Here's another thread I started on The Imperial Library.


I've had a huge load of questions about the Altmer (and some Mer in general) ever since coming here and seeing the great depth at which the discussion on lore took place. So, here are some of my questions:

1) How does Altmer daily life go about in Summerset Isles? What are some things that many common Altmer do?

2) Do the Altmer have actual peasants in their society or do their Kings and Queens provide for everyone?
My knowledge: From what I've gathered over reading and re-reading various sources throughout TES, I've come to (not fully) conclude that the Altmer do not really have the same class systems Man does. From a conversation in Morrowind with the Aundae clan leader, she tells you that her family was high born, even for Altmer, which suggested to me that most Altmer are of esteemed pedigrees.
However, when reading about the Altmer in another source (I can't remember where, right this moment), it explained a caste system in which there where landowners (about the third level down).

3) Who, exactly, is Auri-El?
Many books on religion in Tamriel refer to Auri-El as the "Elven Akatosh". I found this to be erroneous. When reading about Auri-El, you will find that he, according to the Psijics, was one of the ancestors of the early Aldmer and had an apotheosis when the Aldmer starting worshiping the ancestors of their better.
And again, there is more to this tale. Auri-El is actually supposed to be Anui-El/Anuiel, the spirit of Anu the Everything (not Anu its/himself).
So, what I have deduced thus far is that there may be truth in Merish legends of their species being decended of gods and that the Psijics may be incorrect on this matter.

4) What are the Altmer views on romance and sixuality?
This is a curious question that I have developed recently. How do the Altmer view love, romance and intimacy? Is it something that they feel is careless and useless? Or, is it something that they hold http://www.imperial-library.info/content/altmer-thread# and dear to them, a more private matter?
Ever since Bethesda's inclusion of same six romance and marriage options in the TES games, I've been wondering if everyone just views same six relationships as normal. I would, however, like a little bit more in depth information on this. I'd like to see cultural and racial views on this matter more because, surely, there must be more to it than Bethesda just plopping it in the games and acting like nothing happened

5) What does traditional Altmer music sound like?
I imagine it would sound very lilting and musical. Very much flowing into each note for more relaxing and slower types of songs. I wonder how the more up beat songs would sound?

6) What kind of fabrics do the Altmer use in making their clothes and what styles are present in their fashion?
Altmer, as can be seen, very much care how they look and appear to others. For that matter, what colours are normally used?

Well, these are all of the questions that I can recall at the moment. I'm pretty sure some of them aren't possible to answer at this time, but we can always make conjectures and theories. Let the Altmer discussion commence!

The source about the Altmeri caste system comes from the Third Pocket Guide.

Auriel is the elven Akatosh because Auriel is the Altmeri God of Time. http://www.imperial-library.info/content/monomyth-altmeri-heart-world. He is also an ancestor god (Aedra means "Our Ancestors) and the soul of Anuiel.

1) The same things that other races do, except more gracefully. They may enjoy a higher standard of living with their magics and longevity, but there are those that have to empty the chamber pots (assuming Altmer don't possess indoor plumbing). There is assumingly a caste-system with the educated mages and warlords on top ruling over artists and laborers.

2) Unless if they have magical means on forging steel or growing grain, they'll have a plebeian working class, if an educated one that would seem well-off by other peasants. Possibly buffeted by certain magics. If this won't sate you, this link: (http://www.imperial-library.info/content/pedo-impedimenta) talks about farmers using magic to create the optimal growing conditions. It's a great read and I think it may answer your questions and hopefully give you new ones

3) Auri-El is a Dragon Facet, same with Alduin and Alkosh. This is confirmed in the Dawnguard expansion. Bear in mind though that all Altmer see him as more of a king and ancestor than a creator.

4) Depends if you take the idea that Altmer perform eugenics or not. What we do know from Oblivion is that it's a lengthy and personal affair, and that "our love is the most important thing in all creation".

5) No idea. We know that mainstream Tamrielic culture is based on Altmeri customs, so if you can find Tamrielic music, you have Altmer music. My best guess; lots of lilting vocals and traveling notes. Something that we'd consider a mix of classical and New age.

6) Per the link, sea silk in varying quality. The Thalmor robes look to be a mix of leather and silk, along with the Psijics. If anything, it's probably a given that everything they make is of the highest quality materials magic or money can get, and since Moonstone is used en masse in their golden armor, that's also a mainstay in Altmeri fashion.

You know that article is a fan work right?

Mhm, but it's a very well-made work that has the best vision of the Summerset Isles and Altmeri life thus far. Unless if Bethesda gives us clear-cut answers on the Altmer, in my humble opinion, this is the best we've got outside in-game lore and books.

What do Altmer do day to day? I don't know, hate themselves every time they go for a [censored]?

Maybe thats why they're always making that face.

It's not appropriate for answering lore questions though. Even if you find it enjoyable, it doesn't provide answers to Tauryon, and has the potential to mislead him if he doesn't properly compartmentalize the information.

