#but they're *Thalmor*

[pastasuccubus]

Idk, but I do know that they're having fun terrorizing the local Nord population with their antics.

Taliesin and Nebarra dancing together (spontaneously) in a rather suggestive manner in the middle of the Ivarstead's Inn at 5am: is this a form of courtship?

[bougainvillea-and-saltwater]

Headcanon Alert: the Thalmor are all wearing full and extra makeup when Elenwen throws out parties. Maybe the wings of an eagle painted over their eyes or golden glittering eye shadow or black lipstick...👀

Some Pinterest references for your consideration:

[madgod-of-kvatch]

TES Devs: Mer live to be 200 on average. While some will live to be older, 200 is considered "quite old," while 300 is only achievable for those with a high level of magic and a low-risk lifestyle, usually only seen in nobility for obvious reasons, and Altmer live the longest in general.

Teldryn Sero: a Dunmer sellsword who is not a great mage, not part of a Great House, and does not by any means live a low-risk lifestyle. He professes to have met Saint Jiub, a man who died in the siege on Kvatch in 3E 433. Even assuming that Teldryn was a child when this occurred, this must have occurred in Morrowind, which pushes the timeline back to around 3E 428. Teldryn would have to be old enough to remember it, and therefore no younger than six, putting his latest possible birth year at 3E 422. Teldryn is introduced no earlier than 4E 201, which makes him 211 at the youngest—he isn't portrayed as old in any capacity.

Brandyl "Brand-Shei" Tenvanni: a Dunmer merchant who was definitively born in 4E 5, The Red Year, and was raised in an environment dramatically unsuited to his physiology by adoptive parents who weren't even the same species. He has some skill in Destruction magic that he rarely (if ever) uses, no firsthand experience with the Great House from which he was descended, and lives in one of the most dangerous cities in the country. He is also not portrayed or referred to as old at any time.

Ambarys Rendar: a Dunmer barkeep and proprietor of the New Gnisis Cornerclub. He immigrated to Skyrim as an adult in the Red Year, 4E 5, setting down roots in Windhelm. His only magical aptitude is in Destruction, which he basically never uses, his business is based in the single most hostile social environment for his people in the entire country, and he is not indicated by anyone at any time to be old in spite of already being an adult 196 years ago.

Aduri Sarethi: the younger sister of Avrusa Sarethi, immigrated with her in the Red Year, possibly as a child, although Avrusa was already an adult at the time and had her own business prior to the destruction of Vivec City. Is an artist and a farmer, and considered "too young" to go off on her own at her introduction in 4E 201, in spite of being at least 200 years old.

Runil: an Altmer priest who fought as an extremely capable battlemage in the Great War, which he describes (in cut dialogue) as the time when he was "at the height of [his] power." He left the Thalmor after the war, which lasted a total of four years and ended just over 25 years ago, and is now considered a very old man in spite of having been in the prime of his life no more than a quarter century prior.

Nurelion: an Altmer alchemist who literally dies of old age on screen.

TES Fandom: Yeah so mer live to be like 200 on average unless they're really good at magic, and even then 200 is considered to be "old age" for all mer, except Altmer who live longer than everyone else.

[sheirukitriesfandom]

Headcanons about Thalmor institutions in Skyrim

After voicing my dissatisfaction, I thought I might as well share some HCs about Thalmor infrastructure in Skyrim.

The Thalmor Embassy

A representative building primarily used for negotiations (and “negotiations”) as well as direct communication with the Dominion and the overseeing of other Thalmor institutions in the province. Agents new to the province go through an onboarding process at the embassy.

It's also where Justiciars undergo further schooling if ordered.

The Committee for Artistic Exchange and Cross-Cultural Relations

Located in Solitude proper, this institution is in charge of censorship and propaganda*. It controls the vast majority of publishing in imperial Skyrim. It both distributes propaganda from the Dominion proper and develops more tailored to the political situation in Skyrim. It has/had offshoot branches in Markarth and Windhelm, the Stormcloaks having burnt the one in their city to the ground.

*When I say propaganda, I mean both the blatant rallying, ideologically obvious kind and the more subtle kind promoting Altmeri practices and traditions—even travel reports about Alinor.

