He's talking about before the Snow elves became the primal creatures they are today. Fal-mer means Snow elves. The snow elves inhabited Skyrim and when the Nords arrived, they saw them as an endangerment to the ecosystem. Apparently instead of negotiation the 'supreme' Snow elves saw irradication as the most prudent reaction... which led to their gruesome demise.

That's a theory but if you play the mage collage quest then you'll know the discovery found there was probably why the Elves (Doesn't say Altmer, just says elves) attacked them.

Oh. I thought he was talking about the blind, creepy Snow elves. Dawnguard make them look so peaceful, but the Atmorans only settled in Saarthal at that point, so their population wasn't even that big. But yet the falmer still saw them as a threat *sigh*

Yeah I realized that I said Altmer (which are just high elves) instead of just elves after I posted it.

Was Saarthal not after the Snow elves original attacks on the Atmorans? It could have been the first, I'm not certain.

edit: Never mind, I just checked the wiki. The Night of Tears was the first attack.

If you play the College of winterhold questline, you will know EXACTLY why they attacked Saarthal, and they probably would have done it no matter what race was living their.

Yes I agree that was a pathetic decision on the Elves part... As well as their decision to turn to the Dwemer for help. I think it would have been prudent to leave Skyrim in it's entirety...

The Altmer enslaved goblins, so it depends on how you feel about that I guess. The Dwemer enslaved the Falmer, but I don't think anyone thinks they're nice. And the Nords enslaved some Falmer in the building of Windhelm. Only the Dunmer kept the institution of slavery so long.

My theory is that they couldn't. Their skin had a thin film of ice on it. They'd have struggled anywhere else on the continent. Cyrodiil was a jungle still at that time.

Yes, that would rationalize their decision.

Just saved me a lot of typing. Thanks.

It says specifically in one of the books in Skyrim (I forget which, maybe the night of tears) that the elves were worried that the rapidly increasing population of the atmorans would eventually mean that they could take over the world.

No one knew about What is found in Saarthal and it is implied that the "population thing" was more of guesswork by the author/historians because they saw no other reason for that attack. It happens all the time in real life, historians say something and say it as fact, then a couple years later something is found that completely proves them wrong.

Oh, I'm not trying to make excuses for Saarthal. Just a theory on why they might not have gone elsewhere when the tide turned against them.

They are both plausible reasons for the attack, and they both could have equally contributed. We can't know for certain.

No I was speaking of their decision to plead with the Dwemer. I don't justify the Night of Tears, but their decision to flee to the Dwemer would make sense if they couldn't leave Skyrim.

Are you talking about the mysterious source of power in Saarthal?

. If it's not this, then what are you talking about?

Right, to me that explains why they would agree to such a desperate move- unless they think the Ayleids and Chimer would enslave them, too, which is possible- and also why their conflict with the Nords became such a zero sum game. They were adapted to Skyrim's landscape and thus a threat to the Nords in a way other Mer were not. With Saarthal in the Nords' minds, that would be seen as justification for total war on them.

That would make since because the chimer hated the dwemer. The enemy of your enemy is your friend (hence, they go to the dwemer)

That IS what i am talking about, correct.

OOOOOOH, So your saying that the elves just wanted that power source. I guess that makes since

My favorite race tends to be whatever I'm playing at the moment and is subject to change at the drop of a hat. So long story short, they're all my favorites.

That said, the beast races will always hold a special place in my heart. They're a huge part of what makes the TES setting so unique.

Redguards (obviously)

I just like them because I can identify with them due to their North African/Arab culture and architecture. I also love their entire attitude. The whole bravery and sword master thing combined with destruction. It's just pure awesomeness. Their life after death beliefs also fascinate me. I love the idea of a paradise on the Far Shores and the trials of jumping the stars you need to complete to get there. Also, they kicked out the Thalmor.....sooooo......

Yeah, I guess I really just didn't pay attention

Nords. I like the cold and Germanic culture.