The Tavern

The beginning of Fenix the Fox's tale is sad indeed. His parents had met while working in the culinary arts in the kitchen of The Merry Merchant Inn, the largest and most reputable of the four such establishments. Located in a large trade town. Which was situated a fortnight's travel east southeast of Spartage, the largest settlement/City-State known.. His father, Finious, had worked his way up to the position of Sous-Chef. While his Mother, Eliara, had worked her way up to becoming the Inn's Pastry Chef. The two fell in love and married. A year or so later, along came a baby boy, named after his father. Who was nicknamed Fini. Then a few years later, a distant cousin of Eliara's, who a several years before had moved with her family to the City-State. Wrote her saying that it had very recently become a status symbol of sorts to have a Halfling, with considerable culinary skills, working in one's household kitchen. The rich and well-to-do, be they aristocrats or prosperous merchants. All were on the lookout for wee folk with such skills. They also said that if they came to the Capital. They could both earn four to five times what they were currently earning. After much debate, the two wrote back saying they were going to risk it all and pull up stakes. Planning to arrive in the Capital by the middle of the second month of autumn. The two gave notice. Buying a cart and a donkey to pull it. They packed all their belongings in it and were on their way by the 1st of that that month. Many a danger did they encounter upon the road! One would be amazed to see what sort of terrible situations yummy pastries, scrumptious cakes, and delectable pies will get you out of. After two weeks of travel, they finally reached their destination. It was during the week of the annual 'Brew Festival'. It was early evening; the Family was within 5 blocks of the address of the Mother's distant cousin. In the middle of an intersection. They were T-boned by a runaway freight wagon being pulled by a team of 4 hulking draft horses. It was full of kegs of beer that were supposed to be delivered to the festival grounds. The Toddler, Fini, who had been in his Mother's arms, was sent flying high and ended up being caught in the hood of a freshly laundered hooded cloak. Draped over a third-story balcony to dry. The Father, who was on the side of the cart that was hit. Died instantly, while the Mother lingered for a short while. Weakly calling for her wee Fini. A member of the City Watch realized she must be calling out for the Halfling child who so miraculously survived the gruesome ordeal. Having misheard her, when they dropped him off at the City Orphanage. He was registered under the name of Fenix Doe. The Mother's distant Cousin did not hear anything about the accident for almost a fortnight. When the bodies had already been cremated and their belonging distributed to the City's Poor House. The Mother had never mentioned having a child in her correspondence with her distant Cousin. Thinking that it could detract from the employment offers she might be offered. Even more sad was the fact that the Halfling Culinary Craze had run its course. So, at that time, you couldn't swing a dead cat without hitting an unemployed Halfling cook. After five years in the City Orphanage, the now young Fenix got placed in a cruel workhouse. From there on things went pretty 'Oliver Twist' like, but without the happy ending! With him joining a street urchin gang, where after rising to the top. He earned his 'the Fox' moniker for his clever plans for separating those with coins and other valuables. From those who didn't need 'em as much! To those who did! After making a good haul. He would talk the others into giving some away to those poor who truly needed it the most. Showing them how to spend it without drawing attention from street thugs and the like. When he got too old, he was recruited into the city's Thieves Guild. A year or so later, he found himself in disfavor for holding back on turning in some stolen items for which his cut was only a third of their fenced value. Forcing him to flee, as a contract was put out on him. He stowed away on a caravan headed north to 'The Keep on the Borderlands' at the southern edge of for the Dread Marches. Not being found out until they were four days out. The Caravan Master found plenty of work to keep him more than busy after that! This was when he began using the alias, Griffo Nimblefingers!

He is a relatively young male Wood Elf Ranger. Who has been recently exiled from the forestlands of his people for 20 years. Because on the night before the day his beloved fiancée, Ayravalyn and he were to be handfasted. A jilted lover from years before abducted her. The route her captor was attempting to escape with her along the top of some very high cliffs. Biting the hand that had been covering her mouth. She was able to scream for help. Alerted her Father and Valornor, who had been tranceing. But quickly gave pursuit. Calling her name to let her know help was on the way Up ahead Ayravalyn saw that her abductor had a pair of his cronies waiting with horses, to ride off on. She knew she needed to do something to make sure that didn't happen. Thus, she put all that she had into her struggled to break free of her captor. In doing so he pulled her off balance. Losing his grip on her, she went tumbling over the cliffs edge. Falling to her death, landing on the rocks far below. Just as her father and Valornor came running up. In a fit of anguish and rage, the Ranger drew his short sword and cleaved her abductor on the right side of his neck. Down through his collarbone and nearly to his heart. He turn out to be the nephew of one of the Five who sat on the High Council. What most saw as justifiable homicide. Was ruled other than that. He received ten lashes. An was exiled for twenty years. That had only been a month ago. Since then, Keridan wandered for a while. Hunting for wild game, which he sold to Inns and finer Taverns. Then he got hired on to a trade caravan as a Guard. After the first Forward Scout had gotten himself killed blundering into a hidden spiked pit trap not far of the rode. He gained that position for the remaining five days of the journey . Which had arriving in the fairly small isolated fortress called 'The Keep on the Borderlands'. It stood at the southern edge of what now was a vast wilderness called the Dread Marches. Unfortunately, he had a falling-out with the Caravan Master. Who shorted him on the wages that he had been promised. Not giving him the extra pay he should have gotten. The trade caravan had departed that morning. Going back the way it came. Valornor now found himself at loose ends. Trying to figure out what he is going to do with himself.