Lichtbringer was born in the dark alleys of Morpork, a part of Ankh-Morpork that was so dim and dingy that even the rats had to wear night-vision goggles. His parents were poor and honest, which meant they were always hungry and miserable. Lichtbringer learned early on that the only way to survive in the dark was to be quick, clever, and ruthless. He also learned that he had a knack for finding things that other people had lost, or rather, things that he had helped them lose. Lichtbringer became a master thief, picking pockets, breaking into houses, and stealing anything that wasn’t nailed down. He earned his name by carrying a small lantern with him wherever he went, which he used to blind his victims or distract his pursuers. He also used it to signal his accomplices, who were usually hiding in the shadows, ready to pounce on anyone who tried to catch him.
Lichtbringer was happy with his life of crime, until one day he made a mistake. He tried to rob a man who turned out to be a captain of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch. The man was wearing a copper badge with the words “Fabricati Diem, Pvnc” on it, which Lichtbringer thought meant “Make my day, punk”. He soon found out that it actually meant “Make the Day, the Moments Pass Quickly”, which was the motto of the Watch. The man grabbed Lichtbringer by the collar and dragged him to the nearest Watch House. There, Lichtbringer met Commander Sir Samuel Vimes, the head of the Watch. Vimes was a grizzled veteran who had seen it all and done it all. He had a reputation for being tough, fair, and incorruptible. He also had a reputation for being very good at spotting potential in young criminals and turning them into law-abiding citizens. Vimes looked at Lichtbringer and saw something in him that he liked. He saw a smart, resourceful, and brave lad who had wasted his talents on petty theft. He saw a potential Watchman.
“Listen up, son,” Vimes said to Lichtbringer. “You have two choices. You can either go to prison for a long time, or you can join the Watch and serve your city. What do you say?”. Lichtbringer thought about it for a moment. He didn’t like prison, but he also didn’t like authority. He liked being free and independent. He liked being his own boss. But then he looked at Vimes again and saw something else in him. He saw a man who had respect and power. He saw a man who had a lot of shiny things on his uniform. He saw a man who had access to places and people that Lichtbringer could only dream of.
Lichtbringer decided to take his chances with the Watch. “Alright,” he said. “I’ll join.”
“Good,” Vimes said. “Welcome to the Watch, Constable Lichtbringer.”
And so Lichtbringer became a member of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch. He was given a uniform, a badge, a helmet, and a truncheon. He was assigned to patrol the streets of Ankh-Morpork with his fellow Watchmen, who were an eclectic bunch of humans, dwarfs, trolls, werewolves, vampires, zombies, golems, gnomes, and other assorted creatures. He soon discovered that being a Watchman was not as easy as he had thought. He had to learn the rules and regulations of the Watch, which were many and complicated. He had to deal with all kinds of crimes and criminals, which were varied and dangerous. He had to face all kinds of dangers and challenges, which were frequent and unpredictable. But also discovered that being a Watchman had its perks. He got to see new and exciting things every day. He got to meet interesting and influential people every night. He got to use his skills and talents for good instead of evil. And he got to keep some of the things that he found along the way.
Lichtbringer became very good at finding things that other people had lost or forgotten or never knew they had. Things like jewels, coins, documents, secrets, clues, evidence, weapons, gadgets, artifacts, relics and treasures. He also became very good at hiding them from his superiors and developed a system of secret stashes all over Ankh-Morpork where he kept his loot. He used his lantern to mark them with codes that only he could understand. Also he used his lantern to communicate with old friends from the dark alleys who helped him move his stuff around.
He slowly became very rich and very happy. And also very careful. He knew that if anyone ever found out about his little hobby, he would be in big trouble. He knew that Vimes was not a fool and that he had a nose for trouble. He knew that the Watch was not a place for dishonesty and corruption. He knew that he was playing with fire. But he couldn’t help himself.
He liked being a Watchman, but he also liked being a thief.
He liked being a hero, but he also liked being a villain.
He liked being Lichtbringer, but he also liked being the taker of light.
Journal Entries
Found a defeated hero’s map with a point marked on it. It’s my map now.
I think I may be omnipresent just like you, Exalted One. Everywhere I go, there I am
Traded with the Blind Gorgon: I gave it a roundhouse kick, it gave me its life and 91 coins.
Lord Siek: I Warned Lichtbringer not to go into the dark-looking cave, but he went anyway. Brave hero. Brave, stupid hero.
Facts
3rd place in Bingo with 72 Points last week, or maybe two weeks ago, well at least it was a rainy day.
Honored Animalist
Honored Favorite