Children of Mercy Role Play

[Faramir]

After well deserved long nights rest Ashley awakens abruptly, Varsharn hops up from the neighboring bed and kneels beside her. Ashley begins to sob.

Varsharn whispers "shshshshshsh"

She continues to cry softly mumbling words that cannot be made out by anyone.

Varsharn whispers "It's ok now, we are back at the orphanage. I'm here, your little friends are here. The sisters are here. We'll take care of you. I will take care of you"

As she continues to sniffle and wipes the tears from her eyes, Varsharn picks her up and brings her outside. Varsharn produces a little doll, well crafted, made of wood that he had picked up from the market. Ashley's eyes light up at the sight.

Ashley "isss, isss, that for me?"

Varsharn "of course. what should we name her. She needs a good name."

Ashley examines the doll and starts to play with it "it's a boy!"

Varsharn chuckles a bit "alright, how about......Conner"

Ashley not really listening anymore, talks and plays with her doll. One could pick up "Conner" a few times.

Varsharn watches her for a while. He pulls out a book, a young childs book and mouths the simple words as he attempts to read it.

[Deathgrowl]

After talking with Louise about helping with the children, Laitae comes around now and then to see if any of the children are interested in learning about maths, languages, history and perhaps after a while, and if Louise allows it, a bit of the Weave.

[Montleberry]

As promised to the orphans who attended the opening of Karsus' Folly at the White Mask, Wendel has the Scribes create several copies of short story books about the tale of Karsus' Folly. These are written up to be careful in their presentation of the tale so as to be appropriate for younger children to read. A courier delivers them to the orphanage.

Three copies are hand signed by Wendel for the three children who rushed on stage in the middle of the first Act to attack the illusionary worms that were part of the production. The note in each copy says.

To my young heros, who so bravely came to my defense. May ye enjoy this story and dream great dreams.

Wendel Ashby

[enarian123]

For any whom watch Kald is seen entering and leaving the orphanage on a near daily basis. He still enters the Orders Keep from time to time but most of his visits to the compound he spends with the childern. Normaly upon arriving he brings large sacks of fresh meat and fruit, and he spends his time either working on the upkeep of the building or with the childern themselves even taking some of the older ones to the archery target nearby.

[Kaelaen]

"That is up to your discretion, Laitae. Is Gale asking of you too many questions? If you feel he is ready to learn about such things, then by all means, please, teach him what you can. Just . . . show a little restraint," Louise gestures to Gale, who happens to be reading Karsus's Folly signed by a Wendel Ashby for what she thinks is the eighth time in a row.

"He would probably understand why he should not grab for power as quickly as possible. And as you and I know . . . knowledge is power."

After spending most of the day being overwhelmed with the chore of having over fifteen children to deal with, Louise eventually finds a little time to herself. She spends most of that time to look out the window, watching the paladin Kald Blake supervising Adam's archery training. As usual, her eyes go out of focus and her mind drifts off watching the scene, and then before she knows it, she suddenly has dinner to prepare.

Back into the fray she goes!

[Deathgrowl]

Laitae then starts to teach the cantrips Light, Mending and Prestigitation to Gale and other children that would be fit to learn some of the arcane. She tells them, as they start mastering the cantrips, to use them to help the other children. For example, she tells them they can repair toys with Mending and such.

[DM Nilbog]

For days after the play ended Daniel and Gale share stories with the other children about the experience and the excitement grows when they get the books Wendel has sent them. Gale has been seen running around the grounds dressed in a blue robe with a homemade staff yelling " I AM MYSTRA THE GODDESS OF MAGIC!"

Since the night the play ended Nicholas has been somewhat withdrawn from the other children only talking to them during mealtimes and otherwise spending what free time he has drawing dragons of all colors and staring out the window as if expecting something.

[Kaden Asen]

A man clad in silver armor and a deep purple cloak enters Mercy's in the dead of a dark night. After quieting a child in a clear nightmare he turns to the door. Once there he unbuckles his sword and sets it upon the empty mount over the door.

"Decency shall every guard this place"

Decency is a long sword of simple craft with obvious alterations. Firstly of note is clearly the same model and craft as that of any simple Flaming Fist guardsman.

The blade however is polished to a sheen, or has been coated in silver. Along it's length a inscription of golden inlay.

"Because decent men have no choice"

The hilt has the same gold inlay, highlighting the simple but strong craft of the guard. The handle is made of simple wood, however a small mark of The Watcher has been branded into the wood, so it sits against the hand of a right handed warrior.

