User blog comment:Bethesda Softworks/The History of The Elder Scrolls/@comment-67.186.21.205-20110824154506/@comment-3572551-20110831114940

it would be difficult to exlpain how a street rat becomes a tanked nord wielding two claymores and breathing fire. being a prisoner lets you almost completely decide your background from scratch, and gives some justification for whatever character type you pursue.