Coming of Age

Ardun was born to two loving parents along the western promenade of Valour, Thera. He was raised as every boy was, attended school, and grew up with his schoolmates that also became his best friends. His life was one of leisure, but was also filled with fun and sports. He was quite athletic and played every sport he could find the time to. As for his plan and what to do when he grew up, he didn't care to think about it and had no reason to because things usually worked out in his life. Upon reaching his 18th year of life, Ardun's friends decided it would be a great idea to go for a journey to Seringale since they all had never been and it would be the best place to celebrate a young man's birthday. They all packed their gear, kissed their families, and then set out on their journey for excitement and adventure. They would be gone a week and return so that Ardun and his friends could begin attending higher education courses. Their journey was not of epic proportions, but it was long enough that food and water were required to be brought. They travelled through the Slith village, then through The Ford to The Common and finally to Seringale, all the while stopping and taking breaks and conversing. In the end they were able to make it to Seringale unharmed and within a day's time from when they had left. Seringale is a large city and is well known for being the most busy of all the cities of Thera. Upon arriving, Ardun and his mates began to search out the nearest pub because that's the first thing every young man does once he is able... Drink! The boys spent their time and spent their dime for quite a while at the first pub they had seen. After a couple of hours of drinking and having a splendid time, Ardun's eyes took notice of a beautiful woman that sat across the pub. She had long brown hair, blue eyes, and legs that Ardun had to keep looking away from in fear of her noticing his adoration, which could have been confused with staring in his state. He worked up the courage to approach her and won her over near instant with his Valourian charm. The night continued with everyone having a good time, making lots of noise, and falling in love, all except one patron at the pub that night. A man sat in the back of the pub in the dark all night, quietly drinking and staring at everyone. He particularly would watch with what appeared to be anger when Ardun and the lady were conversing. The night came to an end as all nights do and Ardun bid the lady farewell, gathered his mates, and purchased a couple of rooms at the local inn. The next day everyone awoke to pounding heads and hungry stomachs. Ardun volunteered to go and get some food from the butcher. As Ardun made his way through the Western Road of Seringale, he came upon a woman's body over turned in an alley he was passing by. Being the good man he is, he went over to check on her and as he turned her over he saw that it was the brown haired beauty from the night before, dead! Ardun's mates were just coming that way to find him and in the nick of time one rushed over to stop the evil doer before he could take another life. The man ran off before the boys could dish out Valourian justice. They immediately located the nearest constable and reported the crime that had happened. Ardun was told that since neither he nor his mates believed in the laws of Seringale, that there eye witness testimony had no value, and since a Justice did not see the act then there was nothing that could be done about the poor woman's death. Ardun and his mates began their slow, quiet, and mournful journey back to Valour after that. Ardun's mind raced with questions, his heart filled with sadness, and his gut began to tell him something. Ardun pondered his future and whether it was meant to be filled with academics, especially when horrible things are happening and it seems no one will do anything about them. By the time they had arrived back at Valour, Ardun was a changed man. He had no intentions of being an academic, had no desire to go into banking, and was only certain that he had to defend the weak from evil monsters that would inflict pain and suffering.