Lore:Merethic Era

Dawn Era — Merethic Era — First Era — Second Era — Third Era — Fourth Era

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All Events | Only Major Events

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Note: The Merethic Era, also known as the Mythic Era, is a period with few known, exact dates, and some of the events below may be misplaced in the general narrative. The era is dated backwards from Year Zero of the First Era (the traditional Nordic Merethic dating), which is marked by the founding of the Camoran Dynasty.

Early Merethic Era

ME 2500 — Direnni Tower constructed

• The latest archaeological study of the Direnni Tower on the Isle of Balfiera in High Rock has dated its construction to around ME 2500, the earliest known date in Aldmeri and Nordic history, making it the oldest known structure in Tamriel.
• The et'Ada hold their Convention at this tower, setting the laws of Mundus and ending the Dawn Era.

The days of the beastfolk

• Aboriginal beastpeoples (ancestors of the Khajiit, Argonian, and other beastfolk) live in preliterate communities throughout Tamriel. Each have their own accounts of this time period. Scholars later surmise that, at this time, the Khajiit have the predominant culture in southern Tamriel.

Middle Merethic Era

The return of the elves

• The Aldmer leave doomed and now-lost Aldmeris (also known as 'Old Ehlnofey') and settle in Tamriel. First colonies are distributed widely along the entire coast of Tamriel. Later, inland settlements are founded primarily in fertile lowlands in southwest and central Tamriel. They are significantly more sophisticated than other cultures, displaying power beyond what could be expected of the time. The literate and technologically advanced Aldmeri cultures drive the relatively primitive beastfolk into the jungles, marshes, mountains, and wastelands. The Adamantine Tower is rediscovered and captured by the Direnni, a prominent and powerful Aldmeri clan.

The Crystal Tower

• The Crystal Tower is built in Summerset Isle.

The search for Aldmeris

• Aldmeri explorers, notably Torval the Pilot, explore and chart Tamriel's sea-lanes. From Summerset, Torval sails north around Tamriel, then up the River Niben deep into central Cyrodiil, where he acquires the Eight Islands (the site of the White-Gold Tower) from the native taloned "Bird men" as gifts for giving them the secret of literacy.
• Aldmeri explorers map the coasts of Vvardenfell, building the First Era High Elven wizard towers at Ald Redaynia, Bal Fell, Tel Aruhn, and Tel Mora in Morrowind.

Rise of the Ayleids

• The feathered men of central Cyrodiil disappear from history, only to be replaced by the Ayleids (who are quite fond of adorning themselves in feathers). These Wild Elves, also known as the Heartland High Elves, preserve the Dawn Era magicks and language of the Ehlnofey. Ostensibly a tribute-land to the High King of Alinor, Cyrodiil is very isolated from the Altmeri leadership.

The White-Gold Tower

• The White-Gold Tower is built in Cyrodiil.

Late Middle Merethic Era

The Dwemer expand

• The Dwemer, a free-thinking, reclusive Elven clan devoted to the secrets of science, engineering, and alchemy, establish underground cities and communities in the mountain range separating modern Skyrim and modern-day Morrowind (later known as the Velothi Mountains).

The Transformation of Trinimac

• According to Altmeri tradition, a great battle occurs between Trinimac and Boethiah as a result of the Velothi dissident movement. Trinimac is consumed, and returns later as Malacath. His followers become the Orcs. The followers of Veloth and Boethiah become the Chimer, who migrate to their promised land of Resdayn. Some traditions trace these events back to the Dawn Era.

High Velothi Culture

• High Velothi Culture thrives in Resdayn. The Chimer become dynamic, ambitious, long-lived Elven clans devoted to fundamentalist ancestor worship. Despising the secular culture and profane practices of the Dwemer, the Chimer also covet their lands and resources, and for centuries provoke them with minor raids and territorial disputes.

