Why are Wild Mages hostile to me? discussion could have spoi

[OutandBack]

Is it because I am a Keeper and they have chosen to leave the path? Are they helping to spread the red madness?
Whenever I approach one of their towers they always fire first and after I kill everybody I end up reading their notes and they don't seem to be bad. Just want to be left alone. In one tower in the farming coast I believe they wrote about pirates using the bay an worried it would draw attention from the authorities.
Am I missing something in the story, I do that a lot, old age has some pretty bad downsides.

[Glycerin]

Wild mages are considered outlaws, or pathless, because they didn't undergo the ritual that is supposed to let them control their magical abilities. The order claims they all are going to loose their minds and will slowly turn into an Oorbaya, but that might as well be just made up in order to scare mages enough so they report to the order willingly.
But even if they don't go mad, they are still outcasts and therefore likely unable to make a living by legal means. Which is why they tend to attack travellers such as you to rob you and possibly roast/freeze/electrocute you in the process.

[eimerian]

Some of the wild mages hang with bandits and are obviously part of their groups.

But I agree, I would have loved if some of the wild mages would warn you or tell you to get lost first, and only become hostile if you approach them or take their stuff. Similar to the scavengers in Fallout 4 for example.

[ArsCortica]

Some of the wild mages hang with bandits and are obviously part of their groups.

But I agree, I would have loved if some of the wild mages would warn you or tell you to get lost first, and only become hostile if you approach them or take their stuff. Similar to the scavengers in Fallout 4 for example.

Some of them actually do that as part of the default Skyrim NPC AI - they will not attack you but tell you to get lost and unsheath their weapons if you get near them. The problem is that this does not hold true for all "bandit type" NPCs, and that their aggro range is so large that you usually pass the threshold before you notice them.

[Casper]

a lot of those wild mages are supposed to be crazy, i guess i'd like to have an insane conversation with one or two em, rather than a fire fight every time... reminds me of a particular mage hermit hiding in a forest in DA:O.

[badgesareus]

Maybe being out in the wilds, they don't have access to ambrosia potions, so the fever is getting to them.

[Makesin]

Maybe being out in the wilds, they don't have access to ambrosia potions, so the fever is getting to them.

Given their battle cries and such, I think they are quite sane. So I guess it's a mix of banditry and defending themselves against outsiders.

[OutandBack]

Wild mages are considered outlaws, or pathless, because they didn't undergo the ritual that is supposed to let them control their magical abilities. The order claims they all are going to loose their minds and will slowly turn into an Oorbaya, but that might as well be just made up in order to scare mages enough so they report to the order willingly.
But even if they don't go mad, they are still outcasts and therefore likely unable to make a living by legal means. Which is why they tend to attack travellers such as you to rob you and possibly roast/freeze/electrocute you in the process.

That is interesting. I stumbled on a hut out in the woods and found two Alp's there with no other bodies around. The notes inside the hut hinded the Red Madness was over taking him. Makes me wonder if the red madness did this or the two Alps were just passing by.

I want to thank everyone for their comments I am so enjoying your ideas. I find talking about stuff like this so enjoyable it's just another side effect of this great game. SO many mysteries to solve.