Lore:Colovian Highlands

Colovian Highlands
Type	Region
Continent	Tamriel
Province	Cyrodiil
Appears in	Oblivion, ESO

Colovian Highlands

Map of the Colovian Highlands

The Colovian Highlands are a hilly, forested region on the northwest outskirts of Colovia and the province of Cyrodiil. The region is known for its ancient forest, and prominent wine country, specifically for its famously robust red blends. The Colovian Highlands are a far-off region from the centers of Imperial civilization but some people, such as the well-known Imperial historian, Dubicius call the region their home.

The Colovian Highlands runs along the northwest provincial border, between the southern-innermost banks of the Brena River, the western Imperial Reserve, and the westernmost Jerall Mountains. Colovian cities such as Chorrol and Kvatch lie on the edge of their respective regions before they lead into the highlands, but their county districts extended out there. The Black Road, one of Cyrodiil's major colored thoroughfares runs through the Colovian Highlands before it disappears into the mountains.

History

The Colovian Highlands are riddled with rocky trails, caves, and woodlands with scant examples of civilization. The more south you travel, the more ruins, specifically Ayleid ruins can be found. The exact history of these ruins before abandonment is unknown, but the clans of the former cities, Talwinque and Varondo were able to escape the Nedes during the Alessian Slave Rebellion and found refuge amongst the Bosmer during the Ayleid Diaspora. Some of the forts date back to the early First Era, when Colovia was ruled by kingdoms such as Kvatch. In one of Colovia's many incursions into Reaper's March, the Hastrel, Linchal, and Ontus cohorts led by the famed General Thibault of Kvatch traveled south into the region. The details on Thibault's death are unknown but while the Linchal and Ontus cohorts returned north, the Hastrel cohort stayed and built the modern-day township, Greenhill.

After his successful ambush against Emperor Gorieus in a low-barring pass, King Rislav Larich of Skingrad and his Colovian forces fled north through the West Weald and eventually, the Colovian Highlands with the Imperial Army following suit. In the highland forest, Gorieus and his exhausted army was confronted by King Justinius of Kvatch, Rislav's father-in-law, and were defeated within an hour. Disheveled, the Imperial Army fled north into the Imperial Reserve and eventually back into the Nibenay.

When the Alliance War broke out and sundered central Cyrodiil, the Daggerfall Covenant advanced onto the region through the Jerall Mountains and the Colovian Highlands. The Covenant built their southern gate stronghold on the edge of the Colovian Highlands west of Lipsand Tarn and Fort Rayles, as well as a temple to house the Elder Scroll of Alma Ruma. Central Cyrodiil was split three ways between the alliances with the northwest taken over by the Daggerfall Covenant. With that being said, only a fraction of the Colovian Highlands fell inside the border, only around Hrotanda Vale and the aforementioned Lipsand Tarn. At the time there was a rumor of plague in the highlands.

Before the Battle of the Red Ring in the Great War, General Decianus and his Imperial Legion from Hammerfell were amassed in the Colovian Highlands, near Chorrol while Emperor Titus Mede II and General Jonna's armies were gathered. On the 30th of Rain's Hand, General Decianus descended onto the Imperial City from the west, taking Lord Naarifin by surprise while Jonna's forces were counterattacked from the south by the Aldmeri Dominion. In the end, the Imperial Army was able to re-capture the Imperial City and seize the war from the Dominion.

Notable Locations

Battlehorn Castle

The last stronghold owned by the Knights of the True Horn up until their demise in the twilight years of the Third Era

Fort Linchal

A former Imperial outpost and a historical location established back when Kvatch was a kingdom.

Lipsand Tarn

Known as the Elfs Haunts to the locals of nearby Chorrol, it is a ruin built into the hills that people tend to avoid.

Shrine of Sanguine

The province's shrine to the Daedric Prince of Debauchery and Revelry.

Talwinque

A large Ayleid ruin northeast of Kvatch, whose clan managed to avoid the Alessian Slave Rebellion and flee south into Valenwood.

Gallery

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  The Snow-Blanket Sorell Horse

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  Battlehorn Castle

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  The Shrine of Sanguine

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  Lipsand Tarn

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  Talwinque

Notes

• The Snow-Blanket Sorrel Horse is native to the Colovian Highlands, as well as a common sight between Chorrol and Bruma. It is known for its intelligence and high spirits.

See Also

• For game-specific information, see the Oblivion article.