Both Crossborn and Otherborn, Povhol Valu-Nugate was an oddity to his largely-Human compatriots in Emblem. As the product of a lost and mentally-ill Giantborn mother, and a half-Elf father he never knew, he grew up without guidance in a backwater slum. Too large and strange for the city’s households to take in after his mother eventually abandoned him, all he grew to understand was strength. Povhol's childhood was spent in alleys and dockside yards where fights decided status, and violence became his answer to every question.
By the time he reached his full size, he was feared more than he was shunned. After years of avoiding the Torchwardens and gaining cash through muggings and extortion, Povhol looked to make more sustainable income. The Crooked Tankard was his answer; he purchased a seedy bar for pennies, and gave himself his own giantborn nickname. He started going be "Crooktank" to those who knew him well, adopting his new establishment into his very being.
The giantborn ran it as a den for drink, gambling, and the settling of debts. His size kept order better than any rule or policy, and he used it as a place of retribution for himself, looking to hire other Emblem orphans who had been cast aside. This led to Povhol giving a shot to urchins like Libation, and he often became a sort of father figure for a time. However, Povhol punished mistakes severely, and in the end, his hair-trigger for violence and brutal disposition often ended up scaring away those he wanted to protect.