Maurinus was born in Sutica to Birinus and Mautild Arens on the 16th of The Amber Cold, 1745. His mother was often absent with her work as a courier, and so Birinus, unable to afford someone to look after Maurinus on his fishing trips, would regularly take him out to sea. The fisherman would often make games of watching the crew and passengers of passing ships at a distance.
At home, Maurinus spent much time reading foreign books that Mautild would bring home from her travels, being drawn in at first by Norlandic literature dating back to reign of King Eirik. With little in the way of Sutican literature to compare, he found himself growing increasingly fascinated by the outside world. Where many other heartlanders approaching adulthood would have spent time in combat training, Maurinus pored through book after book, learning to read many more languages than he could hope to communicate in verbally.
In these later years of youth Maurinus was old enough to look after himself, and with Birinus leaving him to his own devices, he had far more time for his reading. But he still asked to sail with his father from time to time, learning the basics of operating smaller sailboats. The games of childhood had come to an end, although Maurinus found some enjoyment in watching travellers from the roof of his parents' house, and admiring the beauty of his city's distinctive architecture.
It was at the age of 18, with the blessing of his parents, that Maurinus set out into the world, eager to see it all. First he would seek out work as a courier. Beyond that, his path was unclear, and he was eager to learn where it would take him.
