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I have written a very quick first draft of a Pact Wizard ex Highwayman Backstory and would love to hear what you think
"Sándor Turn was born into a life of slavery from two loving human parents. At the young age of seven he was sold to the band of highwaymen known as the 'Black Tricornes'.
Over ten years as the gangs notoriety rose, so did the gangs amount of travel, dragging Sándor further from the remote possibility of ever being reunited with his parents. Often left with just the menial tasks of cleaning, and packing Sándor had plenty of time to teach himself to read from the looted books discarded by his illiterate masters. This simple skill turned Sándor from a simple servant into a vital component of the gang, looking after the books, and inventory. As well as finding worth where once the gang saw none.
Then one day a mysterious leather bound book was placed before him, with an unpickable lock, and a single hexagrammically engraved steel manacle hanging from its spine. No amount of effort could pry the book open but, Sándor felt a pull to put on the manacle and as soon as that click shut could be heard, the book opened before him. Inside were hundreds of blank pages until a small orb of black ink began circling across the page. It started to write to him, and as Sándor grabbed his quill he started to write back.
It wasn't long before those menial chores became obsolete as the book had taught Sándor all manor of minor spells. As Sándor grew stronger and mastered more and more powerful spells he was eventually capable of escaping his masters.
Now left to his own devices with just his trusty book to guide him, and while sometimes required to perform bizarre rituals to maintain this relationship, the desire to never again live a life of servitude is more than enough reason to do so."
Updated version (I cannot seem to edit or delete the OP)
Sándor Turpin was born into a life of slavery from two loving human parents; Karll and Chloros Turpin, two simple land workers who got rounded up. At the young age of seven he was sold to the band of highwaymen known as the 'Black Tricornes'.
Over the next ten years as the gangs notoriety rose under the leadership of Naal Cithreth, a strong dark skinned elf, so did the gangs amount of travel, dragging Sándor from Brinewall to Galduria, across the Red and Stony Mountains, and further from the remote possibility of ever being reunited with his parents.
Purchased to keep the gangs belongings in order, and so often left with the menial tasks of cleaning, cooking, and packing. Between those tasks, and often being stepped on, and generally being mistreated by the members of the gang, Sándor used his time to teach himself to read from the looted books discarded by his illiterate masters. This simple skill allowed Sándor to prove himself as a useful component of the gang, looking after the books, and inventory. As well as finding worth where once the gang saw none.
Then one day a mysterious leather bound book was placed before him, with an unpickable lock, and a single hexagrammically engraved steel manacle hanging from its spine. No amount of effort could pry the book open but, Sándor felt a pull to put on the manacle and as soon as that click shut could be heard, the book opened before him. Inside were hundreds of blank pages. Sándor began to use this book as his diary, where he would write with a hidden quill of his all of his deepest feelings and secrets in, including his feelings towards his captures. Over time the book began to write back and with his emotional vulnerability it allowed the book to share part of its power with Sándor, and occasionally even challenge his control of his mind and force.
It wasn't long before those menial chores became obsolete as the book had taught Sándor all manor of minor spells. As Sándor grew stronger and mastered more and more powerful spells he was eventually capable of escaping his masters.
Now left to his own devices with just his trusty book to guide him, and while sometimes required to perform bizarre rituals to maintain this relationship, the hope of one day being reunited and freeing his parents, and to never again live a life of servitude is more than enough reason to do so. His story now turns to Magnimar, and who knows what future that has in store for him.