Hello Travelers. I started off playing Skyrim using a good two shoes, Nord Warrior, who was a descendent of my character who shares my namesake and also played a critical part in the Oblivion crisis, although he never fully took credit for the successes of his battles. I've played for about 60 hours, mostly exploring and getting the lay of the land. However I found my characters lack of motivation a bit annoying, sure I'll end up using him to complete the main quest but instead I decided to turn my attention to my first character for the PC edition of Skyrim and I must say that I have struck role playing gold with my current play through. Here's just a little walk through.....


Dont read if you dont really care
Crito Varo came to Skyrim as a fugitive. Not from the law, but from Bandit kings throughout the Jerall Mts who wanted his head on a platter. Even as a young page in the Chorrol town guard, Crito had been looking out for number one. As he rose through the ranks he ensured that his corrupt ties to the criminal world of Cyrodil remained close. He would often use these bandits to shake down townships that refused to abide by the county tax laws and profited greatly for many years. He was feared by the townsfolk and revered by the mauraders and bandits of the area. It was when he choose to break his ties and wipe out those who knew of his treachery in which he made his mistake. Crito led a raid on a bandit hideout just south of the Skyrim border, however Crito failed to realize that one of his own soldiers has also been affiliated with the bandit kings. Crito's raid was taken by surprise and was swiftly defeated. Crito managed to escape north to Skyrim where he was picked up by an Imperial patrol. Crito had used a bandit disguise to escape the battlefield and the guards refused his pleas that he was in fact the captain of the guard in Chorrol.

This backstory has provided me with a motive, a course of action and a nice set of goals to complete. After defeating the dragon for the Jarl and sweet talking his was into a posisition of power as Thane, Crito got to work teaming up with bandits in the area. I did this by adding myself to the bandit faction so that I could come and go into most bandit hideouts. For a few days I simply hunted and gathered a tribute to present to a chief who then granted me access to the Halted Stream Camp. He cited that although they had an excess of fur and meat, the lacked enough Ore to outfit the entire gang with weapons. Crito went to work organizing a triangle of trade between several bandit hideouts and using console commands and several follower mods he now has a formidable bandit army that is at his complete backing. Its a neat way of playing that encourages things that I really have not done up to this point, including crafting, hunting,archery, murder,theivery etc.

My goals for the future include playing the bandits against each other so that I can take over a fort for the imperial legion. The only thing stronger than my characters greed and treachery is his love and passion for his homeland. Before he abandons his bandit past he must first use them to attack the Thalmor. Also I would like to add an NPC that represents the soldier who double crossed Crito, the bandit king who is chasing Crito, and maybe workout some actual quests, scripting and ai that reflect the bandit triangle of trade.

So my question is this, other than the basic "I Sleep, I drink, I eat" principles of roleplay, how to you step into the shoes of your character?

I must say that is some very creative thinking the way you used the console commands to achieve your desired play style. Honestly I wish that sort of thing was in the game normally (kind of like it is in FO:NV). It would add a lot of depth to the game to have alternative courses of action like this.

Sadly I don't have anything much to contribute to your thread topic since I'm not very good with back-stories or really writing stories.

My backstory is not as quite in-depth as yours, but I will give it a shot for good faith.

Angbrar Hrekison was raised by a dwindling tribe of traditional Nordic warriors high in the mountains that border Skyrim. At a young age, Angbrar showed great potential as a swordsman, at one point single handidly fending off a small group of bandits in the night. As a grown man, Angbrar had become a valient example of the resolve of his tribe and tradition, becoming the near-Patriarch of his clan. During the earlier months of the cold winter Angbrar and a few of his tribesmen were ambushed by a unit of Imperial infantry while on a hunt. All of Angbrar's hunting companions were slain during the ensuing combat but Angbrar himself was knocked unconscious, a cheap shot from behind, by the hilt of an Imperial sword and taken prisoner. Shortly after, Angbrar awoke in the back of a wagon... And so the game begins.

D'jinn's character began with a desire to learn magic, and to find the College of Winterhold. How she got mixed up with the rebels in Helgen, she is not sure. The memories are fuzzy, but D'jinn does know that the night before was the first and only time she tried Skooma. She is young and rather oblivious to the conflict between the Empire and the Stormcloaks, or the reasoning behind it. She has done quests for both, since she is naive and easily swayed by the correct words. This brings D'jinn much confusion, she is not sure which side to support. In her travels, particularly in Windhelm, D'jinn has begun to greatly dislike Nords and their racism. D'jinn has decided she supports neither side, as both are full of problems. She wishes to see a world where all can live in harmony, man, elf, khajit or argonian. This is highly idealistic and will probably never happen, so D'jinn chooses to only watch out for herself. All races and factions have locks and pockets for her to pick, and gold for her to take as her own. Little else matters to D'jinn, so she finds herself a bit overwhelmed with responsibility and unsure of what to do when she finds out she is Dragonborn.

