Daggerfall:Background History

After a character has been created, their personal History prior to starting the main quest can be accessed from the Character Sheet. This story is formed from a template based on your class (or closest, if using a custom class), and incorporates many elements from the Background questions.

Background Story
For each background story, many details will depend on the answer provided to each question. Each answer has two or three sentence fragments associated with it, relating the answer to your character's story. 

In this page, those fragments will be annotated using the answer number followed by a letter. For example, {1B} refers to the second fragment of the answer to the first question, while {5C} is the third fragment of the answer to the fifth question. 

As an example, the first question of the Mage background asks "What school of magic have you been studying the longest?". If one was to answer Destruction, then answer 1 would have the following two fragments: "sending sparks of flame and ice flying around the yard" and "cast spells of destruction". If you insert those at {1A} and {1B} in the Mage story below, you get what the Mage character's History would look like.

Mage
''Your earliest memories are of a warm and unusual home. Your mother, a beautiful enchantress, would entertain you for hours with tricks. Your favorite was her {1A}. Your father was a fearsome man. Many in the village referred to him as "that Warlock." But to you he was a loving and doting father. As you grew, it was apparent that you had unusually strong magical powers. Soon you were able to {1B} yourself. You remember your parents talking about an evil Battlemage, Jagar Tharn, how it was known in their circle that he had usurped the power of the land away from its rightful ruler. No one dared to move against him. {2A}. One day in your twentieth year, a courier arrived at your house with the news that a powerful hero had killed Jagar Tharn and restored the rightful Emperor to the throne. Even your gruff father nearly wept with joy at the news. The courier also brought the news that there would be a great celebration in Imperial City and that all the people who had worked secretly to depose Tharn were invited. Once the courier left, you asked your parents if you could go to the celebration. Your mother and father looked concerned and explained that there was not enough gold for all three of you to make the trip. Downcast, you tried to hide your disappointment. Your father, however, turned to you and said that it was time you made your own way in the world. He gave you {4A} and a very unusual staff and sent you on your way to the Imperial City and the celebration. After many days of travel, you approached the capital of the realm, the Imperial City. You noticed a small band of travelers only a short distance in front of you. As you were about to hail them, they were attacked by brigands who had been lying in wait in the woods along the road. You rushed to help the other travelers. As you approached, one of the brigands raised his short sword to strike you. In a natural reflex, you tried to deflect the blow with the staff your father gave you. As the sword struck the staff, a great bolt of lightning erupted from it and both weapons shattered. The brigands and the travelers all stopped and stared at you. As the thunder subsided, the brigands ran back into the woods. You were mobbed by the travelers who thanked you profusely for saving them, members of the Imperial Family who had been visiting in the country and were returning to the Imperial City for the celebrations. They insisted that you come with them to the palace and have an audience with the Emperor. The Emperor was very impressed by your bravery and knew your family as loyal supporters of the Empire. He presented you with {5A}. The celebrations continued for weeks, and the Emperor often called on you for informal talks. When you were not in audience, you usually spent your time {2B}. One night you were called to the Emperor's presence in a manner such that you knew the business was serious. He met you in his study and there told you he had a favor to ask.

Answers

1. "What school of magic have you been studying the longest?"
Destruction: "sending sparks of flame and ice flying around the yard" and "cast spells of destruction"
Restoration: "finding a wounded butterfly and send it flying again" and "perform healings and cures"
Illusion: "playing hide and seek, though she always turned invisible" and "vanish from human eyes"
Alteration: "leaping from the roof and then falling, slowly, like a leaf" and "change your body's weight"
Thaumaturgy: "walking on the surface on a nearby lake like it were ground" and "walk on the water's surface"
Mysticism: "casting a spell that made it impossible for you to speak" and "dispel sound from the air"

2. "What motivates you into a life of adventure?"
Riches: "He could ruin anyone economically who moved against him" and "talking and haggling with the merchants of the Imperial City"
Fame: "You longed to be the one to gain the honor of deposing him" and "sparring with off-duty members of the Imperial Guard"
Knowledge: "You marvelled at the knowledge Tharn must have accrued." and "learning how to tell the nobles what they wanted to hear"
Fun: "If it weren't suicidal, you would have enjoyed working against him" and "swimming in the murky black waters of the Caledon River"
Helping Others: "You vowed to avenge Tharn's evil against the innocent villagers" and "learning how to talk tough with the Imperial City locals"

4. "Since childhood, you have saved  ___."
100 gold pieces: "a bag of 100 gold pieces"
A favorite book: "a marvelous book"
A cuirass: "a cuirass"
A pearl: "a pearl"

5. "In gratitude for services rendered, the Emperor gave you ___."
Over 200 gold pieces: "200 gold pieces"
An ebony dagger: "an ebony dagger"
A book: "a rare magical item"
A ruby: "a fine red ruby"
A silver staff: "a silver staff"
A suit of armor: "a set of armor"

Spellsword
Your earliest memories of your homelife are of an ongoing turmoil -- visitors continually arriving and leaving, and your mother and father at separate times also having to leave for extended periods. As you grew older you realized that your mother was a member of an elite mercenary legion, first as a weapons instructor, and then later as a combat tactical expert. Your father's interests were quite different: he was a well-respected member of the local Mages Guild, and a master of all kinds of magic. He found you an apt pupil and soon you were able to {1A}. You remember your parents talking about the Imperial Battlemage, Jagar Tharn, how it was known in their circle that he had usurped the power of the land away from its rightful ruler. No one dared to move against him. {2A}. One day in your twentieth year, you received a visitor at your house with the news that a powerful hero had killed Jagar Tharn and restored the exiled Emperor to the throne. The visitor also brought the news that there would be a great celebration in Imperial City. Once the courier left, you asked your parents if you could go to the celebration. Your mother and father discussed it for some time, before deciding that it was time you made your own way in the world. Your mother gave you {4A} and your father gave you a very unusual staff, then you were sent you on your way to the Imperial City and the celebration. After many days of travel, you approached the capital of the realm, the Imperial City. You noticed a small band of travelers only a short distance in front of you. As you joined them, you were attacked by brigands who had been lying in wait in the woods along the road. One of the brigands raised his short sword to strike you. In a natural reflex, you tried to deflect the blow with the staff your father gave you. As the sword struck the staff, a great bolt of lightning erupted from it and both weapons shattered. The brigands and the travelers all stopped and stared at you. As the thunder subsided, the brigands ran back into the woods. You were mobbed by the travelers who thanked you profusely for saving them. They told you they were members of the Imperial Family who had been visiting in the country and were returning to the Imperial City for the celebrations. They insisted that you come with them to the palace and have an audience with the Emperor. The Emperor was very impressed by your bravery and grateful to you for saving his family. He formally invited you to the celebration and presented you with {5A}. The festival continued for weeks, and during that time, the Emperor often called on you for informal talks. When you were not in audience, you usually spent your time {3A}. One night you were called to the Emperor's presence in a manner such that you knew the business was serious. He met you in his study and there told you he had a favor to ask.

Answers

1. "After the College of Destruction, what school of magic have you been studying the second longest?"
Restoration: "heal the damage your other spells caused"
Illusion: "turn invisible to avoid your parents"
Alteration: "alter the fabric of reality in more subtle ways"
Thaumaturgy: "sharpen your natural and unnatural senses"
Mysticism: "perceive the more subtle energies of other worlds"

2. "What motivates you into a life of adventure?"
Riches: "You also envied him for the gold of the Imperial treasury"
Fame: "But you pitied Tharn, for he had to move incognito"
Knowledge: "You also envied Tharn for his incredible knowlege"
Fun: "It seemed to you that the path to power was seldom fun"
Helping Others: "You secretly found Tharn and his cruelty nauseating"

3. "In between formal study, you spent your time ___."
socializing with aristocrats: "learning how to tell the nobles what they wanted to hear"
learning streetsmarts: "learning how to talk tough with the Imperial City locals"
practicing acrobatics: "exercising or practicing acrobatic techniques for defense"
learning economics: "talking and haggling with the merchants of the Imperial City"
swimming: "swimming in the murky black waters of the Caledon River"
sparring: "sparring with off-duty members of the Imperial Guard"

4. "Since childhood, you have saved  ___."
100 gold pieces: "a bag of 100 gold pieces"
A favorite book: "a marvelous book"
A cuirass: "a cuirass"
A katana: "a katana"

5. "In gratitude for services rendered, the Emperor gave you ___."
Over 200 gold pieces: "200 gold pieces"
An ebony dagger: "an ebony dagger"
A book: "a rare magical item"
A ruby: "a fine red ruby"
A silver staff: "a silver staff"
An amulet: "an amulet"

