An Adventurer's Beginning?

No one does something because the are just plain mean.... Everyone has a reason and here's mine.
 
I started out with a normal life. Loving parents, crazy siblings, it wasn't until I started seeking adventure did I realize that I was in to deep.
 
AKA HER BACKSTORY
Young Life
 
Kyrie had a very normal life, she was the oldest of three children. Her parents were supportive of her and encouraged her to follow her dreams. They didn't have much but they had enough.
When she was 75 she decided to move out west to Sandy Creek to instill a love of books and reading to children like her mother had for her. Her parents gave her 1000 gold and 20 books to start her library with.
 
A memory she would have is curling up with her mother and siblings with fresh Snickerdoodle cookies and reading a book.
 
 
 
 
 
Adult life

After she moved it took her nearly 10 years to amass enough books to make a library. Once she did, she convinced the mayor a library would benefit the town… at a cost… she thought she could pay because at the time she assumed he wouldn’t live to see it.
The library was used more than she ever thought possible and she became a beloved icon in the community for books and snickerdoodle cookies. The membership was a silver a month or 5 books if you traded in goods like flour, spices, or meats..

 
 
 
 
 
 
The meeting
8 years ago.
There had been whispers that a pack of bandits were in the area and their most ruthless leader was staking out the town's bank. The group made their move during a thunderstorm in the middle of the night. The bandit leader didn’t think her crew would betray her.
 
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The thunder woke me up. It was one of those that made the hair on your body stand on end, the type that makes your instincts scream that something is wrong. So I got up to check the books. If any of them got wet we’d be looking at a mold infestation and probably loss of the whole collection. As my feet touched the ground I realized I could hear the front door banging on the wind. I started to move quicker but stopped. One thought had me paralyzed what if the bandits were in there? They were known for being cut-throat and doing unmentionable things to women. My feet started to move again. I couldn’t let them destroy my library- my books! As I rounded the corner the room smelled like dirt and wet. I froze. The front door was waving wildly back and forth. Bang. Bang. Bang. I was scared to breathe. so far it seemed like no one had entered. A sigh of relief escaped my lips. And I walked up to the door. It fought me at first but once I got it under control I was able to get it closed. And then I hefted the large wood plank into its sockets. I stood there dripping from the rain and wrestling the doors, I breathed another sign of relief and rested my head against the door. there shouldn't be a soul out in this storm I thought.
 
Click
 
My blood ran cold.
“I-I don’t have much.” I stuttered out. “But you’re welcome to take what you need. The- The books aren’t worth a lot, maybe a gold piece.” My thoughts were instantly filled by what I heard Phyllis and Jessi talking about in the general good store. Bandits and the horrible things they did.
“Turn around,” The woman’s voice commanded, gasping between the words.. My head cocked to the side. A woman? The bandits around here don’t have women in their gangs? right? Why is she here? My feet shuffled to face her. Lightening and thunder filled the air at the same time my eyes saw her. A red tiefling, her long hair stuck to her face from the rain, was hunched over holding her stomach. Suddenly another flash of light and I realized her shirt was covered in blood.
“ Are you-” I began and then she collapsed.
I broke into action. She had to be attacked by the bandits or maybe she was captured by them and ran away. She had a pretty serious cut on her stomach from where someone had attempted to gut her. I was able to patch her up but now it was up to her she would either live or die.
 
 
3 Days later.
 

I had just settled in for the evening. I walked into the guest room. I never had guests but it was a room I insisted on them building when they built the library. In the bed laid the tiefling, her chest rising and falling as she slept. I placed my mug of tea on the table and opened my book. I had chosen to read a story about a young demi-god heading to Nessus to find his human love and return to the material plane. Despite its ending, it was a favorite of mine.
 
