Black Gate Black Gate is a fortress located in the province of Morrowind , it served as a bulwark for the Tribunal Temple during the Four Score War , when the Second Empire of Cyrodiil invaded the province of Morrowind . Description . Geography . Black Gate is an impenetrable fortress located in the Central Plains of Morrowind , close the city - state of Mournhold , the traditional capital of the province . Black Gate ' s exterior is unknown , but the interior of Black Gate has two floors , with waterways flowing through it , likely from the Thir River from nearby . Bridges hover over the water canals , connecting several areas in the fortress . The Second Level is more abundant with water . History . First Era . The fortress of Black Gate was besieged by the Second Empire under the command of Juilek Cyrodiil , the heir to the Ruby Throne . Although technically , Juilek was not responsible for the assault , despite leading the helm for the invasion over Morrowind in the Four Score War . The command was brought about by Reman Cyrodiil III , the then Emperor of Cyrodiil . The Sacking of Black Gate was brought about after the Four Score War , when Juilek negotiated a deal with Vivec of the Tribunal . When the Prince met with Vivec at Fervinthil , he agreed to return Black Gate to the province of Morrowind . Because of this unsuspected attack on Black Gate , the alliance between the two provinces would have withered , as Sotha Sil stated , it must be considered a break in a truce . Luckily , no conflict ensued afterward , but Juilek Cyrodiil would be assassinated at Dorsza Pass in Black Marsh , though it was not connected to the Tribunal . The Treaty between the Empire and Morrowind was destroyed by Juilek ' s assassin . Third Era . During the Imperial Simulacrum from 3E 389 to 3E 399 , Emperor Uriel Septim VII was imprisoned along with Talin Warhaft in the Deadlands by Jagar Tharn . Tharn planned for months to capture the throne , and he was able to achieve so in the span of ten years . Tharn had a powerful weapon called the Staff of Chaos , and he split it into nine pieces and scattered them across Tamriel , the staff was the only thing keeping Uriel Septim and Warhaft in Oblivion . A warrior escaped his clutches and traveled all corners of Tamriel to retrieve the missing pieces . The hero was known as the Eternal Champion , and he assembled the staff and defeated Jagar Tharn at the Imperial Palace . The Eternal Champion had at one point visited the ruins of the Fortress of Ice in their quest to recover the pieces . After obtaining the seventh piece of the Staff of Chaos , the last province to explore was the province of Morrowind , and so the Eternal Champion had traveled to the city - state of Ebonheart and gained an audience with King Casik . King Casik had come into possession of the Anvil of Mithas , an Ancient Dwarven artifact that was able to craft the most refined weapons and armor in all of Tamriel . The only thing that will not be shattered by the Anvil was the Hammer of Gharen , another Dwarven artifact ; it was said to be lost in the depths of Black Gate . If the Champion brought the Hammer to the King , they would reveal the location of the last piece , which was in Dagoth Ur . And so the Champion traveled to the Central Plains and encountered the ruins of Black Gate , where they were able to find the Hammer of Gharen . The Champion would then set forth to Dagoth Ur and retrieve the final piece of the Staff of Chaos .