Battlemage
There was very little subtlety in your life as a child. Your mother was as harsh as she was beautiful, and her wrath if you displeased her was terrible indeed. Your father was an equally fearsome man. You learned the ways of power from them, particularly how to harness and use the raw forms of magicka. There was no question of whether these energies of destruction should be used -- only how it might be done. Occasionally, for variety, you dabbled in other colleges of magic, learning how to {1A}. But the School of Destruction was your specialty. You remember your parents talking about the Imperial Battlemage, Jagar Tharn, how it was known in their circle that he had usurped the power of the land away from its rightful ruler. No one dared to move against him. Battlemages themselves, your parents envied Tharn's success. {2A}. One day in your twentieth year, you received a visitor at your house with the news that a powerful hero had killed Jagar Tharn and restored the exiled Emperor to the throne. Accepting the transfer of power as a natural process, your parents took the news with only mild disappointment. The visitor also brought the news that there would be a great celebration in Imperial City. Once the courier left, you asked your parents if you could go to the celebration. Your mother and father discussed it for some time, before deciding that it was time you made your own way in the world. Your mother gave you {4A} and your father gave you a very unusual staff, then you were sent you on your way to the Imperial City and the celebration. After many days of travel, you approached the capital of the realm, the Imperial City. You noticed a small band of travelers only a short distance in front of you. As you joined them, you were attacked by brigands who had been lying in wait in the woods along the road. One of the brigands raised his short sword to strike you. In a natural reflex, you tried to deflect the blow with the staff your father gave you. As the sword struck the staff, a great bolt of lightning erupted from it and both weapons shattered. The brigands and the travelers all stopped and stared at you. As the thunder subsided, the brigands ran back into the woods. You were mobbed by the travelers who thanked you profusely for saving them, members of the Imperial Family who had been visiting in the country and were returning to the Imperial City for the celebrations. They insisted that you come with them to the palace and have an audience with the Emperor. The Emperor was very impressed by your bravery and grateful to you for saving his family. He formally invited you to the celebration and presented you with {5A}. The festival continued for weeks, and during that time, the Emperor often called on you for informal talks. When you were not in audience, you usually spent your time {3A}. One night you were called to the Emperor's presence in a manner such that you knew the business was serious. He met you in his study and there told you he had a favor to ask.

Answers

1. "After the College of Destruction, what school of magic have you been studying the second longest?"
Restoration: "heal the damage your other spells caused"
Illusion: "turn invisible to avoid your parents"
Alteration: "alter the fabric of reality in more subtle ways"
Thaumaturgy: "sharpen your natural and unnatural senses"
Mysticism: "perceive the more subtle energies of other worlds"

2. "What motivates you into a life of adventure?"
Riches: "You also envied him for the gold of the Imperial treasury"
Fame: "But you pitied Tharn, for he had to move incognito"
Knowledge: "You also envied Tharn for his incredible knowlege"
Fun: "It seemed to you that the path to power was seldom fun"
Helping Others: "You secretly found Tharn and his cruelty nauseating"

3. "In between formal study, you spent your time ___."
socializing with aristocrats: "learning how to tell the nobles what they wanted to hear"
learning streetsmarts: "learning how to talk tough with the Imperial City locals"
practicing acrobatics: "exercising or practicing acrobatic techniques for defense"
learning economics: "talking and haggling with the merchants of the Imperial City"
swimming: "swimming in the murky black waters of the Caledon River"
sparring: "sparring with off-duty members of the Imperial Guard"

4. "Since childhood, you have saved  ___."
100 gold pieces: "a bag of 100 gold pieces"
A favorite book: "a marvelous book"
A cuirass: "a cuirass"
A katana: "a katana"

5. "In gratitude for services rendered, the Emperor gave you ___."
Over 200 gold pieces: "200 gold pieces"
An ebony dagger: "an ebony dagger"
A book: "a rare magical item"
A ruby: "a fine red ruby"
A silver staff: "a silver staff"
A pearl: "a pearl"

Sorcerer
Your parents   one another, both as sorcerors as well as educators. Your mother was most attentive in teaching you the finer points of {1A}, but your father would use more dramatic methods. As you grew in your talents and your mother taught you the spells, your father would show you how you must attract and draw upon the magicka of the universe to have the power to cast those spells. He explained that you, like them, were not able to regenerate magicka within your own body. It was commonplace for him to walk in the room and cast a lightning spell at you. Frightful though it was, you would feel exhilaration upon drawing upon the magicka. As you grew, it was apparent that you had unusually strong magical powers. Soon you were able to {1B} yourself. You remember your parents talking about an evil Battlemage, Jagar Tharn, how it was known in their circle that he had usurped the power of the land away from its rightful ruler. No one dared to move against him. {2A}. One day in your twentieth year, a courier arrived at your house with the news that a powerful hero had killed Jagar Tharn and restored the rightful Emperor to the throne. Even your gruff father nearly wept with joy at the news. The courier also brought the news that there would be a great celebration in Imperial City and that all the people who had worked secretly to depose Tharn were invited. Once the courier left, you asked your parents if you could go to the celebration. Your mother and father looked concerned and explained that there was not enough gold for all three of you to make the trip. Downcast, you tried to hide your disappointment. Your father, however, turned to you and said that it was time you made your own way in the world. He gave you {4A} and a very unusual staff and sent you on your way to the Imperial City and the celebration. After many days of travel, you approached the capital of the realm -- Imperial City. You noticed a small band of travelers a short distance in front of you. As you were about to hail them, they were attacked by brigands who had been lying in wait in the woods that lined the road. As you rushed to help, one of the brigands, obviously a Mage, raised his staff and cast a spell at you. Your ears roared as the flame bolt hit you, but you absorbed the magicka and let fly a very powerful shock spell. When the bolt struck the brigand mage, he erupted into a column of flames and was reduced to a pile of ashes. The brigands and the travelers all stopped and stared, and the brigands ran back into the woods. The travelers thanked you and introduced themselves as members of the Imperial Family returning to Imperial City for the celebrations. They insisted that you come with them to the palace and have an audience with the Emperor. The Emperor was very impressed by your bravery and knew your family as loyal supporters of the Empire. He presented you with {5A}. The celebrations continued for weeks, and the Emperor often called on you for informal talks. When you were not in audience, you usually spent your time {3A}. One night you were called to the Emperor's presence in a manner such that you knew the business was serious. He met you in his study and there told you he had a favor to ask.

Answers

1. "What school of magic have you been studying the longest?"
Destruction: "casting offensive spells"/"the School of Destruction" and "cast the Spark spell"
Restoration: "casting restorative spells"/"the School of Restoration" and "cast Light Healing spells"
Illusion: "casting illusionary spells"/"the School of Illusion" and "turn yourself invisible"
Alteration: "casting alteration spells"/"the School of Alteration" and "fall from most any height"
Thaumaturgy: "casting thaumaturgical spells"/"the School of Thaumaturgy" and "enhance your natural senses"
Mysticism: "casting mystical spells"/"the School of Mysticism" and "manipulate arcane forces"

2. "What motivates you into a life of adventure?"
Riches: "He could ruin anyone economically who moved against him" and "talking and haggling with the merchants of the Imperial City"
Fame: "You longed to be the one to gain the honor of deposing him" and "sparring with off-duty members of the Imperial Guard"
Knowledge: "You marvelled at the knowledge Tharn must have accrued." and "learning how to tell the nobles what they wanted to hear"
Fun: "If it weren't suicidal, you would have enjoyed working against him" and "swimming in the murky black waters of the Caledon River"
Helping Others: "You vowed to avenge Tharn's evil against the innocent villagers" and "learning how to talk tough with the Imperial City locals"

3. "In between formal study, you spent your time ___."
socializing with aristocrats: "learning how to tell the nobles what they wanted to hear"
learning streetsmarts: "learning how to talk tough with the Imperial City locals"
practicing acrobatics: "exercising or practicing acrobatic techniques for defense"
learning economics: "talking and haggling with the merchants of the Imperial City"
swimming: "swimming in the murky black waters of the Caledon River"
sparring: "sparring with off-duty members of the Imperial Guard"

4. "Since childhood, you have saved  ___."
100 gold pieces: "a bag of 100 gold pieces"
A favorite book: "a marvelous book"
A cuirass: "a cuirass"
An elven flail: "an elven flail"

5. "In gratitude for services rendered, the Emperor gave you ___."
Over 200 gold pieces: "200 gold pieces"
An ebony dagger: "an ebony dagger"
A book: "a rare magical item"
A ruby: "a fine red ruby"
A silver staff: "a silver staff"
A suit of armor: "a set of armor"

