Introduce your Paladin here for all to see. Leave a backstory and images.
Andras of the Flame
this story is kinda dark & graphic so read at your own discretion
Born to a young family in a small village, Andras Domin came into a world infested by evil and it was not long before that evil ripped him from his family and changed his life forever. It came from the forest like a fog filling the people with madness or turning them into beastly creature, none could escape its embrace. The villagers attacked each other both man and beast destroying the village till it was nothing more than ash and rubble. By the time the Paladins of the Silver Flame came to cleanse the area it was thought that there would be no survivors, but under the floorboards safely tucked away was a baby Andras.
Orphaned and now under the custody of the of the Order of the Silver Flame Andras grew and learned all about what it took to become a great paladin someday. He studied day and night all about the occult and the other evils of the world in an effort to learn more about what had happened to the his parents and the other villagers that fateful night so long ago. He would eventually end up on the front lines against evil with the help of the Order and a former bard turned paladin squire named Yasuo. The two of them would become known as the Bane of Fiends and the Dispatcher of the Undead as they cut a swath though the evil that infected the land. Later at age 18 Andras would marry and have one child and all was peaceful in his life.
That peace would end 5 years later when he was called to the front lines once again. While in the field he gets word that the town where he and his family lived had been attacked. Andras along with Yasuo traveled home as fast as they could only to find it mostly destroyed. Frantically Andras searched the town killing every beast he came across till he came to his own home. The door was still closed and it seamed untouched. Andras walked in and what he found was.... The house was empty and in disarray. There was signs of a struggle as if his family was taken there was other bodies in the home as if others were people in the house hiding from the evil outside the door. Andras was distraught as he walked outside and he told Yasuo "They are gone...those demons took them, I have to find them!" Yasuo walked in to the house but he didn't see signs of a struggle nor did he see the other bodies of the other villagers Andras had described. Instead he found only one body sitting at a table set for dinner, the body was that of Andras' wife covered in blood and stomach distended, on the table.. the remains of what looked to be a small boy. The horror of the situation hit Yasuo hard as he realized what lay before him and what Andras' had said. He realized that Andras needed his help, that he needed to be set straight so that he could mourn and let go of this idea that his family was taken but by the time he got outside to speak with Andras he was gone off to find his family that he believed taken.
Andras moved forward towards the library of the Order in an effort to get information as to where the demonic creatures he believed had taken his family would have gone. He searched though many tomes but none held the information he was seeking. Till he opened a tome that spoke of the ritual to summon a demon, a powerful balor named Volac general of an abyssal army. Andras thought who better to ask where his family is than a demon of the abyss, so began the greatest mistake of Andras' life. He summoned Volac to the mortal plane, believing that if the balor refused to tell him what he wanted to know then he would simply dispatch the demon and call on another till he found what he needed. That isn't how things worked out unfortunately. Andras demanded that the balor tell him where to find his family and the balor replied "you will gain that and more if you pay the proper price" Andras spit at the idea of giving his devotion to a creature of the abyss and attacked the balor, with a small pass of his hand Volac sent Andras flying and told him, " Fool this is not battle if you want information it will cost you." Andras knew he had no choice but to give in if he had any chance of finding his family. So from that moment on Andras would be chained to the whim of the balor Volac General of the Abyss' 38th Legion.
Andras awoke weeks later smelling of sin with no memory as to where he had gone or what he had been doing under the care of the Order of the Silver Flame. He carried great regret as to what he had done in his moment of weakness. As time passed Andras learned of his new found abilities the ability to eliminate evil with the very flames that gave birth to them and as much as he wish he could, he could not hide this from the Order. Fortunately due to the fact that he was raised by the order and that he had fought many times for the order, they never thought that Andras had become a warlock, instead they were convinced that Andras' had been blessed with these powers by the Silver Flame herself, so from then on Andras would be known as Andras of the Flame. With the Order unaware of the situation Andras prepared to leave the daily life of living within the Order in order to travel the world in search of a way to find his family and a way to rid himself of the curse he placed upon himself. Little did he know what Volac knew...what Yasuo knew. He would never find his family.
Andras of the Flame 13th lvl Paladin/ 7th lvl Warlock
Wow! That is really good! My paladin has a similar backstory, his parents where also murdered and he was also taken in by a sacred order in order to be trained into a paladin. But my story is no where as good as yours.
As a Half-Elf, Darian has always been torn between two worlds. He was raised by his mother, an Elven Loremaster for the first two decades of his life, wandering the woods, learning of nature, song, and magic. Despite his love for beauty and the natural world, he found the Elves frivolous and their philosophy to be ultimately unfulfilling. Because of this, at the age of 20, he left the elves, as well as his mother and sister, to live with his father, a Human Knight sworn to Lord Gradam. Here, he learned of duty, honor, and warfare. Despite his relative lack of training, he found himself a gifted, graceful fighter, though his father disliked his melancholic attitude and vain personality.
After years of trying and failing to earn his father's respect, he became disillusioned with the human concepts of honor and duty, and left that world to wander the wilderness. It was here that Darian came across the Sacred Grotto of the Knights of Izaera, an ancient, lost order of Paladins that defend the world from evil and keep the balance between the Natural World and the realms of mortals. Here he spoke the Oath and emerged from that sacred place with greater power and a renewed purpose.
Trying this again. I tried to post this and it was marked as spam. This is Grisel, my dragonborn paladin.
Credit to ninethart
Despite the way he looks, Grisel never thought himself destined for greatness. In fact, for a very long time, Grisel thought he was destined to a lonely, mundane existence, never knowing adventure or excitement, never suffering intolerable pain or loss, living his whole life in his little fishing village. But destiny had other plans for Grisel.
Growing up, Grisel was a simple boy with simple ambitions living in a simple village. Not content to be a fisherman as his father had been, Grisel joined his friends in signing up to be part of the village guard. However, unlike some of his friends, he had no ambitions of any sort of higher station. He guarded the storehouses, mostly against drunks stumbling into them in the dead of night. He was content to live that life, knowing no great desire but for the longing of the love of the most beautiful lady in his village, Tatiyana. But such desires he felt were distant as the sun in the sky. That is, until one day, when fate struck.
Credit to pohonkartun
One day, several adventurers washed up on the shores of his village. They were taken in by the elder, who believed them to be an omen of good luck. His village had something of a tradition, which was carried out around once every year. Someone from the village was to be sacrificed to a creature from the ocean, who was a herald of the sea goddess. They had not yet chosen a sacrifice, and these adventurers had shown up just in time to be the sacrifices in question. And the village elder believed that more sacrifices would satisfy the creature so much that it would grant the village prosperity for years to come.