“I'll agree to it. But on one condition. When you leave you must never look back. If you do Her soul is mine And you will never see her again” I read aloud. Her breath hitched and she stopped breathing.
“You have a nice voice.” She murmured groggily.
“Thanks,” I whispered without thinking. I sat up like electricity had just shot through me. She took in her surroundings as if she were double-checking that she was alive. “I didn’t think you were going to make it.” I offered, it wasn't more than a breadcrumbs but it was enough for her to confirm she was still on this plane.
“Hmm. Yeah. I thought I was a goner too.” She began to sit up in the bed but winced and leaned back down. “ How long was I out?”
“Three days.”
“Fuck. They’re long gone now. The bastards.”
“Who? The bandits?” I questioned her. Why would she want to go back to them? Doesn’t she know she’s safer here? She sucked in a breath and sat up this time she swung her legs over the bed as if to commit to standing.
“They’re going to have another thing coming when I catch up to them, the rats. Where’s my gun?” She twanged and shuffled about the room putting pants on, slowly stuffing her arms in a shirt.
“I- I really don’t think you should do that. You’ll pull your stitches.” I began to protest. She’ll be murdered if she tries to fight them and then I noticed blood began to stain the bandages. If she leaves now she won't make it until dawn.
“I don’t give a damn. If Gunther thinks he can take my gang from me after getting the
drop on me he has another thing coming. Now, Where is my gun?” She gritted through her teeth. The bleeding was getting worse and her forehead started to glisten with sweat.
“Your gang? You’re the bandit leader?” I ask “You're the Horned devil of the Blue Serpent Crew?”
“Yes,” She gritted through her teeth again. Her chest was rising and falling, her breath labored from the effort she had made from putting her clothes on.
“You’re bleeding.”
“Obviously”
“There’s no point in getting your revenge if you're dead the next day. Now, Sit back down and rest.” I demanded of her, rising to meet her eyes. “Once you’re better you’ll be able to track them down.”
 
Surprisingly she followed my orders and she laid back down and I nursed her back to health. Her name was Lorelie (Lore-a-lie) and before she was gutted and left for dead she was the leader of the Blue Serpent Crew. All the horrible things were rumors she asked the villagers they caught to make up and she would give them some of the gold they stole. She never let her men do that… well until they left her for dead. Days had passed and her wound healed leaving a twisted scar that snaked from her navel to her sternum. The only money the bandits had made out with was the founders. 4 of the oldest (by human standards) families In town including the mayor. They were put for blood. Wanted signs plastered the town walls for months.
Lorelie had decided to stay complaining how she wasn’t up to full strength- just one more meal and she'll be right as rain or how I needed to learn how to protect myself in case more riff-raff came into town. Before we knew it, 3 years had passed.
 
The town had accepted Lorelie as one of their own; we had made up that she had come from the city to help organize the library and grow the collection.
Then the mayor came to collect on his deal with Kyrie. His wife had passed suddenly and he needed a new woman to be the mother of his children. His old wife had held out longer than he ever would have thought possible.
“So where does this book go? This whole sorting system makes zero sense to me. I don’t understand why we can sort these by subject” Lorelie called out into the library with a huff.
“We are, we’re just using numbers to do it. This is the newest thing straight from the capital. It's called the Dewey decimal. ” I chimed back walking over to her. I snagged the book from her and looked at it. “You’re right, this is the right spot. Stop doubting yourself, and put it up. You’re a natural.” I beam at her and turn to put the book up. I slide up on the top shelf where it goes. “Besides, “ I turn back to her and suddenly her lips are on mine and my brain turns off for the first time in my life. I had had kisses before, hell I was in a relationship with a nice rancher boy before my deal with the mayor, and no one in town even flirted with me but this? Oh gods this was different. Just as suddenly as her warmth had filled me it was gone and her hands were over her mouth in embarrassment.
“ I am so sorry, I don’t know why-” Lorelie began, her face turning a deep purple from blushing. My mouth can’t form words, hell I don’t even think my brain could, but I know I need one thing from her again I need to feel that warmth from her again. I reach up for her hands that are still pressed to her mouth, she is repeating sorry over and over again but I don’t hear her words. I pull her close to me and press my mouth to hers.

The next night.
 
I had asked Lorelie to get the shipment of books and groceries. I had agreed to make us a batch of snickerdoodles. And she was late. Too late. I hope the wagon didn't break down again.
There was a storm on the horizon much like the one that had brought us together all those years ago… People write about times in the character's life when it's divided into heartbeats. This is one of them.
 
