Highlights
- The Summerset Isles, home to the Altmer, are one of the least seen locations in Tamriel, but their geopolitical influence is significant.
- The largest three islands in Summerset, including the capital city of Alinor, hold major cities and landmarks that shape the province's identity.
- Artaeum and other minor islands in the area have unique characteristics, such as disappearing into another realm.
Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls is one of the core pillars of fantasy RPG franchises, with its deep world-building only expanding across decades of releases. Taking place in the different provinces throughout the continent of Tamriel, there are several areas that have yet to appear in a mainline entry since Arena first established the world. One such province, The Summerset Isles, has been the subject of an expansion for The Elder Scrolls Online that saw it finally explored in the modern era. The Summerset Isles were somewhat shrouded in mystery prior to the fully realized version of the islands in The Elder Scrolls Online, but players have had access to its major cities for years now.
Home to the Altmer, also known as High Elves, the Summerset Isles are one of Tamriel’s least seen locations alongside places such as Black Marsh. Despite its lack of presence, the province’s geopolitical influence following its takeover by the Thalmor cannot be overstated. Part of the Third Aldmeri Dominion alongside Valenwood and Elsweyr, The Summerset Isles’ High Elf denizens have established a seat of power in their fourteen islands. Of these landmasses, however, the largest three are the most relevant. With The Elder Scrolls Online set a millennium before the events of Skyrim, Summerset painted a clear picture of the province during the Second Era.
Key Locations Across The Summerset Isles' Three Major Islands
ESO went all in on exploring the entirety of the province's largest island, Summerset. Here, the capital city of Alinor stands as a symbol of High Elven society, while structures like the Crystal Tower predate the Altmer entirely. Lush, warm, mountainous, and coastal, Summerset supports most of the major cities that make up the economy of the entire province.
From Cloudrest atop the peak of the mountain Eton Nir in the north to the busy ports of Shimmerene in the east and the scenic Dusk in the southeast, Summerset is littered with beautiful, historic establishments. The walled city of Sunhold lies in the south, and finally the scholarly Lilandril is in the western hills of the island. The eastern kingdom of Moridunon is also known for its connection to the magical Psijic Order while the town of Rellenthil acts as the center of Summerset's theater culture just north of Alinor.
Auridon is the second-largest island, allegedly where the Altmer first arrived. Here, the northern city of Firsthold is one of the oldest in Tamriel and the origin point of the Mages Guild. Skywatch, the island's other major city, supports trade off the coast and has been historically terrorized by the sluglike Sload species. Further south, the port town of Vukhel Guard is more open to outsiders and is known for its mysterious connection to one of the minor islands.
Southwest of Summerset, the final main landmass is known as Artaeum. The island's ancient Ceporah Tower in the north acts as the headquarters of the Psijic Order; the rest of the land is mostly filled with nature. Due to the magical intervention of its inhabitants, Artaeum is known to disappear into another realm for hundreds of years at a time before mysteriously returning.
Found off the coast of Auridon, Dranil Kir is a smaller island that is also home to the Psijic Order and has similarly vanished from existence. Coral Aerie, Silatar, Callus Lair, the ruinous Buraniim Isle, and Auridon's Isle of Contemplation are all rather uninhabited places, while Wasten Coridale, Belport Run, and Errirnorne Isle are characterized by their histories of settlement and trade. The College of Sapiarchs is an isle named for its famous magical scholars. Eyevea, the final minor island, was also teleported away for years before returning, something common in the Summerset Isles.
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