Valenwood & The Bosmer

• Posted by Joshua James January 23, 2012 - 489 views

  What do we know? Besides the obvious that it's homeland of the Wood Elves and is essentially one giant forest / jungle. The Bosmer have suffered at the hands of the Altmer and Khajit but with the Aldmeri Dominion it appears that they have found their strength again. From Dances with Fire, which I honestly don't take as being a completely realistic look at Valenwood, gives some information that I take with a lot of salt. Maybe it's just me.

  I didn't play Arena but it's mentioned that you can visit Valenwood while looking for a sword. Besides that, the Valenwood mod from Oblivion and the lore there isn't much. The Bosmer are obviously a very diverse culture like the others in Skyrim but I can imagine that they are a much more natural, rustic and traditional people overall. Not as fantastical or perfect as let's say the Silvan Elves of Lothlorien and Mirkwood (LOTR) and definitely more rugged. But still I definitely see the Bosmer and Valenwood as being very mystical and naturalistic. Their architecture includes both natural objects like trees, flowers, etc. and unnatural materials like stone. They even have Falinesti which is a giant walking tree city. In a way they are a people at conflict not only with the Khajit and the rest of Tamriel (regardless of allegiances) but also themselves. Not all Wood Elves are rangers, warriors and mystics. You have beggars, scholars, bar keeps, traders, pirates, bandits, mercenaries and essentially anything and everything.

  But what about back in Valenwood? Maybe Sindathiel hates what his people have become. He stays out of the affairs of the rest of the world even with the Dragonborn discovered (Let's just say for fluff that he isn't the Dragonborn.) but he wants to return to the vast forests and jungles of Valenwood to die in his homeland. To protect the natural way of life from encroachment?

  I have to say the one interesting thing about TES is how they portray the Mer. Elves are entirely capable of hatred, mistakes, fear and evil just like anything else. I do love the Elves in Middle-Earth and I hate their passing, even though it's essentially vital that they do, but its interesting to have a setting with less "perfect" elves.