Born in Targos, Mell showed an early knack for nature, learning the Herbalist’s trade from her mother, and at 18, she officially became a Druid, quickly ranking up to join the Circle of Wildfire, which she thought to be the practice of Druidcraft most suited to the harsh cold of Icewind Dale.
At 20, she met her husband, Jeren, a ranger, while working to find a family who had gotten lost in a snowstorm. Two years later, they were married, and Jeren was offered a job keeping the peace in the tiny town of Lonelywood. Mell wasn’t overly fond of the residents of Lonelywood, but she did enjoy exploring the nearby forest when weather permitted and found her work as a herbalist and local rescuer rewarding.
Four years later, her son Jashan was born, and Mell was thrilled, although she quickly began worrying that the town’s criminal elements would provide poor role models for her son. Jeren, however, dismissed her concerns, as he rather enjoyed his role as the town lawman, and he liked the idea of teaching Jashan all of his tricks of survival in such a remote town.
One day when Jashan was 8, Mell made her monthly trip into Termalaine for supplies. Upon her return at sunset, she found neither Jeren nor Jashan at home. Assuming something had come up which required her husband’s attention, she went to the Lucky Liar, the local tavern. The tavern owner took one look at her and said, “Please sit down. I”m afraid there’s bad news.”
After she sat down, the tavern owner continued, “Yesterday afternoon, a group of strangers showed up in town. After greeting them, Jeren asked if they had come to Lonelywood seeking a new start, and the one who seemed to be the leader replied, 'Yeah, you might say that.' Jeren told them about the resources around town and all might have come to nothing, except he noticed a brooch on the ground - you know the one Anilla Trayner always wears that was her inheritance from her mother. Jeren picked up the brooch and asked the men if it belonged to one of them. I guess one of them claimed it it was a gift for his girlfriend. Jeren refused to hand over the brooch and told the men they needed to leave town, and just like that, they attacked him. Jeren held his own, but unfortunately, most of the men were either out logging or fishing, so there wasn't a lot of help from the town. Those that did gather managed to get the strangers to leave, and after they were gone, Jeren just collapsed. He didn't regain consciousness and passed last night. This morning, the strangers were back, and when Jashan saw them, he just got livid yelling at the men and hitting them. One of them snapped his neck just because he could. They then proceeded to rob the entire town and left. I'm so sorry for your loss, Mell."
Mell felt numb, but set about the business of burying her husband and son and gathering as much information as she could about the strangers. Since their home was provided by the town, she moved all of her family's belongings out and took it by cart to Termalaine and then Targos, promising to get word out of Lonelywood's need for a new lawman.
She sold all of her husband and son's belongs but one that reminded her of each - a wolf carved of scrimshaw that Jeren had made and a rough owl of fir wood that Jashan had carved. She put the rest of her own belongings into storage and set about trying to learn about the strangers, but by the time she took care of all of her personal business, the trail had gone cold. She then set out to strengthen her druid skills, knowing that she would need to be as strong as possible if she was going to catch those who murdered her husband and son.
Now sixth level, Mell has vowed not to rest or grieve until she has attained justice for her husband and son. The few clues she has managed to gather suggest a trip to the Spine of the World is called for, so to the Spine of the World she is heading.
