Englebertha and Mervin Girdz

I was talking to Gary and he told me he saw a twisted, terrifying, figure in the shadows of the orchard last night that scared him half death. So I told him I would tell Englebertha to stop going out late at night.
-Mervin Girdz (before his wife beat him)

Mervin and Englebertha have called Margay home for as long as anyone can remember. It is said they worked with Avandra herself to found and grow Margay into the tiny, yet important village it is today. The couple are the first to laugh and dismiss those claims as drunken rumors.

Before He Met She

Englebertha has always referred to herself as Human-ish. Her Father was a Human who fell in love with a woman of both Dwarven and Gnomish decent. Englebertha adored both of her parents. She inherited her father's raven hair and loud personality, while she received her blue eyes and amazing capacity to love from her mother. Englebertha had a childhood full of happiness and love. She spent her days either learning how to care for the family run tavern from her mother; or combat and Axe-wielding from her father. There was no conflict in the land when she was little but, her father always told her she should be prepared "just in case." She took her training seriously, and despite being smaller in stature (4 feet at her tallest), none of her peers could beat her. Her parents always said she would be able to give her future husband a full stomach and a huge headache with ease. Englebertha was always proud to say she would never want a husband, because a husband would just get in her way.
Mervin Girdz enjoys telling people that he is descendant from goliaths. Despite good reason to doubt his claims, Mervin is taller than most humans at 7.5 feet tall. While nowadays his hair can be described as a dull rust; back when he was young he had bright red hair that glowed like embers in the sun. Mervin grew up fishing and doing "manly" chores with his father around the village. They always made sure to help out the widows and single mothers for free before going out and finding odd jobs in exchange for currency or goods. While Most would consider Mervin's father to look quite intimidating, all the women and their daughters would swoon over Mervin. As he got older, a lot of young maidens would try to flirt with Mervin, but he was always too focused (or oblivious) to notice. His father often joked that he was lucky he got his looks from his mother, who died during his birth. After his father "retired" from hard labor, Mervin decided he didn't want to spend his life in the village of his birth and went out to find his path.

After Mervin and Englebertha were both 18 years of age they unknowingly found themselves on intertwining paths.

While browsing the market for ingredients, Englebertha was checking the quality of some apples when there was a loud commotion in the street nearby. Upon further investigation she realized that a wild stallion had broke loose from its ill equipped handler and was throwing a massive tantrum kicking carts, stalls, and even those few foolish villagers who thought they could grab him. Englebertha ran straight for the stallion determined to do something. As she got near the angry and frighten creature, the most handsome man she had ever seen, grabbed the stallion by the reins and forced it to look into his emerald green eyes. As she stood stunned, she watched as the man whispered and calmed the horse until it willingly laid peacefully on the ground. As she recovered from her daze, she saw a small pouch that appeared to have fallen from the man's pocket near his feet.
Once Mervin got the horse calm, he glared at the owner, knowing the poor animal had been neglected. The owner shrunk in Mervin's presence as he approached him. "You caused this mess abusing this animal! You don't deserve to have it!" Mervin growled as he saw all the damage. The careless owner shook his head quickly and threw his hands up, screeching. "It's yours! I don't want the cursed thing! Please don't hurt me!" Mervin shook sighed and tossed a coin from one of his pockets in the man's direction. He patted the horse and turned to continue his way through town. As he turned, he saw a small figure picking up a pouch off the ground in his path. As the figure rose, Mervin's gaze met a pair of blue eyes that reminded him of the most beautiful blue sky he could ever imagine. He continued to stare as the figure walked towards him. He noticed how her dark hair seemed to shimmer in the sun and for a moment he was sure she was an illusion.