As luck would have it, Grisel was chosen to guard the house in which the adventurers were locked. That is where Grisel met the dwarf Wade, who tempted him with promises of gold and riches and women and adventure. But Grisel was not easily swayed. When Wade inquired as to Grisel’s desires, Grisel had only one to voice. Wade promised Grisel that women easily fell in love with the bravery of adventurers, Grisel’s heart turned a little. Not enough to free the adventurers, but enough.
On the night of the sacrifice, Grisel found out something that troubled him. The village elder had decided that the adventurers were not sufficient sacrifice for the creature, they needed to sacrifice someone from the village itself. The lottery was cast and the person chosen was Tatiyana. That was enough to move Grisel. When the night was dark and most of the village hid and huddled in their homes, waiting for the creature to leave, Grisel brought the adventurers their weapons and freed them. Wade convinced him to stay and fight, handing him a bow with which he was not at the time proficient. The adventurers fought the creature as Grisel aimed shot after shot at the creature. Most of his attacks missed, though a couple found purchase. Then, as the creature loomed and most of the adventurers were felled, Tatiyana in its sights, Grisel shot one final fumbling shot. It struck the creature in an exposed weak point at its core and destroyed it. Grisel had done it! He had killed a fearsome creature!
Credit to shinji2602
Scoring the final blow against the creature gave Grisel a great sense of confidence. Wade invited him to join the party and he did. He bade farewell to Tatiyana and joined Wade and his friends on his first adventure, to a haunted island. There, he watched and his new companions all get killed by shadow creatures which emerged as soon as they stepped onto the island. Then he sailed away to the Moonsea, where he started his journey as an adventurer, learning to wield his draconic blood for arcane power, as well as finding a place among the followers of Bahamut, doing his great works.
Not only does Grisel serve Bahamut, but in fact, he has met Bahamut on several occasions, though Grisel has yet to notice. He has been sent by Bahamut to right wrongs all across the land and even across time. Along the way, in service of Bahamut, Grisel has felled many dragon cultists, defeated many dragons, and even become a hero.
As a servant of Bahamut, Grisel is no friend to evil chromatic dragons, especially those in league with the cult of the dragon. On his adventures, Grisel has taken out many dragons in the pursuit of his ideals. Dragons such as Venomfang, a young and foul green dragon living in an old wizard’s tower. Then he and his companions fought a fully mature white dragon named Arauthator, the Old White Death, who was defeated, but managed to flee with his life. The next dragon he faced was Chuth, the Emerald Assassin, a brutal green dragon and loyal servant of the cult. As one of the witnesses to the horrifying events at Phlan when Vorgansharax laid claim to the Cinnabar Throne, Grisel and his allies set their sights on the Maimed Virulence and took him down right at the seat of his power. Not simply satisfied with taking out such a colossal and corrupting threat, whose influence spread like poison across Phlan, Grisel sought out more disruptive draconic prey. To that end, he took to Skyreach Castle, to the lair of Glazhael the Cloudchaser, and took down that great white beast. After hearing of Grisel’s reputation for dragon slaying, King Hekaton of the court of the Maelstrom requested Grisel’s help from the Lord’s Alliance, despite his shaky relationship with the organization. With the king’s help and that of some other fellow adventurers, Grisel took down the Doom of the Desert herself, Imryth the ancient blue dragon, along with her spawn, an adult blue dragon named Anaxaster. Though he did not himself deliver the final blow, his strikes were powerful enough to drive her back into her lair. If an evil chromatic dragon should hear the name “Grisel,” even in a whisper, they now know to hide.
Indeed, as when Grisel left his home, his little fishing village, he was hailed as their folk hero, Grisel felt destined to be a hero. He personally witnessed the fall of Phlan as the dragon Vorgansharax took the town over. But it wasn’t too long before Grisel had a chance to return to take down the great beast. He, along with a new team of adventurers, called Team Lightning Round, took the beast down in the beast’s own lair, a throne room littered with a hoard of treasure. Grisel had become a hero, the hero of Phlan. But more adventures await him in the future. He is not yet done. Until he feels he has earned enough renown to win the love of Tatiyana, he will not return home, even if it takes him the rest of his life.
Wera Yngvardottir is her name. Vengeance Paladin LG. My playstyle is going to be the stalwart shield maiden esque kind of style. (Spear and shield) She has a spear that's been passed down from her family for generations on her father’s side (aasimar) one day it spoke to her about the uprising of the giants and charged her with bringing balance to the realm. When she asked who speaking it was said "All in due time my child but for now tell this to your father and be off to find others to stop the giants". Her father gave her his shield and told her to make hast to find allies.
Also when she’s traveling searching for people or adventuring she always seems to have a large raven or two following her and keeping watch. She names recognizes them as Huginn and Muninn the eyes and scouts of Odin. She treats them well whenever they are around and always delights in their company. A fatal flaw of hers is she’s almost too trusting in people and always thinks people have good intentions than evil. This is something she may learn the hard way in the future. She also may have a drinking problem and loves mead and will challenge others to a friendly drink off. (She’s a lightweight but she still tries)
She loves sailing she used to do it with her father but stopped recently with the tides becoming too unwieldly (sea giants). She knows she’s an aasimar but tries to hide it and hasn’t flown yet or used her wings. People may look down on her or are scared of her and she tries to dissuade them and wants to be friends with all people. Feels honor bound by her family and the spear to stop the giants at any cost.
Here's a little blurb about my paladin from a trusted source unknown to most.
To most dry-skins, the world only exists above the waves, and only beasts with tentacles and scales come from below. I will attempt to bridge that chasm of ignorance, and tell you what I know of this being called Bruenor. To start we will have to literally dive into Bruenor's past to find out that the majority of his life (as with most Aurirn) has indeed been submerged beneath the waters of Ta'lyra.
You see long ago, when Bruenor was birthed into this plane, his life was peaceful for only a few hours. What seemed to his parents as only moments after his birth the event of what we now call “The Great Storm” was beginning. For those of you who don't catalog times' passage allow me to explain. This means that Bruenor's age is equal to that of the Great Storm. 296 years ago, Bruenor's fate was sealed before he even learned how to swim. Gastael Magmahand who was Bruenor's educator through life explained the events to Bruenor centuries ago, so my telling of this to you is by far not first hand. I am sure scholars may know more accurately the timing of the events, but I will do my best to give you the events as it was given to me, by Bruenor, from Gastael all that time ago.
As far back as known to the Aurirn the great depths have never been so illuminated. While it lasted for only a moment, the brilliant light lit everything equally from the surface to the deepest sandy floor. The Aurirn not outside of their habitats were temporally blinded, those outside were not so fortunate. The best way for me to explain it is with two words. Force-less Eradication. It is assumed that this was the fate of well over 80% of the Aurirn population throughout all of Ta'lyra, more importantly to my telling, it was the reason Bruenor had no parents when Gastael found the infant clam-shell alone out on the terrace of the shaman's home.
