Valenwood Valenwood is a southwestern province of Tamriel , and home to the Bosmer , or Wood Elves . It lies west of Elsweyr , south - west of Cyrodiil , and east of the Abecean Sea . Geography . Valenwood has a largely uninhabited forest wilderness . The coasts of Valenwood are dominated by mangrove swamps and sub - tropical rain forests , while heavy rainfalls nurture the temperate inland rain forests . The Bosmer live in clanhouses at sites scattered along the coast and through the interior , connected only by undeveloped foot trails . The few Imperial roads traverse vast dense woodlands , studded with tiny , widely separated settlements , and carry little trade or traffic of any kind . Furthermore , the nation is home to giant , migratory trees , such as Falinesti , that house their cities . Much of the region is impenetrable mangrove and coastal rain forest , with few grasslands or glade areas until further north near the " Strident Coast " . It is " a sea of endless green , a maze of foliage with half - hidden cities growing like blooms from a flower , " and " the home of the Bosmer is Tamriel ' s garden " Domica Redwort is an herb grown by many residents of Valenwood for their beautiful and showy flowers . They attain a height of about three feet and have feathery leaves ; the flowers are usually bright red . In addition to their beauty , they are said to have magical abilities to enhance the appearance of anyone who carries or wears one of the flowers . History . 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 . 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 . First Era . The first Era was founded after King Eplear , a Bosmer , and founder of the Camoran Dynasty , began his rule . Soon after this founding , the Bosmeri began to change , to suit the environments of the forest in which they lived . In return for the patronage of Y ' ffre , the Forest God ( either one of the old ancestor spirits or an aspect of the true pantheon ) , they swore never to kill , injure , or eat any of the vegetation of the new home , which became known as the Green Pact . The Bosmeri unity should be considered an important military feat in itself , as Eplear managed to unify the disparate groups into a unified group . In 1E 340 , the Camoran Dynasty formed a trade pact with the human slave rebels of the Alessian Order . This they then were forced to undo in 1E 369 , with one of the Wild Hunt s killing king Borgas of Skyrim , who was planning on declaring war on the Bosmer . Valenwood was able to maintain its independence for the majority of the First Era . It was only in 1E 2714 , after unrelenting warfare from the Cyrodiils and Colovia combined , coupled with the devastating effects of the Thrassian Plague , that finally brought the Camoran Dynasty into the Reman Empire . Reman then ensured that Valenwood would not be a threat to the Second Empire by raising the cities of Falinesti , Silvenar , Haven , Archen , Elden Root , and Woodhearth from local trading posts to full - fledged powers in their own right . As well as these , three other cities were granted city - state status , which made Valenwood as a whole easier to govern . Second Era . After the fall of the Second Empire in 2E 430 , the Camorans tried to unify themselves once more under the one banner , however , they had drifted too far apart culturally . They then began to war with one another , the Khajiit to the east , and the Colovians to the north . As they were disunified , they offered no resistance to the encroachments made by the Maormer of Pyandonea . During the 5th Century , the Camoran Dynasty had reasserted itself , and , with the exception of the Blacksap Rebellion , managed to assert Elden Root as the capital . This would become the capital of the Aldmeri Dominion . Human settlements . The majority of human outposts built during the time of the Second Empire have been abandoned during the Interregnum , and have been reclaimed instead by " beastfolk " such as Centaur s , Orcs , and Imga - 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 power of the Aldmeri Dominion for whatever they require from the outside world ( As of 2E 864 ) . For a brief period of time , the Colovian armies used Bosmer Archers , such as in the War of Rihad in 2E 862 , however they were highly undisciplined and prone to desertion to be of significant use . They are quite adept at sneaking , and one of their most famous poems , the Meh Ayleidion literally means " The One Thousand Benefits of Hiding " . Aldmeri Dominion . Valenwood also became part of the Aldmeri Dominion , a coalition of the Altmer and Bosmer that was considered to be the most stable empire in Tamriel , and they ruled until the armies of Tiber Septim wiped them out . Third Era . After conquering Valenwood , Tiber Septim wisely decided to let the Bosmeri retain some symbols of its independence , so as to limit dissension . Thus , they allowed the creation of local chiefs and the Camoran Kings to remain . They are recorded as having been involved in the War of the Red Diamond , along with the provinces of Hammerfell , Summerset Isle , Elsweyr , Black Marsh , and Skyrim , and although it is not explicitly mentioned which side they fought on , it is likely that they went to the aid of Emperor Cephorus Septim I . However , the war itself left Valenwood unscathed . Camoran Usurper . Also known as Haymon Camoran , Hart - King , and Camoran Hart - King , the Camoran Usurper began his deadly attacks on Valenwood in 3E 249 . Two years later , in 3E 251 , the Camoran Usurper had conquered all of Valenwood , and began his fateful march northwards before eventually getting defeated at the Battle of Firewaves by Baron Othrok of Dwynnen in 3E 267 . Five Year War . The Five Year War , lasting , as it did , from 3E 395 until its conclusion in 3E 399 , was a serious conflict between Elsweyr and Valenwood . More details are available on the main article of this War . War of the Blue Divide . The War of the Blue Divide was a war between the Altmer of Summerset Isles and those of the Bosmer of Valenwood . More details are available on the main page . Other changes . At the close of the Third Era ( as at 3E 432 , anyway ) , significant changes were occurring in Valenwood . The Wild Hunt had been sighted again for the first time in " over 500 years . " The " Walking City " of Falinesti has taken root for the first time in recorded history , and there is a new Bosmer prophet , the Precursor , preaching that the old Forest God Y ' ffre is returning with new gifts for his favored people . Whether these are isolated events , or signs of some great change coming to Valenwood , remains to be seen . Fourth Era . Seeking to recreate the Aldmeri Dominion , the Thalmor expanded their power into the provinces of Valenwood , Elsweyr , and briefly into Cyrodiil and Hammerfell . Summerset became independent shortly after the Oblivion Crisis , with the Thalmor taking credit for ending the crisis . Shortly after , the Thalmor and their sympathizers in Valenwood organized a coup to remove the Imperial rule . However , since not all of Valenwood agreed to Thalmor rule , rebellions occurred . These were funded by the Penitus Oculatus , however , despite the efforts of the Penitus Oculatus , most of these rebellions were taken down harshly . Following the consolidation of Valenwood and the Summerset Isles into the Third Aldmeri Dominion , the Dominion began a policy of expanding Aldmeri influence and power across Tamriel at the expense of the Third Empire of Cyrodiil . By claiming they had returned the Moons following the Void Nights , the Thalmor were seen as the saviors of the Khajiiti people , which resulted in adding the Khajiiti kingdoms of Anequina and Pelletine as client states to the Dominion . However , this expansion caught , even more , the attention of the Third Empire , which began a rivalry between the Dominion and the Empire that would ultimately lead up to the Great War , a devastating war fought between the Dominion and Empire . After 70 years of shutting communications with the Empire , it reestablished diplomatic relations with it . Following the Great War , the Aldmeri Dominion experienced increased prestige and power that the Mer had not possessed since the Second Aldmeri Dominion , which had been defeated by Tiber Septim in the final years of the Second Era . Confident of its ability to dictate the Empire , the Dominion further expanded its influence into the other provinces of Tamriel . Rumors now hold that the Aldmeri Dominion is ' cleansing ' Valenwood , this has led to Bosmer such as Malborn , a Wood Elf in Skyrim whose family was murdered in such an event , to begin to work against them . People . The Bosmer . The Bosmer are the major species in Valenwood . Their strict " Green Pact " prohibits the use of wood or other vegetable derivatives as building materials . This pact also has other such rules as that a fallen enemy must be completely consumed before three days pass . They also cannot smoke anything of a vegetable nature . Bone pipes are common , however , and are filled with caterpillars or tree grubs . They also have a deep - seated fear of Necromancy . The Imga . The Great Apes , or Imga , are native beastfolk of Valenwood . They see the High Elves as their lords and masters , and as a portrait of an ideal , civilized society . Great Apes go to desperate measures to emulate the High Elves : they wear capes , practice with the dueling sword , and attempt to speak with perfect enunciation and courtly manners despite their gravelly , baritone voices . Each Imga bears some kind of title , be it Baron , Duke , Earl , or the like , which they use when addressing the members of the Thalmor ( needless to say , there are no landowning Great Apes ) . More extreme Great Apes shave their bodies and powder their skin white to seem more like the High Elves . They often cut themselves in the process , creating the truly pathetic picture of a naked white Ape , skin dotted pink with blood , strutting around the trading posts of Valenwood with mock nobility . The Imga feel that humans are beneath them as lesser beastfolk , and pretend to find their smell exceedingly