Ka-bang the front door of the library violently swung open.
Ba-bum
And there stood a bleeding and battered lorelei.
Ba-bum
I throw my book on the ground and run towards her.
Ba-bum
Just as she hits the floor I catch her and haul her into my lap.
Ba-bum. I can't breathe.
“What happened?” I ask her and push sweaty hair out of her face. Her body was cold, very cold, so I pulled her closer to me and prayed that it would help.
“Then- the mayor saw us last night.” she gasped
“Being together isn’t wr-”
“He saw my brand for the bandits.” She coughs “The ropes snapped from the horse they were dragging me with and I was able to get away. But he’s coming for you-” She starts coughing up blood.
“No he- you- I can’t go on with-.” tears began to fill my eyes as a lump caught in my throat.
“ Do you remember how to shoot the gun?” she asked me, I shook my head yes. “I already got my do-over, babe and I got you. Even if it was only for a night. I need you to live for me. Okay? Find a nice life with lots of books and maybe a cat and most definitely another love.” She coughs Again this time coughing up more blood than anyone should. “I want you to be happy.” She smiled but her teeth were tinged with blood.
 
Thunder cracks through the air and Lorelie gives a wry chuckle.
 
“I knew from the moment I saw you that I loved you. I was so scared to make a move because I wasn’t sure if you felt the same,” she said rushed- making sure that I knew- making sure that she didn’t leave anything unsaid.
“It took me a little while but I realized it too. I hate that it took us this long.” I say finally regaining my voice. Sobs start to wrack my body. I give her one last kiss.
The world is filled with the sounds of rain and she breathed her last breath and I cried and cried and cried.
 
 
The thunderstorm had passed but it seemed like the world still mourned with me as I dug her grave. I shoved the shovel deep into the ground and walked back in to begin to pack. The first drawer I open up has the gun in it. I liked to blame Lorelie for my change in heart but it was like a devil was taunting me. I should've packed my clothes and disappeared into the night but you only get true love once and I wanted him to pay. Blue Serpent or not. She should not have been killed- not like that. Not tortured.
 
 
When I walk into town, I see our cart fully loaded with supplies, the books are unsalvageable. When I pick one up the pages fall out of it. My 10 lb bag of flour is a goopy mess. Some of the other stuff is fine like the vegetables and bottled stuff. I look across the town and I see it. A black streak like something had been drugged… its blood. It's her blood. Thunder rips through the air.
It feels as If I left my body, my blood Is ice. This can't be happening
When I get to the mayor's house, the sun isn’t out yet. His door was unlocked and I was able to sneak in without a problem. I set up in his office. I notice on his desk is a list of people. The Ranch hand that I used to date is on it, the sheriff and several of the other prominent families are on it. The floorboards creak and I light a cigarette and wait. A habit I definitely picked up from her. The Mayor slowly enters and my heart skips. His upper body has claw marks and scratches all over it. She fought, she fought him hard.
“So is this everyone that helped you?” I puff out. He jumps and turns pale like he’s seen a ghost.
“ Kyrie? Is that you? What happened?”
“ I should be asking you that.” I interrupt. “ Now I won't ask again, This list- everyone that helped you is on here?” My words are sharp. I don’t even recognize myself.
“Let’s talk about this.” he tries to reason but I pull the gun out and point it at him. “Yes! Yes, it is. Please don’t shoot.”
“Good,” I say, and shoot him. It doesn’t sink in until I just killed him, all I can feel is the loss. My loss. As I go to leave I stop and look back at him. “One last thing, you always wanted a kiss.” I say to him and I pull out a tube of red lipstick, kiss him on the cheek and leave.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Next 5 years
It’s all a blur of going through the motions.
Step 1 Find either a rich town or one of the people on my list
Step 2 ruin them by robbing them
Step 3 indulge in whatever I can, drink, drugs, or people
Step 4 sober up and lie low
Step 5: rinse repeat.

Until the law suddenly seemed hell-bent on catching up to me so I paid off my crew, buried my treasure, and joined an adventuring group until the heat died down. I only have three more people on my list and I’m ready to rest.