Healer
Your father was the healer for a very small village deep in the {home province feature} of {home province}. You have few memories of your mother, a beautiful, kind woman who taught you magic. You always will remember her entertaining you for hours with tricks. Your favorite was her {1A}. The plague that took her was too strong for her or your father to fight. It was her wish that you be trained in the School of Restoration, and there you showed promise exceeding your father. As you grew, it was apparent that you had unusually strong magical powers. Soon you were able to {1B} yourself. You remember your father talking about an evil Battlemage, Jagar Tharn, how it was known in his circle that he had usurped the power of the land away from its rightful ruler. No one dared to move against him. {2A}. One day in your twentieth year, a courier arrived at your house with the news that a powerful hero had killed Jagar Tharn and restored the rightful Emperor to the throne. Your tender-hearted father openly wept with joy at the news. The courier also brought the news that there would be a great celebration in Imperial City and that all the people who had worked secretly to depose Tharn were invited. Once the courier left, you asked your father if you could go to the celebration. Your father turned to you and said that it was time you made your own way in the world. He gave you {4A} and a very unusual staff and sent you on your way to the Imperial City and the celebration. After many days of travel, you approached the capital of the realm, the Imperial City. You noticed a small band of travelers only a short distance in front of you. As you were about to hail them they were attacked by brigands who had been lying in wait in the woods along the road. You rushed to help the other travelers. As you approached one of the brigands raised his short sword to strike you. In a natural reflex, you tried to deflect the blow with the staff your father gave you. As the sword struck the staff, a great bolt of lightning erupted from it and both weapons shattered. The brigands and the travelers all stopped and stared at you. As the thunder subsided, the brigands ran back into the woods. You were mobbed by the travelers who thanked you profusely for saving them, members of the Imperial Family who had been visiting in the country and were returning to the Imperial City for the celebrations. They insisted that you come with them to the palace and have an audience with the Emperor. The Emperor was very impressed by your bravery and knew your family as loyal supporters of the Empire. He presented you with {5A}. The celebrations continued for weeks, and the Emperor often called on you for informal talks. When you were not in audience, you usually spent your time {2B}. One night you were called to the Emperor's presence in a manner such that you knew the business was serious. He met you in his study and there told you he had a favor to ask.

Answers

1. "What school of magic have you been studying the longest?"
Destruction: "sending sparks of flame and ice flying around the yard" and "cast spells of destruction"
Restoration: "finding a wounded butterfly and send it flying again" and "perform healings and cures"
Illusion: "playing hide and seek, though she always turned invisible" and "vanish from human eyes"
Alteration: "leaping from the roof and then falling, slowly, like a leaf" and "change your body's weight"
Thaumaturgy: "walking on the surface on a nearby lake like it were ground" and "walk on the water's surface"
Mysticism: "casting a spell that made it impossible for you to speak" and "dispel sound from the air"

2. "What motivates you into a life of adventure?"
Riches: "He could ruin anyone economically who moved against him" and "talking and haggling with the merchants of the Imperial City"
Fame: "You longed to be the one to gain the honor of deposing him" and "sparring with off-duty members of the Imperial Guard"
Knowledge: "You marvelled at the knowledge Tharn must have accrued." and "learning how to tell the nobles what they wanted to hear"
Fun: "If it weren't suicidal, you would have enjoyed working against him" and "swimming in the murky black waters of the Caledon River"
Helping Others: "You vowed to avenge Tharn's evil against the innocent villagers" and "learning how to talk tough with the Imperial City locals"

4. "Since childhood, you have saved  ___."
100 gold pieces: "a bag of 100 gold pieces"
A favorite book: "a marvelous book"
A cuirass: "a cuirass"
A buckler: "a buckler"

5. "In gratitude for services rendered, the Emperor gave you ___."
Over 200 gold pieces: "200 gold pieces"
An ebony dagger: "an ebony dagger"
A book: "a rare magical item"
A ruby: "a fine red ruby"
A silver staff: "a silver staff"
An elven flail: "an elven flail"

Nightblade
Though your childhood was similar to that of other {race} children you knew, at age 10, your father thought you ready to begin learning thieving skills. You spent many happy hours in his work shop, practicing initially {1A}. Your skills developed slowly at first, and your father seemed to have to suppress his impatience at times. You applied yourself to your training more diligently than ever. It gradually became apparent to both you and your father that while you certainly would become a competent thief given time, you would never achieve his level of mastery. While you were studying {3A} techniques with your father, your mother began to teach you, in her quiet way, the use of magicka. It did not take long to determine that you had some definite potential. You discovered that you could use both sciences together, using the discipline from your {3A} and {4A} training to accelerate your development of {2A} spells. Your mother introduced you to some unusual, non-human creatures, mostly {5A}. You learned not only not to fear them, but also some of their language. One in particular, a female named {female name} took a liking to you and trained you further in spells of {6A} than your mother ever could. One night, your father brought you into his shop, a serious expression on his face. He explained that an agent of the Emperor himself had approached the heads of the local Thieves and Mages Guild. He had told them that the Emperor had heard rumors of a {8A} named {male name} who was supposed to have been allied with the imperial traitor Jagar Tharn. The Emperor dared not act against {male name} without proper evidence to verify his illegal actions. Your father suggested that, as a pair, you two were just right for the assignment. Excited about the chance to impress your father as much as the Emperor's reward, you agreed at once. Some nights later, you and your father broke into {male name}'s study and began searching for evidence of conspiracy. A noise out in the hall nearly caused you to drop the stack of papers you were carrying. Quickly, as agreed before, you moved off to the exit route carrying {male name}'s materials while your father headed off to provide a distraction. He gave you a wink and disappeared. You left the castle, and followed the escape route to your home. There, a portly mage and an Imperial courier examined the materials, and from their reactions, the evidence damned {male name}. You sat with your mother and fretfully awaited your father's return. The hours turned to days, and you numbly realized that you would never see your father again. The receipt of the Emperor's reward seemed small consolation for your loss. Some weeks later, a letter bearing the Imperial seal arrived at your house. You were requested in the Imperial City at once.

Answers

1. "What thieving skill have you been studying the longest?"
Dodging: "dodging techniques" / "defensive combat techniques" 
Stealth: "the art of silent movement" / "the skill of moving stealthily"
Backstabbing: "techniques for a skillful backstab" / "stabbing the back of a live target"
Lockpicking: "lockpicking skills" / "with his variety of picks and locks"
Pickpocketing: "pickpocketing techniques" / "ways to make every pocket accessible"
Climbing: "honing your ability to scale a wall" / "methods of climbing varieties of walls"
Critical-Striking: "the ancient arts of assassination" / "methods to make any blow a fatal one"
Running: "improving your speed" / "making yourself a faster runner"
Jumping: "practicing jumping high and long" / "developing your jumping ability"

2. "What school of magic have you been studying the longest?"
Destruction: "destructive"
Restoration: "restorative"
Illusion: "illusionary"
Alteration: "protean"
Thaumaturgy: "thaumaturgical"
Mysticism: "mystic"

3. "Where is your expertise in combat?"
Short-bladed weapons: "short blade"
Hand-to-hand combat: "hand-to-hand"
Axe fighting: "axe fighting"
Blunt weapons: "blunt weapon"
Archery: "bow and arrow" / "archery"

4. "As a child, your nickname was ___."
Rabbit: "jumping"
Guppy: "swimming"
Quicksilver: "racing"
Scrapper: "fighting"
Monkey: "climbing"

5. "You are friendlier than most with ___."
the savage Harpies: "the wild harpies from the islands"
the simple Giants: "the giants from a nearby mountain"
the glorious Dragons: "the small dragons who are kin to the Wyrm"
the immodest Nymphs: "the shy nymphs from a nearby lake"
the infernal Daedra: "the daedra from the plane of Oblivion"
the bucolic Spriggans: "the strange spriggan from the woodland"
the primitive Centaurs: "the half-man half-horse centaurs"
the mischevious Imps: "the mischevious imps of Oblivion"

6. "As you grew older, you received additional magical training in ___."
The School of Destruction: "destruction"
The School of Restoration: "healing"
The School of Illusion: "illusion"
The School of Alteration: "alteration"
The School of Thaumaturgy: "thaumaturgy"
The School of Mysticism: "mysticism"

8. "Of all disagreeable types, you have the most personal hatred for ___."
Sanctimonious priests: "priest"
Diabolic wizards: "wizard" / "sorceror"
Stupid peasants: "revolutionary" / "anarchist"
Power-mad robber barons: "warlord" / "robber baron"
Immoral assassins: "assassin"

Bard
Your parents   with a carnival throughout your youth, so you were exposed to the best and worst of Tamriel. From your mother you learned how to {1A}. From your father you learned many things -- how to {2A}, to {3A}, and the rudiments of {4A}. All could be used for defense as well as entertainment. The years between your tenth and twentieth birthdays are among the worst Tamriel has ever suffered. The carnival was not such a happy place, and movement within the land was severely restricted. Agents of the Emperor would search the countryside for enemies of the Empire and would question all quite rudely. You always hoped that such a refugee would make his way to the carnival, and then one day, one did. When the bedraggled young man was hidden away, you had your opportunity to have fun with the Imperial agents. Gleefully, you convinced half of the agents that you were their commanding officer in disguise and sent them after the other agents, insisting they were double-agents. It turned out to be your last prank. You were shortly after jailed as an enemy of the Emperor. When the true Emperor took his throne back from the usurper Jagar Tharn, all political prisoners, including you, were released from the dungeons. You and only you were bathed, dressed in fine clothing, and presented to the Emperor himself. Emperor Uriel told you that the young man whose life you saved at the carnival was his own son, the prince {Imperial name}. The Emperor congratulated you on your ability to charm, confuse, and befuddle and gave you {6A} as a token of his appreciation. He also asked you for a special favor.

