Dunmer The Dunmer , more commonly referred to as Dark Elves in the rest of Tamriel , are the dark skinned elves originating from the province of Morrowind . Known to be strong , intelligent , quick , aloof , and reserved , but considered by some to be ill - fated . Dunmer mostly keep to themselves , most Dunmer natives of Morrowind harbor a bitter distrust and disdain for other races , considering themselves superior . Morrowind . The province of Morrowind , formerly known as Resdayn , is located in the northeastern corner of Tamriel . It is composed of two main parts : the mainland and the island of Vvardenfell , which are separated by the Inner Sea . The mainland has always harbored the capital of Morrowind ; it being Mournhold ( also called Almalexia ) for much of its history , but moved to Blacklight in the Fourth Era due to the Argonian invasion that destroyed most of the southern region of Morrowind . The mainland also harbors very different climates and types of vegetation ; ranging from swamps and forests to the Deshaan Plains and the Velothi Mountains . The island of Vvardenfell , on the other hand , is generally comprised of ash wastes due to the presence of the Red Mountain , and until the Red Year was largely inhabited by the Ashlander tribes , and members of the Tribunal Temple and three of Morrowind ' s five Great Houses : Hlaalu , Redoran and Telvanni . In the Third Era the Tribunal ' s representatives , the Temple , were the major political force in Morrowind , with the five Great Houses ( Dres , Hlaalu , Indoril , Redoran and Telvanni ) coming right after . After the events of the Nerevarine and Red Year the Tribunal has been killed and overthrown , although the Temple still has a lot of influence over Morrowind ' s affairs , having reverted to worship of the Daedric Princes Mephala , Boethiah and Azura . Until the end of the Third Era Morrowind was nominally ruled by King Hlaalu Helseth from the city of Mournhold , with real governance in the hands of the Grand Council . however , given the destruction of Mournhold in the Red Year and House Hlaalu ' s fall from political favor , it is not likely that this is still the case . Its cities ( many of which are almost completely destroyed following the eruption of Red Mountain in 4E 5 ) include : Vivec , Mournhold , Balmora , Sadrith Mora , Ald ' ruhn , Blacklight , Necrom , Narsis , Tear , Gnisis , and Port Telvannis . Physiology . Most Dunmer have red , glowing eyes with skin tones varying from somewhat greenish and the more common gray to the occasional light blue . They are known to be strong , intelligent , and quick , however , are also said to be ill favored by fate . Both male and female Dunmer have a height similar to most of the human races . This means that they are generally taller than their Bosmer cousins and shorter than the Altmer . The current form the Dunmer take was changed from that of the Chimer by Azura , as a curse for the actions of the Tribunal in either using Kagrenac ' s Tools , or murdering Nerevar . The Chimer were very similar in appearance to the Altmer , having golden skin . Maramal ' s conversation with Dinya Balu in the Temple of Mara demonstrates that Redguard s and Dunmer are cross - fertile . History . The Dunmer were once the Chimer ( Changed Folk , or Changed Ones ) , who were several clans of mer who Boethiah convinced to abandon the customs and laws of the Summerset Isles , and follow the prophet Veloth in a great exodus to Resdayn . At the time of exodus the exiles were also known as the Velothi . The term can be used in a general sense for the Dunmer as well , though after the exodus it generally carried a specific meaning referring to those who maintain the original nomadic lifestyle of Veloth ' s followers , rather than that of the settled Great Houses . The exiles settled in Resdayn and flourished , developing what is now known as Velothi High Culture , based on worship of the three Good Daedra and respect for the House of Troubles and the new customs . The ruins of Dunmer Strongholds that dot Morrowind are attributed to this period . On their arrival , they found the Dwemer already settled there , and much of the early history of Resdayn is of Chimer - Dwemer conflict . Disunity allowed the Nords to conquer Morrowind , and rule for Morrowind for many years , until fighting of their own ( the War of Succession ) allowed the Chimer and Dwemer , led by Indoril Nerevar and Dumac Dwarfking , to form an alliance against the Nords , and oust the occupiers , creating the First Council . Azura ' s curse and the Chimer ' s transformation . War ultimately erupted between the Dwemer and the Chimer , over religious differences that had their root in the Dwemer ' s use of the Heart of Lorkhan . This culminated in the Battle of Red Mountain , which resulted in the disappearance of the Dwemer and the annihilation of their House Dagoth allies . Nerevar dies soon after the battle , either from wounds sustained in the battle , or was murdered by the Tribunal , three of his closest advisors . The Tribunal ' s actions , either in using the tools to become gods , or in murdering Nerevar , caused Azura to curse the Tribunal and the Chimer people , turning their skin to ash and their eyes red , making them the Dunmer . Red Year . After the fall of Baar Dau and subsequent eruption of Red Mountain destroyed much of Morrowind , many Dunmer fled