Breton

The manmer, or half elves, of High Rock are known as Bretons. They are the descendants of Aldmeri rulers and Nedic slaves, who eventually came to rule over the feudal society.

Further information on Bretons: UESP Wiki Article

Overview

Bretons are the human descendants of the Aldmeri-Nedic Manmer of the Merethic Era and are now the inhabitants of the province of High Rock. They are united in culture and language, even though they are divided politically, for High Rock is a fractious region. Bretons make up the peasantry, soldiery, and magical elite of the feudal kingdoms that compete for power. Many are capable mages with innate resistance to magicka. They are known for a proficiency in abstract thinking and unique customs. Bretons appear, by and large, much like other pale-skinned humans. They are usually slight of build and not as muscular as Nords or Redguards. Their Elvish ancestry is usually only detectable upon a closer inspection of their eyebrows, ears, or high cheekbones, though many individual Bretons appear to be more Nordic or Imperial than anything else. The great diversity in their appearance is to be expected from their politically fractured society, though their clothes, accents, customs and names are fairly uniform.

Bretons are the descendants of either an Aldmeri-Nedic or Aldmeri-Atmoran hybrid race of the 1st Era and are consequently termed as 'the mongrel race of Tamriel'. Their elven blood is heavily diluted, due to their ancestors intermingling with the Nordic population in Skyrim and High Rock. Bretons are sometimes called "Manmeri" as a result of the interbreeding, literally translating to 'man-elf'. Although their Aldmeri ancestry is shadowed by their appearance, they still inherit the magical affinity of their elven blood. Their physical features resemble their Nedic ancestors, including their pale skin tone and the obvious physical resemblance to Imperials/Nords, but some still inherit the frail, sharp appearance of the elves, along with the arrogance, and some do have slight points in their ears.

Coupled Lineage

Bretons are sometimes referred to as the mongrel race of Tamriel, being neither elven, nor truly human. Sometimes, although usually only in a derogative manner, the Bretons are called Manmeri, literally 'man-elf', due to their history of crossbreeding. Their physical appearance is similar to their Nedic ancestors, giving them pale skin tones comparable to their Nord and Imperial cousins, along with the same range of hair color. Similar to the high elves, they maintain a slender form. This elven bloodline ensures that they are never quite as muscular as the other human races. A keen observer can also notice subtle elven lineaments, especially from their eyebrows, slightly pointed ears, and high cheekbones. Some Bretons even seem to adopt their elven arrogance, but paired with their human emotions, it usually comes off more graceful.

Curious and Inquisitive

Although their Aldmeri ancestry is diluted, which shows in their physical appearance, they remain as capable mages with a strong resistance to magic. They are intellectual purists, known for their aptitude in abstract thinking, and are naturally drawn towards careers that favor logic and ordered complexity. Bretons are known to be skilled in many fields.

Their friendly spirits and humorous demeanor lend themselves to writing, acting, and artistry. Their love of commerce leads them into banking, manufacturing, and trading, while their desire for order makes them well suited for the military and sailing.

A Struggle for Sovereignty

Breton society is divided into the the many different regions of High Rock. The feudal kingdoms compete for power and enforce the strict hierarchy that splits its people from peasants and the elite. Despite this obvious rivalry, the Bretons are united in their culture, accents, customs and language. Their villages are quaint, and although the architecture may change between the districts, they are usually functional in style and free of ornamentation.

Bretons compete with the Orsimer, with their great city of Orsinium and the many small orcish strongholds, as well as the barbaric reachmen.

Born for Adventure

Performing quests and services is a common way for Bretons to rise in the ranks of their society, which has created a unique form of enthusiasm. The younger Bretons are raised with a desire to find fortune and glory all over Tamriel.

Excellent Ambassadors

Many Bretons learn at an early age to get along with everyone, defusing hostility and finding common ground. As a race, they have elven grace without elven aloofness and human energy without human boorishness. They often make excellent ambassadors and go-betweens.

Breton Names

Bretons have both given names and family names.

Male Names

Andre, Barnard, Blaise, Brandon, Clinton, Colin, Davide, Delacourt, Emmanual, Francois, Gregory, Hannibal, Jean, Louis, Marc, Mathieu, Philip, Roland, Samuel, Timothy, Vincent

Female Names

Adeline, Alexia, Aren, Belle, Carena, Ciara, Dessire, Elain, Freyda, Gabrielle, Grace, Hester, Lexi, Maelle, Michelle, Nessa, Olivia, Pyn, Rianne, Saly, Sara, Taern, Veronica, Ysabeth, Zeli

Family Names

Ashton, Beaufort, Celata, Dufont, Edette, Franc, Galien, LaRouche, Merchad, Panoit, Ronise, Serene, Talbot, Varin, Zurric

Breton Traits

Your Breton character has certain characteristics in common with other Bretons.

General Traits

Trait	Value	Description
Attribute Score Increase	Intelligence +2 Personality +1	Your Intelligence score increases by 2, and your Personality score increases by 1.
Age	~150 years	Your elven lineage allows you to live slightly longer than your human counterparts.
Alignment	Neutral Good	Their feudal governments lend them a mix of freedoms and laws, depending on their station in life.
Size	Medium	Bretons take after their elven bloodlines and are typically more slender than your average human. They range from 5 to 6 feet tall.
Speed	30 ft.	Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Tool Proficiency	Artisan's Tools (alchemist supplies)	These special tools include the items needed to pursue a craft or trade. Proficiency with a set of artisan's tools lets you add your proficiency bonus to any ability checks you make using the tools in your craft. Each type of artisan's tools requires a separate proficiency.
Languages	Tamrielic & one other language	You can speak, read, and write Tamrielic and one other standard language of your choice.

Unique Traits

Trait	Effect
Breton Ancestry	You gain proficiency in Willpower saving throws and the Arcana skill. You also know one cantrip of your choice from the mage spell list. Intelligence is your spellcasting attribute for it.
Conjure Familiar	You know the find familiar spell and can cast it once with this trait. You regain the ability to cast it again when you finish a long rest.
Dragon Skin	Your skin thickens to become that of a dragon when harmed. When you are hit by an attack or targeted by the magic missile spell, you can use your reaction to cast the shield spell. Once you use this trait, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again.
Magic Resistance	You have a natural ability to ward off the hazardous effects of magic. Whenever you are affected by a spell that deals damage, the total damage is reduced by an amount equal to your proficiency bonus.