Farah Havendown

Farah was born and raised in the village where the Merry Mug stands, long before the tavern’s notorious transformation from the grimy Rusty Dagger into the warm and bustling inn it is now. She grew up just a few streets over, the daughter of a stonemason and a seamstress, and spent most of her early childhood watching life pass by from doorsteps and alleyways, daydreaming of distant places and hidden stories.   When she was 13, her family fell on hard times—her father’s health declined after an accident at the quarry, and her mother took on too many commissions to make ends meet. Farah, ever determined and practical despite her age, sought out work to help keep them afloat. That’s when she first stepped into the Merry Mug.   Back then, the tavern had only just come under the care of Lilly, who saw something in the quiet, round-faced girl with the big dark eyes and earnest manners. Lilly offered her part-time work, sweeping floors and helping with dishes. In time, Farah proved herself trustworthy and dependable, and her duties expanded. Now, she’s often the first to greet guests in the morning and the last to leave at night.   Farah has a warm, quick laugh and a surprisingly sharp wit when she chooses to speak. Though shy around strangers, she’s known among locals for her gentle heart and iron memory—she remembers every regular’s favorite drink, every bard’s favorite stage cue, and every orphan’s birthday. Her long black hair is usually tied back in a braid, though wisps always seem to escape to frame her round cheeks, usually flushed from kitchen heat or a dash to the cellar.   While she may seem content to remain behind the bar, Farah has quiet dreams. She listens intently to the adventurers who pass through the Mug, their tales kindling a longing in her heart for a life beyond tankards and tables. She’s taken to practicing with a borrowed dagger behind the stables when no one is looking, and has stashed away a few coins for a pair of sturdy boots and maybe—someday—a sword.   Lilly treats her like a niece, or a younger sister, depending on the day. She’s fiercely protective of Farah, though she knows better than to smother the girl’s growing fire. Some say Lilly sees a bit of herself in her—a girl with calloused hands, a stubborn streak, and a heart too big for the walls around it.   Farah may not be on the frontlines of a battle—yet—but when trouble stirs in the village, she’s the first to notice and the last to look away.