Characters:Dun Barethsol:Alek Endhelm
A human mercenary with a dark appearance and a quick and cunning mind. He spies on Bjarn and so finds out about the Dwarfs plans and the concealed jewels. Soon after Bjarns accusation, he removes them from their hiding place and hides them in the stable. He cannot leave though, since the gate is well guarded, so he'll carefully point the player towards Bjarn, without revealing too much. When Bjarn finally confesses his actions, Alek leaves the trading post and takes the gems with him.
Alek Endhelm is a mercenary from the north coast of the world. He grew up in rough company and took to crime and violence at a young age. He is only thirty-five, but his hair is already beginning to turn grey. In the past, he has hired himself out as a killer, a burglar, a thief, and a paid rioter. He is a former Free Lancer and could have been moderately senior had he not persisted in accepting contracts the Lancers considered immoral. He was asked to leave. He is now the leader of his own band of brigands - Endhelm's Enders - a rogue element of the Free Lancers.
During recent unrest in the Human northern kingdoms, he and his band did lucrative business as hired bandits and rioters. His band was forced to flee south, however, after one of the more powerful northern kings decided to rid himself of the riots and robbers by hanging every violent criminal caught. One of those caught - apparently by ambush and possible treachery - was one of Alek's few true friends: Ragmark Blackthorn. Much of the groups wealth was squandered on the journey south and the peripheral members of the band were ready to depart when it reached Erinsford. The local lord, however, recognized the gain to be gotten from hiring the group of cunning, violent, and hungry brigands. He hired them quickly and commanded them to disburse, preferrably to areas beyond the town walls. He gave them freedom to ambush travelers, but not within sight of the walls.
Endhelm and a few others were sent to look for a monastery and tower, with instructions to report on the location of both when they had been found. Endhelm took the job willingly so that he could prove his wiles and usefulness to the mayor and improve his changes of long-term employment. The tower was easily found, but the monastery proved more difficult. He found it just the same and reported his findings to Albrecht, who then instructed Endhelm to take his band and seize the tower they had found.
Endhelm's band ran afoul of the rangers in taking control of the tower site. Alek realized at that time that Albrecht was playing him from both sides. The Lord of Erinsford knew about the rangers, their abilities, and their interest in the tower. He had used the band to frighten the local people, find things of interest to himself,and increase his own influence, but would not defend his hirelings from the rangers. Any semblance of loyalty to Albrecht faded, but Alek and his band concluded that they should use Albrecht as long as they could and still escape with their skins.
Albrecht's other orders - terrorize the people, hold the tower, and learn the land - remained in force. Alek and his band complied happily, but they schemed for themselves now. Alek went to the village of Waste's Edge to determine whether it was worth sacking. While there, he heard about the jewels, and stole them. The news soon reached Albrecht, who demanded that Alek hand them over. Alek did so, lest he lose the chance and gold he had gained, but he resented the order. Disloyalty became active treachery as Alek tried to find a way to regain the jewels and destroy Albrecht.
Alek hates anyone that is not 'truly human', including alchemists or mystics of any stripe. This hatred extends to the rangers, the Order of the Keepers, and any human who is on friendly terms with members of other races. The other races are objects of particular hatred. He refers to Elvish and Half-Elvish folk as witches and freaks. To Dwarves he is even less civil, unless he is trying to gain employment. He will do anything if the price is right, but would pursue the life of a brigand even if it didn't pay well. He prefers cunning to actual work, but will fight if he things he won't lose. At the first sign of impending defeat, he will cut his way out of the fight.