Conrad Cruze grew up in the poorer districts of the city, where surviving often meant knowing when to lie, when to run, and when to keep your hands faster than everyone else's. He became a skilled thief and eventually began taking work as a courier, scout, and information broker.
His work eventually brought him into contact with Argos Egilsson and the people connected to the Phoenix Inn. Conrad was never an official member of the Phoenix Guild, but he became a trusted associate of Argos, occasionally helping with jobs that required someone discreet, quick, and willing to operate outside the law.
Over time, Conrad developed a genuine respect for Argos. Unlike many of the criminals and wealthy clients Conrad had dealt with, Argos treated his associates fairly and didn't see them merely as disposable tools. Conrad consequently became one of the people Argos could rely on for information, deliveries, surveillance, and other small jobs that required a Rogue's particular talents.
Conrad eventually disappeared from the city's criminal circles for a time, pursuing his own work and traveling between settlements. When he eventually returned, he learned that the Phoenix Inn had been destroyed and that Argos had been killed.
With the Phoenix Inn gone and his old associate presumed dead, Conrad had little reason to remain connected to the Guild. However, the loss stayed with him. Argos had been one of the few people Conrad genuinely trusted, and his death reminded Conrad how quickly everything could disappear.
Now Conrad has returned to the city, looking for work and trying to build a new life.