Actually, orcs are elves, and thus "higher" than humans. I hear beast races are technically elves too (never heard the reasoning behind that claim, though :shrug:), so it's humans that are left in the bottom. With goblins

I am playing like 5 orcs at once in oblivion. Why ? I have no idea.

Humans and Elves both come from the same world, originally. Neither is any more evolved or high than the others. The Altmer think they're the closest to the ideals of the et'Ada or Greater Spirits but that's just their cultural bias.

The Bosmer and Khajiit supposedly split off from the same ancient bloodline of Aldmer (originally all Elves were of one race which split into many, just as all men were Nedes. Except for Redguards.) The difference is that Azura gave the Khajiit a special gift, according to some legends. A god of the Aldmer named Y'ffre tried to steal this gift and her followers became Bosmer. That's the short version of the story. You may want to read http://www.imperial-library.info/content/morrowind-words-clan-mother-ahnissi-her-favored-daughter. There's no proof that Khajiit can interbreed with Elves or Men though.

The Argonians are the children of the Hist, who came from another world altogether although the Hist are related to the Aedra and Daedra somehow. Not a huge amount is known about why Argonians take the form they do or why they differ from region to region. The Hist decide their forms.

Orcs and Dunmer are both groups of Elves who were cursed or changed. They were both originally Aldmer, just like the Bosmer and supposedly Khajiit.

Eight of the ten races can interbreed at will but there's no proof that Khajiit or Argonians can breed with anyone outside their own race. They can have romantic or physical relationships but no babies.

To simplify this:

Argonians can breed with: Argonians
Khajiit can breed with: Khajiit
Imperials can breed with: Imperials, Bretons, Nords, Redguards, Altmer, Bosmer, Dunmer, Orcs
Bretons can breed with: Imperials, Imperials, Nords, Bretons, Redguards, Altmer, Bosmer, Dunmer, Orcs
Nords can breed with: Imperials, Nords, Bretons, Redguards, Altmer, Bosmer, Dunmer, Orcs
Redguards can breed with: Imperials, Nords, Bretons, Redguards, Altmer, Bosmer, Dunmer, Orcs
Altmer can breed with: Imperials, Nords, Bretons, Redguards, Altmer, Bosmer, Dunmer, Orcs
Bosmer can breed with: Imperials, Nords, Bretons, Redguards, Altmer, Bosmer, Dunmer, Orcs
Dunmer can breed with: Imperials, Nords, Bretons, Redguards, Altmer, Bosmer, Dunmer, Orcs
Orcs can breed with: Imperials, Nords, Bretons, Redguards, Altmer, Bosmer, Dunmer, Orcs

Interesting. That also explains the strife between khajiit and bosmer. There certainly is interesting lore in TES.

As with all religious stories in Tamriel, take it with a grain of salt. There are many conflicting stories of how things came to pass, and the weird part is more than one of the same version of events can be true. Time and space are not solid in TES. You'll find that out the more in-game books you read.

I guess a lot of you didn't see the political and social structure the way I did, as a reflection of our own history, with lessons to be learned. I personally think The Imperial Empire is so much like the Roman empire in how it views itself, and other peoples. Romans were extremely biased and racist towards "barbaric" peoples with whom they fought for territory. The only surviving records regarding these groups were written by Romans, so we've been brought up to see them as ugly, savage, illiterate, war-mongers, when in fact, they were just tribes of simple people with cultural and religious differences fighting to keep their land and way of life. If you readhttp://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Guide_to_Bruma you'll see a very similar outlook. When Europeans first met African tribes they also saw an ugly race of savaged apes ready to be exploited and colonized. Biologically speaking, humans have not had races since the Neanderthals died out 30,000 years ago, yet we have this need to separate, and classify people, so we continue to have this social construct of race.

Nirn has a very unique racial structure, and the cultural and religious ideals of its people shape their reality in a very physical and dramatic way. The Orsimer are a race of people trying to carve their way into a world that despises them, and that has tremendous role-playing value. When you play that race, you're the lowest of the low, yet despite that you decide to save a world that hates you, and strive to become something greater. It's only been recently that they've been given citizenship, and education within the Empire, and it will be neat to see how their depicted in Skyrim 200 years later within a ruined Empire.

It should be noted the person who wrote the city guides for Cyrodill probably has slightly more haughty and xenophobic tendencies than the average Imperial.

Yes, probably, there are other books like of "How Orsinium Passed to the Orcs", which tries to shine a better view on them, but again this is within the last 30 years when we see major development in how Orcs, and other races are being viewed within Tamriel by humans, yet there's still that sense of Imperial superiority, and racial dominance. Of course, each race is very different, the Dunmer have a deep distrust for other races for example.