Bureaus of Civil Security

Originally operated by the imperial administration rather than the Thalmor themselves, these bureaus existed in every major city pre civil war. This was where “concerned citizens” could make anonymous denunciations against their neighbours. Since the outbreak of the civil war, these bureaus have either closed, transferred their duties to resident Thalmor (like in Markarth) or been so understaffed and overwhelmed that a denunciation rarely leads to any consequences.

Thalmor Logistics Inspectors

These Thalmor agents cooperated with imperial toll controls as well as import and export at the border. Their job was to make sure no ideologically unsound/illegal material was moved in and out of the country. Since the civil war, their numbers have dwindled, as have imperial border controls overall.

Undercover Couriers

The average Thalmor courier has two things: a family and no money.

They're also hardly ever Altmer, Bosmer or Khajiit as that alone raises suspicions, though Khajiit are the most common exception. The rest is picked from among the other races, often hiding as pilgrims, wandering nobles, mercenaries or even priests.

An undercover courier is paid handsomely. The Thalmor provide housing and medical care for their families and, throughout the courier’s training, will infiltrate every aspect of the courier's life. This is what makes undercover couriers incredibly dangerous: they're trained combatants who'll fight to the death because they know if they fail, it's not just their life that's over.

The Cross-Cultural Formation Initiative

A civil branch of the Thalmor focused on ensuring Thalmor influence over labor and academic training. It provides training and research opportunities but demands reports, loyalty and adherence to Thalmor values in return.

It also doubles as a propaganda tool since it provides training for people who otherwise wouldn't receive any. It also ensures Skyrim’s Thalmor institutions are safe from sabotage, as they've built an inhouse stock of craftspeople.

With the civil war, the Initiative has come under scrutiny, as a good number of its beneficiaries defected.

[azems-familiar]

tonight instead of writing i've been thinking about how i could fix skyrim and make it interesting (while also making the parts of it i like compatible with what i'm doing to oblivion's ending) and

well. this has led to me accidentally inventing my dragonborn oc. and i'm kind of obsessed with her now oops

[chiqita]

Hey y'all, I updated my fic, here's chapter 7 of Where the Tides Meet.

Rating: Mature

Relationships: Female Dovahkiin | Dragonborn/Ondolemar Additional tags: Ondolemar/Original Altmer Character(s) (Elder Scrolls), Ondolemar (Elder Scrolls), Female Dovahkiin | Dragonborn (Elder Scrolls), Female Altmer Dovahkiin | Dragonborn (Elder Scrolls), Altmer Dovahkiin | Dragonborn (Elder Scrolls), Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Fantasy and Fictional Setting Racism, Canon-Typical Violence, Fictional Religion & Theology, Self-Discovery, Getting to Know Each Other, Slow Burn, Mind Games, Surprise Kissing, Alcohol

Chapter summary:

In the cold stone heart of Markarth, Mouse completes a delicate mission for the Thalmor: infiltrate the home of a Nord bard, Ogmund, and confirm his worship of the outlawed god. She does so with silent efficiency, slipping through shadows and illusions to uncover a hidden amulet, sealing Ogmund’s fate.

Yet as she wanders the moonlit city afterward, her thoughts drift—not to guilt, but to memory. Faith in Dibella grants her comfort, but her real religion is survival, and her currency is information, leverage, and charm.

[elenwen-and-ondolemar]

This one would like to make a formal complaint against his superior officer. Khajiit is alfiq, and so it is difficult to travel outside of Elsweyr, yet he did so anyways so as to put his excellent magical skills to good use. Khajiit expected men who are unfamiliar with different furstocks to make remarks about his shape, but not mer that have worked with and aided Elsweyr for so long! Superior officer tried to pet khajiit like a common house cat when he should know better!

Elenwen: Master wizard, I am sorry to hear that. You know how greatly we value our alliance with the Khajiit people. Your work is crucial to the Cause. I will have a word with the officer in question.

