Yank Yenderson was a technological genius. He understood machines and logistics of all sorts. STEMNET, robotics, engineering—he could do it all. He was a wise, calm person with limited prejudice who often had his more passionate feelings blind his logic.
The man he once was is no longer around, sadly. Dementia hit him fast and hard. Foggy memories, fuzzy people, and mysterious places. He stumbles carelessly around Gillsway, once great intelligence lost to crippling mental disease.
Yank idly wanders around Gillsway, eating trashy food and talking about nonsense to those who will listen to another crazy man's rambling.
Yank Yenderson was born in the noble neighborhood to good, loving parents. When enrolled in school, a young Yank excelled at every subject imaginable. Top marks in everything he could get them in. He completed all years of engineering specialization classes with the highest score in Shroom's Academy history.
For years and years, he worked as a cold and calculating man who would take on any project for whoever would pay him the highest. Yank became so famous at his job that Stem Tower approached him for a permanent position. Of course, the 35-year-old Yank said yes. What he didn't expect, however, was that his cold heart turned mushy when the gentle giant of Lord Frie took him under his wing.
Fluttering feelings controlled his better thoughts; fluttering feelings forced him to do the dictator's will. He went with squads of Lawmen to quell the protests and rebuilt the old battle droid Gwino for idol stardom. The aging man kept his romantic feelings pushed down by fear.
Time marched on. Lord Frie elected Blema Von Voldark. Yank worked under her for a year before officially resigning due to Lord Frie's absence.
Yank, now free from the clutches of Stem Tower, visited Frie frequently in his noble neighborhood home until his passing. It was devastating to him. With nowhere to go for the next year, the aging Yank found himself isolated and alone. He had no friends, no remaining family... Yank fell into a deep depression, for he had completely isolated himself for decades. His loyalty to Frie was all he had.
Blema opened up the Outlands legally. Something that Frie, despite the protests, didn't bring himself to do. In a desperate attempt to feel something, the scientist found himself setting out into the vast, open Fungal Plains. He ended up in a small town called Gillsway that many folks were fluttering to as the next beacon of civilization.
Yank was recognized and approached by Gunker Garrison.
The brute promised exciting times, hefty profits, and a life of infamy. Though he found the man quite detestable to talk with, Yank's old, cold, and calculating self accepted the job to gain a purpose in his growing age. Yank, now one of the co-founders of the Outlands' Gunker Gang, lived his life as a criminal.
He and Gunker participated in many dangerous crimes, though their main method of gaining wealth was stopping Stemrails and looting the off-world goodies inside. It was around this time that Yank shaved his horns down to little nubs in an attempt to not be recognized by anybody whom he might've known previously.
Time marched onward. Jumping from XX802 to XX814, the Gunker Gang stumbled upon a terrified Clara Kalstein. Yank recognized her from various wanted posts sprawled around Gillsway. She was worth a lot of money. Gunker suggested nabbing her and getting rich off of it; however, the lost girl was protected by Yank's elderly hands. Yank convinced Gunker to offer her a job because of her experience in Stemrails.
She was hired. Her family's extensive history of Stemrail raiding gave the gang countless new tips and tricks that made their job much, much faster to pull off. Yank tried to be there for her, attempting to paint himself as both a trustworthy figure to rely on and a secret shield against Gunker's wrath.
However, a year later, Yank couldn't do much to prevent the Gunker's hair-triggered temper from turning on Clara.
As Blema increased Stemrail security and the general Outlanders' opinion started waning less towards the idea of a wild wasteland, Gunker Gang started having to do calmer jobs. Yank, in his growing age, was fine with this. His body ached constantly. His mind had begun to grow foggy. Old age was catching up with him, and it was doing it fast.
A year after Clara wiggled away, Gunker was desperate for action. That's when he spotted Fencien Armeldia III patrolling in Gillsway. Going against Yank's protests, the older man, knowing exactly where this would go, grabbed her and held her for ransom from their Fungal Plains bunker.
It was only a matter of time before Operation GUNKSPLAT happened to them. Upset by Gunker's rash behavior, Yank promised to let go of Fencien, given that he wasn't arrested. The good actions from their past paid off, as Clara agreed. Getting on a small buggy and driving away after releasing their hostage, Yank was alone again.
He bounced around from settlement to settlement, helping people out with tasks for the simple payment of food. However, as the years crept on, his dementia only got worse. He forgot more and more of who he used to be each day.
Lord Frie IX of Stems - Undyingly loyal to Lord Frie and his ambitions. Ever since being hired, Yank developed embarrassing feelings for him that clouded the scientist's more rational and humane thoughts. Despite all the time that has passed since, the memory of Mr. Frie still has its place in the old man's burning memories.
Mistress Gwino - Reprogrammed her.
Gunker Garrison - Yank doesn't think of Gunker very highly. He considers him brutish, violent, and unintelligent. Yank really only stood around him for his brute strength and unstoppable resolve to get rich.
Clara Kalstein - He feels awful for her. Such an obviously damaged child, stumbling her way around the world... Through his crumbling psyche, he remembers the warmth of their last hug.
Blema Von Voldark - Yank feels quite negatively about her apparent lack of care for the city. His opinion was quite influenced by Lord Frie's own distaste, however.