ThreeDawg
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Post by ThreeDawg on Dec 10, 2012 12:34:58 GMT -5
A Land of Man, Mer and Beast.
Introduction: Nirn is full of mysteries, some of which I have described in my other books on the varying subjects, but one of the most intriguing things to me is the sheer variety in the races that call it home. From the humble Breton to the mysterious Akaviri the races of Nirn are unique historically, culturally and physically from each other and it is here where I shall explain how and hopefully, why.
Longevity: First a word on the longevity and aging of the races of Nirn: Men, of all types, are oft considered "mature" by their late teens. Middle aged by their late 30s and venerable by their late 50s. Over the age of 70, they are considered elderly and very few survive to see a century. Mer typically mature by their early 20s, with middle age being approached in their 50s. Typically they become venerable by their late 70s and elderly after their first century. Most Elves do not survive their 12th decade. Elves of pure blood (it is considered that human admixture reduces longevity) and those with strong constitutions may see their second century. These Mer are typically referred to as ancient. Orsimer are an exception and age similar to Humans, although few make it into their elderly years and prefer an honourable death long before they become infirm with age. Argonians follow a somewhat similar ageing process as Mer, although few survive over their hundredth year. Khajiit are a unique exception to the rule. More Mer-like Khajiit breeds follow the same principle as the Mer while the bestial breeds have similar longevity to Humans. Large bestial breeds (like Senches) will become elderly by their fiftieth year while smaller bestial breeds (like Alfiq) may live as long as a Mer. Sload might survive for centuries, but the beings tend to die through the machinations of their peers far earlier. Imga have a similar lifespan to the races of Man, if a little bit shorter. For all the above mentioned races, it should be clearly noted that powerful mages have the fortune or surviving extremely longer than their contemporaries. Those nobles with access to said mages will survive far past their racial average too. However, this longevity does not mean they remain young. It merely prolongs the venerable stage of their life. Dragons age, but it is said never die from it, they merely weather and carry the scars of past conflicts into the future. Hist also age, but can survive millenia before succumbing to the rigours of time and are more likely to fall to disease or disasters first. I must confess, I have no idea of the longevity of the races of Akavir - I have yet to ask one that question. |
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ThreeDawg
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Post by ThreeDawg on Mar 11, 2019 8:52:30 GMT -5
Man: Going on the oldest traditions of Mer, as Man had not created the written language as early as them, the origin of Man is thus: The races of Man, like those of Mer, are thought to all come from one race of spirit-born beings during the Dawn Era, the Ehlnofey. To be more precise Man is thought to have originated from the Wandering Ehlnofey that found themselves lost on Nirn when the Twelve Worlds of Creation collided. Eventually the Wandering Ehlnofey found each other and together found their Ehlnofey brethren that had survived, protected by their own magicks from the chaos of the outside, on a portion of their world. The Old Ehlnofey would not let their Wandering brethren into Aldmeris, instead they warred with the Wandering Ehlnofey. The Old Ehlnofey retained the knowledge and power of their old ways but the Wandering Ehlnofey were more numerous so the war lasted for a long time. The war lasted ages and supposedly reshaped the face of Nirn, sinking lands beneath the oceans and scattering continents across them. So came the creation of Tamriel, Yokuda, Atmora and Akavair. The war left the Wandering Ehlnofey secluded on the last three continents and the Old Ehlnofey without a home. Although this may not be the true means of the creation of Man, it is a good enough explanation for why the races of Man, although clearly related, were separate from each other by the time of the Merethic Era. I shall end this chapter with those races of Man no longer with us:
{ Imperial:} I will begin with the cosmopolitan Imperials that hail from Cyrodiil. Imperials, or Cyrods, are the descendants of the Nedic slaves that freed themselves from Ayleid control. Diverse in appearance, due to a high rate of interbreeding with the other races of Man and Mer, the Imperials are often described as having a darker skin colouring than Nords and Bretons with a more 'chiselled' facial structure. Imperials, although not as robust or hardy as the other races of Man, have come to inhabit (at least as a minority) most of the provinces of Tamriel. They are also the only race bar the ancient Aldmer that can claim to have ruled over all of Tamriel. Imperials can be many things, serving in all walks of life (from sailor to Imperial War Mage) with able capabilities. Although they may not have the innate ability for, as an example, magic that Bretons or races of Mer have they are still capable to perform admirably at nearly every role. Imperials are also especially noted for the charisma of their race, often well known for becoming shrewd businessmen or politicians. But do not think them weak, as Imperial soldiers are well known for their discipline and the training of their Imperial Legions.
{ Nord:} A hardy yet, sometimes, homely people. Nords are the descendants of those Nedes who stayed in Skyrim. They kept their races distinct Resistance to the cold of the land and adapted well, becoming expert farmer, hunters and sailors. Tall, fair haired and of light complexion the Nord fit well into their cold homeland yet fear not spreading their influence to father away lands, although preferring the colder climes of northern Tamriel. Their culture often emphases on personal (and family) glory and honour. Yet the Nords, as you may well know, are not a pacifistic people. They excel at all methods of martial prowess, from their own native axes to the exotic sabres of Hammerfell. Nords created the first empire run by Man, conquering much of northern Tamriel, and even contributed heavily (and still do) to the Imperial Empire of Cyrodiil. If there is one thing most Nords share in common it is their distaste of magic. Magic is frowned upon throughout much of Skyrim, especially after the Oblivion Crisis, even though one of the few (and one of the oldest) magical bodies in Tamriel exist inside the province, the College of Winterhold.
