I've been trying to write a character history for a new game in Skyrim and I thought I'd make somebody with a reason to love the Empire, a wish to fufill the MQ, and yet hate the Emperor. Browsing through a brief history of the Empire I came across the Lariat family from High Rock, distant cousins of the Septims and Uriel IV was a member of this family.
His heir was later on prevented from taking office and instead was made king of Shornhelm in High Rock.

I was wondering however, is there any information about this family and the things that happened in Shornhelm since that date? I can't seem to find anything on TIL or UESP. It seems to me like these people would have a "natural" claim for the throne after the death of the Martin Septim, but nothing to suggest that they ever tried to take it. It would also seem to me, that because they claim to be descendants from the Septim family that the banning of Talos worship would be rather annoying to them, yet no mention of that either.

I can't really find much information about Shornhelm either, so I have no idea if it's a rich or poor place, small or large the lands surrounding it.

Searching for this information however I did start to wonder why High Rock is so peaceful to Titus Mede and his rule. I find this rather odd as well considering their history, so I was wondering if anybody out here could give me any more information about Shornhelm and the Lariat family in particulair or just more general information about the state of High Rock at this time.

Thanks in advance

Do you have Daggerfall in a working state? Seems like the simplest thing would be to go there.

I don't think there is more information than you've given. Believe all that stuff is Ted if I'm not mistaken and he's doing other things lately. I would think if any descendants of the Septim lineage were living, it would have come to light before now, especially since Elisif specifically says there are none in any outlying provinces during the Potema quest.

It's not in Daggerfall. That only covers the southern half of the province. The 3rd pocket guide says that Northpoint and Evermor took over their neighbours, so it's probably part of Northpoint and the Lariat family do not have much autonomy, unless Shornhelm has become independent since then. Given its northwestern position, I'd have thought it would have a rather 'pure' breton culture whatever that is (some sort of brythonic culture fit for the 2nd millenium?) and indeed Corpse Preparation says that they cremate their dead in the north, in the traditions of the witch kings and nomadic horseman (who, presumably are no longer around themselves), as opposed to in the south where an imperial burial is more common. Also, the 1st pocket guide (a long time ago, granted) says:

"In the richer, more urban centers of the Iliac Bay, it has been systematically organized along the hierarchical lines of the Mages Guild. Children are tested for their magical potential at an early age, and those who pass enter apprenticeship programs funded by the Guild itself, or through independent sponsorship. In more remote regions, such as Glenpoint and the Wrothgarian Mountains, witches and medicine men, barely distinguishable from Orcish shamans, hold sway over the superstitious peasants with feats of untutored, but often impressive, magical ability."

Perhaps Shornhelm is a city on the edge of one these remote regions. It's shown on the map in the 1st guide, but not the 3rd. They may joke about being one of the last outposts of their civilisation. A bit like Swansea, I suppose.

Bretons in general didn't seem that fond of the Septim dynasty, but they weren't as difficult as the eastern provinces and there seemed to be lots of cultural exchange between High Rock and the empire (look at the imperial towns in Morrowind). Some royals tried to break out of the empire in Daggerfall, but then they weren't the only ones with a brass god on their side.

Thanks for the info Nothing definitive, but it does give me plenty of room to imagine things for myself.