Lore:Karthspire

Karthspire
Type	Mountain
Continent	Tamriel
Province	Skyrim
Hold	The Reach
Appears in	Skyrim, ESO

Karthspire ca. 2E 582

Karthspire is a tall mountain found in the Reach, within the province of Skyrim. It is located in the middle of the entire region, and the Karth River flows around it. There is an unnamed cave inside the mountain that eventually scales upward into Sky Haven Temple, an old Akaviri compound that was used by Reman I's personal bodyguards, the Dragonguard. Karthspire Lea is the name of the valley south of the mountain's base, where the main road is located.^[1] Spirits such as spriggans and faeries are known to roam the river banks around Karthspire.^[2]

HistoryEdit

Rebel's Retreat

At some point in time, the ancient Nords of the Reach built an outpost on the mountain's eastern valley, on each side of the river. It contained a large stone foundation on the east side with some stairs going down to the river, a small platform in the middle of the river, and another at the cave entrance leading in to the mountain. While their purpose is unknown, they have been used as camping grounds by the local Reachmen.^[3] At some point during the First Akaviri Invasion, the Akaviri had one of their foremost military camps established around Karthspire, near the future site of Sky Haven Temple's construction.^[4]

In times long forgotten, there was an epic battle between the Eagleseer Clan and the Six-Ford Clan called the Battle of Karthspire Lea. It took place in the eponymous valley south of the mountain's base, and has since been recounted by the Reach's vateshrans. It was a battle that saw no clear victory in sight, as each clan fought to the bitter end. Neither side stood down, and the lea was so thoroughly stained red by their blood that it looked black from miles away. It was as if each side intended to die; it was less so about winning, and the end result was unchecked carnage unlike anything seen at the time. The Eagleseer Chieftain, Maddorfa was severely wounded in battle, unable to walk, but insisted that his confidants bind him to a pillar so that he would not need to. Very few survived the event.^[5]

During the battle, one of the clans lost a piece of an ancient relic known as the Lover's Coil, a totem that is tied to founding of the Six-Ford and Eagleseer clans, as well as the source of their ancient rivalry.^[6] It was recovered in 2E 582 by an interloper in an affair that involved both the Eagleseers and Six-Fords as well as Chief-of-Chiefs Cannear and Vateshran Barth. It was reassembled not long after both pieces were found.^[1] That same year, a rebel faction of Reachfolk called the Wayward Guardians built their base on the Nordic ruins and called it Rebel's Retreat. They disagreed with Ard Caddach of Markarth, as they believed he had hasty and prideful ambitions of becoming King of the Reach. Their goal was to guide him away from that, and instead have him focus on his people first.^[2]

During the Skyrim Civil War in 4E 201, the Forsworn established an encampment throughout Karthspire's Nordic ruins, under the supervision of a briarheart warrior and a hagraven.^[3] Around that time, remnants of the Blades traveled to the mountain with the Last Dragonborn on a mission to find Alduin's Wall in Sky Haven Temple. They had to fight through the Forsworn camp before they were able to enter Karthspire.^[7]