Originally published May 9, 2023. The original article can be found here.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom, arriving June 5 on PC/Mac and June 20 on Xbox and PlayStation consoles, introduces two brand-new zones for Tamriel's adventurers to experience: the Telvanni Peninsula and Apocrypha. Both new zones include their own unique locations to explore, quests to complete, challenges to overcome, and rewards to earn.
Telvanni Peninsula & NecromEdit
Currently ruled over by House Telvanni, the Telvanni Peninsula with its towering mushroom forests, bizarre creatures, and craggy steppes might feel familiar to those who have ventured into Vvardenfell or Stonefalls, but this region remains politically distinct from the rest of Morrowind.
"The Telvanni Peninsula is isolated from Dunmer politics and the Three Banners War," explains Tom Murphy, Necrom's Zone Lead. "The leaders of House Telvanni saw little to gain by throwing in with the Ebonheart Pact. While the main leadership has centered itself on Sadrith Mora in Vvardenfell, a handful of masters rule over the peninsula in a conclave."
(Embedded here is a kuula Virtual Tour of the Sailenmora in the Telvanni Peninsula)
While House Telvanni controls most of the peninsula, Necrom, the region's largest city, remains independent. Also called the City of the Dead, the ancient city serves as a spiritual hub for Dark Elves across Morrowind.
"The city of Necrom arose as Dark Elf (formerly Chimer) culture carried ancestral worship to the region in the First Era," says Michael Zenke, ESO's Loremaster. "The edicts and suggestions of their living gods, the Tribunal, led this region to be a hub for veneration of the dead and departed—a confluence on the mortal plane of Nirn to commune with the spirits of Aetherius."
The city allows all the Dark Elves to participate in their traditions, and it hosts great pilgrimages from all over Nirn. Due to its importance, Necrom enjoys a kind of neutrality when it comes to the political machinations of the Great Houses.
"Necrom is a holy city for Dark Elves of all houses and affiliations," explains Murphy. "All acknowledge that such a place belongs to the Dunmer, and the Keepers of the Dead—the order that maintains the city—have fought tooth and nail to fend off the few conquerors foolish enough to try to claim it."
For would-be adventurers and explorers, Necrom features all the amenities and opportunities of any major Tamrielic city, and it is home to daily quest NPCs, crafting stations, an Outlaw's Refuge, and vendors.
The city bustles with traders, explorers, and hidden dangers, and yet there's greater adventure beyond its high walls. With a host of delves and a public dungeon to experience, world bosses to conquer, side quests to discover, and all manner of wonderous sights, you'll find no shortage of excitement within both Necrom and the Telvanni Peninsula.
Apocrypha & Chroma IncognitoEdit
The second explorable zone in the Necrom Chapter allows ESO's undaunted adventurers to venture to the Daedric realm of Apocrypha. As the dominion of Hermaeus Mora, Apocrypha houses the collected knowledge of the Prince of Fate, and all manner of native Daedra and knowledge-seeking mortals call it home.
"Mortals have long sought the forbidden secrets of Apocrypha for their own gain, leading to a number of factions that vie for control of the stacks," explains Zenke. "The Ciphers of the Eye, the favored of Hermaeus Mora, are a particularly powerful and well-established group. Their settlement, Cipher's Midden, is one of the few areas that can be said to be 'safe' for mortals in this twisting realm."
This warped Daedric realm is also home to a tentacled host of Daedra and Dremora, all (mostly) loyal to the Prince of Knowledge.
"Daedra abound in Apocrypha, as in any Daedric realm, with the most numerous being the floating Seekers–archivists of the endless library," says Zenke. "Lurkers also slouch and squelch through the abyssal pools of Apocrypha. Adventurers can discover that these heavyweight soldiers defend Mora's secrets at all costs."
You might be an agent of Hermaeus Mora during your adventures in this part of Oblivion, but don't let that lower your guard—many dangers prowl the shadows of Apocrypha, and all who walk its paths in search of knowledge should be wary.
"Knowledge is power, and power corrupts," warns Murphy. "Mortal adventurers will almost certainly run afoul of the Hushed–ill-fated readers of forbidden lore that have mutated into monsters. Eerie and horrific Daedra, like Seekers and Lurkers, prowl in the shadows of books. And new invaders have established footholds in Apocrypha."
You can experience these dangers for yourself when you venture into this strange world. However, when exploring Apocrypha in the Necrom Chapter, you can also discover an all-new part of Mora's realm: Chroma Incognito.
Distinct from the rest of Apocrypha, Chroma Incognito is home to fates that never came to pass. It is a world of unclaimed potential, missed opportunities, and impossible futures that, for whatever reason, the Prince of Fate hoards within his ream.
"Hermaeus Mora is not just one thing—he is many," states Zenke. "Chroma Incognito is a reflection of that, as all Daedric realms are a reflection and extension of the Prince that rules it. Chroma represents the 'color out of space' from Lovecraftian lore—the twisting threads of fate that Mora views and judges. Think of it as that feeling of being very, very small you get from gazing up at the night sky on a cloudless night. As a result, this ever-shifting region of Apocrypha contains multitudes: a crucible of faded fates, a drifting vortex of lost ships and sunken vessels, and a menagerie unlike any seen in all of Aetherius."
This bizarre piece of Apocrypha becomes yours to explore at will, but be warned: like any other part of Oblivion, it exposes you to new mysteries and dangers that you need to overcome throughout your journeys. Between these two portions of Mora's realm, you encounter unique delves to explore, a public dungeon to clear, world bosses to confront, and side quests to complete.
Reveal Secret RewardsEdit
As you quest throughout the Telvanni Peninsula and Apocrypha, you can earn rewards specific to the Necrom Chapter. This includes a host of Achievements, six item sets (three crafted, three that drop in the world), three powerful mythic items (dug up via antiquities), a new Tales of Tribute deck (Almalexia), and a huge mix of astonishing collectibles.
These collectibles include the Shroomtender's Garb armor style (earned by completing various Necrom achievements), the Graht-Oak Squirrel pet (earned via both of Necrom's public dungeons), the Obsidian Dwarven Sphere pet (earned via the new Bastion Nymic world event), unique outfit styles, mementos, emotes, and much more.
Complete almost every Necrom Chapter Achievement and you receive the stunning Berylglow Nix-Ox Steed—the ideal mount for your adventures across the peninsula and Apocrypha.
The Telvanni Peninsula and Apocrypha might hold untold mysteries and dangers, but those brave or foolhardy enough to dive deep into these two spectacular worlds find no shortage of in-game rewards awaiting them. Good luck!
New Worlds Await!Edit
Whether you're excited to delve into the volatile political world of House Telvanni and Necrom or the unknowable wonders and horrors of Apocrypha, the Necrom Chapter's two unique zones provide explorers with all manner of adventures, challenges, and rewards. Are you ready and willing to venture to the Telvanni Peninsula, the city of Necrom, and Hermaeus Mora's realm of Oblivion? Let us know via Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom is part of the Shadow Over Morrowind adventure and arrives for PC/Mac on June 5, 2023, and for Xbox and PlayStation consoles on June 20, 2023.
Pre-purchase Necrom now to receive unique bonus rewards at launch and immediate access to the Sadrith Mora Spore Steed. Don't miss out!