I think there is a case to be made that the reason it is so hard to pin how a Nord mercenary may be perceived is because to some degree or another they all already are. Like, the Nords going back to the very beginning are outsiders and invaders and I think an early concept was along the lines of they never feel a sense of belonging or kinship with anyone who is not a Nord. We can see in TES V how that has evolved, how Skyirm is vital to the Nords and that they do feel a sense of belonging.
Yet some of those initial ideas remain. War and conquest are their national character, honour and glory their desire. In this sense, it is like looking at a Viking and saying, "which one is a mercenary?" Now, I'm not saying all Nords are mercenaries or any of that, but if we make a sweeping generalisation of a national identity, conquest and glory in battle is what they do.
In terms of the sweep of history, Nords are the conquerors, founding the first empire with blood and sword. Yet that all changed after Red Mountain and Jurgen Windcaller's epiphany. If we see what happened after that and how it marked a drastic shift in Nordic culture, we see how it made Skyrim fall asleep. There was now little the race as a whole, individual honour and glory was a all a man or fighting woman could hope for. I would say that as such, mercenary work would be seen as a respectable profession, provided it didn't compromise the national identity and expectations of the society.
But now, a son of Skyrim7 once again holds the world's destiny in his hands. If Skyrim is to awake, its rebirth will be led by these true Nords who remain its best hope for the future. [TRAVELER: I found many of these mountain villages almost empty of young men, who have been seduced into joining Septim's army by promises of wealth and glory; the village elders see little hope of their sons ever returning.] PGE 1Ed
I think there is a case to be made that the reason it is so hard to pin how a Nord mercenary may be perceived is because to some degree or another they all already are. Like, the Nords going back to the very beginning are outsiders and invaders and I think an early concept was along the lines of they never feel a sense of belonging or kinship with anyone who is not a Nord. We can see in TES V how that has evolved, how Skyirm is vital to the Nords and that they do feel a sense of belonging.
Yet some of those initial ideas remain. War and conquest are their national character, honour and glory their desire. In this sense, it is like looking at a Viking and saying, "which one is a mercenary?" Now, I'm not saying all Nords are mercenaries or any of that, but if we make a sweeping generalisation of a national identity, conquest and glory in battle is what they do.
In terms of the sweep of history, Nords are the conquerors, founding the first empire with blood and sword. Yet that all changed after Red Mountain and Jurgen Windcaller's epiphany. If we see what happened after that and how it marked a drastic shift in Nordic culture, we see how it made Skyrim fall asleep. There was now little the race as a whole, individual honour and glory was a all a man or fighting woman could hope for. I would say that as such, mercenary work would be seen as a respectable profession, provided it didn't compromise the national identity and expectations of the society.
But now, a son of Skyrim7 once again holds the world's destiny in his hands. If Skyrim is to awake, its rebirth will be led by these true Nords who remain its best hope for the future. [TRAVELER: I found many of these mountain villages almost empty of young men, who have been seduced into joining Septim's army by promises of wealth and glory; the village elders see little hope of their sons ever returning.] PGE 1Ed
The Companions kinda change that because you basically receive orders from your Harbinger instead. Otherwise, unless you are something like those mercs at the inns, I can't see a really warmongering Nord living that way.