I don't have Skyrim so I'll talk about my Oblivion guy.
Dino the argonian was always a happy go lucky little boy who has lived in Cyrodiil all his life. His life changed, when some racist imperials burned down his house and killed his family. He then lived with an Orc family, and saw what prejudice and hatred did to them. He left at age 20 and became a bandit outlaw, killing all imperial guards and authority figures he came across in this country he had grown to hate. He was eventually captured and sent to jail. After his lucky escape from the prison, he decided he had to set aside his past experiences to save his home country.