You've studied and read widely about the world

Somewhat to many people's surprise, you're a bit of a bookworm. Ever since you were a child, you've been obsessed with reading tales of far-off lands, of fantastical beasts and magical wizards. Honestly, that's probably one reason that "adventuring" - a.k.a. being a mercenary - appealed to you when you had to leave the guard. But what it's given you is an informal education that makes you much more than just a walking slab of meat; you know quite a bit about the world, at least through books.

You came to Torwin because you were hired as a bodyguard to escort a farmer home (though the journey didn't, in the end, require your services). Unfortunately when you got here, it turned out the farmer had been scamming you the entire time - he didn't have the coin to pay you more than half of what he'd promised. You nearly took his head off then and there, but small towns like this frown on that sort of thing and no doubt would take the farmer's part. Since you have no desire to get hanged for ****, you took the little cash he had to offer, fuming, and let him go.

Gorto interrupts your remorseful musings by plunking two foamy mugs of ale down onto the bar in front of you. "Here yeh go, Gavilard. Enjoy 'em." You nod and slide a couple coins across the bar to him.