Having a bit of an issue on what my next character will be like. I know I want him to be Redguard but I'm unsure if he should go melee, magic, or stealth. Also I'm trying to come up with a background for him. I'm thinking he could have a grudge towards the Empire for abandoning Hammerfell. Do any of you have any interesting Redguard characters? Background story and build. I'm only trying to get inspired.

I am currently playing a Redguard. Just hit level 60 and 150 hours a little bit ago. He was inspired by this: http://theskyrimblog.ning.com/group/character-building/forum/topics/character-build-the-sword-singer

He is on the side of the Stormcloaks because he believes that Skyrim should be able to leave the empire the same way Hammerfell did. It is also the quickest way to get his homeland reinforcements against the Thalmor. While doing that he got caught up in the Companions and Dawnguard and he studied at the College of Winterhold to master his spirit sword techniques.

I have two Redguard characters in play. Both are warriors, but that's not required: Redguards are known for using combat magic (Alteration and Destruction) as well as fighting. And consider Nazir, who's a Redguard but also an assassin. Neither is Dragonborn; both followed my usual custom for non-Dragonborn characters: kill Mira-whatever, and then leave him rotting next to the watchtower.

One of my Redguards came over from Hammerfell, in part because he was fascinated by the Dwemer and wanted to see Markarth and the ruins in Skyrim, and in part because he was considering lending the Stormcloaks a hand. Independence suited Hammerfell, after all. Maybe it represented Skyrim's best chance as well. He didn't join the Stormcloaks in the end, but instead wound up Harbinger of the Companions. He also joined the College of Winterhold, to develop his magical abilities. It worked fine for him, the College takes all types (look at Onmund, and J'zargo; both are from races not typically associated with magic).

My other one is also a Companion and a dual-wielding light armored warrior, and a werewolf. Not sure if she's going to stay one, or where she's going next. Right now she's wandering Skyrim with her shield-brother and pack-mate Farkas.

For starters, I wouldn't expect any Redguard to have much love for the Thalmor.

As for gameplay, I'd recommend doing the Deathbrand quest to get those sweet, dual wielding enchanted scimitars.

I've had a couple Redguard characters.

http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh611/Trace9569/20131030_110204.jpg, who was a sword and board, started out life as a mercenary and then joined the Dawnguard. He did build a house, Lakeview, but never married. He tooled around Skyrim with his buddy Marcurio.

http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh611/Trace9569/20130905_133058.jpg, started out as a wild child adopted by parents in the reach, 1h, conjuration and destruction. Along with Alchemy and light armor. She calmed down and became a little more civilized after she found out she was Dragonborn.

I have created other Redguard characters, but they never really got a play through as I just sometimes create characters just to do so. http://s1254.photobucket.com/user/Trace9569/story/27877#

http://i.imgur.com/sO8lUa4.png

Siora was born in Rihad just after the Great War. Her mother was a former priestess of Dibella and her father was a high ranking soldier in the Imperial Army before Hammerfell's ejection. Her mother wanted her to be more ladylike but she took more interest in her father's martial skills. He taught her what he could when she was small. When she was around age ten, her father was killed in a duel with a nobleman in Rihad, who challenged him after her father defended the Empire's decision, citing its precarious position.

Siora, watching from the crowd, saw what no one else did, that the nobleman cheated. She tried to tell people, but no one would listen except her father's life-long friend and mentor. She was grief-stricken and vowed revenge, and her father's friend promised to help train her to be the warrior her father was.

Over the years, she surpassed her father in every way, turning out to be quite the prodigy. At twenty, both she and her mentor felt with both her skills and the political climate, it was time for her to take her revenge. She challenged the nobleman to a duel. He could not refuse because of an already weak political position, and being seen as even weaker would completely undermine him amongst the nobility. Once again, he attempted to cheat, but she was ready for it and slew him.

Unfortunately, though he was not well liked by the nobility, he was fairly popular amongst commoners. She and her mother became pariahs. Realizing the price of her revenge was too high on her aging mother, she made the decision to leave. She left her mother a kindly worded letter, saying that she should disavow Siora's decision to kill the nobleman, and to say that she sent her daughter away out of shame.

Siora crossed the river to Anvil and spent several years as an adventurer and mercenary in Cyrodiil. She gathered a band of three friends that gained great fame. Unfortunately after a disastrous quest where her companions were slain, Siora felt it was time to move on. She headed north to Skyrim, by way of Pale Pass, and in her meloncholy, was caught unawares in an Imperial ambush, where she was captured and put on a wagon to Helgen...

Siora's actions are governed by a strong sense of right and wrong. Being a prodigy swordswoman, they are further tempered by the need to find a good fight, as she has yet to find anyone who can match her and earn her respect. She respects loyalty and camaraderie, and despises lies and treachery. She has no ill-will towards the Empire itself, understanding their precarious position thanks to her father. She believes the Stormcloaks to be misguided idiots who will, if successful, divide and weaken the Empire and cause the Dominion to renew their invasion, something that a completely divided Tamriel would be unable to resist.

Redguards aren't racially or historically known as proficient magic casters (the way High and Dark elves are).

So for a challenge you could go for a battle mage style Redguard i.e. a well rounded combat fighter (taking advantage of natural racial attribute) who specializes in the Destruction School of magic.

Backstory: your Redguard is still grieving for the loss of their family and estates in the aftermath of the Great War, they are determined to settle the score with those Imperialist Judas [censored] sons who betrayed Hammerfell after the White-Gold Concordant. Trying to assassinate the Emperor's remaining kin is easy enough given their proficiency with weapons. However, any battle or subterfuge against the Dominion would ultimately require the use of magic. So they have decided to take a unique and very challenging path by joining the Mage's College to become a highly skilled Battlemage.

I'm liking the battle mage style but I might drop Destruction because I use that skill way too often. So I think i'll stick to Alteration, Restoration, and Enchanting for magic skills.