Screenshots 1 – 3: Vvardenfell volcanic landscape

Figure 1: Vvardenfell map

Figure 2: Mt Kilauea lava fields

Figure 3: Anak Krakatau volcanic island

Vvardenfell is a volcanic island covered mainly in ashlands with a few small clumps of vegetated areas. Its geographical structure is similar to many volcano created islands – such as Anak Krakatau – with the entire landmass spreading semi-evenly our from the central ‘Red Mountain’ volcano. The ashlands consuming the majority of Vvardenfell’s mass are reminiscent of Hawaiian and northern European lava fields, such as Mt Kilauea, with ridges and gulleys formed from the constant streams of magma.

Screenshots 4 – 8: Dunmer facial markings

Figure 4: Dunmer female and male

Figure 5: D&D Drow race

Figure 6: Aboriginal face paint

Figure 7: Maori tribal tattoos

The native race of Morrowind, the Dunmer, originates from the fantasy concept of a Dark Elf, such as those in Warhammer and D&Ds Drow race. They share traits both visually and behaviourally (mot dark elves are depicted as rough, cynical, and occasionally downright evil). Many of the Dunmer possess facial markings and tattoos, drawing from native face decoration seen in Aboribinal, African and Maori tribes. These facial markings invoke a tribal aesthetic, as well as some kind of spiritual connotation (in the Dunmer’s case, to their ancestors).

Figure 8: Middle Eastern tribal tents

Figure 9: Chinese Yurt

Screenshot 9: Dunmer ‘Ashlander’ nomadic tribe

Screenshot 10: Dunmer ‘Ashlander’ nomadic village

The native nomadic Dunmer tribes of Vvardenfell, the ashlanders, are a migratory shamanistic group similar to the plain and mountain tribes of the Middle East, China and Mongolia. Their yurts and structures are formed from stretched animal skin just like their real world counterparts.

Figure 10: Lord of the Rings - The Black Gate

Figure 11: Lord of the Rings - Mordor

Screenshot 11: Ghostgate

Screenshot 12: Red Mountain volcano

The Red Mountain Region of Vvardenfell draws its design from Lord of the Rings’ Mordor. They both house their respective narrative’s antagonist, are volcanic wastelands, and are permanently cast in a ash-ridden twilight.

The Ghostgate of Vvardenfell is used to fence off Dagoth Ur’s minions and monitor his influence on the world. It performs a similar function to the Black Gate and Towers of the Teeth in Lord of the Rings.

Figure 12: Welsh castle “Great Gate”

Figure 13: “Great Gate” gargoyle

Figure 14: Middle Eastern adobe houses

Screenshot 13: Ghostgate Tribunal sculptures

Screenshot 14: ‘Hlaalu’ style abode houses

Ghostgate is modelled off a medieval castle gate design, housing guards in twin structures on both of its sides, and using a grated draw gate to allow access through it. Many of these castle gates had gargoyles carved into their sides, in order to ward off evil and intimidate potential foes. Ghostgate features the faces of the Tribunal temple on its sides, physically representing a monument of their power and acting as a ward to Dagoth Ur’s blighted creatures.

Figure 15: Daedric alphabet

Figure 16: Lord of the Rings - J.R.R Tolkien’s ‘Cirth’ alphabet

Figure 17: Anglo Saxon runes

Screenshot 15: Banners with Daedric lettering

Screenshot 16: Opening cinematic

Morrowind features a runic alphabet called Daedric, used by the Dunmer’s ancestors and representing times long lost, and enhancing the foreign atmosphere of the game. The alphabet was formed from a long history of fantasy alphabets, originating again from Tolkien’s Cirth alphabet, used in a number of languages in Lord of the Rings. Many fantasy alphabets, including Daedric and Cirth, are based off ancient Anglo Saxon and Nordic runes, formed from simple markings in order to allow them to be easily carved into stone.

V - Vehk A - Ayem S - Seht

Figure 18 – 20 : Morrowind Tribunal gods: Almalexia, Vivec and Sotha Sil

Figure 21 – 23 : Daedric symbols for Almalexia, Vivec and Sotha Sil

Figure 24 : Christian trinity

Figure 25 : Trinity symbol

The three Tribunal temple gods of Morrowind form a holy triad seen in many texts but most notably in Christian mythology. Just as Christianity has the Father, Son and Holy Spirit linked by a unifying force (God), so too does Morrowind have the Master, Mother and Mystery liked together by the power of the Tribunal and ‘Heart of Lorkhan’ (their power source). As do Christian figures have their symbols that are venerated and worshipped, so too are the Daedric letters ‘Ayem’, ‘Vehk’ and ‘Seht’ used and worshipped as representing the Tribunal.

