Arnold was born in the slums of a large industrial city. His parents worked in local factories and struggled to earn enough to support the family. His father was a talented mechanic whose abilities were largely wasted performing routine factory maintenance. When Arnold was young, both of his parents were killed in a factory accident. Left without family or financial support, he survived by repairing machinery, scavenging scrap, and taking whatever work he could find. Over time, Arnold developed considerable skill as an engineer and mechanic. However, obtaining quality materials and replacement parts remained difficult due to his poverty. While searching for scrap, Arnold discovered an underground robot fighting circuit. Initially, he attended only to salvage parts from destroyed constructs after matches. After observing the amount of money involved, he began building combat robots of his own. His early machines performed poorly. Most competitors had access to superior equipment, magical enhancements, and financial backing. Arnold lost the majority of his matches. During this period, Arnold overheard members of the Symposium of Integration discussing a classified research component known as Integration Core Seven. The component was part of an experimental project focused on combining arcane and mechanical systems to create an autonomous artificial intelligence. Believing the component could improve his chances in the arena, Arnold infiltrated a Symposium facility and stole it. Using the Integration Core as the centrepiece of a new construct, Arnold created Agnes. The Integration Core functioned far beyond Arnold's expectations. Rather than simply improving performance, it granted Agnes self-awareness, independent thought, emotions, and the ability to learn from experience. The result was a construct capable of adapting in ways no conventional machine could. Arnold entered Agnes into the fighting circuit. Her ability to analyse opponents, adapt tactics, and make independent decisions quickly distinguished her from other combat constructs. Together they rose through the ranks and eventually became champions of the underground arena. Their success attracted the attention of the Symposium of Integration. A senior Integrator approached Arnold and revealed that the Symposium had known about the theft for some time. According to the Integrator, the organisation had intentionally delayed recovering the Integration Core in order to observe Agnes's development and determine whether the project had succeeded. The Integrator intended to claim Agnes and the research for himself without informing the wider Symposium. The confrontation became violent. During the encounter, Agnes killed the Integrator while defending Arnold. Although Agnes had participated in combat for years, she had never taken a human life before. The event had a significant impact on her. She understood that she had acted to save Arnold's life, but she struggled to reconcile that necessity with the fact that she had killed another person. Since that day, Agnes has viewed violence differently and remains uncomfortable with taking lives unless no other option exists. Following the incident, Arnold concluded that remaining in the city was no longer safe. Whether acting officially or unofficially, members of the Symposium would likely attempt to recover Agnes and the Integration Core. Arnold and Agnes abandoned their workshop, left the city, and went into hiding. Eventually, Arnold joined an adventuring party. The arrangement provides income, protection, and an opportunity to remain mobile while avoiding those searching for Agnes.