to Skyrim as refugees . Many eventually settled on the island of Solstheim , which was given to them by the High King of Skyrim at the time . Many more fled to Windhelm , the seat of the Stormcloaks resistance against the Empire of Tamriel . They live there in the Gray Quarter . Before the cataclysm that lead to the mass exodus of Dunmer , several of the faithful of Azura received visions of the eruption of Red Mountain . Setting out for Winterhold , these Dunmer built the Shrine of Azura in Skyrim . The only remaining member of this group is Aranea Ienith . In the months after the cataclysm , many Dunmer started to return home to rebuild , only to be met by an invading force of Argonians . Culture . There are two major cultural groups among the Dunmer : the Great Houses , and the Ashlanders . Great Houses . The Great Houses have their origins in ancient Velothi tribes , and function effectively as political parties within the Morrowind polity , as well as controlling much of the trade and local administration in the province . Representatives from each of the Great Houses form the Grand Council , which has ruled Morrowind since the late First Era . The Houses themselves also have ruling councils , which enforce House policy and conduct . Great Houses that have been referenced in the games to date are House Dagoth , House Dres , House Hlaalu , House Indoril , House Redoran , House Sadras and House Telvanni . All but House Dagoth and House Sadras had a stake in Morrowind ' s governance for most of its history . House Dagoth was destroyed following the events at the Battle of Red Mountain , while House Sadras replaced House Hlaalu following the Red Year . During the time of Resdayn in the First Era , the Dwemer were also accorded the status of a House , referred to as " House Dwemer . " Ashlanders . Ashlanders claim to be the direct descendants of the Aldmer i peoples who followed the prophet Veloth into the lands now called Morrowind . They live in camps of small , mobile huts , herding guar , and hunting wildlife for meat and hides . Ashlanders claim it is their right to raid settlements and other tribes for plunder and slaves . The Ashlanders worship their ancestors and are led by their Ashkhan , or warchiefs , and are counseled by the arcane wisdom and prophecies of their wise women . The Ashlander culture is an anachronistic survival of the ancestor worshiping tribal culture from which the Great Houses emerged . They see the worship of living Dunmer , the practice of the Tribunal Temple , as an abomination . The Nerevarine Cult can be seen as such an ancestor cult . Religion . Ashlander worship . The ancient Velothi acknowledged Boethiah , Mephala and Azura as their primary figures of worship , with ancestor worship also a prominent feature . Sheogorath , Mehrunes Dagon , Malacath and Molag Bal acknowledged as the " House of Troubles , " testing figures to not be worshipped but dealt with caution . Following the Tribunal ' s apotheosis , the Great House Dunmer began to worship the Tribunal , with only House Dres openly still worshiping the Daedra . However , the Ashlanders remained worshipers of the Daedric Lords Boethia , Mephala , and Azura ; this has caused many conflicts between the Temple and the Ashlanders . Another core facet of their belief system is the prophecy involving the Nerevarine , that is meant to save the native Dunmer from outlanders . Following the fall of the Tribunal and the establishment of the New Temple , Daedra worship was restored among the House Dunmer , and Ashlanders regarded as guardians of the " true way . " The Temple . Tribunal period . The Tribunal Temple was dedicated to the worship of the three god - kings of Morrowind known as the Tribunal . The Tribunal is composed of the goddess Almalexia , the god - poet Vivec , and Sotha Sil . It was the dominant religion in the province of Morrowind , until after the Red Year . According to the temple The three Daedra that recognized the divinity of the Tribunal were Azura , Boethiah , and Mephala . These three Daedra are known as the " Anticipations " because they share the same aspects and spheres as each member of the Tribunal . Each Daedra is an anticipation for each of the Tribune ; Azura is the anticipation of Sotha Sil , Boethiah is the anticipation of Almalexia , and Mephala is the anticipation of Vivec . The House of Troubles did not acknowledge the divinity of the Tribunal , and therefore continued in their role as testing figures and tricksters , and their worship was forbidden by the Temple . As well as worship of the Tribunal and veneration of the Anticipations , the Temple encouraged a pantheon of saints whose example should be followed in order to live a virtuous life . The New Temple . After the events of , Sotha Sil and Almalexia were killed , and Vivec disappeared . This caused a crisis of faith among the Dunmer people , and the Dissident Priests , formerly persecuted , rose to control the Temple . Ultimately , the Temple went back to worshiping the Daedric Lords Boethiah , Mephala , and Azura , styled as " the Reclamations , " as they reclaimed their proper place of worship . Almalexia , Sotha Sil and Vivec were relegated to the status of saints within the new pantheon . Language . Dunmeri is the common language of the Dunmer . It is descended from Aldmeri , the language of the first elves , and written using the Daedric alphabet .