Lore:Joile

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King Joile
ON-npc-King Joile.jpg
King Joile in HoonDing's Watch
Race Breton Gender Male
Born 1st Era
Died 1E 973
Bangkorai Pass
Resided in Daggerfall
Appears in ESO
The Kingdom of Daggerfall; Joile's domain

Joile was the King of Daggerfall in the early-mid First Era. He is most well-known for his ambitions of conquest that led to the Siege of Orsinium, a thirty-year long conflict on the Orcish capital, Orsinium and his subsequent treachery to his Redguard allies sometime later, that latter of which led to his demise.[1]

History[edit]

Joile's lineage nor the length of his reign is currently unknown. King Joile commissioned the minor House Manteau of Wind Keep to tailor cloaks for him and his court, which proved to elevate Manteau's name and status into where it is now.[2] Courtiers of his court were given the honor of being buried in Cath Bedraud, the grand cemetery located in the northernmost part of Glenumbra.[3]

The Siege of Orsinium[edit]

Ruins of the First Orsinium

In 1E 948, King Joile sent a letter to the warrior and leader of the Order of Diagna, Gaiden Shinji for his assistance in his war against the Orcs of Orsinium. At the time, King Golkarr laid a substantial claim over Stormhaven and impeded trade lanes around Wayrest and to the Breton heartland.[4][5] In fact, King Joile's mention of Wayrest in his letter serves as one of the settlement's earliest mentions in recorded history.[4]

It was Golkarr's grand proclamation that lauded the Orcish raiders across the Bjoulsae River that forced Joile's hand and led to the following events.[6] Two years after his call to arms, the Kingdom of Daggerfall, in conjunction with the Order of Diagna and the newly-named Kingdom of Sentinel launched an assault on the Orcish capital.[7]

The Siege of Orsinium lasted for thirty years and King Joile used any means necessary to see the city collapse. The King enlisted the help of Reachfolk mercenaries and clans and of the most accomplished were the Winterborn, led by Mercedene, the Beast of the Reach. King Joile had recognized Mercedene's prowess to such an extent to have her lead the Knights of the Dragon as well.[6] According to legend, King Golkarr prayed at the Grudgement Hall for Mauloch's help but was confronted by King Joile and Gaiden Shinji. The King grabbed him by the head as Gaiden Shinji slew him on the spot.[8] Golkarr's exact date of death is not known, but the Siege of Orsinium persisted nonetheless, and one of the only forces to defend the Orcish people were the Savage Sons, an order of warriors led by Baloth Bloodtusk. They managed to reinforce the city and as the years went on, people on both sides felt that the battle went on far too long.[6]

Joile's treason and death[edit]

The Bangkorai Pass now fortified
A statue depicting the duel

King Joile believed that a duel between Gaiden Shinji and Baloth Bloodtusk should decide the outcome of the battle and sent Lord Trystan, leader of the Knights of the Dragon to send the message. Unbeknownst to them, Joile devised a plan to bring both warriors together and snuff them out all at once so that not only would Orsinium fall, but Hammerfell would lose their brightest warrior, who would have led them into battle when he would inevitably invade them. Joile ordered General Mercedene to enact the assassination mid-match and supplied archers to see it come to fruition.[9][10]

The Order of Diagna and the Savage Sons gathered in an area in Orsinium and in the middle of battle, both champions were shot down by the Winterborn. Mercedene's mercenaries started to slaughter both the Redguards and Orcs until the general and her forces were defeated by Commander Reliana. Lord Trystan and Baloth's brother, Rokaug honored Gaiden Shinji's last wish, to be buried in the land he fell and to honor his last opponent, in this case, Baloth Bloodtusk.[6] Both warriors were buried in a mausoleum called Honor's Rest, southeast of Orsinium.[11]

