Anvil

*"For as long as Anvil has stood upon the Gold Coast, it has been a city of adventure and allure. Legend and mysteries abound, filling its streets and taverns with tales from all around the world."*
―Anonymous[src]
**Anvil** or **West Anvil** is one of the nine major cities located in the Imperial Province of Cyrodiil. Anvil's ports are teeming with goods and trades from the Summerset Isles to Hammerfell. The city of Anvil is also well-known for being the birthplace of Marcella Varian, empress of the Fourth Empire when her parents return from Hammerfell. Anvil's ports are teeming with goods and trades from the Summerset Isles to Hammerfell.

## By game

* Anvil (Oblivion)
* Anvil (Invasion)
* Anvil (Online)

## Description

### Geography

Anvil is a walled city located on the Gold Coast shores of the Abecean Sea and sits on the edge between Colovia and the Imperial Province. It is on one end of the Gold Road that leads to the Imperial City and the Red Ring Road. Anvil's main gate is located on its northern wall and that is its only entrance. Anvil's town square is surrounded by the storefronts of craftsmen and guilds. From there, the city continues to the west and east. To the west is the Gold Coast Trading Company building and residential houses. To the east is the Chapel of Dibella, the local bank, and the statue of Selkie of West Skerry.

### Traditions

* One of Anvil's greatest mysteries is the origin of Selkie of West Skerry, the mermaid statue located in eastern Anvil. Whatever it may be, the statute leaves an everlasting impression on the people of Anvil.

## History

### First Era

In 1E 2200, the Thrassian Plague affected Western Tamriel in multiple ways. Bendu Olo of West Anvil accumulated an army known as the All Flags Navy to fight the Sload of Thras. Navies from Colovia, Hammerfell, and High Rock traveled to Thras and sunk the continent into the sea after which only a few islands such as Agonio are left.

### Second Era

*Main article: Anvil (Online)*

In 2E 576, the Gold Coast became a kingdom separate from Cyrodiil when Varen's Wall was finished and the Imperial Navy left the Gold Coast to face Varen Aquilarios' rebellion in the Heartlands. The Red Sails Pirates of the Abecean Sea arrived into the Anvil Bay with a large fleet and took control of Anvil with Fortunata ap Dugal as Provincial Governor of Anvil.

Fortunata ruled Anvil with an iron grip and was considered a ruthless dictator among her people. However, Dugal's reign kept the region controlled and prevented anarchy on multiple occasions. Her Red Sails became a private militia in a manner similar vein to the much later Stormcloaks in Eastern Skyrim.

In 2E 583, the Dark Brotherhood made a resurgence in the Gold Coast and committed several notable assassinations in places such as Anvil and Kvatch. Two of their first assassinations were Lord Quintus Jarol at his Estate north of Anvil and Grand Sermonizer Fithia at-Himah. Groups such as the Order of the Hour began to antagonize the Brotherhood in the hope of destroying them.

Oddly enough, Fortunata contracted the Dark Brotherhood to assassinate Commander Marcus Scipio of the Kvatch guard to which the Brotherhood agreed to. The Vestige was sent to Castle Kvatch to complete the contract. After murdering Scipio, the Vestige encountered Count Carolus Aquilarios in his chamber. The Count had contracted the Dark Brotherhood to assassinate Dugal in return and so Speaker Terenus gave the contract to the Vestige and they returned to Anvil. Upon arriving at Anvil Castle, the Vestige was greeted by Dugal, and they both shared a drink on the castle balcony. Dugal's wine was poisoned and she collapsed over the balcony, falling to her death and completing the second contract.

### Third Era

*Main article: Anvil (Oblivion)*

In 3E 433, Anvil prospered along with the other eight cities in Cyrodiil. The city was under the leadership of Countess Millona Umbranox, who was well beloved by her people. Her husband, Corvus Umbranox went missing years ago, yet people believe she was better off without him.

The Oblivion Crisis caused by Mehrunes Dagon occurred in the late third era. An Oblivion Gate opened up outside the main gate of Anvil, and it let out an army of Dremora, Clannfears, and Scamps to attack the city. The Blades of Cloud Ruler Temple, led by Grandmaster Jauffre and the Bruma Guard, led by Burd managed to push the daedric army back into the Deadlands. A greater army later returned, one similar to the one that destroyed Kvatch. The Hero of Kvatch closed the Gate, thus freeing Anvil's forces to join the Hero, Martin Septim, and the combined forces of the eight other cities in Cyrodiil in destroying the Daedric Siege Crawler that was heading for Bruma.

### Fourth Era

In 4E 171, the Great War ravaged Cyrodiil and left the Mede Empire in shambles. Lady Arannelya of the Third Aldmeri Dominion traveled from Valenwood through Anvil to get to the Imperial City. In her wake, the cities of Anvil and Kvatch were besieged, leaving the western Imperial front open to attack. The Siege of Anvil was hard on the Imperials as exemplified by a veteran named Noster Eagle-Eye who lost his eye and many comrades at the battle.

Meanwhile soon after the siege, Emperor Caius Varian had retreated to Anvil, rebuilding the city in the progress in late 4E 172. Caius and his wife, Brelyna return the city from their trip to Hammerfell, however Brelyna became pregnant and give birth to their youngest daughter Marcella, the future Empress. Her daughter's birth is the first and only monarch to be born outside of the Imperial City, and the only to be born in Anvil of the Varian Dynasty.

## Gallery

Anvil circa 3E 433.Anvil circa 2E 582.Portrait of the Anvil Lighthouse.Castle Anvil.Hero of Anvil in *Legends*.Anvil Insignia.
## Trivia

* Anvil, along with Sutch, Kvatch, and Skingrad precede *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion'*s release by 8 years in *The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard*. In a map of Western Tamriel, these four cities including Sancre Tor, the Pale Pass, the Strid River, and Vergayun are found in Cyrodiil.
* Anvil is the only port in Cyrodiil that connects to the sea and because of it, gets more traffic in the long run. The only other port in a Cyrodiilic city is the Waterfront in the Imperial City, but trade has to go through Leyawiin before heading into the Open Sea.

## Appearances

* *The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard* (mentioned only)
* *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion*
* *An Elder Scrolls Novel: The Infernal City* (mentioned only)
* *The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim* (mentioned only)
* *The Elder Scrolls Online* (mentioned only)
	+ *The Elder Scrolls Legends: Dark Brotherhood*
* *The Elder Scrolls VI: Invasion*
	+ *The Elder Scrolls VI: Underworld* (mentioned only)
	+ *The Elder Scrolls VI: Akavir* (mentioned only)
* *The Elder Scrolls: Legends* (mentioned only)

## References

1. ↑ *Pocket Guide to the Empire, First Edition: Skyrim*
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 *The Varian Dragon*
3. ↑ *The Mysterious Mermaid of Anvil*
4. ↑ *Pocket Guide to the Empire, First Edition: Cyrodiil*
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 *Pirate Queen of the Gold Coast*
6. ↑ Events in "Signed in Blood"
7. ↑ Events in "A Lesson in Silence"
8. ↑ Events in "A Special Request"
9. ↑ *Guide to Anvil*
10. ↑ Events in "Bruma Gate"
11. ↑ Events in "Allies for Bruma"
12. ↑ Events in "Defense of Bruma"
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 *The Great War*
14. ↑ Dialogue from Noster Eagle-Eye