Lore:Baan Dar

Baan Dar (known as the Bandit God, the Man of a Thousand Faces,  or the Pariah)  is the trickster spirit that is worshipped by the Khajiit of Elsweyr, but is known to have influence in places such as Valenwood.  In his Khajiiti aspect, the Pariah manifests as the cleverness or desperate genius of the long-suffering Khajiit, outplaying their mortal enemies, the humans and the elves. The nature of Baan Dar is a topic of speculation by scholars across the continent, believed by some to be more than an entity of tricks, but a powerful force that shapes the land and lives of the people in its wake, for the better. Baan Dar's name has been used liberally through the provinces; it has been used by the traveling merchant tribe, the Baandari Pedlars, while the criminal malcontent often refer to themselves in groups as the Baan Dars or the  s.  His domain is known as the Five Fingers Dance. 

Further Information
The name of Baan Dar has untraceable origins. It is a name that has been used widely, losing the meaning it once held. Thieves used it to mask their identity while others take the name to enact the will of the Pariah himself. The name has even turned to superstition to scare young children, carry the hidden purpose of inspiring those to take arms and fight back. By now, the name of Baan Dar is used by a series of people, to act in what they believe is right, to use that as inspiration for what may confront them, and eventually, pass that on to the next generation. 

To the Khajiit, Baan Dar is a way of life, a symbol of rising to the challenge and defeating your oppressors. But because of its wide usage, to the   of Valenwood, he is only seen as a god of archery,  and patron of thieves and beggars,  but a sentiment that is still accepted by the Khajiit. Both races often meet in the ruins of   to partake in Baan Dar's boast, a festival of pranks played between teams of Khajiit and Wood Elves, so that they may be granted access to the Bandit God's realm, the  .  However, to the other races of Tamriel, such as the  s, Baan Dar is a symbol of sneak-thieves and living legends. 

To the Bretons, Baan Dar is known as "the Bandit",  and is noted to be a considerable force within the lands of High Rock.  He is featured in the historical-fiction novel, King Edward, Queen Aliera praises him along with other gods for bringing her husband Moraelyn and son Edward to her safely.  Baan Dar is known to be revered by the Thieves Guild branch in the Iliac Bay. 

The Scrolls of Baan Dar
:For the full-story, see:  '''''
The writer of the scrolls was mortally wounded by an arrow and wrote his experiences with Baan Dar with his dying breath in the caverns near  . At 12 years old, they survived a slaver raid near the provincial border, leaving them an orphan. They survived as a thief in the backstreets of their hometown, but were often viciously tormented by bullies. After a confrontation that left them brutally beaten, the young child and the group of bullies were approached by Baan Dar, clad in a shadowy cloak and  . The figure's fast reflexes had quickly dispatched the tormentor and gave them a meal. The child profusely thank him and asked how they can repay the favor, to which Baan Dar gave them a single response. "The proper way to repay a favor, is not to. Pass it on instead." Since then, the figure made the child their apprentice, teaching them the ways of defense, the harsh reality of the world, to live independently, and to think strategically with their worldly experience garnered from across the provinces. Within a year, the child disembarked to shape their own destiny, beginning the cycle all over again. 

These scrolls were translated and transcribed by a scribe of  ,  , who came to the same conclusion, much like the writer that Baan Dar is more than just a single entity, but a driving force to fight for what is right and to pass that knowledge to those that need it.  He went on to transcribe the other scrolls, but while the second one's whereabouts are unknown, the third scroll is one of the rarest pieces of literature in Tamriel. One is kept in the  , in  . This third scroll details the thief god stealing Vivec's 37th Sermon from him before it was written. 

See Also
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Notes
In the Daggerfall Preview, the first of three demos for The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall, there is a list of gods in the character creation, and among these is "Bajdit", the Bandit God. This name appears to be an early version of Baan Dar's name, which is further supported by The First Scroll of Bajdit, an almost exact copy of the First Scroll of Baan Dar lorebook. 
The Bandit God is also associated with two factions in the Daggerfall Preview, both are called the "Brotherhood of Bandit" and the " ."
Another entity whose name is similar to Baan Dar appears in the final release of Daggerfall; shrines to Bandi can be found in the wilderness.
In King Edward, Part II Moraelyn thanks several gods, including "the Bandit".

References