Fop/Dandy
Piers is a son of a formerly wealthy Galtish merchant family that had to flee the revolution over 35 years ago. Much of the family fortune was spent in securing the safety of its members and, as a result, they lived as refugees in a state of deprivation in Taldor, Druma and finally Molthune. Each border that they crossed further depleted the family coffers.
When the family settled, they secured employment as servants largely due their education and refinement. Still, this was far to fall and their employers missed no opportunities to remind them of that fact. They were never able to escape the taint of their foreign origin and were treated nearly as such by the society at large. (The last sentence is probably not appropriate for the River Kingdoms.)
Piers' parents taught him everything they knew about the life they no longer lived. They were determined that he and his siblings would rise above their station and drove their children relentlessly to this end. In the case of Piers, they were extremely successful and he excelled at fencing, athletics and academics even without the benefit of proper schooling. He also learned by observing the family that he served, noting their behaviors and listening in on their sessions with tutors brought to instruct them.
