Soul in distress? Tired of Nirn’s predictable sunshine and petty mortal squabbles? Step right up to Coldharbour – Molag Bal’s five-star resort of domination, where the sky burns purple, the ground oozes like yesterday’s regret, and every guest is guaranteed eternal torment! This isn’t your average Oblivion plane. No, no – this is the premier destination for soul-crushing, chain-rattling, apocalyptic tourism. Ruled by the Prince of Brutality himself, Coldharbour is a twisted mirror of Nirn, complete with stolen cities, floating islands of blackened rock, and lakes of icy Azure Plasm that’ll freeze your vestige right off. Why settle for a beach vacation when you can bask in the stench of rancid death one moment and floral perfume the next? Book now – your soul is the down payment! And remember: no refunds, no escapes, no mercy.
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| Coldharbour, A Realm of Oblivion |
Why Coldharbour? Because You Deserve This Vacation
Picture this: you’re a mortal. You made a deal. Maybe you wanted power. Maybe you craved undeath. Maybe you just really wanted that Mortuum Vivicus. Whatever the reason, congratulations – you’ve earned a one-way ticket to Coldharbour, where vampires go when they die, where Soul Shriven toil forever, and where even Daedra look at you with pity. This isn’t a plane – it’s a statement. Molag Bal doesn’t just rule here; he curates despair. Every floating island, every slave pit, every Cold-Flame Atronach patrol is a love letter to domination. And the best part? It’s cold. Always. Magical resistance? Cute. You’ll still shiver. But hey – at least the Azure Plasm pools are refreshing… if you like your water brackish, glowing, and capable of reforming Daedra from nothing.
A Brief History of “Welcome to Hell” – Featuring Famous Guests!
Coldharbour didn’t become a nightmare – it was designed that way. Back in the Ayleid days, Abagarlas worshipped Bal with the Mortuum Vivicus, a soul-harvesting superweapon. Their rivals in Delodiil? Not fans. They attacked, Bal yanked the Vivicus back to his Halls of Submission, and the feud never ended. Fast-forward to 1E 2260: the All Flags Navy accidentally opens a portal via the Maelstrom of Bal – ships vanish, sailors scream, and Coldharbour gains a new nautical exhibit.
Sotha Sil visited in 1E 2920 to bargain – details classified, but rumor says he left with a headache and a new respect for chains. Morian Zenas, the famed Oblivion tourist, wept at the desolation. Vastarie stole the first black soul gems here – Mannimarco’s necromancy owes Bal a fruit basket. Even Mehrunes Dagon’s followers slaved away, only for Dagon to manifest a fiery projection, blow up some torture devices, and yoink their souls to the Deadlands. Rude? Maybe. Effective? Absolutely.
But the main event? 2E 582 – the Planemeld. Mannimarco tricks Emperor Varen into the Soulburst. Dragonfires out. Nirn unmoored. Dark Anchors drop like apocalyptic confetti. Vanus Galerion rallies the Fighters and Mages Guilds for an invasion. They get scattered on arrival – classic Coldharbour welcome. Meridia opens the Hollow City as a safe house. The Vestige – yes, you – reassembles the Five Companions, storms the Endless Stair, collapses the Planar Vortex, and banishes Bal to the Void using the Amulet of Kings. Take that, domination!
Geography: Three Regions, One Giant Middle Finger to Nirn
Coldharbour is divided into three main regions, each more welcoming than the last:
| Region | Vibe | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Shrouded Plain (SW) | Misty slave fields, Ayleid ruins, Argonian holdouts | Haj Uxith, Library of Dusk, Lightless Oubliette, Village of the Lost |
| Black Garrison (SE) | Military nightmare, illusions, soul labs | Vile Laboratory, Everfull Flagon, Tower of Lies |
| Fist of Stone (N) | Rocky death-promontory, vampire crypts, final boss lair | The Orchard, Reaver Citadel, Endless Stair, Heart’s Grief |
Surrounding the Fist? The Chasm – a gaping void moat. Crossing it? Post-quest only. Center of it all? The Hollow City – Meridia’s glowing “no Bal allowed” zone. Floating islands everywhere, connected by chains, bridges, or sheer desperation. Azure Plasm lakes? Daedric reform pools. Don’t fall in.
Inhabitants: Who’s Who in the Chain Gang
- Daedra: Dremora (Deathbringer and Foolkillers clans – always fighting), Harvesters, Banekin, Daedric Titans, Cold-Flame Atronachs from the Fourth Sinus of Takubar.
