Let's create the Extinct Elder Scrolls races!

[SpikeSpeigel]

I was thinking about all the races that only exist in Elder Scrolls lore and I just get more intrigued, the more I read lore. Of course, there are many unknowns about these races.

I’ve been RPing as an Akaviri using an Imperial. At level 62 now and I’ve tried my best to fill in plot holes.
I looked at the Akaviri quest in Oblivion as my starting point and exclusively use Blades Swords, Armor and whatever else I can relate the character with. Of course the description of the four known races of Akavir does not exactly fit with the humanoid(s) seen in Oblivion.
Nevertheless...
Bethesda wont be adding races anytime soon so I was wondering if we could come up with some kind of character creation template for these races so that people could somehow have a starting point to roleplay as these nonexistent races in Skyrim.

Ayleid
Chimer
Dwemer
Maormer
Nede
Kothringi
Akaviri (4)

Using the ten existing races and in-game adjustables such as:
• Race
• Weight
• Color
You get the picture.
What would the +10 and +5 bonuses be? Strengths/weaknesses? Standing stones? Preferred perks?
What about limitations on worship?
I just thought it may be fun to create these races based on clues Bethy left for us.
I know a lot of you know more about these extinct races than me

[Musicman247]

This looks like fun! I'll get in on it when I've got some more free time. For now I'll move it to TES General since this would be helpful for people who play all the games, not just Skyrim

[DikaSmausha]

Dwemer need to be Wood Elves with beards.

[SpikeSpeigel]

Dwemer need to be Wood Elves with beards.

So what about other physical traits? I imagine that they are more stocky and muscular than bosmer as well.

I'm also thinking Dwemer would be +10 Smithing and + 5 Two-Handed

Maybe they'd have animosity towards Dunmer and Nord (wouldnt live in Windhelm)

[Pilaf The Defiler]

Dwemer need to be Wood Elves with beards.

We already have official concept art of them that's much more interesting than that.

These Deviantart interpretations are also very nice, and are an evolution of that motiff.

I think it's a fine look for them. It's distinct from other Elven races without being cheesy or cliche'.

We are given an explicit physical description of Maormer in The Wolf Queen:

The men aboard were not merely pale, they were entirely colorless, as if their flesh were made of some white limpid jelly, but she had been forewarned. At the arrival of the King and his translator, she looked directly into their blank eyes and offered her hand. The King made noises.

...

In the morning, when he kissed her on the cheek, and said with his bald white eyes that he was leaving her, she felt a stab of regret.

Also, they're set to appear in TESO according to a developer tweet.

Chimer would be very similar to Altmer IMO. I seem to have this mental image that a lot of them have pale blue eyes, though. Perhaps that's fanon or headcanon though.

Ayleid are similar to Altmer as well, but the sources we have on them mention them wearing feathers and elaborate golden outfits.

Nedes come from many different tribes and would have to reflect that in various skin tones, builds, accents, eye shapes and colors etc.

Kothringi are described in 2920:

With a sigh, she pulled the cord to call her knight, Zuuk. He appeared at the door within minutes, fully uniformed as befitted an Imperial Guard. Most of the native Kothringi tribesmen of Black Marsh preferred to go about naked, but Zuuk had taken a positive delight to fashion. His silver, reflective skin was scarcely visible, only on his face, neck, and hands.


Akaviri races are very difficult. We're given contradictory accounts of the appearances of these races, especially the Tsaesci. Apparently only the Tsaesci and Kamal armies ever set foot in Tamriel, even though they may have used scouts or soldiers from other Akaviri nations. The First PGE mentions pirates with rat and dog features, indicating there are more than four Akaviri races, or used to be. The Tsaesci would be the ones that are most controversial, but my personal interpretation would be similar to Imperials, but the height of Altmer, with a scaled down version of the types of eyes Dragons in the game have, including scales around them. I would also design the outer eyes to be Asian in appearance. The noses would be flat, almost Voldemort like. Sharp fangs in the mouth, and forked teeth

(.. see, I believe strongly they're bipedal and very Human in appearance based on the newest lore from Oblivion and Skyrim. This upsets a lot of long term fans but it appears to be what Bethesda is trying to tell us. A lot of people think they should be legless, or have legs but tails like Argonians, but the skeletons and carvings associated with them don't support this at all. Keep in mind the sources that describe them as Snake Men with Medusa like lower bodies come from people who never actually set eyes on one. Authors from the Third Era.)


edit: Skills.

Dwemer: Plus ten enchanting, plus five smithing. Why? Think about their artifacts and lore. They were master craftsmen, but they were known better for enchanting than smithing. In fact, their most powerful enchantments may have led to their extinction.

