Thirty years ago in the city of Riverdale, two proud parents, Julian and Veronica Lauphel gave birth to a baby boy. They named me Vesper Julias Lauphel.

Now growing up in Riverdale, one would imagine that my family was quite wealthy. Well, that would be correct, because that's what we were, and more so than most. My parents were filthy rich. The friends and relatives who came over were filthy rich. Even the postman was filthy rich. Like our neighbors, we were a family of money. Our mansion reeked of gold crowns, but than again, so did the whole street. Yes, Riverdale was the place to live. Except if you were me.

Did I see any of the gold? Any of the silver?? Of course not! My room had NO toys. My parents never even spoke to me! I was locked up in a toyless room, staring out the window for the first seven years of my life. Upstairs in the dusty attic I inhabited, I would look down upon all the guests with their happy children. All the rich folk who came to mingle with my own rich folk. Even Vendric Meliak himself, than Baron of Riverdale, stopped by on more than one occasion. Of course, as far as he knew, the Lauphel's didn't even have a child. I couldn't talk to my parents directly. I could only deliver messages through the help. I wasn't even allowed downstairs until both 'mommy' and 'daddy' left the house. My life was one of secrets...of dwelling in shadow...of not even being seen. There was no life for me, outside the old boxes, dusty mirrors, and mildew that I lived with.

Until the day I was freed.

On a late, cold afternoon, my parents had left to go to a social function in Stonegate. The maid came upstairs, knocked on my door, and told me I was allowed downstairs if I so wished. As always, I zipped out of the attic in anticipation that my parents were really there and wanted to spend time with their son. I was wrong everytime. At that moment, there was a loud crash at the front door! The maid screamed! And four of the most ugly men I have ever seen in my life had rushed into the house. Two of them had grabbed all the gold candlesticks and paintings off the wall. The other two grabbed me, tied me up, and ran out. Blindfolded and gagged, I had no idea what was happening. But I wasn't frightened...I was just curious and even...excited.

Sometime later, which must have been many hours, the blindfold and gag were both removed. Two of the ugly men began to untie me as I looked all around. I was somewhere dark and dank. The air smelled of moss, mold, and feces. The walls were made up of rotting wet stone. I was in what could have only been a sewer. I gazed in awe, as the four men all sat down across from me, behind a small, blazing fire.

"They don't want ya', kid..," one of them said. They men began to explain what they had did. They had kidnapped me for the purposes of making some quick ransom money. And my parents...they didn't care.

...they didn't want me.
...they wouldn't pay the ransom.

One of the men, the only elf in a group of humans, told me that my parents said they should have paid them for taking me away. The final nail in my childhood coffin. I was devastated. Not wanting to leave me on my own within the bowels of this world, the four ugly men took me in as one of their own. They fed me rats just cooked over the fire, and took me along to the merchant's market every two days. And THAT is when I learned my trade.

The men were thieves. The most cunning and, despite thier appearance, the most charming thieves I had ever seen. They were the ONLY thieves I had ever seen, and that's just because they let me. One moment they were there, and in an instant, they were gone. I'd watch them finesse women with their smile while taking every last gold crown out of their purse at the same time. I'd blink in disbelief as they sold some of the most worthless junk to the local dealers for some outrageous price. They could pick anybodys' pocket without flinching, and then sell something to the same person later on without hesistation. And this is how I learned my trade. In time, I was doing the same thing! Selling paintings by "master" artists, some of which I painted myself. I would buy the make-up off some ladie's face, and sell it back to her for double the price, and even sell a man his own shoes while he was wearing them! I was more than a thief, I was a con artist, and I loved it!

By the age of 13, the four men, who never went by any name, taught me everything they could. Sadly, we parted ways...I said goodbye to the only family I ever really had. I went off on my own to try and make a better living for myself. I could only spend so much time in the sewers. I knew what my goal was. I knew what I wanted. I wanted more gold and silver than my filthy stinking rich parents had ever DREAMED of!!

More than anything...I wanted to con THEM.

But I wound up never seeing them again. I never knew what happened to my parents, although their mansion still stands, abandoned, in Riverdale.

But despite all that...here I am. Vesper Lauphel...master thief and con artist.

The slyest of the sly...going from pub to pub, town to town, city to city, working my magic trying to hit paydirt..trying to pull off the biggest con of my life...