Age: As of 4E 201, he is 4209 years old
Born: (note to self: look at notes later and edit) (The Mage)
Occupation: Scholar, Blade, Mercenary, Dragonborn
Background: Arsyn was born early in the First Era around when the Chimer were first settling Vvardenfell. He had a fascination with the downfall of the Dragon Cult, spending the majority of his life studying it and what few dragons remained before they were hunted to all but extinction.
His studies brought him to Skyrim, where he was infected with vampirism, before the Chimer became the Dunmer. After his infection and feeling betrayed by the Triangular Gate, he embraced his vampirism for a time and began worshipping Molag Bal. At no point in his life did he ever worship AlmSiVi - he viewed the Tribunal as false gods.
It is through his worship of Molag Bal that he learned mastery over the art of necromancy. This new course of studies led him to the Soul Cairn, where he met Durnehviir and Valerica. It is through conversations with Durnehviir that Arsyn is able to learn much about the Dragon Cult, and through the experiences of Durnehviir and Valerica that Arsyn is convinced to turn away from worshipping Molag Bal. The destruction left behind by the attempted planemeld is another such reason for him to abandon this course of worship.
After spending the majority of his life in and out of Nordic crypts and the Soul Cairn, his studies eventually bring him to Cyrodiil at the end of the Third Era. He was in Kvatch when it was attacked, and helped shepherd civilians into the temple. When the Hero of Kvatch finally arrived and closed the Oblivion Gate, he helped clear the rest of the city of Daedra before returning to the Arcane University.
When the Hero of Kvatch shows up at the Arcane University asking about the Mythic Dawn, Arsyn volunteers to infiltrate the cult and bring back the Amulet of Kings. He is the one who brought the Mysterium Xarxes to Bruma. He spent the next several months helping Martin decode the Mysterium Xarxes using knowledge he gained from his prior daedra worship. Jauffre makes him a Blade and he uses his newfound access to the Blades archives to continue his studies of dragons, the Dragon Cult, and Akaviri history.
After the Oblivion Crisis, Arsyn spends his time digging through the Blades archives and making himself a functional copy of their library. He stays out of the Great War, and after the signing of the White Gold Concordat he flees to Sky Haven Temple. He hides his archives there, prserving the history of the Blades when the Thalmor destroy Cloud Ruler Temple.
He is captured by an Imperial ambush when trying to cross back into Cyrodiil, thus kicking off the events of Skyrim. He is horrified when he learns that he is Dragonborn.
Notable relationships: He is close friends with Durnehviir and Valerica, as they are both functionally immortal like he is.
He is also close friends with Raminus Polus, a mage from his time in the Arcane University. Raminus was one of the few in Arsyn's lifetime that knew of his vampiric nature.
Finally, there's Martin and the Blades. After spending so much time in close quarters with Martin, Arsyn developed feelings for him, but was never able to tell Martin before he died. It is the one thing he regrets the most.
Strengths: Arsyn is adaptable. After being alive for thousands of years and on the run from the Thalmor for the last several decades, he has to be.
He is adept with a longsword and a master of necromantic arts. After necromancy was banned by the Mage's Guild, he turned to simple conjuration and became quite adept at that as well.
He is also skilled in the arts of Illusion and Destruction.
Weaknesses: He struggles to make and maintain relationships with mortals, especially after Martin's death. He finds it hard to see a point in getting attached when mortals will simply die long before he does.
He struggles with the art of Restoration.
No interest in: Drinking, making merry, or having recreational sex. His life is devoted to his studies and worship of Akatosh.
No concept of: Mortality. He has been alive too long. He thinks of himself as unkillable, and sometimes it makes him reckless.
Character: A brokenhearted mage.
In battle: His favorite tactic is to bring forth some conjurations and surround himself in fire. Anyone that gets too close to him gets burned or run through with his Akaviri katana.
However, he also has a staff of paralysis, and greatly enjoys using that to stop people in their tracks, and then bombard them with fireballs.
Overall he prefers to stay out of conflict and uses his illusion skills to warp the perception of those around him in his favor.
Distinguishing marks: His eyes are vampiric in nature yet I always describe them as 'burning' or 'golden' in my works. His hair is long and snow white. Both of these features are rarely seen, as he is rarely seen without his dragon priest masks.
Trivia: In spite of how long he's been alive, and how much time he's spent around soul gems and in the literal Soul Cairn, he never learned how enchantments work.
Tagged by: @dark-brotherhoe
Tagging: @dirty-bosmer @flycasual @short-circuit-the-great @forest-of-shrooms
