Board Thread:Off Topic/@comment-14011542-20131009214425/@comment-24.149.110.43-20150316011031

My Dragonborn's name was Epistemes (Greek for knowledge/science), an Imperial who was originally from the Niben valley. Epistemes was always very astute having a knack for science and the natural order; as such he shunned magic, preferring alchemy and engineering having a disdain for mysticism and magic early on. However, he did not grow up in an environment that was supportive of his pursuit knowledge. His father a former centurion who fought during the Great War, never saw eye-to-eye with his son, wanting his son to follow him in the Legion. His mother was more supportive giving her son books and did her best to save septims to send him to the Imperial City to study at the Arcane University. Epistemes' father disappeared one day during a trip to Skingrad (he was a very vocal about his distaste for the White-Gold Concordat). After his father's disappearance Epistemes and his mother struggled to make ends meet, Epistemes ended up making poisons and selling them to the Theives Guild. He was able to make a modest living without becoming too indebted to the underworld of Cyrodiil, however, it wasn't enough to save his mother. His mother was keeping her illness secret from her son, not wanting to worry him; when Epistemes found out he did everything could to save his mother, but it wasn't enough she died leaving him enough money to go to the Synod. Epistemes left the following morning and never returned to his childhood home.

Epistemes did well in the Synod, having top marks in all his courses amazing his peers and professors alike. However, he did make enemies when it came to the nature of magic, and in the Synod where intrigue rules more than knowledge Epistemes downfall was as quick as his rise. A former pupil who Epistemes gave low marks to concocted a plan to ruin him. The pupil went on a private campaign to destroy him. She gathered a group of professors who disapproved of Epistemes non-traditional approach to magic and the natural world; but when she stumbled upon a beggar who told her of alchemist who used to make poisons for the Thieves Guild. One day Epistemes was called in to meet with the council, and they descended upon him without mercy. Epistemes never forgot the evil, malicious smile of his pupil.

Epistemes', dejected and lost in life, decided to start again in Skyrim. He heard from an old Synod contact that the College of Winterhold was another academic institution away from the intrigue of the Synod. Drumming up old Thieves Guild contacts Epistemes was able to cross into Skryim, unfortunately it was in the middle of a Legion raid on the Stormcloak rebels. This is how the story of Skyrim begins.