<P> The Elder Scrolls world is a high fantasy one, with influences from a multitude of cultures all over the globe . Like most works of high or epic fantasy, The Elder Scrolls games are typically serious in tone and epic in scope, dealing with themes of grand struggle against a supernatural or evil force . Many races exist in the world of The Elder Scrolls, some typical of high fantasy works, such as humans, orcs and elves; some atypical, such as the lizard - like Argonians and cat - like Khajiit; and some subversions, such as the extinct Dwemer, known colloquially as "dwarves," who follow the high fantasy stereotype of being subterranean, skilled metallurgists and masons, but are here a variety of elf . As is also typical in high fantasy works, magic and sorcery, mythical creatures, factions with their own political agendas, walled medieval cities and strongholds, and plot elements driven by prophecies and legends can be found in abundance as well . In accordance with many literary high fantasy works, the world of The Elder Scrolls is known for its attention to detail, including well - developed lore and back story . This includes a vast amount of information such as names, dates, and places that constitute its history and the interconnected structure of its various societies, cultures, and religions . Lore, including histories and legends, are contained in thousands of readable in - game books that are scattered throughout the game world . </P> <P> The Elder Scrolls games primarily take place on the continent of Tamriel, located on the world of Nirn . The exceptions are The Elder Scrolls Legends: Battlespire, which is set in a "slipstream" dimension found between the mortal plane of Mundus and the myriad otherworldly planes of Oblivion; portions of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, which venture into a particular Oblivion plane called the Deadlands, the realm of the Daedric Prince Mehrunes Dagon; the entirety of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion's expansion Shivering Isles, which takes place in the Oblivion plane The Shivering Isles, realm of the Daedric Prince of madness, Sheogorath; and a brief visit to the Oblivion plane of Soul Cairn during the Dawnguard DLC of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim; as well as the plane of Apocrypha during the Dragonborn DLC . The realm of Molag Bal, Coldharbour, also appears in The Elder Scrolls Online . Other continents exist on Nirn aside from Tamriel, such as Akavir, Yokuda, and Atmora, but none have been used as a setting for a game in the series . </P> <P> Tamriel itself is divided into nine provinces or regions, each of which is dominated by a distinct race: Black Marsh is home to the Argonians; Cyrodiil is home to the Imperials; Elsweyr is home to the Khajiit; Hammerfell is home to the Redguards; High Rock is home to the Bretons; Morrowind is home to the Dunmer, or Dark Elves; Skyrim is home to the Nords; Summerset Isle is home to the Altmer, or High Elves; and Valenwood is home to the Bosmer, or Wood Elves . A tenth race, the Orsimer, or Orcs, reside in settlements scattered across Tamriel and have unsuccessfully attempted on several occasions to establish their own homeland, Orsinium, in the mountains of High Rock . </P> <P> The major political power in Tamriel's history is the Septim Empire, or Third Empire, centered in Cyrodiil, which at one time or another controlled most of Tamriel's nine provinces . The Empire was founded by Tiber Septim (also known as Talos Stormcrown), who as a Dragonborn, had powerful magical abilities called Shouts . Tiber Septim conquered Tamriel and his dynasty ruled the Empire for several hundred years, at times prospering in peace and other times marred by civil wars and succession crises . During the Oblivion Crisis of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, a religious cult called The Mythic Dawn opened up dimensional gates to a Hell - like realm called The Deadlands and killed the Emperor Uriel Septim VII and his three sons . The Daedra, beings from the Planes of Oblivion, were eventually defeated, but the end of the Septim dynasty left a severely weakened Empire, which eventually erupted in civil war, allowing many Imperial provinces to break away . </P>

Where does each race come from in elder scrolls