Hey guys, hope you're all well this night/morning/evening/afternoon/whatever time it is for you.

Been awhile since I last showed up here, but I'm back and have a few questions about the Altmer and their biology.

So, we all know that there were rumors of them performing infanticide for 9 out of 10 children (which I'm almost 100% positive was Imperial propaganda due to the difference in fertility between Men and Mer), as well as word about the Thalmor performing 'ethnic purges' of those with 'impure Mer blood'. However, this had me thinking about what exactly would count as an "impure" Altmer - not a Bosmer, Dunmer, or Orsimer, but the people of Summerset themselves. Just what makes one seen as "impure", both to the Aldmeri Dominion in charge of the Isle in the 4th Era, as well as Empire-aligned Summerset in the Third Era?

For example - would an Altmer who's smaller in size than the average height of an Altmer (( which according to some people is around 6'6", although I'm not sure how/where they got that )) be called 'impure'?

Or what about Altmer who have darker hair colors - such as a dark brown, or black? There have been many in games who have blonde, white, and grey hair - and although there have been Altmer who have dark brown hair in Oblivion, in Morrowind, Skyrim, and for player-created Altmer in Elder Scrolls Online not a single Altmer has been seen to have black hair (at least going by my memory). And in addition for Skyrim, there were no signs of Altmer with any shade of brown for their hair color. I have, however, observed some brown is seen in the hair of Altmer in Online - yet it appeared to be an ordinary brown as the darkest.

Would traits like these been considered 'impurities' in those Altmer - or would 'impure' Altmer be those who are not of solely Altmeri/Aldmeri ancestry?

And if the latter - would shorter Altmer and darker haired Altmer be considered 'natural' or 'normal'?

I'm not sure if there's anything in the in-game books in any of the games, or if there have been mentions of it from NPC dialogue - but if there are, feel free to mention them. Or, you can share your theories or knowledge here.

I'm eager to see what your opinions and theories are for this topic.

I've always thought of impurities being an being from a mixed bloodline. For example, if you are an Altmer but your great-great-great-great-grandfather was a Bosmer... that's an impurity right there. Complete purity would be a bloodline that can be traced back to the Merethic Era and have only Altmer blood in it.

Can't remember any sources, but I always thought it was referred to as "racial purity". The keyword being "race". The whole term, obviously, means keeping as close to the original members in genetic code as possible (in other words, no cross-race breeding).

No doubt much of what you've spoken about would come up in Altmer society. If a child was born abnormally short, his mother would be accused of having been impregnated by a Bosmer and having been unfaithful to your Altmer husband/lover. Darker skin, and suddenly you are suspected of being the illegitimate child of a Dunmer father and Altmer "wh***".

Thanks for the reply, Light. And I had a feeling something like that would be discussed heatedly in Altmer society. Of course, I'm not sure what would be considered 'too far' for some of the Altmer's traits - like 'how dark is too dark' for their typically white-gold to darker gold skin, or if a regular, pure Altmer would have darker hair colors - as I mentioned like dark brown (which, off topic, is something I try to give to my main character whenever I play to match my own hair), or black hair (which apparently quite a few people like to give their Altmer characters and many are upset about the lack of it in Online) - would be considered abnormal or "impure" like, as you mentioned - an Altmer who's greatx5-grandfather was a Bosmer or had a Dunmer father?