What is Nords problem with dark elves?

[Elegost]

I used to respect the nords, but the way they get at the dark elves is just over the top? Is there a justifiable reason for this or what?

Sensible answers only.

[Avron the S'wit]

The Nords and the Dark Elves have a long, historical hatred for each other. Morrowind and Skyrim have long butted heads here and there, so the dislike is natural, if over the top, although you should consider that the Nords are feeling extra feisty with the whole Empire and Thalmor thing the Stormcloaks are battling, and the Stormcloaks can only get ahead by fueling some of that anti-outsider sentiment. You may hear some Nords discuss old heros at Red Mountain, which is located on the island of Vvardenfell, which is in the province of Morrowind (and upon which the third TES game takes place). You might enjoy reading up on the lore of Morrowind and Skyrim for this on the Wiki.

[Elegost]

Thankyou I'll have a read!

[Talamare]

Nords are the whitest people in the game
Dunmer are the blackest people in the game

There is no meaning to what I just said



or is there

[ZeRoc]

I'm pretty sure that Redguards are blacker...

As Avron said, they have always hated each other. What the Nords don't get is that most, if not all Dunmer, aren't involved with the Dominion, yet the Nords still harass them, thinking that they are spies.

On my Dunmer character, I promptly incapacitated Rolff the moment I walked into Windhelm... stinking essential NPC's...

[PsijicOrder]

With the whole Civil War between the Empire + The Thalmor and the Stormcloaks, The Nord's don't trust anyone than their own kind. The Dark Elves are discriminated against because the Nord's are afraid of them being spies for the Imperials/Thalmor. Perhaps this is just an excuse to be hateful to them, and they really just hold a grudge. But that's atleast the reason they give. (:

[Imp]

The Nords hate all who are not Nords. Some of the only races inside Windhelm are Nords, and the others are Dunmer. There are some others, but that is mostly it. They are some of the only people besides Nords in Windhelm, so they will hate them.

[PsijicOrder]

Completely true! And I think the Nords are really most annoyed that the Dark Elves just popped into their country seeking a better life.. They are thought of as illegal immigrants and thrown in slums for not being true Nord blood.

[Arch-Mage Matt]

Nobody likes it when you get floods of helpless refugees in your country, requiring you to use your resources to aid them.

[NLN]

Not to mention that the Dunmer are their original, lovable selves too, and they are being extra friendly with the Nords...

All hail the return of the Morrowind version of them! (I actually love them again now )

[ArgonianDunmer]

The Stormcloaks hate everyone who isn't a "true Nord". They're just selfish racist [&@%!].

[Feanor]

As others said before me, they are unwanted refugees in a land where tradition and blood means a lot.

[OblivionDuruza]

"Unwanted" except for the fact the Nords invited the Dunmer into Skyrim in the first place You think the Dunmer enjoy the constant torment at the hands of the Stormcloaks, not to mention the bitter cold and the unpleasent environment. If they had a choice, do you think they'd stick around?

[Feanor]

"Unwanted" except for the fact the Nords invited the Dunmer into Skyrim in the first place You think the Dunmer enjoy the constant torment at the hands of the Stormcloaks, not to mention the bitter cold and the unpleasent environment. If they had a choice, do you think they'd stick around?

It doesn't seem to me they were invited, where did you read that?

[OblivionDuruza]

The High King invited them, and Ulfric's father and the other Jarls welcomed and tolerated them. That I gleaned from a combination of in-game dialogue and the book Scourge of the Grey Quarter. Speaking to Rolff Stone-Fist will give you some indication of the invitation, iirc, he's the NPC I can remember at the moment who mentions it, but I'll retrace my steps and take some screenshots if you'd like.

[Berzerker]

"Unwanted" except for the fact the Nords invited the Dunmer into Skyrim in the first place You think the Dunmer enjoy the constant torment at the hands of the Stormcloaks, not to mention the bitter cold and the unpleasent environment. If they had a choice, do you think they'd stick around?

The Nords didn't the High King did there is a difference.

[ZeRoc]

There is, but the High King is the leader and representative of the Nords, ergo, one could say that the Nords invited them.

[Chaos the N'wah]

Sorry, this one cannot hear you from outside the walls, now what were you talking about? Something about equality?
We have not done anything to warrant distrust in any of the holds, but we are forced to huddle in the snow and fend off Falmer raids on the road...
Oh? The Empire isn't as racist as the Stormcloaks? Then they will let Khajiit into the city, yes? Oh, no? This one thought as much...
Come my friends, let us trek through the cold and hope we don't get killed by curious giants or trolls, we obviously have it better than the Dunmer..

[ADP101]

The dark elves are taking all of the jobs!

[OblivionDuruza]

The Stormcloaks don't really like anyone but Stormcloaks. The concept of "True Nords" is really the centre of the conflict and all the tension across Skyrim, in combination with the fear and hate of the Thalmor.

As ZeRoc points out, the High King, the leader of the Nordic peoples, and the majority of Jarls welcomed and accepted the Dunmer, even Ulfric's own father. Only in recent times with the coming of the Stormcloaks rebellion has there been problems, and we've seen that the Nords have put aside age old conflicts with the Dunmer only for a new fear of Mer in general, caused by hate for the Aldmeri Dominion, which has nothing to do with the Dunmer, to take over control and destory any progress that had occurred previously.

It's not the Nords as a whole who have a problem with the Dunmer, it's those Nords in Windhelm who call themselves Stormcloaks. The problem isn't just with Dunmer, it's with everyone, be they Mer, beast, even other races of men to an extent.

[Imp]

Well, try thinkin of it if you were a soldier of your country, then people from a country bordering you or very close just came in, doing nothing for your country because "it isn't their war". I would have to side with the Stormcloaks on this matter.

[The Dog Whisperer]

There is, but the High King is the leader and representative of the Nords, ergo, one could say that the Nords invited them.

But who's High King now?
I wonder what the story is around Roggvir's claim of Torygg being bested in fair combat.
Is that an actual tradition? Does anyone know of anything confirming or denying it?
Haven't found anything, other than the stuff on the Moot which, since the Pact of Chieftains, isn't supposed to convene unless there is no direct heir.
If fair combat is an actual tradition, I'd say it supersedes the Moot.

[Berzerker]

Well, try thinkin of it if you were a soldier of your country, then people from a country bordering you or very close just came in, doing nothing for your country because "it isn't their war". I would have to side with the Stormcloaks on this matter.

So staying neutral in a civil war is doing nothing for you're country, then that claim can also be labeled at several Nords plus they own shops therefore contributing to the ecomomy do they not? and the Stormcloaks are lucky the Dunmer don't join the Imperials out of spite.

[Imp]

Yes, but not how you are looking at it. I am saying that they are living off Windhelm, are not helping them with the war, not even saying what side they believe in.

They are bascially Freeloaders

[OblivionDuruza]

The Dunmer aren't "freeloaders" though, they live in segregation as a result of the attitude of the Stormcloaks, they have their own shops, they have their own jobs, some of them even run profitable businesses, profitable enough in fact to employ Nords.

Equally, the Khajiit, Argonians, Bosmer, Altmer and others are not freeloaders, but the Stormcloaks don't like them much either. Admittedly the situation is not being helped by people like the author of The Dunmer of Skyrim, but the problem is not one that anyone can solve because it's deepseated in the hearts and minds of the Stormcloaks.