The Return

Return is a term used for a period of time in late Merethic Era. It is the time Men returned to Tamriel to settle there permanently.

Pre-Return Events
The elves lived in peace with the humans until the late Merethic Era when they saw that humankind was growing at an exponential rate, given a human's faster reproductive period. Thus, the elves attacked the humans in an attempt to lower the population.

Almost the entire human population on Tamriel was wiped out. Only three people have been recorded to survive in the capital of early Nedic settlers, Saarthal. The three were Ysgramor and two of his sons, Yngol and Ylgar. They survived by sailing the last longboat back to their homeland, Atmora. The night of the elven raid became known as the Night of Tears.

It is later mentioned that despite their main goal of lowering the human population, elves were after the great power hidden beneath Saarthal. Only in the Fourth Era in a archeological excavation of the nearby College of Winterhold the great power was discovered to be the Eye of Magnus.

Upon arriving to Atmora, Ysgramor told stories of treacherous elves and of gathering an army to come back and avenge the lost souls.

Return of the Men
On the day known as Day of Final Passage Ysgramor and his army, the Five Hundred Companions, left he port of Jylkurfyk, Atmora to sail back to Mereth and take back what was rightfully theirs.

During their voyage to Mereth, The Five Hundred got caught in the Storm of Separation. As a result legendary Ysgramor lost his eldest son, Yngol. Yngol Barrow was made as a proper burial place for a Nede warrior. This played a role in later events.

Shortly after the Five Hundred arrived at Hsaarik Head, Saarthal was taken back from elven kind. The first goal of the Five Hundred was fulfilled and the next was yet to plan. The Circle of Captains was assembled and it was decided that every captain and his crew should go their own ways. Thus began a period of genocidal slaughter of elves and beasts alike. During that period, men spread out all over Tamriel, from then warm Skyrim to the far southern marshes of Black Marsh.

The first notable event to be recorded was the founding of Whiterun. The crew of the Jorrvaskr under command of Jeek of the River scouted the area later named Whiterun Hold. They found the mysterious monument, Skyforge, that was feared by local elves and decided to put it to proper use. The lands in this valley were suitable for harvest as well. The crew settled there not knowing that they had started a settlement that will later grow into a great city that still stood in Fourth Era.

The second notable event to be recorded was the founding of Windhelm. The crews of the Kaal Kaaz, Sadon Reyth and Ylgermet under command of Harbinger Ysgramor himself fought elves in the area later named Eastmarch. Ysgramor stumbled upon his son, Yngol's grave and in his grief decided to build a great city where the nearby river, White River, met the Sea of Ghosts. The city was to serve as a monument of all mankind. It was built by elven captives in Atmorian fashion. Long bridge was built as the only entrance to the city, so that no elf could sneak in unnoticed to avenge his own kin. As well as Whiterun, Windhelm still stood in the Fourth Era as one of the biggest cities in Skyrim.

End of the Return
Period along with the great expansion of mankind and merciless genocide of elves ended with the final breath of great Ysgramor. News of his death spread like dark cloud all over Tamriel and most of the warriors put down their axes in grief never to pick them up again. Ysgramor chose to be burried at sea, looking in direction of his true homeland, Atmora. But even after death of the great harbinger his castle served High Kings for many generations after.

However, by the end of the Return man had already gained a permanent standing in Skyrim. Snow Elves had been banished underground to emerge only thousands of years later as beasts known as Falmer. Tamriel soon became the only home for men, as the Atmora froze beyond recognition.

Heroes of this period, Five Hundred Companions,however, soon lost their grip over Tamriel and returned to Skyrim. Remnants of the once great army could be still found in Fouth Era, but time had changed them as well as everything around.