I recall Atlmer wanting to find the supposed "perfect" mate, due to their long life spans.

Yeah, that's the line of that silly Altmer woman in Cheydinhal.

I'd not be able to give some answers though without it, misleading or otherwise. I'm not saying that I disagree, but considering that the Imperial Library's thread didn't give clear-cut answers either and that there's not much in-game lore (that we know of) on the intricacies of any race outside of war, religion, and politics, all that we can do is speculate. That's what happened in my thread when I asked about the diets of the respective races.

I would imagine only the most elegant and/or rarest of colors.
Maybe http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrian_purple, which would be well suited to an island environment. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saffron makes a lovely goldish color, and as it takes many flowers to make a batch of dye, this would fall under the rare quality. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochineal#Dye makes a brilliant scarlet shade.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigo_dye#Natural_indigo for a deep blue.
Going to stop there before I go crazy.


And look at my gallery on my signature, if you like speculative stuff. I've got quite a few concept ideas on Altmer clothing in there.

Most likely, Altmer would only were elegant or rare colors if they were rich. You won't be finding someone in the lower end of the system wearing anything particularly fancy.

Altmer are vain. They'd probably find a way.

These are quite beautiful Kourumi! I agree, they'd do what they could to get the flashiest, finest things possible. Nothing else is suitable.

I imagine Altmer society to function rather like old Sparta, where Proper Spartan Citizens composed a fraction of the population and had only two professions, Soldiery for men, Babymakin' for women. Obviously it wouldn't be a 16th as much gender delineated, and have greater focus on magickal workings than martial, but the point is the same: There are no Altmer ditch-diggers.

De Rerum Direnni casts doubt on this model, but c'mon, that's a folktale from back before the Alessian Order, so times may have very well changed.

Some of them might have fancier clothes for special occasions, but it wouldn't be too smart to wear something fancy while doing manual labor.


Workers are noted as being part of the Altmer caste system.


Edit: If anyone needs the quote:

Gradually, as the society grew, social stratification increased. A hierarchy of classes began to form, which is still largely enforced in Summerset to this day. At the top are the Wise, teachers and priests, followed by the Artists, Princes, Warriors, Landowners, Merchants, and Workers. Below Workers were the beasts, such as the enslaved goblins, who the Aldmer used to perform the jobs beneath the dignity of the very least of them.

The story of Asliel Direnni maybe happened in the very early stage of Aldmeri Society, when the latter caste system was yet to be established. After all it was at the time hundreds of years before the Dirennis went to High Rock, and Asliel finally joined the Psijics, who are dissidents from the later mainstream Altmer Society.

I'd be giving real answers and my personal opinions, but what I think is basically Y'ffre's post....so....
Just to be a [MEPHALA]:

1) They walk in baby steps, as to not overexert themselves to maintain their long lifespans. Their midday rituals involve getting massages and drinking tea. And of course they would never do any labor; that's work for the lesser and mannish Bosmer and Khajiit. Also, Altmer don't poop, as that's a lesser, mannish bodily function (also, they eat sunlight and crystal, so no poop...)

2) To imply the great land of Alinor has peasants? Bah. Goblins and Bosmer are their slave force.

3) All possible interpretations of Auriel-as-Anuiel-as-Akatosh-as-Elfkatosh-as-Alduin are true.

4) Altmer reproduce via budding, which is only used in dire need of population-generation. Only the lesser, mannish races would use something as gross as six to reproduce.

5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrO4YZeyl0I

6) Sunlight. And crystal. And latex (Gagaite). Lots of that.

Bear in mind that all of those answers are in jest.


If they deleted the moons, I see no reason that they can't use magic to change the colors of their fabrics.

As always with regards to "race" in the Elder Scrolls, this discussion has more to do with Alinor's culture, and not the Altmer as a race as a whole. An Altmer from Cyrodiil or Morrowind or Skyrim would probably not be (as) vain and wouldn't have (as much) of a superiority complex.

3. Auri-el didn't have apotheosis. He was a god in the first place and he "ascended to heaven" after the wars against Lorkhan and co.

4. If they're into eugenics same-six relationships might just mean that those people don't have children which could be a good or bad thing. So if their genes are undesirable, let them do what they want and they'll be gone when they die. If their genes are desirable at least marry them off into a fertile marriage. I wouldn't expect them to go so far as making the best specimens studs, but that might have been considered by some factions.

5. I imagined it would be complicated dance music which one needs to be ridiculously good at maths (as with the other arts) to write. Or fugues and the like from what I've heard.

Regarding clothing, would the mages just skip on expensive materials and wear conjured cloths shining with varliance?

Only the ones that have the prestige/feel snobbish enough. I'm not sure how well the Psijic robes mesh with the rest of Altmeri mage wear, but I would assume it would be in vain as that, if only more flamboyant.


EDIT
As believable as this may be (Especially with Goblin labor), I'm certain that almost any Altmer worth his or her salt could some how construe that their own toil is somehow the noblest work in all the land, and that truly they are the ones that keep Summerset running, no matter the position.