The creature

Researching in Calcelmo's Dwemer museum



By Akatosh!Never before have I seen such an abomination! This vile creature had skin pale as a corpse, mere slits for a nose, lacked any eyes whatsoever, and yet somehow it was fully aware of my presence. It leaped at me as I attempted to burn it to a crisp, but I was shocked to see that it had little effect at all. The creature then hacked at me with its axe, nearly killing me in a single blow! I had no choice but to leave my expedition behind, and run for my dear life. I was not willing to die here, not now I finally have the chance to learn more about the Dwemer. And so I quickly turned and ran, leaving the vile creature behind me inside the ruins. I reported my exploits to Calcelmo who gave me the key to his Dwemer museum, as promised for slaying Nihme.When I told him of my encounter, he said that I had likely seen a Falmer, another old and almost mythical race of Mer. That explains why it had long ears similar to mine and my kin's...Calcelmo then told me that his museum also contains information about the Falmer, and advised me to look there. Heeding his advice, I headed over to the museum, eager to see the scholar's collection of Dwemeri artefacts, and to learn more of my new foes. But despite the wonderful specimens on display, I could not focus on them. I had to know more about the creature that nearly killed me, that Falmer. I had to know what could have caused members of my kin to fall into such a savage, primitive state. And Calcelmo's books gave me the horrible answers.Long, long ago, before the ages of Man, before the legendary Ysgramor and his Five Hundred Companions came to Skyrim, this region was inhabited by the Falmer above ground, and the Dwemer deep below. When Ysgramor came, he waged a bloody war upon the Falmer, eventually driving them from their homelands. The Falmer had no choice but to seek refuge with their Meri brethren deep underground. They were welcomed, but their Dwemeri brothers did not trust them. The Falmer were forced to eat toxic mushrooms that rendered them blind, and helpless. They were then enslaved by the ones who were supposed to save them, and the toxic mushrooms were made an essential part of their diet, blinding the Falmer and their offspring for ever.Their enslavement continued for a long time, but as with all stories of enslavement, it is thought that they eventually rebelled against their cruel oppressors. The Falmer likely fought a long battle against their slavers, killing many on both sides, until one day they were about to meet their foes for another fight, only to find that the Dwemer had disappeared. Scholars (and now, I) think that the now hate-filled Falmer have been reproducing ever since, populating many of the underground ruins below the surface of Skyrim, and may one day rise to fight against whoever dwells above, to earn their place in the sun once more....It seems that the Dwemer were far more cruel than I ever suspected. What they have done to the Falmer when their brothers needed their help the most is beyond words. Should the scholars' prediction come true, the Dwemer's actions may result in another bloody conflict. But even if that will not happen, I can still expect to see many more of these creatures whenever I venture underground, and as I am now, I stand no chance against them.I foresee long and harsh days ahead of me...