Upon the hilt is a purple stone, that seems to go through to both sides of the weapon, and that glows with a soft purple light.

Lastly the scabbard for the weapon is crafted of leather and silver. The leather has been dyed purple and engraved in the manner of a great bird wrapped about the case, the silver highlighting the bird's eyes, beak, and the tips of feathers.


Beside the door the man sets a large stone, clearly weighing over one hundred lbs.

"Fight as ye may for Right, with your Mind, Soul, and Might!"
Is the whispered farewell before the man steps back onto the dark road and passes into the night.

[Kaelaen]

Before departing once more to Candlekeep, Louise would pay a visit to the orphanage. Halfway before she would close the door, she would pause and place her fingers lightly upon the leather and silver scabbard hanging from it. The moment was brief, but when she opened her eyes once more to smile softly to the children peeking around the corner, she had already sent her prayer.

"A goodbye isn't painful unless you're never going to say hello again. We'll be waiting."

--

"Who wants to come out and play?" she would say to tease them out of their corner. To her delight, Dannic and Jessica were some of the kids who took her on her offer. Idling behind Jessica was an even smaller girl, using Jessica as a shield to hide herself away from Louise’s eyes. She would clutch the teddy bear named Ted to her closely, although Jessica, the sweetheart that she ever was would bring Valerie along to meet the Ilmatari.

“Come on Valerie, this is Louise!” said Jessica, pulling the little four-year old closer. Valerie, mostly just going where Jessica was going, followed along grudgingly.

Louise would then crouch down and settle to a sitting position, more to bring herself to the children’s eye level than to make herself more comfortable.

“Hello Valerie. And is that Teddy I see you holding there? Hi Teddy! It’s been awhile!” she would give a small wave to the bear.

“Louise rescued Teddy once from the bottom of a well,” Jessica would chime in. “She’s Teddy’s hero!”

Louise would shake her head slightly at that, “Dannic would have done the same. Wouldn’t you have, Dannic?”

His dreamy gaze into the field interrupted, Dannic would reply, “Huh? Sure! No problem!”

Louise would smirk at his reply, and then speak directly to Valerie once again. “See? Even someone like Dannic knows when to muster his courage and do what’s right. Do you think you can, if you needed to, Valerie?”

The small girl would look up to Louise, not sure of what to say.

The Ilmatari would take it in stride. “I know you can. It’s in your blood, and you’ve got great people around you. Even Teddy,” she would add. “Now, are you ready to come on out and play?”

--

((NPCs Moved to Roster of Children, NPCs Courtesy of DM Passiflora))

[LeslieMS]

Something has Meri rather ... irritated, despite vast amounts of tea... the irritation lurks even behind her most patient of smiles.

After some sort of trouble within the temple, she asked Sister Juna, and those present among the Ilmatari, and those who were present of the Radiant Heart to disallow visitors to the Orphanage without double checking with her.

Shortly after checking windows and doors, and wards (though some would say checking the security of the orphanage is all but pointless, she pointedly does so anyway), she makes her way to the Radiant Heart Chapter house nearby.

[enarian123]

Kald arrives at the orphanage shortly after Meri's actions, he's also on edge along with the saint. After entering he also checks each window and door, once it's done he spends some time helping clean up after the evening meal and puts a number of the heavier food supplies he has brought with him into the cellar. The only differnce those within the building might notice is he is fully armed and armored while doing his tasks. When he leaves the inside to fetch fresh water, he steps out and closes the door while he stands in the way before moving away. Once the chores are done he circles the outside and then enters the back door and shoves the cooled stove in front of it. Then he moves to the front and and sits in a chair directly before it with his sheathed greatsword laying across his lap. He repeats this, and stands his watch each night until the morning fully comes.

[LeslieMS]

((Just updating the orphanage Roster =D))

[LIST HAS BEEN UPDATED TO INCLUDE CURRENT AGES OF THE ORPHANS PRESENT TO DATE - ALL NPC INTERACTIONS HAD BEEN APPROVED BY DMS AT THIS POINT.]


