Byron was born in a small, Karosgrad flat to a fish-woman and a thief, both of which were hertlanders. His father made a living through robbing rich households while his mother worked at a fish stand in the market. They did not have much but the home was happy and animated, which was enough. Byron would play with the other kids that lived on the street, exploring the city and would, most often than not, get kicked out of the uptown areas. He had many friends growing up, as his dad shared his stolen wealth with other struggling people, making the family well liked in the area. Both of his parents tried to instill kindness onto him and his father taught him that there is honor amongst thieves. The golden days were about to change however when his dad was framed for conspiring against the king by a guard and was subsequently sentenced to death. This absolutely devastated his mother who threatened to gut the king herself, and left a sour taste in 12 year old Byron's mouth, making him despise anyone in power.
In the years after his father's execution, his mother fell into a deep depression. This led to Byron having to provide for the house as best as he could and made him turn to theft, first of food and gradually building up to others. When he was 15 he was caught pickpocketing by the leader of a gang and to escape punishment he agreed to work for him. The boy began taking on missions for the gang, who paid him a small sum, and began learning more about the craft and how to stay alive in the city. It was here where he learned to defend himself and the jobs taught him things like scaling walls, jumping fences, but most importantly that information pays. At 17 Byron learned that the most important man is the man with the secrets. The one who controls the information. Furthermore, no one can catch you with stolen goods if the goods are in your head. He decided to become "The Man With The Plan" and make himself not only indispensable, but looked for. But being looked for also means he could be found and he couldn't have that. So he had to make himself invisible in plain sight. He would gather his information through the network of friends he made and would pay the street rat kids to spy for him. He could have eyes on every corner. But that wouldn't be enough. Second hand information can often be tainted and he needed his accurate and on point.
The answer came to him while going on an errand for the gang. It was late spring and he was sitting on a bench in the square, waiting for a contact to show up. There had been a festival a few weeks prior and the area was still bustling with life. Men and women from all social circles, gathered in a small place, having their conversations loudly with no sign of worry. And in the middle of it all: a jester. A tall, brightly colored man who no one paid a mind to. Even when they did notice him, no one would bat an eye at any questions asked, assuming to be the start of a joke or in good humor. Invisible and a fool. "It was the perfect disguise", Byron thought as he sat up and headed towards the tailor's.
Taking on the clown persona had its ups and downs. He learned of many things, some of which he found amusing, some of which he found disgusting, but in a city as big as Karosgrad anything could be used as leverage. However, the city life soon began to bore him. Sure, he was succeeding but there was no struggle anymore. His mother had gotten better a few years back and he already knew every street corner and its people so there was nothing more to work for. Success felt very unsatisfying. So he gathered his things, said goodbye to the gang and his mother, left his spy business in the hands of trusted friends and he decided to go out and see the world. If there were so many secrets in Karosgrad then how many would be in the whole of Hanse? or in other settlements like Norland or Sutica? how much more can he learn from other races as well? He could feed his thirst for knowledge and expand his circle in ways never dreamt before. It would only take a little walking or a carriage ride.
