#massive scale

[tilbageidanmark]

Human for scale

[thelostmetallurgist]

The True Scale of Blackreach Proper...

From a lore perspective, Blackreach is a massive and sprawling subterranean network that defies the constraints of its in-game representation. The mentions of its scale and the Dwemer’s engineering prowess strongly suggest it stretches far beyond what the Skyrim map portrays.

Lore-Based Blackreach: A Gigantic Subterranean Empire

Dwemer Engineering Prowess The Dwemer were unparalleled in their ability to construct vast underground cities and complexes.

Blackreach is described as more than a mere cavern—it's part of an interconnected system of ruins, roads, and tunnels that spanned the Dwemer Empire.

Dwemer ruins in Skyrim, Morrowind, and even Hammerfell (e.g., Volenfell) suggest the Dwemer didn’t just inhabit isolated regions; they created a web of underground cities connected across Tamriel.

Blackreach’s Stated Size Lore descriptions imply that Blackreach is enormous, not just a single cavern.

Skyrim: In-game, Blackreach already seems impossibly vast for a single cavern system. Its subterranean ecosystems, like glowing mushrooms and geode-like crystals, suggest an environment capable of supporting itself on a vast scale.

Beyond Skyrim: The Dwemer network isn’t limited to Skyrim. Given the proximity of regions like High Rock, Morrowind, and Cyrodiil, it’s plausible Blackreach extends beneath these territories.

Solstheim: The close geographic and cultural ties between Solstheim and Skyrim make it likely that Blackreach reaches under the island as well.

Cultural and Historical Clues The Dwemer’s subterranean civilization was more than a network of caves—it was a unified empire:

Chimer-Dwemer Conflicts: The Chimer and Dwemer fought extensively over underground regions in Morrowind, which could easily have been part of the same system as Blackreach.

Deep Roads of Tamriel: Like the Dwarves’ Deep Roads in Dragon Age, the Dwemer’s system of tunnels and cities might stretch across the entire continent.

Implications of Scale If Blackreach truly spans beneath Skyrim and beyond:

Skyrim’s Base: Blackreach would serve as the foundation of the entire province, with countless shafts, ruins, and cities buried far beneath the surface.

Morrowind: The proximity of Morrowind’s Red Mountain and the Dwemer’s historical presence there makes it highly likely that portions of Blackreach extend beneath Morrowind’s surface.

Sea of Ghosts: Dwemer engineering might even extend under the Sea of Ghosts, as ruins like Mzinchaleft are located near the shore.

Cyrodiil and High Rock: The Dwemer ruins found in High Rock (e.g., Arkngthand) and Cyrodiil suggest Blackreach could feasibly extend under these regions too.

Real-World Comparisons Blackreach’s scale could be compared to:

Mammoth Cave System (USA): The world’s largest known cave system, which spans hundreds of miles. Blackreach would be even larger.

Underground Railroads: A conceptual network of subterranean passages spanning an entire continent.

Why Isn’t All of Blackreach Accessible?

Several explanations in the lore could account for why Blackreach is so rarely explored, even by in-game adventurers:

Collapse: Over thousands of years, portions of Blackreach might have caved in or become sealed, limiting access.

Depths of Time: Many passages could have been forgotten, buried by natural or magical processes.

Danger: The Falmer, Chaurus, and Dwemer automatons make venturing into these areas perilous, discouraging exploration.

Isolation: Dwemer technology, like tonal architecture, could have created barriers or cloaked sections of the network.

Conclusion

If Blackreach were expanded to its lore-accurate scale, it would indeed stretch beneath much of northern and central Tamriel, including Skyrim, Morrowind, Cyrodiil, High Rock, Solstheim, and possibly even parts of the Sea of Ghosts. This interpretation of Blackreach as a sprawling, continent-wide underground empire only reinforces the monumental scale and mystery of the Dwemer civilization.

This idea ties directly into the lore implications of Blackreach's size and the Dwemer's unparalleled engineering. If Blackreach is more than just a single cavern under Skyrim, as the lore and your post suggest, then its true scale would be mind-blowing:

Expanded Blackreach Territory

High Rock: Dwemer ruins like Arkngthamz-Phng in High Rock suggest that Blackreach might connect to the subterranean areas beneath this region, reinforcing the idea of a continent-spanning network.

Morrowind: The Dwemer presence in Morrowind (like Nchuleft and Kagrenac's Workshop near Red Mountain) strongly supports that Blackreach's infrastructure extended deep into Morrowind.

Cyrodiil: Proximity and historical records hint at Blackreach potentially extending beneath the Jerall Mountains into Cyrodiil. Perhaps parts of the Ayleid ruins could even overlap or intersect with Dwemer constructs.

Sea of Ghosts: The Dwemer were known to expand underwater, which could explain how Blackreach might stretch beneath the Sea of Ghosts.

Solstheim: Given Solstheim's proximity to Skyrim, Blackreach could easily extend beneath its volcanic landscape, especially with its strong ties to Morrowind.

