Valkine is a particularly interesting man, with many tales and adventures to brag about. Born in Umbar to a neutral, merchant class family, he has never had any interest nor desire to fight against the Gondorians. Even at a young age, Valkine was a notorious ladies man, something that ultimately followed him to adulthood.

Though he has many tales, the one he tells most is that which lead him stranded upon an island, far away from home. He'd been a knave upon the Three-Eyed Sea Boar, a proud mercantilist ship, used to defend lesser vessels from sea-bandits, and the occasional misplaced Gondorian warship. On one particularly stormy day, the ship was swept up in a massive wave, and turned onto it's back. Valkine himself, lucky enough to drift to shore, where he was stranded on an island with a hatchet, a bandana, a pair of pants, his boots, and a single crate of Rum. While he was there, he became friends with a very out of place mangy dog he called "Ronnie", had an unfortunate run in with a giant crab , was nearly killed by a swarm of angry seagulls, and found a cave, with a dead man inside it. He rarely mentions the last part, especially since he ended up looting the body for one of the maps he keeps on him most of the time. He remained there for an unknown amount of time (Roughly two years, give or take six months) until a passing vessel of less lawful folk, picked him and his dog up on a whim, and took them back to the mainland.

Throughout the course of another year, his best friend Ronnie died of a heart worm infestation, but he found his tale legendary among his home-town, leading to a reputation as a famous adventurer. Eventually, one of his many adventures ended with him gaining a friend's ship, which he then named Deniz Kurdu, Sea Dog,  in memory of his companion.

This brings upon the question now, what is he doing so far from home?

Well, he is a merchant. No one has really questioned where the fancy wine, brandy, and ciders come from that they enjoy nearly every day. Well, here is your answer! Valkine is now one of the primary exporters of southern goods into the north! Primarily, Alcohol. Without him, there would be only ale and mead available in the north!