At the time Gastael was only 90 years of age himself, and being newly appointed to Sage Apprentice, he had no time for this child. You have to understand the chaos that was happening was not like that on the surface. One moment there was a great hierarchy and civilization, then the next there was none. The structures of Aura and surrounding settlements were all there, but the majority of the inhabitants were just...gone. Gastael checked for everyone he knew who could look after this child, but could not find anyone. Furthermore, the Sage he was to train under was also missing.
From what I have been told, Gastael did the best he could to raise Bruenor in the only way he knew how. The first few decades were the hardest of course, the darkness and the deepening didn't help either. For reasons unknown to Gastael, the sea was so dark that no matter the time you always needed a lightbox to move about. The darkness never fully went away, even when the skysun returned from behind the clouds because the seas were far deeper then they ever had been. Also there were now surface structures below the waves. Chaos indeed.
During those first few years a loose-knitted stratocracy was put in place, and from that a civil counsel was formed. Skills of all those that survived were cataloged and all Aurirn were assigned duties. Professions to those of great understanding of their skills and Apprenticeships to those who's skills were a close match. Gastael, as he saw it, was unfortunate as he had the highest amount of knowledge dealing with the history of the Aurirn. He didn't want a leader position, but his knowledge of the old books set him in his position. That knowledge being, he knew where they were kept, not how to get to them, or what was in them.
Such as it was back then however, there was little that could be done about it. He was the Grand Sage, and he was also the only adult this orphan knew. Claiming it as his own he had to give the child a name. There was no time for deep thought, so Gastael used his Father's name 'Bruenor' and added the dwarven 'ald Strum' or 'of the storm' as his lineage. Gastael however, sought to leave his post as soon as he could train a replacement, so he created the “Auririan Order” to act as the council for such matters. This allowed Gastael to relocate to the structure where the old books were kept.
It is here where Bruenor calls home, and rightfully so for he has lived within these catacombs for well over 250 years. Doing what you might ask? Well of that I cannot speak much, because I have not been told more than this: There are creatures both from land and sea that constantly attempt to gain access to the area. It has been the self given task of Gastael to keep the area 'untouchable' to outsiders. Breunor has told me that the design and traps alone are sometimes not enough to keep everything away, so they handled what remained as they saw fit.
This was until a few decades ago when Gastael succumbed to an injury sustained from one of those encounters. Since then Bruenor has guarded the catacombs alone. Of course, in that time, I would assume Gastael did figure out how to gain access to the old books, and hence, I assume Bruenor knows but he has not told me such. So be wary, I do not know the depth of his knowledge, nor what that knowledge has done to his worldly views. I just know he's generally a quiet, kind, determined Sea Dwarf that comes around once in awhile for a drink.
--- Darren Krenbolt Owner of Whitehall's Jug & Pint
Of course for those of you who reject homebrew as interesting. I'll tell you that he is such. Too late you say? Ha!
Introducing Wa'Anh Angeloak. He is an Oath of the Ancients Paladin with a Folk Hero background. Currently at 6th level.
Wa'Anh Angeloak hails from the High Forest of Faerun. His tribe, the Angeloaks, are followers of Silvanus and hold the Grandfather Tree sacred. The Angleoaks have spent generations in constant skirmishes with the local barbarian tribes as well as holding holy rituals in honor of Silvanus and the Grandfather Tree. Wa'Anh was annointed early in his life as a Tribal Shaman and began the necessary years of training. During this time, his prowess as a hunter with the long bow became evident and elevated the level of respect the Tribal Elders showed him with each passing year. A singular defining event would change his life forever. In the midst of a three day Shamanistic Ritual, Wa'Anh heard a disturbance outside of his Spirit Lodge. He emerged as the last of the warriors in the camp fell to a pack of roving Dire Wolves. Wa'Anh picked up a nearby sword and battle commenced. Against all odds and truly his tribal training, Wa'Anh killed the seven remaining Dire Wolves. The story of his battle grew with each telling as Wa'Anh spent the next month under the careful watch of the Shaman Healers. As the wounds healed it became evident that there was much more to this story. A Dire Wolves raking bite across his face had left seven puncture wounds. The seven small puncture scars left on Wa'Anh's face formed an exact replica of the Ghost Bear constellation, held holy in one form or another amongst every tribe in the High Forest, including the local Barbarians. This elevated Wa'Anh to a position of a local folk hero. It also left him questioning. Where was his true path...Shaman...Warrior? He heard a calling, and it was to much more than leading tribal battles and dancing the fervent rituals to Silvanus and Grandfather Tree. His heart was filled with joy and mirth and an urge to use his warrior skills to preserve and protect all that was good...and much further than the Angeloak Tribe. He set out on his path, a path that he hoped would lead him to take the Oath of the Ancients.
Appearance - Wa'Anh is defined most by his Angeloak Tribal Cloak. The cloak is created over years as tribal members grow. It is a patchwork of items beginning with the birth swaddling. Wa'Anh's is dominated by a Swath of Dire Wolf fur from his epic battle outside the Spirit Lodge. It also contains, weavings from family members, hides, and various other furs from many tribal hunts. In the forest it serves as a unique camouflage, in the city it is a vibrant, multi-color homage to Silvanus and the Angeloaks. His Great Sword and Chainmail both hold the unique patina due to the Angeloak infusion of copper into the sacred rituals of creating arms and armor. Wa'Anh is imposing in size with long brown hair and a full and braided beard. His holy symbol hangs around his neck, made of elk sinew and adorned with various acorns, chestnuts, claws, bits of antler, and teeth. He loves to dance, joke, and in general celebrate all that is good in this world.
Not currently playing one, but toying with a concept based on a game we played. The DM is planning a campaign 20-30 years into the future of our current game, so we were brainstorming what sort of characters we would play. She doesn't have a name yet, but does have a backstory.
Born of a scholar "rescued" from a dragon, it turns her mother had let her father be free in the world to increase his power, and fully embrace his draconic sorcerer heritage. While away, her mother gestated and bore her egg on Dragon's Tooth, home to the only Temple of Io and source of all dragons in the world. When her father was powerful enough, her mother revealed the truth of his freedom, and charged him with raising her egg in the new glorious city of Morningstar.
Living in a metropolis of dragonborn, elves, humans, dwarves and every other race under the sun, she was raised with a slightly absent father--his studies and city duties keeping him busy--and a completely absent mother. She studied at the finest of schools with the inherent knowledge that she was to be a spellcaster like her parents, and that they expected great things from such an elder dragon and one of the men who founded this magical city. And yet, it wasn't until a city parade and the display of soldiers fighting that a spark of inspiration finally struck her. Their moves were nonlethal and elegant, but she could see the power behind each blade, each fist, each shield. These fighters were of incredible prowess and power, but their control was so beautiful that she knew she wanted to be like them.
