Balian was born to a pure Varisian man and pure Chelaxian woman, making both him and his parents somewhat unusual in modern Korvosa. He works as a member of the City Guard but has been put on temporary suspension because of the disappearance of his daughter, Becca. He is normally a very caring individual if a tad unremarkable, but recent events have put a strain on him and on his marriage, making him a bit more jumpy and easily angered lately. He is married to a baker named Sylvia and has two daughters Becca, age ten, who has been kidnapped by Gaedren Lamm, and Samantha, age 6. Since being put on suspension, he has been conducting his own investigation of his daughter's disappearance in the last two months. He's getting frustrated with the lack of progress on the part of the City Guard, because they are getting bogged down in procedural matters.
He may be slipping in his desperation to find his daughter. He doesn't do or condone torture but he is not above being as intimidating as he can be and being rough. He is also beginning to doubt the efficacy of the procedure-laden Korvosan Guard, despite still beign a loyal member at the end of the day.
