The Hog’s Head Tavern was not some run-down, rough and tumble business, as you might imagine when envisioning a meeting place for adventurers. No, it was a well-kept establishment, with a polished bar, a cozy dining area, and inn rooms above that I soon learned were simple but fair when it came to their ten copper price. After securing a room, I returned downstairs in search of supper. By now the dining area had filled to some extent, with all the booths being full, leaving only the large, semi-communal tables or the bar as seating possibilities. None of the tables were crowded, but I was in no hurry to make new friends yet. I wanted a day to read the feel of the town as best I could. Having little knowledge on the average trustworthiness of adventures, I didn’t want to make a mistake and get conned into some back-ally confrontation that resulted in me losing my meagre belongings. I had my magic to protect me, sure, but I didn’t want my first field test to be in a one versus many situation, if at all possible.

So I settled on the bar. While not an unsocial position by nature, it would likely reduce the chances of being set-upon by a group of people, and I felt more confident in fending off solitary conversations than the communal opposition I would face around one of the tables.

Yes, that’s right, i considered it an opposition. I don’t know what my social disposition was like before my amnesia, but it was damn well looking like I had awoken as a heavy introvert.

As I made my way to the bar, however, I happened to glance at the furthest table from the door, and suddenly found myself making eye contact with a pair of electric blue eyes.

She was leaning back in her chair, balancing upon it with ease. Her auburn hair was long, cascading down the back of her seat to hang halfway down her seatback. She wore simple leather armor over her clothing, designed not to hinder her movement in any way. Her age couldn’t have been over thirty-five, unless she had some non-human blood in her, which was not readily apparent. As our gazes crossed, I watched as a look of surprise came over her pretty face, and understood why immediately.

I knew this woman, somehow. It was an incredibly disorienting feeling for an amnesiac to experience, but there was a kinship to her that I could not readily explain. There was something almost primal about her, as if some inner part of my very being was drawn towards her. It wasn’t necessarily an attractive force, though I had to admit I wouldn’t discount a romantic possibility if things were to unfold in that direction. It was more like the feeling one gets upon meeting an old friend that they’ve forgotten, but whose face tickles your brain as you try to recall.

I forced myself to turn away, which was easier than I expected, and moved towards the bar, sitting upon one of the unoccupied barstools. The bartender came up, took my order, then shuffled into the back, and I chanced a look, furtively as I could over my shoulder.

She was still watching me, openly amused by something. A smirk gave her face a knowing look, and I immediately turned forwards, starting to sweat a bit. What was going on? Had I been ensorcelled in some manner? Perhaps a charm spell when I wasn’t looking? But why? And when? I hadn’t seen any incantation or felt any weave of magic. A magical item, perhaps?

Were there a romantic tint to the compelling force a romantic man might have classified it as ‘love at first sight.’ I glanced again, finding her sparkling blue eyes full of mirth as she returned my glance. She was chuckling silently now, some unknown joke likely at my expense.

Then she leaned her chair forwards and moved to stand, prompting me to swing my head back about, attempting to play it cool. As if that was still an option.

She did not hide her approach to the bar, her steps light but distinct, and it was all I could do not to panic as she slid into the barstool next to me. “I take it I’m the first stormborn you’ve met since your awakening,” an almost lyrical voice said from my right.

I looked at her in surprise, seeing her now up close. She still wore the smirk upon her face, and her voice was full of good humor. At this distance, her bright blue eyes seemed almost alight. No, scratch that, as I watched I was able to see what looked like arcs of blue energy dance around her pupils. Her eyes were literally alight.

Her previous statement still took a moment to register, though. “St-stormborn?” I asked, finally, immediately ashamed of my accidental stutter.

She nodded, “Indeed, it’s the name among sorcerer communities for those of us graced by the storm. An ale,” she said as the bartender came over with my previously ordered meal of fish, bread, and mead.

“You see,” she continued, watching the bartender produce her ale, “each stormborn has a rather unique electrical charge about them. To most it’s imperceptible, and its weak enough that it doesn’t affect anything normal magnetic charges might affect. But when two storm sorcerers are within a room, they’re both able to instantly know. There is a magnetism between them that cannot be explained by words, a kinship that goes beyond family or friendship.”

The bartender returned with her drink then, and she took a deep swig of it. When she put it down with a satisfied sigh, she again turned to me, her blue eyes vibrant in their curiosity..

“Now, I feel that same magnetism towards you, mister stranger. And you haven’t been able to stop checking me out since you caught sight of me. So either you fancy a tumble in the hay or those sigils on your fingers mark you as one of my own. Which’ll it be then?”

