Hi guys,

I am creating a new character for Skyrim, and in creating his background I thought I would come to the lore forums to get some input about some areas I am unsure about. If this is not the suitable forum, could a moderator please move it to Skyrim General.

My character's father was an Ashlander of the Urshilaku tribe. He met my character's mother, a lady of House Indoril, after her group had been attacked while making a pilgrimage to a holy site in the ashlands. To cut the story short, he escorted her back to her family lands and they fell in love along the way. Her family would not allow their marriage, so they decided to go back to the Urshilaku. The lady fell pregnant during this journey. While searching for the tribe in the ashlands, Red Mountain erupted. That was the day my character was born.

So far I am thinking of calling him Asharn Velothandoril, though I was also toying with the idea of calling him something that means born in fire (Molag** or **molag? Any ideas on this?)

Anyway, his parents fled with him back south to try and escape the horrors of the Red Year. They found some degree of safety until the Argonian invasion. They struggle to escape and spent a few years evading Argonian raids. Eventually they cross into Cyrodiil. They spend several years wandering Cyrodiil. During this time Asharn learns many of his parents' customs such as Ashlander customs from his father and House Dunmer traditions from his mother. When the Great War breaks out Asharn's father is killed by Altmer raiders, allowing Asharn and his mother to flee. They spend some time trying to evade the violence and decide where to go, slowly pushing north. They aim for Skyrim, but his mother does not make it, dying of a sickness. Eventually Asharn crosses into Skyrim and arrives in Falkreath, where he will live off the land and hire his services out as a mercenary.

Now I have some questions about my character.

1. He follows his father's traditions of ancestor worship and ashland customs. I am somewhat familiar with them, but could someone highlight a few things that would be focus points for his beliefs and attitudes. Bear in mind that he has been tempered by his mother's House dunmer ways, as well as his time exposed to Cyrodiilic culture, etc.

1. I am trying to figure out where he would stand on the civil war. He would have ashland tradition of despising the empire and wanting to overthrow it's yoke, yet he has spent time in the Empire and realises that not all was bad under the empire. Also, his tribe were the custodians of the Nerevarine Cult, and despite Imperial persecution of this cult it was ultimately the Empire that sent and released the Nerevarine to end the Blight.

Likewise, he would probably have cultural distrust and anger at Nords for their invasions, yet the Nords gave the Dunmer Solstheim and allowed refugees in. But now look at the plight of the Dunmer in Windhelm. Would he want to seek the oppression of the Stormcloak rebellion to try and free his fellow Dunmer by getting a new Jarl, etc? To complicate the mix is his worship of Boethia as one of the Ashlander ancestors. Boethia is the prince of unlawful overthrow of power, which would imply support for the rebellion. I think I could justify supporting either side, but want some thoughts about this.

1. What would Ashlanders think of things like werewolves. I know they abhor necromancers. They condemn Mabrigash and dark arts using sorcerers. But they are a very spiritual people. Would they accept werewolves as communing with the natural spirits of the land? Or would they reject this as worshipping one of the corners of the House of Trouble? In particular I am thinking Companions werewolves, as I feel the ‘tribelike’ nature of the companions would draw Asharn to it.

Long post, I know. Thanks for those that read through and give a response!