Always an interesting topic to discuss. We probably all make up a reason in our minds, but give it out loud here.

My first character:
Corybantes - Dunmer Skirmisher (Bow, Light Armor, Sword and Shield)
After years of working as a mercenary in Morrowind and Cyrodiil, his mercenary group was jumped and slaughtered while on a caravan guarding job by bandits. He fought valiantly but was knocked over a small cliff by one of the caravan horses during the confusion. He was knocked out at the bottom and, after coming to, found his comrades dead and the caravan completely looted. Hearing of the civil war in Skyrim, he decided to venture north to see if there was any money to be made but was captured by the Imperials trying to cross the border.

Kjarl Green-Eye - Nord Raider (Bow, Heavy Armor, Two-Handed, Smithing)
His father served in the Great War and was killed in action. Kjarl had to become the man of the house at a young age and spent every moment he could spare watching the local soldiers train and practicing with the other children in the village. One day, after an extended hunting trip in southern Skyrim, he returned to find that the Imperials had killed or captured nearly everyone in the village for suspected Talos worship and aiding the Stormcloaks. He swore revenge on the Imperials, and more specifically the Thalmor who had been the accusers and went off to try and join the Stormcloaks himself. He was captured not far from where Ulfric's forces were and decided to join up with them immediately after.

Mine was a dunmer refugee. all there is to it.

I do what I want!

I won't be restrained by your arbitrary "borders," man.

Lyric, High Elf mage and part of an underground anti-Thalmor movement out of Summerset. They're not terribly organized, not like the Blades, but they try to send agents to other provinces all the same to undermine Thalmor presence. It's easier in the Imperial provinces, since the Thalmor don't have total control there; and sending a new inexperienced agent somewhere like Skyrim, about as far from the Thalmor center as possible, isn't so far fetched.

Think http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Rose, but in Tamriel and a little less non-violent. Composed of younger, more progressive minded students and thinkers who don't like what the Thalmor have done to their homeland.

To get to the other side

Nord Warrior - was following group of Stormcloaks hoping to join them after the Imperials kidnapped and murdered his brother. Got caught in the process.

Imperial Battle Mage - Was seeking rare artifacts and information about the Falmer for a high school science project for his daughter. Got caught in the process.

Khajiit Rogue - Was trying to find is cousin who was a traveling merchant in Skyrim so he could let him know that his wife back in Elsweyr was dead. Got caught in the process.

Breton Mage - Confused and absent minded she got lost trying to travel from the Imperial city to the College of Winterhold. Found some Stormcloaks and stopped to ask them directions. They got raided and ... you guessed it ... got caught in the process.

My buddy bet me I wouldn't walk there... I shoulda stayed at home...

I heard they had great Tequila...

Khajiit Agent - Aldmeri Dominion intelligence operative spotted and captured when imperials swooped on Ulfric's unit. Thalmor hosility explained by the fact they disavow any knowledge of the operation...


Elsweyr? - Where's Elsweyr? (Elsweyr broke up decades ago, it has reverted back to two seperate states, Anequina and Pellatine, which are client states of the Aldmeri Dominion (Thalmor) ;p)

You know someone really needs to make an updated Tamriel map. All the ones I find still have Morrowind whole.

My first character, a Nordic Imperial Soldier/Battlemage was trailing a Necromancer who slipped across the border from Cyrodiil into Skyrim. The Necromancer managed to evade the Imperial ambush but my character was caught in the ambush along with those Stormcloaks. I imagined the Necromancer to be the one at the Ritual Stone, so I killed him eventually.

My second character, a Dunmer Assassin, was once a member of the Dark Brotherhood but his entire Sanctuary in Morrowind was wiped out. He went to Skyrim when he found out that there are still surviving members of the Dark Brotherhood there.

My third character, a Nordic Barbarian and ex-Bandit chief, got usurped by one of his own bandits. The little bandit civil war destroyed most of the bandit group. For some time he lived in Morrowind near the border of Skyrim until he eventually decided to go and join the Stormcloak Rebellion. I imagined the bandits to have regained their power and have become the bandits at Mistwatch under the command of the usurper. I have not killed those bandits with this character yet.

My Nord warrior is an Imperial spy who went too deep under cover and about paid with his life. He found out that Ulfric was a Thalmor trator and was about to report back to the imperials when he got caught. He had been under cover for so long, most of the Imperial officers didn't even know who he was. Luckily for him, the dragon saved him from blowing his cover. Now he can go about quelling the Stormcloak rebellion and uniting Skyrim to destroy the Thalmor.

To get to the other side.

