Tamriel:Dwemer

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Tamriel: Races

Various Dwemer schematics.
Various Dwemer schematics.

The Dwemer (allegedly pronounced "dway-mer") were a fabled lost race of Mer whose ruins and artifacts are scattered across Tamriel, specifically within Hammerfell (mainly in the mountains of Stros M'Kai), High Rock, and Morrowind. Meric races use the term "Dwemer," which translates to "deep," "deep-counseled," or "secretive" people. They are alternatively known as Dwarves, a term created by the giants of the Velothi Mountains. They formed free-thinking, yet reclusive Elven clans devoted to the secrets of science, engineering, and the arcane.

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[edit] History

Legend has it that the Dwemer present in Hammerfell were the self-exiled, militaristic Rourken clan of Resdayn, or Morrowind, who refused to make peace with the Dunmer. In 1E 420, the Rourken chieftain threw the Volendrung Hammer across Tamriel and promised to lead his clan whenever the hammer fell, an image which has been depicted in a number of ruins in Hammerfell. The Dwemer named the land "Volenfell," which then translated to "Hammerfell." The ruins in Hammerfell were inhabited by Dwarves for centuries, but unfortunately give no clues regarding their abrupt disappearance from the face of Tamriel in 1E 700.

A Dwemer Orrery, as seen in Redguard
A Dwemer Orrery, as seen in Redguard

The Dwemer inexplicably disappeared during the Battle of Red Mountain, during the War of the First Council. The event remains a mystery, but is thought to have followed their attempt to use the Heart of Lorkhan[1] to make a "superweapon," or to make their race immortal[2], and simply coincided[3] with the war. It appears that the Dwemer were inconclusive as to their opinion of using of the Heart. Some, including Bthuand Mzahnch, opposed its use, warning that massive side effects were likely[4], while the majority of the Tonal Architects, including their chief, Kagrenac, remained unconvinced.

Even Yagrum Bagarn, the last living Dwemer (whose existence is owed to the fact that he was in the “Outer Realms” when the event occurred), has no explanation as to what actually transpired. It appears all members of the Dwemer race were simply removed from the world, possibly to an unknown location in the outer realms. In the Dwemer ruins of Bamz-Amschend in Mournhold, Morrowind, there are numerous piles of ashes present next to weapons, on chairs, and in beds. This suggests their physical presences were suddenly reduced to ash in some way.

According to Chimarvamidium, the Dwemer possessed an ability that was known as "The Calling," which seems to have been similar to telepathy. It allowed the Dwemer to communicate with each other over great distances. It has been suggested that, in the last moments before they disappeared, Lord Kagrenac used The Calling to summon all of the Dwemer people and rally them to carry out his plans to transcend the Mortal Plane. Whether this version of their demise is correct or not is uncertain.

[edit] Technology

Dwemer ruins, as seen in Morrowind
Dwemer ruins, as seen in Morrowind

The Dwemer appear to have been a highly technologically advanced and particularly dogmatic race. Most of their old settlements are inhabited by enchanted mechanical guardians, or "Centurions." Old machine parts–such as gears, shafts, and nuts–are also found within their hallways, many of which are still running. However, the Dwemer also appear to have dabbled extensively and somewhat successfully in some of the more divine (or arcane) arts and sought to harness the supernatural powers of the Divines within their mechanical technology. In fact, there exists within Tamriel a school of thought which holds that it was precisely this knowledge, and the arrogance that accompanied it, that ultimately led to the demise of the Dwemer race.

[edit] Architecture

Dwemer strongholds, sometimes referred to as colonies, often contain ancient steam-powered contraptions, many of which are still running. Numerous pipes can be found in and around Dwemer ruins, and many devices and constructs appear to emit steam from their inner workings. There may be "boilers" or similar components housed inside the Dwemer Centurions. It has been speculated that the constructs are powered by some kind of checkpoint in each ruin, or possibly by the combined signal of every ruin's mechanics, but this is not certain. Dwemer Constructs taken from Vvardenfell, where many Dwemer ruins are present, appear to "shut down" when a certain distance between them and Red Mountain is reached. However, it does seem that many objects that may be found in ruins were once covered in mesh or cloth, which has decayed over the years. This would explain why the "home comforts" of the Dwemer may seem very Spartan to a visitor. There are also few large halls in most ruins. This could be due to the fact that most, if not all Dwemer ruins are underground, where large interior spaces are difficult to fashion at best. Many Dwemer colonies were named after their rulers. The largest concentration of strongholds is in Vvardenfell (which translates as "City of the Strong Shield" in Dwemeris).

A Dwemer Orrery, as seen in Oblivion
A Dwemer Orrery, as seen in Oblivion

Contrary to many legends, archaeological evidence of known Dwemer ruins leads one to believe that the Dwarves were about the same size as the typical human or elf, evidenced by the fact that all existing Dwarven armor is average sized (although some of the books within the game have stated that "dwarven armor" is either the outer shells of machines they built, or mismatched pieces from various devices). This is likely to be because many of the Dwemer resided near the Giants of the Velothi Mountains, who had never encountered any races of Men or Mer before and, in perspective, saw them as being much smaller, and thus deemed them to be "Dwarves." Imperial excavation of Dwemer ruins and machinery supports the Dlyxexic theory that the translation of Dwemer as Deep Elves might also be read as Smart Elves. Indeed, perhaps the brilliant students of the Ehlnofey mentioned in The Anuad are the Dwarves themselves. Many Redguards in Hammerfell have shown a particular interest in the Dwemer ruins there for unknown reasons. Theories persist that Yokuda, the original homeland of the Redguards, was an ancestral Dwemer city.

