Been holding off on getting Skyrim, as I'm not yet done with New Vegas and was waiting for the price to come down (which it finally did with the Steam Summer Sale); also for there to be plenty of mods out there. So now I ask, as a player new to this game but not to the series: any suggestions for someone wanting to play a Dragonborn who is from distant, mysterious Akavir?

Here's my backstory/thought process, for those who care:
It all starts with the Nerevarine, who in my history was a Nord. (Nerevar was a "bold and direct" warrior-king, betrayed by witches and/or smooth-talkers; it seemed to fit.) Oblivion tells us that after the events of Morrowind, he went off to Akavir. "Now", two hundred years later, an outlander turns up in Skyrim to save it and the world: an actual Akaviri Dragonguard, not only Dragonborn but bearing the blood of the Nerevarine, bringing things full-circle.
(And for those who protest the Akaviri are snake-men, I'd say that the evidence of Pale Pass and Alduin's Wall puts the lie to that; even the lore acknowledges that the information on Akavir is hazy and possibly badly translated.)

So how do you suggest I go about making an Akaviri? I've already got the relevant equipment mods, but what about the character him or herself? (I'm leaning female, but not to any of the mods that would make her an airbrushed pinup. She's supposed to be badass, and pretty only as an afterthought.) Right now, I'm leaning toward Redguard for a standard race, and just ignoring any comments about Hammerfell etc in the intro; both the racial bonuses and powers, and the fact that the Ragada are Men not descended of the Atmor, seem to fit what I want to do with the character. But any ideas (or mods) on how to make the character look more, well, Asian?

Well, there were men in Tamriel, they're not denying that. But the Tseasci ate 'em, so...

A Redguard would probably be best if you can make her skin more brown than red, and give her narrower but not-quite-Asian eyes.

As noted, there's speculation that really means "subjugated", "enslaved", or "took their power." Darn Tsaesci verbs.

Starting to wonder how hard it would be to mod a unique race that's basically Altmer skin tones and Redguard everything else.

You could probably just take a Redguard and tweak her skin colour/eye colour so she looks more Asiatic.

Yeah, I'll give that a try first. Thanks.