What was he doing exactly? Maybe he's just watching for vampires and making rabbit stew? lol All I know is the conjurer professor at the college, Phinis Gestor, remarks that he was his mentor. And he's married to the innkeeper. Seems like an odd guy but sometimes NPCs do just keep odd hours, as you find out when you marry one.
The innkeeper is his sister, iirc.
He's an 'expert' in vampirism, and a well traveled mage and scholar. I think maybe he's doing something about Morvarth?