I am playinf as Nadrig, you can click on my siggy to read about him in my boog .

Rurn Masolaude had spent 10 years rotting in a Imperial prison before imperial officials decided to send him off to his execution. During his early years, Rurn grew up in a reclusive organization known as The Order of Weynad training in their 3 arts of conjurer, stealth, and heavy armor. His order betrayed by his leader and his family and friends killed by the imperials guard,Rurn spent most of his life in prison wanting vengeance against his former leader and any imperial bastards. With his unexpected freedom, Rurn goes into to the world to gain power for himself and serve out his vengence.

My name is Te'yka. I'm a Khajiit.

I was born near Windhelm...my father was a fisherman and a trader and we lived on the banks of the River Yorgrim. When I turned 14, I was given a cleaning job in the Palace of the Kings.

One day, while doing my chores in the Great hall, Ulric ordered his guard to bring me to his room...because, as he put it, he had "never had cat before". I was terrified. My friend was taken there once...and she said Ulric did cruel things to her...touched her...and...worse.

I was "escorted" to Ulric's chambers...and he...I won't talk about it here. But as he fell asleep I took the knife that was hidden in my clothes and stuck it in Ulric's leg. I ran from his room and hid in the castle for 2 days. I was eventually able to escape with the help of my friend Susanna the Wicked (I'm afraid for her safety) and ran from the castle back to my parent's house. When I got there, I saw several of Ulric's personal guards milling about what was left of my home. It had been burned to he ground. The dead bodies of my Dad and Mom were lying...bleeding and motionless...in the snow.

I ran as fast and as far as I could. It could have been days...maybe a week...but I was captured by a group of travelers...Bandits maybe? They sold me to a group of Orcs and I somehow ended up in he "possession" of the Forsworn. I'm not even going to tell you what those men did to me. I can't relive that again.

The Forsworn kept me tied up at night....but they got lazy one night and didn't tie the rope tight enough and I was able to sneak away.

I've been looking for Ulric ever since. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to slit his throat for what he did to me and for what he did to my family. I don't care about the civil war...I don't care about Talos or the Imperial Army. I'm going to find Ulric, cut off his....you know...and then slit his throat. And then I'm going to kill every Forsworn I can find.

After what I've been through...is it any wonder I want to kill?

Oh...I think I've found Ulric in a camp near Helgen. It's been awhile....and I've changed. I wonder if he'll recognize me. If not...I'll remind him just before I kill him.



+++edited because this was a copy and paste of an idea that I had. I have since changed the Race of my character..as well as a few details.+++

Movisa was the scion of House Indoril. Like all good daughters of the House, she was raised to become one of Almalexia's Handmaidens, a position even the Hands of Almalexia pined for. Whenever she gazes back to those days, a vague sent of exotic flowers, sunlight, and something alien, like sweet blood, wisps past her nose, as she remembers when she'd spend her days in the Goddess' private gardens with her sisters and cousins.

Taught the arts of the salon, the shrine, and the ways of the knife to both sevrve and protect her Mistress, her skills with the flute were only rivled by her talents in blades.... and beguiling the dead to do her bidding. That was more of a past-time of course, but like any decent Dunmer noblewoman, she only used the bodies of humans.

Sadly, her mistress was found dead. In Sotha Sil's city oddly enough, also dead much to her despair. Apparently, Nerevar, her ancestor reincarnated to pay their dues in full to Azura by ultimately ruining anything and everything that made the Indoril name one of magic and fear. Then came the Imperials. Then the Daedra. Then the Infernal City. Then the Red Year. Her entire life built upon centuries of devotion and study, was torn asunder in matter of decades.

Ever since the Red Year, Indoril has become a four letter word to say the least. When the Tribunal was reveled for what they were, and their non-existence leading to the destruction of Vvardenfell, their closest associates couldn't really expect better treatment, now could they? She didn't need to know the specifics. She hadn't seen her cousins in years. Chances are, they were mugged by angry peasants or slaves, or a combination thereof at some point. Made no difference to her. When your entire belief system and way of life is proven to be a lie, apathy has a terrible habit on wiggling its way into ones motives.