- Soul Shriven: Mortals without souls, animated by vestiges. Work, wither, reform, repeat. Some go feral – cannibal Shriven are a delicacy.
- Mortals with Deals: Vampires (post-mortem), Worm Cultists, isolated settlements like Haj Uxith (Argonians) and Moonless Walk (Shadow Walkers).
- Flora & Fauna: Netch, bantam guar, scuttlers, fish (Moray Leech, Ghoulfish, etc.). Yes, life thrives here. Bal’s irony game is strong.
Security: Because Bal Really Doesn’t Like Surprise Guests
- Portal Scramble: Unauthorized entry? You land nowhere near your target. Vanus Galerion’s invasion force learned this the hard way – scattered, lost, enslaved.
- Coldharbour Sentinels: Floating eyeballs linked to Bal’s vision. Destroy one, blind the network. Used in the Wailing Prison.
- Dark Anchors: Giant chains pulling Nirn in. Also double as invasion highways.
- The Chasm: Natural moat. Good luck swimming Azure Plasm.
Facilities: Where the Magic (of Suffering) Happens
| Facility | Purpose | Why Visit? |
|---|---|---|
| Black Forge | Weaponizes Planemeld tech | Vanus Galerion’s prison-turned-liberation |
| Vile Laboratory | Soul-fusion, vestigial hybridization | Gadris + Zur = one creepy mage |
| Library of Dusk | Propaganda + scholar traps | “Truth according to Bal” – bring a grain of salt |
| Molag Bal’s Personal Library | Cliff-spanning tomes of horror | Not open to public. Ever. |
| Wailing Prison | Soul Shriven intake center | Where the Vestige started |
| Castle of the Worm | Mannimarco’s old HQ | Now a ruin. Still creepy. |
| Vaults of Madness | Mad Architect’s labyrinth | Built for Planemeld, now a maze of regret |
| Graveyards | Bal just likes them | Aesthetic. Pure aesthetic. |
Research? Torture? Propaganda? Coldharbour’s got it all. Efficiency through suffering – Bal’s brand.
Culture: Domination as a Lifestyle
There’s no “society” – just hierarchy. Dremora clans feud. Soul Shriven toil. Vampires plot escape (see: Rada al-Saran and harrowstorms). Argonians in Haj Uxith cling to Hist pacts gone sour. Wood Elves in Moonless Walk feud with lamia. Meridia’s Army? The only rebellion – and even they use Bal’s realm against him. Culture = survival. Humor = gallows. Example: “At least the chains are locally sourced.”
Famous Visitors: The Coldharbour Hall of Fame
- The Vestige: Escaped Wailing Prison, ended Planemeld, banished Bal. Legend.
- Vanus Galerion: Led invasion, freed from Black Forge, still complains about portals.
- King Laloriaran Dynar: Last Ayleid king, imprisoned in Lightless Oubliette, freed to lead.
- Meridia: Disguised as Groundskeeper, opened Hollow City, hates Bal.
- Mannimarco: Betrayed everyone, tried to become Bal, failed spectacularly.
- Varen Aquilarios: Started Soulburst, ended in Coldharbour, helped stop it.
- Rada al-Saran: Gray Host vampire, tried to free vampire souls via harrowstorms.
These aren’t tourists – they’re survivors. Be like them. Or don’t. Bal doesn’t care.
Must-See Attractions: Your Itinerary of Doom
- Lightless Oubliette – Bal’s White-Gold Tower knockoff. Prison chic.
- Heart’s Grief – Bal’s palace. Post-banishing, it’s quiet. Too quiet.
- The Orchard – Vampire crypt party. Bring garlic? Ha, no.
- Village of the Lost – Three villages mid-pull to Coldharbour. Limbo real estate.
- Endless Stair – Planemeld HQ. Where worlds almost merged.
Skyshards? 16. Delves? 6. World Bosses? 6. Public Dungeon? Village of the Lost. Crafting stations? 2 (Spectre’s Eye, Oblivion’s Foe). Do it all – Coldharbour Adventurer achievement awaits.
Final Pitch: Why Wait? Your Soul’s Already Reserved!
Coldharbour isn’t a destination – it’s a lifestyle. Chains? Standard. Despair? Complimentary. Eternal torment? All-inclusive. Whether you’re a vampire checking in, a Soul Shriven checking out (of sanity), or a hero here to end the Planemeld – Coldharbour delivers. No other plane offers this level of commitment to suffering. So what are you waiting for? The portals are open. The chains are warm. Molag Bal is waiting. Pride and Prophecy keeps an evolving fantasy atlas to explore an array of fantasy locations across different universes.
