(SPOILERS) ESO Necrom/Shadow Over Morrowind new lore from and content plans from the reveal event.
The reveal event for the next ESO storyline (*Shadow Over Morrowind*) is out, here's a summary of the lore elements and content plans mentioned:
**1**) The story will revolve around a return to Morrowind, journeying to the Telvanni Peninsula and the city of Necrom (which is the Chapter's namesake) to help thwart shadowy forces that are at work there, wishing to reveal a dangerous ancient secret held in Hermaeus Mora's realm of Apocrypha.
**2)** The title of the storyline is *"Shadow Over Morrowind"*, and it's theme is said to be *"TES meets cosmic horror".*
**3)** It is said that *"hidden and turbulent forces"* conspire against both Mundus and Apocrypha, wishing to reveal an ancient secret guarded by Hermaeus Mora, one *"so important and so dangerous that if discovered it could unravel all of reality"* should it ever come to light.
**4)** Hermaeus Mora is said to be one of the *"more complicated"* of the Daedric Princes, both he and his realm are said to adhere to no ideas of *"good"* or *"evil",* and thus might not necessarily be antagonistic to mortals.
In this case Mora's own realm is *"threatened*" by *"secret forces"* that are searching for the aforemementioned reality threatening secret. Mora has singled out the player character as a potential champion, one that could become the *"keeper of this ultimate secret"* and will test them through the storyline to see if they are *"worthy"* for the position.
In this quest the player character will be accompanied by a mysterious Dunmer called Leramil the Wise (the same person who the letter hinting at the coming storyline is from, where he tells someone he calls *"The Proxy"* that the *"tides of fate swirl"* around them and their intervention is needed) a *"powerful mage that works with the Prince of Forbidden Knowledge".*
Leramil works *"with"* Mora, not *"for"* him, he is neither a worshipper nor a servant. Rather it is said that Leramil and the Prince have a *"working relationship that's built on mutual respect",* *"as much respect as Hermaeus Mora can have for a mortal".*
The player character's path will also cross with Torvesard (the horned figure from the cinematic trailer), an enigmatic clanless Dremora (is implied either resides in or can travel to Mora's realm) and "*refuses to let Apocrypha's secrets remain undisturbed".* Torvesard's true purpose is unknown and the same goes for his allegiances, it is said to be *"hard to tell if he's friend or foe".*
**5)** It is said that *"realms of Oblivion are extensions of their master"*, as such and reflecting it's Prince's nature, Hermaus Mora's realm of Apocrypha is an *"endless library"*, a *"clearing house"* or *"repository"* for knowledge, a place where *"ancient things and ancient ideas can be preserved, perhaps even hidden, but never lost".*
It is said that there are secrets held there that are *"too dangerous for any being to know"*, things *"kept secret from mortal and Daedra alike"*, the secret that is the focus of the story being one of them.
The nature of the realm is such that *"mortals don't really survive in Apocrypha for a long time",* the knowledge there might be *"enticing"* but one would have to *"be a fool to assume that it's harmless".* The *"sheer amount of information"* they're exposed to in Apocrypha tends to *"melt mortal minds, mangle their bones, contort their flesh"* until they're turned into creatures called *"The Hushed",* gaunt one-eyed/faceless ghouls said be perpetually *"terrified".*
Not all knowledge in Apocrypha is dangerous, some texts are *"harmless",* some are not, and there are those books that house *"Tome Shells"*, said to be *"Daedra that live between the pages of Apocrypha's First Editions".*
The Hushed and Tome Shells are not the only denizens, Apocrypha's guardians "*lurk around every corner"*. Seekers *"attend to the library*" whereas Lurkers *"wait beneath the inky waters to dissuade any researchers from discovering any of Apocrypha's more dangerous secrets".*
Not all knowledge in the realm takes the form of text/books though, a major theme in Apocrypha is the idea of *"ancient records and how they might be represented physically",* the realm is filled with things like *"fossilized impressions"* into the rock walls or emerging from the ground, representing the *"cataloguing of all life, experience and knowledge"*.
The inky waters of Apocrypha will make a return, but we'll also witness other land-based regions of the realm outside the "islands" seen in TESV.
