Games PC THE ELDER SCROLLS ADVENTURES-REDGUARD User Manual
C r e d i t s
Table of Contents
Development Team
P roject Leader:
Todd Howard
Lead Pro g r a m m e r :
Andy Ta y l o r
Lead Art i s t :
John Pearson
P ro g r a m m i n g :
Andy Ta y l o r
R i c h a rd Clark
World Art :
Michael Kirkbride
Jimmy Alam
Todd Howard
K u rt Kuhlmann
Sean Conlon
Don Nalezyty
Character Art And
A n i m a t i o n :
John Pearson
Hugh Riley
D And Inventory Ar t :
2
Hugh Riley
Additional Pr o g r a m m i n g :
Guy Carv e r
Craig Wa l t o n
M a rvin Herbold
M o rten Moeru p
Peter Sundholm
Paul Hoggart
Cutscene Animations
XL Tr a n s l a b :
Sean Ekanayake
Steve Gre e n
Josh Jones
Mark Jones
Gionvanni Nakpil
Christopher Ondru s
Istvan Pely
Christopher Singh
Michael Smith
Rafael Va rg a s
S t o ry Paintings:
Mark Jackson
Original Scor e :
Chip Ellinghaus
Grant Slawson
E d i t i n g :
Ken Rolston
Design And Wr i t i n g :
Todd Howard
Michael Kirkbride
K u rt Kuhlmann
M a n u a l
Wr i t i n g :
Michael Kirkbride
K u rt Kuhlmann
Help And Liberal Theft
F ro m :
R i c h a rd Guy
Ken Rolston
A rt And Invocations:
Michael Kirkbride
Hugh Riley
L a y o u t :
Elizabeth Carn e s
Voice Overs
C y ru s :
Michael Mack
Richton, Basil, And Others:
J e ff Baker
Tobias, Nidal, And Others:
Jonathan Bry c e
Saban, Falicia, And Others:
Dale Stein
Iszara, Siona:
Gayle Gessup
N a rr a t o r :
Michael Howell
R e c o rded at Absolute Pitch
Studios, Washington, DC.
P a c k a g i n g
L a y o u t :
Elizabeth Carn e s
Sean Ekanayake
Todd Howard
Christopher Ondru s
M a p s :
Hugh Riley
Quality Assurance
Testing Coor d i n a t o r :
Michelle Buenzli
Customer Ser v i c e :
Josh Neven
William Wo o d f o rd
M a r k e t i n g
S a l e s :
Vlatko Andonov
Public Relations:
Ashley Cheng
We b s i t e :
Bob Ippolito
Istvan Pely
A d m i n i s t r a t i o n
P re s i d e n t :
Christopher We a v e r
C F O :
Constance Gachowski
Division Dir e c t o r :
Douglas Fre d e r i c k
A c c o u n t i n g :
Tim Starinieri
P ro d u c t i o n :
Aleem Ali
Vi rgil Tr i c e
Virgin Interactive
P ro d u c e r :
Tony Hinds
P roduct Manager:
Louise Gaynor
Quality Assurance:
Llewellyn Ligas
Graham Arc h e r
Technical Suppor t :
Matthew Shanley
J e remy Perks
R o b e rt Paul
Special Thanks To
Bruce Nesmith, Gary
Noonan, Julian Lefay, Louise
Sandoval, Brent Erickson,
Kim Howard, Jeff Howard,
Indy, Cherry Shore, Loren
Kirkbride, Uncle Atari, The
Pearson Family, Renee
Dadds, Café Kenny, Lori
Nicholson, Sophie Ondrus,
Gerri Osentoski, Coors Lite,
Hoffman, The Smiley Rileys,
The Magic Wands, George
Lucas And God.
