Tamriel:Altmer

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In the Imperial tongue, the haughty, tall, golden-skinned peoples of Summerset Isle are called "High Elves," but call themselves Altmer, or the "Cultured People." In the Empire, "High" is often understood to mean "proud" or "snobbish," and as the Altmer generally personify these characteristics, the "lesser races" harbor little warmth for them. Altmer confidently consider themselves, with some justice, as the most civilized culture of Tamriel; the common tongue of the Empire, Tamrielic, is based on Altmer speech and writing, and most of the Empire's arts, crafts, and sciences are derived from Altmer traditions. However, the Altmer's smug self-assurance of superiority can be hard to bear. Deft, intelligent, and strong-willed, Altmer are the most strongly gifted in the arcane arts of all the races, and Altmer boast that their sublime physical natures make them far more resistant to disease than the "lesser races." However, they are also somewhat vulnerable to fire, frost, and shock.

The first edition of 'A Pocket Guide to the Empire and its environs' (aka PGE), published in 2E 864, contains a passage from an earlier date (1E 2820) suggesting that the Altmer practice eugenic infanticide, putting to death nine in ten of their newborns for being of impure bloodline. It also suggests that Altmeri names are simply combinations of numbers in their own language, and that their culture revolves almost entirely around displaying social status. How reliable and unbiased this account is is a matter of some doubt, as the document itself is written from a highly pro-Imperial - and thus anti Altmeri Dominium - point of view, and contains numerous objections written in the margins by an anonymous Elf.

The third edition of the PGE, published much later in 3E 432, contains no mention of any of these practices - whether this is because they don't exist any more, or never existed, or do exist but simply go unmentioned, is not known.

See Also

• For more information, see the Oblivion Altmer article and the Morrowind Altmer article.