Backgrounds of Skyrim

Based on the backgrounds of fifth edition, some have key differences and several are entirely new. Click on the links to read the background descriptions.

For the purpose of Character Creation, these are the backgrounds of Skyrim. Choose one of the following options and recieve extra skill proficencies, languages, tool proficencies and starting equipment. More than a statistical choice though, your characters background should represent thier backstory first and foremost.

by Adam Adamowicz

Acolyte You have spent your life in the service of a temple to a specific god or pantheon of gods.
Anthropologist You have always been fascinated by other cultures, from the most ancient and primeval lost lands to the most modern civilizations.
Arcane Student You are a budding mage, preparing to hone your craft according to the traditions of an ancient College of magic where you are an initiate.
Athlete You strive to perfect yourself physically and in execution of everything you do. The thrill of competition lights fire in your blood.
Bounty Hunter Before you became an adventurer, your life was already full of conflict and excitement, because you made a living tracking down people for pay.
Caravan Specialist You are used to life on the road. You pride yourself at having traveled every major tradeway in the Skyrim region.
Charlatan You have always had a way with people. You know what makes them tick, you can manipulate them.
Courtier In your earlier days, you were a personage of some significance in a noble court or a bureaucratic organization.
Criminal You are an experienced criminal with a history of breaking the law and still have contacts within the criminal underworld.

by Adam Adamowicz

Dissenter Your life has been defined by a secret opposition to the dictates of law in Skyrim society.
Dragon Casualty When the Alduin the World-Eater descended upon Skyrim, you were one of the unfortunate casualties of war.
Dwemer Crafter The Dwemer were well known for their artisanship and the worth of their handiworks, and you have been trained in that ancient tradition.
Entertainer You thrive in front of an audience. You know how to entrance them, entertain them, and even inspire them.
Faceless You've left your old face behind, taking on a new persona, becoming something more.
Faction Agent As a prelude to your adventuring career, you served as an agent of a particular faction in Tamriel.
Fisher You have spent your life aboard fishing vessels or combing the shallows for the bounty of the ocean.
Folk Hero You come from a humble social rank, but you are destined for so much more, the people of your home village regard you as their champion.
Giant Foundling Though you aren’t a Giant, you grew up among giants.
Guild Artisan You are a member of an artisan's guild, skilled in a particular field and closely associated with other artisans.
Haunted One You are haunted by something so terrible that you dare not speak of it. You’ve tried to bury it and run away from it, to no avail.

by Adam Adamowicz

Hermit You lived in seclusion – either in a sheltered community such as a monastery, or entirely alone – for a formative part of your life.
Horse Thief Once Skyrim became to be a site of extensive banditry and lawlessness, in the choas you took up the trade of horse thief.
House Agent As a house agent your main task is to serve as the eyes of your leigelord, but you could be called on at any time to act thier hand.
Inheritor You are the heir to something of great value – not mere coin or wealth, but an object that has been entrusted to you and you alone.
Knight You belong to an order who have sworn oaths to achieve a certain goal.
Mercenary Veteran As a sell-sword who fought battles for coin, you're well acquainted with risking life and limb for a chance at a share of treasure.
Oncelost You grew up in the Shivering Isles after disappearing from your home plane as a child.
Orc Tribe Member You spent much of your life calling the tribe your family and them the same to you.
Outlander You grew up in the wilds, far from civilization and the comforts of town and technology.

by Adam Adamowicz

Rewarded You were living a difficult life before your destiny suddenly changed through a miraculous turn of good fortune.
Ruined Everything was going so well! You had a life of luxury, love, and comfort when you suddenly lost it all.
Rune Carver You’ve dedicated your life to studying runecraft.
Sage You spent years learning the lore of the multiverse.
Sailor You sailed on a seagoing vessel for years.
Scholar In your formative years, you found your way to one of Tamriel's great institutes of learning, where you were apprenticed.
Shipwright You have sailed into war on the decks of great ships, patching their hulls with soup bowls and prayers.
Smuggler On a rickety barge, you carried a hundred longswords in fish barrels right past the dock master's oblivious lackeys.
Soldier War has been your life for as long as you care to remember.
Thalmor Inquisitor As an Inquisitor of the Thalmor you are tasked with rooting out heretical Talos worship in the province of Skyrim.
Thane You understand wealth, power, and privilege. You carry the noble title of thane.
Town Guard You have served the community where you grew up, standing as its first line of defense against crime.
Urchin You grew up on the streets alone, orphaned, and poor.