Lore:Helstrom

Helstrom
Type	Settlement
Continent	Tamriel
Province	Black Marsh
Region	Middle Argonia
Appears in	Arena

Helstrom (Arena)

Map of Black Marsh

"You enter the city gates of Helstrom, noticing the dark looks the guards give you. They have a reputation of being very dangerous. Perhaps you can change that..." —In-game description inArena

Helstromis one of the eight major cities in the province ofBlack Marsh,located in the reputedly inhospitable center of the province calledMiddle Argonia.Many consider Helstrom the immortal capital of theArgonians.Located in the interior of Black Marsh, which is generally held to be "impenetrable" by non-Argonians,the city itself is notorious for its perilous reputation and the city's guard is reportedly dangerous.

Layout and Geography

The Ancestor Lizard of Helstrom

The marsh of Helstrom is very dense and heavily consumed by Heart-Mud, which is reportedly very dark in color.Some creatures in the region have their names attributed to the city, such as the HelstromAncestor Lizard,which some scholars speculated to be the progenitors of the Argonian race,as well as the HelstromCrocodile,an incredibly large variant that went extinct during theGreat Burnof1E 2828in the Blackwater War. Their skulls were used by theDead-Water Tribeas a trap for either animals or people.Its alleys are considered both wonderful and dangerous.Helstrom is neighbored by several settlements, including Alten Markmont to the southeast, Greenspring to the southwest, andTenmar Wallto the north.

Notable Locales

• Helstrom Palace

History

Helstrom as a city has been reportedly active since at least the lateFirst Era,concurrent to theSecond Empire's invasion of Argonia, known as theBlackwater War.TheBattle of Argoniain1E 2811was a one-sided conflict between theImperial Legionand the Argonians, the latter suffering severe casualties. The defending forces retreated to the interior of Black Marsh toward Helstrom, during which the Empire refused to follow nor ever intended to siege. The Empire was content to incorporate the border and coastal regions into its territory rather than the interior.What followed after was the Blackwater War proper, where the Empire eventually managed to take even portions of the interior swamp with the temporary assistance of pirates recruited off the coasts near Lilmoth and Archon.Though the Empire's progress from Gideon in the west eventually ground to a halt outside the core of Black Marsh in 1E 2834, in 1E 2836 the Argonians abruptly stopped fighting with no explanation, and by1E 2837the entire region was claimed by the Empire and formally founded as the Imperial Province of Black Marsh.

The city is mentioned in passing in a book calledThe Alik'r,which was written by the western scribe,Enric Milresin theSecond Era.Helstrom became a fully incorporated city-state of theThird Empireand settlements were built deep in the interior by the fourth century of the Third Era. During theImperial Simulacrumin the lateThird Era,the city-state of Helstrom was an active settlement. It was ruled by King Germanus and had a rivalry withStormhold.

Known Rulers

• TheThird Era
  • King Germanus(fl.3E 389–3E 399)

Gallery

• 

  Helstrom Footpad (Legends)

• 

  The Pit Daemons

Notes

• Arenawas originally conceived as a fighting game featuring a tournament that took the player to each of Tamriel's cities to challenge different gladiatorial teams. According to a file from that stage of development left behind in the final game, Helstrom's gladiatorial team would have been called "the Pit Daemons".
  • The Pit Daemons is one of three factions employed in the gladiatorial guild called theCircle of Champions.They were active all throughout Tamriel in the Second Era, in various major cities and landmarks across the provinces.

See Also

• For game-specific information, see theArenaarticle.

References

Note:The following references are considered to beunofficial sources.They are included to round off this article and may not be authoritative or conclusive.