Regis Ritchie’s journey from the shadowed alleyways of Waterdeep to the secretive ranks of the Cult of the Howling Hatred is a tale of resilience, cunning, and unexpected allegiance. Born to unknown parents and left to fend for himself at a tender age, Regis grew up among the bustling streets and dark corners of Waterdeep. His childhood was a harsh education in survival, teaching him to be quick with his hands and quicker with his wits. As a street urchin, he learned the languages of both the shadows and the marketplaces, becoming an adept thief and a cunning rogue.

Despite his life of petty crime, Regis harbored a deep-seated desire for something greater, a purpose that transcended the daily struggle for food and shelter. He made a name for himself in the underworld, but the allure of wealth and the grind of survival could not quench his thirst for a cause to which he could dedicate his life.

It wasn’t until he reached the age of 57 that his life took an unexpected turn. His reputation as a skilled rogue caught the attention of the Cult of the Howling Hatred. They saw in him not just a messenger or courier, but a potential asset who could navigate the complexities of both the surface world and the shadowy realms beneath. The cult, with its promise of power and influence, offered Regis the sense of belonging and purpose he had long craved. They recruited him not for his physical prowess, which, while still formidable, was tempered by age, but for his cunning, his intimate knowledge of Waterdeep’s streets, and his network of contacts both reputable and unsavory.

Regis’s recruitment into the cult marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life. He embraced his role as a courier with zeal, using his horse to traverse the dangerous terrains that separated the cult’s secretive enclaves. His missions were fraught with peril, but Regis thrived, using his old skills in new ways, always staying one step ahead of those who would seek to stop him. He became a shadowy figure, known only by his alias within the cult, a whisper among those who spoke of the Cult of the Howling Hatred’s reach and influence.

Despite his allegiance to the cult, Regis maintained a complex relationship with his past. He often found himself walking the streets of Waterdeep, a ghost among the crowds, reflecting on the journey that had brought him from street urchin to cult messenger. In his heart, he remained a rogue, loyal to the cult not for its ideology but for the purpose and the challenge it offered him. His story is a testament to the idea that it is never too late to find one’s place in the world, even if that place is in the shadows.