"What do you mean, 'I'm afraid of rats.' I'm not afraid of rats! Spiders, yes but not silly rats," Merril yelled at Went.
All four were laughing and joking over dinner at the dive bar Sirens. It was that dumpy little bar near the docks, hidden behind several alleyways and two weathered and rickety warehouses in the dark, seedy part of town. Meaning the bar was well off all the normal paths traveled by most folks. The four loved coming here, always feeling welcome and at home. Bresette's bar was always warm and inviting for them. She played gruff for the random vagabond that was known to frequent the place but for those that tickled her charm, well things could be quite different.
Random bits of art flourished on the walls. Most of it featured mermaids and water nymphs. Chipped or faded, pull off some random boat or some dilapidated shop just added to the charm of this dark and dingy bar.
Few locals came to this place. It was a bar for sailors, adventures, and those passing by on their way to other places. The few locals that came here are a loyal bunch, close-knit. The four loved to feel adventurous, wanting to explore the world, and at other times just happy to be together. They dressed up as adventures here, trying to fit in with some of the crowd.
They would listen in on the adventures of others, never sure who was lying and who was recapping real grand experiences. Indeed the great oceans could not have all these giant monsters just floating about everywhere, no boat could survive once they left the riverways. Even the great lakes and seas seemed to be teaming with them if you listened to the saltiest of the sailors.
Same for the adventures, mountains teaming with giants throwing boulders, caves filled with dragon's lairs and huge caches of gold, and the flatlands filled with vast armies of orcs and trolls.
All four friends dreamed of leaving Courwood, the city of their birth, and wandering off on their grand adventure. To explore the greater world that they heard only in stories. Find treasure and protect the world from evil.
Merril was the tallest and by far the strongest of the four. She was the swordsmith's apprentice. Apprenticing since she was a very young child by starting on the bellows and shoveling coal. She learned the power of heat to the forming of steel or the shaping of softer metals. Her straight brown hair was always tied back and shiny in any light, her voice could carry over the ringing of the pounding steel, and was always a presence of calm. At her side, she wore a much-repaired and flimsy practice sword along with her trusty smithing hammer. Master Ephraim would never let her use any of the finished swords.
The master did require her to learn to fight and she trained with the city guard or the battle-trained clerics of Myra. He always says you have to know how to use what you make to make it right. So she found herself sparing from time to time, sometimes with the watch and sometimes with the clerics of the Myra.
The clerics of Myra are the protectors of the church. They were trained to spread the word of Myra, protect the interests of the church, and enforce her religious laws. The bulk of the church teachings and ministry was performed by the people of the cloth, the priesthood, more so than the clerics. The clerics were much more independent and less involved in the politics of the cloth.
This is how Merril got to know Went and his sister Adelaide. Went happily enjoyed sparing with Merril. The two would clash steal and banter with their tongue as they sparred. Soon they sparred outside of the training ring. Strangely, Merril soon stopped training with the city watch and focused all her martial training at the church. Granted, Master Ephraim thought his student was becoming more civilized and pious. The church was so welcoming since Merril and Ephraim were excellent at repairing worn equipment and arms. They showed Merril how to use all kinds of random weapons acquired over the years, mostly so she could use them against the aspirant clerics so they could get used to going against them.
The laws of Myra dictated that the clerics use a mace and shield as the weapons of the faith. Shields are always emblazed with the pouring bucket, the symbol of Myra. White and blue are the colors often used in clothing and are easy to recognize anywhere.
As one of the youngest clerics, Went had the most hand-me-down mace and the most battered shield. Most of his time was spent in pious studies and learning the book of Myra, its teachings, and laws or casting spells on the will of Myra.
The constant martial arts training kept him very fit for a man of average height and build. As required, Went was clean-shaven of all hair on his head. He looked pious and a perfect fit for temple life.
Went's sister Adelaide was sold off by their parents to the wizard Septimus at a very early age. Her older brother always kept an eye on his little sister. Septimus was the keep wizard and magically divined a search of the city for a replacement student. This brought Septimus to their parent's doors, or so he said, and Adelaide was sold off to the keep. No one knew what had happened to the previous student. Some, mostly Septimus, said he ran off.
