As with many fantasy series, Bethesda Softworks’ The Elder Scrolls created many sub-races for the Elven peoples of their lands. These have included the cynical Dark Elves/Dunmer and the tree-hugging Wood Elves/Bosmer. However, the most traditional among these variants would be the High Elves, known in the universe as the Altmer.
Given their title, they are a naturally proud people with a rich culture and powerful sorceries. However, this has also led to an arrogant side to their culture that frequently appears. Here is a breakdown of the Altmer from The Elder Scrolls series and their extensive lore.
The Basics of the Altmer
As stated above, the High Elves are the closest elves to the “traditional” idea of one from most fantasy series. Their gold-hued skin and height distinguish them. Stat-wise, the Altmer make excellent mages with their Illusion and Destruction magic skills. Furthermore, according to their religion, the “Mer” people (Elves) are direct descendants of the divine Aedra.
The Altmer hail from the Summerset Isles to the southwest of Tamriel. The Isles are among the most beautiful lands in Tamriel for their vibrant forests, architectural marvels, and mystical fauna. However, given their hostility to outsiders, few beyond the Altmer ever set foot upon them. Between the mystical Elves of Tolkien and the fallen empire of the Dragon Age series, the Altmer rests somewhere in between.
Their High Culture
The Altmer have a highly dignified culture that is in keeping with their generally refined nature. They heavily emphasize perfectionism, articulation, and luxury. However, this leads to vanity among them, and they are often seen as pretentious by other races. Despite this, they have provided many artistic and intellectual contributions to Tamriel’s civilization.
As for their religion, they reject the worship of the Daedric Princes. Their pantheon consists of several Aedric Gods (their name for the god of time Akatosh is Auri-El) and unique deities such as Magnus and Xarxes. Several of these figures, such as the mage Syrabane, have yet to make proper appearances, further complicated by the divine beings of The Elder Scrolls remaining shrouded in myth.
One of the more obscure branches is the “Psijic Order,” a collection of Elves from a hidden island who safeguard magical secrets and objects of uncontrollable power. While they made a brief cameo in Skyrim, they became major players during the Summerset DLC for Online, where players could join them.
The Elven Lore
Thousands of years before the series, the Elven peoples migrated north to Tamriel from the mysterious, practically forgotten continent of Aldmeris. Upon landing in the Summerset Isles, several other branches would form. The Snow Elves would go north to Skyrim, the Chimer (later Dunmer) would go to Morrowind, and the Aelyids would settle in Cyrodiil. However, those who remained in the Isles became known as the Altmer, the High Elves.
At the end of the Second Era, Tiber Septim tried to unify Tamriel under the empire, and Summerset was his final opponent. The only way to defeat them was by allying with the Dunmer Tribunal to awaken the power of Numidium, a mecha created by the lost Dwemer. For three hundred years, they lived as vassals. By the time of Skyrim, the Aldmeris Dominion regained independence and became one of the more powerful factions on the continent.
Their Roles Through Elder Scrolls
Compared to other major races from the Elder Scrolls franchise, the Altmer never played a central role. Given their importance within the lore, this is particularly surprising. During The Elder Scrolls Online, they served as the leaders of the Aldmeris Dominion faction under Queen Ayrenn. Furthermore, their story was further explored during the 2018 expansion pack Summerset, which was a surprise given their usual xenophobia.
Sadly, when most gamers think of the Altmer, they think of the Thalmor. In the aftermath of the Oblivion Crisis, the Thalmor rose to power in the Summerset Isles and waged war with the Empire. Afterward, the two factions established the White-Gold Concordat, which made several large concessions, including banning the worship of Talos, the revered founder of the Empire.
Furthermore, the Thalmor are unapologetic Elf-supremacists and do not keep their bigotry secret. Given their racist, dogmatic, and supremacist ideologies, the Thalmor became the most despised faction in the entire series. Similarly, characters like their leader, Elenwen, and the spy Ancano were hated.
High Elves: A Bold Title
In conclusion, the High Elves are one of the more complicated races in walking Tamriel. They are an advanced civilization with many contributions. However, their egos have also gotten to their heads, leading to even more trouble for everyone else in Tamriel. Fortunately, given their lore, hope remains for them to receive further development.
Of all the theorized locations for The Elder Scrolls 6, the Summerset Isles are among the leading contenders among speculators due to their modern significance. Given the interesting story behind their lands and people, this would make for a particularly compelling setting, especially given the weight of the expectations placed on the sequel.
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