Homebrew Altmer Species Details

The Highborn

The Altmer, or self-titled "Cultured People", are a tall, golden-skinned race, hailing from Summerset Isle. They are also known as High Elves by the denizens of Tamriel, or the more obscure term Salache, High Elves are generally viewed as being proud or snobbish.Altmer consider themselves to be the most civilized culture of Tamriel; the common tongue of the continent is based on Altmer speech and writing, and most of the Empire's arts, crafts, laws, and sciences are derived from Altmer traditions.

The Altmer are the most strongly gifted in the arcane arts of all the races, and they are very resistant to diseases and immune to paralysis. They are among the longest living and most intelligent races of Tamriel, and they often become powerful magic users due to both their magical affinity and the many years they may devote to their studies.

Altmeri Culture

At the time the Crystal Tower was built in the Merethic Era, the Elves of Summerset had a relatively egalitarian society, though social stratification slowly developed into a rigid hierarchy of classes over the millennia. The Wise (teachers and priests) became the highest echelon, followed by Artists, Princes, Warriors, Landowners, Merchants, Workers, and enslaved beasts such as Goblins. Early literature by man painted the High Elves in poor light, though the impartiality of these accounts is questionable. It was suggested that the Altmer practiced eugenic infanticide, putting to death nine in ten of their newborns due to impurities, that Altmeri names are simply combinations of numbers in their own language, and that Altmer culture revolves around displaying social status. Some of this has basis in fact; Altmer born with deformities or impurities are often – though not always– abandoned by their parents as "hulkynd" (sometimes to be raised by priests of Stendarr), and the full name of an Altmer is relatively extensive, detailing their patrilineal and matrilineal histories in addition to the history of their clan.

Altmeri Governance

Altmer society was highly stratified by the middle of the Second Era. The monarch of Summerset ruled as sovereign with the advice of the College of Sapiarchs, an elite and highly selective scholarly institute, and was sometimes represented by a viceroy titled the Proxy Queen or King. The monarch descended from an almost continuous line of royalty extending back to the Merethic Era. Their behavior was regulated by a set of written precedents known as the Scrolls of Praxis, whose chief interpreters were the Sapiarchs: these formed part of a broader system of inherited norms termed the Ceremoniarchy. The heir to the throne was required to study the Ceremoniarchy for 3,555 days in the Sapiarchs' Labyrinth before they could take the crown, and royal decrees were issued in its name. Hereditary nobles termed kinlords and kinladies held many of the Altmer lands in fief. Altmer royalty were assisted by lieutenants titled vicereeves, while cities that served as county seats were administered by canonreeves, civil officials equivalent to mayors in other cultures.

 

Altmer Names

Surprisingly, Altmer names have no known real world counterpart, and seem to be completely nonsensical in terms of history or traditions. The main drive behind these naming themes seem to purely be aesthetic, although the above lore does state that Altmer names seem to actually be a string of numbers, like a social security code converted into a name. Perhaps this naming convention was manifested by a man who decided that It Just Works.

Male Names: Earmlian Highoth,Rumarilmon Grayan, Ohtdur Aelsonour, Anarranil Thramifeth, Vorale Alkinuseus, Voralmo Jaerwatch, Corrinar Highihle, Ryaathnertil Chaeosin, Sorcrion Jaerore

Female Names: Palorne Tahromkaender, Iireanye Faeihre, Ayrath Kaethar, Taardalin Alkinkaender, Camasara Loreius, Arannwen Larethan, Aranae Cameus, Ardion Graneus, Tenynde Athkaender

Altmer Traits

Altmer

Highborn

Altmer magics are a powerful sort, being so potent, that sometimes the magic seems to come from nowhere at all. Once per short rest, you can restore 50% of your spellslots.

Aedric Blood

Due to being such powerful and potent spellcasters, Altmer can often subvert the need for drawn out casting times, allowing them to follow up a spell attack with an equally potent spell immediately afterwards, seemingly at no detriment to themselves. Once per long rest, any known spells that are cast as an action can be cast as a bonus action instead.

Ability Score Increase

Altmer are renowned for their deep connection to magic and are considered one of the most magically gifted races in Tamriel. This heightened intelligence reflects their natural aptitude for learning and mastering complex magical arts, making them formidable spellcasters and scholars. While their intelligence is exceptional, they may lack bonuses in other attributes, focusing primarily on the intellectual and magical aspects of their character. Your Intelligence score increases by 2 and Wisdom score increases by 1.