In the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO), the final DLC for 2020 is coming soon. It will be called Markarth and will bring the namesake city and the area of the Reach to ESO. MyMMO author Larissa Then shows you the new map and explains why she gets Lord of the Rings flashbacks there.
When is Markarth coming? The new DLC Markarth will be released on November 2, 2020, for PC, Mac, and Stadia. Console players will have to wait until November 10 for Xbox One and PS4.
Which map is it about? With the DLC comes the area “The Reach” and the associated city “Markarth” to ESO. They are part of the current chapter around Skyrim and are already known from the original game.
Real Skyrim fans will probably want to lynch me now, but at first glance on the test server, I didn’t think of The Elder Scrolls. The feeling of the landscape and the fortress in the mountain immediately reminded me of The Lord of the Rings.
“The Reach” and “Markarth” as a new map
This is what “The Reach” looks like: The new map of the DLC includes the area “The Reach” and the associated city “Markarth.” The Reach is located in the far west of Skyrim. Its image is shaped by deep valleys, high mountains, and many ruins.
Upon entering through the first shrine in the center of the Reach, I was overwhelmed by the raw beauty of the area. I felt among the high mountains like a companion of the little hobbits, who embark on their long journey in “The Fellowship” and felt a bit scared at the first vault that I might encounter a giant spider.
When you now open the map, you are somewhat brought back to reality. For all collectors, there is a new map progress waiting in the Reach. You can explore the landscape over hills and valleys and discover quests, vantage points, sky shards, vaults, and much more.
In the far west of the Reach, you will find the city of Markarth. By now, some may have thought, “Larissa is just a fan who sees The Lord of the Rings in every fantasy landscape.” However, my biggest flashback came as I rode towards the city.
Markarth or Helm’s Deep?
This is the city of Markarth: Markarth is basically a huge fortress in the mountain, whose dimensions are not immediately recognizable at first glance.
The city was built by the Dwemer, as the mountains were rich in ore deposits. Additionally, the abundant water there is ideal for drinking water or cooling for smithies and smelting furnaces.
Even though the architecture of the Dwemer is completely different, I immediately thought of Helm’s Deep. That is the fortress in the mountain that serves as the scene of the battle in the second part of The Lord of the Rings.
The feeling intensifies as I move through the city. At the entrance, you only get to see the outer districts of Markarth.
If you wind your way through the columns and rocks, you will reach other places, such as the Mages Guild or the bank. This also includes the fortress, which extends far into the mountain.
This path felt to me as if I were moving through the narrow streets and vaults of Helm’s Deep, ultimately arriving at the protective chamber at the back.
This is the new house in Markarth: If you want a better view of Markarth, you can do so from the new house “Stone Eagle Aerie.” You can purchase it on the public test server for 1 crown or with furniture for 2 crowns. Alternatively, you can simply visit the house.
Up there on the battlements, I get the feeling of having found the perfect point to shoot at attacking orcs with other elves.
As some may ride through the Reach or Markarth with a nostalgic feeling of Skyrim, I will always be accompanied by The Lord of the Rings there.
If you want to shorten the waiting time for Markarth, the “Forgotten Treasures of Skyrim” event is currently running in ESO. There, you can work together with the community on progression through the antiquities system and achieve substantial rewards.
