I did a whole Skyrim playthrough where I was just a farmer who wound up going on a quest because my character found a murdered Talos worshipper at a nearby alter. I used the iron sword the Talos worshipper had on him and it was the only melee weapon I used the whole time. Found myself in the way of many a Thalmor plot.
AmI think I ended up siding with the Imperials in order to kill Ulfric Stormcloak 'cause my guy really did not like how he treated people and dividing the country.