Men

This article contains contentious statements that require additional sources for verification, or it contains a list of sources without any in-line citations. Please appropriately reference any information in the article, as well as any new additions. Consult in-game books and reliable online databases for fact-gathering. Statements requiring sources may have a [source?] or a [citation needed] message after them.

Men is a collective racial term used to refer to the beings of the human races in Tamriel. Because they are able to have children together,^[1] sometimes the races of men and mer are both considered to be members of the human species, but at other times only men are considered human.^[2]

Men are different culturally and physiologically from mer and beastfolk, yet they are genetically capable of interbreeding with the former, while rumors of interbreeding with the latter exist but are unproven.^[1]

Men come in an array of skin tones and pigments depending upon their ancestry, with Nords and Bretons being the palest and Redguards being the darkest. There exist four dominant subraces of Men in Tamriel. These include, Imperials, Nords, Bretons, and Redguards. The Nedes are an extinct race of Men from which the Imperials and Bretons arose.^[2]

Several Men came from Akavir during the reign of Reman Cyrodiil. These Men formed The Blades. It is unknown whether Men still exist on the Akaviri continent.

Etymology and usage[]

The term "Men" originated from mannish language. It is used to mean "them" or "us" - group of people. The term is analogous to the word "Mer" in ancient Aldmeri tongue. Both of the racial groups have come to calling each other by the names and do not find it offensive in any way. They have been seen to be referring to their own kind by the term as well. This is probably due to the fact that both groups share certain distrust for each other and arrogance to consider themselves better. The words men and mer are often not capitalized when used together in the same context.

Members of this race who are of the masculine gender are referred to as "men", or a "man" when referring to an individual. As with mer, but more commonly as the words originate in Tamrielic, those of the feminine gender are known as "women" collectively or a "woman" individually; when grouped together as a race irrespective of gender they are all called "men". "Mankind" is also a word used in the context of referring to the entire race.

Origins[]

Men are usually considered to have come from Atmora.^[3] The exception are Redguards or Yoku people, who came from Yokuda.^[4]

Earliest records mentioning the races of Men date mid-Merethic Era when Atmorans, a human race native to now frozen Atmora, began migrating to northern Tamriel, a region later named Skyrim. Many Men now inhabiting Tamriel are known to be their descendants.^[source?]

However, when Atmorans began conquering Tamriel in Skyrim, they found Nedes and Bretons, the mannish races well assimilated in cultures dominated by elves.^[2] During the conquest of Tamriel by the people from Atmora, they came across other humans already inhabiting the whole continent, and it was a continent of mer ruling over men.

The early Tamrielic tribes of men may have been even earlier immigrants from at least Atmora if not other continents, looking for a new, better life.^[2]

Physiology[]

The most significant difference among men and Mer is their lifespan. Unlike the centuries-old elves, Men usually live no more than one hundred years. The oldest (naturally) to be recorded was the Imperial Sirollus Saccus, who was over 274 years old during the events of Morrowind. The oldest known living man however is Miraak, who lived during the Merethic Era, putting his lifespan well over 4500 years. His prolonged life can be attributed to Hermaeus Mora and/or him spending the majority of his life in Apocrypha.

Men and Mer also have various physical differences, as men are more muscular than most elves and have fewer shades of skin color. Another easily noticeable feature of elven kind is their pointy ears, which Men do not have. Most elves, including women, stand at twelve inches or more over most Men. Some exceptions to this rule are the Orsimer, who are very different from other elven races as they resemble other beast-like races such as Goblins, and the Bosmer (Wood Elves), who are shorter than most humans.

Both Men and Mer vary in terms of magical potency and attitude to magic. Among Men, Bretons have particular reputation as mages, while modern Nords usually dislike magic.

Modern Tamrielic races[]

Nords[]

Main article: Nord

The Nords are a tall and fair-haired people from Skyrim who are known for their incredible resistance to cold and even magical frost. They are enthusiastic warriors, and act as soldiers and mercenaries all over Tamriel. Eager to augment their martial skills beyond the traditional methods of Skyrim, they excel in all manner of warfare. They are direct descendants of Atmorans, who migrated to Tamriel in the time period known as the Return. They lead and crew the merchant fleets of many regions, and may be found all along Tamriel's coasts.

Imperials[]

Main article: Imperial

Natives of the civilized, cosmopolitan province of Cyrodiil, the Imperials are well-educated and well-spoken. Imperials are also known for the discipline and training of their citizen armies. With this they were able to fight off the Redguard and control most of Tamriel. Imperials have proven to be shrewd diplomats and traders, and these traits, along with their remarkable skill and training as light infantry, have enabled them to subdue all the other nations and races, and to have erected the monument to peace and prosperity that comprises the glorious Empire. The Imperials control most ports in Tamriel.

Redguards[]

Main article: Redguard

Redguards hail from the province of Hammerfell. They are a race that is known to be extremely quick and agile. They are excellent in all arts concerning blade and shield. They are descended from a long line of warriors and mystic seers.

