Map of Black Marsh
The swampy homeland of the Argonians and the Hist
Where is Black Marsh?
Black Marsh, also called Argonia, covers the south-east of Tamriel. It is the homeland of the Argonians, a reptilian people bound to the Hist, ancient sentient trees whose sap shapes their lives.
Geography
Most of the province is swamp, marsh and rainforest, crossed by slow rivers and full of diseases that make life hard for outsiders. Cities built in the Imperial era, such as Stormhold, Gideon, Thorn and Soulrest, lie closer to the borders, while Lilmoth is a major port on the southern coast.
Murkmire, in the south, is a remote region of deep swamps. Cyrodiil and Morrowind border the province to the west and north, and Topal Bay separates it from Elsweyr.
History
Black Marsh was long treated as a frontier by its neighbours, and Dunmer slavers raided it for centuries.
During the Oblivion Crisis the Argonians famously drove the Daedric invaders back through the gates. In the early Fourth Era a faction called the An-Xileel took power and, after the Red Year, invaded southern Morrowind.
Black Marsh in the games
Black Marsh is one of the provinces in Arena, but no numbered single-player game has been set there since. The Elder Scrolls Online covers Shadowfen, the Murkmire add-on, and part of Blackwood along the border with Cyrodiil.
- 1994 The Elder Scrolls: Arena
- 2014 The Elder Scrolls Online