Shep Donnel is a shipwright's son and an apprentice to the trade. His father's skill in building pleasure craft as well as construction or repair of simple fishing boats or cargo ships has him in high demand. Shep Donnel has a large family with three brothers and three sisters. His mother is dead. His father is named Ard.
Shep wants to leave Keth and move to Mintok Thanktok where he can specialize in military craft.