Men Men as a collective term , encompasses beings of the human race in Tamriel ic culture . Male humans , as a group , are referred to as " men " while female humans are " women " . A combination of male and female persons are called " men " . Drastically different culturally and physiologically from mer and beastfolk , humans are genetically capable of interbreeding with the former , while rumors of interbreeding with the latter exist , but are unproven . Humans come in an array of skin tones and pigments depending on race , with Nord s and Breton s being the palest and Redguard s being the darkest . Of the human race , there are four subraces currently existing on the Tamrielic continent . These include , Imperial s , Nords , Bretons , and Redguards . The Nede s are an extinct human race from which most of these men sprang ; the exception to this is the Redguard race . Several men came from Akavir during the reign of Reman Cyrodiil . These men formed The Blades . It is unknown whether humans still exist on the Akaviri continent . Etymology and usage . The term " Men " originated from human language . It is used to mean " them " or " us " - group of people . The term is analogous to the word " Mer " in ancient Aldmer i tongue . Both of the racial groups have come to calling each other by the names and do not find it offensive in any way . They have been seen to be referring to their own kind by the term as well . This is probably , due to the fact that both groups share certain distrust for each other and arrogance to consider themselves better . Origins . Unlike Mer , there is no known continent or a region in Nirn Men originated from . There are no known elven records on this subject and men invented writing relatively late , meaning that there are no early records written anywhere . Earliest records mentioning human races date mid - Merethic Era when Atmoran s , a human race native to now frozen Atmora , began migrating to northern Tamriel , a region later named Skyrim . Most of the human races now inhabiting Tamriel are known to be their descendants . However , when Atmorans began conquering Tamriel , they found Nede and Bretons , human races well assimilated in cultures dominated by elves . During the conquest of Tamriel by the people from Atmora humans already inhabited the whole continent , though mer were those who ruled it . They were probably the descendants of humans , who escaped Atmora , looking for a new , better life . It also seems that some humans were aboriginal inhabitants of Tamriel known as Nede s and were native to Cyrodiil and Black Marsh . The Nedes and the Akaviri could well have been the same race , but the name was perhaps changed due to differing languages . Some Imperial scholars believe that Men could have shared the elven homeland of Ehlnofey and have evolved from Aldmer like modern elven races . However , that theory is highly unlikely since men and mer have many differences . However , the most plausible theory on the subject of the origin of the Human race was before the First Era on a continent called Akavir , outside Tamriel . The Humans were divided into two distinct groups , the Akaviri and the Tsaesci ( serpent - like men ) . The lesser race , the Akaviri were enslaved by the Tsaesci and taught how to farm , fight , smith and serve . After a failed revolution by the Akaviri against the Tsaesci , many did escape and to Tamriel to set up tribes and villages , free of the Tsaesci . This could be the source for the aboriginal tribes in Cyrodiil and Black Marsh , as well as Skyrim . Windhelm is the oldest city in Skyrim , and the oldest , fully - fledged human city in all of Tamriel . Physiology . The most significant difference among men and mer is their lifespan . Unlike the centuries - old elves , human races usually live no more than one hundred years . The oldest human to be recorded was the Imperial Sirollus Saccus , who was over 274 years old during the events of . Men and mer also have various physical differences , as men are more muscular than most elves and have fewer shades of skin color . Another easily noticeable feature of Elven kind is their pointy ears , which men do not have . Most elves , even the women , stand at twelve inches or more over most men . Some exceptions to this rule are the Orsimer , whom are very different from other elven races . They resemble other beast - like races such as Goblin s and the Bosmer ( Wood Elves ) , who are shorter than most humans . Another difference worth mentioning is that humans rely mostly on non - magical warfare , as they don ' t have the magical potency of elves . The only exception for this would be the mix of human and elven races - Breton s . Although magicka is used , in one form or another , by all races of Tamriel , direct magicka , i . e . casting spells of destruction or enchanting ( etc . ) , is considered weak and / or heretical by men . Tamrielic human races . Nords . The Nords are a tall and fair - haired people from Skyrim who are known for their incredible resistance to cold and even magical frost . They are enthusiastic warriors , and act as soldiers and mercenaries all over Tamriel . Eager to augment their martial skills beyond the traditional methods of Skyrim , they excel in all manner of warfare . They are direct descendants of Atmorans , who migrated to Tamriel in the time period known as the Return . They lead and crew the merchant fleets of many regions , and may be found all along Tamriel ' s coasts . Imperials . Natives of the civilized , cosmopolitan province of Cyrodiil , the Imperials are well - educated and well - spoken . Imperials are also known for the discipline and training of their citizen armies . With this they were able to fight off the Redguard and control most of Tamriel . Imperials have proven to be shrewd diplomats and traders , and these traits , along with their remarkable skill and training as light infantry , have enabled them to subdue all the other nations and races , and to have erected the monument to peace and prosperity that comprises the glorious Empire . The Imperials control most ports in Tamriel . Redguards . Redguards hail from the province of Hammerfell . They are a race that is known to be extremely quick and agile . They are excellent in all arts concerning