That's when a strange man came into her life, a man her father told her was his former guardian. This man had "saved" her father from her mother, had escorted him into the world, protected him, and also helped found this great city. This man told her to call him uncle, and while often away on missions, his visits always included stories of grand fights and clever strategies. Her uncle discovered her love of fighting, and taught her some of his knowledge. How to wield a shield to defend yourself, how to use it knock your enemies off balance, how to hold a sword, how to win a battle. How to control that power. How to use the skill wisely.
She wasn't a fighter or a spellcaster, but she had the tools to begin. When he left the next time, she went to the Temple of Bahamut and asked for guidance. It didn't come until she came of age. A dream told her to take a pilgrimage to the Temple of Io with a guardian. She knew her mother would be at the mountain but, as a blue dragon, was not one of Bahamut's chosen. Her father, likewise, was becoming more and more like her mother's red-scaled kin. And so, when her uncle returned, she asked him to escort her there. He was honored, and sought special dispensation to step foot upon the dragon's holy mountain. It was a quick journey, only three days, but each night brought visions that were both dreadful and wonderful and left her exhausted each and every morning. Upon entering the temple--alone, for her human uncle could be allowed on the mountain, but not into the holy site--the lone Cleric of Io offered her a sad smile, and bade her to wash in the sacred pool.
The waters burned. Her scales peeled and her stomach churned. She doesn't remember anything but pain and light and a spiritual sense of emptiness and fulfillment all at once. She awakens an eternity later--in real time a week. The Cleric is with her. She finds she's on her stomach, lying just outside the pool. She clawed her way out. There's still steam rising from her scales. Her...no, not her scales. They couldn't be. Her scales were a deep blue with a tinge of red. But these... The hand moves at her command. Her scales are...are white, but not. Shiny. Opalescent. She's only seen that color before on the mithril armor of the fey elite soldiers.
"You are a chosen of Io," the Cleric tells her.
And then he's gone, leaving her alone to try and comprehend it. She's been reborn, and doesn't know what she's meant to do. Her clothes are gone, but part of the temple's horde lies before her. Clothing and weapons and tools. There's armor, that she knows she must wear. A shield that she picks up by habit. A sword...no, a mace that she secures to her new belt. It feels right. She is a chosen of Io. Not a mere fighter or even eldtrich master like her uncle. She has a higher calling that...that she doesn't know what, not yet. But she will face that calling as a paladin.
Her mother wants to use her in political machinations. Her father can't comprehend what's happened.
Her uncle gives her the same sad smile as the cleric and tells her he's been down this road before. At least, he offers, she doesn't have to travel alone.
(It comes to pass that, in researching, Chosen of Io have a great destiny...of their choosing. One became a great healer and was the founder of all healing magics among the mortal creatures. One joined with demons and became the first Shadow Dragon. It's shaped by their identities and choices, and is always spectacular if they can survive the trials and fellow dragons. They're few and far between, but always important in some fashion, and often shaped by events in the world.
It also leads to unique Paladin of Io build that's got tidbits of all three subclasses of the Paladin build that fit thematically with the setting and her training i.e., Purity of Spirit feature with a Channel Divinity of Vow of Enmity feature).
Cade grew up in Berdusk with his two younger brothers, Andor and Braylon. His mother was claimed by sickness when he was still a boy, which left his father, the sheriff of Berdusk to raise them by himself.
Cade knew from a young age he wanted to be a Paladin, particularly after he watched a Paladin from Elturel dispatch an orc in the fields near his home. From that moment forward, he dedicated his life to training to be a Paladin.
When he was 13 years old, he was sent to Elturel for the martial side of his Paladin training. Having a sheriff for a father means you grow up knowing how to fight, and Cade excelled at fighting. At age 18 he was sent to Tantras to finish the spiritual side of his training. It was there that things took a very unexpected turn.
Primed and ready to recite the Oath of Devotion, Cade received terrible news. His youngest brother, Braylon, had been killed in combat. His other brother, Andor, had also been dispatched to the same battlefront.
On his Oath Day, he prepared to step forward into the light and speak the words of Devotion. But when he stepped forward, the light did not shine down on him. He could not remember the words to the Oath. At that same moment, the doors to the temple were thrown open, and in strode a man wearing battle worn armor bearing the crest of Torm. No man dared stop him or his two companions, even when he pointed a finger at Cade and said in a deep, gravel voice, "We choose him."
Even High Cleric Barriltar Bhandraddon could do nothing to stop this. This was an ancient law, written by Torm himself. When the OathSworn come to claim an initiate, they cannot be denied.
Cade left with these silent, stoic men. They told him of his destiny. They told him he would avenge his younger brother, and fight side by side with his other brother against a seemingly unending army of goblins and orcs.
They told him this as the sat him in the Judgment Chair, his back against the base of the statue of Torm.
And then, after they asked him if he was ready, they shoved a spear through his heart.
Cade died and went to heaven, and when he arrived there, he met an Angel named Arcturion. In Cade, Arcturion found a kindred spirit. He bound with Cade's soul, forever linking the two, and thrusting Cade back to life. Cade passed the Trial of the OathSworn.
Because Cade passed the trial, he was given his divine spell focus: an indestructible gauntlet forged from Adamantine, Mithril, and Boonstone. While the metal was still white hot, it was fused to his right arm, unable to be removed and forever linking him to Torm.
Cade was now ready. His real training could at last begin.
Bretthew was called to become a Paladin while accompanying his merchant father's caravans' as a youth. His easy smile and boyish charm made him a favorite of the merchants in the caravans. He learned sword play from the caravan guards, and grew to love the life on the road visiting new towns and lands. His father, however, getting older decided to put down roots in a town with his mother. Bretthew and his siblings took to helping their parents set up shop and they prospered. After a time two travelling paladins came to town. Bretthew sought them out for news of far away land and adventures. The paladins were struck by Bretthew's charisma and experiences and they invited him to train with their order.
Train he did. Soon he was ready for his first action with the order - rooting out an evil warlock from his tower. The warlock was slain, but with unintended consequences. As the group was sweeping the tower in search of dangerous items, Bretthew came across a trembling young girl - the warlock's daughter. Bretthew explained that her father had been sent to the light and the girl demanded that she also be sent to the light so she could be with him. Bretthew explained that her father had taken a long and painful path to the light, but that he could show her a less dangerous path. He arranged for her to be taken to a convent to be introduced to the path of the light.
