Falmer (Skyrim)

The Falmer, also known as the Betrayed by the few remaining snow elves, are creatures present in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. They are the descendants of the lost Snow Elves, who have degenerated in temperament and sophistication after centuries of subterranean dwelling. Originally the name for the entire race, the name Falmer now only describes these devolved creatures, as their remaining brethren would rather be called Snow Elves.

The Falmer are the product of the Snow Elves unknowingly agreeing to ingest a toxin that would blind them, and enter slavery under the Dwemer in exchange for safe harbor from the Nords. Years of living underground and in slavery have caused them to devolve.

Characteristics
The Falmer are a race of Mer who have devolved into primitive creatures inhabiting the dark underground and remote areas of Skyrim. Centuries of life underground have caused the Falmer to adapt to their harsh environment. While physically similar to other Mer, the Falmer have changed noticeably. Their skin is a pale grayish tone and they move with a hunched posture. The most notable feature is their blindness, which does not hinder them in any noticeable way. The existence of the Falmer was once thought to be a myth. In recent times, however, they have made their presence known in gruesome fashion. Whether anything of Snow Elf culture and civilization survives with them remains unknown. Both male and female Falmer are known to exist.

"Nords attribute almost any misfortune or disaster to the machinations of the Falmer, or Snow Elves, be it crop failure, missing sheep, or a traveler lost crossing a high pass. These mythical beings are popularly believed to be the original Elven population, and are said to reside in the remote mountain fastnesses that cover most of Skyrim. Until recently, however, there had been little or no tangible evidence that this Elven race survived outside the imaginations of superstitious villagers."


 * Source: Pocket Guide to the Empire, First Edition/Skyrim

History
"In the time before man, they were known as the snow elves. They lived in the sunlight and had a very prosperous society."

- Enthir

The history of the Falmer is mysterious, but can be found in a book in the Dwemer Museum in Markarth in a locked case titled The Falmer: A Study. The Falmer's progenitors, the Snow Elves, were believed to be the first race of elves in Skyrim and were present long before the first Nord colonies. Their initial coexistence was largely peaceful. However, the peace was short-lived, as an attack by the Snow Elves suspicious of Nordic expansion destroyed the rapidly growing settlement of Saarthal. It was known as the "Night of Tears.". This raid on Saarthal destroyed the entire population of the city save for Ysgramor and his two sons. The death of his countrymen prompted Ysgramor to summon his 500 companions - the namesake and forbearers of the Companions in Whiterun - and vow to drive the Snow Elves from Skyrim forever.

The Downfall
The Pocket Guide to the Empire, First Edition: Skyrim and Fall of the Snow Prince books suggest the conflict may have been related to rapidly increasing Nord population and been a struggle for control over territory and resources which took the form of a war of extermination - with both sides apparently pursuing the utter destruction of the other. The book Night of Tears suggests the conflict may have been more specifically related to or escalated by the Falmer's desire to control a powerful artifact uncovered by the Nord settlers and the Nords of Saarthal's desire to keep such power buried beneath the rocks and soil of their city. The Thalmor representative Ancano as well as the Psijic Order member Quaranir take actions and make statements giving credence to the theory that this object, dubbed the Eye of Magnus, may have played an important role in the conflict.

Whatever the true cause of this conflict may have been, Ysgramor and his 500 companions were ultimately successful in pursuing their aggressive campaign of revenge. Eventually the Falmer had been driven back to the island of Solstheim where one final battle was to be recorded. Known as the Battle of the Moeresing, the fighting culminated in the death of one of the most fearsome Snow-Elf warriors, "The Snow Prince," at the hands of a grief stricken 12-year old Nord girl. This broke the spirit of the last recorded Falmer surface forces and the remaining Snow Elves fled or were promptly cut down. This marked their last significant recorded presence on the surface.

