Brief info about The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, and the world of Tamriel

The Morrowind Beautification Project is an extensive enhancement guide for The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. It will improve graphics & effects, fix errors, and optionally add some lore-friendly content. All together this will greatly improve the experience of playing Morrowind today. The game mechanics are still not as good as Bethesda's newer games, but the story and overall game-play is amongst the best of the Elder Scrolls series.

The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, is a 1st person open-world RPG from Bethesda Game Studios, released in 2002, preceding Oblivion. The main storyline is about the Deity "Dagoth Ur", who seeks to break Morrowind free from the Empire. Morrowind has a huge variety of game-play styles and directions. The focus is heavy on open-world, and less of the main quest line.

Tamriel, also known as "Dawn's Beauty" or "Starry Heart", is one of several continents on the planet Nirn. Tamriel is where The Elder Scrolls game series take place. The Elder Scrolls Online will (with time) combine all the provinces of Tamriel into the same game. Nirn is a mortal realm, which is connected to the immortal realms of Oblivion. During The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, "Mankar Camoran" speaks of Tamriel as an extension of the Oblivion realm, but as he is the only Daedric prince who claims so, it might just be a propaganda "storie" from the Mythic Dawn.

Tamriel is about 12 million square kilometers, and is divided into 9 provinces. Skyrim, High Rock, Hammerfell, Summerset Isle, Valenwood, Elsweyr, Black Marsh, Morrowind, and Cyrodiil.

Cyrodiil (Also known as the Heartlands) is the heart of Humans, who made the empire. It is the largest of the provinces, and is mostly jungle. The Imperial City is in the heartland, by the Nibenay Valley. The central valley is surrounded by rain forests, which face the swamps of Argonia and the Topal Bay. The land rises to the west and the north, where it borders Skyrim. Between the western coast and the central valley, lay huge forests and swamps. This is where The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, takes place.

Morrowind is the homeland of the Dunmer. (Dark Elves) The province is located to the far north of Tamriel. Most of it's population is living around the high uplands, and the river valleys of central Morrowind. In the Inner Sea, the island Vvardenfell is dominated by the Red Mountain volcano and ash wastelands. This is where The Elder Scrolls III takes place.

Black Marsh is located by the great inland waterways and swamps to the south. Most travel is by boat, as there a only very few roads. The coasts and northwestern forests are mostly uninhabited. For ages, the Dark Elves have raided the Black Marsh for slaves. Even though the Empire has made it illegal, they continue to do so, which is the main reason for hatred between the Argonians and the Dunmer.

Elsweyr is mainly jungles and river basins, inhabited by the Khajiit. They are city dwellers with tradition for trade. To the north of Elsweyr, nomadic tribal Khajiit live in the wastes and grasslands. They are more aggressive and territorial, and united under tribal warlords. The settled Khajiit to the south, quickly adopted to the ways of the Empire, but the northern tribes still keep to their barbaric ways.

Valenwood is a large forest wilderness, mostly uninhabited. The coasts of Valenwood have swamps and tropical rain forests. This is where the Bosmer (Wood Elves) live in small timber houses. They have small settlements scattered along the coast, only connected trails. There are a few Imperial roads, but they only have tiny settlements, and trade and traffic activity is very low.

The Summerset Isle is a green place with fertile farmlands, woods, and old towers and manors. Most settlements are small and isolated, mostly seats by wizard or warlord. The Isle has a few natural ports, but foreigners are usually not welcome. The Aldmer who lives here, are little affected by the Empire.

High Rock is the land of the Bretons. The land has 3 main locations: The Dellese Isles, the Bjoulsae River, and the Western Reach. The highland strongholds and the valley settlements have encouraged independence of the many Breton clans. Their language, traditions, and legends are holding the people together in tradition and spirit.