Screenshot 17 : Dunmer saint

Screenshot 18 : Ayem, Vehk, Seht temple

banner

Screenshot 19 : Tribunal triangle

tapestry

Figure 26 : Christian saint

Figure 27 : Christian prayer hands

The Dunmer use monuments and statues to represent their saints and holy figures, as in Christianity, and possess an identical ‘clasped hands’ pose to signify prayer and sacred rituals. Tapestries with religious symbology adorn the walls and banners of many areas in Morrowind, fully engraining the Dunmer religion and belief structure into their day to day lives; their mythologies make up a huge part of their cultural identity.

Screenshot 20 : Imperial guard

Screenshot 21 : Imperial officer

Screenshot 22 : Imperial high guard

Figure 28 : Roman soldier

Figure 29 : Roman captain

Figure 30 : Medieval European armour

The Imperial legion is almost entirely based on the Roman Empire and its legion, both aesthetically and ideologically. Using Roman imagery connotes imperialism and colonialism; the Imperial legion of Morrowind is a foreign regiment sent to impose their policies and way of life onto the native Dunmer culture. Aspects of the Imperials’ armour, such as the armoured boots and greaves are more reminiscent of European medieval armour, making them look more heavily armoured but less suited for endurance and distance based warfare as the Romans.

Figure 31 : Vodoo doll

Figure 32 : Dagoth Ur art

Figure 33 : South American sun mask

Screenshot 23 : Sixth House ash statue

Screenshot 24: Dagoth Ur

The antagonist of Morrowind, Dagoth Ur, and his Sixth house cult are drawn from modern conceptions of Satanism and Voodooism. Many Sixth house occupied areas are bathed in a red glow and constant whispering and chaotic, invoking the connotations of satanic rituals and practices. Ash statues are used to both symbolise the Sixth House, and ‘curse’ the area they reside in, similar in use and look to voodoo dolls. Dagoth Ur himself wears a golden sun mask, derived from native South American traditions. As Ur believes himself to be a god, the mask invokes real world solar deities revered by cultures such as the Aztecs, and associates him with ritualistic sacrifice (a practice of the Sixth House).

References Screenshots 1 – 24: The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind [Video Game]. (2002). Bethesda Game Studios. Figure 1: http://tamrielchronicles.com/assets/map-morr-enormous.jpg Figure 2: http://www.kilaueaadventure.com/images/mount_kilauea_caldera.jpg Figure 3: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Anak_Krakatau.jpg Figure 4: http://morrowind-world.tripod.com/gldsnt_dunmer.jpg Figure 5: http://www.iside82.altervista.org/nwn/drow.jpg Figure 6: http://www.exoticdestinationpaintings.com/image-files/aboriginal-symbols_23.jpg Figure 7: http://teiltje.nu/sheepslog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/maori-5.jpg Figure 8: http://www.jozan.net/2004/images/Birjand/B.Nomadic%20Tribes.12.jpg Figure 9: http://travel.mongabay.com/china/600/china_106-7511.JPG Figure 10: http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20060315031837/lotr/images/5/57/Black_gate.png Figure 11: http://moderateinthemiddle.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/mordor.jpg Figure 12: http://www.castlewales.com/raglan01.jpg Figure 13: http://www.castlewales.com/raglan50.jpg Figure 14: http://www.jc-solarhomes.com/image/adobe.jpg Figure 15: http://www.omniglot.com/images/writing/daedric.gif Figure 16: http://www.omniglot.com/images/langsamples/smp_cirth.gif Figure 17: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Anglosaxonrunes.svg Figure 18: http://www.uesp.net/tamriel/gods/images/almalexia.jpg Figure 19: http://www.uesp.net/wiki/File:MW-creature-Vivec.jpg Figure 20:

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090610013749/oblivion/images/thumb/a/a4/SothaSil.jpg/328px-SothaSil.jpg

Figure 21: http://imperial-library.info/daedric/ Figure 22: http://imperial-library.info/daedric/ Figure 23: http://imperial-library.info/daedric/ Figure 24: http://www.essaysbyekowa.com/Zoomorphic/Trinity%201.jpg Figure 25: http://www.gocek.org/christiansymbols/images/triquetra.gif Figure 26: http://www.garden-fountains.com/stores/gardenfountain/catalog/cm-R-046-PD-148-375.jpg Figure 27: http://shebshi.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/praying-hands.jpg Figure 28: http://www.soldatiki.ru/2008/images/vkladysh/riml06.jpg Figure 29: http://www.u5uk.com/you/masquerade/images/artimg/II9AA-W/breasstplate.jpg Figure 30:

http://www.realmcollections.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/A/r/Armour_Medieval_Full_Suit_of_Armor_6210_319.jpg

Figure 31: http://www.thehouseofvoodoo.com/item_oddities/voodoodolls/images/voodoo-doll.jpg Figure 32: http://static.bethsoft.com/fan_art/dagoth-ur.jpg Figure 33:

http://www.greatgreenapple.com/garden_pond/ceramics/arpero/images/3238ClassicSunlgthumb.jpg