Eastmarch Eastmarch is a frozen region located in Eastern Skyrim near the eastern border to Morrowind . The Yorgrim River runs through the northern region and the sulfur pools sprawl across Eastmarch . Description . Geography . Giant ' s Run . Eastmarch changes in geography depending on where you are . In the northern snowy reach of Giant ' s Run , the Yorgrim River runs through it and provides the nearby settlements a bountiful supply of fish . Despite Eastmarch ' s large size , it only has one city , that being the great city of Windhelm . Across the river from Windhelm is the large town of Lower Yorgrim which supports Windhelm with an abundance of fishing and game . East of Windhelm is the great fort of Morvunskar . The fort served as a stronghold for Windhelm , but it was later abandoned . Southwest of it is Cradlecrush which was the site of a great Orcish stronghold . Frostwater Tundra . The Frostwater Tundra is the region before Whiterun Hold , so it ' s much more forest like to match the White River ' s forest like area . The major stronghold in the region is Fort Amol , which served as a ruling stronghold in the tundra during the second era while in the fourth era , it served as the military outpost during the Skyrim Civil War . The Corundum mining town of Darkwater Crossing is located east of Amol . It was originally an Argonian town , but it became a mining town for Windhelm . The Eldergleam Sanctuary is a hidden grotto located in the sulfur pools of the tundra . Icewind Peaks . The Icewind Peaks is the region just before the Rift , so it ' s much more mountainous than the rest of Eastmarch . As time went on it the region , it became less populated , and as of now , there is no settlement governing the barren area . Despite this , the mountains contain many important ruins including Skuldafn ( a Nordic ruin leading to Sovngarde ) , Mzulft ( a dwemer ruin ) , and Direfrost Keep ( an ancient castle of vampire hunters ) . During the second era , many settlements existed in the region including Jorunn ' s Stand ( a wooden fort ) , Cragwallow , and Wittestadr . Fauna . Like many places in Skyrim , harmless creatures such as Rabbit s , Deer , and Goat s roam the landscape . In the sulfur pools , there tends to be tiny life other than Giant s and Mammoth s . More wild creatures such as Ice wolves , Frost Troll s , and Sabre Cat s exist in the region . Giants . Giants and Mammoths tend to live together in makeshift camps scattered throughout the region . Giants are not so different to the common man / mer / beast when it comes to Mammoths , they make clothing out of their hide , weapons out of their bones , and produce Cheese from the Mammoth . However , Giants are much more barbaric and will eat anything . Giant meat tends to range from to easily captured Skeever . Sometimes , they will cut off their toe and put it into stew before killing their Mammoths . Despite this , if not provoked , Giants tend to be peaceful creatures . Giants even have their own language known as Giantish . Mammoths . Mammoths are large hulking animals found in a herd with Giants . Mammoths are a very versatile resourceful creature for Giants . As mentioned before , their hide is used for clothing , their bones are used for tools , and their milk is used for food ( i . e . Cheese , Milk , or Butter ) . When a Giant owns a domesticated Mammoth , they engrave markings into the tusk that show who exactly owns the Mammoth . Wolves . Wolves are the most common predators in any part of Northern Tamriel . The Ice wolves in Northern Skyrim tend to be much more dangerous . Wolves travel in packs and attack all at once . Sometimes they will move in specific directions to confuse their prey and catch them off guard . Once a wolf spots you , they will signal their friends , and they will surround you . Despite their substantial numbers , a wolf is not hard to take down . A couple strikes from a well - sharpened blade can kill them quickly . Bear . Bear s are a somewhat common predator found from the Eastern Reach to The Rift . As mention before , the Pine Foothills of Eastmarch are known to be the perfect Hunting Grounds for Bears . Bears are carnivorous and tend to live alone in mountains and remote caves in the Forest . Bears are large and furry creatures that come in shades of brown , black , and white all depending on the location . Bears are also bulky and can take more hits than a wolf can . They have sharp claws that can tear flesh off anything . Trolls . Nothing is more worst than to encounter a Troll in the wilderness . Trolls are large burly creatures that stand on their legs somewhat like a feral Imga . Trolls can