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StatueofYsgramor

The legendary Atmoran leader Ysgramor.

For the inhabitants of Atmora, see Atmorans.

Atmora, also known as Altmora or Elder Wood in Ehlnofex,[1][2][3] is a frozen continent located far to the north of Tamriel, across the Sea of Ghosts. It was home to a race of Men known as Atmorans around the Merethic Era.[4][5] Atmora was originally settled by Elves, as one of their kingdoms.[6] During Aldmeri rule over Atmora, the Atmorans took on worship of Orkey.[7] The continent would eventually be split into many pieces when Auriel could not save Atmora from the armies of Men.[8]

Climate

Expeditions to Atmora in the Third Era describe a place of permanent winter, with little life and no sign of human habitation.[5] Reports describing the climate before the freezing vary. The Songs of the Return series of books makes several mentions of "distant green summers"[9] and "chilling green shores."[10] Fragmentae Abyssum Hermaeus Morus refers to forests and streams and The Onus of the Oghma mentions marshes in Atmora. Other reports assert it was never a temperate place, and as such the early settlers were hunters with no knowledge of agriculture.[5]

Origins of Men

It is thought that the first pre-literate humans came to Tamriel from the continent of Atmora in the late Merethic Era.[2] It was not a single invasion, but a migration spanning over hundreds of years, giving birth to the Nords, Imperials, and Bretons.[4][5] The first of the human colonizers was the Atmoran hero Ysgramor and his Five Hundred Companions.[2]

Migration

Pre-Return events

Saarthal

The remains of Saarthal, an ancient Atmoran city in Skyrim built by Ysgramor.

Ysgramor gathered those who wished to leave Atmora due to the violent civil war. They sailed south and eventually the fleet landed at Hsaarik Head at the northern tip of Skyrim's Broken Cape. It was here they built the legendary city of Saarthal.[2][11]

Upon arrival in Tamriel, the Atmorans met and befriended the local Snow Elves. The Atmorans called the land "Mereth," in recognition of the vast number of Mer that lived there. The elves quickly took notice of the rate at which Man's population was growing, and soon realized that these Men were the first great threat to Elvish civilization on Tamriel.

The Snow Elves led raids throughout the settlements of Men that had come to Tamriel. Most of the Atmorans were hunted down and the city of Saarthal was burned to the ground. These events became known as the "Night of Tears." Ysgramor and his two sons, Yngol and Ylgar, survived and fled back to Atmora.[11][2]

Return

When Ysgramor and his sons returned to their homeland they discovered Atmora had developed into a peaceful land. They told stories of elven treachery and murders in Saarthal. This inspired men of Atmora to raise an army and avenge the fallen, claiming Mereth for themselves.

Ysgramor gathered an army known as the Five Hundred Companions and set sail from the southernmost city of Jylkurfyk to invade Tamriel, this became known as the Day of Final Passage.[12] When they arrived, they retook Saarthal[13] and waged a genocidal war against the Snow Elves and other Mer in Skyrim alike, and made possible the rise of Men, eventually establishing the First Empire.[14] This series of events gained the name of "The Return" and have since led to a strong hatred and prejudice between the races of Men and Mer.

High King Harald eventually relinquished all holdings in Atmora proclaiming the Nords and Atmorans were different people now, and that Skyrim was now an independent kingdom, while the Atmoran mercenaries in Skyrim thus returned to their homeland.[15][11]

Fate

Tiber Septim was the last purported immigrant from Atmora, who was said to have left the continent in his youth during the Second Era.[16] However, given that the last recorded wave of migration took place in 1E 68, the accuracy of this is questionable.[5]

It is unknown what exactly caused the climate to deteriorate so drastically. The Atmorans that did not manage to flee most likely succumbed to the ever-worsening climate many centuries ago.[5]

According to the 36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 17, Vivec and Nerevar traveled to Atmora but found only frozen bearded kings.[17]

Fauna

According to Nord legend, bears originated from Atmora, leading some Nords to believe that the Psijic bear exemplars came from there.[18] Snow bears are said to have been brought from Atmora by Ysgramor, who deemed them the only worthy avatars of the ancient Nord bear totem.[19] The Atmoran Chub Loon is native to Atmora with a "length of two warriors and a squawk that starts avalanches".[20] The Atmoran Bantam Guar is a cold-blooded reptile with icy blue eyes.[21]

Locations

References

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