{ Breton:} The first thing one may notice when they see a Breton is that they are few differences from Imperials or even Nords. They are, in fact, the result of many generations of interbreeding between ancient Aldmer and Nedes, descended from a sort of 'Manmeri' hybrid. The Breton race hails from the mountainous province of High Rock, where their mercantile culture (and a splash of Mer arrogance) gave rise to many independent nation-states over the years. Bretons are short, fair of skin, dark of hair and have very few characteristics of their Mer ancestors. This is mainly attributed to how diluted their blood is, making them more Man than Mer. They do, however, retain some of the aptitude for the magical arts that their Mer ancestors had. This does not make the entire race a magocracy on the contrary many Bretons are hardy warriors, similar to their Nordic cousins.
{ Redguards:} Redguards (derived from the name for their warrior caste, the Ra'gada), or Yokudans, are a race of Man not native to Tamriel. The third known race of Man to have originated outside of Tamriel. Redguards are easily spotted from a crowd of other Men by the darker tones of their skin and hair. Blessed with a natural fortitude inherited from their warrior ancestors the Redguards managed to make a home for themselves out of the deserts of Hammerfell. Their seemingly natural love of the sea has aided this race of Man in not only fleeing their devastated homeland of Yokuda, which sank beneath the seas, but also helped them spread their influence to possibly every port on Tamriel. Although adept sailors the Redguards are even better warriors, having a natural build and skill set that has allowed this warrior race to create some of the greatest warriors ever to have walked Tamriel. Unlike the Nords however the Redguards also have a long history of manipulating the magical arts through their caste of Battle Seers although their culture has an apparent distaste for the schools of Conjuration and Mysticism, preferring the more battle-proved school of Destruction.
{ Akaviri:}  The Akaviri, foreign to the shores of Tamriel, are a race of Man that originate from the continent of Akavir to the East. The Akaviri invaded northern Tamriel in the late First Era and early Second Era. Their reasons for doing so are unknown to modern scholars but it is hinted in some sources that their elite military body, their Dragonguard, was tasked with the extermination of Dragons on Nirn. If this is the case then the Dragonguard, possibly following or learning of dragons in Tamriel would have had reason to invade Tamriel from Skyrim (by far the place home to the most Dragons). The Akaviri invasion failed and, for a time, Akaviri remnants integrated themselves into Imperial culture, influencing it heavily. The Akaviri became the favoured advisers of many Remen Emperors, even founding the famous bodyguards of the Emperors, the Blades. Eventually the Akaviri ceased to be a distinct race on Tamriel having interbred with the native Cyrods, a number of such distinctly Akaviri lineages still exist throughout Cyrodiil and the grasslands of modern-day Rimmen. These Rim-men cling to their akaviri cultural practices and styles, but do not look overly dissimilar to modern-day Cyrods. It is understood that, after their failed invasion of Tamriel, the Akaviri became extinct (or were assimilated, or enslaved) in their native Akavir due to the Tsaesci serpent-men. I won’t lie, my sources on this are vague. The Akaviri tongue is a harsh one and translation of the few sources on the status of this race of Man are vague and poorly translated. It has been some time since I have spoken to any Akaviri contacts to discover more information.
{ Nedes:} Moving onto those races of Man no longer with us, Nedes were a race of man native to Atmora and the first race of man to set foot upon Tamriel. They had a noble hunter-gatherer lifestyle with basic knowledge of agriculture and a rich sea-faring tradition even before they began their voyages to Tamriel. War often raged between the Nedes and Atmorans. It was this history of conflict, along with other reasons such as famine or exile, that the Nedes began journeying towards Northern Tamriel during the early-Merethic Era. These early settlers founded small colonies across northern High Rock and Skyrim. The men soon spread out thinly across most of the continent, from High Rock to the Black Marsh. Nedic explorers encountered most of the civilizations present on Tamriel at this time, learning from some and being enslaved by others. The Nedes diversified over many generations to become a variety of races of Man, although very few of them remain. The Nedes that would stick closest to their Nedic roots would settle the regions of High Rock, Craglorn, The Reach, Hammerfell and the plains of Cyrodiil. These Nedes were almost entirely enslaved by the Ayleids during their rise to power and would diversify into the Colovian and Nibenese following their liberation. The Nedes in Craglorn and Hammerfell were driven out or assimilated by the Ra’gada, the Redguards, that invaded from Yokuda. The Nedes in High Rock found themselves at the bottom of the Altmer Direnni Hegemony’s hierarchy and, through a right of Direnni to engage in sexual activity with any subordinate Nede they desired, eventually gave birth to the ‘Manmeri’ Breton offshoot. Nedic ruins can still be found in the regions they inhabited, although the ruins are old and rare. Many of their stone built settlements were destroyed by the Ayleids, or are hard to distinguish from early Imperial settlements.