tower over High Elves if they were not so slouched over . They have fur on their face , shoulders , chest , waist , knees , and hands . They have large spikes growing across their arms , legs , shoulders , and face . They also have three eyes , one on their forehead . Flora . Eastmarch has an abundance of and trees throughout the region . The pine forest of Eastmarch is considered the perfect hunting ground for Snow Bears . The majority of the trees surround the sulfur pools in the center . In the pools , however , there are very few trees located in them , the most anyone will see the Witchmist Grove located south of the Kynesgrove settlement . Many plants used for alchemy are grown in the region . Mountain Flowers , Mora Tapinella , and Snowberries are common throughout Eastmarch . Near the Sulfur Pools , Creep Cluster , Jazbay Grapes , and Dragon ' s Tongue . In the areas near the Yorgrim River , common plants such as Nordic Barnacle and more Snowberries can be found here . Snowberries can become more abundant northward towards the Pale and the Winterhold . Eastmarch tends to grow Spidersilk , Ebonthread , and Void Bloom . Each plant is created to make different types of Light Armor . The former tends to produce weaker armor than the latter . Theses plants were used in the second era . Government . The city of Windhelm is the ruling stronghold in Eastmarch . Each Nordic township in Eastmarch is associated with Windhelm and while other settlements including Narzulbur , Wittestadr , and Cradlecrush tend to govern themselves . The ruler of Eastmarch is the Jarl . When the Jarl dies , the eldest son will take their place ; and this is how leaders are chosen in Skyrim . When the King dies , and there are no heirs to take their place , then the citizens decided who to rule next . Jarls can give someone the title of Thane which is an honorary title to someone of high importance in the Jarl ' s court . In the Orcish Strongholds , the Orcs follow their laws called the Code of Malacath . The Code of Malacath is pretty simple ; there are the fundamental laws of do not steal or do not kill and fighting for honor . Religion . Unlike the fiefdoms and the baronies in the Iliac Bay , there is no centralized religion throughout Eastmarch . Because of Windhelm ' s Nordic Pride and their respect for their heritage , Windhelm has a Temple of Talos located near the Palace of the Kings . Since Windhelm owns settlements such as Fort Amol and Darkwater Crossing in can be assumed that these townships worship Talos as well . But since there are many private settlements in Eastmarch , that would not be the case . In the Orcish settlements of Narzulbur and Cradlecrush , they worship Malacath , the Daedric Prince of the Sworn Oath and the Bloody Curse . Malacath was believed to be the first Orsimer after Boethiah defeated him and devoured his essence when he was Trinimac . His followers turned into the Orcs and they have followed Malacath since the Merethic Era . The town of Wittestadr was founded by a Vampire lord of unknown origins , possibly from Castle Volkihar . Vampires worship Molag Bal , the Daedric Prince of Domination and Rape since he was the one that gave Lamae Bal the gift of Vampirism . The lord ' s son rejected his gift and because of this , Wittestadr many no longer worship Molag Bal . As of now , it is unknown . The Ternion Monks of Mistwatch continue to worship the old traditional Ancient Nordic Pantheon which worships the many animals inhabiting the Fatherland of Skyrim and Atmora . The Monks worship mainly the Bear , Wolf , and the Fox . Each of those animals represent Tsun , Mara and Orkey respectively . The Monks have performed miracles throughout their time , especially in the Alliance War when the Monks healed Jorunn the Skald - King from Daedric Poison . The Monks however , do not spread the old religion most likely because of St . Alessia when she combined all other pantheons into the Nine Divines . History . Merethic Era . Yngol ' s Passing and the City of Kings . After an event known as the Night of Tears , Ysgramor and his Five Hundred Companions set out to exterminate the Snow Elves that lived in Skyrim and destroyed the city of Saarthal . Yngol , the eldest son of Ysgramor , presented an axe made of the ebony tears his father wept at the site of Saarthal . Yngol was always at Ysgramor ' s side and had a prosperous future in Mereth but that changed in the Storm of Separation . After Saarthal ' s destruction , Ysgramor travelled back to Atmora to amass a large army to destroy the Falmer however , the Storm of Separation split the navy and Ysgramor lost Yngol and the crew of the Harakk . The storm brought Yngol and the Harakk to the Yorgrim Estuary on the Sea of Ghosts and crashed them into the river . This fatal blow killed Yngol and left few survivors of the Harakk . When Ysgramor learned of this loss , he ordered the construction of Yngol Barrow which now rests somewhere north of Lower Yorgrim . Ysgramor looked southwards on an opening and used the crew of the Ylgermet to build a large city with a long bridge and magnificent spires . Ysgramor planned for a grand tomb to be built underneath the city , but with a separate tomb be built near Hsaarik Head , looking northwards to Atmora . This great city was known as Windhelm , the City of Kings . First Era . The Stormcrag Family and their success . In the early first era , a man named Ragnor Stormcrag made the Stormcrag Clan a powerful and influential force in Eastmarch and beyond . Ragnor becomes wealthy by becoming a prospector for a series of mines throughout the Skyrim side of the Velothi Mountains . Eventually , he invested in other trades including shipping , armor and weapon crafting , banking , and jewelry . Finally , Ragnor wanted to make one his mines into a crypt for his family . When the project was completed , however , he was interred in the deepest part of the mine . The Stormcrag Family produced many wealthy people from business moguls , priests , thanes , and wizards . Many died naturally or died before they can hit their stride . Sorga Stormcrag was a very infamous family member who had an unhealthy desire for power where she eventually used daedric magic . Koralla Stormcrag , the then matriarch of the family , disowned Sorga and prevented her from being buried in the tomb . Sorga later cast a spell cursing the grave causing the dead to rise , and a Deathknight roam the halls . No Stormcrag had buried since . The Aetherium Wars . Around 1E 221 , the Dwarven city of Arkngthamz had discovered a material known as Aetherium that had very powerful properties . It had a strong magical aura meaning Magicka flowed throughout the mineral and it was impossible to break it or smelt it . The Dwarven King of Arkngthamz made an alliance with the cities of Mzulft , Bthar - zel , and Raldbthar to keep the Aetherium and study it in the city of Bthalft which held the Aetherium Forge . The four cities began to fight for the Aetherium Forge and they all eventually disappeared along with the other Dwemer sometime around the War of the First Council . To this day , the Aetherium Forge had yet to be reactivated and the Aetherium was lost in time . Second Era . The End of the Eastmarch - Winterhold Massacres . In 2E 184 , the Dragon known as Grahkrindrog was slain by the Dragonguard from Sky Haven Temple . Grahkrindrog was slaughtering the denizens of Eastmarch and the Winterhold . The name of the dragon was confirmed by the College of Winterhold in the fourth era . The Unified Eastern Kingdoms of Skyrim . In 2E 431 , the Reman Empire had finally fallen , and High King Logrolf was assassinated . The next ruler of Skyrim came with controversy from the grand city states of Solitude and Windhelm . Jarl Svartr of Solitude claimed Logrolf ' s daughter , Freydis is an illegitimate heir to the throne . This was the first time someone questioned the legitimacy of the Crown of Verity , the ancient crown that determines the High King of Skyrim . The first person to question its judgment was Asurn Ice - Breaker who lost to Kjoric the White . The Crown named Freydis the next ruler of Skyrim while the Moot named Svartr , the High King of Skyrim . This caused Skyrim to divided into two different states . The Kingdoms of Eastern Skyrim ( Eastmarch , the Rift , the Pale , and the Winterhold ) followed Freydis while the Kingdoms of Western Skyrim ( Haafingar , Whiterun Hold , Falkreath Hold , and Hjaalmarch ) followed Svartr . In the Alliance War , the kingdoms of Eastern Skyrim served the Ebonheart Pact while the kingdoms of Western Skyrim remained neutral in the whole sort of affair . Jorunn the Skald - King and the supposed " Wulfharth " of Eastmarch would eventually help the Dunmer of Morrowind in fighting the Akaviri Invasion led by Ada ' Soom Dir - Kamal . Shadows of the Konunleikar Celebration . In 2E 582 , the city of Windhelm underwent a celebration known as the Konunleikar which honors Jorunn the Skald - King ' s rule as the High King of Eastern Skyrim and the Ebonheart Pact . Thane Mera Stormcloak was in charge of the festivities and watches for any rude behavior in Windhelm . The Vestige had arrived just in time to celebrate but was tasked by the Thane to investigate any problems in the town . Stormcloak believes the Stormfist Clan