C re d i t s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i i
Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .i v
Playing the Game
S t a rting a New Game. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .U s e r’s Guide 1
C o n t rols Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .U s e r’s Guide 1
S w o rd Fighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .U s e r’s Guide 2
E x p l o r i n g. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .U s e r’s Guide 4
Using Items & Inventory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .U s e r’s Guide 6
Talking to People. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .U s e r’s Guide 7
S t o ryline & Helpful Hints. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .U s e r’s Guide 8
Main Menu & Misc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .U s e r’s Guide 8
Pocket Guide to the Empire
Welcome, Citizen!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pgE 1
S k y r i m.. . . . . . . . . pgE 3
C y ro d i i l. . . . . . . . . pgE 9
High Rock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pgE 17
H a m m e rf e l l. . . pgE 24
Aldmeri Dominion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pgE 29
Elsweyr Confederacy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pgE 34
M o rro w i n d. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pgE 39
Wild Regions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pgE 44
A d d e n d u m.. . pgE 48
iiiii
Technical Support
Thank you for purchasing Redguard™. If you are experiencing difficulties with this
title, please take advantage of the following product support. Please note that all our
operators only speak English and that we are unable to give gameplay hints through
our Technical Support number.
Technical Support : +44 (0) 20 7928 9655
Fax : +44 (0) 20 7261 0540
Internet : webmaster@sold-out.co.uk
WorldWide Web : http://www.sold-out.co.uk
Address : Customer Services Department
Sold Out Sales & Maketing Ltd
122 Southwark Street
London
SE1 0SW
United Kingdom
In the unlikely event of a software fault please return the complete package, with your
receipt, to the original place of purchase.
If you do telephone, please be sitting in front of your computer (if possible) and be
sure to provide us with as much information as possible. Make sure to note the exact
type of hardware that you are using in your system, including:
Speed and Manufacturer of your Processor.
Make & Model of your Sound Card and Video Card.
Make & Model of your CD-ROM drive.
Amount of RAM present.
Any additional Hardware and Peripherals.
Information contained in your Config.Sys & Autoexec.Bat files.
Note: If you have any problems in obtaining any System Information please consult
your System supplier.
When contacting us by post, ensure you include the Title & Version of the game, a
detailed description of the problem you are experiencing and the exact type of hardware that you are using.
When sending us a fax, please remember to leave your fax machine switched on and
ready to receive. If you are using a Telephone/Fax system please make sure that the
Fax connection is enabled. Ensure to include your name, a return Fax number with
the area code and a Voice number so we can contact you if we experience problems
when trying to Fax you back.
This product is guaranteed for a period determined by the law of the country of manufacture or purchase. Virgin Interactive Entertainment (Europe) Limited reserves the
right at all times to make improvements in the product described in this manual, at any
time and without notice. Other than as required under English law, Virgin Interactive
Entertainment (Europe) Limited makes no warranties expressed or implied, with
respect to this product or this manual, their quality or their fitness for any particular
purpose. This does not effect your statutory rights.
This product is exempt from classification under UK law. In accordance with the
Video Standards Council Code of Practice it is considered suitable for viewing by the
age range(s) indicated.
iv
Playing the Game
Starting a New Game
When you play Redguard for the
first time, the Introduction begins.
Pay attention, even if you hate
history lessons as much as Cyrus
does. Stros M'kai is brimming
with political intrigue and warring
factions, and it pays to know who
the players are. After this opening
sequence, the game begins, rather
appropriately, with a sword fight.
On your feet, Redguard! Here be
pirates!
If you wish to skip ahead during the introduction, press ESC.
If you wish to start a new game after this, you must use the Main Menu. Press ESC to
go to the Main Menu.
Controls Summary
A C T I O N
F o rw a rd
B a c k
L e f t
R i g h t
A c t i v a t e / A t t a c k
Vi e w / D e f e n d
Wa l k / R u n
J u m p
Quick Sword
I n v e n t o ry
Next Item
Last Item
Main Menu
Version Info
Save Game Menu
Load Game Menu
Display Menu
Sound Menu
C o n t rols Menu
Q u i c k S a v e
K E Y B O A R D
Up arro w
Down Arro w
Left Arro w
Right Arro w
C t r l
A l t
S h i f t
S p a c e
S
I
>
<
E s c
F 1
F 2
F 3
F 4
F 5
F 6
F 9
G A M E PA D
D-Pad up
D-Pad down
D-Pad left
D-Pad right
Button 1
Button 3
Button 4
Button 2
User’s Guide 1
Sword Fighting
The fine art of dueling! As Cyrus,
you'll encounter all types of fiendish
foes and master swordsman, so it’s
time to put your skills to the test.