offensive - a Great Ape holds a perfumed corner of his cape to his nose when Men are around . The Hollow . The Hollow are a unique sentient race that serve the Wilderking . They are made from stone and the reanimated bodies from deceased inhabitants of Valenwood . No Hollows are free - willed , save for Sumiril , who was the first Hollow created by the Valenwood and a powerful Altmer named Ostion . Oreyn Bearclaw . Oreyn Bearclaw was one of Valenwood ' s most legendary heroes . He was the son of king Faume Toad - Eye , and was a respected clan hunter , as well as a future leader . Legend claims that he single - handedly defeated the Glenhwyfaunva , the witch - serpent of Elderwood , forever bringing peace to his clan . He would accomplish numerous other deeds , before eventually losing his life to the Khnaheten Flu . Religion . The major deity that the Bosmer worship is Y ' ffre . The Bosmeri pantheon is listed by this same book as follows : Auri - El , Y ' ffre , Arkay , Z ' en , Xarxes , Baan Dar , Mara , Stendarr , Lorkhan , Herma - Mora , Jone , Jode . The Bosmer also worship a god called Ius . Y ' ffre . Y ' ffre ( God of the Forest and Song , known as Jephre in the Aldmeri Pantheon ) : Most important deity of the Bosmeri pantheon . While Auri - El Time Dragon might be the king of the gods , the Bosmer revere Y ' ffre as the spirit of ' the now ' . According to the Wood Elves , after the creation of the mortal plane everything was in chaos . The first mortals were turning into plants and animals and back again . Then Y ' ffre transformed himself into the first of the Ehlnofey , or ' Earth Bones ' . After these laws of nature were established , mortals had a semblance of safety in the new world , because they could finally understand it . Y ' ffre is sometimes called the Storyteller , for the lessons he taught the first Bosmer . Some Bosmer still possess the knowledge of the chaos times , which they can use to great effect ( the Wild Hunt ) . Auri - El . Auri - El ( King of the Aldmer ) : The Elven Akatosh is Auri - El . Auri - El is the soul of Anui - El , who , in turn , is the soul of Anu the Everything . He is the chief of most Aldmeri pantheons . Most Altmer i and Bosmeri claim direct descent from Auri - El . In his only known moment of weakness , he agreed to take his part in the creation of the mortal plane , that act which forever sundered the Elves from the spirit worlds of eternity . To make up for it , Auri - El led the original Aldmer against the armies of Lorkhan in mythic times , vanquishing that tyrant and establishing the first kingdoms of the Altmer , Atmora Old Ehlnofey . He then ascended to heaven in full observance of his followers so that they might learn the steps needed to escape the mortal plane . Z ' en . Z ' en ( God of Toil ) : Bosmeri god of payment in kind . Studies indicate origins in both Argonian and Akaviri mythologies , perhaps introduced into Valenwood by Kothringi sailors . Ostensibly an agriculture deity , Z ' en sometimes proves to be an entity of a much higher cosmic order . His worship died out shortly after the Knhaten Flu . He is linked to the Aedra Zenithar . Wilderking . The Wilderking , also known as the Wilderqueen , is a god worshipped in Valenwood , though more commonly in Greenshade . It is the conjunction of a powerful Mer and the spirit of the Valenwood , with " the Green " mantling the mortal , making them the new Wilderking / queen . Ius . Ius is a god depicted in statues throughout Valenwood , Hammerfell and Elsweyr , depicting a misshapen humanoid carrying a rod . Regions . Grahtwood . Grahtwood is the southeastern portion of Valenwood . It is home to the most Graht - oak s of any other region , and has a dense humid jungle climate . Greenshade . Greenshade is the southwestern portion of Valenwood . It is filled with green plains and luscious rivers . Malabal Tor . Malabal Tor is the northwestern portion of Valenwood . It borders the Gold Coast of Cyrodiil , having the border run along the Strid River . The region is filled with tall trees , having much of the forest floor shrouded in shade . Falinesti . The walking city of the Bosmer king , Falinesti is south in the summer and north come " Hearth Fire " . It is the largest of Valenwood " graht - oaks " , whose magic was invoked at the dawn of recorded history . The Camoran 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 ( Imga ) and Orcs are common . Eric of Guis stayed in this capital city during its summer migration , and had this to say about it : " " No less abhorrent are the Bosmer than their kin at Summerset , but they are far more cooperative . The Wood Elves love the current human activity because it makes them feel important . " " Reaper ' s March . Reaper ' s March is the northeastern portion of Valenwood , shared in conjunction with Elsweyr . It was once known as " Northern Valenwood , " but following the fall of the Reman Empire , the region received so much bloody warfare many the inhabitants even began to call it by said name . It is a dry Savannah - like area , covered in rocky terrain and dry plains .