Morrowind
Having just started Morrowind, I haven't gotten very far with my character, so his story will be equally undeveloped.
Jak
Day 1
I found myself, head throbbing with pain, being woken up by a Dunmer prisoner on a ship. He commented that not even last night's storm could wake me, but judging by the splitting headache I had, I must've hit my head and been knocked out. A guard approaced and escorted me off the ship and into an Imperial building. I met a man with a stack of paperwork. He looked at me with kind eyes and asked me who I was. I opened my mouth to answer, but nothing came out - I had forgotten who I was. I tried to remember it, but winced as pain shot though my skull. He saw the lump on my head and understood immediately. "Well, you're a male Bosmer, that much I can tell. Let's see... ah, here we are. You must be... Jak." He raised his eyebrow at the unusual name. "It says here that you were a thief." He looked at me. "Well, that's probably why you were arrested. I suggest you don't try any of that here, though - folks up here don't take kindly to thieves." As he signed the papers, he suggested that I should write in a journal, because it might jog my memory. He handed the papers to me, to give to the man in the next building. He handed me 50 gold and a small dagger as well. "Good luck, and try not to get yourself killed!"
I walked into the next building, found the man, and gave him my papers. He glanced them over and nodded approvingly. "Okay, you're good to go." As I reached for the door handle to exit, he shouted after me "Wait!" I turned around and saw him holding out a package. "I was ordered to give this to you and have you deliver it to Caius Cosades." I asked him why, and he shrugged his shoulders - he didn't know why either. I took the package and asked where to find him; he suggested looking in Balmora and asking around. With the small amount of gold in my pocket, I went to the nearby store and purchased a journal and magical quill with which to write.
I am partway to Balmora as I write this. I am riding on, or rather in, this incredible insect-like creature. It moves slowly but surely, and the thick shell in which the rider's compartment is carved is solid and safe. I've glanced outside and seen quite a few nasty-looking creatures, so spending half of my gold was definitely worth it, since I would've spent more on health potions to walk here. The silt strider is moving gently along, and it's loud, almost anguished call is quite soothing, so I'll try to get some sleep on the rest of the trip.
Day 17
Much has happened since I last wrote in this journal. I've started forgetting some of it; I really need to write in here more often. I successfully delivered the package to Caius, who I must say is a bit of a character. Well into his 60s, he's a graying Imperial with a head for lore and the unusual habit of never, and I mean never, wearing a shirt. It's rather awkward talking to a middle-aged man with more muscles than I, but I digress. He suggested that I establish myself in the area a bit and get a place to stay, or at least enough money to afford a bed. I followed his advice and went to the Fighters Guild, who I did quite a few jobs for. On one of these jobs, I had to exit town and was nearly killed by a vicious Guar, due to my lack of armor and butterknife of a dagger. As I dragged myself back into town, bleeding, I knew that I needed to train and become stronger. I went into the basement and slept, but my sleep was interrupted by an assassin holding a dagger above his head. I rolled out of the way, grabbed my dagger, and dueled with him. I struck him many times ineffectually, his tough armor easily deflecting my blows. He struck me a few times, and I was still sore from the day before, but as he stepped forward, I slammed the bedroom door in his face, then swung it open and pounced on him. I grappled with him and managed to stab him in the neck, killing him. As I inspected his body, I took off his armor and tried it on just for kicks. Surprisingly, because he was elven and roughly my size, the armor fit quite well. I ended up keeping it, because I knew that I needed it a whole lot more than he did. I also took his Steel Shortsword, as it was much better than my dagger.
The next day, I discovered that the Fighters Guild couldn't train me, because I specialized in Light Armor and Short Blade, skills that they didn't train. I heard rumors that some in the shadier part of town could train me, and I discovered the rumor to be true. However, I somehow found myself recruited into the Thieves Guild. I ended up doing a few missions for them, which paid quite well; I felt bad about it, but I was a natural - it seems I really was a thief before my incarceration. During a mission, I discovered the body of a certain Mr. Raven Hlaalo, and I dropped everything else in order to find out whodunit. I quickly found out that it was a Cammona Tong member (a faction that I thoroughly dislike, because of their racism) who I promptly talked into attacking me and ran him through with my sword. I talked to a member of House Hlaalu, and as a reward, I was given the house, as Mr. Hlaalo had no benefactors and wouldn't exactly be needing his house anymore. I'm running out of candlelight, so I will have to go to sleep and finish writing tomorrow.
Oblivion
I never go around to creating a back story for either of my characters, mostly because it never ocurred to me to do so. Oh well.
Skyrim
I did, however, create a back story for my main character in Skyrim. This is my first back story, so if it sucks I apologize in advance.
Eriador
The Story Begins...
Eriador was born in Valenwood in 4E 148 and was raised in the major city of Arenthia, near the border to Cyrodiil. At a young age, he showed an aptitude for Illusion spells; he could muffle his footsteps at the age of 6, turn invisible at 12, and frenzy even the strongest of foes at 14. He grew up with a lust for knowledge, and when the local Mages could teach him no more, he set off for the Imperial City. He joined the Synod and the College of Whispers and ran a bookstore for many years. However, in 4E 174, the Thalmor sacked the Imperial City. After they killed his assistant and burned his store (as well as all of his research), he exacted his revenge by killing over a dozen Thalmor soldiers as well as a few Thalmor captains before fleeing the city.