Bretthew often found himself wondering about the child, and eventually took a sabbatical from his order and became a carpenter at the convent so he could be near the girl. He shaved his head and grew a beard and the girl gave no appearance of recognizing him. Bretthew was pleased that the sisters reported that the girl was an excellent and devoted student. As she grew she also became interested in the way of the paladin and sought training.
Then one fateful day in the 10th year of the girl's study at the convent the unthinkable happened. She approached Bretthew after weapons practice in the yard. She invited him to practice with her. Bretthew was surprised. He had not carried a weapon since arriving at the convent and was known to her only as a carpenter. The girl, now 17, challenged him, told him she know who he was, and repeated her request to be sent to the light like her father. Bretthew refused to fight her, but she had another card to play. "If you will not give me what I want, then I will send all my 'sisters' to the ever loving light." Then Bretthew knew he had to fight, but 10 years of idleness betrayed him and he was bloodied close to death. At this his opponent smirked and coolly said "I will leave you with the same pain I have had since the day my father died. You will live with the knowledge that you are powerless to help the weak and innocent. This is just the beginning." She turned away from him, and the last thing Bretthew heard before losing consciousness was screaming within the convent... Bretthew, upon recovering from his injuries, devoted himself again to the order, knowing he had to find the power to stop this girl from her destructive ways.
Rhogar Kimbaatul, a Red Dragonborn Paladin of Vengeance. Our campaign takes place 20 years after the end of the Rise of Tiamat campaign, and pretty much everything dragon related is considered evil and is hunted down. Supposedly, the dragons were all killed out* (and yes, this includes the metal ones). Facing tensions outside their borders, many dragonborn tribes have been getting conquered by a devout Tiamat worshipper named Balasar Dardendrian. Only the Kimbaatul had the strength to resist the Dardendrians (as nondragonborns have no interest in helping out anything draconic at this point), and this was mainly because their mountain fortresses were hard to lay siege to. One weakness of the Kimbaatul, however, was their dependence on farmlands which were harder to defend, some of which were inhabited by other races which paid annual tribute to the Kimbaatul. During one battle, Rhogar, then a soldier, witnessed a Dardendrian general butcher a group of halflings who had surrendered. Enraged, Rhogar broke ranks and blindly charged the general, at one point using his breath weapon to disfigure the general's face. The general responded by beating Rhogar to within inches of his life. Rhogar was only saved because his troops forced the Dardendrian army to retreat. Shortly thereafter, the Kimbaatul signed a nonaggression treaty with the Dardendrians; the Kimbaatul were unable to continue the conflict, and as Balasar sought conflict with human/elven nations, he was in no position to weaken himself. Rhogar, still seething with rage towards Balasar and the general, swore an oath of vengeance, in contradiction of his lord's policies and accepted banishment from his clan.
I worked with the DM to create my character, needless to say.
Drusilia was born to a noble family in the town of Silverymoon. As the youngest child she was given over into service for the gods as thanks for her family's good blessings. At a very young age her beauty attracted the priestess of Sune and Hanali Celanil. It was there she learned to nurture and care for the beautiful things of the world. Because of her desire to protect what is beautiful she learned to use a weapon. She chose the whip not because of its ability to harm, but for its ability to stop fights. Drusilia first and foremost was raised to be a priestess of Hanali Celanil, and Sune, though she is not a cleric. She grew up learning the rituals and rites and is prepared to bless lovers young and old. Now at the age of 100 Drusilia has started down the path of a paladin. She looks forward to when she can swear her oath and becomes a full paladin. She has recently left the temple and set out to do the bidding of her goddess, Hanali Celanil. She will attempt to spread love and joy wherever she goes despite her surroundings. Drusilia carries the tools of a priestess of Hanali Celanil. She makes sure to have scented candles, perfume and incense so she can always smell of beautiful things. She also carries an alms box where she collects alms for the poor. Whenever she comes into a new town she distributes what she collected based on needs, blankets food shelter for a few nights ect. She is currently on the road to Daggerford, continuing her trials to become a paladin. Drusilia's hobbies are praying, dancing, singing (badly) and practicing with her whip. Flaw: Drusilia is entirely too trusting. If someone professes faith in Sune or Hanali Celanil she is likely to trust them competely
Turiel was left on the doorstep of a church as a baby, his parents were unwilling to raise him due to his demonic appearance (he is the first of his family to be a tiefling, the pact resulting in his appearance was a recent thing). The villagers wanted to abandon him in the forest but the priest sent them away and decided to raise him in the church.
Facing hate and distrust his whole life, he learnt how to defend himself in a fight, but being raised by the priest he did not blame people for their hate.
His goal in life is to atone for the evil pact that resulted in him being a Tiefling and to find a "cure" for this curse (as he sees it). This redemption cannot come from any mortal means, his God must grant it.
Until he is redeemed, he has vowed never to father a child, this taint will end with him, one way or another.
Koz Bey, Order of the Medjai, Human Paladin, 5th level, Oath of Vengeance
Based upon's everyone favorite character in The Mummy, Ardeth Bay. Mad props to Oded Fehr who protrays him - he is awesome and to this day if he turns up in something I wills top to watch it. When I started him, little did I know that the Medjai are actually a real part of history which made this an even interesting concept to play. In my interpretation, the Medjai is the martial arm of a a large religious organization. They are problem solvers for this organization and often go on missions. The analogy in my mind is the function of a detachment of Marines assigned to a carrier. They are the fighters and report to the ship's captain but otherwise are independent. Koz was assigned to a far foreign land to serve the local temple for the religion. The later would go on to be murdered (of course) and thus he took an oath of vengeance and has become in charge of the site until a new religious leader is dispatched from the home land.
Nasir Alqanun is my Oath of the crown Aarakocra Paladin. He grew up in the streets of a big desert city and hated the chaos that ruled there. So he vowed to become a knight of order. He started training with weapons and praying to Maat, the goddess of law. His weapon of choice is a whip, because he is very weak and can't use most melee weapons efficiently. He acts as a kind of vigilante, though he prefers to be called "Independent City Guard". Despite his past, he loves his city and would die defending it.
My paladin originally hailed from Amn and his town was beset by Calimshan mercenaries, his mother and father killed in the insurgency, and ran to the mountains. He met many orcs and half orcs (speaking their language), eventually meeting a spouse half-orc guerrilla fighter. Again, skirmishes forced them out of the area and up to Waterdeep to find their fortune.
