Mer
Mer is the collective name for all elves in The Elder Scrolls universe.
Aldmer
Aldmer, meaning First or Elder Folk, are a mythological race that was the first to appear on Nirn. Their existence is unconfirmed and none of them are seen in the games of the series. The term is sometimes used to describe the entire Elven race.
Altmer
- Main article: Altmer
The Altmer, also called High Elves, live in Summerset Isles. They are taller than the other races and have a golden skin color. They tend to be proud and consider themselves the most civilized race. Some TES players consider them to be a weaker race, for their weakness to elemental magic, but they boast the greatest magika bonus of all the races, and their 'pure' bodies give them greater resistance to diseases.
Ayleid
The Ayleids, also known as the Wild Elves or Heartland High Elves, were the first race to establish an empire in Tamriel. They lived in a tribal society, with each "tribe" being different from the next. They were the first inhabitants of the Imperial City and apparently spoke a variation of Old Cyrodiilic. Because they lived so long ago and their language is largely undecipherable, little else is known about them. Throughout Cyrodiil many Ayleid ruins can be found. These ruins are filled with dangerous traps, monsters, bandits, and undead. Many would-be treasure hunters have died trying to plunder these lost ruins of the Ayleids.
At one point the Ayleids controlled the entirety of the Imperial Province of Cyrodiil, and enslaved the Cyrodiilic and Nordic populations (which at that point were both part of the same prototypical race of men). The downfall of the Ayleid civilization was a combination of cultural hubris and formenting revolution amongst their slaves. With the blessing of the Aedra, a slave named Alessia led a revolt that resulted in the inexorable destruction of the Ayleid civilization. The surviving Ayleids frequently showed up as civil servants to the nobility in the Alessian empire. The last known King of the Ayleids was the ruler of the city of Nenalata who controlled eastern Cyrodiil.
White Gold Tower, the central spire of the Imperial City in Cyrodiil, was made by the Ayleids. It now serves as the imperial palace for the Tamrielic Empire.
Bosmer
- Main article: Bosmer
The Bosmer, also called Wood Elves or Boiche, inhabit the province of Valenwood. They are remarkable thieves and archers, due to the fact that they spend their time living in trees. They are also religiously carnivorous and cannibalistic, but do not destroy trees or plant life. (They do use the products if somebody else has made them.)
Chimer
Chimer (changed folk) are an extinct race. They fled from the Aldmeri (elven) home of Summerset after their religious conversion, and settled in the land of the Dwemer, later known as Morrowind. But after the Battle of Red Mountain, during which the Dwemer vanished in unexplained circumstances, they were transformed into Dunmer by the Daedric Prince Azura as punishment either for when the Tribunal broke their oath to Nerevar and Azura by making themselves gods or for their possible murder of Nerevar.
Since no Chimer are seen in the games - by the time period of the games, all are Dunmer due to Azura's curse - it is often assumed that they shared the basic physical appearance of the Altmer whom they fled from presumably having the gold skin and 'normal' (i.e. not glowing-red) eyes of the Altmer.
The Chimeri Exodus was led by the prophet Veloth, who later became a prominent saint in the Tribunal Temple, in the Merethic Era and was done so the Chimer could practice Daedra worship. The Dunmer attribute the inspiration for this exodus to the Boethiah. They say he ate a prominent figure of the Aldmeri religion, Trinimac, and used his voice to show the Chimer the lies of the Aedra, who the Aldmer worshiped. He spoke of various ways in which they should live and demonstrated how to complete the Exodus. Other Daedric Princes, such as Mephala and Azura, initiated other changes and taught other lessons to the early Chimer, as well.
Dunmer
- Main article: Dunmer
Dunmer, also called Dark Elves, hail from Morrowind. They are the Elder Scrolls variation of dark elves, a popular fictional race in role-playing games and fantasy literature. Gameplay-wise, they are well-balanced and are the recommended choice of race for new players, along with Imperials.
Dwemer
- Main article: Dwemer
Dwemer meaning "Deep Elves" are an extinct race that lived primarily in the region of Vvardenfell. They were a reclusive, independent race, dedicated to the principles of science, alchemy, and engineering. Although they are commonly referred to as dwarves, evidence from their dwellings and armor indicates that they were of average height, similar to that of other mer.
Falmer
It is thought that the Falmer were the original elven inhabitants of Skyrim, the northernmost province of the continent of Tamriel, and were defeated and displaced by the Nords. The Pocket Guide to the Empire in the chapter on Skyrim mentions the Snow Elves as a local superstition, with Nord villagers blaming them for a number of random misfortunes and scant physical evidence of their existence. In Bloodmoon the player may choose to pursue a quest to find out more about the Falmer.