She and her family, the central house that could be called Indoril by blood, found closure in the arms of an obscure Ashlander clan. Well maybe, they could've been a troop of bandits. Any true Ashlander would make black Morrowind sand red with their blood. Still, she learned some things in those centuries like herb-lore, smelting and forging, along with an uncanny affinity for archery. She hated the callouses though. It was worth it when Elves launched themselves upon the camp.

To this day, she can't discern who what it was. No matter how many times she rubs her immaculate chin with those worn nails, nothing comes to mind. Again, they were Mer clearly. What breed however, well that's hard to guess. The camp was pitched near Skyrim's boarders, so maybe Falmer? No, impossible. They haven't been seen in ages. Plus, these elves radiated power and pride, even by Dunmer standards. Must've been Altmer. Effete fops. They also donned black robes and armor that shined like pale moonlight, so Thalmor then. That explains the strange glee she felt every time a High Elf fell or became a thrall by her hand. Still, she swears there were some other Dunmer among them.....

But I'm getting ahead of myself. What's important was that Movisa ran. She ran. She ran. She ran. A storm of red blood and fire roared behind her. Even she couldn't stand against it. As her parents, siblings, elders, and even children cried for Azura's terrible mercy, Boethiah's bloody hand, or Mephala's webs of shadow, all of the Daedra's ambiguous interventions, she fled to the steep mountains ahead of her. Her hands leave marks on the armrests when she things of this great shame. Her legs weren't hers she says. They had mind of their own then. Why else would a dark elf flee to the homeland of those vulgar brutes called men?

And of course, those vulgar brutes lived to her expectations.

At the very moment the harsh, clean air of Skyrim hit her face, she was ambushed by Imperial guards and stuffed into a cart filled with the things. One did catch her eye however. He was proud, grim, predatory even. Indignation flared in his eyes. He was also far better clothed than the other beasts..if you consider clean furs superior to dirty rags. Despite the clear boundaries, the legionaries treated him no better than a Khajiit. Politics was about she realized, and politics is her profession. You learn a few things when you must serve as the herald for a Goddess-Queen.

In time, after all those unimportant events like the journey, Helgen, the dragon, Movisa decided to use the political turmoil to her advantage. Her people, disfranchised they may be, and her house (or what's left of it) a pariah within pariahs, needed a home. Solstheim could barely feed a village and an outpost, not an entire nation, and how Windhelm treated her kin didn't even brush her standards. Plus, there is her own glory to worry about too. Handmaidens aren't born really. They're made, and its that reason why Indoril had always have a dearth of women. She's used to competition and impossible situations to say the least. Be it steel, spell, or shadow, Movisa will make the Indoril name one of regal terror once more. The Thu'um, the dragons, the Prophecy, much to the unfortunate chagrin of the Greybeards, is only a means to an end.

Here's mine...

Alvor Indalas was a Nord loyal to the Empire. He fought in the Battle of the Red Ring and struck down many Altmer. After their hard-earned victory, he was shocked and angered by the Empire agreeing to the Thalmor's conditions and ceding of Hammerfell. Alvor was proud and stubborn; even though the Empire had abandoned Hammerfell, he would not. He deserted the Legion and crossed into Hammerfell, joining the Forebears in their fight against the Thalmor. During a daring raid on a Thalmor camp, Alvor was injured terribly, ending his soldiering days. The nurse who tended to his wounds was a beautiful half-Redguard half-Imperial woman named Anora. A romance blossomed between them and Alvor helped her tend to the wounded since his injury prevented him from fighting anymore.

A year later, Alvor and Anora are married in Whiterun where Alvor has friends and family, wishing to escape the fighting and chaos of Hammerfell and seeking a safe place for their future family. They have two children, Nakota and Freya, but things took a turn for the worst when a rebellion began to develop in Skyrim. Looking for somewhere safe to raise their family, they returned to Hammerfell where they established themselves in Sentinel. With the war over and Sentinel untouched, it is an island of stability, peace and prosperity in Hammerfell. Life is good for many years as they raised their children as citizens of Hammerfell, but Alvor decided to take a short trip to Falkreath to visit old friends and fellow veterans from the war. He is captured as part of an Imperial raid on the tavern, suspecting Stormcloak activity. Instead, they learn that he deserted the Legion and is sentenced to death and executed.

