You just can't study without being interrupted these days, can you?
He likes to learning and he is interested in everything and every one. Being so studious, he is some times considered a little weird and some say he might put his scrolls and books before his companions. He will always dismiss this saying that it is stupid rumour... OK, OK he might think twice if helping others means sacrificing an important scroll or book but would do it nevertheless. He is also very understanding and a good listener and has an excellent memory and likes to do everything "by the book".
He caries little more than his bag full of books and scrolls and he relies only on his excellent water-bending.
His mother was originally from the Southern Water tribe. She fell in love with and Earth Kingdom trader. He sold all kind of things, from boomerangs to jewels and bending scrolls. They were very much in love and she eventually ran away with him. They spent happy years in the south of the Earth Kingdom and when Rorek was born and their happiness was even greater than before.
Rorek grew up between books, scrolls and weapons from all over the world as his father continued to be a trader. He learned how to read and write from his mother and every one on the island on which they lived knew him as a fine young man, but a little too absorbed in his lecture and water-bending training.
He was quickly learned water-bending from the the numerous scrolls his father brought with him from his travels and from an old water-bender who lived on the island. Even though his father brought weapons as well, Rorek was only interested in their origin and how they were technically used rather than learning to wield them because he considered them too dull, preferring to use water-bending instead.
But happy days were about to be put to an end. One day the island was attacked by Fire Nation raiders. The whole island was slaughtered and the village burned down. He and the old water-bender tried to protect their beloved island they were soon out numbered as Rorek was not a master yet and the raiders were too many for only two water-benders handle. His master was killed, but not before he bought some time for Rorek to run and hide in the forest. By the end of the day everyone he knew, everyone he loved was either dead or captured and he was the only one to escape.
He took what little he could salvage from his former home and left the island as he knew that there was nothing left for him there. He is now travelling, searching for someone that could help him stop the Fire Nation from ever killing innocents again.