Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-25038478-20170203015502/@comment-31396746-20170320224930

Orsimer: true they are complicated. They started as aldmer but were then changed by an extreme daedric influence (Boethiah). Because of how they were altered, the new race of "Orsimer" were homeless, ending up wandering or living in small groups. And because of their racial culture and tendencies, they weren't considered intelligent up until the third era (not even a playable race in the fiirst two games). Because of their appearance and tribal ways they have been classifed as beastfolk but this is ultimately incorrect as they do share traits with the mer and are descended from them. So they aren't beastfolk. Then of course you have to consider Trinimac/Malacath and their entire ccreation story. The Mer leader Trinimac was leading his people away from the summerset isles for a new life (like many of the elven races) when Boethiah decided to eat him...........woops. Boey later crapped him back out, and he emrged changed,  as Malacath, a daedric prince, and technically an orc. His people for some bizarre reason decided to rub the remaining feces all over themselves. Turning them into the Orsimer. So in the end, seeing a lack of other option, I'd say the Orsimer are in fact mer, just instead of the standard evolution over time they underwent instant change via an external power.

Falmer: I agree with this point, I don't  think they can be classified the same. For the simple reasomn of their soul colour. There are two types of souls, White and Black. Black souls belonging to the intelligent races (like the playable races) Whereas everything else has white souls. In skyrim, the remains of the falmer have White souls, and not even grand souls, Lesser and common souls. Because of this, I think its safe to classify them as not being Mer anymore. But they aren't beastfolk either, as the beastfolk are still intelligent. Rather, they are simply creatures. Although keep in mind that before their near-extinction and enslavement they would've had black grand souls.