Mathuin "Mat" Ebson wasn't born in Phaendar. He'd arrived at the age of 12, in the care of his older sister, Sari, and her newly-wed husband, Taerus Clorindale. They'd recently arrived after a band of gnolls had attacked the Ebson homestead, slaughtering Mat's parents and leaving him an orphan. With the farm gone, Sari and Taerus decided to set out for a new frontier, with Mat in tow.
Growing up in Phaendar was enjoyable for Mat. He made friends easily, and spent plenty of time listening to stories from old Claustipher. Having never really known his own grandparents, Mat quickly adopted Claustipher as a surrogate grandfather, much to the elder's chagrin.
When he turned 18, Mat decided to do something with his life, and joined up with a local company that was travelling through town, against his sister's caution. Bidding farewell to his friends and family (which now consisted of a niece and a nephew, Mat took his father's sword and travelled with the company. The plans were to meet up with a larger battalion before making a march through the Hollow Hills to roust out some bandits that had been plaguing the region.
Mat made it to an outpost, where he was able to fully enlist in the <<insert group here>>. His second night at the outpost, bandits attacked, many making it inside the outpost's walls. The terror Mat felt was like none he'd ever experienced, and he felt only one desire...to run away.
Stealing one of the officer's horses, Mat dove through enemy lines and did his best to find his way back to Phaendar. 4 days later, he was found a mile outside of town, half-starved and almost dead and covered in blood. Everyone assumed that he was the sole survivor of his company, and Mat never bothered to correct them.
Whether the garrison survived that night, Mat never bothered to find out. His response to his fear eating at him, he now spends what time isn't spent caring for Claustipher improving his skill with the blade and shield and, hoping that the next time he is called upon he will not fail.