Though they persist on the surface as characters in legends and folklore to play the roles of antagonists and bogeymen, it was commonly believed they had been killed off by the ancient Nords. They are briefly mentioned in the book Aevar Stone-Singer in which they are presented as enemies of the protagonist and lesser servants of "The Adversary", a possible Skaal representation of Sithis. Historians, such as the writers of the pocket guide, had long insisted that the Falmer were extinct and any supposed sightings were merely tall tales inspired by common folklore. This presumption of extinction and dismissal of sightings was later found to be wrong; the Snow elves did not die off after The Battle of the Moeresing.

Dwemer Enslavement
Scattered and without a recorded leader, the Snow Elves fled underground where they were offered protection by another now-lost race of mer. There they met the Dwemer, commonly known as Dwarves, whose mastery of tonal architecture and fearsome weapons held the promise of safety beyond the reach of man. These refugees were, according to The Falmer: A Study, deceived by their supposed protectors. Mistrustful of their Snow Elves guests, the Dwemer forced them to eat toxic fungi native to Blackreach which made them blind and powerless. Through treachery, the last of the Snow Elves were made servants and slaves to those who posed as their saviors. Thus the Snow Elves transformed into their current form, the Falmer.

The Dwemer kept this plant as a primary part of the Falmer's diet, ensuring not only the blindness of their current Falmer slaves but also the blindness of all their descendants. The cruel and destructive methods used to oppress the Falmer did not prove sufficient to keep them in bonded servitude forever. Generations after their ancestor's enslavement at the hands of their rescuers, the Falmer rose up against the Dwemer and fled to darker places deeper underground. From there they waged a bloody campaign against their former oppressors in what was called the "War of the Crag." According to the book The Falmer: A Study this war ended abruptly when the forces of the Falmer went to meet their former captors in battle only to find the Dwemer had vanished.

Present Day
Though the Dwemer have long since vanished into legend, their mechanical centurions and devious traps are not the only deadly legacy they left behind. In the twisted present day Falmer of legend, the Dwemer's legendary cruelty and will to dominate lives on. Many a miner, adventurer, archeologist, and smuggler have met death or slavery at the hands of these tragic products of Dwarven hubris. Scenes of torn and tortured prisoners, some captured in Dwemer ruins which the Falmer inhabit, some kidnapped and brought down from the surface, serve as testament to the hatred and blood-lust which drives them to this day. The author of The Falmer: A Study states that these incidents have been dramatically increasing in frequency, sophistication, boldness, and scale in recent years. The scale and nature of the threat they pose is unclear, but the gruesome scenes which characterize their presence leave no doubt as to their hostility.

Journals recovered from their victims - explorers, bandits, and lowly trades folk alike - reveal that their blindness persists and can render a quiet adventurer nearly invisible. They display keen hearing however and often employ ambush tactics - having been described as dropping from the ceiling behind their victims as they pass beneath them. In addition to the fungus which sustained and blinded their ancestors, they have also been found to raise and kennel venomous centipedes from which they fashion effective, though primitive, armor. Though they show little signs of cultural sophistication and seem to lack the ability to read the printed word, there are many accounts of Falmer displaying an aptitude for frost and lightning magic. The journals of those they have slain have also made note that they have retained the resistance to cold and vulnerability to fire possessed by their ancestors even though they have been robbed of nearly all the rest of their ancient heritage.

Technology
Their technology is based on the use of the Chaurus, an animal the Falmer have domesticated for its Chitin, poison, and rending limbs. Weapons, armor, shelters, fences, and chests are all constructed from the Chitin of domesticated Chaurus.

Although they are most numerous in Dwemer ruins, they do not appear to use scavenged Dwarven weapons or armor, aside from the rare use of non-falmer arrows (due to the randomized ammunition type for all archer classes).

They also seem to have an advanced understanding of Alchemy. Poisons are a major part of their weapons and well stocked Alchemy stations can be found in many Falmer habitations.

The Falmer also sometimes appear to keep farms near their living areas, such as small pens containing skeevers and fenced areas with mushroom patches.

