Lore:Frostbreak Fortress

Frostbreak Fortress
Type	Breton Ruin
Continent	Tamriel
Province	High Rock
Region	Wrothgar
Appears in	ESO

Frostbreak Fortress in 2E 582

The Frostbreak Fortress is a ruined stronghold found in the region of Wrothgar, within the province of High Rock. Frostbreak Fortress was built by Bretons^[1] to protect the short-lived Imperial Province of Orsinium, which was established during the reign of Savirien-Chorak, the last monarch of the Akaviri Potentate era in the Second Empire.^[2] It is found in a small region of Wrothgar known as Frostbreak Ridge.

HistoryEdit

Frostbreak Fortress was built sometime during the reign of Savirien-Chorak, who ruled over the Second Empire between 2E 324 and 2E 430. Its purpose was to protect the region of Orsinium, which was recognized as a province by the Emperor-Potentate. However, Frostbreak Fortress was abandoned when the Orsinium territory was sacked^[2] by the Bretons of Shornhelm.^[3] It was reported that after the fortress was abandoned, it became haunted by its former Breton occupiers. Every so often, an Orc clan inhabited the ruins of Frostbreak Fortress, only to be driven out by the angry ghosts. One such clan, the Marag Clan and their leader, Chief Ghastzog refused to let the ghosts overwhelm them. The Chief had always favored an old Breton goblet called the Frostbreak Chalice, believing that every drink gave him powers of restoration. Thus a tradition was established as other chiefs upheld this belief by drinking from this cup.^[4]

During the Interregnum in 2E 582, Frostbreak Fortress was inhabited by the Winterborn Clan of Reachmen, under the command of Urfon Ice-Heart. The Winterborn Clan ruled over the Wrothgar Mountains during the reign of the Longhouse Emperors.^[5] According to rumors, Urfon had drunk from the Frostbreak Chalice with his favorite wine and said that the chalice had ruined the taste of the wine. And so because of this, the chalice was thrown out into the wilderness.^[4] It was found by one of his soldiers, but it was eventually recovered by the House of Orsimer Glories in the Second Orsinium city. The Winterborn Clan took refuge in Frostbreak Fortress before King Kurog returned from abroad with the Daggerfall Covenant. The Winterborn's Warlords were hunted down by the Orsimer until they eventually approached Urfon and the gates of Frostbreak Fortress.^[1]

King Kurog led the siege against the Winterborn Clan at Frostbreak Fortress for a week.^[5] Their Orc militia bombarded the fortress with their siege weapons, all the while, the Reachmen's flock of harpies swooped in and claimed various lives.^[1] Deeper in the fort, the Winterborn were growing Briar Hearts to supply their warriors. King Kurog enlisted the help of an adventurer in their battle against the Winterborn. Both the warrior and the king traversed Frostbreak Fortress and infiltrated the inner sanctum. Eventually, they razed the harpy nests, sabotaged the briar heart production and encountered Urfon Ice-Heart, whom they engaged in combat. In the end, Urfon was killed, leaving the Winterborn scattered and without a leader as the Orcs claimed victory.^[6]^[7]

Sometime around this time, the Morag Tong assassin, Naryu Virian had delved into Frostbreak Fortress during her mission to hunt down the Seven Secretives. The member, Rels Llothri had made their way through Frostbreak Fortress, nonchalantly killing the Reachmen that lived in the ruins. Once Virian realized that the trail was cold, she left for the ruins of Old Orsinium in Western Wrothgar.^[8]