Remember, dueling is not about
being aggressive or pushing the
button as fast as you can, it’s about
timing and openings. If you attack
at the wrong time, from the wrong
location, you may give your opponent an opening to strike...and it
may be one you’ll pay for!
Maneuver into position, keep an eye on your opponent, and strike when the moment is
right!
Maneuvering
Move around with the Direction pad or the keyboard. Use Forward and Back to position
yourself, and Left or Right to turn and face the enemy. In Sword Fighting mode, Cyrus
only advances or retreats a few steps at a time!
Sword Fighting Controls
A C T I O N
F o rw a rd
B a c k
L e f t
R i g h t
A t t a c k
D e f e n d
R u n
J u m p
Running
Holding Run down while pressing Forward will allow Cyrus to run, either to engage a
faraway enemy or to just plain retreat. While running, you can steer using Left or Right.
Careful, though, as Cyrus is vulnerable to attack while running.
Jumping
Press the Jump button. It’s not really that useful in a fight, unless you’re trying to get on
higher ground.
K E Y B O A R D
Up arro w
Down Arro w
Left Arro w
Right Arro w
C t r l
A l t
S h i f t
S p a c e
G A M E PA D
D-Pad up
D-Pad down
D-Pad left
D-Pad right
Button 1
Button 3
Button 4
Button 2
Attacking
There are several attacks you can perform as Cyrus; all are simple to perform, but they
take a lot of experience to use effectively. Each has it’s own speed and range. After a few
duels, you’ll soon recognize when each attack is appropriate.
Types of Attacks
A C T I O N
A t t a c k
Attack, Attack
Attack, Attack,
A t t a c k
F o rw a rd + Attack
F o rw a rd ,
F o rw a rd + Attack
Defending
With the Defend button, you can parry your opponent’s attack. Time your defenses.
Hitting the Defend button too soon or too late allows for an opening. Study your opponent’s fighting-style. Alternately, you can learn to Sidestep oncoming attacks by pressing
Run andLeft or Right.
Sheathing your Swor d
To sheath your sword, press and hold Attack and Defend.
You can also draw or sheath your sword at any time by pressing the S key. People don’t
like other people walking around with their swords drawn! However, when there’s no
other choice but to fight, the S key will take you back into Sword Fighting mode.
AT TACK TYPE
Single Slash
Double Slash
Triple Slash
T h ru s t
L u n g e
D E S C R I P T I O N
C y rus’ basic attack. Used often to
keep your opponent honest, or to
take advantage of quick openings.
A quick double slash that can re a l l y
h a rm an opponent. Be care f u l
though, if you miss, you’ll leave
yourself open.
If you can connect with all three of
these, you’re sure to do some serious
damage. But, once you’ve committed
to this many attacks in a ro w, you
may be in trouble if your enemy is
q u i c k e r.
An excellent attack for keeping your
opponent at bay. It takes more time
than a slash, but its longer range
makes it a powerful attack.
This leaping attack is very popular
and deadly among more experienced
s w o rdsmen. Its excellent range
makes it a strong attack, while also
allowing you to maintain a safe distance from the opponent.
Sidestepping incoming lunges and
counterattacking is an excellent
d e f e n s e .
User’s Guide 2
User’s Guide 3
Taking Damage
Getting hurt is a bad thing. You might have noticed that icon in the upper left of the
screen. This is how much damage you can take. The smaller the candle, the closer you
are to going out like a light.
Candle
Represents
Health
Dying
When you die, you’ll be asked if you’d like to load your last saved game. If you choose
NO, you’ll be taken back to the Main Menu.
That’s all there is to it. Once you’re done waxing these pirates, you can begin exploring
Stros M'kai. There'll be more sword fighting, we promise, and better swordsmen to face
off with later in the game.
Exploring
It is time to find your sister. Here’s how to get around town and the rest of Stros M’kai.
Looking Around
By holding View in conjunction with Forward,
Back, Left, and Right, you can spin the camera to
look around while Cyrus remains stationary.
