The Elder Scrolls III: Bloodmoon
Encyclopedia
The Elder Scrolls III: Bloodmoon is the second expansion pack
for Bethesda Softworks
' The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
. While it was originally released as an expansion set for Microsoft Windows
, Bloodmoon is included within the Morrowind: Game of the Year edition for Xbox.
Unlike the first expansion Tribunal
, which added a city separate from the world map
consisting of interior cells, Bloodmoon adds a large new island to the original world map, a cold northern territory named Solstheim. Rather than the Dunmer (dark elves) that are the indigenous race in the nearby Vvardenfell, Solstheim is populated largely by the Nord race. This is largely because the island sits more or less astride the border between Morrowind and the Nord homeland of Skyrim.
This expansion adds new enemies, the East Empire Company as a joinable guild, and the possibility to become a werewolf
, akin to the inclusion of vampire
s seen in Morrowind. Bloodmoon also uses larger and more detailed environments, including snowfall, thus raising the computer hardware
requirements, though the ash storms of the original game are much more graphically demanding than the snow of Bloodmoon.
As with Morrowind and Tribunal, Bloodmoon has many side-quests to finish and many caves to explore aside from its main quest. Unlike Tribunal, which is intended to be played after the completion of Morrowind's main-quest, Bloodmoon's main-quest is self-contained within the expansion.
There are several distinct regions on Solstheim:
Towns in Solstheim include:
Major landmarks include:
led by the Daedra Lord Hircine. The Daedric Prince takes the four greatest champions on Solstheim, including the player, to his glacier home. He tells them that they must fight until only one is still living; if the player survives, they must fight one of Hircine's aspects - strength (a bear), speed (an elk), or guile (where Hircine fights the player in their own form). If the player wins, they must then escape from the crumbling glacier, thereby completing the main quest.
Expansion pack
An expansion pack, expansion set, or supplement is an addition to an existing role-playing game, tabletop game or video game. These add-ons usually add new game areas, weapons, objects, and/or an extended storyline to a complete and already released game...
for Bethesda Softworks
Bethesda Softworks
Bethesda Softworks, LLC, is an American video game company. A subsidiary of ZeniMax Media, the company was originally based in Bethesda, Maryland and eventually moved to their current location in Rockville, Maryland...
' The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, often simply referred to as Morrowind, is a single-player computer role-playing game developed by Bethesda Game Studios, and published by Bethesda Softworks and Ubisoft. It is the third installment in The Elder Scrolls series of games, following The Elder Scrolls...
. While it was originally released as an expansion set for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, Bloodmoon is included within the Morrowind: Game of the Year edition for Xbox.
Unlike the first expansion Tribunal
The Elder Scrolls III: Tribunal
The Elder Scrolls III: Tribunal is the first expansion for Bethesda Softworks' The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. It takes place in the temple/city of Mournhold, the capital of Morrowind, located in the larger city of Almalexia...
, which added a city separate from the world map
Overworld
An overworld is, in a broad sense, an area within a video game that interconnects all its levels or locations. They are mostly common in role-playing games, though this does not exclude other video game genres....
consisting of interior cells, Bloodmoon adds a large new island to the original world map, a cold northern territory named Solstheim. Rather than the Dunmer (dark elves) that are the indigenous race in the nearby Vvardenfell, Solstheim is populated largely by the Nord race. This is largely because the island sits more or less astride the border between Morrowind and the Nord homeland of Skyrim.
This expansion adds new enemies, the East Empire Company as a joinable guild, and the possibility to become a werewolf
Werewolf
A werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope , is a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or an anthropomorphic wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse...
, akin to the inclusion of vampire
Vampire
Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
s seen in Morrowind. Bloodmoon also uses larger and more detailed environments, including snowfall, thus raising the computer hardware
Computer hardware
Personal computer hardware are component devices which are typically installed into or peripheral to a computer case to create a personal computer upon which system software is installed including a firmware interface such as a BIOS and an operating system which supports application software that...
requirements, though the ash storms of the original game are much more graphically demanding than the snow of Bloodmoon.
As with Morrowind and Tribunal, Bloodmoon has many side-quests to finish and many caves to explore aside from its main quest. Unlike Tribunal, which is intended to be played after the completion of Morrowind's main-quest, Bloodmoon's main-quest is self-contained within the expansion.
