Born into a loving family, Hugh Nampshire was given every opportunity to succeed. His parents, Ellie and Humphrey, owned a successful trading company that focused on importing exotic good from one region to another. From a very young age Hugh was educated by esteemed tutors and trained in hand-to hand combat by storied knights. He was able to see the world.
But he didn’t like any of it.
Hugh’s favorite days were spent away from towns, in the wild. He learned to hunt and track, honing his skills with a bow to become a formidable marksman. But pressure from his family kept his tethered to the city life.
At the age of 20 his parents thought it would be good for him to have some responsibility and placed him in charge of establishing trade with a tribe of half orcs. Hugh reluctantly accepted the duty and began to make inroads with the tribe leaders. Diplomatic relations soon fell apart though, after Hugh’s penchant for turning a joke angered one of the elders in the tribe. Thinking quickly (as would be useful to anyone feeling the heel of a half orc’s foot on their throat) Hugh offered the tribe an exceptionally lucrative deal, which they promptly accepted. Many people forget that while gruff, half orcs are shrewd businessmen. But Hugh found himself in a pickle. He could not deliver on that deal. So he changed a word here and a number there on the agreement and quickly authored a fake document for the tribe to sign.
Understanding that his ruse would soon be discovered, Hugh quickly left the tribe. After a few long days of travel he found himself in front of a cottage. Recognizing the trappings of a small tradesman outside, Hugh knew that the Nampshire name wouldn’t win him any welcome. Thinking quickly again (as would be useful to anyone with a howling horde of half orcs on their trail) Hugh concocted a persona: Nomen Fictus. Soon after endearing himself to his new hosts, the horde arrived. They interrogated the traders as Hugh hid in a cart. When flames began pouring from the eaves, Hugh fled.
He returned to the house a few days later. He found ruins and amongst the ashes, the skeleton of the mother and daughter. The father was nowhere to be found.
Since then Hugh has lived on the edges of society, haunted by the memories of that day. One day he’ll find that trader and atone for what he did.
Level – 6 (5 Ranger, 1 Rogue)