Loot
Falmer are known to carry weapons and armor they craft. Falmer craft a full range of Falmer Weapons such as Swords, War Axes, Bows, and Arrows. Higher level individuals may carry the honed version of the edged weapons. They also carry Falmer shields and helmets, which seem to be made from Chaurus chitin. Full Falmer Armor does exist, however there is only one set, which is located within the depths of Mzinchaleft Ruins. In addition, Falmer carry Poison, Gold, and Falmer Ears. Falmer helmets are especially valuable as they may be worn along with a circlet. Any enchantments on both will have full effect, allowing the production of stronger potions, for instance. (Wearing a Falmer helmet does not blind the Dragonborn.)

Weaknesses
Presumably due to their Snow Elf ancestry, the Falmer are especially vulnerable to fire attacks. Sneaking is also especially effective against Falmer, as they are completely blind and light will not be factor although carrying a torch too close to them will catch their attention, due to the sound. If the player can move silently while sneaking, the player is rendered invisible to the Falmer. This means that the spell Muffle will be of more use than Invisibility against the Falmer. The bow is a highly effective weapon against other Falmer archers while sneaking as they will move very slowly when they try to find the player and make easy targets. With a high sneak skill it is possible to take out Falmer archers without ever being discovered.

Habitats
Falmer live strictly underground in caves and Dwarven Ruins. They do, however, make forays to the surface.


 * AlftandFalmer.png
 * Blackreach
 * Chillwind Depths (located directly south from Dragon's Bridge)
 * Darkwater Pass a sprawling cave south of Fort Amol
 * Frostflow Abyss
 * Gloomreach
 * Irkngthand (Dwemer ruin far southwest of Winterhold)
 * Mzulft (just outside the Boilery)
 * Nchuand-Zel excavation site in Understone Keep
 * Shimmermist Cave (Northeast of Whiterun)
 * Behind Stony Creek Cave in the tunnels beneath Kagrenzel
 * Mzinchaleft
 * Liar's Retreat (Just northeast of the Reach Stormcloak camp)
 * Duskglow Crevice
 * Stillborn Cave
 * Lost Echo Cave
 * Tolvald's Crossing
 * Forgotten Vale

Trivia

 * Falmer blood is required to complete the quest Discerning the Transmundane; the easiest place to obtain the blood is at Liar's Retreat.
 * In the first Skyrim DLC, Dawnguard, female Falmer were added to the falmer population.
 * There is a statue in Irkngthand of a Falmer before their refuge with the Dwemer.
 * Despite being Mer, Falmer have "white" souls, which can be trapped using normal soul gems. A possible explanation is that they have regressed in intelligence and civility far enough that their souls are no longer "black".
 * Raiding Falmer caves and lairs is good for finding Alchemy supplies. They commonly drop Falmer Ears, Torchbug Thoraxes, and other Ingredients. These areas may also have Glowing Mushrooms as well as Chaurus Eggs.
 * Chaurus Chitin can be harvested from Chaurus and Chaurus Reapers which is used to upgrade Falmer Weapons as well as Falmer Armor.
 * Gallus was able to read and write their language. This can be seen as Gallus's Encoded Journal is written in the Falmer Language.
 * If fighting the Falmer at low levels, (around lvl 7), the Chuarus in the caves will be replaced with frostbite spiders.
 * Falmer are considered to be one of the stronger enemies in the game, along with Wisp Mothers, Dragon Priests, Ancient Dragons, and Legendary Dragons.
 * Even though they are blind, if using Invisibility during combat and sneak, they will begin to search for whoever is around.
 * Despite their blindness, they are somehow able to accurately fire a bow.
 * Even though they are blind, they are still often seen with torches. This is prehaps for warmth.
 * In Dawnguard, they are nicknamed the Betrayed by the Snow Elves.

Bugs

 * Sometimes when encountering Falmer, they will appear tiny. They are of the same strength and the items will be of normal size in your inventory after you loot them.This can be observed in Nchuand-Zel by killing the Dwarven Centurion that is spawned when the defenses are activated before it kills the Falmer. It is possible the tiny Falmer were added to make the Centurion look bigger.
 * Also in Nchuand-Zel, when killing a Falmer, it may just stand there but still make the movement like they walk. When hitting them again, there will be added some blood spatters on them, but one won't be able to get them down on the ground or loot them.