Pyre of Ambition
The Elder Scrolls Online’s Blackwood chapter explores a turbulent period in Tamriel’s history 800 years before the events of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Set in a region marked by swamplands and political instability, the chapter centres on the machinations of Mehrunes Dagon, the Daedric Prince of Destruction, whose schemes foreshadow the cataclysmic Oblivion Crisis. Blackwood, a contested territory bordering Cyrodiil and Black Marsh, becomes the stage for clashes between mortal factions and insidious Daedric influence.
The region’s volatility is compounded by the ambitions of the Argonian Black Dragon cult, which seeks to destabilise the city of Leyawiin. Meanwhile, Mehrunes Dagan’s presence looms over these conflicts; his influence is channelled through mortal intermediaries rather than direct intervention. Central to the chapter’s narrative is the Pyre of Ambition questline, which follows players as they unravel a plot orchestrated by the Order of the New Gate, a cult devoted to Dagon. The cult’s objective revolves around recovering four ancient artefacts known as the Ambitions, relics once wielded by the Longhouse Emperors. These artefacts, if reassembled, could open gateways to Oblivion, enabling Dagon’s forces to spill into Tamriel.
His association with destruction and upheaval defines Mehrunes Dagon’s role in Elder Scrolls lore. Known for inciting revolutions and opening portals to his fiery realm, his most notable act remains the Oblivion Crisis, which nearly merged Nirn with Oblivion. In Blackwood, however, his methods are more covert. By exploiting the fanaticism of the Order of the New Gate, he manipulates events from the shadows, allowing mortal ambition to further his goals. The cult’s efforts to restore the Ambitions inadvertently reawaken dormant portals, spreading Daedric corruption across Blackwood and threatening nearby settlements.
The Pyre of Ambition questline culminates in a confrontation within the Imperial city of Gideon, now tainted by Dagon’s influence. Here, the reassembled Ambitions manifest as a colossal pyre capable of tearing reality itself. Players engage in battles against Daedric forces and cultists, striving to dismantle the artefact’s connection to Oblivion before Dagon’s full manifestation. While the immediate threat is neutralised and the Ambitions destroyed, the chapter underscores the lingering presence of Daedric influence, suggesting that such victories are temporary.
Blackwood’s events provide a precursor to the Oblivion Crisis, illustrating Dagon’s propensity for exploiting mortal ambition and manipulating artefacts to achieve his ends. The Daedric portals that emerge throughout the region echo the larger-scale Oblivion Gates that would later engulf Tamriel. Additionally, the chapter introduces figures whose roles gain significance in future conflicts, including a young Jakarn, later known as a Blades agent, and a mysterious benefactor speculated by some to be Tiber Septim in his early years.
The Blackwood chapter enriches the Elder Scrolls universe by situating its narrative within a specific historical context. It offers insights into the prelude of a well-known catastrophe. The chapter balances political intrigue with supernatural threats, presenting a scenario where mortal and Daedric ambitions collide. Though decisive, the resolution leaves an undercurrent of unease, reminding players that the boundaries between Nirn and Oblivion remain perilously thin.