NAME
Maryss
AGE
13
RACE/GENDER
Human Female
TRAITS
Enjoys gardening, herbalism, would rather spend time outside than inside.
APPEARANCE
Tall for her age, hazel eyes, tanned, slender, but not thin, light brown hair
[REMAINS TO TEND ILMATARI GARDENS AROUND ORPHANAGE]

NAME
Adam
AGE
13
RACE/GENDER
Human Male
TRAITS
Good with Animals, often volunteers to make runs between the temple and
orphanage. Enjoys hunting.
APPEARANCE
Average height and build, slightly tanned, brown hair and eyes
[STILL STAYING AT MERCY ORPHANAGE, SEEKING APPRENTICESHIP TO DRUID/RANGER/HUNTSMAN]

NAME
David
AGE
13
RACE/GENDER
Human Male
TRAITS
Has a strong interest in weapon-smithing and iron-works
APPEARANCE
Tall for his age, very sturdy build, brown eyes, dark brown hair, medium tan
[APPRENTICE TO THE SMITHS OF THE TEMPLE OF GOND]

NAME
Anne
AGE
14
RACE/GENDER
Human Female
TRAITS
Enjoys helping with the other children, also volunteers some in the temple
kitchen, is often seen helping Juna or Meri and Ali.
APPEARANCE
Very light brown hair, green eyes, lightly tanned, average build and height
[REMAINED AT ORPHANAGE TO HELP SISTER JUNA WITH ACADEMIC STUDIES OF THE OTHER CHILDREN]

NAME
Nicholas
AGE
9
RACE/GENDER
Human Male
TRAITS
Very willful, prone to swearing on occasion.
APPEARANCE
Sandy yellow hair, light blue eyes, tan with freckles average build and height
[REMAINS AT MERCY ORPHANAGE]

NAME
Daniel
AGE
9
RACE/GENDER
Human Male
TRAITS
Enjoys writing. Very good with words. Wishes to train with the Ilmatari.
APPEARANCE
Dark brown hair and eyes, short and slight build, olive skin tone
[REMAINS AT MERCY ORPHANAGE]

NAME
Gale
AGE
9
RACE/GENDER
Human Male
TRAITS
Excels at mathematics. Aptitude for mixing alchemical ingredients into various things. Interest in Arcane arts, especially enchantments.
APPEARANCE
Dark blonde, green eyes, tall, slender build, very light tan
[REMAINS AT MERCY ORPHANAGE]

NAME
Ophelia
AGE
8
RACE/GENDER
Human Female
TRAITS
Very shy, enjoys the outdoors, is extremely independent.
APPEARANCE
Very light brown hair, Hazel eyes, Very tan, Sturdy build, average height
[REMAINS AT MERCY ORPHANAGE]

NAME
Amy
AGE
8
RACE/GENDER
Human Female
TRAITS
Extremely talkative. Likes to ‘debate’. Tends to seem argumentative
frequently, but tries not to come across as offensive.
APPEARANCE
Black hair, green eyes, light skin tone, average build and height
[REMAINS AT MERCY ORPHANAGE]

NAME
Vera
AGE
8
RACE/GENDER
Human Female
TRAITS
Tends to enjoy helping anyone with anything. Very generous.
APPEARANCE
Auburn hair, green eyes, light skin, very small for her age and short.
[REMAINS AT MERCY ORPHANAGE]

NAME
Riley
AGE
8
RACE/GENDER
Human Male
TRAITS
Hands-on, learns better by doing, enjoys getting messy and the outdoors
APPEARANCE
Blonde, Very light blue eyes (almost gray) Very tan, sturdy build and average
height, well muscled.
[REMAINS AT MERCY ORPHANAGE]

NAME
Andrew
AGE
8
RACE/GENDER
Human Male
TRAITS
Enjoys musical instruments and drawing.
APPEARANCE
Black hair, brown eyes, average skin tone, build, height
[REMAINS AT MERCY ORPHANAGE, SEEKING A BARDIC APPRENICESHIP]

((NPCS Supplied by DM Lyrewyn. Rescued from Banite Temple by Thedran Rock))
NAME
Sean
AGE
7
RACE/GENDER
Human Male
TRAITS
Typical boy that thinks he has to prove himself to the world. Easily defensive in light of recent events.
APPEARANCE
Thin, prone to colds, and in fair health at best, Sandy brown hair, blue-gray eyes. Average height.

