Thagretis learned of treason within its halls. A man of great renown, Asa Kullgar, was of reputable standing in Thagretis' clergy. Stationed and set to rise in power, he hid dark secrets within himself as he exuded benevolence and kindness towards his citizens. Could have become one of the greats, as they said, and found a comfy seat amongst High Priests within the Archprophet's hierarchy. Unfortunately, that would not become so.

Asa, and by default his wife, Lousanya, were associated with defecting ideology without warning. The people grew confused and concerned, wondering why the Kullgars would be outed in such public fashion. Asa's brother, Ishel Kullgar, was a devout member of the Dragon Knights and staunchly opposed the allegations. He knew his twin better than anyone else, and vowed to defend their honor and clear their names. With a child on the way, the uncle-to-be did not want his nephew to be born into conspiracy.

Investigations into the lives of the Kullgars began to wear on the family. It brought about the premature death of the twin's mother, whose health was failing long before. Her death seemed to steal the life out of Bezza's grandfather, and he passed months later from heartbreak. It rocked the remaining family members to their core, and relatives of the Kullgars began to draw away for fear of associated criticism. The twins and Mrs. Kullgar were on their own.

Asa debated confessing, as long as he could guarantee the safety and security of his expecting wife. Lousanya pleaded with him to reconsider, knowing how it would devastate their only ally in Thagretis. Instead, they chose to disappear, leaving all behind and slinking away to start a new life elsewhere. Their disappearance was treated as admittance to guilt. Ishel, the betrayed twin, felt personally convicted to seek them out, learn what transpired. And, if the results of his efforts proved necessary, turn them in. They allowed him to pursue the fleeing party, effectively washing their hands of the matter and seeing it resolved within itself. They trusted Ishel to follow through on his word; he hadn't disappointed them yet.

A merchant ship leaving Thagretis' port hesitantly allowed the couple on board. They agreed to smuggle them out of Malakath as long as they cut ties in their next destination. Asa and Lousanya complied, and before long they set sail towards Belgrath. The great dwarven city would be excellent cover, as none would expect a human to walk amongst the breathtaking dwarven halls. How ignorant the pair truly was of the world since then.

It was four months into the year 346 when Bezza was born. The Kullgars were still aboard the merchant ship when the time came, and the delivery was a quick one. Bezza emerged a healthy baby boy, cleaned and wrapped up quickly to sooth his wailing. They had good fortune on their side, as Lousanya was a midwife during her time in Thagretis. Through the pain and pressure, she could still miraculously inform any and all help of what to do. The couple was now a family, and whatever they were running from back on land suddenly held weight within the merchant's hearts. They gained their sympathy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<<<<

Dorian and Richtin Thames were a young dwarven couple whom lived in a fading Belgrath. As children, they remembered how the towering splendor of their heritage dimmed over the years. How the glimmer of pride flickered in their grandparents eyes before fading in their father's and mother's gazes. How the stories of old seemed more fable than truth. The evidence was lost on the young, impressionable minds. Yet out of loyalty to their ancestry, the Thames family remained. Out of pride and honor for their bloodline, the Gerchir family remained. This common ground and belief in a bright future brought the two dwarves together, and great happiness to the families uniting in matrimony. By the time Bezza was born, their eldest son, Eckhardt, was nine, and their youngest, Romus, was five. The rosy-cheeked blacksmith and the homemaking herbalist never anticipated what would arrive months down the road.

A night drenched in heavy rain barely let a heavy knock through. Dorian, a light sleeper, startled awake in fear. Her frantic reaction roused her husband, whom reacted sluggishly to it all. She demanded he see to it, and when a second heavy knock sounded he righted out of bed. Richtin ordered wife and children to stay in their rooms as he descended the stairs towards the front door. As Thames slinked through the shop floor he grabbed up one of the many weapons he himself forged. A heavy clink of metal sounded and the door creaked open, just in time to halt the departure of the Kullgars. Desperate, Asa and Lousanya greeted the uncertain dwarf, asking him if he would take in a child. Richtin planned to refuse them, but meeting their frightful gazes halted his words, stoked a tenderness he himself held for his children. What wouldn't he have done to keep them safe, if he believed them in danger?

He wasn't sure what to think, holding this now-abandoned boy in his arms. Watching the parents head off into the thick of night, not knowing if they would return for him. But when Dorian descended the stairs and saw what transpired, she too was appalled. They had not asked for this sudden change in their lives. Yet as a numb blacksmith cradled the newborn and presented him to his wife, they decided they had no other choice. With nothing to go on besides the baby's name, they decided raising him was better than leaving him to the orphanage.

Bezza grew up knowing he was different than his adopted family. He was not a naive or dense individual. He sensed his differences early on, especially once his height quickly matched those in his family. Eckhardt and Romus didn't seem to mind. Bezza earned the nickname "big brother" despite being the youngest, and they loved to tease him for it. It was a drastic adjustment for the Thames-Gerchir family lines, but they eventually adapted to having a taller family member around. Family gatherings became far more entertaining, and Bezza grew up with loving and welcoming relatives. He also found favor with Dorian, as he could easily reach tall places she once struggled with on a step-stool.

When Bezza came of age, Richtin was already apprenticing his eldest, Eckhardt, in the blacksmithing trade. Romus took a different path, following some of his friends and relatives into the hunting and tanning industries. Dorian invited her adopted son to learn the ways of herbalism, and the prospect intrigued Bezza. While under her wing, he enjoyed learning about different herbs and wild plants. Which ones were beneficial and which were to be avoided. These were nice things to know, but he became disengaged after a while. He wanted something more, but wasn't sure what it was.

One night, as a young teenager, Bezza recalled hearing fantastical stories from weathered adventurers. Tales which seemed larger than life, invigorating a dormant wanderlust. That! That was what the young Kullgar wanted, and in eagerness he revealed his desires to his family. Richtin and Dorian became concerned, realizing what would happen if they did not stop and explain the realities of the nomadic lifestyle. The slew of cautionary tales distressed Bezza, and he believed they were against him stepping out into the world. Expressed concerns fell on deaf ears, the boy angrily leaving the house to calm down and cool off. It was during this time Bezza met an esteemed member of the Adventurer's Guild: Wiley Devereaux.

Devereaux was a quiet and lax individual. Never swayed to act in a rushed and emotional way. He was entirely Bezza's opposite, and his demeanor initially upset the excitable young man. When Wiley inquired further, the boy was compelled to explain what transpired. It took the honest prodding of the older man to help Bezza see things from another angle. By the time Bezza returned home, he'd gained a new perspective on the matter. He still desired to go and see the world, but with a new prerogative. After frequent conversations and long discussions, Richtin and Dorian allowed him to apprentice under Wiley Devereaux and join the Adventurer's Guild.

Now, at the age of 24, Bezza has traveled and has seen what the world has offered. But he has gained other skills along the way, learning the art of combat both in long and short-range weaponry. He's become proficient in survival, hunting, tracking, cooking, and resource management. This has all come from the individuals he has crossed during his time in the guild, and he has imparted his knowledge onto others as well. Now, arriving in Alliria after a long, grueling series of travels, Bezza Kullgar is ready to set down his traveler's pack and settle in somewhere. At least, for a while...