Bookul hails from the rugged and formidable mountain fortress of Gugal, a stronghold carved into the heart of the jagged peaks where goblin clans have thrived for centuries. Born into a family of modest means, the harshness of mountain life shaped Bookul’s early years. From a young age, Bookul displayed an exceptional aptitude for strategy and observation. While other goblin youths trained in the art of combat and raiding, he honed his skills in stealth, tracking, and the art of deception. He became adept at reading the land, learning to sense when danger lurked nearby, and using the terrain to his advantage. This natural talent for scouting and subterfuge set him apart from his peers.
The Goblin Wars marked a turning point in Bookul’s life. As tensions escalated between the goblin clans and the dwarves of Merkenjel, Bookul was thrust into the turmoil, where he fought valiantly alongside his kin, using his agility and tactical mind to outmaneuver their enemies. The wars were brutal. Lives were lost, and hard-won victories often came at a terrible cost.
Amidst the chaos, Bookul forged bonds with fellow fighters, yet the war left him with deep emotional scars. The once-vibrant landscape of his home transformed into a battleground, and losing comrades weighed upon him. After the dust settled, he sought a fresh path away from the devastation of war. Drawing on the skills he had honed on the battlefield, Bookul turned to bounty hunting, focusing on taking commissions for fugitives and others.
A driver, midget in stature and wearing a cap pulled low, leaned against one of the enormous wheels with arms crossed. His chin rested on his chest, further obfuscating my view of him.
“Bookul! Wake up, you dolt!” Jarek’s voice echoed from nearby buildings. “I’m not paying you to sleep, you know!”
Bookul shoved off from the carriage and, lifting his head, revealed the white eyes, flat nose, and jagged teeth and fangs of an imp. “I wasn’t sleeping,” the goblin said in a gravelly, sour tone. Bookul wore a long coat with boots, gloves, and a felt cap that covered his pointed ears. Hooding his eyes from a nearby street lantern, he unlocked several boxes lining one side of the wagon, propping each lid open before stepping back so Jarek had space to maneuver. The sorcerer hunter went straightaway to a specific container. When he turned to me, he held the weapon representing Isadora’s end.
- THE ASSASSIN’S CODE / THE HUNT
During one of these ventures, Bookul crossed paths with Jarek Blackwell, an experienced sorcerer hunter. Despite their differing backgrounds—Bookul, the nimble tactician, and Jarek, the scrappy fighter—they formed an effective partnership. Bookul already had a formidable skill set, but Jarek enhanced his knowledge of hunting sorcerers and their ilk. Their bond was founded on mutual respect, camaraderie, and the shared purpose of making as much money as possible.
As a sorcerer hunter, Bookul excelled at utilizing his keen instincts and quick reflexes. He studied sorcerous movements, analyzed patterns and weaknesses, and devised clever plans to confront those who wielded magic, all with the purpose of stealing their power. His reputation in the sorcery-hunting trade grew, earning him respect among his allies and fear from those calling themselves wizards.
Though Bookul carries the weight of his past, filled with the memories of battles fought and friends lost, he channels those experiences into his work. With Jarek by his side, he finds renewed purpose in hunting down the weak all in the name of profit.
FIRST APPEARANCE
Bookul first appears in The Assassin's Code (Assassin Without a Name Book Three).
