Men

The Men are the Humans of the Elder Scrolls Universe. They are native to Nirn.

"Men"
The term originated from human language. It is used to mean "them" or "us" - group of people. The term is analogous to word "Mer" in ancient |aldmeri tongue. Both of racial groups have come to calling each other by the names and don't find it offensive in any way and they have been seen to be refering to their own kind by the term as well. This is, probably, due to the fact that both groups share certain distrust for each other and arrogance to consider themselves better.

Origins
There is no known continent or a region on Nirn Men originated from. There are no known elven records on this subject and Men invented writing relatively late, meaning that there are no early records written anywhere.

Earliest records mentioning human races date mid-Merethic Era when nedes, human race native to now frozen Atmora, began migrating to northern Tamriel, region later named Skyrim. Most of human races now inhabiting Tamriel are known to be their descendants.

However, records of nedic sea voyages in late Merethic Era tell stories of "Entire kingdoms of men beyond their recognition, skin charred like overcooked meat." That means that previously mentioned Atmora isn't the real origins of humankind.

Moreover, there are stories of humans even on the mysterious continent of Akavir.

Some imperial scholars believe that men could share elven homeland of ehlnofay and have evolved from aldmer like modern elven races. However that is higly unlikely.

Description
The most significant difference between humans and elves is their lifespan. Unlike thousands of years long lifespans of elves human races can not live more that hundred years naturally and most die by ages of 60-80 years. However, men can reproduce much quicker than elves. Proper family no matter farmer or royality can have three or more kids without any problems, while for elves even two children is rarity. This is the reason humans seem so pest-like to elven kind.

It is very easy to tell men from mer visually as humans are taller and more muscular than most elves. Another easily noticable feature of elven kind is their pointy ears which men do not have. The only exeption for this are the orcs, who are very different from other elven races and resembles other races like goblins.

Another difference worth mentioning is that humans rely mostly on non-magical warfare. As they don't have the magical potency of elves. Only exeption for this would be mix of human and elven race - Bretons. Magic is considered tool of the weak and is mistrusted in most human cultures.

Nords
Nords, commonly known as Sky People, are tall and fair-haired humans from Skyrim who are known for their incredible resistance to cold and even magical frost. They are enthusiastic warriors, and act as soldiers and mercenaries all over Tamriel. Eager to augment their combat skills beyond the traditional methods of Skyrim, they excel in all manner of warfare. They thrive in the cold reminiscent of their native Atmora, and are known as a militant people by their neighbors. Nords are also natural seamen, and have benefited from nautical trade since their first migrations across the sea. They lead and crew the merchant fleets of many regions, and may be found all along Tamriel's coast.

Merethic Era
Nords, as their name implies, originated in the northern-most place in the known world, known as Atmora. The little known about the land comes from elder elvish records which are known to refer to the continent as Altmora, meaning "elder wood". It is likely that the word Atmora is derived from the elven term.

Even in ancient times, Atmora must have been extremely cold, at least as much as modern Skyrim, because the men who lived there are very well suited to live in cold climates. It is said that during the time of the migration, a protracted and bloody civil war had gripped Atmora, and, as the story goes, a man named Ysgramor rallied those people from all sides and set sail to the south, eventually arriving in Skyrim, the extreme northern tip of the continent of Tamriel, at a place known as "Hsaarik Head".

They named the new land Mereth in tribute to the elves who populated the continent (having settled most of Tamriel millennia earlier). Contrary to most stories, which erroneously credit Ysgramor with the first human settlement of Tamriel, he and his colonists were simply the latest of a long line of emigrants from Atmora. Indeed, the central continent was already populated by atmorans and indigenous men throughout. As it goes, elves and humans lived in relative peace and prosperity for a long time. Racial tensions between the two species gradually rose however and it wasn't long before conflict erupted between the nords and the snow elves.

The falmer saw that the vital young race would soon surpass their stagnant culture if left unchecked, and fell upon the unsuspecting Nords in the infamous Night of Tears. Saarthal was destroyed and only Ysgramor and two of his sons escaped to Atmora. It wasn't long before Ysgramor returned to Skyrim to execute his vengeance, bringing with him his famous five hundred companions. Upon their return to Tamriel, they expediently slaughtered the elves living there and began the process by which the elven population of Skyrim would be completely eliminated.

First Era
In 1E240 King Vrage the Gifted began the process of expansion that became known as the "Skyrim Conquests". These conquests culminated in the first empire of the nords. Within fifty years, Skyrim ruled all of northern Tamriel, including most of present-day High Rock and the whole of Morrowind. Some ambitious nord leaders considered attacking northern Cyrodiil, however the Jerall Mountains proved to be too much of a challenge, and northern Cyrodiil too poor of a prize. In the centuries that followed, Skyrim expanded and contracted as battles were won and lost.

In 1E 369 king Borgas, the last of the Ysgramor's line, was killed on the "Wild Hunt", starting the "War of Succession" in the region of Daggerfall and was the beginning of the decline of the Nordic Empire. When the ruling council or Moot was unable to choose the capable Jarl Hanse of Winterhold as the new king of Skyrim, the ensuing civil war tore the empire apart. The war ended in 1 E420 with the "Pact of Chieftains" and the empire lost all of its holdings in High Rock and Morrowind, and Skyrim was divided into several independent kingdoms.