In Waterdeep, he found despair joining a mercenary company that failed miserably while his wife sought and gained success in a different troupe. They split apart, divorced, and the paladin left, penniless, to Neverwinter. He began his journey at Level 1 in the Starter Set and just recently raised enough experience to go to Level 3. He wears an elaborately-designed tunic and cape with an outrageous hat -- similar in style to the Renaissance-era Musketeers. He is often better suited for battle-dress duty compared to actual combat and has only led a few successful attacks into battle. He has rolled more than his fair share of 1s, but his party usually picks up the slack. He tends to fearlessly charge and fall flat on his face. His enemies still fear him even though he has never landed a single smite. They have surrendered on numerous occasions, and he has spared their lives in order to jail them for their crimes.
He's a non-AL Human-variant Mercenary Veteran 14/12/14/11/15/16 Str/Dex/Con/Int/Wis/Cha from Level 1 (Inspiring Leader) to Level 3 for Oath of Crown. I intend to give him the Observant Feat at Level 4 and switch to Arcana Cleric at Level 5. He has Athletics, Insight, Medicine, Perception, Persuasion, and a +1 Longsword (plus usual starting equipment).
For now, he's a Paladin on a mission (find Summit Hall and be knighted by the Order of Samular). Right now, my Paladin's only feat is Inspiring Leader. However, when he hits Level 4, he can take another Feat: I intend to open his eyes to the world around him with Observant. This opens his eyes so much that he multiclasses to Cleric at Level 5. He will choose the Cleric's Arcana Domain -- taking the Green-Flame Blade and Sword Burst cantrips. Where might he be when he gains these new powers?
It wouldn't be difficult to use this build in Adventurer's League. For example, using the standard array, he could be 13/10/12/8/15/16 (and then +1 WIS at L4 from Observant and +2 WIS at L8 as an ASI).
Vengeance Paladin Named Daeros. Noble background. This is th background we wrote up. The writing may not be great but the basic story took us up to the beginning of the campaign
The boys moved quietly through the woods. Daeros, tall, blond, and bronzed by the summer sun, lead the way.His body moving with a predatory grace. Scrambling to stay a pace behind him came a dark-haired, wiry boy dressed in clothes better suited for a dinner party than their current game of capture the flag.
The thinner boy suddenly stopped, his slender fingers reaching out to grasp a handful of his companion’s shirt. The lead boy held fast, a grimace of frustration crossing his face.
“What is it now, Medrigar? Another squirrel in our path?” he chided in a whisper.
Medrigar pointed up ahead. The green banner they sought shifted lazily on the wind as it clung to a branch in a clearing to their right.
“Yes, I know. We are ‘flan-king’ the position.” Daeros split the word as if he were instructing a young child. You must have read about ‘flan-king’ in one of your old books.”
“On the ground. Below it.”
Daeros strained to see the pieces of orange peel scattered in the grass below the banner.
Medrigar shifted his position to look behind him, his lean figure fit into the shadows of the branches around him, “Theris mentioned having an orange this morning…”
Daeros remembered his southern cousin bragging about how neither the Dragonspires or Arkendals would likely see such a delicacy in their lands, while his family, the Pruhirsts, had an orchard of them.
Medrigar continued, “but he is on our team. If he has been here, why did he not take the banner?”
The apple sailed through the air striking Daeros squarely in the back as he reached for the banner.
“You are defeated, Sir Knight!” Dalina cheered, holding a second apple at the ready, a broad smile on her face.
Daeros laughed. Even with his back turned It was easy to imagine the look of pride on his face.. Supportive of his sister, he was always pleased when she did well, even against him.
“When you let Theris join my team, you must have known you’d lose.”
Puzzled, Daeros turned just in time to see his older cousin, Theris, emerge from the wood behind Dalina, a self-confident smirk on his face.
“Once again, a Dragonspire has been outmaneuvered, by a Pruhirst.”
“Outmaneuvered? You cheated!”
“Please, it is a child’s game. It is a wonder your lovely sister will even play with you. She is surely too mature a lady for such infantile pursuits.”
Medrigar sensed trouble, and moved quietly out from the shade of the trees.
“Ah look! The Arkendal has finally arrived. Looking for the scraps of battle as a little crow should! I’m surprised...”
“Theris, please…” Dalina interrupted, placing her hand on his forearm.
...but there was no time for diplomacy as Daeros’ fist hammered into Theris’ face…
“...but Father, he cheated! If it was a battlefield, he would be a traitor!”
“ENOUGH!” Markan’s tone was clear. His voice went from a roar to a cold calm, “It is not a battlefield. It was a game. You will apologize.”
Daeros stood in the main hall of the castle, a room used by his father to settle matters of his people. Many disputes had been resolved here.
Medrigar and Dalina stood off to the side, they had spoken their piece, but it was obvious that Markan was disappointed in his son’s behavior regardless of the surrounding circumstances.
Theris and his father Lord Wehn Pruhirst stood side by side not far away. Wehn’s pudgy fingers stroked his red-gray goatee as though he were grooming a prize stallion. His face wore a sour look. He spoke.
“Your boy has both a temper and a lack of manners, Markan. Perhaps he should come south with me. I can apprentice him to my smith, Bathrik. I’m sure we can teach him how the nobility is intended to behave, or at least teach him a useful skill.”
Theris huffed in amusement.
Daeros’ face flushed a deep red.
######
Through the small gap between the door and wall, Medrgiar could see Markan slumped in his seat. Head sunk into his hand, brow heavy and lined. Markan lifted his face to stare at the starlight streaming through the window. Medrigar slipped away thinking on how his own father would have reacted if it had been Medrgiar who threw the first punch.
“He probably would be throwing me a party.” he whispered to himself as he headed down the corridor.
“How many times has he told me, ‘The actions we take have consequences.’ What are Theris’ consequences? Has father not told us both that the Pruhirsts are untrustworthy? ‘Watch what you say around them.’ he told me.”
Medrigar could hear Daeros ranting as he approached his friends’ room. He knew he would be speaking to Dalina.
“Why does he tolerate them when he knows how they are? He would never let me behave as they do. Yet he makes me apologize! Someone has to teach them a lesson.”
Medrigar knocked carefully on the door, then entered the room. Dalina indicated a chair to her right.
#######
Along the east coast of the Dragon Reach between Tantars to the south and Calaunt to the north was the land holding of the Dragonspire family, a proud family dating back generations. The patriarch, Markan, was a warrior who flew the Dragonspire banner, a dragon over a spear on a field of black, gold, and red with pride. His wife Polyaina came from distant southern lands. The eldest son, Markan II, and twins Daeros and Dalina made up the rest of the family. While Markan II was learning to become the next ruler, and Dalina was becoming a stateswoman bargaining for peace, Daeros turned his pursuits to the art of combat and war and was slowly becoming a Paladin of Torm like his father before him.
To the east, ever shrouded lingering mist from the nearby wetlands, crept the lands and stronghold of the Arkendal family. Valtor Arkendal, rival of Markan Dragonspire was constantly plotting revenge over the rejected proposal of marriage of Dalina to his son, Markan II.
