Pocket Guide to the Empire , Third Edition : Morrowind Pocket Guide to the Empire , Third Edition Author : Imperial Geographic Society Content . Located in the north - east of Tamriel , much of the landscape is as twisted and mountainous as its neighbor Skyrim , but it is a hot , desolate land , even far from Vvardenfell and its famous volcano , Red Mountain . Previously named Resdayn , Veloth , Dwemereth , and Dunmereth , it was home to the mysterious , lost Elven tribe called the Dwemer , and their cousins , the Chimer of Summerset who became the Dark Elves of today . For the last two Eras , it has been called Morrowind . History . The earliest civilization of which there are records is that of the Dwemer . Sometimes called " Dwarves " by the ignorant , the Dwemer were the remnants of the early Aldmer who had settled the coasts , and developed a highly sophisticated and technological culture . The rule of the Dwemer in Morrowind was contested by another group of Mer , the Chimer . The Chimer were , like the Dwemer , descendents of the Aldmer , and had followed their prophet Veloth across Tamriel from the west . Soon , they abandoned nomadic life and divided themselves into what were known as the Great Houses , tight - knit political clans that survive in Morrowind to this day . Disputes over territory marked the early interactions between the two groups of Mer . These battles were fueled by the conflicting religious beliefs of the two cultures . While the Dwemer were an agnostic people , preferring reason to faith , the Chimer were staunch Daedra - worshippers , and considered the Dwemer ' s lack of belief an affront to their gods . It was not until Nordic invasions of the First Era that the two groups of Mer were able to achieve peace . An alliance led by Nerevar of the Chimer and Dumac of the Dwemer was successful in routing the Nords from the land , and creating the First Council . Ultimately , though , the cultural differences between the two groups were too great to allow for a lasting peace . The War of the First Council culminated at the Dwemer fortress of Red Mountain , although accounts of the final hours of the war varied . It is known that Nerevar was slain during or shortly after the battle , although by whom remains a point of much contention . Dumac and all of his Dwemeri brethren were killed , but the exact manner of their extinction is still debated . Nor did the Chimer leave the battle of Red Mountain unchanged : their skins were turned to grey and their eyes fire - red . They would henceforth be known as the Dunmer of Morrowind . Perhaps the most important consequences of the battle were the changes effected in Nerevar ' s closest advisors . His trusted Tribunal - Almalexia , Sotha Sil , and Vivec - were found to have attained great , even god - like , power . His general , Dagoth Ur , originally thought killed at Red Mountain , was later found to have attained similar degree of power . These four former mortal individuals were to become seen as symbols , champions , gods , and villains , sometimes revered and sometimes despised . The four , , exercised great influence over the development of the nation of Morrowind . While most of the local governance of the province continued through the Great Houses , the Tribunal ruled the land indirectly through their Temple , and inspired the Dunmer with their status as Living Gods . The Daedra worship that the Chimer espoused was considered nothing more than a prelude to the new spiritual awakening of the land . Their powers were tested as they joined with the Reman Dynasty to defend the land from the Akaviri . Though victorious , Morrowind ' s relationship with the Cyrodilic Empire did not remain cordial , and after steadily growing mistrust , The Four Score War erupted in the 2840th year of the First Era . The Tribunal , and Vivec in particular , demonstrated enormous power and leadership in battle after battle , yet neither side advanced for almost eighty years . In the end , it was the diplomatic skills of the Three that ended the war . Whatever the extent of the Tribunal ' s power , and how much fancy has been woven into their legend , there can be no doubt of their diplomatic prowess . While other provinces flailed in the chaos of the Second Era , the Tribunal kept the disparate Houses of Morrowind in check , and repelled yet another invasion from Akavir . The Tribunal ' s diplomatic skills were put to the test yet again at the end of the Second Era , when they were faced with the external threat of Tiber Septim ' s rising Empire , as well as the internal threat posed when Dagoth Ur , after long slumbering , arose to take back his fortress of Red Mountain . Septim , not eager to fight three Living Gods and also worried about Dagoth Ur ' s return , agreed to a treaty , as described in the history section of this book . The treaty gave Morrowind autonomy and gave the Septim Empire the means to conquer the rest of Tamriel : an equitable solution for both parties involved . A further concession was given to Septim ' s demand for a central authority in Morrowind : a ruler who could be his hand in the domain . Barenziah , daughter of the ruling family of Mournhold , was the first to be given the title of Queen of Morrowind . The title was largely ceremonial , but the young Queen and her consort , Tiber Septim ' s general Symmachus , proved to be extremely popular with the Dunmer people . The Arnesian War was one of the many during the troubled time of the Imperial Simulacrum of Jagar Tharn . What started as a simple slave revolt in the House Dres lands of the south built on itself until the swampy plains erupted with blood and fire , pitting Morrowind against Black Marsh . During the chaos , Symmachus was slain , and Barenziah , rightly fearing for her life , fled across the Empire to the High Rock kingdom of Wayrest . The Queen abdicated her throne , leaving it to her uncle Athyn Llethan , a House Hlaalu noble . The uneasy truce between Temple , King , and House was beginning to crumble . Dagoth Ur was ascending , the Tribunal was collapsing , and then , according to current popular rumor , a miracle occurred . Indoril Nerevar was reborn , and returned to Morrowind to set things to right . Current Events . Whether the mysterious figure who arrived in Morrowind was truly Nerevar reborn , but the repercussions of that arrival on the shores of Vvardenfell may not yet be fully realized . Dagoth Ur and two members of the Tribunal , Almalexia and Sotha Sil , were . Vivec too may have been killed , but his fate is currently undetermined . The Nerevarine likewise has vanished . During this time , another legendary figure , Queen Barenziah , also returned to Morrowind . The sudden death of King Llethan , and the subsequent coronation of Barenziah ' s son Helseth , was the source of much discussion , but as one Nord diplomat famously put it , " The new king is manipulative , ruthless , and calculating . He is exactly what Morrowind needs . " The young king has been somewhat of an enigma , both to outside observers and to his own subjects . One of Helseth ' s first edicts as King seemed particularly designed to dismantle the traditional power structures of the Dunmer . In accordance with the longstanding wishes of the Empire , he outlawed slavery throughout Morrowind . The reaction to this was bloody , as could be predicted , though the alliances formed were far from expected . As Helseth himself put it in a speech to his people , " If there is to be a revolution , it is best done by a King . " Actions such as this have led many to label King Helseth as the latest in the lineage of Imperial figureheads , though some of his other actions would cast doubt on this pronouncement . Helseth ' s reformation of the Grand Council , which includes the heads of all the Great Houses , was seen by some as a return to more traditional Dunmer ways . The Great Houses themselves , long stagnant , are adjusting to the new powers in the land . Some , like Dres and Hlaalu , appear to be on the rise , embracing the new traditions while welcoming the return of the old . Others , like Indoril and Redoran , seem to be waning , unable to change with the times .