Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-24.139.116.236-20131222233804/@comment-30966729-20170106093432

I just recently began playing the game with mods and such. Turns out the Karthwasten Massacre is a Stormcloak vs Forsworn event. Ironically stormcloaks were the aggressors. You discover this in Cidhna Mine conspiracy mission, the whole "free Talos worship", to oppose of the Forsworn old and Daedra gods. So during the event of Ulfric ruiling Markarth, they also had to ensure all citizens were protected in all parts of the Reach. But Ulfric and stormcloaks only caring for the "true sons of skyrim" you can guess what transpires. After talking to a couple of inmates, you learn a father lost his daughter to the nords, Families got butchered  etc. The Forsworn in Karthwasten were massacred but you may notice when you visit Karthwastem, the natives there are not the crazy forsworn living in the hills raiding and getting their hearts torn out and reshapen through a goat. They are just simple native forsworn miners who support the empire and want a peaceful life. During Ulfric's reign, you have purges made by nords. You can talk to Jarl Igmund, he will also give you more info about what transpired after in the "Markarth Incident". But just that alone, explains why the Forsworn are so hell bent on retaking the reach. This also explains about Rikke calling out Ulfric for going against the people he had "sworn to protect". She is referring to Ulfric only caring for Nords of the reach, and completly forgetting the natives. So that is the massacre of Karthwasten.