Jacob was born and raised in Westpool. His parents disapproved of the Imperial tyranny evident in the city, and did their best to keep the young boy from knowing about it. As a consequence, he grew with rather idealistic morals compared to many of his friends. At the age of ten, he was sent to Westcrown to apprentice as a blacksmith with his grandfather. His grandfather was a very outspoken man, and under his tutelage Jacob became aware of the true nature of the society he lived in, and resolved to change it as much as he good by being a good example. His diligence and generosity were quite well known within the neighborhood.
When Jacob was 26, his grandfather died, and Jacob stood to inherit the smithy. However, a minor bureaucrat who has always been an enemy of Jacob's grandfather seized on the opportunity to evict Jacob, burying the smithy under obscure regulations and taxes until he could order it seized. Jacob was left penniless, but his generosity was repaid by the townsfolk and he was given enough money to buy a set of armor and weapons. He declared himself a soldier of fortune, and seeks to make enough money to rebuild his business. And if And if a few corrupted officials end up in the way, so much the better.
During one of his venting sessions at a local bar, he was approached by a woman named Janiven, who invited him to a meeting
Appearance:
Jacob is muscular, tanned, and calloused like most blacksmiths, but he also has an unusual fluid grace about him from his years as a child playing in and around the river. His weapons and armor are sturdy but cheap, as he accepted only what charity was necessary. Around his neck at all times hangs a holy symbol of Torag, an heirloom that has been in his family for 7 generations and the only thing he was able to keep when the smithy was seized.
