Personal Thoughts and Reports on Northern Tamriel

3^rd of Rain’s Hand, 3E 425

The Bretonic kingdoms are to be disgraced for their inability to handle the situation of the Orcs. The continuing formation and destruction of the “state” of Orsinium is proof that the Bretons are incapable of proper statecraft, or that the Direnni have chosen to withhold Altmeri political knowledge to remain as a higher ruling class than even those Kings and Queens of High Rock.

Firstly, the Bretons are unable to maintain the upper hand when dealing with beasts; this alone should be enough.

Secondly, the Bretons cannot destroy the state or its people fully. Their biggest failure is that they have caused such lackluster devastation to the Orcs that they have grown accustomed to it and may now be fully prepared for whatever any nation throws at them. The Breton’s key failure is that the state of Orsinium means that their enemy is – somewhat – unified enough to be a threat, or even an annoyance. The destruction of Orsinium, along with its symbol to the Orcs, becomes inspiration for further Orcs to rebuild and because they are no longer widely dispersed they will continue rebuilding because they have the means to do so and become better with each cycle.

Other nations far older than High Rock have already faced similar situations and yet do not have the same problem as the Bretons. In Cyrodiil, the slaves revolted with such passion that there hasn’t been any legitimate accounts of Ayleids living anywhere since that First Era in which they were killed. In Skyrim, there are no signs that native Mer (which excludes Dwemer) had ever lived there other than children’s stories and untrustworthy accounts from adventurers (whom will be discussed later) that describe Falmer as “hunched over beasts” that jump out of the snow at wanderers (clearly showing that they cannot be Mer). Both examples evidently showing that simple Men are more successful in statecraft in their primitive times than Men-Mer who have lived in their land for eras; for both Cyrodiil and Skyrim had mighty and expanding empires in both past and present yet High Rock seems to never progress further than its own city-states’ borders, excluding recent events.

The ruling class of Bretons, if it could properly be called this, also notably has troubles with Eastern Skyrim over a group known as “Reachmen”. Whilst not being an apparent threat to most on either sides of the borders, it shows the lax attitude in Breton society which finds too much security in the walls of a city than its own people.

The Nords of Skyrim, however, are surprising in how often they are insulted yet far more ingenious than any dare imply. Despite the obvious cases of overwhelming snow, the land of Skyrim coupled with the culture of Nords has lead to an existing dual-society of classes that can easily continue to support itself without any need for improving production. The first and more conventional being the sheer amount of farmland leading to the working farmers at the bottom of the chain being able to not only abundantly feed those above them, but to comfortably give food to other allies leading their lords to be much more wealthy than what is seen in other provinces. These lords, of course, being under the ruling Jarl and his or her family. Between the lords and peasants is the proletariat metal-workers supported by the peasant miners and a mixture of the small merchant class and the adventurers; whom will be discussed later. In some cases, however, the mines are owned by lords who manage many mines and have won themselves inter-hold and international influence due to their exceeding wealth and monopoly on some materials.

Then there is the second class, whose hierarchy is unrelated to the first, comprised of adventurers and mercenaries. The most interesting part is that it as a society is mostly disorganised and attempts at organisation either do not work or are discouraged by any possible ruling class, who are the guild of fighters known as “The Companions” that openly and continuously operate without hierarchy and – when in need of order – call upon those whom are merely respected most for their in-field achievements. Even those that are not part of the Companions manage to continuously find sources of coin so long as they have the means to travel where problems arise; and even then almost all whom are a part of this “second-society” are skilled hunters and outdoorsmen, allowing them to continue eating and finding shelter when the other society no longer needs them.

Due to their overabundance, the intelligentsia of Skyrim – though a limited group – live in relative comfort when properly employed. The College of Winterhold, College for the Voice and Bards’ College show the Nords have a higher demand for education than is usually thought, however, this is not to say that all citizens of Skyrim are literate or even speak well (even when sober). Whilst many College of Winterhold alumni become court wizards for Jarls and academics, they are too small a class to truly influence Skyrim and must either ascend classes or gain power as an individual elsewhere.

For now, I’ll stick to the south of Tamriel. Snow is a terrible thing for legs to be defeated by.

—Anaril