Crafting Motif 4 : Nord Content . Being notes by Doctor Alfidia Lupus for a series of pamphlets on the major cultural styles of Tamriel ( Dr . Lupus was Imperial Ethnographer for Potentate Savirien - Chorak from 2E 418 to 431 ) We come now to the Nords , the first human culture on Tamriel to successfully resist , and even displace , Elven hegemony on the continent . Not unlike the Bosmer , the Nords rely heavily on stylized , often interlocking natural motifs in their architecture , crafts , and clothing . However , where the Wood Elves ' designs are mainly floral , the Nords emphasize animals , in particular the eight " totem " animals of the old Atmoran religion : wolf , hawk , whale , snake , moth , fox , and so forth . They also allow for much more variation of design , to the point where some of the animal motifs are so abstract they are difficult to recognize . Indeed , areas of trim are often filled with interlocking geometric designs that evoke nothing natural at all . Nord design varies in other ways from that of the Elves as well , in general relying on simple , heavy yet dynamic forms where Elven work would be slender , elegant , and understated . Nothing the Nords make is understated , ever . This was clear even from outside the Imperial City ' s Skyrim Embassy , where Morian , Divayth and I had gone to a reception for King Logrolf . The lintel above the embassy doors was crowned with a great iron hawk ' s - head , its mouth open as if screaming defiance , while the doors were flanked by bas - reliefs of hawks so stylized they looked as much like axes as they did birds . The door itself was dark oak , banded with iron and studded with iron rivets , as if they expected to have to repel an attack . The inside of the embassy was less martial in appearance , at least once one got past the armed and armored guards inside the door . I wondered if they really needed to wear full helms sporting ram ' s - horns in order to check the invitations of party guests , but the look in the Nords ' eyes didn ' t exactly invite questions . The party , as I said , was a reception for King Logrolf , visiting the Imperial City to pay his respects to the Potentate . Morian was there representing the Arcane University ; he ' d asked me to accompany him and I ' d accepted , eager to see our fierce northern cousins in their own environment . When Divayth learned where we were going he ' d attached himself to our party , in spite of Morian ' s baleful glare , but once we were inside the embassy and he was surrounded by loud , boisterous Nords , the Dark Elf wizard seemed to be regretting his decision to join us . Not so Morian ! After he ' d downed a flagon of mead , I was suddenly seeing a new Professor Zenas . Attired in his new robe , he positively bloomed , holding forth on the history of magic to an admiring crowd of diplomats , whom he enthralled with tales of the feats of wizardry of the Nord Arch - Mage Shalidor . He seemed twenty years younger , and I suddenly saw him as he must have been in his prime , when he first came to the Imperial City to help found the Arcane University . Morian even introduced me to King Logrolf , though how he came to know the monarch of Skyrim I have no idea . When I looked around for Divayth , he was nowhere to be seen . Morian and I stayed late at the embassy , quaffing mead and laughing at the Nords ' hearty jokes . When we finally left and he walked me home , I thought I could see a new gleam in Morian ' s eye . He may have seen the same gleam in mine .