[hider=Balen Oril]
[b]Name:[/b] Balen Oril

[b]Age:[/b] 50

[b]Gender:[/b] Male

[b]Race:[/b] Dunmer

[b]Appearance:[/b] Balen is a Dunmer of tall stature, almost as tall as an Altmer, and similarly wiry and long-limbed, though still, instead of having a graceful, lean and well-proportioned body akin to them, he possesses the sinewy, starved-looking physique and rugged complexion of his kin. He is, like most other Dunmer, ashen skinned, and red eyed, both his sclera and pupil blood red. Another defining trait of Balen is that his eyes are incredibly large, a trait further accentuated by his rather high hairline and large brow. Thanks to this, his weak chin and gaunt face, his upper head looks much larger than normal. He sports a rather large, so-called 'Akaviri style' mustache that people have likened to a pair of scimitars hanging down from the edges of his upper lip.

Balen prefers simple and practical clothing. His common attire consists of a grayish-blue waterproof broadcloth robe probably one size too large (or two) over a pale burgundy tunic tucked well into his baggy grey pants, which are also tucked into his knee-high leather boots. In hotter climates, he ditches most of the clothing entirely and wears only the robe, breeches that end at the knee joint and leather moccasins. He covers his head with a wide brimmed hat, and often tucks his ears within it when in the cold.

[b]Personality:[/b] Balen is a rather still person. He’s not dull or dense – he simply believes that he does not have much to share with most of the people around him, so he keeps quiet and does not try to be a sore thumb. Still, he’s not the sort of person who’s oozing with calmness like a monk, but rather, he’s just contemplative. This passive demeanor does not mean that he tries to get along with everyone, however. As opposed to trying to be on good terms with everyone and thus being an ass-kisser, Balen simply prefers keeping quiet and picking his words, and the people he speaks to. He is a man of simple pleasures and rarely complains, making him a useful companion, though he can be hard to get used to. He wonders the secrets of creation and reality, and enjoys speaking about such matters, preferring the company of mages despite not having much skill or interest on the practical applications of magic. It’s easy to confuse him for a man of peace. This is wrong – he’s simply a considerate and practical person. He’s not afraid to get his hands dirty, though he’d much rather prefer that they’d stay clean.

[b]History:[/b] Born in Blacklight on a foggy Middas of the First Seed, to an upper middle class family affiliated with House Hlaalu, Balen grew up through a rather uneventful childhood as the youngest child. For most of his childhood, he was educated by his grandparents and his father’s grandfather, who was an immensely elderly scholar who claimed to have been saved by the Nerevarine from Kagoutis in Vvardenfell hundreds of years ago. Perhaps thanks to this man’s countless stories, or perhaps thanks to natural disposition, Balen earned a penchant for reading, reading up on the past, of the times before the Red Year. It was during these times, while he was reading the Sermons of Vivec, when he first questioned his faith in Ancestor Worship and Daedra Worship.

Following his father’s death, Balen, the youngest child, was given the duty of taking care of his father’s remains, while his elder brothers tried to get the family profession running again. Seeing this as an opportunity, Balen decided to uphold his father’s last wish and take his remains to Necrom, and joined a trading caravan to go there. During this journey, Balen befriended a Bosmer bookseller, Godron, who told Balen that he’d be happy to work with him in Valenwood. After interring his father’s remains in Necrom and buying a bunch of trinkets claimed to be of Akaviri make, he and Godron began traveling to Southpoint by sea, changing ships and occasionally trading at port. In Southpoint, Balen’s fine writing skills, Godron’s original profession, and the money they made selling the so-called Akaviri artifacts, opened an interesting business venture – Godron would buy rare books, Balen would write down the content of books they’d find, Godron would sell the original copy to the highest bidder and then stock his shop with copies of the real book, written by Balen. 

This time of his life was important to Balen, since it was when he really developed his skill of calligraphy. More importantly, during this time, he managed to get his hands on books he wouldn’t be able to hear of, let alone find, otherwise. Making spare copies of books that he found interesting, Balen eventually built up his own collection. Eventually, after some years spent as such, he parted ways with Godron amicably, and got on a ship to Alinor, to learn the secrets of the Aldmer. However, he could not get along with the Thalmor officials, and did not stay on the isles for long. 

Balen got on a ship to Stros M’Kai to learn more about the Sload and perhaps Yokuda, but the ship was attacked by pirates before it could make it to port. It was during this time when Balen first took his first two lives, cutting down a pair of pirates trying to carry his chest out of his room. Following the attack, the ship’s captain decided to dock at Rihad instead, finding its original course too dangerous for the damaged ship to handle. Not wishing to risk another voyage to Stros M’Kai, Balen spent a good amount of time in Rihad, contemplating and meditating on the rather large amount of knowledge he had gathered in form of books so far, going over them in his mind and trying to carve his own world view out of his knowledge. During this time, Balen began pearl hunting as a hobby, but soon turned it into profit. He earned his fondness for Skooma in Rihad as well, finding its relaxing properties almost a necessity in sleepless nights spent theorizing and contemplating. 

