That’s what I thought too, Numeriku and I’m glad not to be alone in it. He says something in combat about “only being half a beast” and I’ve always thought that (along with the “inch shorter” remark) indicated he wasn’t pure Altmer. I did wonder if Otero was actually his father, but his parents never told him – I don’t think they abandoned him because he does say his parents were troubadors as if they were with him for some of the time. He doesn’t seem to like Nords much…
The background of my main character hasn’t changed since I started the game – she’s a Breton who thought she was the youngest child of High Rock nobility until an argument over marriage led to her father calling her a Thalmor’s bastard, and she ran away. An attempt by Rumarin to cheer her up one night leads to a drunken bitter rant, secrets come out and he tells her that Altmer – let alone Thalmor – don’t let ‘mistakes’ like her happen (or live). Lines up a lot of things for her, not just about her past but her confused feelings for Rumarin too.
I guess he’s interesting because even though he’s the most “complete” character, he’s also one of the least “known”. Griffith, Valgus, Raynes, Erevan – all will tell you enough about why they are where they are now to get a picture of them. Rumarin tells you very little about anything, aside from the odd throwaway comment or what others say (the Gales of Guilt for example).
You should be thanking Roggi, Numeriku – suspect mead is cheaper than wine! At least he hasn’t had to sell his armour.