Jaren Ward was a Hunter who scouted the frontier and became the defender of the refugee village Palamon. Jaren was also the owner of The Last Word. He suceeded in liberating the village from its tyrant, the magistrate Loken. However, Palamon was destroyed by Dredgen Yor, and Jaren himself was killed in pursuit of the attacker. His Ghost, however, was spared.
Jaren became the second adoptive father to a local boy, Shin Malphur. Shin would become Jaren's protege, taking up The Last Word for himself and defeating Dredgen Yor at Swindler's Ridge.
