Further Background On Gargeth Wardell:
You know the thief NPC from Chrono Trigger (ED: FFVI) (find it
here if you aren't familiar)? That's pretty much how Garg looked around the time that he followed Toma into the Giant's Claw and for a short period after (mostly before he went public with his Rainbow Shard). His hair was naturally blonde, but it was constantly so filthy that no one could say he wasn't brunette. He certainly wasn't blind in one eye (or, for all anyone knows, missing the eye itself), but there were some pretty outstanding scars all around his eyes (and, actually, all over his face) that made one wonder how close he'd come to finding himself blind. His trousers ratty, ripped and soiled and his shirt often either missing or little more than a makeshift poncho consisting of a torn potato sack, he wasn't much to look at.
Beneath his appearance, though, was wit and a hint of skill. If nothing, he was more than half the dreamer and "archaeologist" that Toma was--if not the man's equal. In truth, his only disadvantage was never having heard of such a thing as the Rainbow Shell before Toma had already made his plans. Given as much time, it is possible that Gargeth Wardell would be the name on the tip of every Dorino resident's tongue, but such is obviously not the case. Regardless, Garg was prone to mistakes--among them, drinking and (consequentially) gambling. While much of his problems were physiochemically inevitable, it cannot be denied that it was a choice of his--one choice only--to "experience" alcohol for his first time. That choice cost him all the inheritance that could have taken him so far.
For you see, the only reason Garg's parents are a note of obscurity is that he made them so. In the normal course of his life, his parents were great, influential citizens of the Choras region. His father was brother to a former mayor of Porre, bringing in a partial inheritance from Garg's grandfather that, compared to most other people in Choras, made him nearly a millionare, and his mother's family owned many of the crafty businesses in the Choras market. With their combined contributions, Garg would have been among the five richest men on the continent, but Garg was known for being a sassy, rude little beast. So when his parents died on a tour of the Hero's Grave--actually an appraisal visit, as they were thinking of purchasing the plot--both sides of his family rebuked him, refusing to give him either shelter or his rightful dues. Had Garg ever had the opportunity to study interregional law as his parents wished, he could have legally obtained what he wanted. Unfortunately, the only skill he had to fall back on was his fascination with larceny plots.
To make a long story short, he underestimated the security of his families' estates, and he never managed to regain a thousandth as much through mischief as he had once lost by it. With what little money he managed to keep, he eventually fell more and more deeply ill with alcoholism, until that fateful day when he invited himself to play follower to Toma's leader.
Side Note: What exactly is the title of Choras' leader in 600 A.D.? Or are we not given it in/able to infer it from the game?