of Nord s since their leader , Fildgor Orcthane is Jorunn ' s twin brother nemesis and would do anything to put him out of the seat of High King . Many injuries had already come out of the festival . After being named Windhelm ' s Champion , the Vestige participated in the Footrace of the Nine Holds and learned that a racer died on the track . Wrath of the Stormfists . The Thane took this personally and was enraged by this sudden loss , the Vestige investigated throughout town and learned the Stormfists did indeed cause the murder . The traveler found their camp near Kynesgrove and slaughtered a few warriors to find out that Fildgor plans Jorunn ' s assassination at the Konunleikar festival . The Vestige delivers the news to Stormcloak , and she asks the traveler to protect the Skald - King at the Hall of Trials where the king is watching a duel . Stormfist agents attacked the King , and his guards while the Vestige stepped in and protected the king . Jorunn is informed about Fildgor ' s assassination attempt , and he proclaims a war between the Ebonheart Pact and the Stormfist Brigade . Assault on Fort Morvunskar . While pondering when the Stormfist will strike , a runner from Fort Morvunskar arrived in Windhelm and informed Mera Stormcloak of the sudden attack on Morvunskar led by Warlord Halskar . The Vestige was tasked to traveling to Morvunskar and dealing with the threat . Lieutenant Koruni was leading the force retaking the fort . The Vestige was tasked to freeing four soldiers in the fort and rendezvousing with the Lieutenant on the southern end . After defeating Halskar , the Vestige was greeted by a mysterious woman who says she is Queen Nurnhilde and she wants the relics stole by Halskar to be returned . The relics had been returned and Fildgor was last sighted at Fort Amol . Gathering the Ebonheart Pact at Fort Amol . Fort Amol has been closed off by travelers for a convention between the three leaders of the Ebonheart Pact and the Great Moot . Jorunn the Skald - King of Eastern Skyrim , General Yeveth Noramil of Morrowind , and Eyes - of - Steel of Black Marsh . The Vestige decides to investigate the current uproar in Amol . Lord Vurlop of Amol informs the Vestige about the uproar tells them to watch Commander Yjarnn for his good . Yjarnn is eventually found dead , and the Stormfist Brigade had arrived in Amol . To keep things peaceful , the Vestige helps the Dunmer and Argonian delegate with any problem . It was later revealed the Jorunn was poisoned in Amol Keep by a Breton Illusion ist that was hired by Fildgor . After defeating the Breton , the delegates helped the King and prepared to take him to the Mistwatch Monastery . Prince Irnskar blamed the Elves and Argonians for not helping in the situation . Healing the Skald - King at Mistwatch . Thane Oda Wolf - Sister of Fort Amol talks about the Ternion Monks of Mistwatch and their healing magic . But before they can heal the Skald - King , the Vestige must find the Dreamwalker in Darkwater Crossing and gather ingredients from Wittestadr . With all the necessities , the Pact brought the King to Mistwatch where High Priest Esling and the Dreamwalker perform a ritual to bring Jorunn back from Eternal Slumber . The Dreamwalker tasked the Vestige into entering the king ' s dreams and destroy the Dream Eater infecting the King ' s mind . With the poison gone , the Great Moot must meet at Jorunn ' s Stand , a wooden fortress on the base of the Velothi Mountains before heading to Skuldafn . Gathering the Ebonheart Pact at Jorunn ' s Stand . Prince Irnskar must make amends for his actions in Fort Amol by using the Vestige to regain their trust while Jorunn recovers . General Yeveth Noramil tasks the Vestige into using his blade , Viper ' s Strike on the Stormfist Brigade to charge it while Eyes - of - Steel tasks the Vestige into slaying Hald Bitterblade and bringing his head to her as proof of their worthiness . Afterward , the Dark Elves and the Argonians regained their trust with the Pact and continued to make plans . Next , the Vestige must bring together the thanes of Amol to fight the Stormfists in Skuldafn . Thane Oda Wolf - Sister , Thane Jeggi Gap - Tooth , and Thane Harvald come together to fight the threat . The Battle for Skuldafn is almost underway . Final Battle atop of Skuldafn . To reach Skuldafn , the Ebonheart Pact must take a secret passageway looked amidst the snow . Fildgor had climbed Skuldafn to steal the spirit of Queen Nurnhilde and have the Crown of Verity recognize him as the true High King of Skyrim . The Vestige destroyed the Stormfist ' s stockpile and lighted the signal fires to let the Ebonheart Pact