NAME
Ashley
AGE
6
RACE/GENDER
Human Female
TRAITS
Very shy and quiet. Does not like changes in environment, routine, easily frightened.
APPEARANCE
Thin, light skin tone, Dark brown hair, brown eyes, average height

NAME
Elizabeth
AGE
6
RACE/GENDER
Human female
TRAITS
Mildly skittish, enjoys reading, gets nervous when there is shouting or fighting. Nightmares are common, almost nightly.
APPEARANCE
Small for her age in height and stature, mildly underweight. Blonde hair, light blue eyes, very light tan

Sean, Ashley and Elizabeth are staying at Mercy Orphanage until their families can be located. Meri has asked members of the Radiant Heart to seek information to further this end. ((Queries related to this should be directed to DM Lyrewyn))


((NPCS by DM Passiflora, queries related to Dannic, Jessica and Valerie should be directed to DM Passiflora))
NAME
Dannic
AGE
8
TRAITS
Strong-willed, not shy at all. He loves to tease people, and he takes it too far sometimes. But he will never willingly do something he thinks is wrong.
APPEARANCE
Stocky, brown eyes, brown hair medium height

Dannic didn’t have an easy childhood. He never knew his father and rarely ever managed to spend time with his mother, who was busy dealing as a peddler on the streets and more questionable things at night to make money. Eventually he was left in the streets by himself, his mother likely abandoning him as she continues her less than noble persuits.

NAME
Jessica
AGE
9
TRAITS
Very caring peson, very imaginative. Has a teddy bear that means a lot to her, which she is letting Valerie hold on to.
APPEARANCE
Average build, dark brown hair, hazel eyes, medium height

Jessica’s parents were killed by Bhaalists, and subsequently kidnapped by them. Eventually a group of paladins including one name Aranath found her in the Vault of the Dead, chained in a pool of blood. She had been almost sacrificed for a ritual.

NAME
Valerie
AGE
4
TRAITS
She is still unused to her situation, only taking some small comfort recently with the presence of Jessica’s stuffed teddy bear
APPEARANCE
Small, raven-black hair, pale skin, green eyes

Valerie had only recently been orphaned, having lost her only parent (her father) to the dragon attacks in the year 1347 when Tiamat was revived. Her mother had died in childbirth.

((ORPHANAGE CAPACITY (TOTAL) 35
ORPHANAGE CAPACITY (CURRENT) 20))

//THIS IS A LIST OF CHILDREN WHO WERE AT MERCY ORPHANAGE, BUT HAVE BEEN ADOPTED THROUGH SERVER EVENTS OR ROLE PLAY AND ARE NO LONGER THERE. ALL INTERACTIONS WERE DM APPROVED AT THE TIME OF ADOPTION/RELOCATION.//

NAME
Angeline
AGE
6
RACE/GENDER
Human Female
TRAITS
Shows great curiosity in healing arts.
APPEARANCE
Stocky, average height, Very dark brown hair and eyes, to the point of near
black on both. Olive skin tone.
[ADOPTED, NO LONGER PRESENT]

NAME
Charles
AGE
6
RACE/GENDER
Human Male
TRAITS
Answers to Charlie, Very chatty, enjoys drawing/painting.
APPEARANCE
Short, slightly underweight, though not underfed, average skin tone, green
eyes, Very light sandy brown/blonde hair
[ADOPTED, NO LONGER PRESENT]

NAME
Shelly
AGE
6
RACE/GENDER
Human Female
TRAITS
Hyperactive, cannot have sugar. Ever. Does not do well in academics, enjoys
sewing, but cannot stay focused on one project for long, has many unfinished ones
APPEARANCE
Black hair, hazel eyes, average skin tone, build and height
[ADOPTED, NO LONGER PRESENT]

NAME
Flora
AGE
6
RACE/GENDER
Human Female
TRAITS
Extremely shy, easily frightened
APPEARANCE
Platinum blonde, light skin tone, ice blue eyes, small for her age in many ways
[ADOPTED, NO LONGER PRESENT]

NAME
Gavin
AGE
6
RACE/GENDER
Human Male
TRAITS
Constantly wanting to help the others, very adventurous
APPEARANCE
Auburn hair, light green eyes, light skin tone, Very tall, muscular build
[ADOPTED, NO LONGER PRESENT]

NAME
Marcus
AGE
6
RACE/GENDER
Human Male
TRAITS
Artistic, daydreams a lot, enjoys telling stories, very imaginative
APPEARANCE
Black hair, hazel eyes, olive skin tone with tan, average build and height
[ADOPTED, NO LONGER PRESENT]

NAME
Sarah
AGE
5
RACE/GENDER
Human Female
TRAITS
Described as ‘bubbly’, very active, has a tendency to be a bit of a daredevil.
Twin. Favors blues for clothes.
APPEARANCE
Copper hair, pale green eyes, Very light skin tone, tall and slender. Has a
birthmark on her right forearm, almost looks like a bird, but not definite.