Concept art of two Dwemer
Concept art of two Dwemer

[edit] Religion & Philosophy

It is unknown whether the Dwemer worshipped any Gods. However, it is known that they despised and scorned the Daedra, mocking their "foolish" rituals. In The Battle of Red Mountain, it is mentioned that "[they] preferred instead their gods of Reason and Logic." These may be metaphorical terms, but the fact that Vivec, the author, capitalized them suggests otherwise.[5]

[edit] Artifacts

Dwemer artifacts are highly prized throughout the Empire for trade and collecting, although since they are technically the property of the Emperor under various Imperial charters, the sale of them is illegal. This does not seem to stop artifacts from falling off the backs of wagons or otherwise disappearing into various collections. Dwemer weapons and armor are especially valued, renowned for their excellent craftsmanship and sturdy design. However, acquisition of these artifacts is extremely dangerous, chiefly due to the remote locations of the ruins, and the multitude of aged and no-longer reliable Dwemer machinery within, including the Centurions and other Animunculi, as well as sophisticated traps of which the Dwemer were particularly fond.


[edit] Language

Very little is known about Dwemeris, the Dwemeri Language, but extensive studies have been made to try and translate it.

[edit] References

  1. ↑ According to Kagrenac's Tools
    "Beneath Red Mountain, Dwemer miners discovered a great magical stone. By diverse methods, Lord Kagrenac, High Priest and Magecrafter of the ancient Dwemer, determined that this magical stone was the heart of the god Lorkhan, cast here in the Dawn Era as a punishment for his mischief in creating the mortal world. Determined to use its divine powers to create a new god for the exclusive benefit of the Dwemer, Kagrenac forged three great enchanted artifacts, which are called "Kagrenac's Tools." Wraithguard is an enchanted gauntlet to protect its wearer from destruction when tapping the heart's power. Sunder is a enchanted hammer to strike the heart and produce the exact volume and quality of power desired. Keening is an enchanted blade that is used to flay and focus the power that rises from the heart."
  2. ↑ According to Yagrum Bagarn:
    "Lord Kagrenac, the foremost arcane philosopher and magecrafter of my era, devised tools to shape mythopoeic forces, intending to transcend the limits of Dwemer mortality. However, in reviewing his formulae, some logicians argued that side effects were unpredictable, and errors might be catastrophic. I think Kagrenac might have succeeded in granting our race eternal life, with unforeseen consequences -- such as wholesale displacement to an Outer Realm. Or he may have erred, and utterly destroyed our race."
  3. ↑ According to Baladas Demnevanni:
    As the Dwemer left no corpses or traces of conflict behind, I believe that generations of ritualistic 'anti-creations' resulted in their immediate, but foreseen removal from the Mundus. They retreated behind math, behind color, behind the active principle itself. That the Dwemer vanished during a conflict with Nerevar and the Tribunal is merely coincidence.
  4. ↑ According to Yagrum Bagarn:
    "The Dwemer were not unified in their thinking. Kagrenac and his tonal architects, among them Bthuand Mzahnch, believed they could improve the Dwemer race. Others argued that the attempt would be too great a risk. The war with Nerevar and the Dunmer may have led Kagrenac to carry out his experiments prematurely. Although this book [The Egg of Time] argues that nothing disastrous could result, the disappearance of my race argues otherwise."
  5. ↑ According to The Battle of Red Mountain:
    When the Chimer first abandoned the herds and tents of their nomadic ancestors, and built the first Great Houses, we loved the Daedra, and worshipped them as gods. But our brethren, the Dwemer, scorned the Daedra, and mocked our foolish rituals, and preferred instead their gods of Reason and Logic. So the Chimer and Dwemer were always at bitter war, until the Nords came and invaded Resdayn. Only then did the Chimer and Dwemer put away their strife and join together to cast out the invaders.

[edit] See Also

[edit] Books on the Dwemer

[edit] Books in Dwemeris

  • Divine Metaphysics - An explanation of some of Kagrenac's theories.
  • The Egg of Time - An argument for the use of Kagrenac's Tools.
  • Hanging Gardens - A travel guide to the Hanging Gardens of Wasten Coridale, written in both Dwemeris and Aldmeris.

[edit] Other Articles

[edit] External Links

Races of the Elder Scrolls
Man: Breton | Imperial | Nede | Nord | Redguard
Mer: Aldmer | Altmer | Ayleid | Bosmer | Chimer | Dunmer | Dwemer | Falmer | Maormer | Orsimer
Beast: Argonian | Imga | Khajiit | Sload
Akaviri: Ka Po' Tun | Kamal | Tang Mo | Tsaesci
Divine: Aedra | Daedra


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