I am not that up on lore so my main questions are thus.

1. Did the Empire occupy Solitude BEFORE the great war?
2. Does it make sense for a Nord to be an Imperial Legion but stationed in Skyrim?
3. Would he have been moved from Solitude to Cyrodiil once the great war started?



So I was trying to make a back story for my Nord warrior. Basically I wanted him to grow up in Solitude until the age of 10, then when the great war starts his father who was in the legion is transfer to Cyrodiil and drags his family with him to Bruma. Once there he leaves his wife and two kids to fight in the great war, he manages to make it back and spends a little time with his family in Bruma before the battle of the red ring which is where he dies. Yeah I know not original.

Anyways this gives my Nord a reason to be pissed at the Empire and Elves and also makes him a true son of Skryim even though at the age of 10 he left . Now in his 40's and with news of the rebellion in Skyrim he decides to leave his brother and mother in Bruma to go fight for his homeland which is where he gets caught. Thus starts the game.

Backstory's fine, but saying that the empire 'occupied' solitude is wrongheaded. Skyrim swore fealty to the Medes, and Solitude's nobility have very close ties to the Septim dynasty. It's like saying the empire 'occupied' Chorrol.

As someone else said Skyrim is not occupied by the legion, You have been hearing to much Stormcloak propaganda.

I guess I misused that phrase. Would stationed be a better word? Basically I was trying to justify why a Nord would be Imperial Legion yet living in Solitude of Skyrim. Seems like he be out in Cryodiil, unless they had a barracks there like they do now which then I could see as a viable option. Anyways my question was answered though.

I tried looking up references on the legion but the Wiki nor the Imperial Library seems to have much on them before the great war of the 4th era.

As a corollary to 'history being written by the winners', I'd say that the political rhetoric with the most common currency is written by academics with patrons with please.

In times of peace the legion still has garrisons stationed in most provinces. (Morrowind had a bunch of garrisons and forts)

Definitely not farfetched to say there was a legion stationed in Solitude. He could have even been there during the great war(Though I would think the recall before the battle of red ring would've applied to his unit too)

I agree, I have decided his father fights in the great war and for 4 years has no contact with his family. Then for a brief time (while the Empire is getting its second wind) he ends up in Bruma which is where I believe Titus Meden II retreats to, he spends time with his family before going to fight the Battle of The Red Ring which is where he dies. Leaving a bitter taste in Roggar (my character) and his brothers mouth after the White Gold Concordat is signed. Then 25 years later of adventuring he hears news of the rebellion and decides to fight for his home lands freedom in his father honor, and it doesn't hurt that he also hates the Thalmor and Empire at this point as well.

Which makes him 40 and I think that seems a reasonable age. Still strong and war harden, not old and weak but yet not young and inexperienced.