I gulped. This… I had not expected this. Glancing down at the runes on my hands, I hadn’t even realized they might be obvious clues to my identity. I need to buy gloves, as soon as I deal with this woman.

My gaze turned back to her. Ever since I had entered this room she had been in control of the situation. She was playing with a full deck of information, whilst I was relegated to the hand left to me. I needed a way to turn things around.

Suave! Think suave! Charm her off her guard! That should catch her offbeat.

I cleared my throat, feeling my voice drop into a lower range than normal, “Well, I’m afraid you’ve got me pegged. Though I hope my inclusion in the latter doesn’t preclude me from the former.” I smiled the most suaviest smile I ever did smile then. Or at least, I tried.

A dumbfounded look played across her face as she processed what I had just said. Then she burst out laughing in a raucous belly laugh that drew more than a few stare from around us.

I was taken aback at her reaction, and a bit disappointed in my clear lack of suavity. I glanced around, disliking the amount of attention we were now receiving, then turned back around, facing forwards, already feeling my cheeks coloring. I flinched a bit when I felt her arm around my shoulder, and turned back to my neighbor as she wound down from her fit of laughter.

“Ohhhh, I think I’m gonna like you, fledgeling. I did not see that coming, not at all. Such an amazing transformation from frightened paranoiac to suave debonair would catch anyone off guard! Oh, but I’m getting ahead of myself.”

She then released her grip upon my shoulders and turned in her barstool to me, reaching her right arm across her body to offer me a shake. “We’ve not yet had introductions, have we? My name is Keidra Stormcoil, of the Stormcoil clan, Officer of the West Tempest guild, and storm sorcerer of sixteen years.”

I stared at her proffered hand, my thoughts racing. I didn’t have an accompanying introduction, and something told me that any poorly thought out lie would be seen through by this electric-eyed beauty. There was something inside me that already trusted her, as if in defiance of my normal, baseless cynicism. I wanted to pass it off as the effects of that magnetism I felt towards her, but it felt like something further.

Still, with no avenue out of this that wouldn’t cause a scene and generate even more unwanted affection, not to mention there was a chance of her being part the aforementioned party that was supposed to aid me, I decided to try an honest approach.

Woah, woah, woah, quiet down! I can hear you screaming at me from here! Yes, I know, one pretty face asking my business and I fold. But it’s not just that! I swear! For one, I’ll not be saying a word about my divine situation, that’s on a higher confidentiality level than anyone is ever likely to get. I’ll just talk about the whole amnesia bit and see where it goes from there.

Also, she’s really, really pretty. Looking from afar I couldn’t tell, but up close, man, how is she not surrounded by suitors?

So shut up! Yes, I now know I have a weak spot for a pretty face. But you’re just a figment of imagination dreamt up by an amnesiac as a coping method. You’re not real! So be quiet while I spin my sob story for this fine woman before me.

Ahem.

I took her hand, shaking it while saying, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Keidra.”

This brought forth a raised eyebrow. “Usually,” Keidra said with a hint of amusement, “this is the part where you would introduce yourself.”

I sighed, releasing her hand. “I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

“Oh,” she said, sipping her drink. “And why can’t you, might I ask?”

“Well, sadly, I appear to have been afflicted with a severe case of amnesia.”

“Amnesia?” she said, her disbelief evident. “Riiiiiiight.”

I shook my head, “It’s always the same reaction, I should know better by now. No one believes me.”

“Alright, fine, saying I take this ‘amnesia’ story as truth, what’s the first thing you remember?”

“That would be waking up on a seaside cliff. I was sitting in the middle of a charring on the ground reminiscent of a lightning strike.”

“So, you’re saying you got struck by lightning, survived, and lost your memory?” Suddenly her skepticism had lessened. She look upwards in thought. “Indeed, I’ve heard of such a thing happening to some when they first awoke to their powers.” Her gaze returned back to me, “But that amnesia all faded within a day and they were back to normal. You’re saying you still don’t have access to you memories?”

I shook my head. “No. It doesn’t affect all my memories, but I can’t recall anything prior to that, not even my hame. Thus I have no name to give you.”

“Hmmm...” Keidra pondered for a moment my story before asking, “and how long ago was this?”

“Four days ago,” I answered honestly. “I came here to Platston to see if there was anything that might jog my memory. This being the largest town in the area, it’s likely I passed through here before I lost my memory.”

“Sound idea,” she nodded, “but I take it you’ve had no luck with that.”

