Lore:Market District (Imperial City)

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Market District
Type District
Continent Tamriel
Province Cyrodiil
Region Heartlands
(City Isle)
Settlement Imperial City
Appears in Oblivion, ESO
The Market District ca. 3E 433

The Market District (more formally called the Imperial Market District)[1] is one of the seven inner districts in the Imperial City, found right in the center of Cyrodiil. It is the city's designated trading district and is considered one of the best across the province.[2] Anything can be bought and sold here.[3] People from all over town and even beyond come to peddle their wares.[4]:23[5] People wander in crowds, stalls are set up to sell street food,[4]:157 and established shops trade all sorts of services.[2][6] For a time in the Interregnum, the Market District was converted to a large graveyard known as the Memorial District.[7]

Further Information[edit]

The Statue of Emperor Pelagius

Many people outside the Imperial City come to the Market District to sell their goods. It ranges from other local Heartlanders like the people of Weye[4]:23 to nomadic traders like the Baandari caravans.[5] Even at night, people flock to the streets. But other questionable vendors start to set up shop, like trinket sellers, soothsayers, and self-styled prophets of any daedra and Divine. Men and women of any race attract passersby to their businesses, whether it is the nearby alehouse or some other kind of service.[4]:157

Local businesses came together to create the Society of Concerned Merchants, a committee that often meets to discuss matters in the Market District and maintain an economic balance among each other.[8][9] The Imperial City Guards use the North Watch Tower and the Northeast Watch Tower as garrisons in the Market District.[6] The Market District is connected to the northern Imperial City sewers, specifically the Harena Hypogeum section.[7] Small animals, like bats, barn owls, pigeons and tree frogs live in the Market District.[10]:64-66

Notable Locations[edit]

History[edit]

Second Era[edit]

The Memorial District
The ruined Chapel of Arkay during the Planemeld

Around roughly 2E 542,[14] during the reign of Emperor Moricar,[15] the notorious crime boss, Vodunius Monrius was active in the Market District. On his behalf, he had runners collect a daily tithe from various merchants and artisans in and around the district. Those caught collecting for them were charged with a prison sentence of one year and one day.[14]

In 2E 577, Duke Varen Aquilarios of Colovia invaded the Imperial City, at the time ruled by Emperor Leovic. Different stories surround the death of the Emperor, but in one such story, Leovic made his last stand in the Market District. While its citizens were hiding in the sewers, the battle raged on and in the end, the district was laid to waste, its buildings were gone, and bodies were piled by the hundreds, maybe thousands. Varen had reportedly dropped Leovic's body into the gutter and it was lost somewhere in the labyrinthine sewers.[2]

Without notice, the newly-named Emperor had the rest of his men gather the bodies and inter them in mass graves, but with no room left for the market, Varen had the whole district remodeled into a giant graveyard and named it the Memorial District. In the short times of peace since then, Khajiit grave-robbers would cover themselves in flour and look for trinkets all night.[2]

When the Planemeld occurred in 2E 582, the Imperial City was swiftly taken over by Molag Bal's forces, who displaced the locals and laid waste to the districts. At around the same time, the Three Banners War that enraptured central Cyrodiil spilled into the city and the alliances vied for control of the districts.[16] The Order of the Black Worm took over the Memorial District and began to dig up the mass graves to create an even bigger army of undead slaves. Certain members used daedric brands on some of the skeletons to excavate the Dragonfire Cathedral, where the Sublime Brazier would light the Dragonfires. A Dragonguard agent known as the Drake of Blades investigated the districts to uncover Molag Bal's plans in the city and enlisted help from the alliances to see it through. Using the daedric brand, they learned of the plan to dig up the Dragonfire Cathedral and the mineshaft in a defiled Chapel of Arkay. They were able to thwart their plans by destroying the mineshaft with kindlepitch.[17]

Third and Fourth Era[edit]

The Statue of Emperor Uriel III
The Copious Coinpurse

In 3E 121, King Uriel Mantiarco of Solitude marched into the Imperial City and proclaimed himself Emperor as Uriel Septim III. All the while, his first cousin, Empress Kintyra II was imprisoned in Glenpoint.[18] A statue was built in his honor in the western part of the district thoroughfare for his victories in the War of the Red Diamond. Even though he left behind an infamous legacy and was reviled by the citizens of the Empire, the statue remained as late as 3E 433.[19]

In 3E 433, a Bosmer store owner named Thoronir opened his new shop in the Market District called the Copious Coinpurse. However, it raised concerns over its low prices and variety of goods from the Society of Concerned Merchants. The chairwoman, Jensine of Jensine's "Good as New" Merchandise store enlisted the help of an adventurer to investigate him and his store. What they found was Thoronir's supplier Agarmir, a graverobber that looted the recently deceased in Green Emperor Way. Thoronir was unaware when he was confronted by this and helped the adventurer by pointing out Agarmir's next location. After the ensuing battle, Thoronir made amends with and joined the Society.[20]

In that same year, a corrupted Captain of the Imperial Watch named Audens Avidius was shaking down customers and shopowners in the Market District for gold. He was eventually outed by an adventurer and sentenced to the Imperial City Prison.[21] In his early years, the Crown Prince Attrebus Mede and his friend, Florius snuck off to the Market District but were later caught by the Emperor's guard.[4]:110

Gallery[edit]

  • Map of the Market District ca. 3E 433

  • Office of Imperial Commerce

  • The First Edition bookstore

  • The Harena Hypogeum

See Also[edit]

Books[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ The Imperial City Guide: Areas
  2. ^ a b c d Groundskeeper's Letter — Groundskeeper Gavros
  3. ^ a b Guide to the Imperial City — Alessia Ottus
  4. ^ a b c d e The Infernal City — Greg Keyes
  5. ^ a b c Crafting Motif 7: Khajiit Style — Doctor Alfidia Lupus
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Market District in Oblivion
  7. ^ a b c d Memorial District in ESO: Imperial City
  8. ^ Jensine's dialogue in Oblivion
  9. ^ Tertullian Verus' dialogue in Oblivion
  10. ^ Lord of Souls — Greg Keyes
  11. ^ Cindiri Arano's dialogue in Skyrim: Dragonborn
  12. ^ a b The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Official Game Guide — Peter Olafson
  13. ^ Crafting Motif 6: Redguard Style — Doctor Alfidia Lupus
  14. ^ a b The Primate: Before the Light — Midara Salviticus, Historian, University of Gwylim
  15. ^ Secret History of the Longhouse Emperors — Councilor Vandacia
  16. ^ Imperial City in ESO: Imperial City
  17. ^ Of Brands of Bones story quest in ESO: Imperial City
  18. ^ Brief History of the Empire v 1 — Stronach k'Thojj III
  19. ^ Brief History of the Empire v 2 — Stronach k'Thojj III
  20. ^ Unfriendly Competition quest in Oblivion
  21. ^ Imperial Corruption quest in Oblivion
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