{ Atmorans:} Atmorans were the dominant race of Man on Atmora, a hardy and fierce people well suited to their chilly home. Centuries of war with the Nedes and local Giants had created a warrior people, who worshipped a dominating religion based around the Dragons of the region and a sect of god-like priests, necromancy and sacrifice. Atmoran adventurers begun testing the northern reaches of Tamriel sometime in the late-Merethic Era. It wasn’t long before these adventurers and exiles established settlements. Where Atmorans went, the less technologically advanced Nedes were driven out, killed or assimilated. Eventually the Atmorans began fleeing Atmora in large migrations, citing conflict in Atmora and the ever-present “frost-fall” that was slowly making the region less habitable. Over centuries these waves put more and more Atmorans into Skyrim, where their presence and dominating religion began causing friction with the local civilisation of Mer, the Falmer. It is unknown what caused the Falmer to react with hostility and commit genocide against these Atmorans, but they did. Entire cities were wiped out and the Atmorans driven back into the Sea of Ghosts. Of course this merely galvanised the Atmorans and one amongst, Wulfharth Ysmir, led an invasion of Skyrim. Over centuries, the Atmorans pushed the Falmer to extinction and continued their settlement of Skyrim and northern High Rock and by the time of the First Era the Atmorans still in Skyrim had become the hardy Nordic race. The last native Atmorans left their home continent in the early First Era. Two longships, laden with corpses and a handful of survivors, begged for refuge amongst the Nords of Skyrim. They claimed Atmora had finally fallen to the frost, and nothing would or could live there anymore. The Nords have attempted to resettle Atmora dozens of times over the following Eras, but the efforts always seemed to fail catastrophically. The last attempt was in the early Third Era, but any attempt to find that expedition has ended in disaster for the crews involved. It seems Atmora is only growing colder.
{ Orma:} The Orma were a tribal offspring of Nedes that had settled in the depths of Black Marsh. The Orma had a higher degree of blindness amongst the tribe, often lacking eyes completely at birth. This only served to heighten their other senses in the thick swampland and they were renowned for their hearing. As with most of Black Marsh's native races, the Knahaten Flu of the Second Era was the cause of their apparent extinction. Entire tribes fell victim to the Knahaten Flu, down to the very last one.
{ Kothringi:} The Kothringi race of Man was quite common in Black Marsh during the second era, the third most populous native race at the time (behind the Argonians and the Hist). They were a silver-skinned tribe of Man, their origin a myth. Such origin myths say that they are the offspring of Nedes and Argonians yet that seems to me unlikely as Argonians are egg-layers. I believe they were altered in some way by the Hist, much as the tribes of Argonians are. The Kothringi, like the Orma, appeared to have been decimated by the Knahaten Flu of the Second Era. The fabled Crimson Ship, a plagued vessel, carried the last of the Kothringi from port to port for over a year yet none would allow them entry. At last the Kothringi arrived in Hammerfell and when the Redguards refused them entry the Kothringi sailed west, never to be seen again. The date of this refusal, 20th of Rains Hand, is remembered in Hammerfell to this day as the Day of Shame, where none leave their houses in remembrance. |
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ThreeDawg
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Post by ThreeDawg on May 3, 2019 17:55:52 GMT -5
Mer: As you may already know all races of Mer, or as some would say 'elves', can trace their lineage back to the ancient race of the Aldmer who came to Tamriel from their mythical homeland of Aldmeris. The Altmer traditions state that all Mer are descended from the Old Ehlnofey that retained the ancient knowledge and power of the Dawn Era and were faded descendants of the Aedra, their gods, that were tricked into mortality by Lorkhan. All races of Mer come across as seeing their mortality as a curse rather than a gift, unlike their Human and Betmeri counterparts. As with the races of Man, I will end this chapter with races of Mer no longer present on Nirn.
{ Altmer:} Now I shall be looking at those races of Mer definitely still inhabiting Tamriel beginning with possibly the most important today, the Altmer (sometimes known as High Elves). The Altmer are the descendants of the Aldmer who stayed upon the Summerset Isles instead of branching out into the various races of Mer today. They keep to what they consider the original High Aldmeri culture and caste system, ensuring that they stick along the cultural and biological lineage of their Aldmer ancestors, which they are most proud of. This pride in their culture and heritage led the Altmer of Summerset to secede from the Empire and wage war against the 'lower' races of Man and its empire, renaming the province Alinor, 'liberating' Valenwood and re-founding the Aldmeri Dominion of old. The golden skinned Altmer are easily considered the tallest race on Tamriel, and the longest lived, yet what they have in height they lack in bulk. Most Men are stronger than Altmer, making Altmeri warriors typically weaker than their Manish counterparts. But what Altmer lack in strength or agility they more than make up for in magical talents and intellect. Altmer are one of the most naturally magically talented races on Tamriel, only rivalled by the Dunmer of Morrowind, the Maormer of Pyandonea and the Sload of Thras. Which, interestingly, all seem to have a hatred for the Altmer.