Moving Around
In Exploring mode, you run by default. Forward
makes you run straight ahead. Turn with Left
and Right.Back makes you step carefully, well,
back.
Walking and Sidestepping
Holding Walk while moving Forward allows you to walk straight ahead in a safe and
orderly manner. Cyrus will not fall off edges while walking, so you can sometimes use
this for lining up jumps and such. You can also step left or right by holding Walk and
pressing Left or Right.
Jumping
Press Jump for a short standing hop. Pressing Forward and Jump will make Cyrus jump
from his position. Tapping Jump while running allows you to cross longer distances.
Careful with this one. If there is a suitable edge nearby when Cyrus jumps, he will automatically grab it.
Hanging Around
If Cyrus grabs an edge, he can hang from it. Holding Left or Right will make him
Shimmy along the edge. Pressing Forward will make him climb up onto the next level.
Tap Back and you let go of the edge.
User’s Guide 4
Exploring Controls
A C T I O N
F o rw a rd
B a c k
L e f t
R i g h t
A c t i v a t e
Vi e w
Wa l k
J u m p
Swinging Around on Ropes
If Cyrus Jumps toward a rope, he will automatically grab it. Forward and Back allows you
to climb up and down the rope, while Left and Right will make the rope swing. Tapping
Jump at any time will make Cyrus let go of the rope. If you do this while the rope is really moving, you can catch some serious hang time.
Swimming
If Cyrus falls into the water, he can swim on the surface, moving Forward and Back and
turning Left or Right. If you fall in the water while in Sword Fighting mode, you automatically sheathe your sword and everybody laughs at you.
Taking Damage
Plenty of things can damage you while you’re exploring. Falling, for instance. Or fireballs. Or sharks. The candle in the upper left represents just how much damage you can
take. If Cyrus dies, you’ll be asked if you’d like to load your last saved game. If you
choose NO, you’ll be taken back to the Main Menu.
After you step onto the docks, the rest of the game is pretty much up to you. Resist the
temptation to run out of the city gates and explore the island. Or not. Exploration is a
good thing, and you’ll do a lot of it before you find Iszara. Let us suggest that you find
Tobias first, since he may be able to give you the lay of the land.
Now where did he say he’d be?
You better check the letter he sent you again. And learn how to use stuff in general.
K E Y B O A R D
Up arro w
Down Arro w
Left Arro w
Right Arro w
C t r l
A l t
S h i f t
S p a c e
G A M E PA D
D-Pad up
D-Pad down
D-Pad left
D-Pad right
Button 1
Button 3
Button 4
Button 2
User’s Guide 5
Using Items & Inventory
For sake of clarity, anything that is in your
Inventory or that you can pick up and place in your
Inventory is an Item. Anything outside of your
Inventory, but that you can use, look at, pull or twist,
or otherwise manipulate is a Thing. Over on the
lower left hand side of the screen is the Action
Message/ Active Item icon. An Action Message is a
text display describing a particular action that you
can do, like “Open the Door,” or “Put Lich Dust into
cumstances (see below). An Active Item icon represents an Item from your Inventory
that you have currently selected. Pressing the Activate button will make Cyrus use the
Item represented by the Active Item icon. For example, if you have a potion as your
Active Item and you press the Activate button, Cyrus will take it out and drink it.
Selecting Items/ Inventor y
You can scroll through the Active Item icons by using
< and >. Alternately, you can hit the I key, which will
bring up an Inventory menu. Every Item you have
picked up is here in the menu. From the Inventory
menu, you can Examine Items or select them as your
Active Item.
Examining Items
Pressing View from the inventory screen will
allow you to Examine your Active Item.
Use the direction keys to rotate the item,
and Jump and Walk to move it. Look at
everything you pick up, because its usefulness might not be readily apparent until you
do. Cyrus has something to say about everything, too, so listen up.
Examining Things
When you can Examine something in the world, an Action Message will display in the
bottom left corner of the screen. Pressing the Activate button will allow you to Examine
the Thing in question, whether it be a book, a sign, or whatever.
