05-29-2005, 12:03 AM
This is a suggestion for a "new race" (with a twist) for Silgrad Tower: Oblivion. Might be a silly idea, I dunno... but please add your comments and ideas 
PREMISE:
Soon after the Empire conquered Morrowind in the late Second Era, settlers from other parts of the Empire began immigrating. Pulling up stakes and moving to a whole other part of Tamriel is a life-changing decision for those that do it, and to avoid feeling lost and alone most settlers chose to move to the Imperial charter towns that were being built, like Blacklight and Ebonheart. Some of the more daring settlers took their chances and settled the Dunmer-controlled countryside, and as relations between Hlaalu and the Empire deepened, they were soon joined by other outlanders.
But the Imperial cities remained the dominant choice during the first centuries of the Third Era for settlers to Morrowind. Imperials, Nords, Bretons and other races lived side by side in the cities, and as generations passed, the races more or less melted together. No longer being distinctively Nord or Altmeric, the new generations started viewing themselves more as Citizens of the Empire than belonging to any of the old races. Their appearance vary greatly, and some may for example even be of pure Breton race, but the outlandish culture has transformed the way many people of the pure races in Morrowind view themselves as well. Especially in the cities, new traditions and cultural expressions emerged from this racial melting pot, and the Citizens of the Empire like to view themselves as more modern and liberal than their purebred 'cousins' in their ancestors' provinces.
When Silgrad Tower came under the control of the Empire in 3E 417 (source: Battle for Silgrad Tower), the town was opened up for real settlement by non-Dunmer. The first to stake their claims in the city were Citizens of the Empire, who pooled southwards both from Blacklight and the Hlaalu-controlled countryside north of Silgrad. During the years that passed, their bond to the town deepened, and to reflect that they started to refer to themselves as Silgradians. They are Imperial citizens with men (human) and/or mer (elf) features, showing great variation in genetic heritage, but held together by a strong love for Silgrad Tower and a firm belief in the Empire.
BENEFITS:
A Silgradian NPC can look the way you want (even looking like a pure-bred), as well as being named the way you want -- so it would give great freedom to keep NPC names you feel strongly about without changing them, or changing the race. You could have an NPC named "Anna" without having to give a deeper explanation of the name other than that she's a Silgradian (assuming we make the final draft of the story available in-game and explained thoroughly).
PREMISE:
Soon after the Empire conquered Morrowind in the late Second Era, settlers from other parts of the Empire began immigrating. Pulling up stakes and moving to a whole other part of Tamriel is a life-changing decision for those that do it, and to avoid feeling lost and alone most settlers chose to move to the Imperial charter towns that were being built, like Blacklight and Ebonheart. Some of the more daring settlers took their chances and settled the Dunmer-controlled countryside, and as relations between Hlaalu and the Empire deepened, they were soon joined by other outlanders.
But the Imperial cities remained the dominant choice during the first centuries of the Third Era for settlers to Morrowind. Imperials, Nords, Bretons and other races lived side by side in the cities, and as generations passed, the races more or less melted together. No longer being distinctively Nord or Altmeric, the new generations started viewing themselves more as Citizens of the Empire than belonging to any of the old races. Their appearance vary greatly, and some may for example even be of pure Breton race, but the outlandish culture has transformed the way many people of the pure races in Morrowind view themselves as well. Especially in the cities, new traditions and cultural expressions emerged from this racial melting pot, and the Citizens of the Empire like to view themselves as more modern and liberal than their purebred 'cousins' in their ancestors' provinces.
When Silgrad Tower came under the control of the Empire in 3E 417 (source: Battle for Silgrad Tower), the town was opened up for real settlement by non-Dunmer. The first to stake their claims in the city were Citizens of the Empire, who pooled southwards both from Blacklight and the Hlaalu-controlled countryside north of Silgrad. During the years that passed, their bond to the town deepened, and to reflect that they started to refer to themselves as Silgradians. They are Imperial citizens with men (human) and/or mer (elf) features, showing great variation in genetic heritage, but held together by a strong love for Silgrad Tower and a firm belief in the Empire.
BENEFITS:
A Silgradian NPC can look the way you want (even looking like a pure-bred), as well as being named the way you want -- so it would give great freedom to keep NPC names you feel strongly about without changing them, or changing the race. You could have an NPC named "Anna" without having to give a deeper explanation of the name other than that she's a Silgradian (assuming we make the final draft of the story available in-game and explained thoroughly).