Answers

1. "What school of magic have you been studying the longest?"
Destruction: "cast spells of destruction"
Restoration: "perform healings and cures"
Illusion: "vanish from human eyes"
Alteration: "change your body's weight"
Thaumaturgy: "walk on the water's surface"
Mysticism: "dispel sound from the air"

2. "As a child, your nickname was ___".
Rabbit: "jump high"
Quicksilver: "run swiftly"
Scrapper: "fight dirty"
Monkey: "climb anything"

3. "You have a certain degree of training with ___."
Short-bladed weapons: "fight with a dagger"
Hand-to-hand combat: "box" / "kick and punch"
Axe fighting: "fight with an axe"
Blunt weapons: "use a club"
Archery: "shoot an arrow"
Longblade: "fence" / "fight with a blade"

4.	"Whenever you had a chance growing up you liked to spend time ___."
socializing with aristocrats: "social climbing" / "hobnobbing" / "socializing"
learning streetsmarts: "slumming" / "urban adventure"
practicing acrobatics: "acrobatics" / "practicing acrobatics" / "tumbling"
learning economics: "economics" / "haggling" / "studying economics"
swimming: "swimming"
sparring: "sparring" / "boxing"

6. "Given your choice of reward, you would choose ___."
Over 200 gold pieces: "a bag filled with gold" / "a bag with 200 gold pieces" / "a gold-filled purse"
An ebony dagger: "an ebony dagger" / "a dagger wrought of ebony"
A book: "a most wonderful book" / "an insightful book" / "a fascinating tome"
A ruby: "a single beautiful ruby" / "an exquisite red ruby"
A silver staff: "a staff forged in silver" / "a sparkling silver staff"
An amulet: "an amulet"

Burglar
You were born to a peasant family in a tiny village in the {home province feature} of {home province}. Your parents and older brothers were hard workers, proud of their strength and endurance. The only thing big about you was your appetite. You were of an inquisitive nature. No cupboard, closet, or drawer was safe from your prying eyes and fingers. You left no traces, but still your father and brothers beat you when they caught you. By the time you were eleven, they no longer caught you. Your mother taught you {1A} and {2A}, but you had no other schooling and wanted none. Once, you climbed the wall of the local {3A} and spied on the young {3B} at practice. When their equipment was left lying about you took it for your own. In this way, you acquired a {3C}. You also adopted a jacket shed by its owner and wore it proudly about the village. One day, you saw some village boys hurling stones and insults at an old woman named {female name}. Moved by an impulse you did not understand, you flung rocks back at the boys. They laughed, but as you drew near, they turned and ran away. You went back to {female name} and offered to see her to her door. "Come inside," {female name} said. "I have something for you." Her cottage was just one room, with cats and kittens everywhere. "Sit down," she said, removing two cats from a stool. "I'm going to teach you about {4A}." "Why?" you asked. "The cats don't need training in {4A}," {female name} said. "You do. Or will. No matter." Thus your training began. Her hands could no longer perform, but her mind was still efficacious. You and {female name} became friends, as well as student and teacher. On your sixteenth birthday, she told you that you must leave. Your little village was too small for someone of your talents. "What of you?" you asked. "I also must move on. Perhaps some day you will visit me in the Iliac Bay? I would like that. Until then, I have my memories and my cats." On your way to the Imperial City, you stopped in an inn and heard that the Emperor was to pass the next day. Instead of sneaking into a room, you spent the night in a tree beside the road. You wanted to see the Emperor, later there would always be chances to {12A}. The procession was very splendid indeed, but a nearby rustle drew your attention. A black clad man was crouching on a limb ten feet beneath you. You gasped before you could stop yourself, and he twisted around, bringing his bow to bear on you. With no time to draw a weapon, you flung yourself at him, and together you crashed down on the heads below, just as the Emperor's carriage drew abreast. Hands seized you roughly. You felt dizzy and a trail of fire burned along your left arm. Poison! Then a white robed elf muttered an incantation over you. Your arm cooled and your head cleared. The Emperor himself thanked you and gave you {5A}. The local folk treated you to drinks and food and unaccustomed praise. Later you slipped away and found that in addition to {5A}, the Emperor had handed you a note inviting you to share an audience with him at the Imperial Palace. You set out immediately.

Answers

1. "At an early age, your family considered it important that you learn how to ___."
Mend simple wounds: "medicine"
Ingratiate yourself: "etiquette" / "manners" / "decorum" / "good form"
Boss people around: "intimidation" / "the way of the streets" / "bullying"
Haggle with merchants: "haggling" / "negotiation" / "bargaining"
Fight with a knife: "knife-fighting"

2. "You were an active child, ___ than anyone else your age."
faster: "racing" / "running"
sneakier: "stealth" / "concealment"
a better climber: "climbing" / "scaling walls"
a better swimmer: "swimming"
a better brawler: "fisticuffs" / "boxing" / "brawling"

3. "You can get most of the things you want by stealing from ___."
Rich Nobles: "palace" / "castle" / "mansion", "squires" / "brats" / "aristocrats", and "shortsword" / "fine blade"
Mages and Sages: "Mages Guild", "apprentices" / "students" / "novices" / "scholars", and "book"
Established Temples: "temple" / "chantry" / "monastery" / "abbey", "disciples" / "neonates", and "bottle of holy water"
Diversified Merchants: "college" / "school" / "training ground", "students" / "brats" / "squires", and "dagger and a tanto" / "tanto and a dagger" / "assortment of blades"

4. "The one skill you could not work without must be ___."
Lockpicking: "locks" / "locks and picks"
Pickpocketing: "picking pockets" / "pickpocketing"
Stealthy Movement: "concealment" / "hiding in shadows" / "evasion" / "subterfuge"
Dodging: "dodging"
Climbing: "climbing" / "scaling walls"
Backstabbing: "backstabbing" / "dirty tricks" / "dirty fighting"

5. "Though certainly not due to hard work, you happen legitimately to own ___."
Over 200 gold pieces: "a bag filled with gold" / "a bag with 200 gold pieces" / "a gold-filled purse"
An ebony dagger: "an ebony dagger" / "a dagger wrought of ebony"
A book: "a most wonderful book" / "an insightful book" / "a fascinating tome"
A ruby: "a single beautiful ruby" / "an exquisite red ruby"
A silver staff: "a staff forged in silver" / "a sparkling silver staff"
Some holy water: "a flask of holy water" / "a bottle of holy water"

12. "  preferred criminal method is ___."
catburglary: "break into some merchant's house" / "check out the pickings in the area" / "see if the locals locked their windows"
mugging: "beat up a few rich-looking locals" / "lure a nabob into a nearby alley"
pickpocketing: "see what the locals had in their pockets" / "check out what the local pockets offered" / "do a little practice pickpocketing"
swindling: "part some of the locals and their loot" / "see how stupid the local populace was" / "spread a little misinformation for money"
smuggling: "see what smuggling opportunities were available" / "sell a few blackmarket articles for profit" / "see what the merchants wanted but could not get"
bankrobbing: "check out the security of the local bank" / "begin studying the layout of the local bank" / "start innocently inquiring about the local bank"

Rogue
You grew up on the streets, an urchin in your little village in the {home province feature} of {home province}. You do not know when you first learned to {1A} or to {2A} or when {3A}. You only know that your skills and your philosophy are what kept you alive and sane during the dark years when Jagar Tharn usurped the throne of the rightful emperor. Tharn's agents even searched out your little village, looking for political   and other undesirables. Those they found disappeared forever. For the benefit of all, an uneasy alliance formed between you and all the other villagers who were in questionable lines of work. One night, you witnessed a ragged boy being pursued by a dozen blackclad agents of Jagar Tharn. You took a shortcut through the alleys to meet the boy, and it took little effort to convince him to run with you. The two of you stole into a concealed cellar and waited for the agents to pass. The boy was obviously not from the village, and when you asked him his name, he told you,  , "{Imperial name}." You laughed at his royal sounding name, and he told you very seriously that he was the son of the rightful ruler of Tamriel and that an imposter was on the throne. At the time, you humored his boyish imagination. Now, of course, you know that he was telling the truth. You told him the best way out of the village, avoiding the areas frequented by the blackclad ones, and he told you that when he saw his father again, you would be properly thanked for that act of kindness. Some years later, your luck ran out and you were imprisoned on the charge of {4A}. You had been in jail for several days when you received a visitor in the full regalia of an Imperial courier. He told you that in reward for your service to Prince {Imperial name}, you were granted full pardon and {5A} You were also given a simple, unpretentious letter inviting you the Imperial City for an audience with the Emperor. You had your eyes set on a bigger fishpond anyhow, so you went.

