Xaivan Slingblade is the adopted son of humans Willock and Vyssa Slingblade, struggling owners of The Slingblade Traders in the town of Gate Pass. Xaivan's mother died in childbirth and since his now late father was a dear friend and companion of Willock during his adventuring days, he and Vyssa were happy to take him as one of their own when the father, Zalver, either refused to or felt he was unable to deal with the troublemaking child.
Xaivan soon learned to take advantage of his small stature and began to steal odd trinkets and, when hungry, food, in and around his new home. However, his father frowned upon stealing, even though his was aware that they were barely able to provide for themselves. He was never harsh on Xaivan for he felt that his heart was in the right place and also saw some of himself in his eyes. His parents feared for Xaivan due to his small size, though they vastly underestimate his dexterity and resolve. In fact, Xaivan found the cairns in and around the area to be quite fascinating and became quite knowledgeable as to their locations and what they once held.
Xaivan began to help with the bartering at the trading post when he became older and enjoyed haggling and dealmaking. After a while he soon learned that he could easily persuade the miners and travellers that came by into deals that favored him more than they should. He used his local knowledge of the cairns to have the treasure seekers pay for his advice, though Xavian often embellished the stories in order to pick up more coin. As he grew of age he tired of the store and began to venture out into the town during the bustle of the day when the streets were crowded. Here is when he honed his knack for "finding things", whether they were on another's person or simply lying around.
While he was well known due to the family store, he soon learned to use his charm and his size to his advantage whenever he got caught with mischief. Some thought he was just harmlessly acting out, being an adopted child and all, others felt he was taking advantage of it. For the most part, Xaivan really just had the wanderlust most halflings get, however he just never could figure out how he could leave this droll town.
As he became an adult, simple pickpocketing and dealmaking at the store just didn't cut it for Xaivan anymore. He eventually discovered the real excitement of the town, the type that usually happens at night in the gambling houses, brothels and other somewhat unsavory places that could be found there. Here Xaivan found new ways to take advantage of his talents and quickly became quite good at confidence games, games of chance and other forms of income that wasn't quite necessarily a true occupation (unless a gambler is a profession to you, in which he is self-employed). Still Xaivan had a good heart inside and would never take advantage of someone that truly couldn't afford the lose, preferring to pick on those with big egos and bigger purses whenever he could.
His parents, very unhappy at the life Xavian had chosen for himself, kicked him out of their home, something that the halfling felt could be considered a blessing. He eventually found a small place to live in a room above one of the gambling halls, though he was rarely there. If he wasn't gambling he was at a brothel spending the money he had earned on the women there or drinking and eating at the ale houses about town. he always had money, yet he always needed money at the same time.
Xaivan knows many people, though has few true friends, if any at all. He is well liked but never fully trusted (though he always repays what he owes, one lesson he did keep from his adopted father). He has had more than his fair share of run-ins with the local law enforcement, some to do with the law, some not so much.
So this is how Xaivan Slingblade is currently going about his life, one big circle of drinking, debauchery, and cunning games of chance. Now he finds himself taking a joc as an information broker, or at least that's what he'd rather call it. Sensing a small fortune could be made off of the drunken gamblers that would fill the dens and taverns in Gate Pass due to the current climate of the city, Xaivan couldn't help but investigate the great curiosity that is the wizard's domain...
