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BOSMER Overview Stats & Subraces Portrayal -- The Bosmer , also known as Wood Elves are the Mer or Elven folk that inhabit the heavily forested province of Valenwood , to the southwest of Tamriel . They're known as agile scouts and thieves, with a mastery over archery rarely bested. Their adventurous sense have spread them all over Tamriel, adapting to most environments they settle in, while others prefer to stay in their forests following the tenets of the Green Pact . They follow naming conventions similar to their other Elven cousins. Primary Stats +1 Agility +1 Endurance +2 Piercing +1 Initiative +1 Acrobatics +1 Piercing Resistance Subraces Silvenari Your character is of the Silvenari culture, from Malabal Tor. Known for their ancient knowledge and magical prowess. Considered more 'regal' and sophisticated than their Boiche cousins. +1 Spell Potency +1 Lore -2 Piercing Boiche Your character is of the Boiche culture, from Grahtwood. Known for their courage and resilience. Considered 'tribal' or 'primitive' by some outsiders, and their Silvenari cousins. +1 Resolve -1 Initiative Arenthii Your character is of the Arenthii culture, from Arenthia. Dwelling in a savannah rather than forest, the Arenthii live as persistence hunters. They must often run long distances to catch prey. +1 Athletics -1 Acrobatics Subrace: Silvenari Required Features: All elven characters must have large, inward-tilting eyes with colourful distinctive irises and a small amount of glow. Elven eyes should have a minimum iris size of 0.5 and a minimum glow of 0.01. Tanned skintone. Elven ears Encouraged Features: High cheekbones and well-defined brow ridge. Brown or dark blonde hair. Fully black eyes (pupil, iris and cornea). Subrace: Boiche Required Features: All elven characters must have large, inward-tilting eyes with colourful distinctive irises and a small amount of glow. Elven eyes should have a minimum iris size of 0.5 and a minimum glow of 0.01. Tanned skintone. Elven ears Encouraged Features: High cheekbones and well-defined brow ridge. Black, red or dark brown hair. Shorter than average height. Fully black eyes (pupil, iris and cornea). Subrace: Arenthii Required Features: All elven characters must have large, inward-tilting eyes with colourful distinctive irises and a small amount of glow. Elven eyes should have a minimum iris size of 0.5 and a minimum glow of 0.01. Tanned skintone. Elven ears Encouraged Features: High cheekbones and well-defined brow ridge. Black or brown hair. Taller than average height. Fully black eyes (pupil, iris and cornea). Appearance & Culture Foreign Views The Province of Valenwood Religion The Bosmer are known to be shorter and lither than other Mer. Different from most other races, Bosmer women tend to grow taller than the men. Their features are heavily influenced by the environment their society originated from, with complexions ranging from fair to swarthy. Their eyes tend to be deep brown or dark, with some Wood Elves having black orbs for eyes. Their hair is usually some tone of brown, lighter or darker. Many of the wilder Bosmer living in Valenwood tend to keep it short or tied, so it doesn't get in the way. Upon reaching a certain age, it isn't uncommon for Bosmer men to grow beards. Depending on where the Bosmer lives or is born, their fashion varies. If they're born or live outside of Valenwood, most Bosmer would adapt to the local customs and style. Those born in Valenwood usually prefer to wear clothing made from animals, like leather or bones, as well as different accessories crafted with feathers or insect shells. Some Bosmer glue horns from different animals into their foreheads, though there are cases of those that have been born naturally with them and are considered blessed by Y'ffre . Likewise, some Bosmer in Valenwood have been known to file their teeth to help with their cannibalistic rites. Culture The most defining point of the Bosmeri culture is the Green Pact . The Pact has very clear rules that have to be respected at all times: Do not harm the forests of Valenwood. Do not eat anything made from plant life. Only eat meat. When enemies are conquered, their meat must be eaten and never left ot rot. Never kill wastefully. Never take on the shape of beasts. These tenets are fiercely defended and practiced by most Bosmer in Valenwood, though much rarer in those Bosmer that live outside of their home province or were born in other provinces as their ritualistic cannibalism is seen as barbarism outside of their religion. In exchange for following these rules, the Bosmer believe that their patron deity Y'ffre allows them to live in the vast forests of Valenwood, under his protection. In dire times of war when the forests and Bosmer are threatened, they can call a Wild Hunt . The Wild Hunt is a ritual that turns the Bosmer involved in it irreversibly into rabid, eldritch beasts that rend and cannibalise anything in their path. Only two Wild Hunts have ever been documented in Tamrielic history, as for the Bosmer this is the most extreme measure due to their belief that once they lose the original humanoid shape that Y'ffre blessed them with, they will return to the Ooze , a state of formless chaos previous to Y'ffre's intervention to shape the world. Their religious caste enforces the tenets of the Green Pact with zealous efficacy. The Spinners fulfill the roles of both priests and historians. It is