- This page is written in the in-universe perspective of the "Garion" series' of novels.
Balsca was a rheumy-eyed sailor with missing front teeth, bad habits and mediocre skills. He came from Kaduz, a fish-reeking town on one of the northern Melcene Islands. He disliked marine officers, as a result of flogging ten years back for pilfering grog from ship's stores aboard a ship of the line in the Mallorean navy. He had come via a ship named The Star of Jarot to Mal Gemila (in South Western Ancient Mallorea in the province of Gemil). There, after feigning illness, Balsca took a ship and sold it, and also took some small, valuable items in his canvas sea bag which he also sold. After some drink at a workman's alehouse, he spent the night with Elowanda, who gave him the plague.
Balsca proceeded to join a teamster to Mal Zeth where he brought the plague there.