Dunmer ( Morrowind ) Dunmer are grey - skinned elves and the natives of Morrowind . Many of them belong to one of the seven Great Houses . Adept with sword and magic , Dunmer are a versatile race . History . Ancestry . The Dunmer were once the Chimer ( Changed Folk , or The Changed Ones ) , who were a people of the Altmeri who had abandoned the ways , customs and laws of the Summerset Isles , and embarked on a great exodus to Morrowind . They followed the Veloth , who spoke to them on behalf of Boethiah , the Daedric Prince of Plots . These teachings spawned a new culture on Tamriel and a new people , even though the Chimer were physically indistinguishable from Altmer . At the time of exodus and until their change , the exiles were known as the Velothi . The term can be used in a general sense for the Dunmer as well , though it carries a specific meaning referring to ex - Ashlanders who abandoned their nomadic societies . At the time of the Velothi ' s mass exodus , Morrowind was known as Dwemereth , after the enigmatic Dwemer who already inhabited the region . The exiles settled there 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 Velothi Towers that now dot Morrowind are attributed to this period and are only common to tell - tale stories made up of legendary proportion . Sometime around the rise of the First Empire of the Nords in Skyrim , the Velothi civilization broke down into a relatively primitive collection of clans and tribal warfare . Because of the slave revolt , many Strongholds went into opposition to hide and protect Vvardenfell ' s borders from the Early Nord Skirmish squads . The so - called Dunmer Strongholds of Morrowind were most likely built at this time , for defense against Nordic raiders and other Chimer too , who did not seek exile with the rest at the time of exodus . Such disunity allowed Skyrim to conquer Morrowind . The Nords ruled Morrowind , now called Resdayn , under the reign of semi - corrupt Nord Tyrants for many years , until fighting of their own ( the War of Succession ) allowed the Chimer and Dwemer to form an alliance against the vulnerable and rebellious Nords , and oust the occupiers . Azura ' s Curse and the Chimer ' s Transformation . This was the era of the First Council , when the modern Great House system was in productions form but already developing , with Indoril Nerevar Moon - and - Star and his three advisors ( the Tribunal ; Almsivi ) at the fore . This included Almalexia , Vivec the warrior - poet , and Sotha Sil . As every student of eastern history knows , the union did not last long . After a supposed summoning of Azura at Red Mountain , where the Dwemer and Chimer fought the last of the opposing forces , Azura laid her curse upon the already - exiled Chimer . The supposed murder of Indoril Nerevar Moon - and - Star by the summoning ritual made by the Tribunal , Azura appeared , with Indoril dead , and her words hissed : ' May the eyes of the Changed Ones be turned as red as this volcanic ash , and may their skin be as blackened as their hearts . The accursed drawn , blood from the master spilled , and a curse shown in the race of these folk , forever - more ' . This led to the hiding of Vivec in the Ministry of Truth and the recession of the cultures of the now accursed Chimer . Azura withdrew from the mountain , and there upon the now - Dunmer lay with ashen souls , and would reflect change in the Eras to come . Modern Beliefs . After the Nordic occupation of Morrowind , many Dunmer remained distrustful of outsiders , which is likely where their hatred for ' Outlanders ' came from . The native Dunmer especially hate Dunmer who were not born on Morrowind , regarding them with suspicion , and seeing them as ' impure ' . If the player chooses to be a Dunmer on , they will still be called an ' outlander ' , as they were born somewhere else entirely . Despite not liking outlanders , the Dunmer will still allow them to join the local guilds , and some even excel in them . For example , the Morag Tong , Morrowind ' s local assassin ' s guild , will allow outlanders into its ranks . The Great Houses will as well ; House Hlaalu is the most sympathetic towards outlanders , but the others will still allow them to join their ranks . Gods . Gods worshiped by the Dunmer folk of Morrowind include : Preferred play style . Dark Elves are best for players who want to do as much as possible in the game . Their skills are very diverse from Mysticism to Short Blade and every enemy has a weakness you can exploit . Dark Elves make for one of the most offensive races in the game . Use this to your advantage .