Lore:Morkul Clan

The Morkul Clan was an ancient clan of Orcs active since the time of the fall of Orsinium that happened during the First Era and was one of the major clans by the time of the rise of another Orsinium during the year 2E 582. Their main position was the Morkul Stronghold, located next to the coast of the High Rock region of the Wrothgarian Mountains. They are famous for their smiths and produced some of the finest arms and armor of the Orcs, with the Clan also having experts that could help during the rebuilding effort of Orsinium during the Second Era.

History

First Era

The Morkuldin Forge, used during the First Era

The Morkul Clan allegedly started with an Orc named Morkul, a general credited with several feats of heroism during the Siege of Orsinium that happened during the First Era. Legends say that the Orcs, including the Morkul initially lived in the underground parts of Tamriel before later moving to the surface.

At some point, they absorbed the Bragosh Clan into their ranks, a clan that was similarly known for their blacksmithing skills and created specialized weapons and armor, being also known as traders of goods and supplies. Before being absorbed, they were a prominent force in the first Orsinium and had a remarkable influence.

During ancient times, they worshipped the Daedric Prince Mephala and were used to sacrifice people to the Prince in order to obtain the power of their blood-forge, later an Altmer mage attempted to use the blood-forge, killing many of the Morkul in the process before he was murdered as well. This tradition that favored both the use of a blood-forge and worship of Mephala was later abandoned.

Second Era

The Morkul Stronghold circa 2E 582

Centuries later, the Morkul Clan later got partial revenge for the siege, as they allied with other clans and attacked the descendants of one of the family of Bretons that was involved in the old siege, with the Morkul making some profit in the process, although the Clan had some troubles with Clan Argluk for who would take the credit of the success of the raid. One of the motivators for their raid on the family was the wish to cause the Orcs' withdrawal from what was considered an absurd alliance in the form of the Daggerfall Covenant.

An Orc historian later heard about the massacre of the Breton family and contacted the leaders of the band that was responsible and had taken refugee in a mine known as Torog's Spite, with the historian being interested in knowing who were the main leaders of the raid, Clan Morkul or Argluk. The Vestige later ventured into the mine and recovered evidence that supported both clans, but it is unknown which of the two clans the hero gave credit for the attack.

Despite the dislike for the Covenant, one of their members was wed to King Kurog as his forge-wife, with a motivator being that, at the time, the Morkul Clan was known as famed weapon and armor smiths, although the one chosen to be the wife had also traveled abroad and acquired knowledge from the blacksmiths of western Skyrim. By this time, they were also considered a loyal friend of the Fighters Guild, showing that they were not isolated despite the dislike for the Covenant.

Around this time, one ancestral sword of the clan was taken by an Orc of the Clan that would later become a merchant of the village of Fell's Run in Rivenspire. It was believed by the one that took the blade that it would never again be in the hands of the Morkul and the object was even transported to the Clockwork City after a fierce storm that happened in Craglorn. Despite the belief, the sword was later found and delivered to a member of the clan who later returned the weapon back to Wrothgar.

Concurrently, an ancestral forge-hammer of the Clan mistakenly identified as the Hand of Morkul was recovered thanks to the efforts of the daughter of the chieftain of the Morkul at the time who received the help of the Vestige. Both of them would rediscover that Hand of Morkul was actually the device holding the hammer, and that the clan practiced blood magic in the ancient past, which would play a role in determining if the Morkul Clan kept the forge and embraced their old magic once again or if it was opted for the old tradition to remain abandoned.

The assistance that had been offered by the Vestige was used as a way to get the chieftain of the clan to attend a Great Moot for Kurog, something that the chieftain did after his family was aided by the hero. The chieftain would later be rescued during the Great Moot alongside other chieftains as they were attacked by allies of King Kurog who tried to eliminate those leaders. Despite the attempt on his life, the chieftain was later present in the funeral of Kurog after the death of the King.