{ Bosmer:} The second member race of today's Aldmeri Dominion are the forest-dwelling Bosmer, or wood elves, of Valenwood. The way the Bosmer began their history is shrouded in tall tales and myths from many cultures. The Khajiit say they are, or were, Khajiit stolen by Y'ffre the god of the forest and turned into Mer. Certain Bosmer themselves claim this also, that: "Y'ffre made the forest people elves always and never beasts. And Y'ffre named them Bosmer. And from that moment they were no longer in the same litter as the Khajiit.". Whether this is true or not is debatable, but the Altmer (and some Bosmer) claim that they are just another offshoot of the Aldmeri before them. Bosmer are all religiously carnivorous. It is said that for their agility, dexterity and innate survival skills the Bosmer made a deal, the Green Pact, with Y'ffre that said they would never harm any plant-life. Bosmer do not pick flowers or even chop trees, meaning that all their structures are built of stone or imported lumbers. They are not as tall as Altmer, yet taller than Man. Their bodies are often lithe with a hidden strength to them and their innate magical abilities could be considered the weakest of all the races of Mer. The Bosmer are the most lithe, agile and dexterous race on Tamriel, with only the Khajiiti or Argonians coming close to their arts. There are no finer users of the bow or the stealthy arts on Tamriel, although they're well known to eat whomever they kill.
{ Dunmer:}  The Dunmer are, or were before their provinces destruction, a race of reclusive Mer that developed a very complicated culture very different from those of the other races of Tamriel. Now though they find themselves forced into the arms of the other races as they themselves have fled their home province of Morrowind after the tragic events of the Red Year and the following travesties. What are left of the Dunmer in Morrowind have mostly rejected the teachings of their Tribunal Temple, falling back on their Ancestral and Daedra worshiping ways, most notably worshiping the Daedric Trinity of Azura, Mephala and Boethiah. Their culture centres now around a Council of the Great Houses, or what is left of them, headed by House Redoran who are the strongest. Other surviving great houses include: Sadras, Telvanni, Dres, and Indoril whom are all members on the council while House Hlaalu lies disgraced and outcast amongst the other houses. Houses Dres and Indoril suffered terribly at the hands of the Argonian Invasion of Morrowind, yet struggle on to survive. Dunmer are, like many Mer, taller than the races of Man. They are characterized by their blackened skin, the colour of volcanic ash, and their blood red eyes. Stronger than all other races of Mer, bar the Orsimer, the Dunmer make great and powerful warriors. This aptitude for combat is backed by their race's natural aptitude for magic, kept in their blood from their Aldmer ancestors. Dunmer are, for these reasons, notoriously powerful and intelligent combatants. Their one drawback is that the entire race seems damned to have ill fortune, as can be seen by the fourth era's misfortunes on the race in the form of the Red Year and the Argonian invasion.
{ Orsimer:} Orsimer can be translated from Aldmeri as "Pariah Folk", yet most people know them today as Orcs. Their name shows that even by the ancient Aldmer they were considered outcasts for their beliefs and appearance. The creation legend of the Orsimer goes that a group of Aldmer lead by their leader, Trinimac, attempted to stop the march of the prophet Veloth and his Chimer peoples away from Aldmeri lands. The Daedric Prince Boethiah apparently devoured Trinimac, using his body as a puppet to instruct the Chimer, and when he abandoned the body it had been corrupted in both body and spirit into the Daedric Prince Malacath. Trinimac's followers had also been changed, becoming what we today know as Orsimer. The Orsimer of Tamriel were often considered savage brutes and little more than animals by the races that share the continent, especially the races of Mer and the Bretons of High Rock. They have, however, proved themselves highly valuable to the people of Tamriel from their services in the Imperial Legion, one of the only bodies on Tamriel that took in the Orsimer refugees from the various sackings of Orsinium and gave them a chance. Most Orsimer not born in their tribal Strongholds or not belonging to their rebuilt city of Nova Orsinium, along the border between Skyrim and Hammerfell, join the Imperial Legion for a couple of years to learn trades or gain a status for themselves amongst the Empire. The green-skinned Orsimer are some of the most naturally talented warriors in Tamriel and arguably the strongest warriors of all the races of Mer. Orsimer are well known for their heavily muscular frame and their bulky size, looking fearsome with their protruding tusks and bone ridges. This has in the past caused fear and resentment to the other races of Tamriel. The Orsimer lack the innate magical abilities of other Mer races, yet with time training and a natural affinity for it Orsimer can and have become very powerful Mages.
{ Maormer:} The Maormer, although rarely present on the continent of Tamriel itself, belong to the island chain far to the south of the Summerset Archipelago. They are a race of Mer with white, almost colourless, skin and eerie blank eyes. I do not know if this is how their entire race looks, as I have myself only seen a couple, but from descriptions written by others it seems this is so. The Maormer are rarely seen on Tamriel, preferring to seclude themselves to their island chain, however there have been times in the past where Maormer have raided or attempted to invade southern Tamriel, most notably Summerset and Valenwood, only to have failed. Indeed the Altmer tried to attack the Maormer back in retaliation, only to fall prey to the magical mists, storms and giant sea serpents that the Maormer conjure. Indeed sources claim that Maormer tame these sea serpents, riding them as mounts around their tropical islands. This race could have been formed from the Aldmer who followed the southern pointing Waystone at the time of Topal the Pilot, or they could have been an earlier sect of Aldmer that broke off. What is known is that the Maormer, with their seemingly immortal mage-king Orgnum, and the Altmer have had a rivalry extending back millennia.