**6)** Back on Nirn, the story will take place in the Telvanni Peninsula and the city of Necrom.
Necrom is the ancient necropolis of the Dunmer, a city that predates the Tribunal and the Chimer-Dunmer transformation, it is among the most revered of holy grounds and kept fully neutral because of this (the Dunmer are said to have a *"particular reverence for the city and it's solemn purpose in their culture"* and both are said to be an "*integral part of the Dark Elves' cultural identity"*).
No Great House truly controls Necrom and the Three Banners War and it's politics don't reach it, ensuring that all Dunmer can make pilgrimage and worship before their ancestors (which Dunmer from across Morrowind do).
With the city being as ancient as it is, there are those who think that a great secret lies behind it's origins.
One of those origin tales comes from the doctrine of the Tribunal Temple and the word of Vivec, which hold that the foundations of the city were created by the bones of the great beast Gulga Mor Jil, which Vivec slew in ancient times.
While whether the Warrior's Poet legend holds true is unknown , Necrom is *"enveloped"* by *"towering rib-like rock formations"* on all sides. These are believed to be the bones of Gulga Mor Jil, and the Dunmer have carved runes across their surface in recognition of their believed origins(it is hinted we'll get access to additional information on this).
In terms of architecture Necrom is a place that's both "*decorative and reverent".*
**7)** The Peninsula is currently plagued by unrest. Vampire mercenaries called the Dusksabers are prowling the region for some unknown purpose, working for Telvanni Magister Shelreni Barrow, who is looking to gain greater power in House Telvanni by any means necessary and is willing to work with anyone who will provide her with more power to achieve her goals (and it is suggested she might have dealings with whatever forces are threatening Apocrypha/Mundus/so on).
**8)** The mages of House Telvanni who hold sway over the wider region are said to be among the most *"egotistical"* but also among the *"most powerful"* of all mages in Tamriel.
**9)** The new class that will be added with this chapter is called *"The Arcanist"*.
Arcanists are a unique type of magic user, they tap into the energies and secrets of Hermaeus Mora's realm of Apocrypha and craft them into runes of power that allow them to use strange spells different from those of other mages (said to be *"deep magic"*).
The centerpiece of an Arcanist's power is their personal tome, a sort of artificial/copy Black Book where each Arcanist inscribes the secrets they've attained from the Prince and his realm, gradually constructing it as they uncover more secrets. A number of the Arcanists seen also wield armor/weapons/staves that appear to originate from Apocrypha (similar in look to Miraak's Blade from TESV, WITH eyes/tentacles covering the items).
An Arcanist's abilities allow for both offense, defense and restoration. They can traverse the landscape with portals which connect different points (according to the ESO site post by traversing *"between worlds"*), invoke/transform part of themselves into the tentacles of Apocrypha, wrap their bodies in runes that are said to protect from *"some* of *the worst the Daedric Planes have to offer"* and so on.
It is suggested that we'll learn more about the origins of these Arcanists in the storyline, and through exploration in Apocrypha.
**10)** Two new Companions will be added:
Sharp-As-Night, an Argonian Warden from Black Marsh whose *"past is lost to him"* and is looking to rediscover his origin. And the Redguard Arcanist Azander, said to be a fatherly figure that has a *"singular focus on the pursuit of knowledge"* (so he has his own interest in Mora and Apocrypha).
**11)** The Morag Tong will play a part, including Ashur and Naryu.
In terms of content plans, the dungeon DLC is called *"Scribes of Fate*" and comes out in March (the Psijic Order and a strange form of time magic that has overtaken the township of Bal Sunnar and the Order is trying to contain will play a role), followed by the Chapter/Necrom. Near the end of the year it is said a new mode *"an endless dungeon"* one can go through *"with a friend"* will be added.
The reveal event:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8t7G-I3ObI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8t7G-I3ObI)
The cinematic (Hushed, Torvesard, an Arcanist are visible):
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrMLkaJPtag](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrMLkaJPtag)
Leramil's letter:
[https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Online:Letter\_from\_Leramil\_the\_Wise](https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Online:Letter_from_Leramil_the_Wise)
Announcement post from ESO's site (has additional information on Apocrypha):
[https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/63495](https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/63495)
Scribes of Fate information:
[https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/updates/dlc/scribesoffate](https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/updates/dlc/scribesoffate)
Thoughts ?