Board Thread:Skyrim/@comment-14.177.204.3-20160413154825/@comment-26074798-20160413191827

Kiadony wrote: Maybe that's because he doesn't belong to proper factions or something. As in, he isn't technically considered an ally/citizen of Winterhold. Hostility affects bounties in the game, that is, if you get a bounty or not. If the attacks are considered assault (Which, in this case doesnt seem to be for the NPC) then the player gets a bounty: however, if the NPC attacks the player doesnt.

Besides, Arcano's factions are the + Thalmor, and having Thalmor as a faction shouldn't change any type of bounty.

Nice theory though :)