Pen Ding was raised in the slums of Lalayïa, the metropol in the county of Aprya, South Aria. His parents died when he was young. He made ends meet by doing manual labor at the docks. He joined a maritime expedition with a merchant group that took years. This organization is called Solharbor Antiquities and Exotics. The merchant company secured his pay, but when he returned from the expedition, his sizable share of the profits had been taken by the company and lost in a high risk investment in something called Runecoins. When Pen Ding presented the matter before the law, he stood no chance and the company got away with their injustice. Pen Ding lost all respect for law and order and good morals and went down a self serving path.
 
He sailed with another expedition, but this time, he stole goods from them and escaped with a small boat. Afterwards he landed in the smuggling business. Pen Ding wants to become rich, but also strong and powerful enough so no-one will screw with him again and take what is rightfully his. A life of crime is starting to suit him well, and being at the top of the food chain would not be a bad place to end up.
 
Pen Ding ended up joining the Bravian Mercenary Company of the Red Sash after striking a deal with some more corrupt members of that company in a lucrative secret side hustle: to smuggle and fence stolen goods taken from inhabitants of Bravia. Eventually when Pen Ding feels confident enough, he’ll want to exact his vengeance on the leaders of the merchant company who ruined him and the Magister of Lalayïa who sided with them.
 
Pen Ding is only out for Number One, and firmly believes that everyone else can get fucked. With this on his mind, he’s taken an interest in Odeatri: a religion/cult/philosophy that places importance on individualism and strength - the ability to face adversity, overcome it and crush it. The name comes from the mercenary hero who spearheaded the Bravia/Aria split.
 
Pen Ding has a pal, Quentin, from his merchant days who helped him become a smuggler. He also claims to have a 16 inch dick. Not the pal, but who’s to say?