Ondolemar: To be clear, I meant no disrespect. Perhaps I was a little tipsy that evening, we were all drinking to the Ambassador's escape from that damned dragon, remember? But it was meant as a gesture of congratulation. If you hadn't spent all those months playing housecat in the Legion's courier office, Tullius would have wrapped up his business in Skyrim quickly. I accept that I was mistaken in trying to pet you, but you look a lot like a cat I owned when I was a boy and -

Elenwen : hastily It will not happen again. It's a pity Tullius caught wind of you. How would you feel about a mission to Windhelm? We could do with a pair of eyes in the Palace of the Kings.

[unsettlingcreature]

also the urge to make my next skyrim character be completely normal with no angst backstory or struggles like. that would be so new for me.

[tiredela]

Devotion for TES summerfest! @tes-summer-fest

Aurelion isn't exactly sure of what he's devoted to. on one hand, he's given a specific role to play (thalmor robes), but on the other hand, specific events in his life (the death of his twin, meeting and befriending the dragonborn) put everything he's ever known, everything he's ever believed in, into question (shrine of talos).

he questions his devotion

id in alt

[feykrorovaan]

Gore:"The next Thalmor dog I see is dead."

LDB at Caryalind and Taliesin:

[ariquar]

I never talk about it but part of Ari's post game plotline is that he eventually goes back to the isles for a short time and helps encourage people to fight back against the thalmor

[demilypyro]

In a way it's crazy how the opening of Skyrim immediately posits the Stormcloaks as the obvious good guys vs the oppressive empire lady who executes people for no reason. so yeah of course you help the Stormcloaks. and then later you go see Ulfric in Windhelm and he basically doesn't really give you the time of day and you find out they're all just really into racism. like. man. what was that opening then. and then you do some digging and find out the entire conflict was orchestrated by the Thalmor to destabilize the empire so they can kill all the humans

[obi-troll-kenobi]

Daily reminder that being a rude annoying ass character in videogame is more of a crime than being a videogame elf supremacist. Fictional crimes are fictional, my annoyance is real.

[wikagirl]

my spreadsheet says that I don't have enough coin rn so I'll go farm some more septims and then I'll get the last two houses!!

Also: I had to install a mod so I can buy the one in windhelm without needing to do the civil war quest because fuck both of the sides you can choose. The impiral army are just puppets of an oppressive regime and the stormcloaks are literally just US american white supremacists but with a viking-fantasy paintjob to them and I don't want to be part of any of their bullshit.

All I had to do was solve the murder and help 5 people and now the house is miiiine

[boiledkwamaegg]

100th post! And I'm no longer homeless! Yay!

I wanted to show you all Slaynil, or in other words, Faenil's Thalmor Embassy outfit. They really said that they're gonna show up and just kill everyone with their looks. It's kinda funny to compare the casual crusty and scrungly Faenil to the glammed up party diva Faenil. But you have no idea how fucking insane I go for juicy dramatic party infiltration storylines, and I'm definitely gonna make Diplomatic Immunity in Faenil's fic the plotline I always wanted it to be. There's so much potential and so much to explore, so I'll really need to use my thinking cap for that one LMAO

Oh, and this look isn't done without Toxic by Britney Spears playing in the background.

[skyrim-forever]

I had the idea of Legate Rikke x Delphine earlier because we could use some more toxic yuri around here and why not some old woman yuri

Legate Rikke understanding Delphine's grievances but believing she lives in the past, wanting the glory days of the Blades back enough by her time they were long gone. Rikke's a practical woman, she sees her home under threat now and fights for it, she still recognizes Talos and is a woman of Skyrim first and foremost. Rikke is not caught up in glory and mythos, she has to do what's right for the people.

Delphine has been in hiding for decades, her order fallen and now the Empire bowing to the Thalmor. Sure, she is confused about many things, believing them to initially be behind the Dragon Crisis and then demanding the Dragonborn kill Paartharnax due to his past crimes. Atonement doesn't matter, she cannot change so it appears as though no one else could. And it makes sense, she clinges to the glorious past of the Blades because what else there is to cling to?

I want to see them clash, maybe they had a thing during the war. Then they run into each other decades later and with the Dragon Crisis, Civil War, and Thalmor presence and they fight! They're not on opposing sides but just coming at things from different angles, witnessing the differing paths they took, Delphine forced into this one.

And they they fuck nasty <3