The name Tamriel is said to mean 'Starry Heart', however, according to '''', it is also Elvish for 'Dawn's Beauty'.
Tamrielic history is divided into three distinct eras, the First Era, the Second Era, and the Third Era:
Spoiler
- - ''The long First Era is mostly marked by the shifting of power from i masters from the land. From the northeast part of the continent, the Heart of Lorkhan tempts so many mortals, from the Dwemer to Chimer and eventually Humans. The Divine Heart causes a terrible war, and the extinction of a once great race, the Dwemer.''
- - ''The Second Era starts after the Akaviri Potentate assassinates the last of the Cyrodiil line. This is also the era when some of the most powerful factions in Tamriel are born, the Mages' Guild and the Dark Brotherhood being two from among the greatest to arise during this time period. The era finally ends after Tiber Septim , wielding a Dwemer artifact called Numidium , successfully unites the entire Tamrielic landmass once again.''
dynasty coin, officially called a ''Septim'', due to the bust of Tiber Septim on the obverse side, but colloquially known as a ''drake'' due to the seal of ''Akatosh'' on the reverse side]]
- - ''The Third Era, which some describe as the most glorious era thus far, is the time of the Septim Dynasty. In fact, the long line of Septim Emperors almost reaches an end at several points in the history of this period. Some of the significant events are the War of Red Diamond, and a long decade of reign by the traitorous Jagar Tharn . Furthermore, this era is marked by the rebirth of Nerevar Indoril, the greatest Chimeri general; as well as the rebirth of Numidium and the second Dragon Break that follows.''
- - ''In the final days of the Third Era, the emperor, '', along with all his heirs, save one illegitimate son, Martin. Martin is secured by the Blades, but the Amulet of Kings, necessary in the Rituals of Coronation, is stolen. With no crowned Emperor, an ancient protection is broken, and the gates of Oblivion open up and begin to assault the lands of Tamriel. The death of the final Septim and end of the Oblivion Crisis mark the end of the Third Era, and at this time, the Fourth Era has just begun.''
There are two other Eras previous to the aforementioned four. They are the 'Dawn Era' in which the universe and everything in it came into being, and the 'Merethic Era', otherwise known as the Mythic Era, in which Mer (Elves) first arrived in Tamriel and all manner of mythological occurrences are said to have taken place. These two Eras are commonly considered to be outside of verifiable history, as humanity did not possess a written language to speak of until the end of ME. Aldmeri records, on the other hand, date back to the beginning of ME, however these are not open to Imperial scholars.
Tamriel consists of nine provinces, each of these provinces corresponds with their own culture and race, with the exception of High Rock, which houses two distinct species:
- High Rock , inhabited by Bretons , man/elf hybrids on the human side; also Orcs or Orsimer , aldmeris for 'Pariah Folk': Elves so ruined and corrupted that they are often mistaken as akin to goblins and/or trolls.
- Hammerfell , inhabited by Redguards , in the native also Yokuda ns, enterprising expansionists from the west, commonly mistaken for men, but not in fact related. Once housed a significant Dwemer--- population.
- Skyrim , inhabited by Nords . Hardy men of the north and the only remaining direct and unchanged descendants of the original human 'Nedic' settlers from across the now frozen Sea of Ghosts.
- Morrowind , inhabited by Dark Elves , or Dunmer , meaning 'accursed folk' in aldmeris. Once also housed a large Dwemer population.
- Black Marsh , inhabited by Argonians , highly evolved Lizard People , commonly looked down upon as beastfolk.
- Elsweyr , inhabited by the Khajiit , cat folk, also commonly looked down upon as savage.
- Valenwood , inhabited by Wood Elves , or Bosmer in the Elven, meaning 'tree-sap folk', they are the Elven products of blood mixing with men.
- Summerset Isles , inhabited by High Elves , or Altmer , meaning 'superior (and/or snobbish) folk'.
- Cyrodiil , the Imperial province, inhabited by the Imperials , or Cyrodiils, a common human race who form the foundational population of the Empire, although the ruling Septim dynasty are thought to be of at least some Nordic blood (which might explain their long history as conquerors and warrior-kings).
All these races are playable in '''', the Argonians and Khajiit weren't playable. Other races include:
- The Dwemer (meaning 'deep folk' often misinterpreted as referring to their subterranean habits, should be better understood as 'wise/smart folk'), commonly nicknamed ' Dwarves ' due to a dubious myth involving their befriending a race of giants, though not actually short in stature. They used to inhabit all of Tamriel, but were concentrated in Morrowind and Hammerfell. They all disappeared simultaneously during the Battle Of Red Mountain , when Lord Nerevar 'Godkiller' led the Chimer--- in an attack against the Dwarves to keep them from using Kagrenac's Tools. It is believed that the Dwemer could not control the Tools, and it is not known what effect it had upon them, aside from the fact that the whole race of them are no longer in Tamriel. The Dwemer were trying to use the tools to create a God (called ' Numidium ') for themselves. The Chimer saw this as an affront to their gods, for whom they faced ridicule and ostracism; thusly the war. According to Ashlander tradition, Nerevar and Dagoth Ur severed the Dwemer connection to the Heart of Lorkhan at the end of this long war, and all the Dwemer turned to dust. Dagoth Ur later admits that he is not sure why. It may have something to do with the Heart of Lorkhan being what kept the Dwemer semi-immortal (un-aging).
- The Chimer , meaning 'changed folk' in aldmeris, were a small cult of High Elves who were led by the prophet Veloth to the promised land of Resdayn, now called Morrowind. They were cursed by the Daedra when they ceased worship and turned to worshipping three god-kings known as the Tribunal. The curse brought ash coloured skin from light gray to black in hue, red eyes which glow, as well as hair color restricted to black, white, gray and red. Understandably, this was rather horrific a thing to level at the beautiful and aesthetic High Elves, who were very proud of their gold colored skin, hair and eyes. The curse also contained a promise that some day, Nerevar Indoril would return and signal the downfall of the profane Tribunal Temple .
Although Tamriel is the most well-known and important place in the world, it isn't the only one. Far to the north of Tamriel lies Atmora , from which the Nords came to conquer Tamriel. Atmora, in the Elvish language, means 'Elder Wood'.
To the West of Tamriel lies the sunken continent of Yokuda , from which the people that are now called the Redguards came to take over Hammerfell.
To the East of Tamriel lies the continent of , Tsaesci , Tang Mo , and Ka Po' Tun .
Below Summerset Isle, just to the south of Tamriel, lies Pyandonea , the tropical home of the Maormer or Tropical Elves.
To the distant south of Tamriel supposedly lies the Elven homeland of Aldmeris , or Ehlnofey , which was devastated in ancient times (hence the early migration of Elves to other continents, namely Tamriel).
The Coral Kingdoms of Thras , an archipelago southwest of Tamriel, is the homeland of the Sload , a conservative amphibious sluglike race. The Thrassian Plague devastated Tamriel around 1E2200, after which Tamrielic united navy ravaged and sank Thras into the sea. It has since recovered.
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