Welton had no had an easy life. His father had been physically abusive to both him and his mother and a hopeless drunk. He had run away when he was young, with no prospects, he'd learned how to live on the streets by any means necessary.  As he grew older, he had repeatedly tried to do the right thing, from time to time, but his past dogged him, and people had recognized him time and time again for his criminal activities from his youth. He first met Lenny Appleton, who was his age, but reminded him very much of his father - a hopeless drunk. But Lenny Appleton spoke of opportunities for someone of Welton's "skill set" and "gray morals." Lenny Appleton introduced Welton to Fred and Harry Stoneacre who recruited him into a loose knit organization of ruffians who called themselves 'The Broken Hand.' The name had come up as a reference to those in need asking for a hand out and having their hands slapped away from those who often had more than enough to share.

When they moved into the ruins known as Gwathpind (Shadow Ridge), things were good. They had easy access to a nearby trade route along the East Road and were able to frequently rob caravans with little trouble.

Then the orcs came with their Wargs and demanded the ruffians work with them. A few ruffians resisted, and met a quick death. The others, Welton included, quickly fell into line. 

The orcs began taking some of the ruffians to  Felyadûr - A cave system in the South Downs who had gotten its name because of the forbidding feeling the caves emanated. The entirety of the cave systems had never been fully explored, due to that sense of foreboding that slithered from the cave's main entrance. There were rumors (mostly from the people of Bree) who believed the cave system was so vast that it extended down into the Barrow-Downs, which was why there was a sense of evil and foreboding. The cave system had initially become home to wolves of the South Downs, until the increased population of the Wargs, which seemed to have made the cave system their home. Some even believed the cave system crawled beneath Bree and went as far as Chetwood. But all of this was wild speculation and stories told by many who dared face the entrance - and ran.

Most of those who had been taken never were seen again - and the few that did were forever changed, so rattled and broken by fear.

Then came the Cargûl - A powerful wraith that has arisen and works with a mysterious agenda. It'd taken over command of orcs, and then used the orcs to seize a ruffian operation. One of the plans revealed was that it had hoped to poison the water supply to Bree.  It was then that Welton learned of the Cargûl's plans to poison the Bree water supply. For all of his hatred for the people of Bree who had turned their backs on him, Welton did not abide by the idea of poisoning the people of Bree - there were, at the very least, children who were innocent of all of the hate he held for the people of Bree.

He tried to rouse some support to stand against the Cargûl - but those who did, died - and not just killed - they were often dismembered in such a way to leave a message for any who dare resist the Cargûl's commands.

During a battle against others investigating the ruffian activity, Welton was captured and brokered a deal to provide information, and become an outcast and a member of the Rangers of the North. He now travels with those whom had defeated his ruffian companions.

GM Note: Welton was never meant to be an NPC, however, the party captured him at the brigand establishment and worked out a deal with the Rangers of the North. As the party was missing a Treasure Hunter, this worked out because a second player had left the game and the two remaining players had wanted to continue, so he became an NPC to help with the party size.