The Complete History and Lore of the Elder Scrolls

The Merethic Era

 The Merethic Era (or "Era of Elves" in Nordic) is colloquially known as the Mythic Era by the Cyrodiilic native language and is the Merithic Era. It is the period of time directly following the Dawn Era, in which time was nonlinear. During which the Aedra and Ehlnofey created the realms Mundus and Aetherius and the Daedra created realms within themselves. The Merethic Era was thought of by early Nord scholars to be a series of years in reverse chronological order, beginning with ME 2500 and counting down with each passing year. The Camoran Dynasty in the Bosmer (Wood Elf) native home of Valenwood, which was recorded as Year Zero of the First Era.

 The prehistoric events of the Merethic Era were consolidated by Aldmeri and Nedic scholars, but were usually logged using their traditional Nordic Merethic dates.

 The earliest Merethic date specified by King Harald's Nordic scholars in Skyrim during the first era was ME 2500, the Nordic reckoning of the first year of linear time. As such, the Merethic Era went on from ME 2500 to ME 1 - the year predating the founding of the Camoran dynasty and construction of the White-Gold Tower as an independent city-state of the Ayleid in Cyrodiil.

 The first year of the Merethic Era was ME 2500 and is deemed the first year of time on Nirn. At the beginning of the Merethic Era, the endemic Betmer, or beast-peoples, of Tamriel - primogenitor of the modern Khajiit, modern Argonian, modern Sload, modern Dreugh and other beast-peoples, some gone by the end of the Third Era, or so shy or rare that they are barely detected by the other inhabitants of Tamriel, dwelling in preliterate villages through the vast continent of Tamriel. Sometime during this era, or quite possible the Dawn Era, Cyrodiil's Runestones were built.

 However, Oblivion began to trouble the residents of Nirn. Mostly, the Daedric Princes were fond of their current arrangement, as they always had worshippers and playthings at their fingertips. At the same time, however, they occasionally looked upon Nirn and Mundus as a whole with malice, despite looking upon mortals as feeble and weak, their ambitions were far more surprising and entertaining than that of the Lesser Daedra. And so the Daedric Princes courted and seduced certain individuals of the mortal races, specifically the passionate and powerful. It granted them special pleasure to take away from Lorkhan and the Aedra the most powerful mortals.

 In the aftermath of the war, the Mer retained their ancient knowings, but the Nedes (Men) were more numerous and toughened by their requirments to survive. The war between Ehlnofey reshaped the surface of Nirn into the continents we know today: Tamriel, Akavir, Atmora, and Yokuda. The Merish realm, although destroyed, became Tamriel.

 The Dragon Cult was formed, with a multitude of leaders known now as Dragon Priests. These Dragon Priests were stationed throughout Skyrim and Solstheim. The Dragon Cult was made up of the most ardent followers of the dragons, who, at the time, ruled over Skyrim.

The first settlements were spread out in wide sections on the coasts of Tamriel. The Aldmeri first settled in the Summerset Isles, then began spreading eastward throughout the entire continent. After a while, inland settlements were established in lowland areas with fertile soil in the Southwest and Central Tamriel. Early Aldmer society was agricultural and politically egalitarian and founded a system of ancestor worship. Wherever and whenever the Betmer encountered the Aldmer, who were more sophisticated and literate, they were moved to the jungles, marshes, mountains, and wastelands.

Gradually, as society spread, social stratification increased. A hierarchy began forming, which is still enforced in the Summerset Isles in the Fourth Era. The religion of people also shifted because of this shift in society. No more did the Aldmer worship their own ancestors, but the ancestors of their "betters." Auri-El, Trinimac, and Phynaster are among the ancestor spirits who became gods.