Hammerfell is an urban and maritime province. The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall, takes place here. Most of the population is gathering in the cities of Sentinel and Stros M'Kai. The rest of the country has a thin population, living in small poor farm houses. Hammerfell is home to the Redguards, who love of travel, and go on adventures. Many Redquards are sailors, mercenaries, and adventurers all around Tamriel.

Skyrim, also known as the "Old Kingdom" or "Fatherland", was the first region of Tamriel, that was settled by humans from Altmora. The Nords. Who are hardy, brave, and fearless people, with strong traditions and beliefs. They are excellent warriors, but also traders. They are far more civilized than their barbarian ancestors, but war and exploration still remains essential to the Nords. This is where The Elder Scrolls V takes place.

Legend say that the first humans came to Tamriel from the continent of Altmora in the late Second Era. It was not a single invasion, but a series over hundreds of years, developing the Nords, Imperials and the Bretons.

The races of Tamriel:
Altmer (High Elf) - Summerset Isles
Argonian - Black Marsh
Bosmer (Wood Elf) - Valenwood
Breton - High Rock
Dunmer (Dark Elf) - Morrowind
Imperial - Cyrodiil
Khajiit - Elsweyr
Nord - Skyrim
Orsimer (Orc) - High Rock and Orsinium
Redguard - Hammerfell

GAME INFO

The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind is a critically acclaimed open-world RPG game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It was first released in 2002 for Microsoft Windows and Xbox, and is still considered one of the most beloved games in the Elder Scrolls series.

One of the most unique features of Morrowind is its open-world gameplay. Players are given the freedom to explore the vast island of Vvardenfell, where they can discover ancient ruins, engage in political intrigue, and complete a wide variety of quests. The game world is rich with detail and lore, and the player is free to pursue their own goals, whether it be becoming a powerful sorcerer or a skilled warrior.

The story in Morrowind is equally as rich and immersive. The player takes on the role of a prisoner who has been freed by the Emperor and is sent to the island of Vvardenfell to fulfill a prophecy and save the land from destruction. Along the way, the player will encounter a wide variety of characters, each with their own unique backstory and motivations. The player will also encounter several different factions, each with their own agendas, and the player's choices will affect the way the story unfolds.

The characters in Morrowind are well-developed and unique, from the powerful sorcerers who reside in the city of Tel Vos, to the fierce Ashlanders who roam the wilderness. The player will also encounter a wide variety of creatures, from giant insects to giant humanoid creatures, each with their own unique abilities and behaviors.

The graphics in Morrowind were groundbreaking for their time, and the game still holds up well today. The game's art style is heavily influenced by the fantasy and science fiction genres, with a mix of high fantasy and steampunk elements. The game's environments are rich and detailed, with diverse landscapes that range from dense forests to barren wastelands. The character models are also well-designed, and the game's special effects, such as spells and weather effects, are impressive.

The development of Morrowind was a long and difficult process, but the end result was a game that received critical acclaim and has since become a beloved classic. The game was developed by a small team at Bethesda Game Studios, led by Todd Howard, who is now the studio's creative director. The game was released to great success and has since been followed by numerous expansions and a sequel, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

One of the most popular mods for Morrowind is the "Morrowind Overhaul" which offers a complete visual and gameplay overhaul of the game. The mod adds new textures, models, and effects to the game, making it look and feel like a completely new game. The mod also adds new quests, items, and creatures to the game, making it even more immersive.

Another popular mod is the "Morrowind Code Patch" which is a community-made patch that fixes various bugs and errors in the game. This mod is essential for those who want to play the game with the most stable and smooth experience.

In conclusion, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind is a game that offers a rich and immersive open-world experience, with a deep and engaging story, well-developed characters, and beautiful graphics. Its gameplay, graphics and development are still considered one of the best of its time and its modding community is still active and producing new ways to improve the game. It's a game that offers something for everyone, and it's still a game that is worth playing, even today. The game's popularity among players and critics alike has made it a classic that will be remembered for years to come.