Zig was an orphaned youth on the streets of Calimport. He was taken in by the local crier named Thazar-De, who was a pooper himself, to keep Zig from the slave pits. A half-orc is valued as labour after all. Zig grew large and was apprenticed as a carpenter. He hated the rules imposed on him but knew he needed some way to earn money. Begging is despised in Calimsham, where hard work is believed to be the only true path to wealth. This wasn’t for Zig who moonlighted as an enforcer for the local thieves’ guild. Most of his thieving brethren liked the subtle way, the shadow way. Not Zig, he preferred to take the gold, break a few fingers and leave the unfortunate soul with the knowledge that the rest would be broken in quick order if they opened their mouths.
Not that Zig is a bad guy, he just doesn’t see the need for rules, life is about luck and chance, not a set plan. If you were unlucky enough to lose money in the gambling houses, not repay a ‘favour’ to the guild, well that was your bad luck and Zig would be showing up to say hello. His friends know not to rely on Zig, who may decide an extended sleep is more important than going to work. If it wasn’t for his skills as a carpenter (and a healthy fear that the rumours were true about his other employment) the foreman would have let Zig go already.
Zig was caught up in a bad situation with a lower ranking court official’s daughter. He lied his way through it and her brother sits in a Calimport jail. “Better him than me” is Zig’s opinion. She won’t talk to Zig anymore. When his friend asked about this he chuckled and said “She was too clingy anyway.” The trial had just ended and Zig already had an ale in hand, an eye on a new girl and a few silvers in his pocket which probably shouldn’t be there.
Thezar thought it better for Zig to get out of Calimport so the authorities wouldn’t come around asking any questions. The boy’s father had strong suspicions, and some small level of influence within the court. Thezar gave Zig his meagre savings, which Zig knew meant an empty belly for his adopted father. He promised that he would repay Thezar, the only debt on which he is likely to not renege. The money wasn’t quite enough so he stole a bit more from a couple of neighbours before he left Calimport in the dead of a moonless night.
“This is going to be fun.” Thought Zig as he headed into the desert, his mind open to the welcome changes ahead which surely awaited.
RPG Downtime 