The short story of the background.
Here is the basic background that I came up with for my character Kross, to pass onto the GM to work into the story:
A few years ago Kross left his home city of Utahsa and roamed around. He headed north looking to work on his maps and to survive off the land. During this time Kross witnessed some strange and odd things in the wilds of Mitharia. Reaching water, for the experience and for passage across The Serpentine Sea to the Westerlands, Kross worked on a large ship for some time. Reaching land Kross lost himself to practice his skills for a time.