Crafting Motif 15 : Dwemer Content . By Raynor Vanos Kireth says I should write down what I ' ve learned about Dwemer artisans and the styles and motifs of their lost civilization . Dwemeri axe designs reflect the wheels , gears , and cogs that are central to so many devices of the Deep Elves . The haft is surmounted by a round disk resembling the hub of a wheel , from which spokes radiate to the blade or blades , which are like portions of a wheel ' s outer ring . The blades maintain an edge remarkably well , considering their great age . Dwarven belts are typically made of overlapping metal links of repeated geometric shape , such as squares or circles . Their length is easily adjusted by the addition or subtraction of few links . The tensile strength of such a belt is without peer , many times that of an equivalent length of steel chain . Dwarven boots are sturdy , but not as heavy as they look . Though they have accents of Dwarven metal , they are mainly constructed of a flexible material that resembles leather , but either it is some sort of manufactured imitation , or the Dwemer had beasts with incredibly smooth and homogenous hide . Knee - high Dwarven boots often incorporate built - in greaves over the shins . Dwarven recurved bows are powerful and can drive an arrow through an oaken board . Though they appear to made of metal , they are not ; the strong yet flexible material they are made from is otherwise unknown , and cannot be duplicated by modern bowyers . All Dwarven chest armor consists of metal plates of various sizes affixed to a leather cuirass - think , flexible leather with a few small plates in the case of light armor , the leather becoming thicker and the plates larger and more numerous as the armor gets heavier . The plates are typically geometric in shape and ornamentation . A Dwarven dagger typically has a broad and heavy triangular blade , as suitable for chopping as for stabbing . In fact , they resemble tools as much as they do weapons . Dwarven gloves were always made of fine and flexible leather or pseudo - leather , reflecting their wearers ' need for fine manipulation of their devices . Only the heaviest gauntlets sported metal ribs , typically tessellated splints protecting the back of the hands . Dwarven helmets of all kinds famously cover the entire face with a face - shaped visor , curiously bisected down the center by a sort of metal keel . This keel reappears atop the helmet as a crest , which may be modest or bizarrely exaggerated . A line of Dwemer troops , all wearing helmets with identical , impassive visages , must struck terror into the Deep Elves ' enemies . The leg protection of the Dwemer typically consisted of geometric plates or cylinders of metal , mounted on the same thick yet flexible material used for their boots . The armor was particularly thick over the knee . Dwarven maces have heavy and blunt geometrical heads , without flanges , spikes , or pointed finials . The two - handed maces are outweighed only by Orcish skull - crushers , and can bend and batter plate armor as if it was foil . Dwarven shields come in many shapes , but all echo the geometric forms seen on Dwemer armor , albeit writ large . They are formed from relatively thin plates of Dwarven metal , and are much lighter and wieldier than they appear . Dwarven shoulder pauldrons were usually made of thick and inflexible metal , mounted on cops of heavy " leather . " The pauldrons of heavier armor sometimes sported metal keels echoing the crests seen atop their helmets . Even the most elaborate Dwarven staff has a utilitarian look about it , as if it was going to be used with a paddle to draw a loaf of bread from a oven . The haft is made of some close - grained substance that looks like wood but is not , circled with rings of Dwarven metal . The finials are circular or fan - shaped , and usually modest in size . Dwarven swords look like mere extensions of their daggers , featuring the same broad , triangular blades with both point and edge . Their cross - guards are slender to almost nonexistent , which argues that Dwemer swordplay did not rely much on thrusting .