their belief that Y'ffre sings through them as they tell their stories. Despite this, Bosmer have a very different outlook to life, preferring to "live in the present" instead of being anchored in the past or preparing for the future. The Spinners work alongside with the Greenspeakers or Pod-Singers to build living space for their people while respecting the tenets of the Pact. The Greenspeakers are said to sing for days on end, asking the Green to shape itself to create houses, buildings and entire settlements by directly shaping the trees around them. The Spinners also choose who will become the next Green Lady and Silvenar once the previous ones die. Apart from the king sitting in the throne within Elden Root , the Bosmer have two extremely important political and religious figures that embody their bodies and spirits: the Green Lady and the Silvenar. Both are part of the same union that make Valenwood whole. The Silvenar is often viewed by outsiders as the political representative for foreign affairs, though in truth he is said to represent the Bosmer people legally, physically and emotionally. He is extremely empathic and always ready to listen to the pleas and concerns of his people. His other half is the Green Lady. She's known as the Protector of the Bosmer people. She's the embodiment of their ferocity, strength and independence. While the Silvenar is considered the spirit and mind of the Bosmer people, the Green Lady is the body and strength that protects them. Cultural Equivalence & Influences Bosmeri culture is mostly inspired by a mash-up of Native American societies, as well as taking some aspects of ancient European Celtic tribes. With the victory of Tiber Septim over the Summerset Isles thanks to the Numidium during the Tiber Wars , both the Summerset Isles and Valenwood were annexed into the growing Third Empire due to the dissolution of the Second Aldmeri Dominion . This historical event also brought back the Camoran Dynasty to the throne of Elden Root , the capital of Valenwood. Hundreds of years passed and by 3E 249, the growing discontent of the Bosmer under the imperial rule was more than palpable. Haymon Camoran took advantage of the fact and, with the help of a mysterious benefactor, claimed the throne for himself and began a war with Valenwood first, and then against the other provinces of Tamriel. Thanks to an army composed of Daedra and undead hosts, his campaign was very successful and swift, conquering the entirety of Valenwood swiftly and then expanding his sights towards Colovia and Hammerfell . With his power waning, Valenwood revolted against his tyrannical rule and, weakened, ended up failing to conquer High Rock after being defeated and killed against the combined might of its kingdoms. The Bosmer would continue to suffer greatly at the hands of those who surround them. With heartbreaking defeats during the Five Year War against the Khajiit and the War of the Blue Divide against the Altmer further breaking their spirits. Currently, Valenwood is a torn and ravaged land, its people leaderless and distrustful of anyone who would claim the throne for themselves, as well as very discontent with an Empire that has again failed to defend them. The Imperial province of Valenwood can be divided in four main regions that border Cyrodiil to the north, Summerset Isle across the ocean to the west and Elsweyr to the east. Grahtwood: The southeastern region of Valenwood, a jungle filled with colossal graht-oaks. It hosts the capital, Elden Root , a city built around the Elden Tree . The other major cities of the region are Southpoint and Haven . Greenshade: The southwestern region of Valenwood. It features smaller woods and meadows in contrast with the great jungles of Grahtwood. Their main city is Woodhearth , and other major cities include Greenheart and the Altmeri city of Marbruk . Some people venerate the mysterious Wilder King , an ascended mortal with strong ties to the Green. Malabal Tor: The northwestern region of Valenwod. While it's also covered in a jungle similar to Grahtwood, it's denser and the trees are much smaller in scale. Malabal Tor hosts the city of Silvernar , the spiritual center of Valenwood, and the city of Falinesti . It also contains the location of the Ouze , a tar pit that is believed to directly link with the Bosmeri afterlife of the Ooze. Reaper's March: The western portion of the Reaper's March region, known as the Northern Woods, makes up the northeastern reaches of Valenwood. As Greenshade, it's sparsely forested. The greatest city of the region is the multicultural Arenthia . Due to the proximity to Cyridiil and Elsweyr, this region counts with a greater number of ruins from Bosmeri, Colovian and Khajiiti origins after many different raids and incursions throughout the years. The Green Pact has a weaker hold in this region due to the distance with the forests of Valenwood proper and the proximity to the savannahs of Elsweyr. Aside from the cult of Y'ffre and the Green Pact, the Bosmer follow their own Eight Divines: Y'ffre , the God of Song and Forest. Auri-El , the God from which the Wood Elves originate. Arkay , the God of Burials and Funerary Rites. Xarxes , the God of Secret Knowledge and Magic. Mara , the Goddess of Love and Fertility. Stendarr , the God of Compassion and Righteousness. Z'en , the God of Vengeance and the Green. Baan Dar , a Trickster God introduced through their contact with the Khajiit and a God of Archery.