I don't think there's much lore to support this idea, but it's always seemed strange that seemingly no traces of Dunmer or Chimer from the past 3000+ years can be found in Bloodmoon.
https://www.nexusmods.com/morrowind/mods/59885
Description
Literally just moves this nice Ebonheart addon to the largest Imperial city in the province. Made with permission.
Rationale: while I have no real isues with the original mod, in a post-Tamriel Rebuilt world it makes more sense IMO to focus on expanding the mainland city. Framerate issues are a known problem with Old Ebonheart, so bear that in mind, but personally I find it fine with vanilla resolution textures. Do recommend using the LOD mesh mod though.
If you like this I also have my own original mod, Old Ebonheart slum sprawl, that was made to be compatible: https://www.nexusmods.com/morrowind/mods/59807
Installation instructions
Standard esp, keep it low priority in your load order as a precaution. Mod organizer recommended.
Main features
Should be fully functional as a port of Arimon's mod. Small lighthouse, a little village, all with interiors and occupants. Couple of traders, generally a lovely little addition, now moved to Old Ebonheart. There's no added quests or dialog but the NPCS should have all the usual Old Ebonheart rumors etc.
Requirements
Tamriel Rebuilt, Tamriel Data
Shout outs
Full credit to Arimon for the mod, I'm just a porter here. And then massive props to the Tamriel Rebuilt team of course.
https://www.nexusmods.com/morrowind/mods/44994
Included a blank version for your own perversions
Original art is also by me!
For some brief context, I have a bachelor's in creative writing and 1.5 (unpublished) novels under my belt. I've also played literally 1000+ hours of Morrowind on my latest character, Ŝtel-Vost, who is the inspiration for this impulsive short story, and a special interest in both Morrowind and reptiles in general. 🦕
I think I'm good at individual scenes and chapters but struggle to string actual plots together, so short stories can be very fun while still also presenting a challenge.
If Reddit smegs the formatting up here's a Tumblr version too:
https://www.tumblr.com/skriak/824745122694610944/the-telvanni-loophole-my-short-story-in-the-world
***
THE TELVANNI LOOPHOLE
The elf's exquisitely-gloved fists curled silently as he digested what I’d told him. His attempts at secrecy were futile, regardless; his soul was roaring and that rage was bleeding into his aura here on Mundus.
“I *do* respect your position, Archmagister.” The ashy skin Dunmer were named for was turning pale around his fingers. “I mean only that this is highly irregular...unprecedented in my three centuries on the council. If we could j-“
Lazily raising my claws was enough to clamp his alien mouth shut again for now. “Honestly, sera, I’m not sure what leverage you think you have here. Have I not fulfilled the ancient rites? What could even be *called* a tradition in this gaggle of bickering mage-lords we call a Great House? I even gave my predecessor the courtesy of offering a peace, a truce, a compromise, but he wouldn’t accept anything other than a fatal duel. Perhaps he knew it was futile, but it was his agency that led us to this conclusion.”
The Parliament of Bugs filled with hushed arguments for a long moment. I was their queen bee, and they knew it, but they didn’t have to like it. My guards stirred in their elaborate armor of bonemold and sculpted shells. Their presence was largely for show, of course, no matter how talented in the mystical arts they happened to be. I allowed my tail to flick once in annoyance that even a mundane eye would notice.
“You are Archmagister without dispute,” the Telvanni Mouth repeated again. “My lord and the other magisterss I represent here today have never wavered on that point.” His gnarled, wroiling aura suggested ootherwise. He must have known I could read his soul, surely? “Your latest move is simply a step beyond what we could have ever prepared for. The economy...you must understand our concerns?”
I could practically smell my guards’s desire to flay ash from the elf’s skin at this point. That wouldn’t be wise or necessary, so I reassured them verbally and openly, not bothering with any code phrases. Figures shuffled in the dark crystal crevices above us. Any mage old enough to grow feathers would also have a nighteeye spell of some sort, but I still wanted to get some proper lights in here so nobody would be blind before the council.
“Forgive my bodyguards, Mouth. They’re very personally invested in the topic at hand.”
The Dunmer’s large, red eyes studied the guards suspiciously. “Do you mean to say-“
“Yes, my friend. They’re former slaves.” I treated myself to a chittering bark. Dunmer would interpret it as a laugh. “And so are all guards in Port Telvannis as of this morning.”
As it was known to, the Parliament of Bugs became engulfed in bickering and slurs. They must have suspected already, surely? There were scarely a handful of free Argonians and Khajiit in the entirety of Telvannis District until my ascendance. And as unconvincing of an argument as the economic perspective was, it wasn’t entirely without merit; it would take time to find adequate housing and employment for the thousands of penniless and abused former slaves.
“Frankly,” I interjected, silencing both the Mouth and the assembled witnesses, “I think I’m being more than generous. Former slaves must still abide by the same laws as all citizens of House Telvanni de facto, and the Empre de jure. That means no vigilante justice, no revenge-enslavement, no direct financial compensation. Consider your centuries of free labor as a surplus value and count your blessings, from the Daedra or Aedra or even your homegrown gods.”