I shook my head.

After a moment of pondering, she looked over to me. “Would you mind,” she asked a bit hesitantly, “if I were to probe your font with my own power? As a sort of verification that you’ve had your powers for only four days?”

That would be problematic. Were I to allow her to examine my font, there was a chance Keidra might see beyond the storm energy and find my divine power, outing my true nature.

“I would, actually. First off, magnetic attraction aside, I don’t really know you, or trust you, yet. Secondly, I don’t know for sure if I had my font before the amnesia or not. There’s a chance that the lightning strike that did this to me had nothing to do with me awaking my powers.”

“That’s fair, I suppose. Alright, then how about if we were to go to local notary and sign a magical contract verifying your story?”

That suggestion left me puzzled. “Why would I sign a contract with you? Why do I need to prove this to you, anyways?”

“Oh, sorry, I got ahead of myself again. Well, as I said before, I am an Officer in the West Tempest Guild. I don’t suppose you’ve heard of the Four Major Guilds, with your amnesia, but basically the Four Major Guilds are major organizations that dominate the politics of the greater Windsea area. The Tempest Guild is a subsidiary of one of the Four Major Guilds, and it is largely made up of clans and factions of storm-based alignment.

“I was hoping to induct you into the guild as my Ensign. As I said before, I think I like you, and with you being a novice stormborn, I can help you as you grow into your potential. Should you be willing to sign a magical contract that verifies your story, I would be able to lay to rest any fears I might have around your backstory. Should you regain your memories along the way, hopefully by then we’ll have enough rapport that whoever you were still wants to remain in the guild. If not, hopefully we can at least part on friendly terms.”

“Why would you do that for me? It seems like I get all the benefits.”

She shrugged. “Like I said, I like you. And the West Tempest Guild is always looking for new blood. Even if you don’t join any of the clans, you can’t undervalue the worth of a single extra stormborn. We’re a rare breed of sorcerer, but the destructive powers available to those of us at the peak is rivalled only by twelfth circle wizards. Even if you never make it that far, you’d still be a valuable asset.

“That’s not to say we’d be only using you, though. Joining a guild, any guild, is a quick way to get rid of the backstory problem you have. Few will ask further when you introduce yourself as an Ensign in the West Tempest Guild. Plus, you’d receive my guidance, and if you one day surpassed me, you could seek further guidance from those higher in the guild. Though,” she added drily, “don’t expect me to let you pass me up. I’m still a growing sorcerer, myself, you know.”

“So what do you say?”

Well. It seemed almost like divine providence. I walk into the first tavern I see in this town and happen upon a gorgeous fellow storm sorcerer who not only wants to recruit me into her guild but also offers to give me pointers? If I weren’t sent here by a literal deity, I might suspect her of setting me up. But, with Auriel directing me here, the string of coincidences made me feel more confident in my answer, rather than less.

“Where do I sign?”

A bright smile bloomed across Keidra’s face, making my breath catch. “Fantastic!” she said, banging the counter. She quickly grabbed her glass and raised it to me. “A toast, then, to our future cooperation.”

I raised an eyebrow, “I thought you still had doubts?”

Keidra shrugged, “I’ll worry about those later. For now,” she nodded to the drink in her hand.

Smiling, I raised my own glass, clinking it with hers, before taking a hearty gulp. She then proceeded to drain her glass, before setting it down with a sigh of content.

“Now,” she said, rising from her chair, “I’ve got some things to get squared away before the night is done, so how about we plan on meeting here for breakfast tomorrow morn. I’ll have everything squared away then and ready for your induction to the guild, once you sign that contract.

“But first,” she paused her motions, eyes coming back to me, “I’ll need something to call you. Hmm. It’ll have to be a nickname of some sort, can go around calling you Johnny then have you wake up remembering your name is Paul without people asking questions. So something simple, but of obvious origin, so you don’t have to make up a backstory reason for it.”

Keidra examined me from bottom to top then, making me slightly uncomfortable from her scrutiny. Suddenly, she snapped her fingers, “I’ve got it. The marks upon your fingers. They’re obvious enough to draw attention and unique enough to merit a nickname. So how about ‘Runes’?”

Runes. I tried it out in my head, then said it aloud. “Runes. Runes. Yes, I rather like it.” I nodded.

“Fantastic!” Keidra cried again, her smile once again bright upon her face. “Well, then, I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow morning.” She then made her way out of the tavern, but not before glancing over her shoulder to quip, “Oh, and to answer your first question, you need the latter to have any chance at the former.”