Lore:Deadlands

Deadlands
Type	Plane
Realm	Oblivion
Appears in	Battlespire,Oblivion,Oblivion Mobile,ESO,Skyrim(CC)

The Deadlands

The Sever, a storm-ridden region of the realm

TheDeadlandsare aDaedricrealm ofOblivioncreated and ruled over by theDaedric Princeof Destruction,Mehrunes Dagon.The embodiment of its creator's sphere, the dimension is fraught with natural disasters and destructive change. The area known as the Burn is covered by an ocean of lava, scattered with scorched volcanic islands and ruined structures. Many lesser Daedra roam the realm freely, butDremoradominate the hierarchy.^[1]The Sever is a region of the Deadlands with light soil covering jagged rock with sulfur pools throughout, fierce winds, and constant lightning storms. Destructive tornadoes and extremes in temperature characterize the region.^[2]^[3]The capital of the Deadlands is known asDestruction's Solace.^[4]

"The moons were gone, and in their place a ceiling of smoke and ash. Stifling heat surrounded them and the air stank with sulfur and hot iron. They stood on black lava, and lakes of fire stretched off before them."
—The Infernal City, pg. 239

Architecture[edit]

Daedric architecture

Lava tunnels

The Deadlands contain many monoliths, war gates, bridges and towers, but many of these are defunct and ruined. The towers are built in a distinct Daedric style, with ornamental spikes, dim lighting and rotting corpses strapped to the walls. Most towers have a hollow center, with several walkways leading up to the top floor and many twisting side passages. Smaller, peripheral towers are used to store prisoners, and are navigated through the use of a "Corpse Masher", an elevator system used to execute captives. Many mechanisms are controlled through gear-based access systems which can break easily. Large structures contain magical runes, teleport pads, Blood Wells and Magicka Essence fountains (which are used for restorative purposes).^[1]

Not all areas of the realm are as sophisticated, however. Wooden bridges and primitive torches are sometimes used in place of stone.^[5]Lava tunnels run beneath the stormy surface, occasionally flooded with magma or toxic gases, but often incorporated into structures and used as a means to traverse the landscape. As such, these caves are inhabited with just as many Daedra as the surface, and Harrada roots often break through. Cruel traps are employed both inside the towers and around their exterior. Magical land mines and fire towers protect the keeps from outside invaders, while devious mechanized traps await those who find themselves within.^[1]

A portal dais

Once, a network of dais portals crisscrossed the landscape. This network fell into disuse, but many of the daises still existed by the mid-Second Era.^[6]

Flora[edit]

Despite the realm's inhospitable environment, life still manages to flourish in the most hostile regions of Deadlands. In certain areas, it appears that nothing but burnt grass and dead trees dot the landscape, but appearances can be deceiving.^[5]While it may seem the fauna are the only living things, the Deadlands is actually quite lush with living flora. What appear to be charred and lifeless husks are still very much living plants that thrive in the Deadlands destructive cycles. Several examples of tree are the Ember Oak which feeds on lightning strikes, the Deadlands Pine, and End Times Ash Tree, which must be burned to renew its lifecycle.^[7]For underbrush there isBloodgrass,aggressiveHarrada Rootsand poisonousSpiddal Plantsthat grow abundantly in the charred soil. Despite the barren and volcanic nature of the Burn, the region has a large array of wildlife.^[8]

Bloodgrass
Spiddal Stick
Harrada Root

Fauna[edit]

All manner of lesser Daedra inhabit the realm, from the lowlystunted scampto powerfulXivilai.^[1]The realm is also home to many unique forms of Daedra,^[9]such as the fieryNightmare Courser,Nightmare Senche, and Nightmare Wolf. These flaming black beasts may resemble the creatures ofTamriel,but their true origins are obscure, and many see the hand of Mehrunes Dagon in their creation.^[10]^[11]^[12]The Magma Scamp is another native of the Deadlands, recognizable by its molten black skin wreathed in flames.^[13]TheMudcrab of Eternal Doomis a scuttling horror which superficially resembles themudcrabsof Tamriel, but which seemingly thrives in the scorching heat and relentless desolation of the Deadlands.^[14]Among the most powerful of Dagon's servants is the mightyAsh Titan,a fiery variant of theDaedric Titanfirst created byMolag Balin imitation of thedragons.^[15]^[16]

Hierarchy[edit]

A Daedric Keep

Lord Dagon rules the realm, but his servants follow a warlike, patriarchal hierarchy. TheKynact as the Prince's chief servants. Closest to Dagon is the Valkyn, his personal guard. The Valkynaz serve as commanders of operations of particular importance to Dagon, but usually stay by his side. Below the Valkyn is the Markyn, Mehrunes Dagon's Council of Lords. A Kynmarcher is the lord and high officer of a citadel, outpost, or gate; he controls both a clan fighting unit and a fief, a territory for which he is responsible. The lowest ranked Kynaz are Churls, who are undistinguished rabble ferociously cruel to mortals and other Daedra but obsequious to their superiors. The many lesser Daedra of the realm are thought of as unthinking animals.^[17]Clan Dagonis the main clan of the realm, but other lesser clans and castes are also represented.Dremora Clan,Xivilai's ClanandShardai Clanare three of the more prominent; all three are administrated from theHavoc Wellhead.^[5]