No longer welcome in his Thalmor-controlled homeland and with nothing for him elsewhere, he had no choice but to go into hiding within Cyrodiil. He changed his name to Rindir and carefully created his new identity. He severed all ties with magicka to keep his identity secret. For nearly twenty-seven years, he lived a quiet life in Skingrad, an alchemist by day and an avid researcher by night. He joined the local Fighters Guild to learn more about fighting with the blade, but he hid his talents so as not to draw attention to himself. He made a point of silently killing any Thalmor agent that dared to venture into the West Weald.
In the dead of night on the 5th day of Sun’s Dusk, he awoke to see a Thalmor agent standing over him, a knife held above his head. Rindir muttered a quick Calm charm, then pulled a knife out from under his pillow and killed the assassin. Realizing that his cover had been blown, he quickly fled to Bruma. After hiding out there for a few weeks, he decided that Cyrodiil was no longer safe and that he was better off going all the way into Skyrim. He changed his name to Ajax, and at the end of the year 4E 200, he crossed the border, on his way to Whiterun and a new beginning.
Skyrim
As per his lust for knowledge, he is trying to collect every Daedric artifact, as well as every Word of Power. In his past, he dedicated most of his time to researching souls, and Dragon Souls in particular. He discovered the secret to absorbing them - by turning part of his own mind into a soul gem, a feat that can be accomplished by only the strongest of minds and by those born with the power. Combined with his quick learning of the Thu'um, many people think he's a Dovahkiin. Perhaps he really is...
When he's not collecting, he likes to read the library of books he's collected while sitting in front of the fire, as well as rearranging the countless unique items and artifacts he's uncovered. He likes Breezehome the best, but he's taken a liking to the bookshelves and dedicated armory in Vlindrel Hall.
After slaying Alduin and working with all of the factions (see below), Eriador explored the land, by horse and by foot. After starting to settle down after building a home, he was once again called to action, to save the world from the threat of Hermaeus Mora's treacherous servant, Miraak. After eliminating the threat, he helped bring Raven Rock, the hapless mining colony, back on its feet. He was last seen wandering the Ash Wastes, although rumor has it that he will disappear into retirement, after over two years of adventuring. However, if the world needs him once more, he may return.
Experience with Factions
| • |
Naturally, anyone seeking knowledge in Skyrim would join the College of Winterhold. He thoroughly enjoyed slaying Ancano, although he wished he could've saved the Arch Mage's life. He is good friends with Urag gro-Shub and Drevis Neloren, and any research not done on the field is done at the College. |
| • |
Intrigued by tales of lycanthropy, he joined the Companions. He found more than he bargained for, though. He found an honorable organization of noble warriors, people who he could trust with his life. He found lycanthropy, of course. Above all, he found love. He fell in love with and has married Aela the Huntress. |
| • |
As a lot of his killings involved stealth, he decided to try joining the Dark Brotherhood. At first, their cause seemed cruel yet noble, but the organization quickly revealed itself as ignoble and shameless, an evil band of mercenaries who murder for the sake of death. After being forced to kill the puppet of an Emperor, he killed the person who gave him the contract and abandoned the organization forever. |
| • |
Frustrated with the previous failure, he instead joined the Thieves Guild. At least this criminal society was honest about their actions rather than hiding behind religious dogma. Their work isn't honest, but he did learn a lot. He learned how to pick locks, pick pockets, and pick strategies. He learned, on a whole new level, the importance of why - why do what you do, and why that way? He may not have done the purest of actions within the Guild, but he felt it was justified because it was done for the sake of knowledge. Of course, the Skeleton Key was a nice bonus. |
| • |
On a whim, he joined the Bard's College. It was intriguing to discover the secret of King Olaf, but there was little else to do. |
| • |
The Skyrim Civil War presented a great opportunity for revenge against the Thalmor. He joined the Stormcloaks, but it was not an easy decision. He fully supports the idea of the Empire, and sees it as necessary for political unity. However, they had acquiesced to the Thalmor once, and they were bound to do it again. The Stormcloaks could fight off the Empire and with them the Thalmor, and after catching their breath could bring the fight to the imperialistic High Elves. The point wasn't to get Ulfric Stormcloak into power, since odds are he'd be killed within the next few years (possibly by Eriador's own hand). The point was to give the people a person to lead them, to unite them to drive off the great evil of the Thalmor. Skyrim's uprising, combined with Hammerfell's, would eradicate any faith that the Empire made the right choice and possibly drive the provinces to join and bring the fight to the Thalmor. It would cause some disunity, but it would not disassemble the Empire, and it would lead to the eradication of one of the greatest evils to rule the land. |
Religious Beliefs
As a scholar, he has little time for religion. That is not to say he dislikes the Gods - he just focuses his energy elsewhere.
As far as the Ae'dra, he follows the pantheon of the Nine Divines. He does not actively worship any gods, but if he did, he'd worship Julianos. He highly respects Mara.
As far as the Daedra, he's wise enough to know not to follow them. He, like other scholars, is interested in Hermaeus Mora, but he wouldn't want to be stuck in Apocrypha for eternity. His favorite Daedra is by far Sheogorath, and he makes a point of exclusively eating cheese on his Summoning Day, the 2nd day of Sun's Dawn. Eriador also feels that he's one of the very few mortals that can understand Sheogorath, although Sheogorath might have simply tricked Eriador into thinking so...
Stat Card
4RK OL FIN QETHSEGOL PROD4
JAK FIN SAV3K ZOHUNG1R V3K ALDUIN
4RK ROK 1L KOS 1N F4L3L
NUZ ROK LOS FRON W4 P4 BRON
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