Ross Essen is a plump, bearded young man with a pleasant demeanor who dresses sharply and exhibits a self-deprecating sense of humor. This last facet of his personality is an affectation designed to deflect suspicion away from him by convincing others that he is not a man to be taken seriously. But in fact, Ross places himself and his interests above all else and is quite serious about protecting both.
Until the recent unpleasantness of Queen Ileosa, Ross lived in Korvosa and made a comfortable living assisting the Sczarni in their various schemes. He also acted as a sort of medic when needed and, in addition, he helped to manage one of their more profitable "leisure establishments" on Old Korvosa.
But this all came crashing down with the appearance of the Bloodveil plague. Ross was among the first to flee the city, not even bothering to take along more than he was carrying. The fact that he carried some gold that did not belong to him helped to hasten his exit. Luckily for him, a regular customer at his old place of business aided his escape.
This customer, Quistal, was an agent of the Pathfinders and saw an opportunity to put Ross in their debt. He brought the cleric to Magnimar as part of a caravan of refugees and convinced him of the benefits of belonging to the organization. The latter agreed, more out of a desire for personal gain than any form of altruism. Still, he is uncomfortable in this new situation, not knowing exactly where he stands with the Pathfinders and being new to Magnimar.
