Thane Redpit, though few now live that would know his last name, is an orphan born from the foulest womb in the World. Given the last name so many babies are, Redpit, after the city that spawned them he became one of thousands born each year to the streets. Bought and paid for, Thane was saved by the slavers of Redpit, although they sought only to shackle him when he was of age, nonetheless they did their job and the babe slowly grew into a boy. Though a slave Thane never sought to leave his captors, they showed him favor and privilege, the boy had shown early on his demonic traits and his owners knew well the value that one of his type might bring them. As the years passed Thane was given responsibility and freedom, he could walk among the mines overseeing work and transportation of the raw ore so valued in the town of demons. His tall frame always hunched as he doggedly made his rounds making sure the slaves were all accounted for.
   
     There was one in particular who saw potential unused in the youth; he was Gorreton, Demon Master of the Tunnels, responsible for the security of the mines both structurally and militarily. Having no need for subtlety and no care if Thane desired it, Gorreton took him under his wing and began him on the road of warrior and scholar. What first made Gorreton notice the boy was his uncommon strength, though he was slight of build, tall and lean he was covered in bands of muscle harder than steel. There was little fat on any who worked in the mines but Thanes definition was unearthly, his muscles layered on his frame in a way Gorreton had never seen. Band after band of cable hard muscle crisscrossed his body, at sixteen he could already lift more than Gorreton which was no small task. Behind his great physical strength Gorreton could feel something else, what had truly attracted him to the youth; he knew this young man could take his dark craft farther than most. A Spinal Architect must be strong in body, but there is another part to the formula, strength of spirit that few posses…. This is what Gorreton felt in the boy and what he sought to bring out.

      Under the hard eye of Gorreton, Thane began his study both martial and academic and excelled at both. Years passed and still Thane studied not wanting any life but the one dealt him, working his hardest under his new teacher he began to believe what the old demon had told him and so decided his life’s goal would be what his mentor could never achieve, he would become a Spinal Architect.  

      With these two in the mines it quickly became efficient and began to grow, soon becoming too big for those competitors around it. In a move all too common in the “Pit” the mine was attacked, the survivor would hold sway over both mines thus growing stronger; the looser would know only death. As the alarm sounded its way through the stone shafts Thane was second only to Gorreton in his readiness, but their attackers were too strong and too quick.    As Thane stood strapping on his armor he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder, he knew whose it was without looking, but before he could finish he was turned around roughly.   His flaming eyes involuntarily flared as he is whipped around but soften when he sees the face of his mentor, “Thane, there is little time for talk, you must listen and obey me.  You have to leave, there in no hope for the mine. Our masters have spent too much on wines and spiced meat instead of arms and troops to wield them!  Your destiny is not to die in this stinking hole, take what I have given you and go, become what I could not. You have the strength of arm and soul to accomplish this and that is a rare gift no matter how you came by it. Follow the caravans, they always need guards, know that beyond the gates of Redpit our demon blood is less favored but you are strong enough to TAKE your respect if it should not be given freely.”  Removing his hand from Thanes shoulder he grabs a pack and weapons from the ground, “Take these trappings, they are mine from my days of wandering, they are all I have left that I can call my own….” So many years under the yoke of servitude had taught Thane well, with little thought he took the gear and made to leave, stopping in the doorway but not turning he simply said, “I will see all of the World that I can before I die Gorreton, this I swear….. and my first creation shall bear your name, a monument to your vision.”  His words spoken Thane made his escape and following the demons words found work with the first caravan leaving the city.

      Thane was true to his word and began his wandering first using the caravans but later as his skill grew he took to the life of the nomad.  With no home, and few possessions he crisscrossed the landscape looking for clues to fulfill his dream.  With his mentor dead, his journal all that is left Thane sought the knowledge to open it and decipher its words.