Summary
The Elder Scrollsgames come with a robust character creator, and building a unique player character has always been a staple of the series. One of the many races that players can choose are Bosmer, or Wood Elves. Bosmer are natives to Valenwood, a region located in the south of Tamriel. At a glance, the Bosmer appear to be like stereotypical Wood Elves from other fantast properties: they live in the forests, are natural hunters and archers, and have a close connection to nature. However, the Wood Elves inThe Elder Scrollshave a more sinister nature that is rarely explored inThe Elder Scrollsgames, and only hinted at in in-game books and other materials.
The Bosmer have a Pact with the god of their forest, in which they promise to not consume any vegetation. This means theWood Elf diet in Valenwoodis purely meat-based. While this sounds fine on the surface, the Pact also demands they consume the bodies of their enemies, a practice which often leads to cannibalism. This is understandably a practice largely unknown outside of Valenwood, but should be explored inThe Elder Scrolls 6.
The Sinister Side of the Wood Elves of The Elder Scrolls
The Bosmer of Valenwood are known to be cannibals, particularly of their fallen enemies. This is one of the most controversial aspects ofThe Elder Scrolls, even in a world with murder cults. Cannibalism isn’t anything new toThe Elder Scrolls, and is explored inSkyrimduring theDaedric Prince Naemira’s quest The Taste of Death, where the Dragonborn encounters a cult of cannibals and can choose to become one.
Bosmer haven’t received the same amount of attention that otherraces inThe Elder Scrollshave received. The Wood Elves of Valenwood are very secretive, and the nature of their homeland means that it’s very difficult for outsiders to visit. With thick jungles and difficult terrain, it’s up to the Bosmer if they want others to see them.
Bosmer practice cannibalism because of the Green Pactwith their forest deity Y’ffre, which forbids them from eating any vegetable matter, or using vegetation in construction. The Pact also demands they consume a fallen enemy’s body within three days. This Pact only applies to vegetation grown within the forests of Valenwood, so using imported wood for building supplies is allowed, and the Bosmer do not generally practice cannibalism outside Valenwood.
Depicting the Bosmer in The Elder Scrolls 6
However, this aspect of their culture is never mentioned outside Valenwood and has the opportunity to be explored inThe Elder Scrolls 6, particularlyifThe Elder Scrolls 6is set in Hammerfell. With harsh landscapes such as jungles and a massive desert, Hammerfell should provide plenty of opportunity to create a scenario where cannibalism becomes an option for NPCs. This could be tied to Namira’s Daedric cult, or simply be a story where a Wood Elf saves their group of adventurers by encouraging their companions to engage in the practice alongside them.
Taboo topics such as cannibalism have become more acceptable in recent years thanks to video games likeBaldur’s Gate 3, where the Dark Urge storyline alluded to or referenced darker themes. Depicting such a dark theme doesn’t have to be there for the sake of being edgy or dark, but instead, be there for the purpose of making the Wood Elves more nuanced and interesting as a culture. To do so would also mean avoiding established cliches and insensitive tropes that could be harmful to real-life minorities.
