Arenwe (prime)
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Arenwe is the adopted daughter of a fisherman/smuggler and a tavern singer. She has no idea what happened to her real parents, an neither did her adopted parents. She spent most of her childhood at her parents’ fishing shack in River’s Rest. Her father would eke out a living helping local smugglers and fishing, and her mother sung at less than savory taverns, as well as performed other “services” for the visiting sailors. Arenwe spent most of her early life either working on the docks, fixing sails, nets, and leaks, or, later, working in the tavern as entertainment along with her mother. Arenwe’s childhood wasn’t all work, she had a rare friend, a river otter she named Saukko. Saukko lived just off the harbour, stealing fish, crabs, and anything else it could get hold of. Arenwe started feeding him when she was very young and, eventually, she would help brush his fur, use herbs to heal wounds, and Arenwe considered Saukko part of her family. Saukkos playful nature taught her to survive, hide from trouble and above all, have as much fun as she could. Arenwe learned, no matter how bad her life was, every day was a blessing, and live as best as she can. On her 18th birthday, she woke to the landlord breaking in her house, and taking many of her family’s things. While Arenwe was fighting over her mother’s fife, her father got home, with some rogue friends of his, and not only killed the landlord, but most of his men. They took Arenwe over to a smuggler’s ship, put her on board, and that was the last time she saw her parents, or Saukko. She spent some time on the crew of the boat, cooking, cleaning fish, and learning how to sing. She also spent a couple years as the personal plaything of the captain. The few times she would come back to River’s Rest, she would try and take time to find her friend.
By the time she was 20, she found herself in Wehnimer’s Landing. The ship she served on sunk, everyone she knew, dead or captured. But, by Niima’s and Charl’s grace, she was alive. She still had her mother’s fife, she had some silvers, when a sprite landed on her shoulder, and took her on her first adventure. With the silvers she got from the sprite adventure, Arenwe took her fife to Lute for repairs, learned more about the Bardic traditions, got some weapons and armour on loan, and began her adventuring career.
While talking in the Town Square, she heard about the Festival of the Fallen in Ta’Vaalor and booked a guide to go check it out. To see the Elven fortress-city itself was a huge shock to her, but the general kindness afforded her by the various people made her happy she even came. After visiting every shop, buying a few things here and there, she came upon Point’s and Polish and saw what her new, and now signature, weapon, a slender vultite sheering sword with a nice basket hilt. Arenwe spent much of her remaining silver on it, thinking it was a sign from Niima. Walking out, some elven children were talking about a specialist merchant named Eviny Irisk, so she asked them where this person was and hurried over. When she was chosen, after a few moments of shock, she knew what to put on it, an emblem of a smiling otter. Such was born Otter’s Claw, in remembrance of her only friend from her childhood as well as a symbol of her devotion to Niima. She also decided, then she would not be some adventurer, but she would be someone. She grew up no one, coming from nothing, but one day, she would have her own ship, make her own name, and if she could find Saukko, she would bring him along.
On Niiman, the 9th day of Eorgaen, in the year 5121, Arwene went to sea for the first time as an equal person on ship. She learned a bit about cannons, steering and repelling boarders. But, for her, the sinking of a raider ship was the highlight of the trip. She was granted leave raze the ship herself, closing for good, the chapter as scared little girl. Her future is on the sea and she knows it to her core.