The day began for the Lanburg blacksmith and his apprentice much as it usually did. Fire up the forge, haul the water, start firing the ore. They had a new plowshare and a bunch of nail stock to make today. Mid-morning gave them both a surprise, however. A young woman, maybe fourteen or fifteen by her height and build, walked into the shop carrying an old broadsword in it's sheath. Her brown eyes were a little haunted, but determined as she walked up to Garrick while his father was in the back of the shop. Russet-colored hair lay in a plait down her back, enhancing the wide oval of her face.

Approximately two years ago game time. At the time of this story, Ash is 14 and Garrick is 18.

Ash was certain the whole world was plotting against her. The Creator decided to make it rain for the third day in a row, and she was so bored that she quite certainly thought she was going to die. The woods taunted her, come and play with me, climb my branches and see into the far reaches that you yearn to discover, but they never held the same appeal on drab days like this.

The High Note in West hurst
  August 13th @ 11:12pm

There was a knock at Mason Willoughby's office door.  He frowned, irritated at the interruption.  "Get up," he said to the girl underneath his desk in front of where he sat.  There was a hint of disgust in his voice, as the tall brunette stood and adjusted her slinky red dress.  Mason performed a similar action, zipping up his tailored pants.