Adelaide was well cared for and taught to read and write. Taught to weave spells and weave fabric. She was taught manners, mostly by having them beat into her by the keep staff and the ways of life in a keep. She was often quiet, listening to what others were saying and not saying. Studying the intrigue that was moving about her. The castle was full of plots and subplots, one just had to look. The hierarchy of the kitchen staff is her current line of study. At first, she had no idea why Septimus wanted her to learn this but she soon found that spells in the books had a hierarchy in their castings and flow, grafting them to the will of the caster. Only time, practice, and experience showed her how to work them to he will.
The pageboys sure loved her practicing manipulations of water to help them fill buckets faster without all the winching and throwing. That and he well practiced cantrip of cleaning and fixing small items.
Like her brother, she was average in height and build, only her hair was wild in a long, curly, dark brown coloring. Much softer than his well-trained brother, this did not mean weak but she was very proud of her more sizable breasts than the other girls her age. An asset that all the pageboys wanted to explore but are too afraid to ask. Afraid of Addie and much more afraid of Septimus.
It was in her studies that she met the fourth person in the group Phebe but everyone called her Mouse. As Adelaide was to discover, Mouse was a liaison with the Sodality of Charity. A ludicrous name for a pack of thieves and lowlifes. Mouse would often be the one sent to Septimus when he needed help acquiring something for his research such as a hard-to-find regent or often a book in someone else's library he had no access. He was thrilled with her services and how quickly she was to complete her assignments.
Mouse was named Mouse due to her tiny stature and quickness. She was short by anyone's definition of short and small in stature likewise. Mostly a tiny frame of skin and bones but a quickness that was hard to believe. Like a permanent child, Mouse was the opposite of Adelaide. This made her extra useful for getting into things the SoC, or 'sock' as often abbreviated. Much more reliable than urchins. Her blonde hair was kept short to keep it out of the way and her clothing was always boyish and tight.
Small, fast, and hard to keep track of made her useful and always sneaking up on Adelaide. Good thing Adelaide enjoyed listening and became abt at keeping track of her small friend. Soon, the two were inseparable. Mouse showed Addie more ways out of the keep than merely through the gate, much to the disdain of her master. This cause her to not always be at hand when he beckoned and led to some unpleasant beatings.
Whereas Mouse had a more carefree life as long as she paid the guild its monthly dues and did as she was told by those above her. She freely moved about and regularly showed Addie and sometimes the others the seedy less traveled parts of town. This is how they ended up in Sirens the trashy dive bar off the docks.
"You best not be working your trade here you doxies," said one of the city watch to the group at the table.
"Your mother does not like us cutting into her business?" replied Mouse. Bowen the guard corporal raised his club in anger.
"Shhh, do not engage him, Mouse," whispered Addie. "Remember what he did to Pfsteven?"
"Ha, listen to your witch friend. I bet he is still in a cell eating your family. mMmmm, more mice please!" the large guard said with a look of disdain. "I'd be happy to send you to him to find out."
Bowen bumped into Merril as he walked out of the bar, laughing and swinging his club to and fro. Two more guards walked past, leaving the bar as well.
"Bowen, he is such an ass. 'Myra's gift for combat', he says but always leads on the wrong foot leaving himself open to attack. He will never survive long in a real fight. Still bitter I always beat him sparing and losing to a mere girl," said Merril. "Unlike Went, he takes it like a Man when he loses to this girl." the group chuckled. The interruption was soon forgotten.
Went stood up to protest and point a bit of bread at Merril. Just then, the door to the bar burst open, Bowen strumbled backward, then fell to the ground dead. A large portion of his head caved in and his hair and clothing were on fire.
"Quick, Merril, put out the fire," said Went.
With that, Merril s poured her beer over the dead guard's face and shirt. Jumping to her feet so fast, the Bench fell over taking Addie with it along with the remainder of Addie's drink, Merril drew her sword.
"What's happening out here?" said the barkeep, a feisty woman with red hair of equal temperament. She ran to the door while Merril helped up her sprawled-out friend.