Reading and comparing the differences between the Biography of Queen Barenziah and The Real Barenziah gives a good feel for this. And in The Real Barenziah it's intersting to note Tiber Septims words, " 'Some things are universal, shared by all sentient folk of good will,' he said. 'So the One teaches us. We must unite against the malicious and the brutish, the mis-created, the orcs, trolls, goblins and other worse creataures, not strive 'gainst one another.' "

I think it's hilarious how the Guide to Bruma is found within Bruma even though it's so negative towards their way of life.

Alessia Ottus, the author of that text, is the same person who also spent her time describing the Imperial city's arboretum by criticizing Talos' place at the center of the statuary. She can best be described as hyper-religious and a bit of a gossip, if her guide to cheydinhal is any guess.

Orcs and wood elves are my favorite races. They seem to have the best lore behind them to. At the very least, the most interesting. Who doesn't want to play as green god waste.

argonians and khajitt are not cute... orcs have a pretty good backstory if u ask me and they were once thought to be related to goblins but that was only through speculation. the reason for this was because nobody had been in any real contact with the orcs so nobody really knew anything about them. and they dont have a province maybe but a province is simply a political line that seperates nations. it does not determine who's homeland is where necessarily just like in Africa multiple cultures live in the same country. they didnt draw their own lines. i think they fit perfectly well seeing as they r a staple for rp games. i find hte most powerful characters to be orcs. i'm yet to make a character anymore powerful in battle.

well actualy...nords r best in light armor....just saying...they r typically barbarians.

u do realize high elves r the wimpiest race of all dont u? lol...well maybe the bosmer..oh wait no.. they use short blades and arrows. thats more manly then magic.

I played a orc whenever it is available because they are a race of brutality and strength. in Morrowind and Oblivion my main characters were Orcs. Skyrims goin to be a little different though but thats just me :thumbsup:

I don't like the Altmer much at all, but I'd not call them wimpy. In a lot of ways they're more barbarian than an Orc or Nord ever could be. I've never heard of an Orc or Nord who would smash a baby's skull in for not being pure enough, or who plot the genocide of the entire human race. As for their fighting abilities, I've had my ass kicked before in these games by Altmer who were not only mages but http://uesp.net/wiki/Tribunal:Yarnar as http://uesp.net/wiki/Tribunal:Armion. They're not one trick ponies. I respect them but I don't like them.

Well said, sir.

I don't mind orcs, I dont play as them much, they haven't got the perfect amount of fantasy, they are fat, green and have big teeth, which is kind of typical, if you are going to make them look typical, make them act typically aswell. Hopefully the Orcs in Skyrim are not like this...

I love the orcs, but I rarely play them because of their looks. Then again, one of my favorite characters was an orc and I played him for over 500 hours.

I don't have any dislike for Orcs, I just hope their appearance in Skyrim is better than past games. I think they should look a little bit more barbaric than in Oblivion, but not too ridiculous like Orcs in other fantasy games and movies.

Also their lore is really interesting, and the fact that they're the underdog (not having a home province) is cool too.

Tolkien orcs are cool. Warhammer orks are cool. Generic fantasy orcs are cool. Yet TES orcs just fail for me. I can't really explain why they hold no appeal, but they don't. Maybe because Nords and Orcs are so similar in stats? They're nearly redundant races, only their abilities set them apart.

I only made one Orc character. I based him as a kinds Ghengis Khan Mongolian / Hun type of fighter. The barbaric short stocky type who ride horseback and live in round tents living of herds of cattle. I try to tone down the green as much as I can so he doesn't look like the typical "orc" and makes him more unique to storyline of TES as a branch of Elf.

Mongol orcs, that reminds me of this badass MW orc concept: http://www.imperial-library.info/content/page-30

I like the personality of the orcs and the backstory too, but their appearance leaves a lot to be desired, 'specially in Oblivion.

I like orcs. I like all races except Altmer (because they are the biggest bastards on the face of the planet). Orcs in TES, while having generic appearance, do not conform to all orc archetypes. They are not evil, much about them is a misconception, they have an interesting origin story, they have a sort of Mongol Barbarian culture and style. In fact, I have had fun recently doing concept designs for Orsinium to hopefully be part of a High Rock modding team when Skyrim comes out.

I may be one of the few that finds Orcs superior to Nords. Seriously, if I could have a backup guy that follows me around from one race I'd choose the orc! (Keep in mind I generally cast spells and shoot arrows while distracting the enemy with summons)

My Hero of Cyrodill was an orc. Like most Elder Scrolls games I play, both my avatar and I start off as ignorant. Just a dude playing an RPG and a halfhearted stab at a character. And then he/I become something more. What greater underdog story than a murderous beast banished from Skyrim who becomes the well-educated savior of the entire world? If the link in my sig still works and you have the Spell Tomes plug-in, you'll find that Ol' Muzgob wrote a few decent tomes in his time as well.

I, for one, love the lore behind the Orcs, a late addition or not. Will I play one again? Probably not in the near future. I think it's time to explore the Dunmer. But who knows?