Answers

1. "You have a certain degree of training with ___."
Short-bladed weapons: "fight with a dagger"
Hand-to-hand combat: "box" / "kick and punch"
Axe fighting: "fight with an axe"
Blunt weapons: "use a club"
Archery: "shoot an arrow"
Longblade: "fence" / "fight with a blade"

2. "What thieving skill have you been studying the longest?"
Dodging: "dodge"
Stealth: "sneak"
Backstabbing: "backstab"
Lockpicking: "pick locks"
Pickpocketing: "pick pockets"
Climbing: "climb" / "climb walls"
Critical-Striking: "strike fatally"
Running: "run" / "run fast"
Jumping: "jump" / "jump high"

3. "What motivates you into a life of adventure?"
Riches: "you decided nothing else mattered but gold"
Fame: "you realized you had a great destiny ahead of you"
Knowledge: "you began to train your mind to hold great knowledge"
Fun: "you developed a sense of humor and a sense of fun"
Helping Others: "you developed a system of honor, giving your life meaning"

4. "  preferred criminal method is ___."
catburglary: "breaking and entering. And stealing"
mugging: "beating up some nobs for their gold"
pickpocketing: "pickpocketing around the village"
swindling: "swindling some stupes out of their gold"
smuggling: "smuggling some Aegrotat into the village"
bankrobbing: "making an illegal withdrawal at the bank"

5. "Given your choice of reward, you would choose ___."
200 gold pieces: "a bag filled with gold" / "a bag with 200 gold pieces" / "a gold-filled purse"
An ebony dagger: "an ebony dagger" / "a dagger wrought of ebony"
A book: "a most wonderful book" / "an insightful book" / "a fascinating tome"
A ruby: "a single beautiful ruby" / "an exquisite red ruby"
A silver staff: "a staff forged in silver" / "a sparkling silver staff"
An amulet: "an amulet"

Acrobat
You grew up on a farm and became quite agile from continually rounding up wandering sheep. One Merchants Festival, while visiting the village with your family, you were intrigued with a group of wandering acrobats and decided that you wanted to become an acrobat yourself. At home you started practicing even though your parents complained that you were neglecting your duties. Finally, when you were just old enough to be called an adult, you ran away from home. You never did find that carnival troupe. You wandered to a small village deep in the {home province feature} and learned to {1A} and to {2A} and {3A}. You know that your skills and your philosophy are what kept you alive and sane during the dark years when Jagar Tharn usurped the throne of the rightful emperor. Tharn's agents even searched out that little village, looking for political   and other undesirables. Those they found disappeared forever. For the benefit of all, an uneasy alliance formed between you and all the other villagers who were in questionable lines of work. One night, you witnessed a ragged boy being pursued by a dozen blackclad agents of Jagar Tharn. You took a shortcut through the alleys to meet the boy, and it took little effort to convince him to run with you. The two of you stole into a concealed cellar and waited for the agents to pass. The boy was obviously not from the village, and when you asked him his name, he told you,  , "{Imperial name}." You laughed at his royal sounding name, and he told you very seriously that he was the son of the rightful ruler of Tamriel and that an imposter was on the throne. At the time, you humored his boyish imagination. Now, of course, you know that he was telling the truth. You told him the best way out of the village, avoiding the areas frequented by the blackclad ones, and he told you that when he saw his father again, you would be properly thanked for that act of kindness. Some years later, your luck ran out and you were imprisoned on the charge of {4A}. You had been in jail for several days when you received a visitor in the full regalia of an Imperial courier. He told you that in reward for your service to Prince {Imperial name}, you were granted full pardon and {5A} You were also given a simple, unpretentious letter inviting you the Imperial City for an audience with the Emperor. You had your eyes set on a bigger fishpond anyhow, so you went.

Answers

1. "You have a certain degree of training with ___."
Short-bladed weapons: "fight with a dagger"
Hand-to-hand combat: "box" / "kick and punch"
Axe fighting: "fight with an axe"
Blunt weapons: "use a club"
Archery: "shoot an arrow"
Longblade: "fence" / "fight with a blade"

2. "What thieving skill have you been studying the longest?"
Dodging: "dodge"
Stealth: "sneak"
Backstabbing: "backstab"
Lockpicking: "pick locks"
Pickpocketing: "pick pockets"
Climbing: "climb" / "climb walls"
Critical-Striking: "strike fatally"
Running: "run" / "run fast"
Jumping: "jump" / "jump high"

3. "What motivates you into a life of adventure?"
Riches: "you decided nothing else mattered but gold"
Fame: "you realized you had a great destiny ahead of you"
Knowledge: "you began to train your mind to hold great knowledge"
Fun: "you developed a sense of humor and a sense of fun"
Helping Others: "you developed a system of honor, giving your life meaning"

4. "  preferred criminal method is ___."
catburglary: "breaking and entering. And stealing"
mugging: "beating up some nobs for their gold"
pickpocketing: "pickpocketing around the village"
swindling: "swindling some stupes out of their gold"
smuggling: "smuggling some Aegrotat into the village"
bankrobbing: "making an illegal withdrawal at the bank"

5. "Given your choice of reward, you would choose ___."
a.	200 gold pieces
200 gold pieces: "a bag filled with gold" / "a bag with 200 gold pieces" / "a gold-filled purse"
An ebony dagger: "an ebony dagger" / "a dagger wrought of ebony"
An interesting book: "a most wonderful book" / "an insightful book" / "a fascinating tome"
A ruby: "a single beautiful ruby" / "an exquisite red ruby"
A silver staff: "a staff forged in silver" / "a sparkling silver staff"
An amulet: "an amulet"

Thief
You might not ever have been a thief, for you had been raised and trained from an early age to be {1A}. Until the fateful day when the caravan your master, {male name}, and you were   in was waylaid by   orc tribe, you were content that your place in life was set. Suddenly, everything you believed in was proved false. The treacherous {1B} you had put your faith in sacrificed you in order that he might escape the orcs. Though you managed to survive in your new role as a captive of the orcs, you never again would trust {1A}. You had grown up among the superstitious people in the backwater {home province feature} of {home province}, and had believed that orcs were demons or daedra, but you found the tribe to be   civil. They needed a {race} to interpret the books they had found about the ancient orcish capital of Orsinium. As you stayed with them and learned their language, you developed a respect for their primitive but noble ambitions. Nevertheless, you knew that you needed the society of other {race} people, so when the opportunity rose, you escaped. Times were difficult all over {home province}, but you found that the {2A} and {3A} skills you had developed in the orc camp allowed you to be a fairly successful thief. One night, while ransacking a nobleman's townhouse, you came across correspondence between him and the former Imperial Battlemage Jagar Tharn. You sold these to a contact you had in town for more gold than you anticipated they would be worth. You did not realize their full value until you received a visit from Prince {Imperial name} in your room at the tavern. He told you that Jagar Tharn had been magically impersonating his father for the past ten years, and only recently had the true Emperor been restored. Loyal subjects like you were rare and the Emperor wished to thank you personally. You   with Prince {Imperial name} to the Imperial City and there you were presented to the Emperor. He was indeed very grateful for your service and gave you {4A}. He also asked you for a favor.

Answers

1. "Of all disagreeable types, you have the most personal hatred for ___."
Sanctimonious priests: "a priest" / "a cleric" and "priest" / "cleric"
Diabolic wizards: "a wizard" / "a mage" and "mage"
Power-mad robber barons: "a knight" / "a noble" and "noble" / "lord" / "gentleman"
Greedy Merchants: "a merchant" / "a speculator" / "a financier" and "merchant"

2. "The one skill you could not work without must be ___."
Lockpicking: "locks" / "locks and picks"
Pickpocketing: "picking pockets" / "pickpocketing"
Stealthy Movement: "concealment" / "hiding in shadows" / "evasion" / "subterfuge"
Dodging: "dodging"
Climbing: "climbing" / "scaling walls"
Backstabbing: "backstabbing" / "dirty tricks" / "dirty fighting"

3. "Where is your expertise in combat?"
Short-bladed weapons: "tanto weaponry" / "shortblade-work" / "dagger fighting"
Hand-to-hand combat: "martial arts" / "hand-to-hand" / "boxing"
Axe fighting: "axe fighting" / "hatchet weaponry"
Blunt weapons: "club fighting" / "blunt weaponry" / "staff fighting"
Archery: "archery"

4. "In gratitude for services rendered, the Emperor gave you ___."
Over 200 gold pieces: "a bag filled with gold" / "a bag with 200 gold pieces" / "a gold-filled purse"
An ebony dagger: "an ebony dagger" / "a dagger wrought of ebony"
An interesting book: "a most wonderful book" / "an insightful book" / "a fascinating tome"
A ruby: "a single beautiful ruby" / "an exquisite red ruby"
A silver staff: "a staff forged in silver" / "a sparkling silver staff"
An amulet: "an amulet"

Assassin
You grew up on the streets, an urchin in your little village in the {home province feature} of {home province}. You do not know when you first learned to {1A} or to {2A} or when {3A}. You only know that your skills and your philosophy are what kept you alive and sane during the dark years when Jagar Tharn usurped the throne of the rightful emperor. Tharn's agents even searched out your little village, looking for political dissendents and other undesirables. Those they found disappeared forever. For the benefit of all, an uneasy alliance formed between you and all the other villagers who were in questionable lines of work. One night, you witnessed a ragged boy being pursued by a dozen blackclad agents of Jagar Tharn. You took a shortcut through the alleys to meet the boy, and it took little effort to convince him to run with you. The two of you stole into a concealed cellar and waited for the agents to pass. The boy was obviously not from the village, and when you asked him his name, he told you, hesistantly, "{Imperial name}." You laughed at his royal sounding name, and he told you very seriously that he was the son of the rightful ruler of Tamriel and that an imposter was on the throne. At the time, you humored his boyish imagination. Now, of course, you know that he was telling the truth. You told him the best way out of the village, avoiding the areas frequented by the blackclad ones, and he told you that when he saw his father again, you would be properly thanked for that act of kindness. Some years later, your luck ran out and you were imprisoned on the charge of {4A}. You had been in jail for several days when you received a visitor in the full regalia of an Imperial courier. He told you that in reward for your service to Prince {Imperial name}, you were granted full pardon and {5A} You were also given a simple, unpretentious letter inviting you the Imperial City for an audience with the Emperor. You had your eyes set on a bigger fishpond anyhow, so you went.