The most naturally talented warriors in Tamriel, the dark-skinned, wiry haired Redguards of Hammerfell seem born to battle, though their pride and fierce independence of spirit makes them more suitable as scouts or skirmishers, or as free ranging heroes and adventurers, than as rank and file soldiers. In addition to their cultural affinities for many weapon and armor styles, Redguards are also blessed with hardy constitutions and quickness of foot.

Redguards view use of magic unfavorably, particularly Conjuration and Illusion, because of the ability to Soul Trap and tamper with the minds of others. Generally, they consider wizards weak or cowardly. However, it is known that Redguards were fond of Destruction spells - suiting their warlike culture well.

Although Redguards are Men, they do not share the same blood as Nords, Bretons, and Imperials because of their origin in Yokuda.

Bretons[]

Main article: Breton

Bretons are Men with elven ancestry who hail from the province of High Rock. Specifically, the Bretons have descended from the mannish people known as the Nedes and the ancient merish people known as the Aldmer. The Aldmer thought of making a superior race with their own "Elder," or "Superior," blood by mating with other races. The Bretons are sometimes called "Manmeri" because of this.

They are pure spell weavers and are advanced in all the arcane arts. While lacking in physical skill, they make up for it in their ability to resist and cast spells that overwhelm most people. They are united in culture and language, but are divided politically. Their origins can be traced to the First Era of Tamriel's history, when the Aldmer intermingled extensively with the Nedic people. This mostly happened during the period in the first Era when Mer held Men as slaves, which lead to masters impregnating their female captives. Bretons are of average height, and have either light or dark hair. They are highly intelligent, willful, and have an outgoing personality. It is said that Bretons are weaned on magic, for it seems to infuse their very being. Intermingling with Elven blood has given Bretons an affinity for magic, though hardiness is also part of their heritage. Breton culture operates under the feudal system, and their society is agrarian and hierarchical.

Ancient races[]

Atmorans[]

Main article: Atmoran

Atmorans, together with various Nedic tribes,^[2] were Humans native to the continent of Atmora far north of Tamriel. It is known that they resembled modern Nords, but were physically larger.^[5]

Early Atmorans had not developed a system of writing, and, as a result, little is known about their history. Earliest records of Atmorans date to the mid-Merethic Era when they first started migrating to Tamriel. Thier migration from Atmora was a process that lasted centuries and was taken by various malcontents, dissidents, rebels and landless younger sons.^[2] Skyrim was one of the lands, undergoing Human colonization.

The Snow Elves in the area were concerned about the rapid population increase of humans and organized a slaughter in the event which had came to be known as the Night of Tears. In retaliation, Ysgramor gathered an army of Five Hundred Companions and mounted an assault against the Snow Elves. This event is known as The Return. After the Return, the last recorded "invasion" from Atmora was in the 1E 68 in the form of two ships begging to make port.^[6] Those who stayed are believed to have died when Atmora froze and changed beyond recognition.^[6] The Atmorans that left became modern Nords and Giants.^[5]

Nedes[]

Main article: Nede

The Nedes were various tribes of Men originating in Atmora that were the ancient ancestors of the modern Bretons, Imperials^[2] and Reachfolk.^[7] They lived throughout Hammerfell, Skyrim, Morrowind and Cyrodiil.^[2]

The Nedes in Cyrodiil were slaves of the Ayleids until 1E 243 when St. Alessia created an uprising and freed them, creating the first Empire.

The Nedes were known to have had a race with the Chimer and had eventually been confined to Hammerfell as they had died out everywhere else. Upon the arrival of the Redguards – the Ra Gada – they had been slaughtered and made extinct.

Other races[]

Keptu[]

Main article: Ket Keptu

The Keptu were one of the many breeds of men back in the First and Merethic Era. Very little is known about them.

Akaviri[]

Main article: Akaviri

The Akaviri were a race of men native to the mysterious continent of Akavir. Despite their involvement in many historical events, very little is known about them. They are believed to have had a distinct Oriental culture.

Some stories tell that the Akaviri are now extinct, that they had been "eaten" by the native vampiric race of serpent-men known as Tsaesci. Others believe that the Akaviri are actually Tsaesci and stories of serpent-men were simply fictional, the result of corruption over the years.

The last records of Akaviri/Tsaesci date back to the early First Era when they had tried to invade Tamriel, but were stopped by the army of Reman Cyrodiil.

Kothringi[]

Main article: Kothringi

A few books in the game spoke of the Kothringi, a race of men hailing from Black Marsh. They were said to look like men only with metallic silver-skin and had been quite common in the region during the Second Era. They were eventually wiped out by the Knahaten Flu before the start of the Third Era.

The origin of the Kothringi is unknown. Some archeological discoveries suggest that the Kothringi were native to Tamriel, living as far as the early Merethic Era or earlier. However, other sources postulate that the Kothringi simply migrated to Black Marsh, willingly or not, and adapted to its environment, indicating a common origin with other Human tribes.^[8]

Orma[]

Main article: Orma

The Orma are a tribe native to Black Marsh dating back to the First Era.^[8] There exists an elevated occurrence of congenital blindness in the tribe, more specifically as a result of tribe members completely lacking eyes. Such individuals are said to be masters of their other senses.^[9] It is unknown how the Orma died out.^[8]

See also[]

• Mer
• Beastfolk
• Race

References[]