Tamriel, is one of the continents on Nirn. Tamriel is a great melting pot of cultures and races; it is home to at least a dozen races, with dozens more having died out or changed. There are nine distinct provinces, each home to one of the more populous races of Tamriel. A proposed tenth province, Orsinium, has never been taken very seriously except by those who want it, namely the Orcs, who wish to have a home province of their own.
You are Orvyn, a male Dunmer. You grew up as an orphan in the port city of Seyda Neen. You did tough physical labour since you were teenager. You always dreamt of being a mage. You spent a lot of your money on magic books that helped you get some proficiency in restoration and destruction schools of magic. One morning, you were called into the governor's office without a reason. You were instructed to go to Balmora and meet a man called Caius Cosades.