Answers

1. "You have a certain degree of training with ___."
Short-bladed weapons: "fight with a dagger"
Hand-to-hand combat: "box" / "kick and punch"
Axe fighting: "fight with an axe"
Blunt weapons: "use a club"
Archery: "shoot an arrow"
Longblade: "fence" / "fight with a blade"

2. "What thieving skill have you been studying the longest?"
Dodging: "dodge"
Stealth: "sneak"
Backstabbing: "backstab"
Lockpicking: "pick locks"
Pickpocketing: "pick pockets"
Climbing: "climb" / "climb walls"
Critical-Striking: "strike fatally"
Running: "run" / "run fast"
Jumping: "jump" / "jump high"

3. "What motivates you into a life of adventure?"
Riches: "you decided nothing else mattered but gold"
Fame: "you realized you had a great destiny ahead of you"
Knowledge: "you began to train your mind to hold great knowledge"
Fun: "you developed a sense of humor and a sense of fun"
Helping Others: "you developed a system of honor, giving your life meaning"

4. "  preferred criminal method is ___."
catburglary: "breaking and entering. And stealing"
mugging: "beating up some nobs for their gold"
pickpocketing: "pickpocketing around the village"
swindling: "swindling some stupes out of their gold"
smuggling: "smuggling some Aegrotat into the village"
bankrobbing: "making an illegal withdrawal at the bank"

5. "Given your choice of reward, you would choose ___."
200 gold pieces: "a bag filled with gold" / "a bag with 200 gold pieces" / "a gold-filled purse"
An ebony dagger: "an ebony dagger" / "a dagger wrought of ebony"
A book: "a most wonderful book" / "an insightful book" / "a fascinating tome"
A ruby: "a single beautiful ruby" / "an exquisite red ruby"
A silver staff: "a staff forged in silver" / "a sparkling silver staff"
A suit of armor: "a set of armor"

Monk
You have vague memories of living in a city with a young woman and man, but for most of your childhood you lived in a small home on the edge of a densely forested area. There the elderly man that you called "grandfather" performed his duties as the unofficial warden of the forest, and also sheriff of the nearby area. Your supposed grandfather was really much too old for that to be his true relationship to you, but he did care for you with a tenderness that was at odds with his otherwise gruff exterior. Your early years are recalled as an endless stream of days spent out of doors, wearing only loose clothing or the simple robe that your grandfather favored. He taught you about {1A} and how to {3A} and {9A}. And when there were no warding duties for him to perform, there was always weapons practice; your grandfather had mastered an incredible variety of weaponry, and insisted that you become familiar with each one. He was often required to deal with some forest predator that had been causing local problems, or with bands of brigands passing through the area, and you were proud whenever you were able to help. It was just such an outlaw band that caused the combat wound that was ultimately fatal to your grandfather. You and he were able to return to his home, and at first he tried to act as if this were just another scratch, to be allowed to naturally heal. But finally even he faced the inevitability of his age and accumulated injuries, and he gave you careful instructions concerning the disposition of his possessions. He also told you to go to a temple being run by an old friend of his, to continue your growth and sustain your {1A} training and allow you to continue {3B}. A few days later, your grandfather died with the quiet dignity that he had always displayed. You were distraught at the loss of the only friend and family that you had ever had, but you packed your few belongings and travelled to the temple, honoring your grandfather's request. {female name}, the chief priestess of the temple was an older woman, but she was much younger than your grandfather had been. You shared your sorrow with her for your recent loss. Then you agreed with her that, besides general training in {1A} and similar studies, you would ignore the set of courses dealing with armor and shields. To pay for your training, you used your forestry skills to provide a regular supply of fresh meat for the temple's larder. Some years later, on a day that seemed like any other, you had just returned from collecting game for the food supply when the chief priestess came to see you. She told you that she received a message that an Imperial coach was ambushed at a location close to the temple, and that important people and material needed to be recovered. You allowed yourself an hour to perform your grandfather's favorite meditation exercises, and left on this new mission both refreshed and with some insight concerning where to search for the robbers. Your meditations bore fruit at dusk, as you stealthily approached an encampment approximately where you had expected it to be. Throughout the night you gradually stalked and subdued the camp guard, but then you had to kill all of the other outlaws because they resisted capture. You were abashed to return to the temple shortly after breakfast with only one captive, a maidservant, and a mundane chest of government documents. However, when the Imperial representative arrived to claim your results, she sought you out to congratulate you on a most successful mission. Although you never knew for certain whether the maidservant or some of the documents somehow had importance, you were not surprised when you later received a most interesting letter from the Imperial Palace, simply inviting you to the palace on urgent business. You left the temple immediately for the Imperial City.

Answers

1. "Your favored weapon type is ___."
Short-bladed weapons: "tanto weaponry" / "shortblade-work" / "dagger fighting"
Axe fighting: "axe fighting" / "hatchet weaponry"
Blunt weapons: "club fighting" / "blunt weaponry" / "staff fighting"
Archery: "archery"
Longblade: "longblade" / "fencing" / "swordfighting"
	
3. "Which of the following skills have you been studying the longest?"
Dodging: "dodge" and "dodging techniques" / "defensive combat techniques" 
Stealth: "sneak" and "the art of silent movement" / "the skill of moving stealthily"
Backstabbing: "backstab" and "techniques for a skillful backstab" / "stabbing the back of a live target"
Lockpicking: "pick locks" and "lockpicking skills" / "with his variety of picks and locks"
Pickpocketing: "pick pockets" and "pickpocketing techniques" / "ways to make every pocket accessible"
Climbing: "climb" / "climb walls" and "honing your ability to scale a wall" / "methods of climbing varieties of walls"
Critical-Striking: "strike fatally" and "the ancient arts of assassination" / "methods to make any blow a fatal one"
Running: "run" / "run fast" and "improving your speed" / "making yourself a faster runner"
Jumping: "jump" / "jump high" and "practicing jumping high and long" / "developing your jumping ability"

9. "You are friendlier than most with ___."
the savage Harpies: "speak the Harpie tongue"
the simple Giants: "converse with the Giants"
the glorious Dragons: "talk (a bit!) to Dragons"
the immodest Nymphs: "speak somewhat with Nymphs"
the infernal Daedra: "speak some words of Daedric"
the bucolic Spriggans: "converse with the Spriggan"
the primitive Centaurs: "talk with Centaurs"
the mischevious Imps: "talk (a bit!) with Imps"

Archer
When you were three or four, you became lost from your parents for several days. You do not remember much about that time lost in the {home province feature} except that a group of strange creatures rescued you from a band of {5A}. When you finally made it back to your parents' house, you described your rescuers, and were told they were {6A}. Even today, you remember some words of their language. When you were of age, you joined the local militia to see more of the world. You excelled at the training the militia gave you in archery. There seemed to be no limit to the distance you could shoot an arrow, and you were often used by your masters as the model for less adept students. In a few years time, you became a master yourself. The shot that changed your fortune, however, was a bad shot. You missed the tree you were aiming for and struck the branches of a tree across the road, frightening a concealed assassin who was waiting for the caravan of Prince {Imperial name}, son of the Emperor. The assassin was brought to the authorities, and the head of the militia, desirous of imperial reward, told the story of your misaimed arrow as if it were an expert shot from a loyal subject. You soon found yourself invited to court, as a member of the Imperial Guard. In the court of the Emperor, you continued to practice your archery and, in addition, learned many new techniques from the daily {1A} practice. To stay motivated, {2A} and that gave you strength for the endless hours of work and the weariness of weapon drills. You were overjoyed when you received word that the Emperor had a quest for you, one that required the utmost tact and unswerving loyalty. When you came to the palace that night, you were surprised to find that the Emperor was not surrounded by his usual large retinue, merely his chief advisor, the Imperial Battlemage Ocato. There you were told of the affair of Daggerfall.

