Shipal-Shin
Shipal-Shin is a Hlaalu-dominated desert region in Narsis District, Morrowind.
The red canyons of Shipal-Shin rise up far to the south adjoining the Velothi Mountains, lowering their heights and forming a natural border both with Cyrodiil and Black Marsh. Inside Morrowind, it borders the Arnesian Jungle and Deshaan Plains to the west, and Coronati Basin and Othreleth Woods to the north.
Most of the region is inhospitable rocky canyons with scraggly vegetation. The best-adapted to the region are the Kwoom-herding Shinathi nomads, but isolated Hlaalu settlements can be found in the canyons, too, with inhabitants tilling the red soil and tending the sparse Tanna and Drumpear foliage, or mining Kwama eggs and sapphire. Another major occupation in the region is trade – Hlaalu caravanserais embody that aspect, as does Narsis, the most prominent city in the whole district and the capital of House Hlaalu.
Shipal-Shin is intended to be a high-level area roamed by smugglers, Shinathi bandits, Horned Butchers, Skyrenders, and other dangers. Only the major roads are somewhat safer to travel. It is also a good location for cults, both official and hidden: Nibenese cults, Nerevarine cultists, the northernmost cell of the Brotherhood of Seth, and perhaps even some Dunmer anti-undead Meridia cultists, who assimilated into the Imperial sphere a bit too much. Two Goblin tribes are present, one in the north-western end and one north of Septim’s Gate Pass. A few scattered signs of the ancient Nedes can be found in the region by way of rock paintings and funeral offerings.
Most of the region will be released as part of the Narsis expansion, while the northern spur will feature in the later Andrethis and Kragenmoor expansions. The southern part of the region is de jure part of Black Marsh, but will also be included in Tamriel Rebuilt. As it needs new assets for Argonian settlements and flora to account for the more humid conditions on the Argonian side, it is not yet clear when work on the southern half will commence. A sliver of the region is also planned to feature in Province: Cyrodiil, but that is a long way in the future.
Southern Shipal-Shin
- Vincenzo's concepts for Southern Shipal-Shin flora
The region of Shipal-Shin will extend to the south across the Black Marsh border. This southern spur will have much more green and lush foliage than the region "proper." The foliage will be also be retrofitted in patches into northern Shipal-Shin, spilling over the Stormgate pass near the Ayleid ruin and at maximum surrounding the source of the Thirr River to the west of Narsis.
Vincenzo conceptualized a number of plants for the region, starting in late 2023.
Settlements
- Narsis – Morrowind's second largest and probably richest city; the capital of House Hlaalu and home to the Imperial Proconsulate. It has grown fat and decadent from the trade passing between Cyrodiil, Morrowind, and Stormhold. In the works since 2004, the city is only now reaching interior completion in its third or fourth iteration.
- Shipal-Sharai – a dilapitated, but once-prosperous Hlaalu caravan town wedged into a steep canyon on the Imperial Purple Road.
- Reluran – a Hlaalu amethyst mining town on the transition with the Othreleth Woods region. Previously called Andrethis.
- Salvelis – a small, but very picturesque Hlaalu egg mining village on the border with the Velothi Mountains.
- Altim – a company town of the Valley of Storms Charter in the south of the region. Owned by the Hlaalu Council Company, but not necessarily built by the Hlaalu or in their style.
- Adavrin Ranch – a large and successful Netch ranch south of Narsis.
- Vedas Plantation – home of the wealthy and ambitious Vedas Family near Narsis.
- Old Dren Plantation – ancestral home of the Dren brothers.
- Septim's Gate Pass – one of the two major strongly fortified passes from Cyrodiil to Morrowind, sitting astride the Imperial Purple Road that passes from the Heartlands through Mir Corrup into Narsis.
- Stormgate Pass – an outpost (not a fort) on the border pass between Black Marsh and Morrowind. Overlooking it are the ruins of the ancient Barsaebic Ayleid tower of Mala Tor.
- False Thinking Temple – An important Tribunal Temple site on source of the Thirr river, known from the 36 Sermons. Will possibly be renamed owing to implications in canon texts that the False Thinking Temple was in Mournhold.
- Shinathi Clan dwellings – several camps of the sometimes-welcoming, sometimes-hostile Shinathi nomads are found throughout the region.
- Chaerei and Ateshu – settlements of the Argonian Nitus tribe, recently united from a mish-mash outcasts and escaped slaves that inhabited the region after the ancestral Argonian clan of the region was crushed by the Septim Empire.
- Ald Khan – a major Daedric city ruin, where Vivec's monstrous children were implied to have been born.
- Jabba's Tower (needs a name) – a huge Velothi tower that is the headquarters of the criminal Ja-Natta Syndicate, ruled by a Sload boss.
