History is a sort of catch-all category for questions surrounding where your character grew up, what his family did to make ends meet, and what sort of memorable or unusual events befell him. If you've thought through your character's family relationships, you've probably already come up with some interesting details about their history.

The only event in the game that really forces you to explain your history is when you cross the border and end up captured by Imperial soldiers. Skyrim does a good job of implying that your arrest was probably a mistake. That means anything could have led up to this moment. Maybe you were taking medicine to a sick relative across the border or escaping from a gang of criminals that your character owes money to. Maybe you heard about the civil war and were actually planning on supporting your kinsmen by joining the Stormcloak Rebellion. This is the defining moment in your character's history, and the explanation that you come up with will have a monumental impact on how you role-play for the remainder of the game. Be sure to give it a bit of thought.

I decided that Elsbet was caught trying to steal a merchant's wagon, his horses and all of his wares after creating a distraction in a border tavern. This history shows that her apprehension probably was not a mistake, and that a trip to the headsman's block was justified. It also says a lot about her character and the kinds of mishaps that she was getting into before the game began. It was clear from the start that the Thieves' Guild was going to play an influential role in Elsbet's story.

The second pivotal moment in your character's history comes almost immediately after the opening credits. You must decide who you will follow into Helgen Keep. Do you overlook your near-execution at the hands of the Imperials and follow Hadvar? Do you throw your lot in with the Stormcloaks and follow Ralof? Both of these characters are portrayed very sympathetically in the game, and you spend about the same amount of time with each of them before making your decision. It's not necessarily an easy choice to make with an executioner's axe hanging over your head.

Choosing to pursue the civil war questline is a decision that is obviously going to have an immense effect on your subsequent choices. Thankfully, the game does leave you with the option of changing your mind once you escape the keep. Elsbet chose to follow Hadvar, a Nord who supports the Empire. Since Elsbet is an Imperial herself and knows nothing about the Stormcloaks beyond their nationalistic pride, she figured it would be safer to stick with the enemy she is familiar with.