Using Items/ Picking Up Items
As we mentioned above, pressing the Activate button will allow you to Use your Active
Item. Certain things cannot be Used in and of themselves, but must be selected as your
Active Item for an Action Message to appear. See Using Items with Things, below. If
there is an Item about that Cyrus can pick up, then an Action Message will appear
alerting you to this fact. Pressing the Activate button while such a message is displayed
will allow you to pick up that Item and place it in your Inventory.
User’s Guide 6
Action Message
the Yellow Potion.” These show up in different cir-
Using Things
If Cyrus can manipulate a Thing in the world in some way
an Action Message will display when he is close enough.
Pressing the Activate button will set off the Action. Using
switches, opening doors, pulling levers, and numerous
other Things fit into the category of an Action. Again, a
Thing might not display an Action Message if you don’t
have a particular Active Item selected.
Using Items withThings
Certain Items can be Used with certain Things.
Action Messages will appear if a selected Active Item
can be Used with a certain Thing. For example, being
close to a door while having an iron key selected as
your Active Item will set off the Action Message, “Put
Key in Lock.” Pressing the Activate button will set off
set off the Action displayed. Many Items are Used
with Things during the course of the game.
Having your Sword as your Active Item
Pressing the Activate button while you have your sword as your Active Item will make
Cyrus draw his sword. Holding Attack and Defend at the same time will make him put it
back in its scabbard. Using the S key allows you to quickly pull out or sheath your
sword, even if it’s not selected as your Active Item.
Talking to People
Okay, so now you know how to find and examine
Tobias’ letter. It’s one of the Items you start the game
with. Find out where he’s at so you can go there and
hear what he has to say about Iszara’s disappearance.
On your way, you might want to meet some of the fine
citizens of Stros M’kai. An Action Message will appear
when you are close enough to somebody to initiate a
conversation, as in “Talk to Man” or “Talk to Siona.”
Pressing Activate will start Dialogue.
Choosing a Dialogue Topic
A list of Topics will appear whenever you are engaged
in a Dialogue. Moving Forward and Back will highlight
the Topic you want to talk about, while Activate will
bring the Topic up. Listen and learn. Eventually you
will get back to the Topic list. When a Topic has been
exhausted it will turn a dull color, telling you so.
Sometimes, a Topic will bring up a sublist of new
Topics, or add another Topic to the main list itself.
Choosing Bye will end Dialogue from any Topic list.
Reminder: Sometimes you will learn information, or
have an Item now in your possession, that can bring up new Topics with people you
have talked to before. If this is the case, a new Action or Topic will appear on the list
when you talk to them again.
Reviewing an Old Topic
You can review an older Topic again by Activating it from the Topic list. Hitting WALK
button (shift) while someone is talking allows you to skip that part of the Topic, so you
can get to whatever part you missed or want to hear again. Actually, you can also skip
through a Topic you've never talked about, if you’re really in a rush.
Giving an Item to/ Buying an Item from Somebody through Dialogue
Sometimes you can give to or buy Items from a person during Dialogue. Such an Action
will show up in the Topic list, rather than at the bottom left of the screen. Choosing the
Action in this case is just like choosing a Topic. Note that you do not need to have
selected these Items beforehand as your Active Item. If you can give something to somebody, it will show up on the Topic list.
Action Message
Dialogue Topics
User’s Guide 7
Special Cases in Dialogue
There are times in Dialogue when you cannot go immediately back to the main Topic
list. Say, when a conversation turns sour or when you are asked a question. You have to
play out these Dialogues until the situation resolves itself.
Storyline and Helpful Hints
Sooner or later you’re going to stumble onto the storyline. Don’t worry about time lim-
its or a strict linearity in Redguard, though. While there are events that you have to trigger for new areas and situations to present themselves, the story evolves at the pace of
your play.
You might’ve noticed that in the Tavern you can take a beating and not worry too much
about dying. Use the ruffians there as (really nasty) sparring partners, either to take out
your frustrations or just to get in some practice with your sword fighting skills.
Losing your focus? Can’t quite make heads or tails of a situation? Troubles in general?
Tell ‘em to the bartender.