Maormer: Plus ten alchemy, plus five alteration. Why? The King of their race apparently used exotic herbs and potions to stimulate Potema sexually. Alteration because of their ability to live in such an exotic location, which they alter and adjust to suit an Elven race.

Kothringi: Plus ten Illusion, plus five sneak. Stealthy humans with reflective skin. These skills suit them.

Chimer: Plus ten destruction, plus five light armor. Very similar culturally to Dunmer, with similar skills.

Ayleid: Plus ten conjuration, plus five Illusion. Their lore mentions them being very good at summoning Daedra, but also hiding themselves in the forests.

Tsaesci: Plus ten Two Handed, plus five Speech. These people perfected the high-craft of the Dai-Katana, making them deadly with longer swords. They also shrewdly worked their way through the upper echelons of Tamrielic government. Many of their warriors could Shout similarly to ancient Nord warriors, as described in "Children of the Sky"

Tang Mo: Plus ten marksman, plus five two handed. Stealthy tree warriors who often set up ambushes for their Kamal invaders. Adept with the recurved bow and the staff (think Wu Kong of Chinese legend.)

Kamal: Plus ten Destruction, plus five Restoration - A hardy demon race with the ability to deal out massive Frost damage while also being highly resistant to its effects.

Ka'Po'Tun: Lore-wise, this race was transformed into Dragons and would behave similarly, but have catlike facial features and body colorations. In their Bipedal form they'd have been fine warriors on par with the Tsaesci, but better with armor and shields to defend against the Katanas their foes used.

[SpikeSpeigel]

" Keep in mind the sources that describe them as Snake Men with Medusa like lower bodies come from people who never actually set eyes on one. Authors from the Third Era.)"
Exactly^
Good work Pilaf

Chimer would, though, be of same height as Dunmer just have skin tone of Altmer, right?
Dwemer then: royal garb, lots o hair eyes not as evil looking as Altmer or Dunmer, shields/spears/staffs... I guess ESO will get the exclusive on that.
The Ka Po'Tun could be RP'd as a Khajiit, but what about the others?

Kothringi seem awesome. Bethy should introduce all these races in NPC form...

[VirtualWeasel]

I apologize for being nitpicky, but the Maormer are going to appear in TESO as NPCs, and they're also not extinct...
...Just by the way.

[SpikeSpeigel]

I apologize for being nitpicky, but the Maormer are going to appear in TESO as NPCs, and they're also not extinct...
...Just by the way.

Ok. I'm good with administrative posts. UNUSED NPCs.

Apparently I need to get up to speed on what's happening with ESO.

On topic: how would you roleplay Maormer in the any of the current ES games?

[Pilaf The Defiler]

Maormer were last seen when their fleets were destroyed by a hurricane a few hundred years before the events of Arena, Daggerfall, Morrowind and Oblivion. It is popularly and probably accurately believed the Psijic Order summoned this hurricane. They were enemies of the Empire at the time. It is unknown how their race would have developed in the long period that followed, but none have been seen since.

Keep in mind TESO takes place after the death of the Akaviri Potentates and before the birth of Tiber Septim during a period called the Interregnum. Dwemer and Ayleid civilization has already been wiped out at this point. It's unlikely we'd see either. Maormer were attacking places like Summerset and Anvil through naval warfare on and off during this period. We'll likely see them as enemy NPCs or neutral traders.

Dwemer do not look evil, correct. They look vaguely Assyrian or Babylonian. Many intricate runes on their outfits. See the thread I recently posted on the Aldmeris Alplabet and Dwemer language for inspiration. Their robes had lots of symbols on them. I'd dress the smiths like normal smiths, though. A smith is a smith.

Ka'Po'Tun are definitely not like the Khajiit RP wise, if you meant behaviorally. They're an Imperialistic nation with aspirations to rule all of Nirn. Keep that in mind. Very aggressive, ambitious and warlike. The Tsaesci have similar attributes, but are perhaps more noble and honorable.

The Tang Mo are described as carefree and insane, which reminds me of Sun Wukong. Their society would be an Islander culture, with lots of parties and open relationships. A sort of "noble, fun loving savages" kind of thing.

Kamal would be very grim and business like. They thaw out in the Summer and immediately attack the Tang Mo. They are dead set on conquering their lands, probably because the climate in their own is so harsh. This may be why they attacked Morrowind, too. It's also believed they have a truce or alliance with the Tsaesci and intend to sell the Tang Mo into slavery to them. Sources indicate many other races regard the Tsaesci as "slave masters". They enslaved Dragons, Goblins and apparently the lesser Akaviri races like dog and rat men. Once the top ranking Akviri Potentate in Cyrodill got ahold of the Ruby Throne he disbanded the militias and declared martial law on Tamriel. They're an authoritarian people who believe in order and obedience in their subjects. Keep that in mind.