| Ostmark | |
|---|---|
 Banner of Østmark, depicting Wuuthrad | |
| Type | Hold |
| Capital | Windhelm |
| Jarl | Vigge the World-Weary |
Østmark, also known as Østmark Hold, is one of the four Old Holds of the Atmoran Kingdom, located along the eastern border of Fatherland. The capital of Østmark is Windhelm, founded by the legendary Atmoran hero Ysgramor, and is de facto seat of the Kingdom's ruler. The Jarl of Østmark is Vigge the World-Weary. Its banner depicts a blade of Ysgramor's battleaxe, Wuuthrad.
Description[]
Østmark covers much of Fatherland's border with Resdayn, land of the Chimer, and borders two Jarldoms of Saarthal and Forelhost to the northwest and south, respectively. The hold is one of the coldest areas of the Kingdom, with its perpetually barren, snowy wastelands on the coast of the Sea of Ghosts; the south is mostly filled with dry, empty plains bordering the forests of Forelhost. Most of the hold's settlements, including the capital, are scattered along Yorgrim River that flows from the Sea of Ghosts and into the lake Yorgrim to the east of Korvanjund.
Windhelm, one of the largest cities of the Fatherland, built in Atmoran style by elven prisoners of the ongoing Nordic-Falmer war, used to be the seat of the High King. The last High King and Jarl of Østmark, Baldr Hallvardsen, was assassinated in ME 68, leaving the Atmoran Kingdom without a ruler; his successor, Vigge the World-Weary, has not been coronated due to the hostilities between the neighboring Jarldoms, but still remains the Jarl of Windhelm. Known to many as the kindest Jarl that has ever ruled since the Dragon War, nicknamed by some as "the Fair", Vigge has earned notoriety among the more conservative Jarls, mostly because of his open-minded politics with the Chimer and the seclusive Dwemer, whose settlements of Mzulft and Kagrenzel dot the landscape of the hold. However, despite his cosmopolitan views and the fact that Windhelm is home to a significant Chimer population, the Jarl prefers to keep the Resdayn border heavily guarded to prevent any invasions from the east.
Østmark is currently in a dispute with the neighboring Jarldom of Saarthal and is constantly fighting over the port town of Gjallarbrú, which is considered to be in control of Saarthal but is located within Østmark; the town had been sacked and rebuilt many times, had switched sides over the past few years and had been under control of Østmark until ME 50, when it was retaken by Saarthal. The town has been under the latter's jurisdiction since. Clashes tend to occur along Yorgrim River, where Saarthal Hold divides Østmark and Korvanjund due east of lake Yorgrim. The eponymous settlement of Saarthal Hold, located to the north of the river in a mountain range, was constantly being attacked by Østmark. However, the sieges are rare and mostly unsuccessful due to Yorgrim's advantageous location, making the town impossible to breach.
Locations[]
Capital City[]
- Windhelm
Towns and Settlements[]
- Hsaarik
- Amol
- Kynesgrove
- Eidsberg
Temples, Shrines and Barrows[]
- Ansilvund Temple
- Cronvangr Chamber of Shor
- Yngol Barrow
Dwemer Settlements[]
- Kagrenzel
- Mzulft
- Mzark
Landmarks[]
- Kynesgrove Barrow