Lore:Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition/Aldmeri Dominion

:   is a relatively recent creation. Formerly divided into the two realms of the   and  , the Aldmeri Dominion has its origins in  , when the heirs of the   began to fight over the Valenwood throne.   

:The Thalmor strengthened its hold on the Valenwood Nations during the foundation of the  . Savage Bosmer tribes skirmished with the Estates along the  , whipped to a frenzy by their High Elven masters. With the Empire now reunified under  , these attacks have subsided; but encampments wait on either side of the Valenwood border, awaiting a decisive battle. On the occasions when the Elves probe the Empire's defenses, the Legions have sent them back in tatters.   . Their sorcery has made allies of a few  , the   of  , and, as of this writing, perhaps even the  . Though no formal declaration of war has been made, Tamriel is divided between the Empire and the  , and Tiber Septim has made it known to the Thalmor that he is the True Emperor of Cyrodiil, and heir to all of its former holdings. The Elves of Tamriel have yet to answer.

:Considering we have endured their offenses for two thousand years, we know surprisingly little about the Aldmeri. (Only  , under   domination during the First Empire, and open to travel and trade during most of the  , is somewhat better known.). The Elves of High Rock and Cyrodiil were either wiped out long ago or displaced into obscurity. As for the Elves of the Dominion, our knowledge of their regions is limited to brief Imperial occupations, or to the translations we have of their literature (see "The Scarcity of Elven Writings").



:Of particular scarcity is information about either the High Elves or the Summerset Isles. During the Second Empire   , and thus any description of the Altmeri homeland is confined to that city alone, and elsewhere (see Places of Note- Alinor). Furthermore, we can offer only this brief but reliable account of the High Elven people. It comes from the journals of   , who lived among them ca.  :



:Valenwood was claimed as a wasteland province of the Second Empire, and its geography is partially described in several Imperial surveys. Valenwood is noteworthy in that it has no cities or townships built by the Wood Elves themselves. Their strict " " prohibits the use of wood or other vegetable derivatives as building materials, and they are too improvident to learn the use of stone. The Wood Elves permitted a few roads to be built by the Second Empire, but neglect their maintenance, as the Bosmer do not need roads to move easily through the thickest forest; these roads would be now overgrown were it not for the High Elves of the Thalmor, who have repaired and widened them for rapid passage of their arms to and from the coast. Much of the region is impenetrable mangrove and coastal rain forest, with few grasslands or glade areas until further north near the  . Many of the human trading posts established by the Second Empire have been abandoned or claimed by the   -  s,  , and   - that share the forests with the Bosmer tribes. Humans, in general, have learned not to intrude in the forests of Valenwood. While they once depended entirely on the annual Stridmeet caravans of the Colovian West, the Wood Elves now rely entirely on the sea piracy of the Dominion for whatever they require from the outside world.

:Concerning the Wood Elves as a people, we must again turn to the prolific Eric of Guis. After a grateful dismissal from the Court of Alinor, he stayed with the Bosmer for a time at the capital city of  , during its summer migration. As the city strode along the coastal region of the Cape, Eric of Guis recorded much about Valenwood culture: 



:The traveler is advised to avoid the lands of the Aldmeri Dominion. Though the Thalmor have representatives at the  , and the Cyrodilic Grand Vizier   is meeting with the King of Alinor, contact with the Bosmer and Altmer are often disagreeable to the common Imperial citizen. Avoid their books and magic. Wear the permitted weaponry when near their borders. If you are manly and able, apply for service in the  .



Places of Note:
: 
:A forbidden city for nearly fifty years, Alinor is both capital of the Summerset Isles and the heart of the Aldmeri Dominion. Human traders were only allowed at its ports, and they described the city as "made from glass or insect wings." Less fantastic accounts come from the Imperial emissaries of the  , which describe the city as straight and glimmering, "a hypnotic swirl of ramparts and impossibly high towers, designed to catch the light of the sun and break it to its component colors, which lies draped across its stones until you are thankful for nightfall."

: 
:The walking city of the Bosmer king, Falinesti is south in the summer and north come Hearth Fire. It is the largest of Valenwood  s, whose magic was invoked at the dawn of recorded history. The Camaron throne is somewhere in the highest branches, as are numerous other natural dwellings. Wood Elves climb about its surface like termites, or carefully swing from level to level by means of thorny vines. Humans have generally been too unsettled by the city to stay there long, though Great Apes and Orcs are common. The Thalmor has decided to change the capital of Valenwood from Falinesti to   for the duration of the Aldmeri Dominion.
 
   

:These footnotes represent the underlined margin scribbles and remarks that appeared over the original guide, written by an elf known only as "YR".