Nakota Indalas, Alvor's son, is a capable Agent in the employ of King Daron of Sentinel. Outraged at his father's murder, he begged the King to let him go to Skyrim to avenge his father and monitor Imperial activity in the province rather than continuing the information-gathering mission in Bruma. The King gave in, and Nakota crossed into Skyrim from Cyrodiil, where he was ambushed and taken prisoner along with several Stormcloaks. He may not know it now, but his adventure is just beginning.



So yeah, my main character is a Hammerfell native who is spying on the Empire, the Stormcloaks and the Thalmor and trying to subvert these factions. He has no love for the Empire that capitulated to the Thalmor, nor does he love the racist Stormcloaks who have threatened all of Tamriel with their actions. He's in Skyrim to kill his father's murderers and to assess the situation in Skyrim.

I must say, that sounds very, very interesting.
I really wish i could do something similar. But alas, the "box" doesn't allow console commands.
But still, very good story and i would have a blast going through that myself.

Here is mine based on my latest character.

Sarek is an Altmer mage born in Cyrodiil who served as the court wizard In Chorral for 10 years. Unlike many Altmer, Sarek is sympathetic to the Empire, opposes the Thalmor regime, and believes all citizens of Tamriel should be free to worship what ever gods they choose Talos included. After serving as court wizard in Chorral for 10 years, Sarek decided to leave Chorral to make a pilgrimage to the College in Winterhold where he had hoped to further improve his knowledge of magic. On his way to Skyrim, Sarek was caught in the Imperial ambush that nabbed Ulfric Stormcloak and he was arrested though he had committed no crime. Initially the Imperials were not going to execute Sarek like they were planning with the rest of the prisoners, however during a brief meeting between General Tullius and Elenwen the Thalmor Ambassador near the entrance to Helgen those plans changed. Elenwen recognized Sarek on the cart among the prisoners and ordered Tullius to have him executed for his opposition to Thalmor rule, and lax views towards Talos worship. Unlike the horse thief Lokir who rode on the cart with him, Sarek was prepared to accept his fate at the hands of the headsman, but fate had different ideas.

An update to my character... In my latest block of playtime I saw my faithful Corsair friend cut down by Falmer in a cave I was clearing out for the safety of one of my bandit rings largest strongholds. Once again Crito managed to employ his greatest survival instincts and escape. Playing dead is dead in a roleplaying situation really adds to the tension! I ran to the stronghold to warn the others and try to employ a stronger group to attack the falmer hideout, when I arrived a dragon swooped out of the sky and picked up one of my archers who I had grown quite fond of taking on hunting expeditions. The dragon weakened the fort pretty severly. Crito may soon realize that there are enemies that are a greater threat to his success than the Thalmor...

That's a great potential segue into the MQ. I commend you sir.

Excellent story, TC!

My first character, a female Khajiit Warrior named Gi'Anna, is also a noble and heroic adventurer. But her backstory hasn't motivated me to keep playing as her. She's fun and I love the Khajiit to death, but then I came up with my second character...

Arkved, male Altmer Mage. He has been a blast to play as.

200 years ago the Champion of Cyrodiil, a Dunmer Thief named Kilik D'Arth, went on a quest for the Daedric prince Vaermina. He traveled to Arkved's Tower to retrieve Vaermina's Orb. When he learned of Arkved's fate to suffer an eternal slumber in nightmare, he killed Arkved out of compassion. Kilik took Arkved's white robes and enchanted then with light, naming them Arkved's Light. Kilik intended to find a way to Arkved in Vaermina's realm of Quagmire, where Arkved was trapped. Sadly, he never made his way to Arkved to give him the enchanted robes, designed to give Arkved light and some comfort in the dark and terrible nightmare world.

In the years since, a small group of Mages of all magical disciplines started the Order of Arkved's Light. Their goal is to find the white robes that are known as Arkved's Light. The Order believes that Arkved used the robes before they were enchanted to travel through the planes of Oblivion, and that the robes are still imbued with the magic and power of Oblivion. An Altmer Mage who showed promise with his magic joined the Order simply because he had no other direction in life. His family was dead and he took no interest in the political and social affairs of Tamriel. He was renamed Arkved by the leader of the Order, during a ceremony in Dark Fissure, their lair in Cyrodiil. Arkved is tasked with finding the robes, which are believed to be somewhere in Skyrim.

