Hey guys, I've been reading the http://www.imperial-library.info/pge/highrock.shtml (the first one, the newer one doesn't seem to mention this as far as I can tell), and on the chapter on High Rock, there's a mention of a ethnicity of Bretons called Reachmen, from the Western Reach, near Skyrim. The guide says "The Reachmen are a mongrel breed, even for Bretons. Descended originally from one of the earliest Atmoran tribes to settle Tamriel, their lineage now partakes of nearly every race imaginable."

So, what's the deal? Are there any other mentions of these people (I'm not that far in Daggerfall, so I haven't seen any first-hand) in other books, perhaps something about their appearance? From what I can tell from the guide, they're more Elven than usual Bretons, and they have some Orcish customs. Is that all we know about them? And what exactly is Reach-magic?

I always imagined they're a more feral breed...I like to think that art for the Breton in Oblivion with no shirt, elf ears and long fingernails is what a Reachman would look like. I don't have any sources for this, but I know there are covens of witches in High Rock and it seems to me that Reach magic might be more like clan sorcery or druidism than the organized magic of the mages' guild or other structured schools of magic.

There's http://www.imperial-library.info/obbooks/mirror.shtml, which is about 'horseman' tribes of High Rock, similar to the Reachmen (though seperate, as Reachmen are mentioned in the story).

You'll find Reachmen is interchangable with 'Witchmen'.

Reach-magic is still widely studied, although it is banned by the Mages Guild (who fear it as dangerous and wild hedge-wizardry), and the Reachmen are often referred to as the "Witchmen of High Rock." - http://www.imperial-library.info/pge/highrock.shtml

Some mentions of "Witch-Kings" (could be assumed to be the leaders of the society, and by extension Reachmen society being organised feudaly):

Krisandra: The Empire's expansion has proceeded according to the merits of the Emperor's servants. By all accounts, Septim's Governor in High Rock has ended the feuding of the Witch-Kings there with tact and skill. The Emperor's representative here in Stros M'Kai is not of the same caliber, and the Emperor is viewed dimly as a result. - http://www.imperial-library.info/tsorg/part01.shtml

In my native High Rock, traditions dating back to the witch kings and nomadic horseman mandate cremation of the dead. This is practiced almost without exception in the north, through an Imperial burial in a tomb or city cemetery is more common in the south. - http://www.imperial-library.info/mwbooks/corpse_preparation.shtml

"Officially" assasinated Emperor Zero/Cuhlecain, though the Acturian Heresy states this was a cover up for Tiber having him killed:

The Bretons were sent back to High Rock with tales of Cuhlecain's new General, where they decided to combat the Emperor's sorcery with their own. In CE854, a nightblade from the Western Reach made his way to the Imperial Palace at Nibenay. There, the Witchman assassinated the Emperor, caught the Palace on fire, and slit the throat of General Talos. "But from the smoldering ruin he came, one hand to his neck and with Cuhlecain's Crown in the other. - http://www.imperial-library.info/pge/cyrodiil.shtml

Before Cuhlecain can be crowned, Hjalti secretly murders him and his loyalist contingent. These assassinations are blamed on the enemies of Cuhlecain, which, for political reasons, are still the Western Reach. - http://www.imperial-library.info/mwbooks/arcturian.shtml

Some minor reference by MK that the Reachmen farm:

(Which still sometimes causes trouble for the farmers of the Reachmen, ha ha ha.) - http://www.imperial-library.info/obscure_text/aldudagga.shtml#3

Witch men and regional witch kings huh? Sounds like my intuition wasn't too far off.

Ah, so these must be the Tribal Bretons I've read on about. Interesting.

Some interesting stuff there.

It's a shame they're not better represented in-game, they seem a lot more interesting than the "civilised" Bretons we seem to get.

It's because there hasn't been a game yet to feature the Reach (the closest to doing so would be Shadowkey, which can't really be counted due to it's dodgy geography). Daggerfall only gave us South and South-West Highrock, so the Reach wasn't featured (and didn't really exist as a place at this point, not til Redguard is the lore about the Reach and Reachmen developed).

That would explain it.
Although I got the impression that there'd be at least a few Reachmen (probably enemy Barbarians?) in the area around Orsinium.

I wouldn't doubt Reachmen have better relations with Orcs than other factions of Bretons, if their cultures are similar. Perhaps their shared traditions of shamanism and rough living would help create bonds.