3. Arielle - Soldier of Helm: The Beginning

Arielle - Soldier of Helm: The Beginning


  • Prolouge : The Outskirts of Cormyr

    The atmosphere had been less boisterous of late at the Regal Badger Tavern, a small smoke filled, dimly lit baroom in the middle of what seemed like nowhere. Tankards could be heard clinking from behind the bar as the barkeep kept busy washing and filling them for his rather bustling and busy patronage.

    " 'Tenda! " A shout rang out from the almost green tinted haired human female with the thick common accent, sitting at the east side of the bar. " Three mores, pleases! ", tossing him a wink and a few gold crowns.

    Arielle sat straight upon her barstool, smiling over at her two most trusted friends and travelling companions. To her immediate right sat a very sophisticated fellow that went by the name of Phelzaron the Wizard, so distinguished looking that he almost appeared a bit out of place. To his right, sat the beautiful Glewien Sellow. A fair haired elven maiden, that had a look of experience and lust for adventure that almost always seemed to be glowing in her eyes. A slight smile formed on Phelzarons lips, and Glewien slowly sipped her mead as Arielle continued her story.

    "Tis jes likes me wuz sayins, " her soft blue eyes glittered in the taverns dim light, "Rights dere inna de crypts o' de Temples, deys wuz alls ova us.. skelentons, un de devilses. Sir Amanas raises 'is 'ands, un Helms powa floweds rights through 'ims!" she exclaimed, waving her hands in the air, imitating the event. "Dem deddas dinna 'aves nay chances." shaking her head, bottom lip somewhat pouty " 'e sends dem rights backs te de nine 'ells." Phelzaron arched a brow, and shook his head slightly, as if he understood her yet looking a bit skeptical, or possibly lost in deep thought.

    "Now thats impressive, dear" Glewiens deep hazel eyes brightened up as she spoke. "This Sir Amana, he was a friend of yours?" she asked curiously, obviously with sincere interest. "Aye," Arielle replied, nodding. "'e weres me menta, de reasun me mets me Lords Helm, un becums wot me ams t'days" she smiled proudly. Phelzaron piped in questioningly "Met, Arielle?" almost sarcastically "You are saying you've actually had an audience with Helm, the All Seeing?" Scoffing, playfully waving his fingers "Oh do tell." he smirked.

    Arielle raised a brow "Me wills Phels, me wills. Un ye wunna believes de 'alf o' its." Then Arielle tipped back her remaining mead, wiped her chin and began to weave the tale of her lifes journey, as her two friends sat quietly listening.


  • William Morride looked at his daughter with pride, speaking to her with a hint of slight parental worry in his voice. "Arielle me prouda ye lass."
    Her father looked confident, yet somewhat concerned as he knew Arielle had come to a decision to move on from home and entertain the ways of adventure, rather than stay behind tending his needs as a widower of almost now twenty years.

    He was glad for her, as he'd felt she needed to find a better life than what she had, and always wanted the best for his daughter since the very day of her birth. He placed a kiss upon her forehead "Ye gunna do great, now get ye tings ready, the Caravans' almosts 'ere."

    "Ye sures ye dunna needs me te stays Da?" she also had a concerned look. He piped in, "Nopes, Corp'ral Cortizun canna run ye groups details, un 'andles anytin' ye wuz doins sos ye canna goes wit'out worries."

    Arielle, giving him a smart look then winking "Nay Da, ye knows wot me meanins. Sumuns gotta keeps de 'ouse un takes cares o' ye." He just smiled.

    "Ye runna long Arielles. un dunna fergets ye Da, eh? Makes sures ye sends word onna 'ows ye doin' wens ye gets dere. Me gots Miss Owaads te takes onna dem chores, un ye knows she un goods 'ousekeepa un fines lass." He hugged her pecking her cheek again."Ye makes sumun a fines wifes sumday Arielles."

    Arielle began packing a few sentimental items in her pack, things that others she'd loved had given her over the years. She had never really pondered the concept of marriage, but she assumed her father was right that she would make someone a good wife, someday.

    She stood and smiled as her father turned, walking away towards his office near the main gate of Weltsneck. Arielle swallowed, then confidently took a deep breath, and headed out the gate to the wagons approaching on the south road.


  • The Story Unfolds..

    Back home in the small unfortified hamlet of Weltsneck ((Near the Inner Sea, being a hamlet of Cormyr)), Arielle had done all she could and more for her father, Militia Captain William Morride.

    Arielle did not wish to be like the other girls, when it came to courting to marry, cleaning house, or tending crops. Although she did all of those things and more, she was very adept at doing anything she put her mind to.
    She was a tomboy at heart, and deeply admired her father, which was the only parent she'd had since her birth. Her mother died at childbirth, or so her father had told her. There were rumours that Morrides' wife was half elven yet that was just tavern talk, soldier wife chatter after all.

    Sadly, Arielle of course never knew her mother, yet she somehow let the admiration of her remaining parent take place of any loss that was due to fill her soul.

    Starting at the ripe age of fifteen, Arielle was helping him set up the daily weaponry and archery targets. She was quick to learn new skills, and some things came almost naturally for her.

    She was very adept at sharpening halberds and spears, and showed excellent effort in doing many of the general duties that any young male enlisted starting private two or three years her senior, in the Cormyrian Militia could rightly handle. Arielle was uncanny strong for a lass, and alot of folk assumed that was her make up, due to her poor humbled attitude and lack of intelligent wording in her conversation.

    A beautiful maiden, yet rough around the edges. She was in the finest of soldiers shape yet maintained a dainty waist line, and had a voluptuous figure despite her somewhat masculine traits.

    As far as education, well, there weren't any schools in Weltsneck. Still none to this day. It was just a military based depot of sorts, for merchants, travellers and military types to come through as a waypoint between towns and citys on the road to Cormyr.

    Her Father taught her all he knew in the common, and she seemed adept enough at doing her duties that it just didn't seem to matter really. If she was due a good education in literacy, the gods would provide and the Militia Captain had done the best he could to provide her with her every need.