When the mewling elf glared at me, I decided to leave my seat and levitate over him, to the obvious concern of the elf. “Have I taxed you unjustly, muthsera? Have I lashed you back to the Chimeri age?” My purple, swirling robes gusted in the magical breeze. “Have I meaningfully impacted your independence, in fact? It would be within my right and power to consolidate this excuse of a Great House into a true hierarchy, or submit fully to the Empire and retire off the gold I’d get.”
“I...see the wisdom in your words, Archmagister.” His big, elvish ears twitched impotently. “And you are right to think we couldn’t stop you. Even without your new army.”
My own aura was getting out of control. Very unseemly. As my talons came to rest again on the living mushroom wood of the chamber floor, I leaned over and offered the man a claw. He accepted it blankly.
“Hortator, savior, Nerevarine,” I intoned. “I was all that before I took the title of Archmagister of Telvannis. Lady Azura herself, Mistress of Moon and Star, told me that the people of Morrowind still look to me for guidance. *Guidance*, serjo, not domination.” I chittered. “Molag Bal may have been the Telvanni model of governance since the Merethic era, but not anymore. I’m no queen, no prophet. Even the so-called Gods I’ve battled with were pale echoes of Lorkhan. Material reality can be bent by magic but never truly broken; if you’re true in your opposition to the Empire, as I am, you should realize the political game we are required to play to maintain effective independence.”
That was the way, I’d decided. The loophole: the ironic Telvanni paradox. I will sign the Emperor’s letters, even as he is endlessly replaced while magic keeps my scales bright and my feathers vibrant. He can even have his taxes, more or less...bribery and second-hand banditry makes that an easier tonic to swallow. In some ways this would be the greatest challenge of my latest reincarnation, if my soul truly had been Nerevar’s once upon a time. Divayth Fyr had known him in passing and said we were nothing alike. But if even an old elven general can change, I think Morrowind can too. Telvannis now, the whole province later.
“That’s enough for today,” I announce abruptly. “You’ll find some of my personal larders have been emptied for your pleasure in the dining hall. I’ll take a bite of everything first, in case you’re worried.”
The feline guard to my right walked up in anticipation as the audience dispersed. “Say the words, Hortator.”
I was caught off-guard. “You have read the 36 Lessons of Vivec?”
His whiskers bounced as he nodded. “This one is not a man of letters, but our enslaver made sure we were read to.”
“And where is this Dunmer now?”
The guard shrugged. “She was no elf, Nerevar. She was of the swamps, an Argonian, like you.”
This was a complete revelation to me and I was giving him my full attention now. “Your aura is truthful. What a strange thing, though.”
“This Khajiit feels no enmity to the Ashen Elves, Nerevarine. We are all products of the divine and mundane systems we are born into. Hatched, perhaps, in your case.”
There was certainly wisdom in that, even without the ability to read. “Lady Azura was right, then; the people of Morrowind do need guidance. I only hope I’m better-equipped to avoid the temptations of power...long enough to dismantle them.”
Even magic will fail me eventually, reincarnation notwithstanding. I was born on an uncertain day to uncertain parents, an outlander to the very land where my life would find meaning and face trials. The land of Morrowind, I supposed, was now itself seeing an uncertain future emerge from the mists, soon to be freed of the burden of prophecy.
https://www.nexusmods.com/morrowind/mods/59813
Fun fact: Tarhiel the Bosmer's ID in the TES3 construction set is "agronian guy" (sic). My clean and simple mod restores him to scaly glory.
Lizardsona art is by meeee by the way
https://www.nexusmods.com/morrowind/mods/59807
Small project adding slums outside the walls. The doors are just for show, but I'm adding more details with the idea of this being where a lot of escaped slaves are stuck living. Small, compatible cosmetic additions.
https://www.nexusmods.com/morrowind/mods/59659
"The great port city of Bal Foyen has been made wealthy by geography, but sanctified by the deeds of its patron goddess: the Queen of Mercy, Mother Morrowind, Lady Almalexia. Indeed, the proud residents of this jewel upon the Inner Sea often attribute the city's commercial prosperity to the blessing of Almalexia and her great deeds here. So long as the Temple stands upon her isle, it is said, Bal Foyen will never fall to ruin." - Guide to Bal Foyen
Just some more clutter and such, for looks and navigation. Obviously this could hurt your framerate, so your mileage may vary. Small, compatible cosmetic additions.
lizardsona art is mine btw
https://www.nexusmods.com/morrowind/mods/59798
Description
Hrothmund left you a spare axe! I was surprised to find that in both Bloodmoon and Dragonborn, this axe is only an activator object and not available as an actual item of any kind. I expect it to mostly be a nice decoration but the stats are from the unused Queen of Bats enchanted item so it's not bad. See images for full stats.
Possible future plan: change the activator to add the weapon to your inventory and then disappear. I just don't trust my scripting abilities lol
Cleaned of nasty GMSTs
Very light additions for now, hoping to continue and expand like my other little mods.
I keep considering them but a bit anxious how they fit into the travelling experience? Hope that makes sense.
Mostly thinking of Devilish Guar Riding and Stormrider
Morrowind (modded)
For context this is the normally-unplayable Ogre race from Tamriel Data. I don't think they're currently implemented at all, in fact? And Hlaalu Seyda Neen is why our favorite slum looks different. Tamriel Unlimited lets you play as a bunch of the TD races. I'm not sure why they're not usually available except for some fringe situations where the game won't know how to react to you.
