Dervick Bosk is a fighter, born and bred. He was always large for his age, which made him stand out from other children, and he was often targeted for being different as a result. He learned early how to use his size to his advantage in warning people off, but this didn't always work, and brawls were a regular occurrence in his life.
Always rebellious, but with a good heart, Dervick was simply not made for the life of a miller's child. He tried to pay attention and learn his father's trade, but his temper and his notions of justice drew him toward conflict like a moth to a flame, and in his 14th year, he ran off looking for adventure. He traveled around, finding trouble here and there, occasionally getting work as a tavern bouncer. During one of his bouncing stints, he tried to break up a fight between a mercenary soldier and a local thug, only to be soundly thrased by the soldier. He did his best, leaving the man with a broken nose, but the outcome was never in doubt, and at the end of the fight he was bloodied and barely conscious.
The soldier helped him up off the floor, and told him that anyone with such spirit and energy would be welcomed in the service of his captain. Helping the young man to a seat, he explained that his name was Storve, and told him where to find the mercenary camp outside of town, and said that he should come by the next day if he was interested in fighting for pay, with real weapons, alongside real soldiers. This sounded good to Dervick, who was used to being considered tough and therefore a bit in awe of someone who beat him so easily.
The following day, he went out to the camp, joined the Iron Falcon merc company, and never looked back. He started as a basic infantryman, training in close-order drill and with weapons like short swords and daggers. He learned how to setup and tear down camp, find water and game, stand a watch, and maintain gear. Lots and lots of gear. Over time, during a few successful campaigns, he developed a solid reputation, and his superiors began to give him some advanced training, with the idea of eventually promoting him.
One year, the Falcons took a contract to besiege and capture a border keep in support of a larger military operation. They successfully set the siege, cutting off resupply, and harrying the keep. All was going as planned, and they were expecting to wait out the defenders. At the end of the first week, they were attacked in the middle of the night by a large force of mercenaries, from a unit they didn't recognize. The guards did their best to sound the alert, but many of the men were overcome before they were able to wake up and arm themselves. During the fighting, Dervick was trying to help Sergeant Storve rally the men, when Storve took an arrow through the eye and dropped. Realizing the futility of the situation, Dervick shouted for a retreat and for all surviving Falcons to flee. He grabbed what equipment he could (including a fallen greatsword), and fled into the nearby woods, hoping to regroup with survivors.
Dervick's captain, Fornhall, made it to the woods but was dying of a large wound to his side. The few Falcons left gathered around him as he told them with his last breaths that they were officially discharged from service, as the Falcons were no more. His last words were, "Find the sons of b#~#%es who did this, and give them hell if you can."
They escaped into the woods, and weren't found. For a time, Dervick traveled with some of the other former Falcons, but most left to take jobs here and there, and he eventually found himself alone.
Since then, Dervick has been wandering, working mostly as a caravan guard, helping people where he can. He remembers the insignia on the uniforms of the men who killed his friends, but so far he hasn't seen it again, and his inquiries have turned up nothing...