{ Aldmer:}  By far the most important race of Mer I could describe in this work, the Aldmer are the ancestors of all the races of Mer we know today. The Aldmer travelled to Tamriel by boat, landing at first on the Summerset archipelago. They had lost their homeland of Aldmeris and were unable to find it again, so begun a quick colonization of Tamriel which saw their foundation of the Merethic Era and their domination over the continent. How a race could lose their homeland I could only wonder but the Aldmer insisted that Aldmeris was a real place but, despite efforts at attempting to find it by even modern explorers, the continent of Aldmeris has never been found. It could be that Mer had varied origins similar to those of the early Human races, amongst the multitude of continents on Nirn and each arrived at Tamriel from different locations, forced from their homelands by the faster populating races of Man. This would explain why the races of Mer already had vastly distinct cultures, especially the Dwemer and Falmer of which no record indicates they ever left Summerset Isles as a group. But enough fanciful thinking, on with the work! It is said the Aldmer sent out three ships, their crews given one of three waystones that guided them along a specific direction. North-east, North-west and South. The most famous of the pilots of these ships was Topal, who explored the coasts of Tamriel and discovered fascinating things that sadly no longer exist. Of the other two ships, nothing is known. It is possible that the southward pointing ship became or was slaughtered by the Maormer. The North-west pointing ship would have stumbled upon the Sload of Thras and, if they survived that, the Yokudans. Either way by the end of the Merethic Era the Aldmer as a distinct race failed to exist. The Altmer, their claimed closest descendants, keep some of their culture alive and apparently share a striking resemblance to the ancient race.
{ Dwemer:} The Dwemer have long been considered one of Tamriel's most mysterious races. Mysterious in that instead of using magic or the might of their people to form a civilization, they used the untouched forces of steam, metal and mathematics. So alien is this civilization that even to this day, thousands of years after the race's disappearance, scholars and even magi struggle to understand even the basics of Dwemer technology. The main mystery being left behind is how they forged their unique metal, which is stronger than most frequently found metals yet in higher concentration that all of them. The Dwemer originally settled Tamriel as an offshoot race of the Aldmer that rejected the pantheons of their ancestors and instead chose a path of 'Logic and Reason'. Their culture was cantered on Vvardenfell but their influence, or more so the remains of their civilization, can be found throughout the provinces of Skyrim and Hammerfell. It is known that the Dwemer fought the Chimer for many years, eventually reaching a battle over Red Mountain itself. It was in this battle, or around this time, that every Dwemer on Nirn simply vanished under mysterious circumstances. Nobody knows where they went, or even if they went anywhere at all, but it would be marvellous to discover! Either that or terrifying... A power that extinguished an entire race...
{ Chimer:} The Chimer were a sect of Aldmer that abandoned their ancestral pantheon, a similar yet vastly different story to the Dwemer. Instead, unlike their cousins who had abandoned Aldmeri culture perhaps thousands of years before, the Chimer adopted a Pantheon of Daedra. They believed that the Daedra were worthy of worship far more than the 'gods' of the Aldmeri, as Daedra often took a direct hand in manipulating the races of Nirn whereas the Aldmeri pantheon intervened little. The Chimer fled to the modern-day province of Morrowind and its island of Vvardenfell, far from Aldmeri influence, where they discovered the long lost race of Dwemer. They saw the Dwemer as heathens, instigating a war with the race that as mentioned before resulted in the Battle of Red Mountain where not only the Dwemer ceased to be, but also the Chimer. Instead of becoming extinct the Chimer of that day were changed beyond all recognition by the Daedric Prince Azura into the Dunmer of today. Such powerful forces seemed common during the First Era, don't you think?
{ Falmer:} The Falmer, or Snow Elf, were ancient (possibly one of the first) offshoots of the Aldmeri race that forged their existence in the land of Skyrim. They took well to the cold north, adapting as if it had always been their home. Little is known of the Falmer as so few of their artefacts remain. Few if any of their structures stand still, all torn down by the hands of Nords or Nedes, but the irrefutable evidence of their existence is found in the stories of the cultures that destroyed them. It was long told that the last Snow Elven army died on Solstheim, that they fled into the wilds after that never to be seen again. There are some fringe scholars in Skyrim that dare to talk against this theory, stating that the Falmer didn't simply disappear. Evidence discovered in Skyrim's Dwemer ruins suggests that the Falmer sought shelter amongst their Mer cousins and paid a dear price for it. In any case, these scholar's suggest that the strange and exotic subterranean goblin-like race, which they term 'Falmer', that exist throughout Skyrim's caverns and Dwemer ruins are the descendants of this extinct race of Mer.
{ Ayleid:} One of the most famous offshoots of the Aldmeri race is the Ayleid of Cyrodiil. The Ayleid exist no more thanks to collaboration between Nordic and their rebellious Cyrodiilic slaves, who overthrew their captors in a bloody war to create the first Cyrodiilic Empire, the Alessian Empire. The Ayleid were well known for keeping their captives in check with dark magicks and deals with Daedra, The Ayleid lost their empire to this revolt, losing the majority of their holdings during the war and the rest during the Alessian Order's extermination of their kind in the following centuries. What was left of the Ayleids reportedly fled into Valenwood or High Rock, being absorbed by the native Mer cultures. Yet rumours persist that some pure-blooded Ayleid clans still roam the wilderness of Cyrodiil, Valenwood and High Rock. It is these rumours that give rise to the term 'Wild Elves' yet none of them have so far been definitely verified.