Second Era
Skyrim was absorbed comparatively peacefully in the empire of Tiber Septim. Many Nords found employment in the Imperial Legion, as Tiber generally nurtured relations with the north.

Third Era
In the centuries after the empire's founding, Skyrim was drawn in several major conflicts. One of these was the War of the Red Diamond. Skyrim sided with Queen Potema against the Empire. The civil war tore the Empire apart and it would take seventeen long years before Potema was finally defeated. As a result of this war there is a strong underground movement called the Horme that believes Potema and her deposed son Uriel III to be the last of Tiber Septim's true blood and under that principle lead raids against imperial interests in the province. The kingdoms of Skyrim have started several wars to expand their territory, increasing the territory that is considered Skyrim, and allowing the nordic counts to swallow up many miles of eastern High Rock and Hammerfell.

Fourth Era
4E 201 —The High King of Skyrim is killed in a contest of arms by Ulfric Stormcloak, Jarl of Windhelm.
 * Using the Thu'um, Ulfric staggers the High King, and finishes him off with a stab to the chest.

4E 201 — The Nords of Skyrim engage in a Civil War.
 * Ulfric begins the Stormcloak rebellion in an attempt to take the throne of High King and secede from the Empire.
 * Ulfric is captured and sent to Helgen to be executed along with other rebels and two unrelated prisoners after a suprise ambush led by the Imperial General Tulllius.

4E 201 --- The Dragon Crisis Begins
 * Before Ulfric can be executed, the first dragon seen in centuries attacks and destroys the small outpost of Helgen, killing almost everyone inside with the exception of a small number of legionaries, stormcloaks and the Dragonborn.

Culture
The spiritual relationship between the Nords and breath, which is associated with the Sky Goddess Kyne, is also important. As Children of the Sky puts it:

Nords consider themselves to be the children of the sky. They call Skyrim the Throat of the World, because it is where the sky exhaled on the land and formed them. They see themselves as eternal outsiders and invaders, and even when they conquer and rule another people; they feel no kinship with them. The breath and the voice are the vital essence of a Nord. When they defeat great enemies they take their tongues as trophies. These are woven into ropes and can hold speech like an enchantment. The power of a Nord can be articulated into a shout, like the kiai of an Akaviri swordsman. The strongest of their warriors are called "Tongues." When the Nords attack a city, they take no siege engines or cavalry; the Tongues form in a wedge in front of the gatehouse, and draw in breath. When the leader lets it out in a kiai, the doors are blown in, and the axemen rush into the city. Shouts can be used to sharpen blades or to strike enemies. A common effect is the shout that knocks an enemy back, or the power of command. A strong Nord can instill bravery in men with his battle-cry, or stop a charging warrior with a roar. The greatest of the Nords can call to specific people over hundreds of miles, and can move by casting a shout, appearing where it lands.

The art of Thu'um as a weapon is now lost and forbidden. Apart from the students of the discredited School of Thu'um in the Imperial City, Tiber Septim was reputedly the last man to wield this power. However, the ancient Greybeards still sit atop the many steps leading to the peak of High Hrothgar, where the Nordic race was born.

Like most Tamrielic races, the religion of Skyrim is focused on the Aedra and their old ally, Lorkhan. Kyne is notably more assertive and warlike than the nature-loving Kynareth. Although Mara is present in her role as a mother goddess, it was Kyne who is the mother of the Nords. She is also credited with sending her son Morihaus (and perhaps Pelinal) to the aid of the Cyro-Nordic slaves in their uprising. The chief of the pantheon of Skyrim is Lorkhan, and he merits the most mention. The Nords know Shor as the king of the gods, a champion of men in their struggles against the elves. He was treacherously slain by elven devils, yet continues to bestow favor on his people by aiding them with immortal champions such as Ysmir, another member of the Nordic pantheon. Today, Ysmir is the name by which Nords recognize the divinity of Talos.

Also of note is that fact that certain Daedra, such as Hermaeus Mora, can be found in the Nordic pantheon.

The isolated tribe known as the Skaal follow a different form of faith to their mainland brethren. Instead of regular religious worship they venerate nature. They believe that certain parts of nature, such as the winds, the trees and the sun, were given to them by the All-Maker. In this regard, wolves and bears are especially sacred to the small tribe. All aspects of nature must constantly be in harmony, for this is what gives the Skaal their shamanic powers. This magic was given to them by the All-Maker, a benevolent, unknowable creator deity. Further research into their oral traditions has led to the conclusion that the All-Maker is their version of Alduin. The Skaal also tell tales of the Adversary, the enemy of mankind, and his lieutenant, the Greedy Man. As other tales show, the Greedy Man is none other than another incarnation of Lorkhan in a Nordic pantheon, yet cast in this case as a demon. In view of this, the Adversary is none other than the Padomay/Sithis of the north, which gives birth to Lorkhan in elven tales. Indeed, in this regard the faith of the Skaal is nearly the reverse of the pantheon of Skyrim. Although not worshiping them, the Skaal are also aware of the existence of the daedric princes.