Main Menu
Hitting ESC during the game pulls up the Main
Menu, where you can load saved games, adjust your
Controls, replay Movies, etc. Forward andBack scrolls
through the menu options. Select an option and press
Activate to go to the appropriate menu. Hitting ESC
from any menu will take you back to the previous
menu. Hitting ESC from the Main Menu returns you
to the game.
If you exit the game from the Main Menu list, your current game is saved automatically,
unless Cyrus is dead. This is called your Autosave Game . The next time you play the
game, you will start at the location of your last Autosave Game where Cyrus is alive, or
your last saved game, whichever is more recent.
Save Game
This takes you to the Save Game page. Choose an open slot and type in the name of
your saved game. You can write over older saved games if you want.
Load Game
From here you can Load a previously saved game. Choose the game you want to Load
and hit Activate.
New Game
This starts a New Game. To fast forward through the Introduction, hit ESC several
times.
Options
This takes you to the Options page, where you can set your screen size, resolution, volume levels, etc. Pick an Option from those listed to modify the appropriate settings.
User’s Guide 8
Display
From Display you can modify Screen Resolution , Screen Size , Gamma Settings ,
Subtitles, and Movie.
Screen Resolution: Redguard runs in either 640X480, 320X400, or 320X200.
Of course, lower resolutions give you better game performance, but at the
expense of detail. Default Screen Resolution is 640X480. If you are running
the 3Dfx version, 640x480 is the only option.
Screen Size: Highlight the slider bar and press Left or Right to adjust the
display area of the game screen. Smaller screen sizes result in slightly faster
game performance. Default Screen Size is full screen.
Gamma Settings: Highlight the slider bar and press Left or Right to raise or
lower your Gamma Settings. This makes the screen brighter or darker.
Subtitles: This will toggle the subtitles on/off during in-game cutscenes and
off.
is on.
Back to Main
This takes you back to the Main Menu.
Movies
You can replay any Movies you have seen from here, including the Introduction.
Highlight the Movie name and press Activate to watch it. The Movie will play again in its
entirety, though you can fast forward through it using ESC.
Continue
Allows you to resume the game you are currently playing.
Quit
Ends the game, taking you back to your Windows desktop. Note that this triggers the
Autosave Game, unless Cyrus is dead. When you relaunch Redguard, you start at the
location of the last Autosave Game you have where Cyrus is alive, or your last saved
game, whichever is more recent.
Dialogue. This will not turn off the Dialogue Topic lists. Default Subtitles are
Movie Interlace: This will make your movies to play on every other line of
the screen, or every line of the screen. It defaults to ON, which is every other
line.
Sound
From Sound, you can modify or toggle Sound F/X Volume, Music Volume, and
Speech.
Sound F/X Volume: Highlight the slider bar and press Left or Right to raise
or lower the volume of the music.
Music Volume: Highlight the slider bar and press Left or Right to raise or
lower the volume of the music.
Speech: This will toggle speech on/off. If you turn it off, it’s best to turn the
Subtitles on, unless you’re really into art movies or something. Default speech
Controls
Many of the keyboard or gamepad controls can be changed in this menu. Select a
game control. It will be reassigned to whatever key or button you press next. You
cannot map the same key or button to two different game controls.
User’s Guide 9
WELCOME, CITIZEN!
ith the dawn of a new era before us, it is time that we take stock of where we
W
have been and where we are, in order to better illuminate the way ahead. Written
in celebration of the Battle of Hunding Bay, which marked the return of all human
kingdoms to the unchallenged rule of the Cyrodilic Emperor, this pamphlet seeks to
briefly describe the present provinces of the Empire and the surrounding regions-- their
history, people and current condition. We strove to balance timeliness with accuracy
and completeness; if we have erred in our zeal to place this valuable guide in the hands
of interested citizens everywhere, we beg the kind reader’s indulgence.
The Empire stretches across Tamriel, the largest known continent of the World. To the
north of Tamriel is Atmora, from whence the Men of the World came. To the west is
Yokuda, the native land of the Redguards. To the east is Akavir, whose armies invaded
Tamriel in the previous era. To the south all is mystery and the whisper of a lost Elven
homeland.
