World of Redemption

Alden Carruthers is a man whose tired, hangdog expression seems at odds with his formal attire. He is middle-aged and thin, with a weary, lined face and dark, anxious eyes that dart around as if constantly expecting trouble. His most notable features are his dramatic, dark mutton-chop sideburns and a large, thick mustache, which dominate his lower face. His dark, stringy hair is often unkempt where it escapes from beneath the tall, formal top hat that he is never seen without. He dresses in the uniform of his station—a dark coat, a tan waistcoat, and a dark tie—but the clothes seem to hang off his wiry frame, looking more like a costume than a uniform. He has the posture of a man who is trying to appear important but is weighed down by constant anxiety, his shoulders perpetually hunched.

Alden is a man living a life of quiet terror and greedy opportunism. To most, he is a friendly, if slightly flustered and overly formal, clerk. He is polite, speaks in a professional tone, and seems dedicated to his work. This, however, is a carefully maintained performance. In reality, Alden is a deeply nervous and cowardly man, motivated entirely by money. He is terrified of the violent criminals he deals with, yet his greed consistently outweighs his fear. When discussing his illicit business, his professional demeanor cracks, revealing the stammering, anxious man beneath. He sees himself not as a criminal, but as a simple information broker, a mental distinction he uses to soothe his own conscience about the robberies and violence his tips facilitate.

For years, Alden Carruthers was just another cog in the great railroad machine, a poorly paid ticket clerk in the bustling town of Rhodes. He watched as powerful men and dangerous gangs moved through his station, their pockets lined with cash from ventures far more profitable than his own honest work. Surrounded by a constant flow of information—passenger lists, cargo manifests, and private mail—Alden saw an opportunity. Driven by a desire for a life better than his meager salary could afford, he began a dangerous side-hustle. He started selling tips, discreetly passing along schedules and routes to interested parties for a cut of their illicit profits. This has placed him in a precarious position, a man who must maintain the appearance of a law-abiding citizen while profiting from the very chaos he pretends to be oblivious to.