Corsair Bosun

Harlan slipped through one of the manor's tall windows, landing in a shaft of silvery moonlight. He found himself in a study. He cocked his head but heard nothing but silence. An array of statues and paintings seemed to stare at him accusingly. The lavish decorations were clearly meant as a show of wealth and power, but to Harlan, they were just gaudy.

Why is it that, when wealth increases, style pays the price? he thought.

A desk stood at the far side of the room, and he strode toward it. He'd done this enough times to know where the rich stashed their secrets. He felt around under the drawers until he found a hidden latch. A faint click, and a compartment slid out from the side of the desk. Harlan lifted the lid, and a pile of gold coins glinted in the moonlight.

All this wealth tucked away in a drawer. He thought of the families living on the streets, the sick children without medicine or healing.

The door to the study crashed open, and a fat man dressed in puffy, velvet clothes stepped into the room. He raised a gold-hilted sword and pointed the tip at Harlan.

“Don't move,” the man said. He tried for a tone of authority, but his voice shook. “I know who you are. Get out of here, or I'll call my guards.”

Harlan raised an eyebrow. “You know who I am, do you? I'm flattered, but I'm curious. Why haven't you already called your guards? Why is it you standing there instead of them?”

The man licked his lips. A sheen of sweat glistened on his pale face.

Harlan chuckled. “Ah. I see. There are things in here you don't want anyone to see.” He nodded at the compartment protruding from the side of the desk. “Not even your guards.”

“That's not of your concern.”

Not taking his gaze off the fat aristocrat, Harlan placed one hand on the hilt of his sheathed rapier and reached into the compartment with the other. The coins clinked. He tugged a piece of parchment from beneath them and held it up, eyes wide in mock surprise. “What's this?” he gasped. “Contracts for slave labor?”

“I'll kill you.” The man waved his sword threateningly.

Harlan drew his own rapier with a metallic rasp. Its blade glinted in the moonlight. “You think you can move faster than me? I wish you'd try. I really do. Either way, after tonight, everyone will know where your wealth comes from.” While many call him a vigilante, Harlan Lowcastle prefers “Hero of the People.” Growing up in a large city, Harlan saw a great deal of suffering as the powers that be looked on with indifference or, even worse, used it to their advantage. Despite his upbringing in a wealthy family of the upper class, he left his life behind. His parents disowned him, but he didn't care. There were bigger problems in the world.

After that, Harlan lived on the streets of the inner city, staying on the move and helping those in need, providing food, medical supplies, and access to other subsistence they required to survive. When he couldn't get it legally, he had no qualms about using other means. To Harlan, the wealthy were nothing but gluttons and abusers who ignored the misery of others while hording their own riches and living a life of excess.

His initial jobs began small, sneaking into estates and taking what he needed. As he got more confident, his plans grew more daring and elaborate. He amassed a small following of rebellious men and women who, fed up with the apathy of the gentry, helped him carry out his heists. They often robbed the rich to give to the poor. Harlan's favorite schemes, however, involved uncovering the corruption of the affluent and making it public, forcing them to be held accountable. As Harlan grew more successful and his influence spread, he attracted some powerful enemies. Undeterred, he continued to fight for a better life for others.

All his efforts, however, were undone when the Chaos Legion invaded the Splinterlands.

Harlan went to ground, doing what he could to save as many people as possible from the initial attack. The world changed forever, but all hope was not lost. Word of the Riftwatchers spread. Harlan sought them out. He now works with them, plotting insurgent attacks, undermining the Chaos Legion, and hoping to one day free the Splinterlands of their tyranny.