{ Sinistral Elves:} Little is known about this race of Mer or even if it was a race of Mer at all. Redguard history claims that on their ancient continent of Yokuda lived a race of Mer, whom they call Sinistral, or Left-handed, Elves. The two races warred against each other for some time and eventually the Redguard won, resulting in the other race's near extinction. But with the destruction of Yokuda, and with that none from the continent other than the Redguard themselves survived, it can be said that this race even if it did exist at one time, surely exists no more. My theory is that this race of Mer is descended from the Aldmeri crew that sailed North-West at the time of Topal the Pilot, I can't figure out why they never returned... Or why they built the so called 'Orichalc Tower' which sounds so much a tribute to the as then undiscovered Ur-Tower of High Rock. Strange, these Mer-built towers. Perhaps in my next venture, I'll look into them... |
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ThreeDawg
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Post by ThreeDawg on May 3, 2019 18:00:12 GMT -5
Betmeri: The Betmeri, or Beastfolk, are considered to be the aboriginal inhabitants of Tamriel. They are recorded by Aldmeri explorers as already being present on Tamriel during their adventures. Most notably Topal the Pilot, the 'original' explorer of Tamriel, makes note of ancient Khajiit, Argonian and other Betmeri that sadly no longer exist I will, like with the previous chapters, end with these.
{ Khajiit:}  The Khajiit are the original inhabitants of much of Tamriel. In the past their range has extended from their ancestral land of Elsweyr to the mountains of High Rock. The arrival of the Aldmeri pushed the natives back towards Elsweyr, yet the Khajiit remain an ever present in their homeland. With their inclusion into Imperial culture the Khajiit have spread throughout all of Tamriel. Some were taken as slaves, most notably by the Dunmer, while others make a living as trade caravans that travel from city to city. It is sad that most Khajiit are distrusted outside of Elsweyr and southern Cyrodiil, yet the locals are forced to welcome them. Recently, after the secession of Elsweyr from the Empire and the phenomenon known as the 'Void Nights' where the moons disappeared for years (the moons are incredibly important to Khajiit, as I will explain below) the Khajiiti have separated into two kingdoms, Anequina and Pelletine, as client states of the Thalmor who took credit for the moons reappearance. The biology of the Khajiit is hard to describe, indeed it would take an entire series of books! What would be easiest to say is that there are more than twenty forms of Khajiit, each which is linked very closely to something they call the ja'Kha'jay or Lunar Lattice, the shape and position of the moons when the Khajiit is born. Each Khajiit is determined in its form by the positions of Messer and Secunda in the night sky of its birth. This alternating form ranges from quadrupedal bestial Khajiit, who are voiceless to all but fellow Khajiit, to the bipedal Khajiit that we see today in the marketplaces of our cities and towns. It is very rare to see one of the quadrupedal Khajiit away from their native lands, where they stay amongst their clans. Due to the Khajiit's varying forms (which range from lithe and almost Mer-like to burly, muscular brutish forms) there is no easy description for the Khajiit's natural abilities. The common trait that most share is an innate speed and agility, one that makes them marvellous sneaks and archers. Yet Khajiiti also have a magical blood to them, similar to the races of Mer, that allows many Khajiit to become powerful spell casters.
{ Argonians:} Argonians, native to the old province of Black Marsh (now renamed Argonia), are one of the aboriginal races of Tamriel. According to the same fragments of the ancient Aldmeri explorer Topal the Pilot the Argonians existed long before the Aldmer arrived on Tamriel. Argonians claim descent from the Hist trees, sentient beings of unknown power and motive that inhabit the interior of Black Marsh. The Argonians themselves drink of the sap of the Hist during their naming ceremonies, the amount of which determines their physical form and mental capabilities, including magical potential. Argonians rallied against the Daedra during the Oblivion crisis and in the following years seceded from the Empire. Many Argonians, however, still leave their homeland and search for a life in the discriminating lands of Man or Mer. Argonians come in many forms, like the Khajiit, theory says based around how much Hist sap they exist during their naming ceremony. Although it could be that different type of Hist produce different forms of Khajiit. It is unknown what causes this change but the different forms control different stretches of land throughout Argonia, the most dangerous and aggressive of which are from the deepest central marshlands. Argonians are naturally resistant to diseases and poisons, both magical and natural, and can breathe and live underwater making them one of the hardiest races on Tamriel. Although reptilian, Argonians have a remarkably wide temperature range, being able to survive in the iciest parts of Skyrim with as much ease as an Imperial visitor would. Argonians who choose to combat tend to do so from afar or from the shadows, something that stems from a history of guerrilla warfare against Imperial forces and Dunmer slavers. Although known for their stealth and speed, Argonians can often have latent magical abilities in them which few choose to harness.
{ Imga:} The Imga, or Great Apes, of Valenwood are a curious example of a Betmeri race that emulates a race of Mer. Imga are raised to take after the Aldmeri races, specifically the Altmer. Some Imga even shave their entire bodies, powder themselves a golden hue and learn to be 'civilized' like the Altmer they desire to be. These Altmer idolizing Imga despise the 'smell of Man', calling them a lesser race, and often hold the corners of cloaks or scented handkerchiefs to their noses when in the presence of one. A number of Imga have found wilful employ in the Aldmeri Dominion, serving as front-line berserkers in the Dominion armies. They consider serving the Altmer a worthy cause, and any that return home to their tribes are revered.
