UESP Forums

So, I've always kinda role played, but I've never gotten too serious with my rp in ways like actually writing out my character's bio and background and having a schedule... I've always just used my "everything" character to rp.
Anyway, I feel like I'm about to start ranting on and on, so I'll get to the jist of it.... I just started seriously role playing with dedicated characters and I fell into a little problem as I was writing my char's bio. I'm an Imperial named Titus and for reasons I don't know yet, I've joined the rebellion. So, I need reasons an Imperial would join the rebellion, if it helps he hails from the Imperial City from a wealthy blacksmithing family who just happens to be supplying the Legion with arms and armour for their ventures in the northern province

TL; DR what are some reasons an Imperial would join the Stormcloak rebellion?

He disagrees with his father on politics. Secondly, his mother could be a Nord, so she passed on a strong like for his noble Nord heritage.

Being of the Imperial race doesn't really necessarily dictate you'll be on the Empire's side. The Empire is fundamentally considered "Imperial," but there are plenty who disagree with it. Perhaps he has become jaded by the years since the end of the Third Era and the Empire's collapse, or feels betrayed as they signed a deal with the Thalmor, and thinks his energy would be better spent with the Stormcloaks.

It seems to be me that if his family is providing arms and armor to the Imperial Legion, then they wouldn't make much of a profit if the Legion easily went in and wiped out the Nord rebellion. Drawing out the conflict means more sales, which means more money in their coffers.

Of course, if it ever came to light that the son of such a family was aiding the rebels...

Personal vendetta against Tullius, Emperor or something?

Or maybe he's rather shallow (stupid) and hates the Empire 'cause they tried to cut off his head?

Or maybe his FATHER IS TULLIUS! And he had a disagreement with him when he was younger, and he got ditched in a gutter somewhere... or something. The whole thing could be kept like this deep dark secret and eventually, when the Empire have been quelled and fought out of Skyrim, you could expose him for the [&@%!] that he is

Or just use whatever's above...

Great ideas, I wanted to go a more political way in my story anyway, so I think I'll be able to mix some these up nicely and finish it up. Thanks
Look forward to meeting Titus in the characters thread!

There's always the classic---he joined up to impress a girl.

Maybe he hates the Thalmor, and since the Empire have ceased fighting them, he wants to join the Stormcloaks to eventually fight to Thalmor.

Maybe he's a nord at heart, or he just doesn't care about the Empire. Plenty of room for anti-patriots when the Empire has grown fat and weak, suffering almost as much humiliation as when Morrowind first signed that "peace treaty" long, long ago.

Take the easy way out dude, just be a mercenary who fights for money.

And seeing as Ulfric seems more accessable, and comes off as being "richer" than the legion (I know he isn't...) there's your reason.

And Ulfric didn't send you to your death even though you weren't supposed to be.

Who could support any form of government where you're arrested for apparently no reason other than you happen to be near someone else they were arresting, and when taken to town they find you weren't supposed to be arrested, and they just go oh kill 'em anyway! Seriously, what kind of miscarriage of justice was that? The only Empire I can see that is that blatantly evil is the Empire from Star Wars!

It doesn't help that if you do go talk to General Tullius, his threats to put you behind bars for no reason whatsoever in between his smarmy, holier-than-thou, "what a bunch of spoiled brats in need of a spankin'" attitude towards the Stormcloaks, not to mention his xenophobia for all things Nord in their very home (imagine Richard Dawkins barging in during Sunday service)... man, that stuff makes me want to join the Dark Brotherhood even as a good character (for reasons those who've played the quest know well).

Easy. Where is your family from originally?

Any Colovian Imperial worth his fur hat would JUMP at the chance to slaughter his soft, lowland dwelling kinsmen. Titus might be a True Son of Colovia, and therefor keenly interested in fomenting rebellion against the Nibenean establishment. Helping Skyrim free itself is just the tip of the iceberg.

If he's native to the IC, then maybe he's a member of Occupy Market District? Sure, his family's a "wealthy" blacksmithing clan, but how wealthy is that, really? Probably still a member of the 99%, right? Or, even simpler, he's just your standard stick-it-to-dad revolutionary. Does the upper middle class ever really NEED an excuse to run off to another country, stop shaving, and throw themselves tooth and nail into a conflict that they barely understand? Think of yourself as the Che of Skyrim.