Lore:Bergama

This article is about the city. For the barony, see Bergama (barony).

Bergama
Type	Settlement
Continent	Tamriel
Province	Hammerfell
Region	Alik'r Desert (Hollow Wastes)
Appears in	Daggerfall, ESO

Bergama ca. 2E 582

Map of Bergama Barony

Bergama is a large city found in the dry canyons of the Alik'r Desert, in the province of Hammerfell. It is a vast and bustling trading city that is occupied by the Crowns. It is described as a sanctuary in the treacherous landscape of the Alik'r, and it was built by the Na-Totambu as a place to preserve their ancient traditions from Lost Yokuda, and keep it from being influenced by Tamrielic customs. Bergama is the seat of power for the eponymous Barony of Bergama, a political entity that is located in the southern Iliac Bay region, surrounded by the vast expanse of the Alik'r. The city was specifically located in the south end of the barony.

Layout & Geography

The Bazaar of Bergama

The Stone Oasis Inn

Bergama is a large and fortified city that is located deep in the wastes of the Alik'r, noted for its sturdy domed structures that are designed to insulate the dry desert heat. It is specifically built in a valley, surrounded by thick walls and the rugged mountains to the north and south. The land around it is largely uninhabitable, as it is only populated by the nomadic tribes like the Ash'abah, but there is some semblance of vegetation to the east called the Ogre's Bluff. The land outside of Bergama is said to contain ancient and dreaded mausoleums of the dead that are constantly looted by grave robbers. Even creatures such as the wraith are said to stalk these crypts. One of the city's most well-known landmarks is their bazaar, an open-aired market with business active all day and night, although some people take issue with the prices. Above the bazaar and the city's southern district is a series of tall, hovering bridges that intertwine all over the city. At different points, they contain the city's signal fires, which are used whenever Bergama is about to come into contact with an enemy. The Hall of Judgment is the city's seat of power and it is located in Bergama's southeast section, surrounded by desert gardens and palm trees. The northern section is a large open square that contains the north gate.

Notable Locales

A'tor's Oasis Bergama Market

Bergama Wayshrine Cemetery

Hall of Judgment Ra Gada's Respite

History

The Hall of Judgment

Magistrate Sulma of Bergama

Bergama was founded during the times of the Ra Gada, in the early-mid First Era. The town's seat of power, the Hall of Judgment was first built during this time, but has fallen on several occasions. The town was built by the Na-Totambu, the former upper class of Yokuda. They wanted a place to preserve their ancient traditions and so they traveled deep in the desert to built their city, Bergama. They continued their crusade for many years, as far as two thousand years.

In a time long forgotten, there was a deathly plague that swept through Bergama and many died in its wake, including the sworn protectors of the city. An Alik'ri warlord, Emeesh Poison-Tongue decided to take advantage of the plague and descended onto the city with his band of cutthroats in the dead of night. That was until the intervention of Zoreh the Tenacious, one of the only sworn blades still alive. However, knowing full well that she could not withstand the horde, ran as quickly as she could to each of the city's signal fires, lighting them to fool Emeesh into thinking the plague passed and that Bergama was ready to defend itself. The warlord and his band attempted to flee, but despite their condition, the sworn blades had torn through the horde and killed everyone they could. Zoreh died not long after, but the city kept her story alive by re-enacting her feat every year for the New Life Festival.

During the Interregnum in 2E 582, the city of Bergama was ruled by the Forebears Magistrate, Sulma. At the time, the necromancer coven, the Withered Hand attempted to assault the shores of Sentinel with waves of Ra-Netu coming from the water. After they were displaced from the rest of the Western Alik'r, they moved east toward Bergama and the Hollow Wastes. One of their leaders, Alasan approached the Magistrate and offered to spare her city in exchange for corpses. Gradually, people were disappearing across the city and their local Justice, Istah began an investigation. They enlisted the help of an adventurer to investigate both of the city's Crowns and Forebears conclaves for rumors, which led them to Bailiff Fakimil's home. Eventually the adventurer uncovered the truth, that Bailiff killed the missing people and placed them in the Magistrate's basement for the Withered Hand. It is unknown if they convicted the Magistrate or if they placed the blame onto the Justice and went along with Sulma's original plan.

At around the same time, controversy arose in Bergama about the union of Telia, the daughter of a Crowns family and Casnar at-Tarin, the son of a Forebears family. However, when time came for the ceremony, the groom was nowhere to be seen and the rivalry for both factions had grown substantially. Eventually, the bride enlisted the help of an interloper to learn about Casnar's whereabouts. The adventurer learned that Telia's father paid the local gang to keep Casnar hostage, however, the adventurer was able to reunite the two and the ceremony commenced.

By 3E 405, the Barony of Bergama was ruled by an unknown Baron. When the Warp in the West occurred in 3E 417, the city came under attack by the forces of the Forebears Queen, Akorithi. On the 9th of Frostfall, the invading armies ambushed the city in the midst of great sandstorm and by nightfall on the 10th of Frostfall, the Lord of Bergama's fortress had been sacked and the barony had been claimed by the Kingdom of Sentinel. An agent of the Blades was on the scene and attempted to interview members of the Sentinel Army, but they refused to confess anything. Sentinel's domain had expanded much further than Bergama however, it had encompassed everything between Abibon-Gora to the west and the western edge of Mournoth to the east.

Gallery

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  The Open Air-Markets of Bergama

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  One of the Signal Fires

Notes

• The Redguards of Bergama siphon the blood of dunerippers and uses it to make tonics that they believe would prolong their life. Whether it is true is currently unknown but some folks in Sentinel amusingly dismiss this claim.
• The Thieves Guild have no known presence in the capital city.

See Also

• For game-specific information, see the Daggerfall and ESO articles.

Books

• A Betrayal of Our Heritage by "Nworc at-Traeh" — Promoting the Crowns and their Yokudan roots