NAME
Tess
AGE
5
RACE/GENDER
Human Female
TRAITS
Shy, quiet, often lets Sarah do the talking for her. Tends to reel in Sarah’s
daredevil attitude some. Very opposite her sister.
APPEARANCE
Identical to Sarah except her birthmark is on her left forearm and appears to be a flower or star, again very vague in shape

Sarah and Tess are Meri’s youngest set of twins, also good friends with Inara. The trio gets along very well. Generally Tess keeps Sarah out of too much trouble… and conversely occasionally Sarah talks Tess into stepping out of her ‘comfort zone’. Both are rather intelligent. They are rarely apart for more than a few moments… unless Sarah is in trouble for climbing things. In which case Tess stands by quietly with an ‘I told you so’ sort of look. The girls disagree frequently but seldom fight.
[SARAH AND TESS HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BY TESSIAN AND MERIELLE SILENE (IN TETHYR)]

NAME
Jasmine
AGE
6 months
RACE/GENDER
Human Female
TRAITS
A relatively calm baby, odd sleeping habits, does not sleep for long.
APPEARANCE
Blonde wispy hair, average height, build, skin tone, Dark green eyes

A foundling that was brought to the orphanage at approximately three months old. Less fussy than typical infants, she does have very erratic sleeping habits, which is a constant source of trouble for the volunteers and Sister Juna. Usually Meri stays up with the infant at night, though everyone is trying to get her on a more regular schedule. She isn’t much for crying, but is very vocal. An active infant. Many of the older girls enjoy helping with the littlest member of the orphanage.
[ADOPTED, NO LONGER PRESENT (IN WATERDEEP)]

NAME
Peter
AGE
7
RACE/GENDER
Human Male
TRAITS
Answers to Petey. Has a tendency to be extremely shy or extremely
temperamental. Problematic because he gets teased for his size. Has a
temper, we are working on that.
APPEARANCE
Blonde hair, very light green eyes, pale skin, very short and slight for age
[ADOPTED, NO LONGER PRESENT]

NAME
Beth
AGE
7
RACE/GENDER
Human Female
TRAITS
Very outgoing, well spoken, enjoys books and writing
APPEARANCE
Medium brown hair, light tan, average build and height
[ADOPTED, NO LONGER PRESENT]

NAME
Nathan
AGE
7
RACE/GENDER
Human Male
TRAITS
Troublemaker, likes to sneak food from the kitchen. Answers to Nate.
APPEARANCE
Nearly black/brown hair, hazel eyes average height and skin tone, slightly
stocky build.
[ADOPTED, NO LONGER PRESENT]

NAME
Katrina
AGE
7
RACE/GENDER
Human Female
TRAITS
Very quiet, struggles with reading. Enjoys helping others and drawing.
APPEARANCE
Black hair, dark blue eyes, olive skin tone, very slender, average height
[ADOPTED, NO LONGER PRESENT]

NAME
Henry
AGE
7
RACE/GENDER
Human Male
TRAITS
Sort of a bully, though improving. Not inclined to academics, prefers hands on projects
APPEARANCE
Auburn/dark copper colored hair, freckles, VERY slight tan, stocky build, slightly
more than average height, very dark green eyes.
[ADOPTED, NO LONGER PRESENT]

NAME
Jenny
AGE
7
RACE/GENDER
Human Female
TRAITS
Very calm, the peace-keeper, has a tendency to break up fights among the
others
APPEARANCE
Average build and height, hazel eyes, medium blonde hair, light tan
[ADOPTED, NO LONGER PRESENT]

NAME
Michael
AGE
11
RACE/GENDER
Human Male
TRAITS
Wishes to train as a squire, is especially enamored with Jonas.
APPEARANCE
Black hair, blue eyes, light tan, sturdy build, average height
[ADOPTED AS PAIGE TO SIR ROKRANON (IN TETHYR)]

NAME
Larissa
AGE
10
RACE/GENDER
Human Female
TRAITS
Twin, wears hair pulled up. Enjoys books. Has interests in priesthood of the
Triad
APPEARANCE
Blonde hair, blue eyes, average skin tone, build and height.

