Alice Briggs grew up in a modest coastal village where her family ran a small but successful shipyard. From a young age, she was fascinated by the inner workings of ships, spending countless hours watching her father and brothers repair and build vessels. Despite societal expectations to follow a more traditional path, Alice's love for mechanics and logistics led her to work alongside her family, eventually earning a reputation for being meticulous and hardworking.

When she turned twenty, Alice left the family business and pursued her own path. She joined a merchant ship as a deckhand, quickly proving herself through her efficiency, level-headedness, and knack for keeping the ship running smoothly. Her natural organizational skills and ability to anticipate the crew's needs made her stand out, even though she avoided drawing attention to herself.

Over the years, Alice served on various ships, steadily working her way up to the rank of quartermaster. She joined the Griffin after its captain noticed her competence during a routine dock inspection. Now aboard the airship, Alice oversees supplies, manages repairs, and ensures everything runs seamlessly. Though her demeanor is quiet and humble, the crew trusts her judgment implicitly, and she is often the first one they turn to in times of crisis.

“We all saw him head west, sir. If we can’t trust that, there’s no telling where to search.” Ms. Briggs settled on her heels. “However, even if it was a ruse and he changed his heading, he could have only gotten so far on a gyro.”

Jacob laid out more markers. “How far, do you think? Remember that the savant was only one person on a two-person craft, and he weighed practically nothing.”

Alice had a keen sense for aeronautical measurements, so while everyone watched, she moved the markers equidistant around the point where the savant had parted company with the Griffin.

“That’s all?” Lucas asked.

“It may not look far on the map,” Alice said, “but it’s a fair distance with a lot of ground to cover if we mean to search all of it.”

- THE INVERSION SOLUTION

Despite her practical nature, Alice is loyal to the crew and ship, considering them her true family. She prefers not to speak about her past, letting her work ethic and dependability define her.

FIRST APPEARANCE

Keln first appears in The Nullification Engine (The Alchemancer Book Two).