Cornelius Hawthorne Backstory

Ker-ell Zaltaeris came from a fairly wealthy family that took residence in Zhentil Keep of the Forgotten Realms. Ker-ell was the only child to Fur-Mox (father) and Is-Vosk (mother).

The Zaltaeris family was well off in Zhentil Keep, but only showed their true nature inside the privacy of their own home. In a large trade and port city populated primarily with humans and orcs, the family often posed as half-orc traders. As a child, despite his parents being able to provide anything his heart could desire, Ker-ell found a penchant for swift hands and deception, often stealing various knick-knacks from other vendors. Being slender and athletic, he was usually able to outmaneuver anyone who pursued him, until one day a trap was sprung to catch Ker-ell.

As a teenager, Ker-ell spent a few weeks in a prison cell for his string of thieving. Officer Nathaniel Bowsteen was the commanding officer of the prison and would often spend time with Ker-ell, believing he could be rehabilitated. Officer Bowsteen took Ker-ell under his wing and began to show him how to live the life of a peacekeeper. Often he would bring him to non-violent crimes and help look for clues. Ker-ell found himself often lost in the mystery of the unknown.

As an adult, Ker-ell knew it was important to keep his true origins a mystery. Adopting the disguise of Cornelius Hawthorne, among other "faces," Hawthorne has since been a drifter, roaming from land to land. He does investigative work via town gossip and seeks rewards upon a successful investigation. However, this does not always prove sufficient to sustain a lifestyle, and Ker-ell occasionally fulfills his needs in less honorable ways, whether borrowing some food from a nearby cart or opting for a con in a city he is days away from departing.