Since I knew I could never be as tough as my brother or as coddled as my sister, I learned to be fast and clever. I got better at dodging my brother's blows, or even encounters with him. If he was on the warpath, I found a good hiding place. As for my sister, I learned to be patient and put up with her tantrums stoicly and silently, or to talk her out of them. But, at the first opportinuty, I left home for the big city.

The buildings! The crowds! The shops! Oh, it was all so new. I tried rationing what little pocket change I had, but soon lost it all (plus a substantial loan from the local bank!) to necessities and pickpockets. Realizing I needed some capital in order to live here, I entered the first shop I came to and asked for a job. I had heard mentions of "guilds", but paid them no heed; I was an independent spirit.

The proprietor told me he wasn't hiring, but that he'd be willing to pay for animal skins. I asked around, and equipped myself with a discarded coat of armor and short sword. Then I went looking for trouble. Needless to say, I got pretty badly beaten. I felt like I was back home fighting my brother again. I tried again, this time being more cautious and sneaking up on my prey, with the same result. A nice person in the crowd saw my condition and took me to a smart-looking building, where I was healed. Thus I learned of Empaths, and guilds in general. I didn't have to think hard to realize that I was best suited for the, um, Upstanding Citizens' Guild.

It took me quite some time to find the Guild (don't ask me where it is), and when I finally got there, a mean looking man began my training in several techniques, consisting of combat, sneakery, and various knowledges. Then he told me to go out and practice these methods. I went back to the hunting grounds, and found it much easier to get the upper hand. After a while I returned, and the guild leader told me I was ready for the next lesson.

I progressed rapidly for a while, then slowed down a great deal and got bored of it all. After a few melancholy months, I found some friends and began looking at my studies with a new enthusiasm. I discovered how much fun opening boxes could be, and spent a lot of time on this practice, somewhat neglecting other skills.

Having been around a while, and seeing new arrivals in town surpass me, I decided to try a more balanced approach to life in the Crossing. It just wasn't for me. My greatest love is and always will be opening boxes.

Rediscovering more old friends and opening their boxes, I found that helping people gave me a thrill second only to playing with lockpicks. I decided to join the Mentors to reach more people who needed help, and found I had a good time doing so.