Chimer
From golden skin to ash-gray exile, their curse forged a legend of survival.
Before they became the ash-skinned Dunmer, the Chimer walked Tamriel as golden elves with eyes like burning rubies. They ruled the volcanic province of Resdayn during the First Era, a proud civilization defined by their devotion to ancestral spirits and the Daedric Princes.
- Race Origin
- Ancient Aldmeri migration from Summerset Isles
- Primary Homeland
- Resdayn (modern-day Morrowind)
- Religious Shift
- From ancestral/Daedric worship to Tribunal worship, then Ashlander traditions
- Major Historical Event
- Battle of Red Mountain and the Curse of Azura
- Cultural Legacy
- Transformed into the Dunmer (Dark Elves) in 1E 700
- Notable Figures
- Vivec, Almalexia, Sotha Sil, Nerevar
Lore & Background
Emerging from Veloth's exodus, they settled Resdayn in tense truce with the Dwemer and Nords. Their society was stratified by Great Houses, each loyal to one of the Three Good Daedra—Azura, Boethiah, and Mephala. This spiritual foundation supported a unique theocracy: the Tribunal Temple, where Vivec, Almalexia, and Sotha Sil served as living saints who ascended through the Heart of Lorkhan.
In Their Own Story
The air tasted of copper and sulfur as Nerevar stood before the glowing Heart. His golden skin began to harden into slate-gray scales, the warmth draining from his bones like cooling lava. Across the chamber, Vivec's eyes widened in reflection of the crimson light, while Almalexia reached for a face that was no longer her husband's. The sky outside blackened instantly, ash falling like snow upon the basalt spires. They had sought divinity to save their people, but Azura's decree was absolute: they were changed forever.
Reader's Guide
The history of the Chimer is a cornerstone of Elder Scrolls lore, illustrating the theme of consequence and identity. Originally known as 'Changed Ones,' their legacy defines the culture of Morrowind. Understanding their fall from grace explains the Dunmer's distrust of outsiders, their reliance on House politics, and the enduring shadow cast by the Tribunal Temple.
Did You Know?
- The name 'Chimer' literally translates to 'Changed Ones' in their own tongue, referring to both their migration and their eventual physical transformation.
- Unlike other elven races who retained their original appearance, the Chimer were the only group to undergo a divinely mandated racial metamorphosis in recorded history.
- The Tribunal Temple was unique because it worshipped three living mortals as gods, a practice that directly caused the curse transforming the Chimer into Dunmer.
- Before becoming the Dunmer, the Chimer shared the same physical appearance as the Altmer (High Elves), possessing golden skin and amber eyes.