NAME
Elaine
AGE
10
RACE/GENDER
Human Female
TRAITS
Twin, wears hair short-cropped. Wishes to learn arcane arts.
APPEARANCE
Blonde hair, blue eyes, average skin tone, build and height.

Larissa and Elaine are Meri’s oldest set of twins, aside from the Elven pair. These two are far less troublesome. Very mature for their age, like many of the children that come from the docks. These two enjoy helping Meri with the other children, and are usually very good at interacting with the others.
[ELAINE AND LARISSA ADOPTED BY LADY ALISTARIA AND SIR JONAS ROKRANON (IN TETHYR)


NAME
Alierna
AGE
Ten years approx by human standards
RACE/GENDER
Moon Elf Female
TRAITS
Very mischievous, Likes painting. Constantly with her twin. Has an aptitude for trickery and slight of hand.
APPEARANCE
Blue eyes. Skin is very pale blue, average height and build, hair is almost
silvery-blue

NAME
Luilla
AGE
Ten years approx by human standards
RACE/GENDER
Moon Elf Female
TRAITS
Very mischievous, Likes music. Constantly with her twin. Is keenly interested
in all things surrounding the arcane art, and is apt at practical jokes.
APPEARANCE
Green eyes. Skin is very pale blue, average height and build, hair is almost
silvery-blue

The Twins, Meri’s only non-human children, came to Meri the same time as most of the dock orphans did. They are nearly identical, and fond of ‘switching up’ to confuse those who do not know them well. Very intelligent and artistic. A handful, but only because Meri isn’t -as- good with Elven children.
[ALIERNA AND LUILLA HAVE BEEN MOVED TO DORON AMAR]

NAME
Warren
AGE
6
RACE/GENDER
Half-Elf Male
TRAITS
Very inquisitive… about everything. Extremely difficult to focus for any length of time.
APPEARANCE
Medium brown hair, golden brown eyes, light tan, slender, tall. Typical half-
elven features
[CITIZENSHIP GRANTED AT DORON AMAR]

NAME
Irinna
AGE
6
RACE/GENDER
Half-Elf Female
TRAITS
Extremely individualistic. Very strong willed. Insists on being ‘different’ to the point of being slightly problematic.
APPEARANCE
Copper hair, blue-green eyes, Light skin tone, slender, slightly shorter than
average
[CITIZENSHIP GRANTED AT DORON AMAR]

Warren and Irinna are the only two half-elven children Meri has… while not blood related, they see each other as brother and sister, and are very close. They seldom do anything without each other, and tend to be Meri’s biggest Troublemakers. You can imagine the trouble the combo makes.

After a letter to then Councilor Auriel, ((Adventuress)), arrangements were made with other members of Doron Amar and the two were moved safely to the Elven Settlement in 1347 just before the tensions between Baldur’s Gate and Amn broke out in full scale war, destroying Beregost and Gullykin.

[LeslieMS]

Meri lets those who guard the orphanage know that Kaltyra Greyfang may come and go as she pleases from the orphanage. This privilege does not extend to the chapter house. This comes after Meri is seen escorting two children into the Orphanage from the Chapter house.

[blackdove]

near eventime,Althea arrives to the orphange, and spends time getting to know the children. In the morning she again stops by, and begins to do this as shecan all week. She grows very happy as she learns about the children and takes part in the nurturing .

[Lampir]

By every right he was a man at 13. He should be out, apprenticed to a master of the trade, but so far, Adam was still stuck running errands for the Mercy Orphanage. Probably wasn't a good time, he reasoned. Maryss was fussing over the pots of herbs and plants she and Meri had rescued from the deadly drought and if that was any indication, things were very busy for the local rangers and druids.

He'd caught a peek of some elven rangers recently, a rare treat, but they were busy teaching farmers how to shoot bows. Slow is steady and steady is fast, they'd said. Adam'd spent some time picturing himself with one of those rangers hovering over him, showing him how to draw back the bow ever just right and let loose an arrow.

His arrows would actually hit the target, Adam had thought wryly before hurrying off on his errand.

It was a shame, everyone seemed to have time… except for him. Sometimes it bothered him, but Adam was used to the orphanage and they needed him. The sisters said patience. Patience.

So it was that Adam rolled his eyes on returning from his delivery to the city. Lost in his self pity, his seething anger and conflicted emotions when..