blade and shield . They are descended from a long line of warriors and mystic seers . The most naturally talented warriors in Tamriel , the dark - skinned , wiry haired Redguards of Hammerfell seem born to battle , though their pride and fierce independence of spirit makes them more suitable as scouts or skirmishers , or as free ranging heroes and adventurers , than as rank and file soldiers . In addition to their cultural affinities for many weapon and armor styles , Redguards are also blessed with hardy constitutions and quickness of foot . Redguards view use of magic unfavorably , particularly Conjuration and Illusion , because of the ability to Soul Trap and tamper with the minds of others . Generally , they consider wizards weak or cowardly . However , it is known that Redguards were fond of Destruction spells - suiting their warlike culture well . Although Redguards are human , they do not share the same blood as Nord s , Breton s , and Imperial s because of their origin in Yokuda . Bretons . Bretons are the human descendants who hail from the province of High Rock . They have descended from the people of Nede and Aldmer . The Aldmer thought of making a superior race with their own " Elder " , or " Superior " , blood , by mating with other races . The Bretons are sometimes called " Manmeri " because of this . They are pure spell weavers and are advanced in all the arcane arts . While lacking in physical skill , they make up for it in their ability to resist and cast spells that overwhelm most people . They are united in culture and language , but are divided politically . Their origins can be traced to the First Era of Tamriel ' s history , when the Aldmer intermingled extensively with the Nedic people . This mostly happened during the period in the first Era when Mer held Men as slaves , which lead to masters impregnating their female captives . Bretons are of average height , and have either light or dark hair . . They are highly intelligent , willful , and have an outgoing personality . It is said that Bretons are weaned on magic , for it seems to infuse their very being . Intermingling with Elven blood has given Bretons an affinity for magic , though hardiness is also part of their heritage . Breton culture operates under the feudal system , and their society is agrarian and hierarchical . Ancient human races . Atmorans . Atmorans were humans native to the frozen continent of Atmora far north of Tamriel . It is known that they resembled modern Nords , however , some of them had different features than others , depending on which region of Atmora they lived in . Early Atmorans had not developed a system of writing , and as a result , little is known about their history . Earliest records of Atmorans date to the mid - Merethic Era when they first migrated to Tamriel . The reason early Atmorans migrated from their homeland was to escape the ongoing civil war there . Over time , more and more Atmorans migrated to Northern Tamriel , in the region now known as Skyrim . The Snow Elves in the area were concerned about the rapid population increase of humans and organized a slaughter in the event which had came to be known as the Night of Tears . In retaliation , Ysgramor gathered an army of Five Hundred Companions and mounted an assault against the Snow Elves . This event is known as The Return . After the Return , Atmorans stopped coming into Skyrim from their homeland . Those who stayed are believed to have died as Atmora froze and changed beyond recognition . The Atmorans that left became modern Nord s , those who went west interbred with the elves and became Breton s , and those who went south assimilated with the Nede and became Imperial s . Nedes . The Nedes were a race of humans that were the ancient ancestors of the modern Imperials . They lived throughout Hammerfell , Skyrim , Morrowind and Cyrodiil . The Nedes in Cyrodiil were slaves of the Ayleid s until in 1E 243 when St . Alessia created an uprising and freed them , creating the first Empire . The Nedes were known to have had a race with the Chimer and had eventually been confined to Hammerfell as they had died out everywhere else . Upon the arrival of the Redguards ( Ra Gada ) they had been slaughtered and their race extinct . All the Nedic descendants are mainly Imperial . Other human races . Keptu . The Keptu were one of the many breeds of men back in the First and Merethic Era . Very little is known about them . Akaviri . The Akaviri were a race of men native to the mysterious continent of Akavir . Despite their involvement in many historical events , very little is known about them . They are believed to have had an Oriental culture . Some stories tell that the Akaviri are now extinct , that they had been " eaten " by the native vampiric race of serpent - men known as Tsaesci . Others believe that the Akaviri are actually Tsaesci and stories of serpent - men were simply fictional , the result of corruption over the years . Last records of Akaviri / Tsaesci date back to the early First Era when they had tried to invade Tamriel , but were stopped . Kothringi . A few books in the game spoke of the Kothringi , a race of men hailing from Black Marsh . They were said to look like men only with metallic skin and had been quite common in the region during the Second Era . They were eventually wiped out by the Thrassian Plague before the start of the Third Era . The origin of the Kothringi is unknown . It has been said that they were the result of interbreeding between the Nedes and Argonians , others have said that they were simply Nedic settlers that had adapted to conditions in Black Marsh . Orma . The Orma are a tribe dating from the First Era . They are native to Black Marsh . There exists an elevated occurrence of congenital blindness in the tribe , more specifically as a result of tribe members completely lacking eyes . Such individuals are said to be masters of their other senses . This makes them appear to be something close to elven Falmer . Which lead to speculation that the Orma ' s condition could have been the result of local Dwemer experiments . They are believed to be extinct due to the outbreak of the Knahaten Flu during the Second Era , which benefited the Argonian s , who had , at some point , developed an immunity to the disease .