Gavner Purl was found by Larten Crepsley after he slaughtered the crew and passengers, aboard a ship Larten was travelling. Larten murdered them for killing his companion Malora, a young girl who had fallen in love with Larten. Because Larten had killed his parents, he felt responsible for young Gavner. Once they were near the shore of land, Larten with Gavner in arms took a row boat and made for shore, looking for death. Years later Larten had fallen in love with a human woman called Alicia, and she took Gavner on as her own.