There are two mutually exclusive hypotheses about the fate of the Falmer. The Skaal claim that the Rieklings are descended from the Falmer. On the other hand, an Altmer scholar in Raven Rock claims that the Rieklings are merely snow goblins, and that the Snow Elves have blended with the other elven races through interbreeding. The in game book Fall of the Snow Prince seems to support the latter hypothesis, It chronicles the defeat of the Snow Prince, an elven leader, at the Battle of Moesring.
Maormer
Maormer reside on the island of Pyandonea south of the continent of Tamriel. They have pale, almost chameleon like skin and yellow eyes. They originally lived in Summerset Isles, but they were exiled by the High Elves. Their leader is an immortal wizard named Orgnum Thras. The Maormer practice a snake-like magic which they use to tame sea-serpents.
Orsimer
- Main article: Orsimer
Although beast-like in appearance the Orsimer (Pariahed Elves or simply Orcs), are descended from a group of Altmer (or even Aldmer) that worshipped a god named Trinimac. Orsimer were the former inhabitants of the province of Hammerfell, but lost their land to the armies of Redguards. The Orcish capital city is located near High Rock, and is called Orsinium.
Human
Human in The Elder Scrolls is a generic term and does not nessessarily indicate a shared ancestry among those races it is applied to. The Imperials and Nords are of Nedic ancestry and the Nedes in turn trace their lineage back to the continent of Aldmeris, the Bretons are of mixed Nedic and Elvish heritage, and the Redguards originated on the continent of Yokuda.
Breton
- Main article: Breton
The Bretons are half-elves, with more human than elvish blood, and populate the province of High Rock, where the second game of the series, Daggerfall, takes place. They are capable mages with high magicka resistance but other than that they have few distinctive features. They are considered an intelligent human race in Tamriel, known for a proficiency in abstract thinking, a possible reason for their adeptness in the magical arts.
Bretons originated in the First Era. A series of raids on Nedic holdings by the Aldmer, resulted in the destruction of all human settlements in Skyrim. Many Nedes were enslaved some of whom were used as pleasure slaves and gave birth to mixed offspring. These offspring were termed Manmer by Nords. While the Aldmer maintained control of Tamriel, the Manmer lived as lower-class citizens, supporting their meric brethren. After the Aldmer lost their foothold, the remaining Manmer interbred with the controlling human races. The Bretons of modern-day Tamriel have a much-diluted meric ancestry, seen in their higher magical affinity.
Imperial
- Main article: Imperial
The Imperials are excellent diplomats and traders. Though not the strongest warriors their ability to field large armies of light infantry have enabled them to subdue the entire continent of Tamriel.
Nede
The now extinct Nedes originally lived on the frozen continent of Atmora, where they banded into small clans who fought in a great civil war. A small group of Nedes then migrated and settled in northern Tamriel.
The Nedic hero Ysgramor, leader of a great colonizing fleet to Tamriel, developed a runic transcription of Nordic speech based on Aldmeri principles, and was the first recorded human historian. Ysgramor's fleet landed at Hsaarik Head at the extreme northern tip of Skyrim's Broken Cape. They built the legendary city of Saarthal and lived with the Aldmer in relative peace until the Aldmeri began to notice the comparatively fast growth of the Nedic people's population.
The Elves drove the Men away during the Night of Tears, but Ysgramor soon returned with his Five Hundred Companions. These Five Hundred Companions settled and those who stayed in Skyrim became the Nords, with those going west breeding with the Aldmer and becoming the Bretons and those going south becoming the Imperials.
The remaining Nedes raided Elvish settlements along the coast from Skyrim and Atmora until 1E68. The last two ships from Atmora pulled into a harbor with more than half their crews dead. Atmora had become a frozen wasteland, and all who still lived there had died.
Nord
- Main article: Nord
The Nords inhabit the northern province of Skyrim. They are strong and able warriors and are also highly resistant to frost. They are gennerally fair skinned and blue eyed and originated from the continent of Atmora.
Redguard
- Main article: Redguard
The Redguards are of approximately average human intelligence, competing intellectually with the smartest of Nords, and are probably mentally inferior to Elves. They are of average human height, above average human strength and agility, and show a remarkable capacity for surviving in hot, dry climates. They generally possess dark skin, ranging from light brown in hue, to nearly black, and often with a significant red tint. This depends on the degree of Nedic blood they possess, as most Forebears have at least some, having lived along side Nedic settlers for centuries. They possess very curly hair and rarely more than a wispy mustache and beard, and degree of body hair varies.
Akaviri
Akaviri refers broadly to races from the continent of Akavir which means "Dragon Land". Often it is used to refer to the Tsaeci in particular as they have had the most influence on Tamriel. They have Asian influences.