Answers

1. "Besides the bow and arrow, you are best at ___."
Short-bladed weapons: "short blade"
Hand-to-hand combat: "hand-to-hand"
Axe fighting: "axe fighting"
Blunt weapons: "blunt weapon"
Longblade: "longblade" / "fencing" / "swordfighting"

2. "What motivates you into a life of adventure?"
Riches: "you decided nothing else mattered but gold"
Fame: "you realized you had a great destiny ahead of you"
Knowledge: "you began to train your mind to hold great knowledge"
Fun: "you developed a sense of humor and a sense of fun"
Helping Others: "you developed a system of honor, giving your life meaning"

5. "Of all disagreeable types, you have the most personal hatred for ___."
Sanctimonious priests: "religious zealots" / "maniacal priests" / "religious fanatics"
Diabolic wizards: "malevolent wizards" / "fanatical warlocks"
Stupid peasants: "misled peasants" / "cretinous peasants" / "half-witted farmers"
Power-mad robber barons: "corrupt knights" / "oppressive warriors" / "  soldiers"

6. "You have an unusually high affinity with ___."
the savage Harpies: "the wild harpies from the islands"
the simple Giants: "the giants from a nearby mountain"
the glorious Dragons: "the small dragons who are kin to the Wyrm"
the immodest Nymphs: "the shy nymphs from a nearby lake"
the infernal Daedra: "the daedra from the plane of Oblivion"
the bucolic Spriggans: "the strange spriggan from the woodland"
the primitive Centaurs: "the half-man half-horse centaurs"
the mischevious Imps: "the mischevious imps of Oblivion"

Ranger
You spent most of your childhood roaming the {home province feature} with your mother, and she is the one who piqued your fascination with {9A} through her tales and legends about them. She even knew some words of their language which she taught to you. You vowed to find one, and so you applied yourself diligently to your mother's lessons about the ways of the {home province feature} and its many inhabitants. Later, your merchant father took you to his offices and familiarized you with his work, but no interest in this ever really developed. You did benefit from the stable home that your parents provided, and your father lovingly provided the gold pieces that were required to broaden your {1A} training. Your greatest joy was always to head into the {home province feature}, be it for a few hours or a week, packing only some food and your {1B}. You wandered the {home province feature} paths and amusing yourself by pursuing your childhood fantasy to detect and track one of those remarkable creatures. It was around the time that you had completed almost all of your {1A} courses that you first noticed a set of tracks of a type that you had never seen previously. They seemed both to begin and end out of nowhere. About two weeks later, you spotted some bent branches that led you to a different set of unknown prints that began and ended as the previous set had. The next morning you reviewed your mental picture of the patterns of tracks, and quartered in towards their apparent source. Suddenly a nightmare of hair, teeth and claws leapt out of the bushes about ten feet in front of you. You scrambled up a tree, and heard the wild man right behind you, grunting with glee. As you climbed higher, you heard a branch break under you and turned to see the man land hard on the ground. Recognizing the opportunity, you leapt down beside him and {1C}. You investigated the bushes where he had come from, and discovered a cave where the cannibal had kept the bones of several less fortunate rangers. You also found a ragged young boy in chains, evidently the meal you interrupted. After you freed him, he told you his name was {Imperial name}, and he was a son of the Emperor Uriel Septim. Something about him made you believe him, even when he told you that his father's counselor Jagar Tharn has usurped his throne, and forced {Imperial name} and his brothers into hiding. You gave the lad the gold in your purse and wished him good luck, and you never told anyone about the incident with the cannibal in the {home province feature}. Some months later, however, your family was mystified when you received a package from the Emperor himself, inviting you to the Imperial City so you might receive your reward.

Answers

1. "You are most fond of using ___."
Short-bladed weapons: "dagger" / "tanto" / "shortsword", "dagger" / "tanto" / "shortsword", and "drove a stiletto into his heart" / "slit his throat with your dagger"
Hand-to-hand combat: "boxing" / "sparring" / "fighting", "boxing" / "sparring" / "fighting", and "snapped his neck with your other hand" / "strangled him where he lay"
Axe fighting: "battleaxe" / "waraxe" / "axe", "battleaxe" / "waraxe" / "axe", and "buried your hatchet in his chest" / "hacked him to pieces with your axe"
Blunt weapons: "flail" / "mace" / "warhammer" / "staff", "flail" / "mace" / "warhammer" / "staff", and "crushed his skull with your mace" / "clubbed him to death with your flail"
Archery: "archery" / "longbow" / "shortbow", "bow", and "pushed an arrow through his skull"
Longblade: "broadsword" / "saber" / "katana" / "claymore", "broadsword" / "saber" / "katana" / "claymore", and "gutted him with your handy katana" / "hacked off his head with your claymore"

9. "You are friendlier than most with ___."
the savage Harpies: "the wild harpies from the islands"
the simple Giants: "the giants from a nearby mountain"
the glorious Dragons: "the small dragons who are kin to the Wyrm"
the immodest Nymphs: "the shy nymphs from a nearby lake"
the infernal Daedra: "the daedra from the plane of Oblivion"
the bucolic Spriggans: "the strange spriggan from the woodland"
the primitive Centaurs: "the half-man half-horse centaurs"
the mischevious Imps: "the mischevious imps of Oblivion"

Barbarian
When you were very young, your parents joined a group that was moving to the outskirts of the civilized area of {home province} to start a new village in the {home province feature}. Your childhood was spent helping to do the mundane and grueling work required by this sort of venture. The physical hardiness inherited from your parents helped considerably in this regard, and you developed physically at an early age. You also showed some skill at {1A}, and spent time with an elder of the village who had you practice {3A}. Your prowess grew as your warrior skills developed, supported by a ready grasp of {1A}. Unfortunately, you eventually found that you had reached the limit of what you could learn in the {home province feature}, so one day you reluctantly approached your parents. After much discussion and resistance, they grudgingly supported your request to travel to a fighting school to continue your training, cautioning you that you would have to support yourself during this time. Although saddened to separate from your parents and siblings, you were excited at the prospect of seeing some of the fabled civilization of Tamriel. While at the fighting school, you worked after hours at various odd jobs. These included guard assignments and bouncer duty at a local inn, both of which additionally provided opportunities for you to polish your skills. You also became friends with an classmate named {female name}. When {female name} completed the training, you vowed to make regular visits to the Imperial City. However, your first trip to the Imperial City also included your first exposure to the distaste that some of the inhabitants and members of the court express toward someone of your physical presence and comparatively coarse manners. Your only compensation for this was the ready friendship shown by many of the Imperial Guard. On your third visit to the Imperial City, you were looking for {female name} when one of the Guard told you that a small group of mercenaries, including {female name}, had been attacked and captured by suspected supporters of the former Imperial usurper, Jagar Tharn. Without waiting for reinforcements, you set off immediately. When you finally found the rebel encampment you hesitated because of the size of the outlaw band. You did not procrastinate for long. You used the natural cover of the woodland to your advantage and, one by one, you stalked your target and {1B}. Luckily, just when even you were beginning to tire, some of the captives, led by {female name}, escaped their bonds and helped to finish off the remainder of the band. Your group made its way back to the Imperial City, where you also enjoyed the congratulations of many of the Guard. And then shortly thereafter, you received a message from the Emperor himself.

Answers

1. "You are most fond of using ___."
Short-bladed weapons: "tanto weaponry" / "shortblade-work" / "dagger fighting" and "drove a stiletto into his heart" / "slit his throat with your dagger"
Hand-to-hand combat: "martial arts" / "hand-to-hand" / "boxing" and "snapped his neck with your other hand" / "strangled him where he lay"
Axe fighting: "axe fighting" / "hatchet weaponry" and "buried your hatchet in his chest" / "hacked him to pieces with your axe"
Blunt weapons: "club fighting" / "blunt weaponry" / "staff fighting" and "crushed his skull with your mace" / "clubbed him to death with your flail"
Archery: "archery" and "pushed an arrow through his skull"
Longblade: "longblade" / "fencing" / "swordfighting" and "gutted him with your handy katana" / "hacked off his head with your claymore"
	
3. "Which of the following skills have you been studying the longest?"
Dodging: "dodging techniques" / "defensive combat techniques" 
Stealth: "the art of silent movement" / "the skill of moving stealthily"
Backstabbing: "techniques for a skillful backstab" / "stabbing the back of a live target"
Lockpicking: "lockpicking skills" / "with his variety of picks and locks"
Pickpocketing: "pickpocketing techniques" / "ways to make every pocket accessible"
Climbing: "honing your ability to scale a wall" / "methods of climbing varieties of walls"
Critical-Striking: "the ancient arts of assassination" / "methods to make any blow a fatal one"
Running: "improving your speed" / "making yourself a faster runner"
Jumping: "practicing jumping high and long" / "developing your jumping ability"

