Alzano hated his parents. Why did they leave the family caravan to settle down? Why did they pick Caliphas, of all places, to do it? Alzano never knew his family's homeland. Born and raised in Caliphas, he experienced firsthand the infamous distrust of an outsider in Ustalav. His parents and older brother had left their caravan after an "incident" shortly before Alzano's birth. The only thing he knew of what happened was his brother's intense hatred of half-elves, some of which rubbed off on him. He made no friends, the other children making fun of his dusky skin and violet eyes. He eyed the occasional Varisian caravan with envy, hoping to escape one day to Varisia and find the rest of his family.
The Sczarni had other plans. Seeing a troubled young man, one of the crime families approached Alzano with promises of freedom and passage out of Ustalav. They would require some favors, of course. Due to the distrust shown to him, Alzano developed somewhat of a skill at remaining unnoticed and fending for himself. The Sczarni exploited that skill, subtly at first, but eventually transforming an innocent but frustrated boy into an experienced thief.
There was no escape from the gang. Instead, Alzano remained in Caliphas in seemingly perpetual service to the Sczarni, robbing houses, stealing from outsiders, and mugging those who resisted. He still dreamed of escaping the city, but it was always 'just one more job.' Until Alzano found the escape he so desperately wished for.
It should have been an easy hit. An old outsider traveling alone, staying in an inn with connections to the family, lots of belongings for the taking. They gave it to Alzano alone... get the key from the innkeeper, sneak in the room, grab his stuff, skedaddle. But Lorrimor was no fool. Alzano hadn't even shut the room door behind him before the professor caught him. Yet, Lorrimor could sense that this wasn't just a mere thug, he could see the desperation in Alzano's eyes. After the Varisian explained his situation to the professor, Lorrimor proposed a deal. He would get Alzano out of the city and hide him where the Sczarni wouldn't find him. In return, he would call on Alzano to assist him on an upcoming journey to Magnimar in Varisia. Agreeing, they traveled north to Karcau where Alzano waited for word from the professor.
The word he got left him stunned. The professor was dead.