… when a gaggle of half naked children covered in dried mud 'war paint' let out a war woop that sounded like gargled rocks and ran across the withered garden plot.

Followed by a tiny orc who snorted in glee, swinging a mangled dead squirrel in circles above him.

What the heck had happened while he was gone??

A shadow fell over Adam and he looked up to the familiar bulk of Arkaine HalfOrken. The knight had a haggard exhausted look about him and flicked a put-upon glance at the brigade of children as they ran past again.

"Sir HalfOrken." Adam shifted to one side. "Is that?… Is he... yours?" He pointed towards the toddler orcling who had finally, with a tremendous leap, tackled a straggler to the ground. The pair laughed and wrestled sending up a cloud of dust.

"By Helm's Eye no." The paladin shook his head and rubbed his face.

"He's a full orc!" Piped up Riley who'd by now stopped to see what all the commotion was about. "We're at war with the ant people."

"Ant people?" Arkaine intoned with sudden concern until the boy held up a rock covered in squished insects. "Oh." The knight said flatly.

And so began yet another strange day at Mercy Orphanage.



………………………



Kho'Gnok was having the time of his life. He'd missed his playmates and while mom's bear and the big Grubnar were fun to wrestle he didn't have anyone his size to play and fight with. Imagine his delight at meeting all these new, soft pink orcs. Kho'Gnok immediately set to work making friends by punching the first boy he found - a youth of nine years called Riley.

The punch had staggered Riley who shouted "HEY!" in protest. Kho laughed and went to punch again but Riley jumped back, glaring at the two-year-old orc. "Stop it!"

But as the orc persisted, Riley had done the sensible responsible thing and called for the sisters to stop the fighting.

...

Just kidding he did what any boy would do: squared up his shoulders, spit to the side, balled up his fists and barked "Fine. Ye wanna tumble? Let's tumble."

About ten minutes later the Sisters shooed Riley off the orcling who blinked up at the light wide-eyed. His dreadlocks were white with dust as was half of his body where he'd been knocked down. Despite having gotten the snot beaten out of him and the promise of a bruise welling up on his face, the orcling grinned happily at the Sisters and asked "Food?" Because play time was all well and good but now he was hungry.

Riley earned a new devote follower and partner in crime that day.



……………..



Kho'Gnok scratched his back where the symbol of Mystra lay embedded in his skin. He didn't really know about it or what it was but it itched sometimes and made him hate wearing shirts. Everyone wore shirts, like good little boys.

This took some effort in explaining before it was accepted that Kho probably didn't understand a word of it and they had simply resorted to tying the shirt firmly on with string. But it itched and Kho was torn between eating lunch and chewing off the string again to escape.

Food won out, it usually did.

Across from him sat a an older girl, maybe eight or nine years old. She had been staring at him with bright green eyes for some time and finally, as Kho looked up, she spoke.

"You're an orc you know."

Kho paused from eating and nodded eagerly. Orc. He knew that word. "Orc" He said happily, spraying food he'd not yet swallowed in his laughter.

Amy squealed "Ewwww!" and wiped away the spittle that had sprayed her.

"Do I have orc cooties? Do orcs have cooties? Vera??"

The petite girl next to Amy obligingly gave Amy a 'cootie shot' via rituals from time immemorial, passed from child to child as ancient youth secrets.

Suitably inoculated, Amy again returned to watching Kho'Gnok eat. He wasn't well table mannered but was learning fast after several scoldings and loss of food from the Sisters.

"I hear that orcs are monsters and that you're going to get us all killed." She offers matter-of-factly.

No response.

"I hear orcs are going to have a big war with the elves and the elves are nice people so you must be a bad guy. I mean, how else can it work right? There's the good guys like us and then there's the bad guys, that's you."

Kho was staring at her so, with a newly rapt audience Amy plunged forward in her logic. "Good people do good things and bad people do bad things like hurt people or steal or lie. Good people follow the rules and don't spill their milk and I saw you spill your milk and you always break the rules so you must be a bad guy."

Kho, looked around and then back at Amy.

"And that means we have to smite you. That's what paladins do you know. They smite bad guys and the bad guys go away. So do you think I can smite you… since you're a bad guy?"

Kho blinked and scratched his back.

"Are you even listening to anything I say? … What are you staring at?"

The orc pointed at the left over crust of her sandwich. "Food?"

Amy's face scrunched up. "Well, ok but only if you let me smite you after lunch." She said, sliding over her plate.