Warrior
Your earliest memories are of being hungry, cold and alone. You never were able to find out who your parents were, or how you came to be left to survive by yourself in the city streets. You can recall only a few mental scenes from your childhood. One of the more vivid ones were finding {10A} on a corpse in an alley. Much of your childhood was a daily struggle simply to stay alive, and retain your few possessions, and you can remember distinctly the time when {2A}. As you got older, only a few people were able to penetrate the shell that was forming around your friendlier inclinations. The most significant of them was {female name}, who had just been accepted to the city guards. At first, {female name} would bring you food and provide some weapons practice and advice for you, but eventually she sponsored your petition for acceptance to a novice warriors' school, and provided a portion of the gold required as payment. Then, after your training was complete, she was able to get you a job as a guard for one of the many merchants' caravans that criss-crossed Tamriel's roads and provinces. Over the next two years, you rented yourself to a succession of these caravans, learning much of Tamriel and its inhabitants. You also polished your {1A} skills with some actual fighting experiences in the rougher and more unsettled portions of the continent. You found it easy to transfer your early self-defensive inclinations to the caravan as a whole. Finally though, you decided to return to your home city and seek out your friend {female name}. You discovered, however, that she had likewise progressed quickly, and had been invited to the Imperial City to join a troop of the Imperial Guards. The trip to the capital drained your funds, so you immediately took a job there, working evenings at maintaining order in one of the rowdier inns. You made friends with all the regulars in the inn, but your sympathy was won by a nervous, mute boy who kept the bar stocked. He seemed so frightened and alone that he reminded you of your own lonely childhood. When one of the drunken regulars stuck the boy, you leapt to his defense. The boy looked at you with such gratitude that your heart almost broke. Then, a few days later, he disappeared. Months later, while you were helping restock the cellar, you were called to the front door, and there was the boy again. This time he was dressed in Imperial robes and surrounded by escorts including {female name}. The "mute" boy spoke in an unmistakably aristocratic voice, "My name is Prince {Imperial name}, son of the true Emperor of Tamriel, Uriel Septim VII. When I was in hiding, fleeing from the wrath of the usurper Jagar Tharn, you befriended me and saved my life. Please accept the greatest gift the Emperor can bestow, his gratitude." He also presented you with a summons from the Emperor himself, who apparently had need of a champion such as you. Perhaps your luck was finally beginning to change.

Answers

1. "You are most fond of using ___."
Short-bladed weapons: "tanto weaponry" / "shortblade-work" / "dagger fighting"
Hand-to-hand combat: "martial arts" / "hand-to-hand" / "boxing"
Axe fighting: "axe fighting" / "hatchet weaponry"
Blunt weapons: "club fighting" / "blunt weaponry" / "staff fighting"
Archery: "archery"
Long Blade: "longblade" / "fencing" / "swordfighting"
	
2. "What motivates you into a life of adventure?"
Riches: "you decided nothing else mattered but gold"
Fame: "you realized you had a great destiny ahead of you"
Knowledge: "you began to train your mind to hold great knowledge"
Fun: "you developed a sense of humor and a sense of fun"
Helping Others: "you developed a system of honor, giving your life meaning"
	
10. "Scrounging through an alley, you came upon ___."
Two hundred gold pieces: "a bag filled with gold" / "a bag with 200 gold pieces" / "a gold-filled purse"
A book: "a most wonderful book" / "an insightful book" / "a fascinating tome"
A ruby: "a single beautiful ruby" / "an exquisite red ruby"
A silver flail: "a staff forged in silver" / "a sparkling silver staff"
An amulet: "an amulet"

Knight
Your earliest memories are of the blazing fire in the furnace and the smell of heated metal. Your father was a blacksmith of great renown. People from all over the province of {home province} would come seeking his services. As soon as you were able, you learned to help him in the smithy. He taught you how to repair bent metal and to keep a blade's edge sharp. When you were of age, you joined the local militia to see more of the world. You excelled at the training the militia gave you in {1A}. Your knowledge of weapon repair made you invaluable to the underfunded militia. One day a visitor in full plate armor arrived at the barracks. Introductions were made through the Constable and thus you met Sir {male name}. The knight escorted you outside and {1B}. Without a word, he brought up his mace from his belt and levelled a blow at your head. Startled, you barely deflected the blow. After several more blows which you managed to avoid, the knight smiled. That was your test. You became Sir {male name}'s squire and you moved to the Imperial City. In the court of the Emperor, you learned many techniques from the daily {1A} practice. To stay motivated, {2A} and that gave you strength for the endless hours of work and the weariness of weapon drills. One evening you were reading an old manuscript by a great {1A} master, a shadow in the hall drew your attention. Suspecting some of your fellow squires of playing at practical jokes, you grabbed your wooden practice sword and eased into the hall. Sneaking up behind the shadow, you easily got close enough to push the sword into the shadow's back. Despite all your training, you could not help but stop, stunned, when the shadow hissed at you and turned, revealing itself to be a cloaked goblin, dagger in hand. With hardly time for a thought, your instincts took over and the wooden sword in your hand swung out and knocked the goblin cold. Still shaking, you called for the guard. In the morning you were summoned before the Emperor. Dressed in borrowed armor, not quite the right size you walked into the throne room, dwarfed by its size. Bowing before the Emperor you took the oath of knighthood and were received into the ranks of Heraldry. It was not two days from then that you received word that the Emperor had a quest for you, one that required the utmost tact and unswerving loyalty. When you came to the palace that night, you were surprised to find that the Emperor was not surrounded by his usual large retinue, merely his chief advisor, the Imperial Battlemage Ocato. There you were told of the affair of Daggerfall.

Answers

1. "You are most fond of using ___."
Short-bladed weapons: "tanto weaponry" / "shortblade-work" / "dagger fighting" and "handed you a dagger" / "tossed you a tanto"
Hand-to-hand combat: "martial arts" / "hand-to-hand" / "boxing" and "bowed to you"
Axe fighting: "axe fighting" / "hatchet weaponry" and "gave you his axe" / "handed you an axe"
Blunt weapons: "club fighting" / "blunt weaponry" / "staff fighting" and "gave you a mace" / "handed you a mace"
Archery: "archery" and "took your bow from you."
Long Blade: "longblade" / "fencing" / "swordfighting" and "handed you a sword" / "gave you a blade"

2. "What motivates you into a life of adventure?"
Riches: "you decided nothing else mattered but gold"
Fame: "you realized you had a great destiny ahead of you"
Knowledge: "you began to train your mind to hold great knowledge"
Fun: "you developed a sense of humor and a sense of fun"
Helping Others: "you developed a system of honor, giving your life meaning"

Imported Character
While unused in the released game, the text files feature a personal history that would have most likely been used for a character imported from The Elder Scrolls: Arena.

Ria Silmane was a powerful enchantress, one of the Elders of the Imperial Council, and a worthy successor to the Imperial Battlemage when Jagar Tharn elected to retire. She was also a friend of yours, your first tutor in the Imperial City. When she disappeared, you were the first person to notice and begin an investigation. You must have been getting close, for you were ambushed by agents of the Emperor and thrown into a cell deep within the sewers, with no food or water. It was there that Ria Silmane found you. Ria appeared to you as a spectre, for she too had been betrayed by the man who now, with the ultimate gall, dared to impersonate the Emperor: Jagar Tharn, her former master. The true Emperor was imprisoned by Tharn's magic. Only you would be able to find the flaw in Jagar Tharn's spell, free the Emperor, and expose the traitorous Battlemage. With Ria's help, you escaped from your cell, and under her direction, you began the quest for the Staff of Chaos. Tharn had used the Staff to imprison the true Emperor and had then broken it, scattering it in secure locations throughout the Empire. Nearly ten years passed while Tharn consolidated his power and Ria's spectral form slowly dissolved, but at last you found all the pieces of the Staff of Chaos and combined them to form the key to the prison of the true Emperor. The final piece of the staff was a gem hidden in the Imperial Palace itself. Jagar Tharn had surrounded himself with a host of guards, human and otherwise. When you at last reached the gem, you discovered why they had fought so furiously. The gem not only freed the Emperor, but it destroyed Tharn, for the Imperial Battlemage had used his own lifeforce to empower the Staff. When the true Emperor once again assumed the throne, he considered himself greatly in your debt. You were often called upon to investigate evidence of Tharn's aborted master plan, and though you discovered little of great relevance, you were well rewarded. Still, you were not often at court. The Emperor almost considered you a rare and valued weapon, to be drawn only away from others' eyes. When the Emperor told you of the haunting of King Lysandus, your instinct told you that the Emperor was not telling you the entire story. Nevertheless, even if he did consider you a friend, the Emperor's word was law, and you boarded a ship that very night for Daggerfall.

Notes
The "home province features" mentioned above are as follows:
High Rock: rolling hills
Hammerfell: desertland
Skyrim: mountains
Morrowind: mountains
Black Marsh: swamps
Elsweyr: desertland
Valenwood: forests
Sumurset: shores

The "Imperial names" are any of the following:
Pelagius
Cephorus
Uriel
Cassynder
Voragiel
Trabbatus''

Unused Strings
Most strings in the game come from the file TEXT.RSC, and are identified by a unique string id. The strings used for the character history fall between 4116 and 4905. Among all these strings, many are left unused by the histories and answers listed on this page. As they were definitely intended to be used in Background History, these strings are listed here as information into the development of the system.

Note that some of these are technically used in the BIOG files for some answers, but don't appear in that class's history, and therefore cannot be seen in the game.