come and take out the Brigade . At the peak of Skuldafn , Fildgor activated a portal to the Nordic afterlife of Sovngarde and leaped in it . The Vestige followed him and defeated him in Sovngarde . After defeating Fildgor , the Great Moot commenced and Jorunn the Skald - King was named the leader of the Ebonheart Pact . Their first act together is to beat the Worm Cult threat in the Rift . Third Era . Eastmarch and it ' s cities during the Simulacrum . During the Imperial Simulacrum , the borders of Eastmarch had been undefined . Many settlements dotted the landscape or at least it ' s general area . These settlements include Pargran Village , Dragon Wood , and Laintar Dale . At one point , the Eternal Champion visited the cities of Windhelm and Amol in their quest for a piece of the Staff of Chaos Raven Rock ' s booming success . In 3E 427 , the newly constructed town of Raven Rock is booming with business . The town was discovered after the East Empire Trading Company found an incredibly large vein of Ebony that quickly made it into a boomtown . The Ebony mined from Raven Rock would be shipped to places like Windhelm . Fourth Era . Dunmeri Refugees escaping the Red Year . During the Red Year , many Dunmer refugees traveled to Skyrim through the Dunmeth Pass to find shelter and work . The Refugees ' Rest tower on the Eastmarch border served as a place where refugees stayed in after successfully crossing the border to Skyrim . Sometime later in 4E 20 , the tower was made a monument for those who struggled and found hope in Skyrim . The White - Gold Concordat & it ' s controversy . When the Great War ended in 4E 175 , Titus Mede II signed the White - Gold Concordat which ended the worship of Talos in all Imperial territories . It also made southern Hammerfell ceded to the Summerset Isles of Alinor . The treaty resembled an ultimatum made five years prior that was rejected , it was accepted later just to have the war end . There has been controversy surrounding the Concordat that resulted in more conflict . In Hammerfell , the Redguards fought the Third Aldmeri Dominion throughout the region until it ended with the Second Treaty of Stros M ' kai . In Skyrim , tension between the Jarl s of Skyrim had increased since High King Torygg accepted the White - Gold Concordat and the forbidden worship of Talos , the legendary hero of Mankind , who was originally a Nord . The Beginning of the Skyrim Civil War . During the Great War , the Eastern Reach and Markarth had been taken over by the Forsworn tribe of Reachmen . Igmund of Markarth asked Ulfric Stormcloak of Windhelm for aid . Jarl Hrolfdir made a proposition with Ulfric where if he liberated Markarth and the Reach , then he will allow the worship of Talos . Ulfric agreed , and he retook the city of Markarth . When news came about the worship of Talos in Markarth , the Thalmor forced the Imperial Legion in Skyrim to expelling Ulfric and his militia out of Markarth . These past events left Ulfric bitter against the Empire , and it sparked the flame that is the Skyrim Civil War . In 4E 201 , after years of resentment for the Empire and their betrayal to the Nordic people . Ulfric Stormcloak challenged High King Torygg at his home in the Blue Palace of Solitude for the honor of High King . To Ulfric , Torygg represented everything he despised about the Empire ( the banned worship of Talos , and the White - Gold Concordat ) . Ulfric used the power of his Thu ' um to defeat Torygg and by Old Nordic Tradition , should be proclaimed High King . However , this divided Skyrim and resulted in the Skyrim Civil War . This was the first time Skyrim had split in such a way since the Alliance War in the second era . Ulfric would command his forces , the Stormcloaks , at Windhelm . The cities of Dawnstar , Riften , and Winterhold joined him in his cause while the rest either acceded to the Empire ( Solitude , Falkreath , Morthal , and Markarth ) or remained neutral ( Whiterun ) . The Resurrection of Sahloknir & the Dragon Crisis . The Last Dragonborn had been discovered by The Greybeards of High Hrothgar after slaying the dragon known as Mirmulnir . The Dragonborn was tasked by the Greybeards to retrieve the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller at Ustengrav . Upon arriving at the inner sanctum , the horn was taken by a former Blades member , Delphine of Riverwood who wants to know if this traveler is indeed the Last Dragonborn . The Dragonborn and Delphine ventured to Kynesgrove to kill the resurrected Sahloknir and absorb his soul . After slaying the dragon , the Dragonborn absorbed the soul and proved they were , in fact , the Dragonborn .