Exterior Design Guide
Ground Textures
- Sand - underwater
- T_Mw_TerrDaeStoneSH - in daedric ruins
- T_Mw_TerrDirtMudSH - around water, as a transition from sand
- T_Mw_TerrDirtRockSH - use around cliffs and very rocky areas
- T_Mw_TerrDirtSH_** - main dirt for the region, use as you would use grass in other regions
- T_Mw_TerrGrassTV - use sparingly and exclusively around the Thirr
- T_Mw_TerrGrassDirtTV - use exclusively around the Thirr
- T_Mw_TerrRoadSH_01 - Stone roads
- T_Mw_TerrRoadTV_01 - Small settlements
- WG_Road - Lesser Hlaalu city cobbles
- WG_Cobblestones - Richer Hlaalu city cobbles
- wg_dirtroad - minor roads and paths
- T_Mw_TerrRockSH_01(+ b) - lowland rock texture
- T_Mw_TerrRockSH_02(+ b) - highland rock texture
- T_Mw_TerrRockSH_03 (+ b)- uncommon peak/VM transition rock texture
- T_MW_TerrScrubSH_01 - Dry grassy areas
- T_Mw_TerrDirtTilledSH_01 - Farmland
Terrain
Exterior developers should be careful to not rotate rocks in ways that give them weird erosion patterns when placed next to each other, with the exception of rock groups and small rocks.
- T_Mw_TerrRockSH_Rock1_** lowlands rocks
- T_Mw_TerrRockSH_RockGrp1_** lowlands rock groups
- T_Mw_TerrRockSH_Cliff01_** bottom layer cliffs
- T_Mw_TerrRockSH_CliffS01_** small bottom layer cliffs for covering gaps
- T_Mw_TerrRockSH_Rock2_** highlands rocks
- T_Mw_TerrRockSH_RockGrp2_** highlands rock groups
- T_Mw_TerrRockSH_Cliff02_** top layer cliffs
- T_Mw_TerrRockSH_CliffS02_** small top layer cliffs for covering gaps
- T_Mw_TerrRockSH_Rock3_** uncommon peak/VM transition rocks
- T_Mw_TerrRockSH_RockGrp3_** uncommon peak/VM transition rock groups
- T_Mw_TerrRockSH_Cliff03_** uncommon peak/VM transition cliffs
- T_Mw_TerrRockSH_CliffS03_** uncommon peak/VM transition cliffs for covering gaps
Static Flora
- T_Mw_FloraAT_SpartiumBealei_** - around roads and rock clusters, more frequent around water
- T_Mw_FloraOW_Tree** (yellow mushroom trees) - only on the border with Othreleth Woods
- T_Mw_FloraTV_Grass_** - very sparingly around the thirr
- T_Mw_FloraTV_TreeGeran_** - main tree of the region, commonly grows in clusters and around rocks
- T_Mw_FloraTV_TreeZifa_** - common in fertile valleys, sparse in the general region
- T_Mw_FloraSH_Bush_** - bushes, grow around rocks, more common in fertile areas
- T_Mw_FloraSH_DrumpearTree_** - Grows up cliffs and large rocks, less strict bleeding rules on these.
Container Flora
- T_Mw_FloraSH_BlisFom** - shelf fungus, grows on logs and geraniums
- T_Mw_FloraSH_Tanna** - common crop, and grows in clusters in the wilderness
- T_Mw_FloraSH_VeilUrn** - grows in shaded areas, or around rocks
- T_Mw_FloraTV_SpoLotus** - in water only
- T_Mw_FloraTV_Weepveil** - by water, remember to pair with a bc mushroom light
- T_Mw_FloraSH_Drumpear** - on the static vines
- T_Mw_Flora_LichenWt** - on rocks
- flora_plant_08 /T_Mw_Flora_SpinyLlor** - common cactus for dry areas
Cultivated
- T_Mw_FloraSH_Tanna** - Major crop of the region
- T_Mw_FloraSH_DrumpearTrellis_** - Secondary crop of the region, grown mostly near windmills
- flora_hackle-lo_** / T_Mw_Flora_Hackle-Lo_** - Rare crop for variety, only in farms near a water source
- flora_corkbulb - Rare crop for variety, only in farms near a water source
Vertex Shading
- Under statics: 118,88,88
- Between textures: 131,111,111
Interior Design Guide
Cavern Flora
T_Mw_Flora_YamOrb**- container - pair withT_Glb_Light_Plant_**lightT_Mw_FloraSH_VeilUrn**- containerT_Mw_FloraSH_BlisFom**- containerT_Mw_Flora_LichenWt**- container- lichens
Assets Needed
Environmental
Creatures
Additional Links
(2020) Meeting discussing Shipal-Shin claim descriptions
(2016) Meeting discussing Shipal-Shin borders