Balen left Rihad in a hurry after participating in a ritual to summon Hermaeus Mora that went awry. He had joined the ritual, as a guest, in hopes of learning more about the Dreamsleeve from the Daedric Prince itself. However, the ritual sigils seemed rather hastily prepared, and Balen, not wishing to risk the wrath of a Daedric Prince, made up an excuse to leave before the ritual could be completed, spending the night in a Chapel of Stendarr. He’d later learn that the participants had been literally merged with the walls of the Shrine. Heading south, Balen moved to Chorrol and settled there. He set up a small shop in an inn room with his finances, while spending his spare time with the members of the College of Whispers. Finding the members of the College rather more open-minded compared to his impressions of the Synod scholars, Balen took to spending his time in their lodge, although his almost entirely theoretical scholarship did not attract the same kind of attention that full-blooded displays of magic did. Nonetheless, the lodge offered him a position as a teacher of Metaphysics, and he accepted, finding the challenge much more welcome compared to the banality of trading in books. This went on for a while, and Balen even began feeling attached to the city, until one day when Godron showed up on his doorstep.

After a long talk about what he’d been doing with his life since Balen left, Godron made Balen an offer. Godron told Balen that he was no longer a book seller, but a trader of artifacts, and that he wished to work with his old friend and make use of his expertise. Of course, the risks were much higher, as Godron had to fund his own expeditions and often partake in them himself, but it was also much more profitable. Plus, Balen would be able to see first-hand sources, and stop having to rely on inaccurate accounts. Balen was convinced, and joined Godron on a trip to a Dwemer Ruin in the Velothi Mountains. Spending most of his time translating and drawing schematics of what they faced, Balen drew the ire of Godron’s henchmen, but soon proved his worth by toppling over a Steam Centurion by just disabling its gyroscope.

Unfortunately, the rest of the expedition was not as auspicious. About half of the crew, including Godron, was lost to a malfunctioning (or possibly trapped) elevator. Heavily demoralized and grieving over the loss of his old friend and business associate, Balen returned from the expedition alongside the survivors, bringing back what they could carry, alongside the captured Centurion, selling them all to Synod collectors in Cheydinhal. 

The endeavor had cost him a friend, but it had also opened a new world of possibilities to Balen. He did not like to admit it, but he was quite thrilled to be able to enter and sense the world of adventure which he had only read about in the past. He was able breath the same air alongside those who had written the books that had inspired him, for all he knew he could write his own and leave his mark in history. Begrudgingly, he wanted more of it. Spending the cash he had earned from his first experience for more suitable equipment, Balen started looking for independent work, hoping to immerse himself in the unknown once more, and hopefully have a better experience.

[b]Skills: [/b]
[i]Major:[/i]
[indent]-Athletics: Balen's constitution would awe even the most well-trained Legionnaire, rivaling horses in speed, mules in carrying weight, and marathon runners in constistency and distance. Despite Balen's scholarly personality, his physique is quite predisposed towards physicality in contrast, and he has capitalized on this, keeping himself well conditioned through early morning jogs. He is also an excellent diver and swimmer, being able to hold his breath underwater for incredible amounts of time.
-Alchemy: Even though Balen rarely dabbles in it and claims it to be Thaumaturgy rather than Alchemy, he has read enough treatises on Alchemy to learn some fancy tricks such as making flesh-glue to mend wounds, or making salt-air to breathe where there's no air, and boiling seemingly random plants to make glowing water and burning oil, or liquids which carry tamed lightning. He has an extensive knowledge of flora and fauna, and effects they have on the body. 
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[i]Minor:[/i]
[indent]
-Acrobatics: With arms not unlike those of an Imga, long legs and large hands, Balen has a natural advantage when it comes to scaling obstacles, and his naturally keen muscle coordination also helps immensely. However, he lacks any sort of training or knowledge on the matter except common sense, and mostly acts on instinct, lacking any extensive free running skills.
-Blade: Balen has read plenty of illustrated dueling guides from Hammerfell to help him utilize swordfighting techniques, but thanks to having nearly no practice in actual usage, he finds it hard to put what he knows to action. He also finds it awkward to use two-handed swords, preferring shortswords and broadswords instead, thanks to their ease of use.
-Hand to Hand: Had Balen done muscle training and weapon practice instead of running and swimming, he likely would have become an unstoppably strong brute. As he is, he still can swing a mean hook and his hardened, leathery flesh dishes out a lot of punch and kick when necessary, but aside from his conditioning and natural strength, he has no training on the matter.
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[b]Equipment:[/b] Balen prefers mobility over all, and thus, carries all his belongings, necessities and books in a rucksack, and prefers to keep them in the bag unless necessary. Alongside a small pot, a pestle and a piece of flint, he carries two leather canteens containing water and three wooden vials. He never travels without a map, hardtack, herbs and smoked fish, which he considers a delicacy.

For battle, he owns a steel 'dagger' of Ashlander make, which is a sword in all but name, having a blade too wide and too long to be a dagger. On the grip of the blade, the Daedric letters Meht, Ayem, Roht, Neht and Ekem are inscribed, though Balen has not been able to deduce what the letters mean and assumes that it’s some sort of tribal superstition. As for armor, Balen wears a sleeveless shirt of mail, a skullcap under his hat, and a steel gorget.

[b]Birthsign:[/b] The Lord

[b]Miscellaneous:[/b] Balen handles Skooma and other drugs like they are nothing and is impossibly hard to get drunk. His constitution is also somewhat resistant to poison and illness. These traits are often attributed to his birthsign.[/hider]