Alfred, current steward and caretaker of Raynor's estate in Ratwater, manages the household, organizes supplies and guests, and quietly maintains much of the structure surrounding the Bard's famously chaotic lifestyle. Calm, practical, and unusually composed for his age, Alfred has become a familiar and respected figure among those who regularly visit Raynor, though few truly know much about his origins.
Born to severe poverty in a small middle of nowhere village in a far away land, Alfred spent much of his childhood helping his family survive through odd jobs, whatever work he could find during the hard winters there. His life changed however when a young adventurer by the name of Raynor arrived in the village one winter. Raynor seemingly at random hired Alfred to help him chop wood for a local baker for the winter. From that simple job gradually grew a mentorship over the years following. Raynor would check in anytime he was coming through, and Alfred would survive life with the occasional bit advice earning him opportunities few of his station could even dream of.
Many years later, when Alfred was but 15, Raynor yet again appeared offering Alfred a formal education among a druidic circle, where he would learn to read, write, stewardship, discipline, and the practical philosophies of the druids. After Alfred returned from this he was immediately placed as the steward of Raynor's newly established estate, while the Bard continued pursuing his endless adventures. In practice, the manor became as much Alfred's home as it was Raynor's, shaped significantly through Alfred's work and judgment during the long years when its owner rarely returned.
One day word arrived of Raynor's death, not surprising but still a shock for Alfred. Once this news arrived Alfred abandoned the safety of the estate and personally went out to recover the Bard unwilling to accept the loss without absolute certainty. Though the details surrounding that expedition are unclear, ultimately it lead to their arrival in Ratwater.
Unlike Raynor, Alfred doesn't typically seek attention. He is a bit more thoughtful where the Bard is more theatrical, grounded more so than his larger than life companion, and more cautious where other adventurers will rush blindly into danger. Despite all of this, those who underestimate Alfred quickly discover that years spent alongside adventurers, druids, mercenaries, and fellow frontier survivors have left him far more capable than appearance alone would suggest.