{ Sload:} The Sload of Thras and their Sea Sload cousins of Ul'vor Kus, in the Sea of Pearls, are a mystery to every race on Tamriel. So much about them is unknown because they are so hostile to all life on Tamriel. Any expeditions made to the Sload have been met with violence and their only major interaction with Tamrielic history was their creation of the Thrassian Plague, which devastated Tamriel and killed countless thousands of Man, Mer and Betmeri. Sload are a semi-aquatic people that have a strong love of necromancy. Their life cycle isn't full documented but I believe they begin life as non-sentient small grub like beings that their Sload parents neither care for nor consider anymore than pests. In adolescence they become something akin to an octopus, squishy and gelatinous. In their adult form they resemble a vaguely humanoid slug, one that has no limit to age or size and will simply grow in size and corpulence as it ages. Elder Sload are so large that they would probably be crushed under their weight if not for the water they live in or magical means of holding themselves aloft. All Sload are very powerful Mages, especially with teleportation, floatation and conjuration powers. The Sea Sload of Ul'vor Kus have waged a millenia long conflict with the Altmer, who the Sea Sload claim kicked them out of the Summerset Isles - their once-kingdom. The Dominion has spent considerable effort trying to track down Ul’vor Kus, but the deep-sea city eludes the Altmer to this day. Luckily, the Sea Sload seem more content to harass the settled coastlines only rarely with their necromantic power and their armies of Yaghra beasts. A full invasion has never taken place, and likely won’t, for the Sea Sload seem few in number or disinterested in open conflict.
{ Avian Betmeri:} I will begin with the tales of a Betmeri race I find most intriguing, and am quite saddened that they did not survive to be further documented than the final fragment of the voyage of Topal the Pilot. In ancient Cyrodiil, more specifically Lake Rumare, a race of feathered brightly coloured flighted Betmeri lived, they had no written or verbal language of their own and like the parrots of Stros M'kai they mimicked the Aldmeri sailors. It was written that Topal taught them to write, taught them to speak on their own and he was made their Lord, being given the islands as a gift before he left. Sadly, it seems, this gift of language and civility to the Avian Betmeri didn't save them from their eventual demise... I would have loved to see them. Perhaps I am completely mistaken, and other scholars are too, and the Avian Betmeri didn’t die out in the millenia since their discovery. Perhaps the Harpies seen across Tamriel today are primal descendents of this civilisation.
{ Lilmothiit:} The Lilmothiit were a fox-like race of Betmeri presumed to be native to Black Marsh. The vulpine race was quite beautiful to behold, agile and serene. They were a rather shy and reclusive tribal race, preferring to keep to their own out of distrust with other races possibly due to the harshness of their home province and the plague of pirates who called the coastline home, not to mention the aggressive and territorial Argonians. Some say they were related to Khajiit but, other than them both being Betmeri I see no reason to believe this. Sadly the last Lilmothiit disappeared towards the start of the second era, possibly due to the Knahaten Flu that killed so much life in Black Marsh. |
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ThreeDawg
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Post by ThreeDawg on May 3, 2019 18:02:18 GMT -5
Akaviri Betmeri: Whether the races of distant Akavir are Betmeri or not remains to be seen, as none have ever been to or come from their home continent. The only known sources that state these races exist are the histories and cultures brought over during the Akaviri invasion of the late first era. I will do my best to describe them here, should you ever visit the continent. If you do, pay a visit to me on the way back as I would love to write your biography.
{ Ka' Po' Tun:} The Ka' Po' Tun, the "Tiger-Dragon's Empire", are said to be a race of tiger-like cat-folk similar to the Khajiit. Their culture and histories are unknown but what we know is that they consider the Tsaesci to be their enemies and have allied themselves with the Tang Mo in an effort to drive back the serpent-men. Their leader is considered by most to be a divine being, named Tosh Raka, that was the first of his kind to do what many had tried to do and become one of the legendary Dragons they revere. If this is metaphorical or not I do not know but stories state that the change was indeed physical. A dragon with a tiger's markings, both humorous and frightening at the same time.
{ Kamal:} The Kamal are the 'Ice Demons' of Akavir's frozen north. Kamal means Snow Hell in Akaviri language and every winter they are suspended in a sort of frozen hibernation only to thaw during spring to attack the Tang Mo, apparently never succeeding. Kamal are one of the few Akaviri races to set foot on Tamriel, having invaded it early in the Second Era and managing to sack Windhelm in Skyrim before being defeated by Dunmer forces at Red Mountain.
{ Tang Mo:} Tang Mo means "The Thousand Monkey Isles" in Akaviri and indeed thousands of monkeys there apparently are. This race of Betmeri apparently come in many different varieties yet all are deemed as generous and welcoming as the last. It is said that they are brave, yet simple and even considered insane. It is their smaller stature and natural kindness that has led every race of Akavir to attempt to enslave them at one point yet the Tang Mo always raise and army and defend their lands.
