Bosmer
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The Bosmer, also called Wood Elves, are a fictional elven race featured in the Elder Scrolls video game series. They hail from the province of Valenwood and are known for their agility, intelligence, and skill as archers. A forest-dwelling people who live in close harmony with nature, Bosmer refrain on principle from destroying trees or plant life, though they are willing to use wooden or plant-derived products created by others.
[edit] Gods of the Bosmer
[edit] Auri-El (King of the Aldmer)
The Bosmeric equivalent of Akatosh. Auri-El is the soul of Anui-El, who, in turn, is the soul of Anu the Everything. He is the chief of most Aldmeri pantheons. Most Altmeri and Bosmeri claim direct descent from Auri-El. In his only known moment of weakness, he agreed to take his part in the creation of the mortal plane, that act which forever sundered the Elves from the spirit worlds of eternity. To make up for it, Auri-El led the original Aldmer against the armies of Lorkhan in mythic times, vanquishing that tyrant and establishing the first kingdoms of the Aldmer, Altmora and Old Ehlnofey. He then ascended to heaven in full observance of his followers so that they might learn the steps needed to escape the mortal plane.
[edit] Y'ffre (God of the Forest)
Most important deity of the Bosmeri pantheon. Although Auri-El is regarded as the king of the gods, the Bosmer revere Y'ffre as the spirit of "the now". According to the Wood Elves, after the creation of the mortal plane everything was in chaos. The first mortals were turning into plants and animals and back again. Then Y'ffre transformed himself into the first of the Ehlnofey, or 'Earth Bones'. After these laws of nature were established, mortals had a semblance of safety in the new world, because they could finally understand it. Y'ffre is sometimes called the Storyteller, for the lessons he taught the first Bosmer. Some Bosmer still possess the knowledge of the chaos times, which they can use to great effect (the Wild Hunt).
[edit] Arkay (God of the Cycle of Life and Death)
Member of the Nine Divines pantheon, and popular elsewhere as well. Arkay is often more important in those cultures where his father, Akatosh, is either less related to time or where his time aspects are difficult to comprehend by the layman. He is the god of burials and funeral rites, and is sometimes associated with the seasons. His priests are staunch opponents of necromancy and all forms of the undead. It is said that Arkay did not exist before the world was created by the gods under Lorkhan's supervision/urging/trickery. Therefore, he is sometimes called the Mortals' God.
[edit] Z'en (God of Toil)
Bosmeri god of payment in kind. Studies indicate origins in both Argonian and Akaviri mythologies, perhaps introduced into Valenwood by Kothringi sailors. Ostensibly an agriculture deity, Z'en sometimes proves to be an entity of a much higher cosmic order. His worship died out shortly after the Knhaten Flu
[edit] Xarxes (God of Ancestry and Secret Knowledge)
He began as a scribe to Auri-El, and has kept track of all Aldmeri accomplishments, large and small, since the beginning of time. He created his wife, Oghma, from his favorite moments in history. f
[edit] Baan Dar (The Bandit God)
In most regions, Baan Dar is a marginal deity, a trickster spirit of thieves and beggars. In Elsweyr he is more important, and is regarded as the Pariah. In this aspect, Baan Dar becomes the cleverness or desperate genius of the long-suffering Khajiit, whose last minute plans always upset the machinations of their (Elven or Human) enemies.
[edit] Mara (Goddess of Love)
Nearly universal goddess. Origins started in mythic times as a fertility goddess. In Skyrim, Mara is a handmaiden of Kyne. In the Empire, she is Mother-Goddess. She is sometimes associated with Nir of the 'Anuad', the female principle of the cosmos that gave birth to creation. Depending on the religion, she is either married to Akatosh or Lorkhan, or the concubine of both.
[edit] Stendarr (God of Mercy)
God of the Nine Divines, Stendarr has evolved from his Nordic origins into a deity of compassion or, sometimes, righteous rule. He is said to have accompanied Tiber Septim in his later years. In early Altmeri legends, Stendarr is the apologist of Men.
[edit] Lorkhan (The Missing God)
This Creator-Trickster-Tester deity is in every Tamrielic mythic tradition. His most popular name is the Aldmeri 'Lorkhan', or Doom Drum. He convinced or contrived the Original Spirits to bring about the creation of the mortal plane, upsetting the status quo -- much like his father Padomay had introduced instability into the universe in the Beginning Place. After the world is materialized, Lorkhan is separated from his divine center, sometimes involuntarily, and wanders the creation of the et'Ada. He and his metaphysical placement in the 'scheme of things' is interpreted a variety of ways. In Morrowind, for example, he is a being related to the Psijiic Endeavor, a process by which mortals are charged with transcending the gods that created them. To the High Elves, he is the most unholy of all higher powers, as he forever broke their connection to the spirit plane. In the legends, he is almost always an enemy of the Aldmer and, therefore, a hero of early Mankind.
[edit] Herma-Mora (The Woodland Man)
Ancient Atmoran demon who, at one time, nearly seduced the Nords into becoming Aldmer. Most Ysgramor myths are about escaping the wiles of old Herma-Mora. Also called the Demon of Knowledge, he is vaguely related to the cult origins of the Morag Tong ('Foresters Guild'), if only by association with his brother/sister, Mephala.
[edit] Jone (Little Moon God)
Aldmeri god of the Little Moon. Also called Secunda or Stendarr's Sorrow. In Khajiti religion, Jone is only one aspect of the Lunar Lattice, or ja-Kha'jay
For Direct Source Visit: The Gods Journal
[edit] Notable Bosmer
In the game TES:III Morrowind a Bosmer named Fargoth is usually the first character you meet when you leave the census and excise office. He is searching for his ring when you first meet him, and if you return the ring, his liking towards you increases. Many players, for some reason, are deeply irritated by Fargoth. Some have even made mods that brutally hurt or kill Fargoth.
In TES:IV Oblivion another Bosmer, known simply as the Adoring Fan becomes enamoured with the player after he or she becomes Grand Champion of the Imperial City Arena. He is incredibly worshipful of the player, most notable for spouting sycophantic compliments ("Golly! You're the best!"), and following the player around Cyrodiil. It is notable however, that the adoring fan is essentially useless as a travelling companion. Unlike other characters, he will run away from all confrontations, and offers no help except for his constant hero-worship. Most players tend to see the adoring fan as a pest, and there are various videos online which illustrate the many ways in which he can be killed.
Also in Oblivion resides the character of Glarthir, an extremely unstable Bosmer who many consider 'the weirdest character in the game'. The player encounters this character in the Skingrad sidequest 'Paranoia'. Glarthir is deeply neurotic, believing that three of his fellow townsmen (and several outside organisations like Mythic Dawn ) are plotting against him, and he wants the player to find out just who's been spying on him. Though Glarthir is not a very popular character, he seems to have avoided the massive hate accumulated by certain other Bosmer characters.
[edit] External links
| Races of The Elder Scrolls | |
|---|---|
| Mer (elves): | Altmer | Bosmer | Dunmer | Dwemer | Orsimer |
| Human: | Breton | Imperial | Nord | Redguard |
| Beast: | Argonian | Khajiit | Sload |
| Divine: | Aedra | Daedra | Dremora |