“Concentrate, Daeros. Your faith in Torm is the source of true strength.” says Markan. “Direct the power of that faith towards the sword in your hand. If you’re intentions are pure, Torm will strengthen both your sword and spirit with what you will need to defend our people.”
Sweat dripping, brow bent in concentration, Daeros focused on the sword. For a moment, it began glowing with a white inner light. Daeros’ eyes snapped open. The faint glow of the sword vanishes at the same instant.
“Father!” Daeros exclaims, excitement in his bright eyes. “I… something… I felt something...” the excitement passes as realization and frustration cloud’s the young man’s features, “...but I lost my focus, didn’t I?”
“Do not fret son. True strength comes from faith,” says Markan, “You will learn to build this faith to it’s full potential with practice… and trust.”
#######
The hour was late as the horse stumbled before the gates of Dragonspire Keep, throwing its rider to the ground. The guard’s crossbows stood ready as Medrigar rose from the ground, and dusted himself off. A sense of urgency and fear was apparent to the guards even in the flickering shadows of the torchlight.
“I must speak to Lord Dragonspire.” was all he said.
“What is this you say? What has your father done?!” barked Markan, “I must know, lives might be at stake!”
Medrigar hesitated before answering “I have uncovered a terrible truth about my father. I believe he has entered into a pact to bring about your downfall. He and Wehn Pruhirst have a gathered a host of mercenaries and humanoids which they plan to lead upon you to bring apart your downfall.”
“How could he have done this? His jealousy knows no bounds, and the Pruhirsts?... Do he not realize the ramifications of bringing war to the people of this land?... I must think on a plan of action. Guards! Take Medrigar to the guest room. See that he stays there.”
##########
While walking with Daline he tells the story of a mysterious being who has been slowly corrupting his family for the past several years and turning them truly evil. What he discovered horrified him! His father’s soul has been slowly eaten away from some evil corruption of the being and he had planned a war against the Dragonspire family.
“My whole life I have done my best to live to to my father’s ideals. I think some of those have come from his failed dealings with your father. But there are a few lessons I will always keep with me,” he explains. "Information is power and an enemy at your back is an invitation to disaster." After a few thoughtful moments he continues, “I think those are more true about life and lessons I always keep in mind.”
“Recently though,” he continues “I have started noticing some odd behavior from my father. Strange meeting in the heart of the night, things like that. Then one night I saw him heading out into the deep woods alone. I decided to follow to see what was going on. He went into a clearing and there're was speaking with a dark shape with an inhuman look. After a few minutes of whispered conversation the shape saw me. I used some quick magic to hide myself and started making my way back towards the castle. That is when the dark wolf shapes burst from the trees in pursuit.
He tells of how he slipped away in the night and traveled here to Dragonspire castle to warn them of what was to come truly worrying about what might happen to not only his family but the Dragonspires as well.
On the eve of the 3rd day there, Medrigar hears what he had been dreading. The horns of the army blew out a warning to the castle of its impending doom. Outside the walls was a mighty army led by the mighty orc warrior, Kulfang. He was a brute of an orc with pale green skin covered in scars from his many victories. A scar runs down the length of his face, turning one eye useless, a small price he paid to defeat his foe. A mighty war axe strapped to his back, he bellows out the order to charge.
This army had been given to the Arkendal family to be used to destroy Markan and rule the territory. This army, filled with all manner of goblins, orcs and other creatures even more vile slowly blackens the terrain and it pours forward like a wave of death over the castle.
Though the family and their warriors fought with honor and bravery they were no match for the numbers of beasts that surrounded them. The castle was soon doomed to fall.
During the fighting young Daeros races into the throne room to see his father in combat with Kulfang. It soon becomes apparent the orc will overcome the might of Torm’s follower and Markan falls to the axe. Daeros watches in stunned silence and the orc Kulfang grabs the family’s mighty longsword, “Burner” and summons forth the magical fires that live within it. Grinning with a feral ferocity he bellows out a roar of victory.
As Daeros is about to charge in and fight Kulfang to get his revenge his sister Dalina chances by looking for help.
“Daeros, there you are.” says Dalina. “The fires are consuming the castle and Medrigar is trapped in his room.” Glancing in the room, she sees her father at the feet of the orc and a gasp escapes her lips as she turn pale.
Dalina grabs Daeros’s arm as he is about to charge in holding him back. “Come with me, he needs your help. Please,” she pleads, “I cannot lose you as well. Do not become the thing you and father have fought against all of your lives. A fellow human needs your help.”
Daeros shakes his head as if to clear his thoughts. “You are right.” he says, defeat in his voice. “I must help save as many others as I can from the slaughter that has befallen us. Quick, lead me to him and I will see what I can do.”
At that they race through the castle to help the young mage escape from his room. Soon they arrive and see the two guards lying dead in front of the door. Grabbing the keys Daeros unlocks the door the throws open the door to release Medrigar from the prison.
5 years later…
The murky sky couldn’t have made its intentions more clear. Bleak and cold, the rain began to fall on the two figures. One tall, muscled, and armored carrying a longsword and shield. The other a slight figure dressed in simple, dark clothes, a heavy cloak, and holding a quarterstaff.
The castle and the surrounding farms in the distance were little more than overgrown ruins. The cemetery behind the castle had an entire corner dedicated to the unworn headstones of those that died 5 years ago. A raven perched atop one of the new stones preened itself and then fluttered off to sit inside a piece of broken castle wall out of the rain.
“Why did I come back here?” the armored figure broke the silence as he looked away from the raven.
“There is a darkness here. You would have been drawn to it, even had I not summoned you.”
“Summoned me? Choose your words carefully, mageling. It was your family that did this, but you have no power over me.”
“I am sorry for what happened.”
For a moment no one spoke as the bitter wind spun the brown leaves in the corners of the ruins, and scattered others around the grounds.
“I know… and I know you have been here... hiding, watching, researching I’m sure you would say. Why do you stay?”
“There is a darkness here… I am drawn to it also.”
“I was away from it. I was leagues away when Jasod got your message.”
“Your body was away…”
“I WAS 200 LEAGUES FROM THIS GODS FORSAKEN PLACE!”
“Did your childhood leave? Did your soul? Did your time as a sellsword occupy your mind enough to make you forget?”
The armored man’s sword was in his hand in an instant. Despite the explosiveness of the act, the dark haired man didn’t flinch from the blade pointed at his heart.
“You have grown stronger in my time away.”
The wind tossed the leaves again, They whorled for a second around the feet of the two figures.
“I had to. This time I stayed while you ran away.”
The two men locked eyes. For a moment words were simply unequal to the task of all that had passed between them.
