Alden never knew his family, his native language, nor his birth given name. The closest thing he had to family, Alden had supposed, was Goreth, and even that was a stretch. Goreth acted more like an employer to Alden than family. He worked Alden to the bone regularly, often leaving it to the young man to handle the brunt of the packing, transporting, and selling of their wares. When they weren’t working, they were travelling from one location to the next. All this considered, Goreth had fed and clothed the young man, and found adequate housing for the both of them wherever they went. He and the old human merchant had been together for as long as Alden could remember. When Alden asked about his past, Goreth disclosed very little, telling him of his roots in a small tribe of farfolk, and stating that he had rescued the young man when he was a child during a raid from an opposing faction. When Alden asked about the merchant’s heritage, the old man would often dismiss the question, or change the subject entirely. Conversation between the two was often short and direct.
Whenever Alden had a moment to himself, he would sneak out of sight of the old man and practice his reading, often from the texts and manuscripts in his own stock. Through this Alden learned about some of the history of the world. He learned of the origins of each race; rooted in the four brothers Malin, Krug, Horen, and Urguan. Beyond that, he found himself as being fascinated with any and all texts referring to the undead. Even when he wasn’t reading, his encounters with people all over the known world led to him gaining even more knowledge of its history.
Tragedy struck when Goreth and Alden were ambushed by a group of bandits whilst travelling to Markev, the capital of the kingdom of Haense. Alden, having little experience with a sword, and Goreth, slow and feeble in his age, were no match for the brigands. Goreth was fatally wounded while trying to defend his wares, and Alden was knocked out. Upon regaining consciousness, Alden discovered his caretaker dead, and all his wares gone. After burying Goreth, Alden had managed to reach Markev.
