** I have a few questions about lore (and some general questions) about a roleplay character that I am creating. Questions I need help with are listed below, with some background information. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. **

[WHAT I KNOW]
Name: Silvius Reginaldi (NOT SET IN STONE/SUGGESTIONS WELCOME)
Race: Imperial
Play Style: See Notes
Birth Date: 4E 181
Place of Birth: (?) Somewhere in Cyrodiil
Current Location: (?) Somewhere in Cyrodiil
Occupation: ??
Family: ??

[NOTES]
I'm planning on creating a roleplaying character for Skyrim that keeps a journal*. In my role-play, he won't be the Dova. Eventually he'll have his first kill and evolve into something else, but until that point, he's actually quite timid and non-violent, having not yet taken a life or having any formal training in combat.?? The events of Skyrim take place in 4E 201. The Aldmeri first entered Cyrodiil in 4E 172, and the war was over and the White Gold Concordat was signed by 4E 175. This means my character wasn't even born until 6 years after the Great War was over. He wasn't on Nirn at the same time as the battles. The only major event involving violence in Cyrodiil while my character was alive was the fighting between the two largest Skooma traffickers in Bravil, and at the time he was only 7 or so.

[QUESTIONS]
?Why would a young, non-violent wannabe scholar be crossing into Skyrim from Cyrodiil? Alone? Why would he be brave enough to do so/have the will to do so alone? What is his destination/goal? Is running away from something or towards something?

??Where in Cyrodiil could he be from that allowed him not to take a single life in is (20-something) years? What could he have been doing? Working on a secluded family farm? As we all know, a short walk in any direction from, well, anywhere in Oblivion usually resulted in some sort of skirmish.

?What is the state of Cyrodiil during this time?

*I want to create a story from a "personal journal" point of view. That's the end-goal of all of this. I want to keep in realistic to the TES universe and keep it lore-friendly, so I came here. I think it would be fun and challenging to develop a non-violent character into a (semi?) confident adventurer with some accomplishments under his belt, especially in the Elder Scrolls world.

Nibenay was devastated. Colovia's yer best bet.

Reasons aside, would it then make sense for my character to travel from either Chorrol or somewhere in the remote Colovian Highlands to Falkreath? It seems like it's the shortest possible path from western Cyrodiil across the border, which is ideal considering I don't want him going from the border and starting in somewhere like Windhelm. I wan't the story to start as close to home as possible.

Bruma, then. As I understand it, it was relatively untouched from the war.

I can think of several possible reasons for heading to Skyrim. Maybe he's an idealist and interested in going to a part of the world where the struggle between Thalmor and Empire is at least possible. Maybe simple economic opportunity. Maybe his girlfriend dumped him. What are you after?

Well, he's defiantly young (20) and naive. In the beginning, he's very short sighted. I want his intentions to be... maybe selfish? Is their anything in Falkreath that would lure in a selfish person?

Alternatively, Falkreath IS home to the Nord warrior graveyard. I think his lack of battle experience maybe glorified battle and warriors in his eyes, reflecting his naivety? A person DOES often desire what he can't have, or in this case, something he hasn't experienced. Maybe he's intrigued by the graveyard and wants to see it in the same way that people want to see the Vietnam Veteran Memorial Wall? The only loose end that remains in this scenario is, what could have happened in his life specifically, what EVENT drove him to risk crossing the border to see the gravesite? And what is his motivation to stay?

Before I say something stupid, which I'm apt to do, I want to say that I can't wait to read this journal should you post it on the forums. It'll be worth the read!

Reasons for the journey? Perhaps he's a scholar wishing to avoid the whole Synod/College of Whispers nonsense and heard that the College of Winterhold would be a good place to study and be away from everything. Perhaps he is simply stopping at Falkreath to gather provisions? Or maybe he's a bit more investigative and wishes to study the Dwemer of Skyrim? Perhaps the indigenious species that only Skryim has? Maybe in search of a special alchemical ingredient?

Maybe he's running away from the Thalmor/Empire conflict in the south? Perhaps he accidently murdered someone? Perhaps he was framed? Maybe he's haunted by something/one and for some reason was compelled to leave his home and journey around tamriel looking for relief?

As for where he could have come from, well I suppose anywhere really. Parents could have been refugees from the Great War, and to my knowledge Anvil was taken by the Thalmor and Leyawin was either destroyed/reclaimed by the Argonians (or Khajiit?). If you're looking for humble beginings perhaps he could have come from a small farm in the northern or eastern portion of Cyrodiil. Cheydinhall may be a good place, or Bruma which was suggested early.

His location could be determined from his urgency or need for journeying. Being framed for murder is a great reason to put as many miles behind you as possible. It's your story friend

Any way, hope that gives you some ideas, can't wait to read it!

Thanks Muhgnib! I like the framed for murder scenario. It's simple, and a great reason to get the hell out of the area. It also adds an element of unpreparedness to his journey, only having time to grab a few supplies before running. It also explains his willingness to risk jail time for crossing the border, as he'd be facing death if he stayed. I think he's a farmers adopted son from Colovia that was at the wrong place at the wrong time and is thrusted into the brutal, bloody region that is Skyrim. I have to brainstorm. I'm glad to see somebody is interested in reading his journal, I write recreationally and it was just going to be another fun project, and hadn't considered putting it up anywhere until now. Now that I've got a general backstory, it's time to brainstorm a little more and fire up character creation! Thanks guys.

Southern Cyrodiil is most likely going through reconstruction as forces are being trained in the north and east as well as resources gathered from mills and mines in skyrim and high rock to fortify the imperial troops. So pretty much Cyrodiil is under a reconstruction as well as trying to raise moral among citizens and gain troops to enforce and fortify the borders as well as trying to build up a navy in coastal towns in the west.

I'VE GOT IT!! Salvius is a journalist. He writes for a local Colovian newsletter. It's a career in which he doesn't have to kill anyone, all he really does is ask around for information within cities. He doesn't really cover any major events, just local rumors and the occasional interview of an adventurer who has brought something noteworthy back from his travels or has an interesting enough story to tell. He hears all these stories, and it creates a desire to become an adventurer himself, so he sneaks across the border to get a fresh start in a new land and find him claim to fame. Him being a journalist also explains why he carries writing materials for the journal. I swear I've had him standing at the gates of Falkreath for almost two hours with the game paused racking my brain, but I've finally got it.