{ Tsaesci:} Little is known about the Tsaesci as many sources contradict themselves and nobody today lives who can say without a doubt they have seen one, not even myself. The Tsaesci are considered evil by many on their homeland, being called 'vampiric snake monsters' that 'ate' the native Men. I believe by 'ate', as Akaviri Men were present amongst the Tsaesci invasion force during the late First Era, that they simply absorbed the Akaviri into their society. Yet it seems today that no more Akaviri exist, so it is quite possible that they did indeed eat them all, albeit slowly. Tsaesci are also noted as killing and devouring the native dragons of Akavir, forcing some across the sea to Tamriel and others into the arms of the Ka' Po' Tun who revered them, causing a war that resulted in the death of all the dragons and many on both sides. Tsaesci, and Akaviri Men, that took part in the failed invasion of Tamriel were left stranded on an unknown continent. They were kept as curiosities by the native rulers and some even rose to the ranks of advisers as they were deemed so strategically clever and intelligent. Tsaesci left a standing impression on the Imperials, including much of their military doctrine, equipment and even their very civilization. Even the great 'Red Dragon' symbol of the Empire is of Tsaesci origin. Many took to residing in the mountains near modern day Rimmen, a similar environment to their own native lands, before their numbers dwindled into obscurity. The Blades too, were originally an Akaviri and Tsaesci organization of elite dragon hunting warriors known as the Dragonguard and the only remaining example of Tsaesci architecture can be found in the ruins of various Blades headquarters. |
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ThreeDawg
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Post by ThreeDawg on May 3, 2019 18:08:06 GMT -5
In this chapter I will make an effort to describe two of the most unusual and mysterious races of Nirn, the Dragons (or Dovah) and the enigmatic Hist of Argonia. { On the Dragons:} Dragons are a mysterious force that always was and apparently always will be present on Tamriel. It is clear that they are not Man, nor Mer, nor even Betmeri but something more. Perhaps their origin is magical, or divine or even fundamental to the creation of our plane of Mundus. You will all know that they have returned to Tamriel after millennia of being considered extinct. This Dragon Crisis caused much fear, yet little came of it. Although the level of attacks was high during the beginning of their return the Dragons seemed to have calmed since then and the level of attacks has decreased. Of course the threat of losing livestock, treasures or your life is still high in areas where dragons are known to roost it has been proved by many an armed force that dragons are killable, with the right equipment. Defeatable and mysterious they are but what is known of them is that they are powerful, beyond all Mortal ken. A single word spoken in their native tongue could have the power to level mountains if spoken correctly. This ability which the Nords call 'Thu'um' is very rare indeed, so rare that few know of its existence. Now you do, yet you cannot simply learn it. I once had the pleasure of speaking to the great Greybeards, masters of the Thu'um that live on the great mountain known as the Throat of the World in Skyrim. They explained to me that to master the Thu'um you must spend many years meditating on the meaning, purpose and power of even one word to learn it. This one word, the example they shown me sounded similar to 'Yol', was uttered by one of the Greybeards followed by a blast of searing fire from his mouth. So it would seem that the devastating fire-breath well known for the Dragons, is simply a word. Yol. Can dragons be peaceful? You may ask yourself this, the stories say of Dragon's natural need to dominate that lead them to enslave the ancient Nedes of Skyrim and Atmora. Yet I have an answer, one you are free not to believe. I recently had a conversation with a Dragon. He claimed to be old, powerful and I will admit, it was frightening. I stumbled upon the great beast as it was resting by a lake next to an Ayleid ruin in Northern Cyrodiil. I was researching for this very book in fact. The Dragon told me to not be alarmed, he asked me my name yet would not give his, and wished me peace and offered to share the lake. We talked, briefly, about the return of the Dragons and he simply said in return that some Dragons had always been there, in hiding, in fear of the dragon hunters that exterminated their kin so long ago. So perhaps Dragons fear us as much as we fear them? Or at least some do.
{ On the Hist:} The Hist are a mystery to all but the Argonians in fact the Hist could even be a mystery to them, too. I mentioned briefly earlier in this book that of the creation myth for this world involving the Ehlnofey, the progenitors of Man and Mer. There is another, more heretical, version to this story that involves the Hist. As the planes of creation collided, a portion of the Hist's world fell onto Nirn, this piece was Tamriel and the Hist were the original inhabitants. When the Ehlnofey came to blows the Hist remained neutral but as the Ehlnofey warred over their lands they wreaked havoc, destroying many of the Hist and secluding them to the interior of Black Marsh. No matter their origin, the Hist are powerful and ancient beings that are revered by the Argonians. It is said all Hist are joined at the root and each Hist talks to the other and to certain Argonians if they are deemed worthy enough. The Argonians say that the Hist foresaw the Oblivion Crisis and rallied the Argonians together through a faction known as the An-Xileel. This fighting force was so fierce and they poured into the fresh Oblivion Gates with such determine and ferocity that it is said even the Daedra Lieutenants had to close the gates for their own safety! But this show of bravery leads to a spark of Independence amongst the Argonians, who turned to the An-Xileel for leadership. The Argonians were the first province to secede from the Empire, thanks to the Hist. The sap of a Hist tree is used in many Argonian religious rights, including their naming ceremony, where an Argonian is told to lick the leaking sap of a tree. The Hist can 'speak' to an Argonian through the ingestion of its sap, through visions and dreams, and the sap alters a young Argonian hatchling both physically and mentally. Maybe the Argonians truly are the People of the Root. This sap, if ingested by non-Argonians is a powerful and addictive hallucinogen and even brings about a crazed blood lust in the drinker. I can admit to never having ingested this dangerous substance, for obvious reasons. |
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