The Bard

Aurence the half-elf bard.  Always looking for another tale of hero's and villains, monsters and maidens, he will often be seen at the local watering hole sitting with some of the older town folk or travelers who are passing through the city.  If he isn't listening intently, he's spinning a song and rhyme about daring tales of the past or current triumphs or woes.  You might even find yourself caught up in one of his own stories if you take the time to stop and listen.
 
The story of Aurence (so far)

Few if any cities were ever as glorious or well known as Neverwinter.  The Jewel of the North is a place of prosperity, commerce, entertainment and even leisure.  Especially along the banks of the river that gives the city it's constant warm climate.  For anyone born inside the city proper, fortune had truly smiled.  Little or no violent crime, employment was easily had, and for anyone willing to work hard, opportunity's door was open wide.  Why then would anyone born into such favor want to leave such a seemingly perfect home?  Well I'll have to give a bit of explanation as to why I did exactly that.  Upon the death of her first husband, my human mother Dartranna, began work as an au pair within the castle proper to close relatives of the royal family.  Lord Xavster and Lady Cailyassa Neverwinter desired that their own children be familiar with the ways and customs of men and that they should grow up in an environment where they would learn to speak the common tongue of man as well as their native elvish language.  During the third year of her employ, the mother of the family, was found dead.  She had been visiting the Beggar's Nest, a district outside the city proper.  As was her custom, Lady Cailyassa was delivering gifts and food to the poorest families within the district when she and here attendants were attacked by bandits.  My mother Dartranna did all she could to console the family during this tragic time, and as time passed her care began to change to a deep love.  Against the wishes of nearly all of the royal family, my mother married Lord Xavster, and 6 months later....I arrived on the scene.  (Yes...6 months)  It's amazing how benevolent elves can be as long as there is no human blood that muddies the bloodline.  Perhaps that's a bit too harsh as my father never withheld his favor, nor did my elven grandmother.  The rest of the family however were less than thrilled to have me around.  Even my bother and sister, well my half-brother and sister became distant once social pressures began to affect their teenage lives.  When I left home at seventeen, I did so with my father's blessing.  My mother however was less that pleased.  Having had the benefits of a well rounded education, including the arts I leaned on my love of song and verse as a means to make my way in the world.  I had shown a particular aptitude when it came to song, and in matters of diplomacy, I found that a bit of verse and tune would almost always help to smooth the differences between elves and men.  My parents parting gifts were a family heirloom of sorts and a modest share of the estate, most of which I promptly spent on anyone whom I felt to be more in need than myself.  I left Neverwinter and headed south to Waterdeep.  I had several years to perfect my talents and trade.  During one of my rather successful performances, I had the displeasure of being the victim of a rather young, rather poor pick pocket.  When I caught the lad by the wrist, I convinced him that his time would be better spent working for the change in a man's pocket rather than stealing it.  Although he's be slow to turn over a new leaf, he is young, I think there is still some hope for the boy.  As I explained to him, "The ability to entertain is the fast track to wining friends and influencing people", and after all,  that is how I met most of the members of our current campaign.

Aurence