Name: Sevarn Tenabla
Born: 4E 171
Race: Argonian
six:Male

Beginning:

Sevarn was born on the Southern island of Argonian-occupied Morrowind to a famed Argonian mercenary and his Argonian mage wife. Feeling that Dunmer would attack, Sevarn's parents gathered their belongings and traveled the road for their mercenary work. From Morrowind to Cyrodiil to all over Tamriel, the group gathered followers and soon proved to be a successful group known for getting the job done. As Sevarn grew up, he learned from the various members of the group the many adventures they had previously gone on and the many sites they have seen. This, along with the monuments the group went through, filled young Sevarn's mind with countless ideas of what adventures he could go through. His father, a talented warrior, taught Sevarn the skills of the blade while his mother, a talented mage, taught him the many miracles of magic hidden in his blood. As Sevarn continued his voyage with his family, he honed his skills so much that everyone was amazed at how much he wielded both blade and magic. One person in the Imperial City even said, "That young man's skill is so great, I wonder if he isn't part Orc or Altmer!" While everyone was thinking of what he would do, Sevarn had vivid dreams, all repeating a single word. No one in the group knew what it meant but Sevarn would constantly remember it for years to come: Dovakiin.

The Young Argonian grows up:

Upon reaching 21 years of age, Sevarn's family had retired from the mercenary business. His parents had reached old age and couldn't continue after their last venture with a large group of Dunmer bandits. After saying their goodbyes and paying their appropriate dues, the group disbanded with each member going their separate ways. Sevarn went with his family back to the province of Morrowind where they settled into an old home they bought with their share of the gold. Sevarn spent a few months enjoying the sights of Morrowind but his parents knew that he was destined for great things and saw his yearning for adventure. Giving him some armor, a sword, gold, food, and potions, the family bid farewell to Sevarn as he went on a merchant ship. Sevarn had difficulty leaving his family but he knew that he had to get answers for what Dovakiin meant and see what other lands held for him. He said farewell to his family and went on the ship, his young heart filled with wonder at would happen next.

Upon leaving the ship, Sevarn grew a reputation through every town he went through. His yearn for adventure had lead him to various lands and various journies. He once went toe to toe with a Frost Atornach and even managed to capture the attention of a Jarl. He was quite the friendly Argonian, his time socializing with the members of his group improving his personality. Not only being friendly, Sevarn was also known for his skills with weapons and magic, and his whimsical humor. He even named his signature move, "The Dovakiin Special." His time with the mercenaries created a colorful character. His skill and humor was so well known that some would say, "His wit is as sharp as his skill with a blade and can burn you as well as his fire." Sevarn would diffuse a situation as quickly as it began. "Sevarn could stop a group of bandits threatening a town or a drunken argument." While his wit was well known, Sevarn also received many friends who saw the same thing: Sevarn's desire to win the heart of a fair maiden. Though many couldn't look past his scaly skin, Sevarn would always flirt with the most attractive woman he could find, almost always finding disappointment in her rejection of him. Nevertheless, his journey for his significant other would continue. While he journeyed to many places, Sevarn looked at a map and saw one place he never went to, the one place that his group barely went to, the one place filled with enough hazards that regular men would give up but would provide greatness to anyone brave enough to venture into it: The Province of Skyrim

How the Argonian got where he is now:

Sevarn looked at the map and wondered how Skyrim would be like. As he gathered his belongings, he walked down the path to Skyrim and thought, "No one knows me there. I'll be an outsider yet it might provide another opportunity to prove my skills and wit. Who knows, I might even find a wife there." Sevarn continued down the path and went into a city. There he bought the passport that would enable him to enter Skyrim. As he held it in his hands, he said "Better not lose this. With prices going up, I'll need to pay an arm and a leg for another!"

Sevarn continued down his path where he noticed a crying woman nearby. As he went to help her, he noticed that she was a beautiful Dunmer woman. He thought, "A Dunmer!? Never thought I'd see one on the path to Skyrim. My parents did tell how the Dunmer enslaved us yet she doesn't seem so bad. Who knows, she is so beautiful that I may just find my true love." As Sevarn helped her up, he asked "Why are you crying?" The woman replied, "My family was murdered by bandits and I've lost everything. I can't handle it!" Sevarn, feeling pity for the woman, said, "I am going to Skyrim. I'd enjoy the company there." The woman looked happy and wiped her tears away. Sevarn helped her up and she said her name was Renia and would accompany him. Though he was cautious of accepting a Dunmer, he couldn't reject a beautiful woman, so Sevarn allowed the woman to accompany him and slightly flirted with her. Renia blushed a bit and flirted back. Sevarn noticed this and thought, "She can actually see past this scaly skin?! I'm must be lucky!" Sevarn and Renia continued for a few days and stopped at a small inn. There, Renia told her feelings to Sevarn and spent the night with him. As Sevarn woke up from bed, he thought,"What a great night. Who knew the Dunmer were that great in bed!" Before he could continue, he noticed Renia was gone. "Don't tell me she..." said Sevarn as he ran to his pack. He checked his pack and, aside from some gold and food, everything was just where he left it. Sevarn sighed and said, "That woman. I had hoped she wasn't a bandit but I guess she was too good to be true. As least nothing important was taken."

