#elder scrolls orc

[thieves-oasis]

nothing but Valdea gro-Eashi on the brain. gotta love trans orc women ❤️💕💕💕❤️❤️❤️✨✨

[mazurga]

Dushnikh Yal

[glyretic]

personal art with my tes characters

[karjalantroll]

[greyslurp]

I've been waiting how long(?!) for elder scrolls VI so I'm bringing my orc out of limbo

[connortheconceded]

Dumac "the inventor of dwemer power metal" Dwarf-king

[thana-topsy]

A short comic based on the ACTUAL in-game dialogue between Colette and Urag that was so cringe I had to get it out of my brain. Thanks to @kookaburra1701 for pointing it out and cursing me with this.

Featuring Enthir being a menace.

[toffee32]

valenwood partay

[falmerbrook]

Ear Headcanons

So this was meant to be just my headcanon for the differences between the different mer races' ears (size, shape, if they can move on their own, etc.), but there's a tinge of just general visual differences between them in there too (because this ended up being really good face practice for me). I'll mostly talk about ears though. Obviously this is more meant to be general trends than hard and fast rules.

I'll start with the playable races.

Altmer

Tall and skinny ears that can move out and back a bit (moderate range of motion). They mostly are close to the head but can also stick out a bit.

Dunmer

They have a wide variety of how their ears can be shaped; small, tall, wide, big, straight up, curvy, etc. The typically stick out more than Altmer's and have a larger range of motion.

Bosmer

The largest variety of any of the races. Their ears can look like just about anything any other race has (except maybe Maormer) from any mer ears, to more human ears, to more animal-like ones. They have a large range of motion regardless of how they look.

Orsimer

Small, almost human-sized ears, but they stick out more from the head than humans and can be wider. The pointed end tends to stick out. They can rarely move.

Breton

Breton basically just have human ears with a little point at the top. I thought it would be fun to draw a sort of comparison to your average Nede and average Breton to highlight the subtle more merish look that I think Bretons should have too.

Ok now for non-playable races

Snow elves/Falmer

Ok so I have terminal Falmer brainrot so I have a lot of completely made up headcanons for these guys sorry lol.

Snow elves have the least variety. They are usually shorter and closer to the head than the other mer races (which evolved as an adaptation to counter frostbite in my headcanon) and can't move. Conversely, I like to headcanon that falmer are on their way to evolving rudimentary echolocation, and therefore have huge ears that stick out far from their head, and are very mobile (this is also why their faces are covered in wrinkles). They can look more traditionally merish, or some of them have real funky shapes.

Chimer

Basically a mix between how the Altmer/Aldmer and current Dunmer look (both in their general appearance and ears). Think of it like the transition between the Aldmer look and Dunmer.

Dwemer

Dwemer have relatively short ears (compared to other mer) and don't stick out much, but they can be wide along the side of the head. Their shape is usually pretty angular and have limited mobility.

Aldmer

Your standard pointy fantasy elf ears. So I technically headcanon the Aldmer as many different (although similar) groups that are referred to as one group due to the nature of retelling history and some propaganda sprinkled in there, but in general, since the other mer of Tamriel descended from them, I see them as sort of generic. Nothing particularly notable in their ears. Minimal to moderate ability to move them.

Ayleid

Curvy. They have Aldmer sized ears with twisting and curving in different directions. Limited movement, and not too much range in size (just shape). I have 0 reasons for thinking this, I just thought it would be fun and unique and maybe fit their aesthetics.

Maormer

I like that canon Maormer ears look fin-like but I want to turn it up to 11. Large variety of shape and size, but usually large and fin-shaped as a general trend. Huge range of movement.

Ohmes/Ohmes-raht

They aren't elves, but they are described as human/mer-like, so I figured I'd include the Ohmes. They usually have pointy, mer-esque ears, but less distinct than most mer. Despite being relatively small, they have a wide range of movement for their size (and move in similar ways to the way cats ears move for the rest of the Khajiit). They can be extra fuzzy or have little tufts at the end for Ohmes-raht.

[nutspider]

"for their people were (and most still are) dependent on a rare, shaggy, giant centipede herdbeast that can live only at high altitudes on alpine and sub-alpine forage."

[jollycryptid]

Skyrim brainrot consumeth once more

[bfoxanimation]

Urag gro-Shub doesn't agree with the new Arch-Mage of the College of Winterhold's methodology for knowledge retention.

[hbeeez]

An orsimer warlock of malacath. Hexblade ofc. My idea was that to update her pact weapon, she would have to forge it herself.

[madame-helen]

[orsinium-scholar]

Orsinium headcanon:

Due to it's remote location and firm extradition laws, Orsinium has become a popular choice for Altmer refugees. Those who survive the perilous trek find the city cold, often frightening to those with no familiarity for Orcs, but ultimately far safer than back in Alinor.

Most of them congregate in the outskirts of Orsinium Minor, in an area called "Little Alinor" or "the golden district". Though many struggle with poverty, a few have thrived by setting up businesses, the more flexible minded elves modifying traditional recipes to Orcish tastes and selling them as street foods. Of particular note is a variety of steamed bun, originally made as a small finger dish filled with sea food, now made large enough to fit in the hand and filled with cabbage and pork, which has become a staple breakfast food for blue collar orcs working stupid long hours and needing a hot breakfast.

However, many Altmer immigrants, whether intentionally or not, avoid interactions with Orcs, and as a result, have a reputation for being snooty at best, or outright suspicious at worst. They are also notorious for being skittish, shy, and particularly distrustful around strange Altmer, who might be Thalmor agents. Those of a more anxious disposition struggle between the fear of other Altmer and the fear of a people they are told are violent and dangerous.

However, the newer generation often adapts well, young flexible minds taking in the culture, making Orcish friends and picking up the language and trends. On the other hand, Altmer countercultures also arise, with some young Altmer clinging to their parents old ways, and looking down their nose at the other "corrupted" youths. Street fights are not uncommon.

Little Alinor is a place caught between two vastly different cultures, being dragged kicking and screaming out of rigid conformity. Though despite the cold stone and Wrothgar weather, it's still a safe home. As Arlith Urayel, purveyor of Arliths Gifts and known dissident to the Third Aldmeri Dominion states: "I live in a place where a single poorly chosen word can get my nose broken, and I am safer than I've ever been my entire life."

[elderscrollsconceptart]

Khajiit, Argonian, Ancient Elf, Reachman, Orsimer

Art for Tales of Tamriel

Art by Jan Pospisil