Although the recent Elder Scrolls titles do indeed encompass vast landmasses populated with all sorts of creatures, peoples, and even extradimensional beings, getting lost in their respective settings can often cause one to forget the fact that we're only experiencing a bite-sized piece of Tamriel at a time. Of course, some of the earlier titles such as Arena or Daggerfall offer much larger slices of the world to explore, but it's been an awful long time since their heyday.
So it should go without saying that there are absolute droves of creatures and races that we've yet to properly meet. Or, at the very least, know precious little concerning. With The Elder Scrolls VI looming on the distant horizon, now's a good time to imagine and anticipate what strange new beings it might bring to our doorstep. Keep scrolling to check out ten races and creatures you might not have known existed in Tamriel.
10 Dragonlings
Dragonlings haven't appeared in an Elder Scrolls title since Daggerfall, though they do bear a passing reference in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, specifically in the text of a particular book entitled "There Be Dragons."
Ironically, the same book also implies that they have little in common with actual dragons, being "oversized lizards." They do however bear a suspicious likeness, both in appearance and their innate ability to breathe fire. Though their absence has been lengthy, their mention in Skyrim would imply they haven't been retconned out of the picture.
9 Wereboars
Yes, that's correct. Wereboars (or werepigs, if you're feeling cheeky) are a thing. In fact, the player can actually be infected with a form of lycanthropy that will result in them transforming into such a creature in Daggerfall.
Even more interesting is the fact that there is an incredibly wide array of alleged "were" varieties reported all across Tamriel. Werecrocodiles prowl the swamps of Black Marsh, while werevultures are said to inhabit Valenwood. There are even, humorously enough, whispered rumors of actual weresharks.
8 Lilmothiit
Precious little is known of the Lilmothiit, but the lack of established and grounded lore is perhaps what makes them such an exciting prospect. The Lilmothiit are a bestial race that, in much the same sense that the khajiit are cat-people, basically amount to fox-people.
What is known is that they certainly exist within the lore, at least bearing a mention in a couple of different editions of the "Pocket Guide to the Empire," specifically in those volumes dealing with Black Marsh, which was their homeland.
7 Orma
Perhaps the most poorly documented race featured on this list, the genesis, culture, and history of the Orma are almost entirely steeped in mystery. It is known that they were a tribal society of humans that lacked the power of sight, and that's if they had eyes at all.
As seems to be a running theme with many of these mysterious races and creatures, the Orma inhabited Black Marsh. There is one particular Orma woman, named Catchica, mentioned in the series of books entitled "2920, The Last Year of the First Era," but the practical entirety of their history is lost to time. For now, anyway.
6 Tsaesci
The Tsaesci have been described as either relatively normal humanoids or vampire snake people, depending on your preferred source. Hailing from the mystery-shrouded continent of Akavir, there's actually a surprising amount of lore available on them, despite the incredibly varying accounts depicting their physical appearance.
They've had no shortage of interaction with the races of Tamriel, having attempted to invade the continent. Some were actually integrated into Imperial society following their failure, and they're credited with heavily influencing if not outright founding both the Fighter's Guild and the Blades.
5 Sinistral Elves (Left-Handed Elves)
This ancient and once-mighty race of elves once commanded a very large and mighty Empire based in the land of Yokuda, where they warred bitterly with the ancestors of the Redguard (who were aptly named the Yokudans).
The Sinistral Elves found themselves on the losing side of that conflict, however, and were utterly defeated. Their homeland of Yokuda then sank into the ocean, and given that none of them have been seen since, it's largely assumed that all remnants of their once powerful race sank with it.
4 Imga
The Imga are a race of highly intelligent apes known to have originated in Valenwood. Being particularly impressed by the Altmer, they go to some lengths to emulate their culture, often to comical effect.
They often take shelter in old and abandoned human holdings. Ironically, they tend to regard humans as beneath them in terms of the civilized hierarchy. And no doubt to further emulate the high elves they so fondly regard, interact with them reproachfully, going so far as to feign offense at their "odious" smell.
3 Vermai
The Vermai are a strange form of lesser Daedra. They vaguely resemble the more well-known Hunger, but are at least somewhat more humanoid in terms of actual appearance, despite their apparent lack of eyes.
They haven't appeared outside of the Elder Scrolls spin-off titles Battlespire and Redguard, and could very well be considered non-canonical at this point. Regardless, their unsettling appearance would most definitely make for a ghastly and memorable encounter.
2 Maormer (Sea Elves)
The sea elves are perhaps the best known of the races and creatures featured on this list, thanks in no small part to their limited appearance in The Elder Scrolls Online. However, they've yet to appear in any of the main titles, and much of their culture is still largely unexplored.
They make their home on the island nation of Pyandonea, and as one might imagine, possess an uncanny affinity for naval exploits. They are warlike and have an earned reputation as raiders, and they entertain a particular grudge with their high elven Altmer cousins.
1 Sload
Though abhorrent and bestial in appearance, the Sload are quite an advanced race with a cunning intellect and a keen aptitude for magic, particularly that of necromancy. Though physically repugnant and sluggish, they're quite powerful and have posed a significant threat to the other races of Tamriel in ages past.
There's quite a bit to be learned of their culture and history, but they're perhaps best known as the engineers of the Thrassian plague, a deadly sickness that ravaged the other Tamrielic races in the first era. This event spurred a cooperative invasion of their island nation of Thras, during which it sunk into the sea. Though it is said to have risen since.