| Lord Naarifin | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Lord Naarifin |
|||
| Race | Altmer | Gender | Male |
| Resided in | Summerset Isles | ||
| Appears in | Legends | ||
Lord Naarifin was a Thalmor general who led the assault on Cyrodiil during the Great War. After the success of his initial assault on Cyrodiil, he attacked and captured the Imperial City. According to the Moth Priest Kellen, he was also a Boethiah worshipper who intended to bring about a prophecy known as "the Culling", the implementation of which involved mass Daedric summoning. He was defeated in battle by either Emperor Titus Mede II, or, in Kellen's account, by the Forgotten Hero masquerading as the Emperor. He was then hanged from the White-Gold Tower for thirty-three days. Legate Justianus Quintius's account of the conflict in The Great War includes a claim he discovered during his research that Naarifin was carried away by a winged Daedra on the thirty-fourth day instead.[1][2]
BackgroundEdit
The life of Lord Naarifin prior to his action's during the Great War remains largely unknown. It is clear that he was a High Elf trusted with considerable responsibilities by the Thalmor government of the Third Aldmeri Dominion, acting as a general for their surprisingly successful feint invasion of Cyrodiil, and as a noble. The Thalmor dissident Lathenil of Sunhold claims that during the course of the Thalmor's rise to power, pogroms were held in the Summerset Isles against any who were not "of the blood of the Aldmer", and they "overthrew the rightful Kings and Queens of the Altmer". Naarifin would be among the highest ranking of the known individuals in the society that arose in the Thalmor's Summerset Isles.[3]
However, the Moth Priest Kellen also claims he was a devoted worshiper of Boethiah, with a large following of cultists and Daedric servants joining him in his invasion of Cyrodiil.[1] Notably, Emperor Titus Mede II is believed to have personally captured Naarifin while wielding one of Boethiah's artifacts, Goldbrand. However, one of the claimed Thalmor reasons for the war was to restrict Talos worship, and enforce a pantheon of the Eight Divines over the Nine Divines.[2][4]
The Great WarEdit
The primary account of Naarifin's known actions, and the larger conflict between the Dominion and Empire itself, comes from Legate Justianus Quintius's The Great War. In 4E 171 the Aldmeri Dominion declared war on the Empire. Naarifin led the first attacks in the war, launching into Cyrodiil days after the 30th of Frostfall from northern Elsweyr. His opening move was to flank the defenses around the Valenwood border to assist Lady Arannelya's march through western Cyrodiil for her invasion of Hammerfell (ignoring Anvil and Kvatch along the way). He also successfully captured the city of Leyawiin, and encircled and began a siege of Bravil.[2]
Although the Dominion's true goal was the conquest of Hammerfell, Naarifin's extraordinary successes prompted the Thalmor's leadership to instead attempt a total defeat of the Empire. Naarifin's new goal was to capture the Imperial City itself. In 4E 172 he completed the siege of Bravil, and also captured the western port city of Anvil. Before the end of the year, the Imperial City itself was under siege, and the ocean access of the city via Lake Rumare and the Niben was being contested. By the end of 4E 173, the siege had progressed so the only remaining supply line was the northern Bruma route.[2]
With setbacks in the Hammerfell campaign, the Thalmor focused on the Imperial City's siege. After reinforcements arrived to allow him to fully encircle the city, Naarifin launched his final assault to take control on the city on the 12th of Second Seed of 4E 174. The Eighth Legion fought a rearguard action while the majority of the Imperial forces under the command of Titus Mede II fought out to the north to Bruma.[2]
Under his control, Naarifin launched the Sack of the Imperial City, and looted the Imperial Palace itself.[2] According to the Moth Priest Dexion Evicus, the Elder Scrolls vanished from the Imperial Library around 4E 175. Although Naarifin would be a logical candidate for capturing the collection, Dexion instead claims the Scrolls were "scattered across Tamriel by forces unknown", and that the Moth Priests are attempting to reacquire them.[5]
The Thalmor began peace negotiations over the winter of 174-175, which Titus Mede II used to recall forces from Hammerfall and launch a surprise assault on the city. General Decianus controlled the western flank basing near Chorrol, General Jonna the east and south from Cheydinhal, and the Emperor himself leading the main force from the north via Bruma. Over the course of a five day assault that began on the 30th of Rain's Hand, the city was quickly encircled by the Imperial forces, Naarifin's attempt to escape the city was stopped by the Emperor himself wielding Goldbrand, and the entire Dominion army in Cyrodiil was destroyed. Naarifin himself was captured, and taken into captivity by the Empire.[2]
The Legend of the Forgotten HeroEdit
The Moth Priest Kellen provided a largely divergent account of Naarifin from his capturing of the Imperial City and onward. Kellen claims that Naarifin was a devout follower of the Daedric Prince Boethiah, was the leader of a large Boethiah cult that joined him in his campaign in Cyrodiil, worked closely with a Dremora known as Reive, and was attempting to start a new Daedric invasion known as The Culling. A Blade Agent known as Tyr and the Forgotten Hero learned about The Culling from Reive while escaping from a fighting pit together. They gathered allies to stop The Culling, learning of Naarifin's involvement along the way. With this information, they sought out the Emperor directly, who had fled to Skyrim at the time.[1]
After learning of Naarifin's true intentions, the Emperor revealed to the heroes that fighting Naarifin was impossible, as he had a magical means of knowing every move the Imperial forces made. The Forgotten Hero's group volunteered to infiltrate the Imperial City to discover this magic. Infiltration was surprisingly easy due to Naarifin reopening the Imperial City's Arena, allowing the group to gain access to the city posing as gladiators. Once in the city, they used underground tunnels to gain access to White-Gold Tower, where they discovered Naarifin had the Orb of Vaermina in his possession. The group was discovered by Naarifin during their escape, and Lord Naarifin and Reive captured Tyr. The Forgotten Hero either sacrificed Tyr to escape, or trade the Orb back to Naarifin for Tyr. Reive attempted to stop their escape by using Goldbrand, but was slain, and Goldbrand captured by the Forgotten Hero.[1]
While returning the Emperor, the Forgotten Hero's party discovered that Naarifin's forces had successfully wounded the Emperor during an assassination attempt, and the Titus Mede II asked the Forgotten Hero to lead the siege of the Imperial City in his place. Naarifin had successfully started The Culling in the interim, opening an Oblivion Gate in the Imperial City itself. The Forgotten Hero personally fought Naarifin, his elite forces, and his Daedric allies in the Emperor's place. Naarifin's defeat at the hands of the Forgotten Hero ends The Culling, and liberates the Imperial City from Naarifin's machinations.[1]
Potential DeathEdit
Lord Naarifin was sentenced to slowly hang from White-Gold Tower until his death. Reportedly, he lasted for 33 days before expiring, with no known records of where his body was disposed of, if it was not destroyed. Legate Justianus Quintius did discover one record that instead claims he was instead carried off on the 34th by a winged daedra, which he included in The Great War.[2]
GalleryEdit
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Naarifin holding a hostage
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Rage of Naarifin card art
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Power of Naarifin card art
ReferencesEdit
- ^ a b c d e The Forgotten Hero story of Legends
- ^ a b c d e f g h The Great War — Legate Justianus Quintius
- ^ Rising Threat — Lathenil of Sunhold
- ^ The Talos Mistake — Leonora Venatus
- ^ Dexion Evicus in Skyrim