Since Arkved's arrival, he has unexpectedly found himself in the middle of a personal renaissance. Never one to care about politics or religion, he is now intrigued by the Divines, especially after a Shrine of Talos saved his life. He is now learning about the Civil War, and is struggling with the debate over the Imperial and Stormcloak conflict. Feeling no allegiance to the Aldmeri Dominion prior, he is also discovering more about Tamriel's history as well as his own race's history through reading. On top of it all, his magical abilities have exceeded even his own ambitions, and the knowledge that he is the Dragonborn has muddied his original intentions even further.

So yeah, that's my current character's roleplay. It's been the best so far out of all my characters in Oblivion and Fallout 3. I started some Fan Fiction about it in the Fan-Fic forum, but few views have put me off on continuing it. It's only one post so far anyway. For anyone interested, it's called The Order of Arkved's Light.

dude, you made you own fetch quests and modded the game to fit your particular story.

....i love you.

i did something similar with one of my characters in oblivion: i made a custom race that was just a bosmer with really bad racial disposition bonuses, RPing that he was the kind of miserable wretch that people just love to hate. i also did that so when he became a vampire, most people attacked me on sight forcing me into an isolated life. long story short, it was definitely the most memorable character i had played. i really need to upgrade my computer so i can pull off something similar in PC skyrim...

Everyone's stories are wonderful! This is inspiring me to make a new character with a story of himself!

Tell me what you think!

Havad Storm-Beard was the son of one of the most influential men in Bruma. The Count at the time of his childhood, would come to his father for almost everything, but mainly how to please the Nords who made up the majority of the population in Bruma. Havad's Clan members made up the soldiery and Guard force of Bruma, and his clan was renown for its warriors. Many citizens, from many different races came to train with the famous swordmasters of the Storm-Beards, Tolsky and Gourdan Storm-Beard, who were Havad's uncles. The influx of Elves, Bretons and Imperials through his home made Havad very tolerant of other races, and he was eager to learn from any man or mer who came in through the door.

Through Havad's early years, he became fast friends with Merard from the Mage's Guild, who began teaching him about different form of Magics, though Havad countinued to study the sword, he was still tormeted by his Nord playmates for playing with the squishy mages. His innocence did not last for long though. See, Havad grew up just after the Great War, and many of his friends were being taken, his dad never told him why, but Havad guessed it. The Storm-Beards had been worshiping Talos, and were well known to have ties to the Blades. One night the Thalmor became bold, and attacked his family home, killing his Uncle's and many of his friends. His father, mortally wounded told him to find Merard, and said that he would help Havad escape Bruma, and flee to Skyrim, where he could blend in.

Haha I want to finish but I'm too excited to play this character!

Yes I've heard of it, the art of roleplaying is almost as great if not on par with the art of watching tv. You should try writing a book or something.

Im Garin

Born for a mysterious cause walked along the road of warrior who became a thief after surviving Helgan.
Joined up with the companions into a new family. Joined the Circle to become a werewolf and wreck havoc upon the imperial towns and camps in order for the Stormcloak cause. Hunter by day werewolf by night and hunting all within my might. Aiding the Stromcloaks to defend Skyrim from the Imperials.
Taking over one town at a time. After taking a break from pilliaging Garin joins the Thieves Guild to progress the soloistic life of a werewolf. After a brief time of relieving people of their goods Garin decides to attack Whiterun at a full force destroying everything in his wake until he hit level 20 then Garin realized being a werewolf was phatetic and wouldnt get him any where. Now Garin must never return to Whiterun because he simply cant meet the gold required for his bounty and must sneak into his own house after a days work and a nights hunt.

After realizing Garin was short on gold Garin travled back to Riften to embrace his last option: to Rob every person in every town till he had enough gold to restart his life...

Days later Garin has finely had some gold and heads to Whiterun to gather with his brethren to find a cure for Kaldak.. after being dispatched Garin returns to more bad luck. After annilihateing the silver hand groups Garin returns to lead the companions to furture expand his faction.

Garin heads to the thundra and enters the town of down(somethin) to kill an invading dragon and relieving the toen from its curse Garin heads back to Riften to take a break from the bad luck that has decended upon him since his escape from Halgen. Only time will tell what will happen next or i can just bore you and tell yah what happens later but till then may the mercenary rest because time for action will come running down to his doorstep and thats when the conquest of Skyrim begins...

People want a challenge in Skyrim? Try and do what this guy does and live as an NPC.

http://livinginoblivion.wordpress.com/