Draft:Falmer (The Elder Scrolls)

Falmer
The Elder Scrolls race
First appearance	The Elder Scrolls III: Bloodmoon
Last appearance	The Elder Scrolls Online
In-universe information
Other name(s)	Snow Elves Ice Elves Snow Ghosts
Created by	The Aedra
Creation date	Merethic Era
Home world	Nirn
Type	Mer
Sub-races	The Betrayed
Distinctions	Pale-white skin White eyes White hair Pointed Ears Eyeless (Betrayed)
Language	Falmeri
Official religion	Chantry of Auri-El
Leaders	The Snow Prince Arch-Curate Vyrthur

The Falmer or Snow Elves are a race of pale-skinned and white-haired elves inhabiting the northernmost & frozen region of Skyrim in The Elder Scrolls video game series. At the height of their civilization, they were among the most advanced races on Tamriel, demonstrating a mastery of Ice magic and a uniquely close connection to Auri-El, the patron God of Elves. Before the events of The Elder Scrolls games they were almost entirely exterminated in a war with the Nords, with the few survivors fleeing underground where they evolved into the Betrayed.

Creative Origins

The word "Falmer" originates from the in-universe fictional language of Aldmeris, with Fal translating to "Ice" or "Snow" and Mer being "Elves". The race is first mentioned in The Elder Scrolls III: Bloodmoon during the mission In Search of the Falmer where a scholar asks the player character to find evidence of the race's existence. It wasn't until the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim that the race made an actual appearance in game as the Falmer (Betrayed variant) enemy type, found exclusively in underground regions of the map. The Dawngaurd DLC introduced Arch-Curate Vyrthur and his brother Knight Paladin Gelebor, the only in-universe examples of living uncorrupted Snow Elves.

Fictional History

Night of tears disputed/escalation rather than spark

Nord campaign so thorough Falmer were thought to be myth

Fictional Culture

Government

Very little is known of the Falmer government that existed prior to the war with the Nords. During the war, the Falmer rallied behind the leadership of the Snow Prince, which suggests that the Falmer homeland was a principality.

Religion

The Falmer adhere to a pantheon of deities centered around the chief Elven God Auri-El and his Chantry. According to Auri-El's champion, Knight Paladin Gelebor, the members of the Falmer pantheon are as followed:

• Auri-El - God of Time and Chief Deity in most Elven pantheons.
• Jephre - God of Song, Poetry, and Art.
• Phynaster - Hero God of the Elves, taught them to extend their lifespans by 100 years.
• Syrabane - God of Magic, youngest of the Elven deities.
• Trinimac - Elven Warrior God, Auri-El's greatest knight.

Other Elven deities possibly omitted by Gelebor include:

• Mara - Mother Goddess and Goddess of Love
• Magnus - Embodiment of Magic, God of the Sun
• Xarxes - God of Knowledge of Ancestry
• Xen - God of Labor

The Chantry of Auri-El was central to the Falmer faith, as it was a major site of pilgrimage for the Falmer as well as the residence of the Arch-Curate, their head of faith. Additionally, it is likely the Paladin Order of Auri-El was headquartered at the Chantry. The existence of the Paladin Order suggests there was a militant element within Falmer religion, either as a response to Nordic aggression, or an older tradition.

Architecture

Throughout the centuries long extermination campaign against the Falmer, the Nords destroyed virtually every structure ever built by the race. As of 4E 201, there are only two known Falmer structures remaining in Skyrim: The Chantry of Auri-El in the Forgotten Vale, and the Great Statue of Irkngthand.