Locke

Life in the Empire was not easy for Locke, unfortunate enough to be born a Halfling in the city of Tarrin. Sold into slavery at a young age, Locke was put to work in the Hathsin Silver Mine. Home to several hundred slaves, the elaborate network of tunnels and caves that made up Hathsin could almost be called a town itself. Slaves were mostly left to fend for themselves in Hathsin; as long as a steady flow of silver was carted out, enough rations to keep them hungry but working were carted in. A barter sytem had been established over the centuries since the mines had been opened, and those that controlled the flow of contraband made a comfortable living for themselves at the expense of their fellow slaves.

For years Locke struggled to get his footing in Hathsin. It wasn't until the age of 16 that he found a place among a group of smugglers led by a Half-Elf named Noven.

Noven had been running contraband in Hathsin for nearly 20 years, and was well respected among the slaves. For eight years Locke worked as a runner, collecting contraband and getting it into the right hands without being accosted by the muscle of a rival crew; often easier said than done.

Through his work Locke met an old Dwarf named Norros, who was willing to teach him to read in exchange for bringing him books from the outside. It was a slow process, but once Locke had a handle on the written word he spent what little free time he had immersing himself in stories of the outside world. After another year in Hathsin, he'd had enough; he would find a means of egress.

Noven was willing to have Locke smuggled out, and told him of Elril, a contact of his in Cafeld who could get him work. Within a month Locke was riding with a caravan looking up a sky he hadn't seen since childhood. After the long journey to Cafeld Locke met up with Noven's contact, who as it turned out was a fence for a band of thieves operating in the city. In the four years since arriving, Locke has been doing various jobs for the thieves of Cafeld in and out of the city.

Not welcome inside, Locke often finds himself lying atop the taverns, away from the hateful eyes of the people; listening to the Instrumentalists songs late into the night.