Setting
Bloodmoon takes place on the island of Solstheim, northwest of Morrowind, the main landmass of its eponymous game, and north-east of Skyrim. It is disputed territory, with both provinces claiming the island.There are several distinct regions on Solstheim:
- Hirstaang Forest in the south of the island covers the area to the west of the Iggnir River and south of Brodir Grove. This area is covered with pine trees and thick grassGrassGrasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
. - The Moesring Mountains are a mountain range in the north-west of the island. The mountains are located west of the Harstrad River and are continually covered with snowSnowSnow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
and iceIceIce is water frozen into the solid state. Usually ice is the phase known as ice Ih, which is the most abundant of the varying solid phases on the Earth's surface. It can appear transparent or opaque bluish-white color, depending on the presence of impurities or air inclusions...
. - The Isinfier Plains comprise the central area of the island and are thinly forested (when compared to the rest of Solstheim). The ground is usually frozen and covered with snow.
- The eastern shore of Solstheim is known as Felsaad Coast. It is located east of Lake Fjalding and the rivers that run from it in both southerly and northerly directions. The environment of the Felsaad Coast varies from place to place and has some land that is similar to each of the other areas.
Towns in Solstheim include:
- Fort Frostmoth, an Imperial Legion fort at the southern tip of the island.
- Raven Rock, an ebony mining village run by the East Empire Company. It is located in the south-west of the Hirstaang Forest.
- Skaal, a Nord village in the north of the Felsaad Coast region.
- Thirsk, a Nord meadMeadMead , also called honey wine, is an alcoholic beverage that is produced by fermenting a solution of honey and water. It may also be produced by fermenting a solution of water and honey with grain mash, which is strained immediately after fermentation...
hall in the centre of the Felsaad Coast region.
Major landmarks include:
- Lake Fjalding, a large ice covered lake just east of the center of the island and also the Horker mating ground.
- Hrothmund's Bane, a strange ice formation that looks like a wolf from the air.
- Mortrag Glacier, a large ice glacier on the north-west tip of the island.
- Castle Karstaag, a large ice castle just east of Mortrag Glacier. It is home to the ice giant Karstaag and his Rieklings.
Story
In the Bloodmoon main quest, the player starts by doing odd jobs for the Imperials' Fort Frostmoth on Solstheim. When the fort is attacked by werewolves, the player must travel to the Nord village of the Skaal at the north of the island. The player must then perform several rituals to be accepted into the village. The player is informed of the Bloodmoon Prophecy, a ritualistic huntHunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
led by the Daedra Lord Hircine. The Daedric Prince takes the four greatest champions on Solstheim, including the player, to his glacier home. He tells them that they must fight until only one is still living; if the player survives, they must fight one of Hircine's aspects - strength (a bear), speed (an elk), or guile (where Hircine fights the player in their own form). If the player wins, they must then escape from the crumbling glacier, thereby completing the main quest.
Additions to Morrowind
- BerserkerBerserkerBerserkers were Norse warriors who are reported in the Old Norse literature to have fought in a nearly uncontrollable, trance-like fury, a characteristic which later gave rise to the English word berserk. Berserkers are attested in numerous Old Norse sources...
s - BearBearBears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern...
s - Wolves
- WerewolvesWerewolfA werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope , is a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or an anthropomorphic wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse...
- DraugrDraugrA draugr, draug or draugur , or draugen , also known as aptrgangr is an undead creature from Norse mythology...
s - Rieklings
- SprigganSprigganSpriggans are legendary creatures known from Cornish faery lore. They are particular to West Penwith in Cornwall.-Spriggans in folklore:Spriggans were depicted as grotesquely ugly, and were said to be found at old ruins and barrows guarding buried treasure and generally acting as fairy bodyguards....
s - Grahls
- Nordic Silver Weapons
- Stalhrim (Ice) Weapons
- Huntsman Weapons
- Wolf Armor
- Bear Armor
- Snow Wolf Armor
- Snow Bear Armor
- Stahlrim (Ice) Armor
- Nordic Mail Armor
- Nordic Alchemical ingredients
- Wolf Pelt
- Bear Pelt
- Snow Wolf Pelt
- Snow Bear Pelt
- Ripened Belladonna Berries
- Unripened Belladonna Berries
- Holly Berries
- Heartwood
- Bristleback Leather
- Grahl Eyeballs
- Gravetar
- Horker Tusk
- Raw Stahlrim
- Wolfsbane Petals
See also
- The Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimThe Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a role-playing video game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is the fifth installment in The Elder Scrolls action role-playing video game series, following The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion...
- set in the land of Skyrim, another Nordic territory.