Two Become One

Still mesmerized by the handsome stranger Englebertha held the pouch out in front of her towards him. "I believe this is yours sir." Mervin took the pouch and nodded. As he searched for words, Englebertha gave a slight bow, turned quickly and practically sprinted away down the road through the market. Still fumbling for words, Mervin gave a heavy sigh as he realized he failed to even say thank you. Mervin continued his way through town with his new horse and eventually made his way to a tavern. Outside, a man greeted him, offered to stable his horse and bid him go inside. Weary from the day, Mervin slowly walked inside and made his way to the bar in the tavern. He was greeted by an older woman, and was startled to see the same blue eyes from earlier in the day on a different face. After securing room and having dinner, Mervin retired for the night. In the morning he proceeded back to the main bar/dining area to have some breakfast. As he sat at a corner table looking around for someone to order breakfast from, he slowly began to stare out the window and daydream about the girl from the day before.
Englebertha was finally done with the fresh baked goods for the day and ready to go tend to the rest of the tavern. Rainy days didn't allow for her to spar so she sighed as she resigned herself to a day inside. As she walked out into the main area of the tavern with her tray of breads and pastries, she saw one guest at the corner table near the window. As she got closer she realized it was the man from before and her heart got caught in her throat. She walked up to the table and offered him something from the tray. When he didn't answer she set the tray down on the table and walked around into his view. He looked startled as if just waking up and just stared at her. "Would you like some fresh baked bread or pastry? Perhaps some breakfast?" she said quietly, unsure if she was disturbing him, and even more unsure why her heart was beating so fast. He smiled and looked at the tray on the table then back at her. After a minute he asked her to bring whatever her favorite items were. She was confused as to why he would want to try her favorite things but she nodded, grabbed the tray of baked goods, and went back to the kitchen to make her favorite breakfast. She brought him fried apples, homemade sausages, a fluffy omelet,and her favorite fruit danish. "Please enjoy. If you want anything else, just let me know." He stared at the plate so she added. "My name is Englebertha if you need me." The man looked up at her, smiled, and said softly "I'm Mervin."
Mervin looked at the breakfast before him and took a small bite of each item. It was the most delicious food he ever had. He devoured the rest of it happily as he dreamt of a world where he could eat food this good every meal. He looked up from his empty plate to see Englebertha sweeping and smiled. "Englebertha," he whispered. This woman was not only real but she was mere feet away. He decided then and there that he would do everything he could to spend time with her. He began clearing his own plate knowing she would rush over and started a conversation. From that day forward he found excuses to spend time with her and got to know her more and more everyday. Eventually he went to her father and mother and asked for her hand in marriage. They gave their blessing and on her 19th birthday Mervin set up a romantic picnic. While Englebertha was finishing her dessert, Mervin pulled a small pouch out of his pocket. "You handed me this pouch back on the first day we met. I have had it my whole life but now I think it is time to give it to someone else." Mervin smiled at a confused but curious Englebertha and pulled out a necklace with a tiny jade fish on it.

Until I saw you this necklace was the most beautiful thing in my life. It represented love, kindness, and strength. My father carved it himself and gave it to my mother when he proposed to her. I never thought I would find someone I would want to give it to. I was wrong. I want to spend the rest of our lives together. Please accept this necklace and say you will be my wife.

Englebertha nodded tears down her face. Mervin put the necklace around her neck and a few months later they had a simple, but beautiful wedding in the tavern. After getting married the two of them decided to find somewhere to start their life together. After traveling all over the fauna region they came to a small shrine of Avandra near an apple orchard. The locals called the area Margay. They decided to build their own tavern and Inn, named The Tiny Cat, and settled into their new life.

Older and Wiser?

Over the years, the Girdz couple have sustained themselves and the town around them with Mervin's fishing and woodworking skills combined with Englebertha's culinary skills and operation of the tavern. Whenever there is trouble around town, Englebertha is the first to respond, with Mervin shortly behind her. They were never able to have children of their own but after a strange turn of events they did end up adopting a young elven girl named Strawberry and recently took in another young lady named Vadania, who refers to them as Aunt Bertha and Uncle Merv. They are both still madly in love with each other but prefer giving each other a hard time rather than public displays of affections. Englebertha is often the butt of Mervin's jokes and Mervin is often the victim of her throwing things at him in response. To this day, when no one is around, Mervin still stares at his wife like she is a dream, and Englebertha still thinks he is the most handsome man to ever walk the face of the earth (even with his pancake butt).

Englebertha's Necklace

Names: Englebertha and Mervin Girdz
Age: Unknown, but they claim to be in their 50's
Place of Residence: Margay
Occupations: Englebertha- Captain of the "Volunteer" Watch
Co-Owner and Operator of The Tiny Cat
Mervin- 2nd in command of the "Volunteer" Watch
Resident Fisherman
Co-Owner and Supplier of The Tiny Cat

Children