Augustinia

"Ahh my life! Now that's a mystery in itself!" Augustinia says with a chuckle. "Why, it's really not my life that's much to talk about at all....but ooohhhhh, the people I've known!"

She leans back in her chair, gazing at you, yet with a far away look in her eye. You can almost see the mysteries she speaks of flashing behind her dark lashes. After a moment, she tucks a strand of long black hair behind her Elven ear and leans toward you in a conspiratorial way.

"I don't remember much about my childhood, ya know?" she ponders. "But I had some brothers once, sort of. I remember wandering a lot, being hungry, being so alone in the world that seemed so vast and so empty. Until, one day, I met a boy named Falicar. Oh he was so handsome! And so wise!"

"He was an apprentice ranger, and had trained fifteen times already! I couldn't believe my luck when he took me under his wing and introduced me to his brothers. Such kind folk. He and his brothers taught me how to hunt rats for the skins and run messages in Wehnimers landing so that I could survive on my own. And they were like brothers to me. We traveled all over the lands together, exploring, hunting, and getting in and out of scrapes. Oh, how I still miss them so!" she wipes a tear from her glistening eyes as she rests your hand on your arm. "I suppose I will never know what became of them." Sniffling, she takes a soft cloth from in her ruby red bodice and gently wipes her nose and eyes.

"I remember once, I was wandering around the town lookin' for the temple, and I met a lord named Thomass. He was a wizard of fine character."

"Is there something I can help you with," he asked me.

"I was amazed that a lord so noble looking as he would even notice the likes of me. I told him that I'd heard tales of the goddess who protects the lives of little elves like me, and that I wished to seek her out and ask for her protection. So he took me and introduced me to her. I was so grateful."

"Then, not long after that, I was walking around town one day. I had discovered that people often left boxes on the ground with an odd gem or two in them, that apparently nobody wanted. It seemed like an easy way to make a little extra coin, so I went around happily picking up little gems here and there. Until suddenly, two fellas who were sitting around challenged me about taking the gems, and called me a thief. I knew I was going to die!" Her eyes flash wide from the memory. "And at that very moment, along came Lord Thomass and saved me. He was my friend ever so long after that," she says. "I would see him ever so often, and every time he had a new wife!" She chuckles and shakes her head.

Smiling at you, she sighs and twists the cloth in her fingers. "Well, it wasn't all such a sad time, even though I didn't have a real family. I decided to become a wizard, you know, like Lord Thomass. Oh, the awesome things wizards could do...I wanted to be like them. Casting fabulous disks that follow you around in the air, enchanting weapons and armor for great warriors to wield and wear, and all the wonderful spells!"

"Need any spellies?" she asks, grinning. "After all, what's a wizard for? Why, I bet I've spelled up all of Elanthia at one time or another!" She giggles and it's so contagious, you begin to chuckle with her.

"I've got a mom and dad now too, ya know," she nods as if you've met them personally. "Micha, a wonderful woman I met on my travels one time...she's my ma. And, her husband, Mersteel....yep you guessed! He's my da! Such a kindhearted woman my ma is, when she heard my sad orphan tale she adopted me right then and there on the spot and has been my ma ever since! I'm still findin' out about new adopted relatives I don't even know all the time," she grins. "Just the other day I found out one of my best friends is my aunt!" She giggles at the thought.

"I tell you what, my ma has made such an impression on me with her unconditional love and kindness that I've even adopted a couple of daughters myself. A lovely empath and a cute little rogue. I don't get to see them much though, 'cause they live in the landing and I spend most of my days in Ta'Ilistm now. I sure do miss my little sweethearts."

"Have ya not ever married?" you ask Augustinia.

Her eyes darken for a moment as she considers the question. "Well, I just hate it when I get my heart broke, you know." She smiles at the joke that's not really a joke as she glances down at her hands and is quiet a moment. Then she looks up at you brightly, stars shining in her eyes. "But, I've got a wonderful sweetheart now...and oh, he is soooo handsome! Perhaps you'll meet him one day." With a final wink, you can tell she's told you all she's willing to reveal.

"Life is a mystery, and it's only the people you love that really count for anything," she says. "If I had to choose between all the power and wealth in the lands and those folks who I really care about....well, there's really no choice at all."

Standing up majestically with a rustle and swoosh, she takes your hand between both of yours. "I'm so glad we had time for this little chat," she says. "I'm afraid I've got to run. There's spells to cast, monsters to kill, and people to love. Perhaps next time we meet, you'll tell me about the ones that are important to you." Before you have time to reply she gives you a friendly hug and is gone.