Rolf

Rolf was born and raised in the Sunken Slums of Brighton, a grimy district known for its dilapidated buildings, narrow alleys, and the constant stench of misfortune wafting through the air. Growing up in the Slums was a harsh life. Crime is rampant, and survival often means embracing the shadows rather than living in the light. From a young age, Rolf learned that strength and cunning were his greatest assets in a world where the weak were quickly forgotten.

Growing up in the Sunken Slums meant Rolf was surrounded by poverty and desperation. His family struggled to make ends meet, often relying on handouts and livelihoods that teetered on the edge of legality. Rolf’s father, an occasional laborer, was frequently absent due to hardship, and his mother worked long hours as a seamstress, leaving Rolf and his younger siblings to navigate their surroundings on their own. The streets became both his playground and battleground.

By age ten, Rolf found himself swept away by the allure of petty crime. Inspired by the older children who flaunted their gains of stolen food or trinkets, he quickly learned the art of pickpocketing and small-time hustling. With each theft, Rolf felt a rush of power and invulnerability, further solidifying his path in a life he believed was predetermined by his upbringing.

Of those remaining, one manned the cart, now loaded with the parts for the airship, while the others took positions around and behind it. With Jacob, Tippin, and Rolf in the lead, they navigated the city streets until they passed through Slum Gate and outside the walls. They stopped just short of the Griffin. Jacob took a deep breath to ready himself while two of Rolf’s men unloaded the cart. That, apparently, was as far as they meant to take the goods.

“Stay here until I give you my signal,” Jacob said to Rolf.

The man nodded, crossing his arms as he leaned against the cart to wait. The others did likewise.

- THE NULLIFICATION ENGINE

As Rolf grew older, he began to fall in with rougher crowds. The thrill of petty crimes evolved into more dangerous ventures, such as smuggling and dealing in black market goods. It was during this tumultuous period that he caught the attention of Thorvid Kelm, the diminutive but formidable dwarven crime lord who ran operations throughout the darker corners of Brighton.

Recognizing Rolf’s potential as a brawler and enforcer, Thorvid recruited him as one of his henchmen. Rolf embraced this new position fervently, feeling like he had finally found his place in the world. He quickly became known as a bruiser for Thorvid, imposing fear upon those who crossed their paths. Rolf took pride in being the muscle of the operation, enforcing Thorvid’s will and using his strength to maintain the criminal empire that flourished within Brighton’s shadows.

Under Thorvid’s employ, Rolf learned the inner workings of organized crime, becoming involved in everything from shaking down merchants who owed debts to guarding shipments of contraband goods. He thrives on the adrenaline of conflict, becoming more ruthless and callous with each passing job. The streets of the Sunken Slums are his domain, and he feels invincible when he walks them.

FIRST APPEARANCE

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

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