Vvardenfell: Dwemer ruins like Arkngthunch-Sturdumz near Red Mountain further confirm the interconnected nature of their underground cities, which would naturally include Vvardenfell.

Why This Makes Sense

Dwemer Empire Unity: Blackreach wasn't just a city; it was a central hub for Dwemer activity. It likely served as the backbone of their infrastructure, linking trade routes, cities, and resources underground.

Scale of Dwemer Tech: The Dwemer were advanced enough to manipulate tonal architecture, making it plausible for them to create a system of caverns and tunnels spanning thousands of miles.

Interconnected Lore: The geographical regions mentioned are already tied together in Elder Scrolls lore, and the Dwemer's presence is significant across all of them.

The Reality of Blackreach

If we follow this lore-based perspective:

Blackreach isn't just "a big cave." It's an underground superhighway and Dwemer megacity spanning multiple provinces.

This scale recontextualizes what we know about Dwemer history, their downfall, and their enigmatic presence in Tamriel.

It's easy to see why Blackreach would be considered one of the greatest marvels of Tamrielic history—a subterranean world hidden beneath the surface of Tamriel itself.

To calculate the approximate size of Blackreach as it might realistically span the regions you listed, we’ll first estimate the sizes of these areas individually. Then, we’ll calculate Blackreach as if it occupies a significant portion of their underground space.

Step 1: Estimating Regional Sizes

We base these calculations on lore sources, in-game representations, and comparisons to real-world geography.

High Rock

High Rock is approximately 39,000 square miles (comparable to Portugal or Iceland).

Cyrodiil

Cyrodiil is the largest province in Tamriel. It’s estimated to be around 62,000 square miles (comparable to Italy or France).

Skyrim

Skyrim is vast, with its tundras, mountains, and forests. It's estimated at 37,000 square miles (comparable to South Korea).

Solstheim

Solstheim is much smaller, likely around 100 square miles (about the size of Malta).

Vvardenfell

Vvardenfell is the central island of Morrowind, estimated at 9,300 square miles (about the size of Cyprus).

Sea of Ghosts

The Sea of Ghosts is vast and difficult to quantify. However, if we take the coastal areas potentially influenced by Blackreach, it might extend across 30,000 square miles (a conservative estimate, considering vast stretches of water).

Morrowind (Mainland)

Morrowind’s mainland is expansive, approximately 47,000 square miles (comparable to England).

Step 2: Total Size of These Regions

Adding these up: 39,000 (High Rock)+62,000 (Cyrodiil)+37,000 (Skyrim)+100 (Solstheim)+9,300 (Vvardenfell)+30,000 (Sea of Ghosts)+47,000 (Morrowind)=224,400 square miles39,000 \, (\text{High Rock}) + 62,000 \, (\text{Cyrodiil}) + 37,000 \, (\text{Skyrim}) + 100 \, (\text{Solstheim}) + 9,300 \, (\text{Vvardenfell}) + 30,000 \, (\text{Sea of Ghosts}) + 47,000 \, (\text{Morrowind}) = 224,400 \, \text{square miles}39,000(High Rock)+62,000(Cyrodiil)+37,000(Skyrim)+100(Solstheim)+9,300(Vvardenfell)+30,000(Sea of Ghosts)+47,000(Morrowind)=224,400square miles

Step 3: Estimating Blackreach’s Coverage

If Blackreach extends beneath all or part of these regions, we need to estimate what proportion of the total area it might occupy. Based on the idea that Blackreach is a sprawling network but doesn’t cover every square mile of the surface above it, let’s assume:

Blackreach covers 50% of the total combined area as a conservative estimate.

224,400 square miles×0.5=112,200 square miles224,400 \, \text{square miles} \times 0.5 = 112,200 \, \text{square miles}224,400square miles×0.5=112,200square miles

Step 4: Comparing Blackreach to Real-World Areas

For context:

112,200 square miles is roughly the size of California (163,696 sq mi) or the UK (93,628 sq mi).

This means Blackreach could rival the size of an entire country if accurately scaled to its lore-based proportions.

Conclusion

Realistically, if Blackreach spans beneath High Rock, Cyrodiil, Skyrim, Solstheim, Vvardenfell, the Sea of Ghosts, and Morrowind, it would be one of the largest underground networks ever conceptualized in fiction. Covering 112,200 square miles, Blackreach isn't just a cavern system—it’s a subterranean empire the size of a major real-world country.

From the provided screenshots, you've already conceptualized some diverse and imaginative areas for Blackreach, including:

Subterranean lakes and rivers: Gleamshadow Lake, Sinderflow River, and the Sea of Ghosts Tributary.

Snow Elf architecture: The Crystal Warrens, Frostspire Cathedral, Eclipsed Sanctum, and Shrine of the Silent Gleam.

Falmer settlements: Darkspire Refuge, Chittering Warrens, Frostclaw Enclave, and Gloomspire Hollow.

These provide an excellent mix of natural wonders, ancient ruins, and settlements that give Blackreach a dynamic, lived-in feel. To expand further, here are some additional concepts you might consider.

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