Alek Varan is a 27-year-old human rogue, the son of a moderately successful wandering trader. Alek and his father spent years traveling the Sword Coast trade routes, and he acquired his skills sneaking around cities from Baldur's Gate to Neverwinter, and fighting off monsters and highwaymen in between. 

In 1353 DR, while the Varans were doing business in Waterdeep, a rival trader sent his enforcers to kill Alek's father and steal a valuable magic item he had acquired. Alek managed to escape the ambush, but his father was dead and all their valuables stolen. In retaliation, Alek used his thievery skills to steal some valuable jewels from a prominent noble's wife and plant them among the rival's belongings. Then he notified the authorities anonymously and let justice take its course.

Having avenged his father's death, and having few belongings and no place to call home, Alek became a wandering adventurer. He traveled from town to town, supporting himself by stealing from those he considered dishonest, along with the occasional theft-for-hire.

A chance encounter with Lucan D'Marn in Scornubel led Alek to join Lucan's party in Waterdeep a year later. Since then, he has spent much of his time cursing the day he ever met Lucan, usually while dodging claws or flames.