Nilbert was born into a normal Jepis family; his father was a digger, and his mother was a mason. One day, 8 year-old Hilbert was exploring tunnels with friends when the cave shook. Rocks shifted, and while his friends got away, he was trapped underneath the debris. It took a day or so for him to be dug out, but one his legs had been crushed. Nilbert would need crutches the rest of his life. A harsh blow to the community, Jepis rallied together and the shaman sent offerings to their guardians, the House of Enveux, so that they might smile apon Nilbert and grant him a new path in life.


And smile they did. At age 10, Nilbert was chosen to work under Azazel Enveux, the noble family's rising artificer, to act as an assistant.


At age 13, he was permitted to become an apprentice.
By 16, he was put in charge of maintenance for Azazel's workshop, making sure all of the instruments were tuned, and every tool was in place.


At 18, he was allowed to run the shop when Azazel was absent.


By 20, Nilbert would have been considered a level-1 artificer, and had completed his apprenticeship. It was a day the village celebrated. Being well suited to the heat, Nilbert was sent to the forward mining operation, where he spent the next 7 years working as a senior repairman.


That's when he found his suit. Time-worn and patinaed, the suit was of an ancient design, potentially a precursor to the modern mining gear, but it was enough to give Nilbert spark of inspiration. Fusing metal and magic, gears and blood, Nilbert made it so that the suit that could walk for him, finally freeing him from the painful bonds of his crutches and chair. Now able to do more than maintenance, Nilbert has sworn to bring honor to his people's guardians, and to crush all those that may oppose their might.


Of course, it took another 2 years for a suitable replacement to arrive and take over his post. Only then was he permitted to leave.