The port city of Ironmound resided on the coast of the Camerian Sea. It was a trading port for the region. Iron, copper, lumber, and various crops and livestock were traded through the port. There was some nobility in the city, living in a keep that overlooked the entire port. There was a garrison of soldiers that patrolled the area with some knights. Much of the city population was made up of laborers, crafters, and merchants.

Andrew walked out onto a second floor deck of what was a small warehouse and looked out at the busy people. It was not part of a small estate where his older sister had a chandelier and curio shop. There were flower gardens, bee hives, the smell of wax and the sea. There had been a small dock that allowed smaller ships to berth and unload. The sand bottom shifted making the dock unusable but a beautiful sandy beach. Two blocks away were the main warehouses and docks.

Roselynn was heading to the warehouse to get bees wax for todays candle making. His sister did not approve of his sleeping in and late hours. She did not mind the rent he paid her for the upper floor of the warehouse. Beyond the warehouse and up the hill was the keep and the garrison for the city. Andrew tried hard to have as little to do with them as he could. Both were trouble.

From his rooms, the voice of an older man spoke, "Apprentice Andrew. You know you should go do the deliveries for Lady Roselynn this morning. It is going to storm this afternoon and ..."

Andrew turned and went back into his room. Master Thadius, former Archmage of the Chamlen Forest, a tall regal elf with a long beard and eyes that were blue and could penetrate to your very soul. This was an impressive feat since the mage was long dead. Andrew had ended up with the spell book from a game of chance. He did not realize he was getting school master, an oversearer, and a father figure. Andrew had tried to sell the book but word had gotten out. Andrew had come to like the old ghost and their relationship involved a lot of tisk, tisks on Thadius' part. Andrew's part was a lot of you can't tell me what to do. Thadius had little use for thieves, to which Andrew had become fairly skilled being average height and elven thin. He could get himself in and out of places most people could not.

Things got complicated when Andrew was able to make a small stone glow by following Thadius' instructions.
"Remember to pickup the reagents for today's lessons and blank books. They need to stay dry," Thadius said.
Thadius had gotten Andrew into reading, an expensive hobby if one paid for the books.

Down the stairs the young half-elf went with a little grumble.
"Yes, Father," Andrew shot back. The old ghost smiled.

Andrew was dressed a little better than a peasant but not to his sister's level. He had collected clothing so he could pass as a wealthy merchant down to a lowly dockworker.
Andrew had red hair that went down to his shoulders, and a red tightly trimmed beard and mustache. He had blue eyes that always had a sparle to them.