Tamriel itself is generally divided into eight major regions: Skyrim, Cyrodiil, High Rock,
the Aldmeri Dominion of the Summerset Isles and Valenwood, Hammerfell,
Morrowind, and the Elsweyr Confederacy. Some of these, such as Morrowind or
Skyrim, have historically been unified into kingdoms; others, such as High Rock or
Elsweyr, are looser groupings of many kingdoms, chiefdoms, village confederations, and
so forth, united under a dominant race or culture. At its zenith, the Second Empire formally organized these disparate groups into the Imperial Provinces, which were admin-
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istered by provincial governors, either dispatched directly from Cyrodiil or appointed
from the native populations. (Morrowind is a notable exception, having never been conquered by the original Cyrodilic Empire and thus escaping investment as an Imperial
Province.). With the fall of the Cyrodilic Empire control reverted to the individual
rulers of each province, resulting in centuries of chaos, as many of the provinces
devolved into independent kingdoms and petty statelets. Now, happily, all of the human
kingdoms have been recovered by the Third Empire of Tiber Septim, and once again
they all bear the proud title of Imperial Provinces.
The Aldmeri Dominion, the Elsweyr Confederacy, and Morrowind have yet to join the
Empire, but are described in this book for the edification of the scholar, the fascination
of the common citizen, and the preparation of the soldier. The Third Empire is yet in its
youth, and who can predict what new horizons might yet greet the dawn under the Red
Diamond Banner?
Some regions escape provincial classification due to the primitive civilization of their
beastfolk inhabitants. Collectively, these beastfolk “states” are known as the Wild
Regions, which may or may not be of interest to the Emperor. They are included only
for the most intrepid of travelers, and to throw the achievements of Civilization into
more brilliant relief by contrast with these benighted corners of Tamriel.
Now, citizen, we entreat you to review our modest survey of the Empire's dominions. If
it entertains and edifies, reflect not upon the humble labors of this scribe, but on the
gracious benevolence of our beloved Emperor, whose very name is as ambrosia upon
our tongues, who in his wisdom has ordained that this survey be created and distributed
among the earnest and wise people of Tamriel, that they might better understand the
glories and challenges of these Lands and Dominions, and that they might better appreciate the great burdens of rulership he bears in our names with such fortitude.
A note on Elven designations: The Elves as a whole are sometimes referred to as the
“Aldmeri,” or “the Elder Races.” Their individual pedigrees are likewise referred to by both
their human and Aldmeri names; thus, High Elves are the “Altmer,” Dark Elves the
“Dunmer,” Wood Elves the “Bosmer,” etc., etc. “Mer” is also used to denote a single Elf.
Words that designate an Elven member of a profession or trade can therefore correctly be
said as “craftsmer,” for example, or “noblemer.”
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SKYRIM
kyrim, also known as the Old
Kingdom or the Fatherland, was the
S
first region of Tamriel settled by humans:
the hardy, brave, warlike Nords, whose
descendants still occupy this rugged land,
and, although perhaps somewhat reduced
from the legendary renown of their forebears of old, the Nords of the pure blood
still unquestionably surpass the mixed
races in all the manly virtues.
Exactly when the Nords first crossed the
ice-choked Sea of Ghosts from Atmora,
their original homeland, is uncertain. As
recorded in the Song of Return, Ysgramor
and his family first landed in Tamriel at
Hsaarik Head, at the extreme northern tip
of Skyrim's Broken Cape, fleeing civil war
in Atmora (then rather warmer than at
present, as it seems to have supported a
substantial population). These first settlers
named the land "Mereth", after the Elves
that roamed the untamed wilderness which
then covered the whole of Tamriel. For a
time, relations between Men and Elves
were harmonious, and the Nords throve in
the new land, summoning more of their
kin from the North to build the city of
Saarthal, the site of which has recently
been located by Imperial archaeologists in
the vicinity of modern Winterhold. But
the Elves saw that the vital young race
would soon surpass their stagnant culture
if left unchecked, and fell upon the unsuspecting Nords in the infamous Night of
Tears; Saarthal was burned, and only
Ysgramor and two of his sons fought free
of the carnage and escaped to Atmora.
