Vvardenfell Vvardenfell , also known as the Black Isle , is a very large island inside the crescent - shaped lands of the province of Morrowind , located in the Inner Sea in the north - eastern part of Tamriel . It has been inhabited by the Aldmer , Dwemer , Chimer , and most prominently the Dunmer throughout its course of history . Vvardenfell is the primary setting of and . One of the most outstanding landmarks of the island is Red Mountain , a volcano located at its heart that continuously shoots ash into the skies . This has led to the large stretches of barren and inhospitable Ashlands , where lava flows and ashstorms are common , as can be witnessed in Molag Amur . These storms were also a source of the Blight disease , until the events of " Morrowind " . In all directions around Red Mountain Region , however , there is a variety of ecosystems , home to a large number of unique plants and creatures , as well as numerous settlements . The political climate is just as varied , with the Great Houses , the Empire , and the Tribunal Temple , among others , all coexisting and competing for influence . Major cities of Vvardenfell include Vivec City , home of the Temple of Vivec and the Ministry of Truth , Balmora , seat of House Hlaalu , Ald ' ruhn , seat of House Redoran and Sadrith Mora , seat of House Telvanni . Regions . The island of Vvardenfell is divided into nine separate regions , each with its own distinct climate , geography and ecology . The Ascadian Isles . The Ascadian Isles are the fertile , green lowlands on the south - southwestern corner of Vvardenfell . Settlements include Vivec , Ebonheart and Pelagiad . The large Daedric ruins of Ald Sotha lie to the east of Vivec . Most of Vvardenfell ' s farms and plantations are in this region . These typically include Netch herding and agriculture . Plants that commonly grow in this region include heather , willow flowers , stoneflowers , gold kanet flowers , black anther plants , comberry , corkbulbs , saltrice , ash yams and marshmerrow . Slavery is common in this area , especially on the plantations . The Ashlands . The Ashlands are the dry and inhospitable areas surrounding Red Mountain to the north and west . Various Dunmer tribes inhabit the region , and the Redoran seat of Ald ' ruhn is near the western edge . The Ashlands are inhospitable to most life , but some creatures have managed to adapt to the harsh terrain and climate . These include mainly Guar , Nix hounds , Cliff racers , and Alit . Some plants , like the Trama Root , manage to flourish in this desolate area . Nomads known as Ashlanders also call this region home . Hazardous ashstorms are frequent due to Red Mountain ' s volcanic activity . Blight is common in this region . Azura ' s Coast . Azura ' s Coast is the long , rugged and mostly uninhabited coastline and islands of Vvardenfell ' s east and southeast . It is a wet and rocky area devoid of trees , only low - lying and hardy vegetation is able to exist here . The area , historically uninhabited , has seen a drastic increase in population since the opening of Vvardenfell . Most of Azura ' s Coast fell within the jurisdiction of House Telvanni , and they have established several settlements including Tel Branora to the south ; Tel Aruhn , Tel Fyr , and the house seat of Sadrith Mora , within Zafirbel Bay ; and Tel Mora , near the junction of Azura ' s Coast and the greater Sheogorad archipelago . The Bitter Coast . The Bitter Coast , is the humid southwestern coast of Vvardenfell so - named because of the area ' s salt marshes and swamps . It is also known as the Smuggler ' s Coast , due to the rampant smuggling that goes on in this area . Seyda Neen , Hla Oad , and Gnaar Mok are the only settlements in the region . The area is lush with tall trees , rich plant life , and rare fungus . Plants and fungi that grow here include violet coprinus , luminous russula , bungler ' s bane , hypa facia , slough fern , and occasionally hackle - lo . There are several shipwrecks in the area , caused by the coast ' s infamous fog and bad weather . Numerous small islands dot the coast as well as several grottos . The Grazelands . The Grazelands are plains that cover the majority of the northeastern coast of the island and are so named because of the Ashlander herds that graze there . It is largely uninhabited , except for the settlement in Vos village , as well as the wizard tower of Tel Vos . The Ahemmusa and Zainab Ashlander tribes also have settlements in the region . Molag Amur . The region located between the Ashlands and Azura ' s Coast is Molag Amur . It is a desolate expanse of lava flows , ravines , and fields of ash . Travel is difficult , and ashstorms frequently strike the area . Parts of the region are considered impassable , even by the ashlanders . The stronghold of Molag Mar , Erabenimsun camp , and the pilgrimage sites at Mount Assarnibibi and Mount Kand are the only inhabited sites . Molag Amur consists almost entirely of a confusing maze of foyadas . The dangers of Molag Amur are considerable ; it is one of the areas most likely to be stricken by ash storms , and is a prime habitat of such creatures as cliff racers , shalks , and other hardy creatures such as alit . Due to this , and its winding labyrinthine passages , travellers can easily get lost or come under attack . The West Gash . The western highlands stretching from the Sea of Ghosts to the city of Balmora is called The West Gash . The Hlaalu district seat of Balmora is here , as is the Imperial town of Caldera , the mining village of Gnisis , and the fishing villages of Ald Velothi and Khuul . Vegetation in the region is sparse , but hardy . Common plants are kreshweed , roobrush and chokeweed . Sheogorad . The large island of Sheogorad is on the northern tip of Vvardenfell , and due to its rugged terrain and hostile creatures , it is largely uninhabited , except for the small villages of Dagon Fel and Ald Redaynia . The population is mostly composed of Nords , who claim to have settled here even before the Chimers claimed Morrowind . Numerous ruins dot the landscape , and there are several daedric and Dwemer ruins in the area . The region is named after Sheogorath , the Daedric Prince of Madness . Red Mountain Region . The Red Mountain is the central , defining feature of Vvardenfell . It is a giant volcano , steep and rugged , from which ash storms continually issue . Surrounding the mountain is the magical Ghostfence , which fences in the many demon of the region , and filters out the disease - laden " blight " which issues from the crater . The only official entrance is at the fortified outpost of Ghostgate , in which pilgrim s , as well as the Buoyant Armigers , reside . In addition , an ebony mine burrows beneath the eastern portion of the Ghostfence and opens out onto the slopes of Red Mountain . Numerous Dwemer ruins dot its slopes , and Dagoth Ur resides inside a facility deep inside the mountain , and the majority of the inhabitants in the region are servants of Dagoth Ur . Other than that , it is uninhabited , though you can find the occasional mine on the Mountain ' s slopes , for it is rich in natural resources such as ebony ore and raw glass . Plants are extremely scarce and most of the trees are dead . Only trama shrubs , scathecraw and fire ferns have a chance of surviving here . Adventurers rarely venture past Ghostgate . Politics . Vvardenfell politics is a dance between the three Great Houses of Hlaalu , Telvanni , and Redoran , as well as the Tribunal Temple , both Imperial and Dunmer , and the Empire itself . The houses maintain an air of peace and fraternal loyalty , but constant incursions , especially by ' rogue Telvanni ' , keep tensions high . Adding to this political tension is the strong influence of the native Dunmer temple , which controls much of Vvardenfell , and the twin influences of the Empire and the Imperial Cult , which wish to maintain stability and control the island . Morrowind was the only province where slavery was still legal , until sometime between the events of and the events of , King Hlaalu Helseth abolished slavery . The Blight . The Blight is a serious disease that infects people and animals . It is a major factor in the events of " Morrowind " as one of the primary antagonists of the game . The Ashblight emanates from Red Mountain in the form of Ashstorms . These storms are reddish dust storms that carry the blight and have extremely high winds associated with them . Due to the danger of infection and belligerent creatures , residents of Vvardenfell often advise against travelling during an Ashstorm . Symptoms . The Ashblight has several separate symptoms , depending on who it is contracted by . Characters who contract the disease are weakened by it : variants of the disease may reduce attributes such as strength and dexterity . The creatures of Morrowind are also affected by their infection . Creatures who have contracted the Ashblight often have higher Health and are stronger than their unaffected counterparts . The disease causes uncommon aggression in normally peaceful creatures , such as Kwama . Origin and elimination . The Ashblight ( along with Corprus ) was created by Dagoth Ur , the main antagonist of the game . According to him , the Ashblight was used to help gain converts to the Sixth House cult . As Dagoth Ur resided in the ruins of the Dwemer stronghold in Red Mountain , the Ashblight spread through the Red Mountain Ashstorms . During the events of the third Elder Scrolls game , however , the Nerevarine , the reincarnation of an ancient warrior named Nerevar , killed Dagoth Ur and , therefore , cut the source of the Ashblight , effectively eliminating it . Afterwards , the ashstorms lose their red tint , and become simple ashstorms again ; although the Blight is eliminated , a few " Blighted " creatures remain .