An Artificer patrol is always sent along the Artificer-Wizard border, to protect their people from potential invasions. No one would expect to encounter a dragonborn, half-blue half-gold, starving and only with scraps for clothing to his name. Claiming to be a wizard, and that unethical experiments were being permitted, it's reasonable to view him with suspicion. However, the large and intricate sigil on his back that seems to ward magic itself seems to match his story.
Kriev was a student at the prestigious [Insert Academy Name Here] Academy, as an Order of Scribes Wizard. One day, he got the opportunity of a lifetime, to be the apprentice of the great wizard Nova. Accepting this, he moved away from home. However, Nova was actually an Ancient Dragonborn, who craves to further his mastery over magic itself, and to strengthen the Wizard territories against potential invaders. At this point, he finally swapped to humanoid experiments, and with Kriev being one of the earlier ones, his sigil both protected him against foreign magic, but also his own magic. About a year into his captivity, he had a chance to escape; and he did, fleeing to the Artificer-Wizard border and hoping to find safety in the Wizard's main enemies.
After this, he was declared as dead. However, with the start of the campaign, wanted posters of him began spreading. (Though even before this, unknown people were after him, with someone trying to kill him before he was arrested.)
I'm taking another alt prompt, on the run, because it's really late and I need an easy prompt tonight.
I have an about 20 page document with Kriev lore that I should tidy up. I might share it someday.