The Elves, however, had reckoned without
the indomitable spirit of the Nords.
Gathering his legendary Five Hundred
Companions (whose names are still recited
every Thirteenth of Sun's Dawn at the
Feast of the Dead in Windhelm),
Ysgramor returned to Tamriel with a
vengeance, driving the Elves out of Skyrim
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and laying the foundations of the first
human Empire.
It may be that the exploits of the
near-mythical Ysgramor conflate the
reigns of several early Nord Kings, as
the Elves were not finally driven
from the present boundaries of
Skyrim until the reign of King
Harald, the thirteenth of Ysgramor's
line, at the dawn of recorded history.
King Harald is also remembered for
being the first King to relinquish all
holdings in Atmora; the Nords of
Skyrim were now a separate people,
whose faces were turned firmly
toward their destiny, the conquest of
the vast new land of Tamriel.
Indeed, the history of the Nords is
the history of humans in Tamriel; all
the human races, with the exception
of the Redguards, are descended
from Nordic stock, although in some
the ancient blood admittedly runs
thin.
King Vrage the Gifted began the
expansion that led to the First
Empire of the Nords. Within a span
of fifty years, Skyrim ruled all of
northern Tamriel, including most of
present-day High Rock, a deep
stretch of the Nibenay Valley, and the
whole of Morrowind. The Conquest
of Morrowind was one of the epic
clashes of the First Era, when ensued
many a desperate contest between
Nord and Dark Elf in the hills and
glades of that dire kingdom, still
recalled by the songs of the minstrels
in the alehouses of Skyrim. The system of succession in the First Empire
is worthy of note, as it proved in the
end to be the Empire's undoing. By
the early years of the First Empire,
Skyrim was already divided into
Holds, then ruled by a patchwork of
clan-heads, kings, and councils (or
moots), all of which paid fealty to the
King of Skyrim. During the exceptionally long reign of King Harald,
who died at 108 years of age and outlived all but three of his sons, a Moot
was created, made up of representatives from each Hold, to choose the
next King from qualified members of
the royal family. Over the years, the
Moot became permanent and
acquired an increasing amount of
power; by the reign of King Borgas,
the last of the Ysgramor dynasty, the
Moot had become partisan and ineffective. Upon the murder of King
Borgas by the Wild Hunt (see Aldmeri
Dominion- Valenwood), the Moot's failure to appoint the obvious and capable Jarl Hanse of Winterhold
sparked the disastrous Skyrim War
of Succession, during which Skyrim
lost control of its territories in High
Rock, Morrowind, and Cyrodiil,
never to regain them. The war was
finally concluded in 1E420 with the
Pact of Chieftans; henceforth, the
Moot was convened only when a
King died without direct heirs, and it
has fulfilled this more limited role
admirably. It has only been called
upon three times in the intervening
millenia, and the Skyrim succession
has never again been disputed on the
field of battle.
The land of Skyrim is the most
rugged on the continent, containing
four of the five highest peaks in
Tamriel (see Places of Note: Throat of
the World). Only in the west do the
mountains abate to the canyons and
mesas of the Reach, by far the most
cosmopolitan of the Holds of Skyrim,
Nords of the pure blood holding only
the barest majority according to the
recent Imperial Census. The rest of
Skyrim is a vertical world: the high
ridges of the northwest-to-southeast
slanting mountain ranges, cleft by
deep, narrow valleys where most of
the population resides. Along the
sides of the river valleys, sturdy Nord
farmers raise a wide variety of crops;
wheat flourishes in the relatively tem-
Snow Elves
Nords attribute almost any
misfortune or disaster to the
machinations of the Falmer,
or Snow Elves, be it crop failure, missing sheep, or a traveler
lost crossing a high pass. These
mythical beings are popularly
believed to be the descendants
of the original Elven population,
and are said to reside in the
remote mountain fastnesses
that cover most of Skyrim.
However, there is no tangible
evidence that this Elven community survives outside the
imaginations of superstitious
villagers.
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