First, thank you - I'd been playing Skyrim for a few years and began to loose interest. Then I found this forum and learnt more about role playing a character. Several characters later, Skyrim has a new lease of life for me.

My next character? I've never tried a thief, either in Oblivion or Skyrim, so now want to give it a try. My character's back story is not really lore friendly, but it works for me. He is a Khajiit whose parents had to leave their own land and ended up as subsistence farmers in Skyrim. As he grew up, passing soldiers in all uniforms would often take whatever food they wanted, no paying. They'd kill the livestock, take fruit and veges and generally abuse his parents and siblings. When the civil war started it simply got worse. One day, still young, he came home and found the farm burning, his entire family killed! In the distance was a group of soldiers, he couldn't see what uniform they wore, but that didn't matter - soldiers had killed his family. He spent the next few years wondering Skyrim using the natural skills of a Khajiit. He would do whatever jobs for people he could, but still needed to steal to survive. He wasn't really a bad person, but fell into this life style. He finds himself in Riften, needing to find some money for food.

What I'm not sure about is how to play him now. He needs a 'purpose' but not a full time career as a thief.

Any ideas greatfully accepted, thanks in advance.

* edit....answered in the wrong post...

I think how you play him comes down to whether he wants to avenge his parents or if he wants to survive and prosper given his current situation.

If he wants to avenge his parents, he could join the Dark Brotherhood and lash out against everyone and anyone in Skyrim (he's blaming all parties since it wasn't clear who was responsible).

If he wants to survive and prosper he could join the Thieve's Guild, the Companions, or even the isolated Mage's College. Over time, he'd get married, build a home and adopt children.

Hope this helps!