Hello everyone, I could use a bit of help with something.

I just started a new character who is a despicable person with the ambition to become a powerful mage. He is the ultimate sociopath, full of vanity, pride, and selfishness. As a good sociopath, he will manipulate and ruin anyone in his path if it will benefit him... likewise he will temporarily serve any master if it will so benefit him (though he is always in service of himself, whom he loves most in the universe). He wants to become a mage because he believes that all of the power in the universe lies not so much in material wealth (though that is still good to have), but in altering reality, controlling the elements, and mastering the arcane. He also, however, has a twinge of psychopathy as he actually enjoys to see people suffering and in pain when it is convenient (when he doesn't risk getting caught or exposed)... especially the innocent.

That said, it's obvious that this man will be absolutely disgusted in performing some of the goody-goody tasks that Jarl's would give him in order to be able to purchase a home in any hold. Unless you think that it would absolutely be in his character to do so (as a sociopath). If not, then what are the options for owning a home? I've read some really cool posts of people who have Rangers and Hunters that have occupied one of the many abandoned shacks in the wilderness. Can you store things in those shacks? Also, are there any Jarl's that have quests that may psychotic/sociopathic future dark wizard would actually enjoy to do? Any corrupt Jarl's that send you on corrupt quests who are a bit of psychopath's themselves? I'm just trying to make sure that I role-play this guy correctly.

Thanks,
Joe

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Category:Skyrim-Places-Safe - check here for safe locations, may I suggest Anise's Cabin (near Whiterun) as it fits your character quite well I think, enchanting and alchemy, safe storage and a bed.

hmmm, well you could justify the quest for farengar in whiterun to get the dragonstone by RPing along the lines of using whatever he wants you to do for your own evil ends, or that maybe he can unwittingly help you in your quest for absolute power by sharing important information with you? Jeez I'm bad at explaining things, let me clarify:
You could say that by helping Farengar, (although it goes against your characters RP) you're only doing it in order to learn more about the "Arcane Arts" and become more powerful, you couldnt care less about his "project"...

Then, when Irileth comes running about the dragon attack, from an evil perspective you could despise the fact that something exists that is more powerful than you, so you temporarily work with the soldiers of whiterun to neutralise the competition. Or something along those lines

After you kill the dragon and absorb its soul, you could say that your character thrives off the power he absorbs and hungers for more...

Once you return to the Jarl, you should be able to purchase Breezehome in Whiterun

Sorry it's not great, I've yet to try actual RP in this game

I think it would be in your best interest to manipulate the College of Winterhold and take the title of Arch-Mage for yourself (and of course his living quarters...)

Wow, all fabulous recommendations! Please, keep them coming. Muh hu hah hah hah!!!!

Right, I can see this as a possibility... only up to the point of obtaining the Shout and unlocking the potential of learning the other words of power something that few have. Though, I still wouldn't want to "help" his worthless citizens in their meaningless quests to obtain some form of superficial happiness for themselves. I'd rather kill them if I could do it without getting caught or reported to the guards. So, I'll definitely look at the suggestions of bobjim for a safehouse as well.

And, lil_rhys... of course, muh huh hah hah ha! This was definitely in the plans.