Neric’s Backstory

  You wouldn't believe where I'm from! This amazing little Halfling settlement called Avadyl on the western coast of Wollivarro Province, Andovarra. On clear days (which are my favorite), you can see the Masunta Isles across the sparkling water. It's absolutely gorgeous!

  I've got this big, bustling family—5 siblings! Three sisters and two brothers. I'm right in the middle—fourth born, second oldest boy. We lost Mom when I was 15, which was tough, but we got through it together. Dad never remarried. He makes THE BEST cheese in probably the entire world! His Avadyl cheese is served to actual ROYALTY! No joke—the King of Andovarra eats my dad's cheese. When it melts? Divine! You absolutely HAVE to try it sometime.

  I picked up plenty about cheesemaking growing up (hard not to!), but what really lights me up is being around people and performing. Put me in front of a crowd, and I feel ALIVE! Something magical happens when I'm telling stories and people are hanging on every word. My oldest sister Lacissa basically raised us after Mom died, and my brother Tarrin's stuck taking over the family business. I got lucky—no major responsibilities! Delivering cheese is fine for pocket money, but WAY too boring as a career.

  My sister Jilzana (Jilzie!) is only a year and a half older than me, and we were basically inseparable growing up. We've had some wild adventures together! Nothing too crazy, but enough to make great stories. She's dreamed of running her own inn forever, and I always imagined being the entertainment, bringing in crowds with my tales.

  Growing up, our town storyteller was this yeeshka farmer named Wilric Leafstrider. I was OBSESSED. I'd sit there for hours, completely mesmerized, then rush home to perform his stories for my family. Dad, Lacissa, and Tarrin would roll their eyes, but my other siblings thought I was amazing. Later, Wilric taught me all these cool techniques—how to time things perfectly, do different voices, really amp up the drama! I probably would have become his apprentice if it wasn't for the day that changed EVERYTHING.

  This Human minstrel named Cheval Sky came to town, and WOW. He had this perfectly groomed beard, these intense blue eyes, and wore the most incredible clothes I'd ever seen—silvery-grey silk breeches, a crisp white blouse, and this deep blue velvet doublet with a matching tricorn hat with a silver feather. His cloak had all these patches in different shades of blue and grey. Just spectacular!

  Jilzie told me he was staying at the Map and Hammer, so I raced through my chores and bolted over there. I wasn't the only one with this idea—the place was PACKED by the time he performed! His songs were incredible, taking us all over the world without leaving our seats. When he asked if our town had any performers, people actually pointed to ME! Can you believe it?

  So there I was, suddenly performing The Sahuagin and the Sorcerer while Cheval accompanied me on lute. I felt like I was on FIRE! The crowd went absolutely wild when I finished. Cheval took me aside afterward and said, "Neric, you have real talent. You're wasted in this small town." He told me I should go to Candibaru and join the Bard's Guild! Me! Performing for nobility someday!

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Those few days with Cheval changed everything. I saved every copper I could and three months later walked into the Bard's Guild in Candibaru. The audition was TERRIFYING but I made it! I specialized in oratory and comedy, learned to play the flute (I'm decent, not great), and soaked up every story and bit of knowledge I could find.

  I took rooms at the Copper Rose and made friends with everyone there. Also met this Aquatic Elf named Jori who somehow reminds me of home. We hit it off instantly! After I mastered 2nd level spells, my official training ended. I started performing at three different inns around the city, and when I'm not entertaining crowds, I'm dreaming up this epic masterwork story full of danger and heroism.

  Then something happened that changed EVERYTHING again, but in the worst way. This awful group called the Brotherhood of the Bronze Hammer showed up in Candibaru. At first, they were just these annoying street preachers ranting about how art "distracts from true devotion to the gods." Eye-roll, right?

  But then things got scary. They started disrupting performances, smashing instruments, and destroying artwork around the city. I should have taken them seriously sooner, but honestly? I was having too much fun with my performances and... well, I got distracted by everything else going on in my life.

  There was this one night—gods, I wish I could take it back—I overheard two Brotherhood members talking about "making an example" of someone at the Silver Chalice. They mentioned something about "the Elf with the siren's voice" and "divine judgment," but I was rushing to meet some friends, and it felt like the usual religious bluster they were always spouting. I figured I'd mention it to the performers there the next day, maybe joke about it with Sayana...

  Sayana. She was this INCREDIBLE Elven vocalist who performed at the Silver Chalice. Her voice could make you cry one minute and laugh the next. We'd collaborated a few times, and she was helping me add musical elements to my performances.

  But I never got the chance to warn her. That very night, four Brotherhood thugs ambushed her in an alley after her show. They... they crushed her throat. Said it was "divine judgment" for "leading people astray with vanity." Healers saved her life, but she'll never sing again. NEVER.

  When I visited her in the temple infirmary, seeing the bruises around her neck and the devastation in her eyes... I've never been so furious in my life. But the fury was mixed with something worse—guilt. Because I KNEW. I had heard them planning it, and I just... I let myself get distracted by my own life instead of taking it seriously. If I had just said something, just taken five minutes to warn her...

  I've never told anyone about overhearing them. How do you admit that you could have prevented something so horrible? That your friend is suffering because you couldn't be bothered to take a threat seriously?

  I've been gathering information on them ever since, trying to make up for what I failed to do. Their leader calls himself ‘The Bronze Hand’—wears this creepy bronze mask and glove. Nobody knows his real identity, but he's supposedly a former priest who believes the gods have chosen him to "purify" society of "frivolous distractions" like art and music. The Brotherhood has been growing, recruiting zealots and thugs alike.

  When I heard about the Trials of Eight, I immediately thought—this is my chance! The prize money would help me fund a proper investigation into the Brotherhood, and the recognition might give me the platform I need to expose them. But more than that... maybe if I can bring them down, I can finally make up for failing Sayana when she needed me most.

  I told Jori about the Trials, but he's been spending tons of time with his girlfriend Kere lately. She's an Aquatic Half-Elf with the most exotic coloring you've ever seen! Not conventionally pretty by Human standards, but definitely striking. She's practically the only other person of Aquatic Elf descent around besides Jori's mom (who he doesn't really get along with).

  Jori asked me to go with him to the Trials after promising he'd attend them with me, but I wasn’t sure if I could get free for the time he wanted to go. I told him if I did get free, I’d find someone else to go with, because he can always ask Kere. This competition is EXACTLY what I need right now. I'm going to win, track down The Bronze Hand, and make him pay for what he did to Sayana and all the other artists. The Brotherhood of the Bronze Hammer needs to be stopped, and I'm going to be the one to do it—with style and a great story to tell afterward!