Reachmen

Reachmen, also known as Reachfolk or Forsworn by outsiders, are the indigenous human inhabitants of the Reach, a rugged, mountainous region in western Skyrim. They are depicted in The Elder Scrolls lore as the pre-Nordic inhabitants who resisted later Nordic colonization and imperial claims, and who continue to challenge outside rule through guerrilla warfare. In major games, they appear as opposition factions in the Reach, especially in and around Markarth, where they seek to reclaim control over the territory.

Culture and religion: Reachmen follow a nature-centered, animistic belief system that venerates land spirits and ancestral remembrance; they weave their own rituals and songs, and their religious leadership is often linked to Hagravens—witch-priests who command blood magic and manipulate the Forsworn. They organize into clans or warrens and are known for stealth, ambush tactics, and a deep knowledge of the Reach's terrain.

The Briar Heart ritual, in which a Forsworn leader grafts a briar heart, is a recurring element in their lore and in the Skyrim game; it symbolizes the reversal of enemy fates and the reaffirmation of sovereignty.

In popular culture within The Elder Scrolls, Reachmen are portrayed as a formidable, but regionally bound faction rather than a monolithic nation, with alliances and leadership shifting over time. They also appear in The Elder Scrolls Online as part of the Reach’s political landscape.