Reuth was the nephew of Tulan Orbed. He had little practical sailing experience, but his uncle spent a fortune to expand on his valuable passion for cartography at Jasston and Jourilan. Reuth was a "pale and blotchy-faced" youth, curious and friendly, but unpracticed in social graces. The steersman Gren thought Reuth had "the Ruse-sense". The seas that were feared and hated by others brought only joy to the young man's face.