolf minions , at the end of every era , similar to the Greymarch . The Skaal call this destructive event the Bloodmoon Prophecy , for as Hircine arrives , the moons turns red as blood . This indicates that the Bloodmoon Prophecy will occur at the end of the Fourth Era . His Werebear minions can also be found on Solstheim , this is the only known place where they can be encountered . Hermaeus Mora . The Daedric Prince Hermaeus Mora is also known to have a mysterious influence on the island and its inhabitants . There is some architecture on both the Temple of Miraak and the All - Maker Stones which resembles the architecture found in the realm of Apocrypha . Several Black Books that lead to Hermaeus ' Realm can be found on the island in various locations . The Dragonborn might encounter a Madman who is heavily influenced by Hermaeus Mora .