Sevarn gathered his things and continued onward towards Skyrim. As he passes the border, Sevarn was stopped by Imperial guards who said, "Stop right there Argonian! No one crosses the border illegally on my watch! Now show your passport or it's off to jail!" Sevarn confidently handed his passport to the guards who then looked at him angrily. "Do you take us as fools?! This is obviously a fake. You are clearly a Stormcloak spy and must die!" Sevarn looked at the passport and was shocked when he saw it was clearly forged. He thought, "That woman must have put a forged one and took mine after our night at the inn. It may seem normal at first but someone like an Imperial guard knows how to find fakes. I'm screwed now." As the guards placed handcuffs on Sevarn, they carried him off to a cell in a dank jail. As he sat in the jail, he wondered, "Is this truly the end of my journey? To think after all I've been through, I'll die because of a beautiful Dunmer woman. I swear I'll make her pay if I get out!" Much later, the guards came to his cell and said, "Time to go to your execution, traitor." As he was carried away, he thought to himself, "I hate Dunmers."

Pax Vesperis, a wood elf thief/dual wield berserker, my anti-hero

He was named Pax after one of his ancestors, a diplomat who had once brokered a peace treaty between several warring nation states that was still in place.

He was raised in a small Bosmer trading village in Hammerfall by a loving family that were well liked in the area. They were citizens of the world, spoke four languages and we're raising Pax for a life of travel, freedom and civilization. By age 10 Pax was trilingual and was skilled in acrobatics. The course of his life changed violently the day his village was raided by Nord and Khajit slave traders. He was forced to watch as his parents were executed and burned in a mass grave.

He worked as a slave for several companies, as a miner, a woodworker, and eventually as a house servant. He was sold several times for his violent misconduct both against his captors and pther slaves of Nord, Imperial, Redguard, and Bretonian descent. He eventually found himself in the employ of a Bretonian barrel merchant and his family.

The patriarch of this family was a drunk and a violent man, particularly against his wife and any slave that crossed his line of sight. His wife and daughter, both carrying bruises of their own, released their frustration and helplessness against their slaves, often ordering them to beat each other until the other was unconscious or dead.

After a particularly brutal beating at the hand of the Bretonian that cost Pax his left eye, he stole a crowbar from the barrel works killed the entire family. Covered in blood and frantic, he fled to the nearest border- Skyrim

I hear Skyrim's sweet-rolls were to die for...

Vaarg is basically a Nordic version of Conan. A hulking, warrior-thief. He basically wore out his welcome in other provinces and decided to come home upon word of the uprising.

Note: Canon Skyrim says that the CoC (PC from Oblivion) becomes Sheogorath. In my last run-thru of Oblivion, I didn't get around to Shivering Isles before the release of Skyrim. So while SI was done, it wasn't done by CoC. Amenia Left Cyrodiil for Summerset less than 6 months from the end of the Oblivion Crysis. She (and the Nerevarine) still live. Here's to hoping that Amenia doesn't find certain things out.....

Altmeri Female Amelia (calls herself Stormrunner because everyone else had similar descriptive names)
Born 4E 78 to Amenia, Champion of Cyrodiil and Countess Kvatch
Battlemage

She was exploring Pale Pass, looking at ruins for personal reasons, while on her way to the College of Winterhold. Neither the Stormcloaks nor the Legion were happy with her explanation.

I heard there were dragons coming...

He went on holiday to skyrim, but he forgot his passport.

My Character Robert Argenni, was an Imperial Spy under orders to observe the Stormcloaks and if possible infiltrate them for the Empire, he was just to arrive in Riften and make strategic contacts when he found himself extremely lucky to run across Ulfric, and then of course extremely unlucky to have found him just as the ambush was sprung, he didn't have any papers of course, nor any proof of his story.

Of course once he found out he was Dragonborn, he decided that his talents would be better used to defeat the Stormcloaks and save Skyrim rather than skulking about with the Thieves Guild. I played on the Stormcloak's side until we took the Jagged Crown, which I then promptly delivered to General Tullius.

Bosmer Hunter; Upon seeing the Thalmor oppression he decided to see for himself why Talos was to be so feared that the worship of him needed to be outlawed. He was a bit naive when crossing the border as he thought that this simple story would be readily accepted.

Little did he realize what he stumbled into when he crossed the border and was accosted by the patrol.

Thalmor agent sent to help bolster the Stormcloak insurrection, weaken the empire, and divide up the powerblocs as much as possible in Skyrim, or become their leader myself!

Which would make sense, if you could keep the war going as long as possible as the acting Stormcloak leader. The Stormcloaks winning in abrupt fashion and asserting themselves in Skyrim, however, is not anything the Thalmor would enjoy They say as much.

Trying to find my sweet roll :*(