Pre-Before the Shadow and Shadows of Angmar:

An early fleet of Umbar, by Ralph Damiani

Born in Umbar Baharbêl, City of the Corsairs, Velkhar was raised by his uncle, the powerful and ruthless Marzagan, a high-ranking fleetmaster of the Umbari corsairs. Velkhar grew up to become an accomplished seafarer and a talented duelist, and was known to be something of a swashbuckler. Though his uncle trained him in ruthlessness, efficiency, and cold practicality, Velkhar never shared Marzagan's taste for cruelty, and the burden of that conflict weighed heavily on his conscience.

During a routine raid upon a Gondorian coastal settlement, when fire and steel had reduced the streets to pure chaos, Velkhar came upon a woman and her child, a girl of perhaps ten winters, huddled together against a crumbling wall. At his side, another corsair raised his blade to strike them down without hesitation. In that moment, something within Velkhar broke. Before the blow could fall, he turned and cut the man down, his steel finding the flesh of his own brother-in-arms. "Go," Velkhar urged, his voice low but fierce. "Run, and do not look back." Seizing the chance, the woman fled into the smoke, pulling her child with her, and for a moment Velkhar believed they might escape. But the deed had already been seen. Other corsairs bore witness, and word of it quickly reached Marzagan, who not only saw Velkhar's act of mercy as treason, but also as a sign of weakness.

Velkhar was brought before Marzagan, and to Velkhar's despair, it was revealed that the woman he had attempted to save had been captured again before she could escape. To test Velkhar's loyalty, or to break his spirit, Marzagan placed a blade in his hand and commanded him to finish what he had undone. Velkhar refused. Without a word, Marzagan struck the woman down himself, and ordered his men to seize Velkhar. Of the child, Velkhar never learned the fate, and that unanswered question has haunted him ever since.

Upon returning to Umbar Baharbêl, Velkhar was sentenced to death for his act of treason. With the aid of his only remaining friend and ally, Rakhû, Velkhar’s pet monkey, he was able to escape imprisonment and steal a small sailboat along with some provisions. Velkhar then set sail to the northwest, going into exile far away from Umbar and beyond the reach of his uncle’s wrath.

After months of sailing along the coasts of Middle‑earth, Velkhar’s ship found its way upriver along the Gwathló, the Greyflood. Weary from the long journey at sea, Velkhar was in need of replenishing his provisions and longed for a warm fire, a good meal, and a soft bed. He left his sailboat on the riverbank and traveled on foot toward the nearby village of Mossward…