With no other force to withstand the invasion force, the Orcs were defeated, and King Joile continued his plans to invade the weakened Hammerfell. His armies moved south into the Bangkorai Pass and overwhelmed the Redguard garrison there in 1E 973. One of them managed to escape and brought six Maidens of the Spirit Sword (Cegila, Julia, Kati, Makela Leki, Patia, and Zell). The group of warriors delved deep into battle before the garrison was completely gone and overpowered Daggerfall's armies. One by one the Ansei were struck down until Makela Leki was at the end of her ropes. In the middle of the conflict, Makela was able to summon her spirit sword and blazed through the Bretons until she reached King Joile. With one blow, she broke through his magical armor and then decapitated him. With his death, the Bretons quickly fled back across the pass and Daggerfall's ambitions of conquest were done.[12]

Legacy[edit]

King Joile is widely remembered for his treachery on both the Orcs and the Redguards but after his death, certain historians and political commentators supported his actions against the Redguards unapologetically.[13] One such example was Morgaulle Dechery of Evermore, who claimed that Joile's incursion onto Hammerfell did not come from his need of conquest but to ensure the safety and comfort of his people. That the Ra Gada would have invaded by the will of their nature, just as they did with the original inhabitants of the province.[14] However, her writings were later critiqued by the Altmer scholar, Aminyas and according to his journal, believed that Joile lacked the strength to carry on with his initiative because he failed to plan it further ahead. He blamed it on the short-sightedness of man.[15] Both of these writers disappeared in the Sunken Road, Makela Leki's resting place after the battle.[13] As the years went on, King Joile had become objectively known for his betrayal, cited by the scholar of the University of Gwylim, Ugron gro-Thumog as such.[5]

Despite what the Siege of Orsinium did to the pariah folk, the conflict brought about a massive change to High Rock, one that ironically shifted control from Daggerfall. When the Bjoulsae River became more open, it saw the expansion of Wayrest into a formidable rival,[7] Evermore's foundation deeper in the river,[16] and the downfall of Daggerfall's monopoly over the Iliac Bay. In twenty years, Wayrest had trade profits equal to Daggerfall[7] and with their help, they established the Masconian Trade Way and reduced piracy across the bay. Twenty more years later, the city was recognized as a master of the Iliac trade, and eventually, the Kingdom of Wayrest was established in 1E 1100.[4]

Whenever a worthy person arrives on HoonDing's Watch (ruins south of Kozanset), spirits appear before them and walk them down their history, to fight their ancient enemies and teach them the ways of becoming a champion of the Alik'r. Along the path, they re-experience the Siege of Orsinium and later, the Battle of Bangkorai Pass, where they fight Joile's forces and the King's spirit himself. Tu'whacca's lesson is that "war and kings are fleeting, but honor is eternal". It is the greatest lesson that Tu'whacca bestows on the path through HoonDing's Watch.[1]

Gallery[edit]

  • Makela Leki; King Joile's slayer

See Also[edit]

Books[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Throne Keeper Farvad's dialogue in ESO
  2. ^ Lady Eloisse Answers Your Questions — Lady Eloisse, Fifth Countess Manteau
  3. ^ The Improved Emperor's Guide to Tamriel: High Rock — Flaccus Terentius, 2E 581
  4. ^ a b c Wayrest, Jewel of the Bay — Sathyr Longleat
  5. ^ a b Antique Map of Stormhaven antiquity codex entries in ESO: Greymoor
  6. ^ a b c d Lord Trystan's dialogue in ESO: Orsinium
  7. ^ a b c A History of Daggerfall — Odiva Gallwood
  8. ^ The Great Siege of Orsinium
  9. ^ Rokaug's dialogue in ESO: Orsinium
  10. ^ King Joile's Orders to General Mercedene — King Joile
  11. ^ The Ashes of Our Fathers quest in ESO: Orsinium
  12. ^ From The Memory Stone of Makela Leki — Makela Leki
  13. ^ a b Letter to Herminius Sophus — J. Ithaka
  14. ^ Morgaulle Dechery's Journal — Morgaulle Dechery
  15. ^ Aminyas' Journal — Aminyas
  16. ^ The Royal House of King Eamond — Seneschal Derric Andras of Castle Evermore
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