Tamriel:Falmer

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Falmer, or Snow Elves, are a race of Mer (Elves) that lived on the continent of Tamriel.

[edit] History

It is believed that the Falmer were the original elven inhabitants of Skyrim, the northernmost province of the continent, and were defeated and displaced by the Nords. The Pocket Guide to the Empire, Skyrim chapter 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.

Little is truly known about the Falmer. No cities have been found, and only one book remains (see below). They fought endlessly with Nords, since the latter were in their expansion campaigns. It was in this time that Nords and Dunmer were battling in Vvardenfell. The Falmer had a presence on Solstheim north of the island of Vvardenfell.

There exist four opposed hypotheses about the fate of the Falmer. The Skaal claim that the pesky Rieklings are, in fact, descended from the Falmer. Conversely, the Altmer in Raven Rock claim that the Rieklings are simply snow goblins, and that the Snow Elves have blended with the other elven races through interbreeding. The book Fall of the Snow Prince, found in a burial barrow, seemingly supports the second hypothesis, describing the fall of the Snow Prince, an elven leader who faced the Nords in the Battle of Moesring.

A third theory considers that there is also the possibility that genocide was committed upon the Falmer, and if so, likely by the Nords during aggressive wars for territory. A scholar who traveled to Solstheim (circa Nerevarine) in search of these elusive beings uncovered proof of their existence. He left for Skyrim, where he thought he might find more about this people.

Finally, it is theorized by some that the strange race known as Ice Warriors, found in the icy caves of Glacier Crawl may be the last remnants of the lost race of Falmer. These beings are uncommunicative with outsiders, but are icy blue skinned humanoids, with features somewhat between Elven and Orcish.

[edit] Sources

• The Pocket Guide to the Empire, Skyrim chapter, with an inset on Snow Elves
• Fall of the Snow Prince, full text
• Rieklings = Falmer?, pros and cons, discussion by a fan

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