Ka Po' Tun
The Ka Po' Tun are a race of cat people that live on Akavir. Their name means "Tiger-Dragon's Empire". When the Tsaesci supposedly tried to eat all the dragons in their Empire, the dragons fled to Po' Tun, as the empire of cat people was called then. A great war raged across the land, leaving all the black dragons and all but a few red dragons dead. The remaining red dragons retreated to Tamriel, where they were supposedly given refuge in Cyrodiil. Ever since, the Cat people that remained have tried to somehow become dragons. Tosh Raka is the first one to succeed. Apparently he is the largest Dragon on Nirn, with orange and black coloring, and has built Ka Po' Tun into the largest empire of Akavir. He desires the destruction of Tsaesci, after which he intends to invade Tamriel.
Kamal
Kamal, meaning "Snow Hell", is one of four nations of Akavir. It is home to armies of snow demons. Every summer these demons thaw out and attempt to invade the neighboring nation of Tang Mo, home to many breeds of monkey-people, but every year they are repelled.
Tsaesci
The Tsaesci, which means Snake Palace, are a race of vampiric serpents. The serpent-folk apparently ate the men that had lived on Akavir, although this could mean that they assimilated with them as a culture. Their appearance has been described differently on many occasions, the only consistency being that they are "tall, beautiful (if frightening), [and] covered in golden scales." They have been described as having human upper bodies and snake lower bodies, to being entirely snake-like. This may however maybe inaccuracte, and made up by storytellers to make the Tsaesci more monster-like.
The Tsaesci once invaded Tamriel in 1E 2703, but were driven back by the forces of Emperor Reman I. Surviving Tsaesci in Cyrodiil served as mercenaries and personal guards of nobles. They left many influences on the Imperials, including the Dai-katana and Dragonscale armor, as well as the uniform of the Blades and the Red Dragon symbol of the Empire. Several Tsaesci even served as Potentate, acting in place of the Emperor when the Reman dynasty ended. The first Potentate, Versidue-Shaie, ushered the Tamrielic Empire into the Second Era, an era of chaos and upheaval. He, and his heir, ruled Tamriel for four hundred years, until the Akaviri Potentate was no more in 2E 430.
Tang Mo
Tang Mo, meaning "Thousand Monkey Isles", is one of four nations of Akavir, a continent far east of Tamriel. Tang Mo is home to many breeds of monkey-folk who are described as kind, brave, simple, and often crazy. At some point or another every other Akaviri nation has made an attempt at enslaving the people of Tang Mo, and every summer the snow demons of the neighboring nation of Kamal thaw out and attempt to invade Tang Mo, but the brave monkey-people have always successfully repelled their enemies. The monkey-people have strong hatred toward the snow demons of Kamal and the serpent-folk of Tsaesci, but after a history of strife have come to ally with the tiger-folk of Ka Po' Tun.
Beast races
Argonian
- Main article: Argonian
The Argonians are a reptilian race that is native to Black Marsh. They can breath underwater and are highly resistant to disease.
Hist
The Hist were originally the trees of Argonia. During the great war between the Ehlnofey, the Hist were bystanders, but most of their realm was destroyed as the war passed over it. A small corner of it survived to become the Black Marsh province in Tamriel, but most of their realm was sunk beneath the sea.
Template:Spoiler In The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, if the protagonist chooses to embark on the Fighters' Guild faction quest, he will eventually come to a part where he must discover the source of the rival Blackwood Company's power. The protagonist then finds that it is the sap of the Hist tree. He/she also discovers that the Blackwood Company has managed to grow one in Cyrodiil to prevent having to smuggle in the sap from the Argonian homeland of Black Marsh.
Imga
The Great Apes, or Imga reside in the Imperial province of Valenwood and idealize the local High Elves, with some going so far as to shave themselves and powder their skin so as to better emulate their appearance.
To date, no Imga have appeared in an Elder Scrolls game, and the only reference to the Imga appears in the 'Pocket Guide to the Empire' which describes the provinces of the Cyrodilic Empire as of the year 864 of the Second Era. It is unknown whether the Imga have since gone extinct or have simply been overlooked.
Khajiit
- Main article: Khajiit
The Khajiit are feline race hailing from the province of Elsweyr. Khajiit vary considerably in appearance ranging from almost Elven Ohmes-raht to larger species such as the Senche (large tigers used as mounts) and the Cathay-Raht (warrior "jaguar men"). Khajiit are generally excellent thieves and good fighters.
Sload
- Main article: Sload
The Sload are a race of sluglike beastmen that live in the Coral Kingdoms of Thras, southwest of Tamriel. They have generally followed an isolationist policy, with only limited contact and trade with Tamriel, therefore their history is not well known. The most important event known is when they released the Thrassian Plague upon Tamriel in 1E2200, killing more than half of the population. In response, Tamriel assembled the All Flags Navy that ravaged Thras, killing all the Sload it could find and finally sinking it with unknown magics. The Sload, however, survived, and Thras has since risen again.