Clan politics were upset during Dagon's invasion of theBattlespire,when Dagon allied with the clanlessMazken,and took aDark Seduceras his bodyguard and lover. Balance was restored whenImago Stormof Dremora Clan allied with a mortalheroand temporarily took control of Clan Dagon after the hero banishedFaydra Shardai,Xivilai Moathand Mehrunes Dagon to theVoid.^[5]

Interactions With Tamriel[edit]

A Sigillum Sanguis

During the time of thePlanemeld,the liminal barriers between Tamriel and Oblivion faltered, and Dagon used this opportunity to launch several minor invasions from the Deadlands circa2E 582,sacking the city ofFirsthold^[18]and burning the city ofWhisper Groveto ash.^[19]

In the events leading up to theImperial Simulacrum,the traitorousJagar Tharnstruck a deal with Mehrunes Dagon: in return for his aid in Tharn's plan to take over theThird Empire,Dagon was promised theBattlespire,the magical academy of the Imperial Battlemages located in aSlipstream Realm.^[20]Dagon successfully invaded the Battlespire during the simulacrum by traveling through multiple realms linked to the Battlespire. An apprentice survived the assault, and followed the retreating army through Oblivion.Another apprenticewas sent to the Battlespire, but further reinforcements were blocked by a Daedric sigil placed on the Weir Gate. Following the trail left by the previous apprentice (who had been captured by the Daedra), the hero arrived atDagon's Hunting Lodge.This section of the Deadlands was haunted by the ghosts of mortals who had sworn to serve Dagon for eternity. The lodge itself was the domain of Dagon, where the Prince was keeping the captured apprentice hostage. Using Dagon'sprotonymic and neonymic,theArmor of the Savior's Hide,and theBroadsword of the Moon Reiver,the hero banished the Daedra Lord to Oblivion and rescued their fellow apprentice. With its creator's banishment, the Lodge crumbled; the Battlespire was also destroyed, and its link with Oblivion severed.^[5]

An Oblivion Gate in Tamriel

In3E 433,Mehrunes Dagon launched an all-out invasion ofNirn.TheMythic DawnassassinatedEmperor Uriel Septim VIIand all of his legitimate heirs. Without theDragonfiresto prevent permanent liminal bridges, the Mythic Dawn was able to create stable portals to the Deadlands, from which Daedra could invade. TheOblivion Crisisbegan with the sacking ofKvatch,when the Mythic Dawn opened a Great Gate to allow a Daedric Siege Engine to break through the city's defenses. The city was left to burn, with a single Oblivion Gate blocking its entrance. The Kvatch city guard, led by theHero of Kvatch(and in some versions of the story, byMartin Septim),^[21]stormed the Oblivion Gate, which linked to a region of the Deadlands calledGanonah.The force made their way to the Blood Feast, the Sigil Tower which housed theSigil Stonethat kept the Gate open. By removing the Stone from its place in theSigillum Sanguis,the Tower and Gate were destroyed and the force was teleported back to Mundus.^[22]

Armed with this information, many more Oblivion Gates were closed. TheImperial Legionwere responsible for closing the Gates atIoneandFort Sutch.TheKnights of the Thornattempted to close the Gate outside ofCheydinhal,which would have ended in disaster were it not for the intervention of the Hero of Kvatch. The Mythic Dawn's efforts to sackBrumawas discovered by theBlades;in response, the city guards were taught how to close the Gates, and the other Cyrodilic cities sent reinforcements once the threat of Daedric attack was neutralised. In a daring move,Martin Septimallowed the Mythic Dawn to open a Great Gate in order to retrieve its Great Sigil Stone. Leading an army against the Daedra, the Battle for Bruma was a victory.^[22]

AlthoughCyrodiilwas the center of the invasion, the other provinces fared much worse. The Old Holds ofSkyrimand the town ofAld'ruhnonVvardenfellwere burnt to the ground. The Legion was stretched thin; despite the best efforts of theTelvannimages, the Gates inMorrowindcould not be suppressed. TheHistcalled manyArgoniansback to theBlack Marsh,where they poured into the Deadlands in such numbers that the Daedra were forced to close the Gates.Vivecwas rumored to have been taken by the Daedra, whileSaint Jiubwas killed. With each Gate that was opened, the liminal barrier was weakened, until eventually Mehrunes Dagon himself came through into Mundus for the first time since theFirst Era.The crisis ended when Martin shattered theAmulet of Kingsand turned into the Avatar ofAkatosh,defeating Dagon in a final battle in theImperial City's Temple of the One. This sealed the liminal barriers permanently, preventing any future invasion.^[22]

Regions and Places[edit]

The Atoll of Immolation

Ashen Forest: An isolated region with an abundance of dead trees. It is reportedly hidden from Mehrunes Dagon by unknown means.
Atoll of Immolation: A series of islands centered around a tower owned by the Havocrel Duke of Storms.
The Burn: A volcanic wasteland dominated by Dagon's legion and iron citadels.
Ganonah: A region in the Deadlands, whose native clan invaded Kvatch in the late Third Era.
Isle of Joys: An island region that was leased to the Longhouse Emperors and turned into one of their hunting retreats.
Knives of Discord: A region ruled by Valkyn Skoria from their tower, Red-Zeal Keep.
The Sever: A cold, and desolate desert wasteland constantly struck by lightning.
Wretched Spire: A settlement hidden in the southern hills of the Sever.