Culture

Blacksmithing

The Hand of Morkul

One of the most important possessions of the clan was a forge known as Morkuldin which was located deep beneath the Wrothgarian Mountains and was believed to have been created by the Dwemer, although the design was hidden by Orc stone. This forge would be responsible for the creation of the greatest works, working the forge with a variety of implements.

They traded some of their creations obtained from the forge and sometimes asked for shipments of people who were later sacrificed at the forge, sacrifices that included both Orcs and members of other races as well. In return, at least one trader expected to receive Morkul-forged weapons and armor. Despite the importance, the forge was still lost at some point thanks to the works of a Mer wizard, but they remained with their blacksmithing culture despite its loss.

Even after the loss of the forge, they continued to trade their goods, during the middle of the Second Era they had shipments of equipment that would go from their stronghold to Orsinium itself. Armorers of the clan allowed outsiders to buy from him in the stronghold itself.

Some of their sharpening stones for this forge were shown in jadeite presentation box sets which contained three sharpening stones of different density and coarseness. Other curious items of the clan include some of their banners that were made from fine spun spidersilk and contained the seal of the Clan as well as travel kits that they used which were wooden boxes with whetstone, a metal file, a flask of oil and gritpaper.

Although they were known for forging weapons and armor, they also forged tea kettles, with some of which were considered as being quite heavy, featuring hard and sharp edges and were considered both useful for making tea and slaying enemies.

Religion

Like many Orcs, the Clan primarily worshipped Malacath, although some members converted to Trinimac, something that allowed the members to marry independently of the Code of Malacath and also permitted for couples to pass lands to their children without the interference of their chieftain. Reasons for the change of religion included the wish for marriage, as well as political marriages, as one of the daughters of the chieftain converted after marrying King Kurog during the Second Era, a King who was himself a follower of Trinimac.

Other Crafts

Some of the clan practiced alchemy, and it was said that a good Morkul tonic always went down gritty as it would be good for digestion. At least one member mixed potions and salves only for the clan, but was willing to sell her products to outsiders as well.

The Morkul Clan was not enthusiastic about enchanting and many members were openly against practitioners, even going as far as spitting in enchanters or their equipment. Saying that enchanting was a grander trade than smithing was also undesirable. At the same time, however, a member of the Mages Guild said that the enchanting skill of the Clan was surprising and that the two factions interacted with one another.

Members of the Clan were said to eat only meat and turnip, with their food being limited in options as not much grew in their territory as the soil was hard, although merchants with varying stock still existed in their stronghold and were able to offer exotic goods.

Due to the lack of wood near the coast in the region where the clan lived, it was tough to get hardwood, however, they still managed to send wagons full of lumber to Orsinium during the process of building the city that happened during the middle of the Second Era. It was expected that they would not have access to lumber if the city was not finished fast enough though.

Funerary Customs

One of the funerary customs of the clan was placing the arms and armor of a warrior in their cairn and, like many Orcs, they expected that the souls of the deceased would be forged into a blade of Malacath.

Gallery

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  A Morkul Champion (ESO)

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  A Morkul Warrior (ESO)

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  A Morkul Statue brought to life (ESO)

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  Chief Abzug of the Morkul during the Second Era (ESO)

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  A Morkul Enchanter (ESO)

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  A Morkul Blacksmith (ESO)

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  A Morkul Trinimac Worshipper (ESO)

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  A Morkul Gatekeeper (Legends)

Notes

• One of their fabled smiths, Nuzava, became the one who was responsible for the style of the Morkul. Her anvil later disappeared on the Icy Shore after the Orc traveled home and became a sought-after relic of Orcs. It is said that the anvil had arcane runes, although those claims were said to be false by Nuzava herself, but they remained even after her death.
• Some compare a person's attitude with a Morkul blade, saying that it can be as sharp as one of their weapons.
• Arcane goods sold in the stronghold of the clan during the middle of the Second Era were said to not be cheap.
• Speaking ill of their forge caused members of the clan to act aggressively and was pointed out as a reason that a merchant lost a client.

See Also

• For game-specific information, see the Elder Scrolls Online article.