A recurring character from “the Table of Five”, a Dungeons & Dragons campaign set in the Silver Marches of the Forgotten Realms. “Aeron signaled for the party to stop and listen. As elves, Nykira and Faeryl both had naturally acute hearing, but his life in the wild had given the young ranger a sense for sounds that did not belong to the forest. The underbrush was low and thin, too little to hide much he thought. Then he heard a light rustling that was out of time with the breeze, and stepped toward the sound, alerting the others... but stopped short at a very unexpected sight! She stepped out from behind the brush, with a casual gait. “Melinden Merrymar… pleased to make your acquaintance,” she piped in a sweet tone. Standing just to Aeron’s waist, her small sword was less then a light dagger… hardly more then a brooch pin, but she held it with confidence as a coy smile turned her lips. “I do hope this will be a cordial acquaintance,” she challenged, eyeing the companions, who stood at the ready. “What are you doing out here alone, little one?” Tarl questioned. “Little one!” Mel snapped back, strutting up to the dwarf in defiance. Standing barely at his chest, she looked up at him from only a few inches away. “I’ve taken bigger then you!” she announced with a cocky tone that alluded to something other then combat. “You’re not bad,” she turned to face Aeron, stepping away from Tarl. “The elves didn’t hear me,” she continued, motioning to Nykira and Faeryl. “I’ve been following you for almost an hour.” “Why?” Nykira asked, bending down on one knee to face the hin. “Because I can!” Mel replied with clear arrogance, “and I figured a party like you would be heading some place interesting… So I thought I’d tag along.” “This forest is not a place to go wandering lightly,” Aeron warned, sinking to one knee as well, “these are dangerous times, and dark things roam these woods uncheck!” “Well then,” Mel retorted cheerfully, “it’s lucky I found you. You’ll all be much safe with me!”” A lightfoot hin (halfling) rogue from Everlund, Mel is usually content to lighten the purses of merchants and drunks, but, like all of her kin, she is occasion struck by wanderlust and ventures beyond the city walls… and usually straight into trouble. Charming and capricious, she is also clever and foolhardy, often surviving on nothing more then lightfoot luck. A confessed thief by trade, Mel has crossed paths with the Table of Five on a number of times, usually while over her head in trouble… but has proven herself very handy on more then one occasion. Much to their chagrin! Their are no hobbits in the Forgotten Realms... the hin (halflings) are devoid of large hairy feet, and are more like half sized elves then the plump figures form Middle Earth. They are, however, prone to wanderlust, and have the unique racial trait of finding trouble were ever they go! Thanks for looking... Hope you enjoy! Comments and suggestions always welcome and appriciated! Credits: Aiko 3.0 by DAZ with mats & head morphs from Meghan by Rhiannon, Vayne Braid by AprilYSH, The Elven Soul for Aiko 3.0 by FK Design with mats from Elven Dynasty for The Elven Soul for Aiko 3.0 by outoftouch, sword & pose from DM’s Fantasy Realms by Danie, marforno & Abraham, and Heart of the Forest by DAZ & Laurie S.