Late Merethic Era

Fall of High Velothi Culture

• Velothi high culture disappears on Vvardenfell. The earliest known Dwemer Freehold colonies are constructed. The Velothi degenerate into tribal cultures, which, in time, evolve into the modern Great Houses of Morrowind, or persist as the Ashlander tribes. The only surviving traces of this tribal culture are scattered Velothi towers and Ashlander nomads on Vvardenfell Island.

Altmeri abandonment

• The original First Era High Elven wizard towers along the coasts of Tamriel are abandoned around this time.

ME 1000 — Men appear on Tamriel

• Archaeologists later trace the earliest known human settlements in High Rock, Hammerfell and Cyrodiil to around this time. For centuries, raiders cross the Sea of Ghosts to invade and settle in Tamriel. Men are soon predominant along the northern coasts.

The Return

• The proto-Nords in the final migrations from Atmora settle in northern Tamriel. Nordic hero Ysgramor, leader of a great colonizing fleet to Tamriel, develops a runic transcription of Nordic speech based on elvish principles, and is the first human historian. Ysgramor's fleet lands at Hsaarik Head at the extreme northern tip of Skyrim's Broken Cape and builds Saarthal nearby. The elves drive the Men away during the Night of Tears, but Ysgramor soon returns with his Five Hundred Companions and establishes human dominance in modern-day Skyrim.

The wandering hero

• An immortal hero, warrior, sorceror, and king variously known as Pelinal Whitestrake, Harrald Hairy Breeks, Ysmir, Hans the Fox, etc., wanders Tamriel, gathering armies, conquering lands, ruling, then abandoning his kingdoms to wander again.

The Doom Stones of Skyrim

• Scholars later assume the Doom Stones of Skyrim are placed throughout the land during this time.

Dreams of Sovngarde

• Earliest known writings and stories emerge amongst the proto-Nords of a hidden, timeless place of eternal life known as Sovngarde, a magnificent Hall of Valor built by Shor to honor the departed who prove their mettle in battle.

The Dragon War

• At this time, the dragons under Alduin had claimed dominion over all Mundus, and presided over man in Atmora and then Tamriel. The Nords worship them as gods and build many temples dedicated to them. Dragon Priests, servants of their dragon overlords, become increasingly tyrannical, eventually causing men to rebel. Thousands of men die until a few dragons join their fight, when the tide turns in their favor. Alduin is banished and the Dragon Priests are overthrown. The remaining dragons are scattered, their population decimated.

ME 1

• Events in Valenwood culminate in the founding of the Camoran Dynasty, Year Zero of the First Era.

Miscellaneous Events

The Towers

• The other towers of Tamriel are built, including Orichalc, Green-Sap, Walk-Brass (or the Brass Tower), and Snow Throat (also called the Snow Tower).

Magic from the sky

• Travelers gather celestial minerals which are used to build many things, including the great Orrery at Firsthold.

Wars of Yokuda

• The Na-Totambu, the royalty of the Yokudans (ancient Redguards), fight to a standstill among themselves to decide who will lead the charge against the Lefthanded Elves. Leki intervenes and a victor emerges. Diagna, an avatar of the HoonDing, brings orichalc weapons to the Yokudans, which prove instrumental in defeating the elves.

Notes

• ^	In TES V: Skyrim, Kodlak Whitemane says the Companions are "nearly 5000 years old", which would indicate that the Return occurred sometime in the last five centuries of the Merethic Era.

See Also

• The Annotated Anuad — Early religious book providing a simplified version of The Anuad creation myth from the Mythic Era
• Before the Ages of Man by Aicantar of Shimerene — Chronicles the major events of the Dawn and Merethic Eras
• Frontier, Conquest by University of Gwylim Press, 3E 344 — Details the presence of humans in Tamriel prior to the original Nordic conquests thought to bring humans to Tamriel
• Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition/All the Eras of Man by Imperial Geographical Society

References

Note: the following references are not found in game. They are included to provide a rounder background to this article, but may not reflect established lore.