The sword point moved steadily to the dark man’s shoulder, pushing back his cloak to reveal the silver raven pin concealed beneath.
“Why did you call me here, Arkendal?” Daeros said, he spat the name like a mouthful of venom.
“There is a darkness here…” Medrigar replied.
5 years ago - Dragonspire house and the surrounding grounds are attacked by Knarr Orcs lead by the Orc Warlord Kulfang. Mercenary humans (bandits and barbarians) are also amongst the attackers. Medrigar arrives too late to warn the Dragonspires that his father Valtor Arkendal is behind the attack, and that Medrgiar believes that Valtor is in consort with some dark power.
The Dragonspire forces fight hard, with Daeros in charge of a flanking force. Daeros’s father sends for him in the battle and tells him he must get his sister, Dalina, to safety. He hands Daeros a broken sword hilt, and tells him he must keep it hidden and safe. Daeros reluctantly agrees, and with Medrgiar’s help, Daeros, Dalina, Medrgiar, and Daeros’s retinue escape to the city.
Daeros and Medrigar return at their first chance to find Dragonspire collapsed and in flames. There is no sign of his father or mother. Daeros wants nothing more than to kill Valtor, but knows that to attack House Arkendal is suicide. He swears vengeance on Valtor.
4 years ago - Daeros sets up Dalina with a noble family to the west, and sets out to make his way in the world, to learn to fight and lead men so that he can come back for Valtor.
3 years ago - Daeros and Medrigar reunite to go on a series of adventures. They gain some true combat experience that Daeros desperately needs to become more than a mere grunt as a mercenary. During the adventures, Medrigar realizes that his being around Daeros is a constant reminder of what he has lost. The two part company.
2 years ago - Daeros becomes part of a mercenary group called the Golden Blades. His combat experience begins to win him promotions, and he starts to move through the ranks. He takes dangerous missions, and leads his men through them successfully. His ability to tend to the wounded in his company is a huge boon.
6 months ago - Daeros gets a message from Medrigar asking him to return to Gerenhold. The wizard says that he has infiltrated his father’s company, and that his father is planning even blacker deeds than the fall of Dragonspire. Daeros leaves the Golden Blades. His desire to have vengeance is too great.
2 weeks ago - Daeros arrived in Gerenhold, and met covertly with Medrigar. As usual, the wizard only had bits and pieces of information. He asked that Daeros lay low, and wait for a message, so that the two of them could strike at an opportune time. Daeros began to have a feeling that Medrigar might have been turned.
1 day ago - Medrigar sent a message via a raven to Daeros’ inn room at the Ivory Stallion. (Despite being asked to lay low, Daeros was not about to hide. He chose a classy inn in the Merchant quarter. “Let Valtor know I am here. Let him come.”) The message said that Medrigar would meet Daeros outside the city walls at dusk. Medrigar never showed.
Today - Daeros gets another raven late in the evening (He considers snapping its neck, but doesn’t.) It is now afternoon, and Daeros sits in the Ivory Stallion mulling over the message.
The script is hastily written in Medrgiar’s precise script, but nonetheless it is carefully worded,
“The blankets here are so thin, but I cannot leave yet. My scribe has run off. Find him. The words he might write would be bane enough for to two houses. Break his quill for me when you find him.”
OOC: You can read that as you will. Daeros knows that “the scribe” must mean Ard. Medrigar’s mentor. (Whom Medrgiar told you before that he felt Ard was a sinister person.)
Also, if any of this comes up, you know it:
The Knarr - a wild region, hills and forests, to the north of Gerenhold. The forest is said to be home to Orc and barbarian tribes, and worse. You have never been there except to hunt stag when the Pruhirsts visited one summer.
The Green Maiden is said to be a nature spirit that lives between Gerenhold and the Knarr. Stories about her range from a helpful sprite, to a force of nature. She has supposedly helped people when lost by leaving clues back, but has also tormented loggers and hunters. When you were a child, you know that the farmers used to leave small tokens to her to ask for a good harvest.
The Order of Stonefist is the law enforcement/town guard/militia of the city of Gerenhold. Their headquarters is the Stonekeep outside of town. You are known to Guard Captain Brice who is the leader of the town guard wing of the Order of Stonefist.. He is a good fellow who you grew up with. You can trust him.
“The Sheath” is a large tower outside of town. The Twin Blades run “the Sheath.” The Twin Blades employ many unsavory characters, but they are useful in information gathering, spying, etc for the city. Now that you have been a mercenary, you have a lot more respect for these types of individuals. The Outriders (rangers/scouts) are also employed through this building.
The Magister’s Council is the ruling body of the city. The Magister’s Council is made up of influential people from a variety of facets of Gerenhold. They make the laws, levy the taxes, etc. Your father was the Magister of Agriculture at one time, and a member of the council. You have no idea who is on the council now, as the membership changes regularly so that no one can wield power too long.
5 years ago - Dragonspire house and the surrounding grounds are attacked by Knarr Orcs lead by the Orc Warlord Kulfang. Mercenary humans (bandits and barbarians) are also amongst the attackers. Medrigar arrives too late to warn the Dragonspires that his father Valtor Arkendal is behind the attack, and that Medrgiar believes that Valtor is in consort with some dark power.
The Dragonspire forces fight hard, with Daeros in charge of a flanking force. Daeros’s father sends for him in the battle and tells him he must get his sister, Dalina, to safety. He hands Daeros a broken sword hilt, and tells him he must keep it hidden and safe. Daeros reluctantly agrees, and with Medrgiar’s help, Daeros, Dalina, Medrgiar, and Daeros’s retinue escape to the city.
Daeros and Medrigar return at their first chance to find Dragonspire collapsed and in flames. There is no sign of his father or mother. Daeros wants nothing more than to kill Valtor, but knows that to attack House Arkendal is suicide. He swears vengeance on Valtor.
4 years ago - Daeros sets up Dalina with a noble family to the west, and sets out to make his way in the world, to learn to fight and lead men so that he can come back for Valtor.
3 years ago - Daeros and Medrigar reunite to go on a series of adventures. They gain some true combat experience that Daeros desperately needs to become more than a mere grunt as a mercenary. During the adventures, Medrigar realizes that his being around Daeros is a constant reminder of what he has lost. The two part company.
2 years ago - Daeros becomes part of a mercenary group called the Golden Blades. His combat experience begins to win him promotions, and he starts to move through the ranks. He takes dangerous missions, and leads his men through them successfully. His ability to tend to the wounded in his company is a huge boon.
6 months ago - Daeros gets a message from Medrigar asking him to return to Gerenhold. The wizard says that he has infiltrated his father’s company, and that his father is planning even blacker deeds than the fall of Dragonspire. Daeros leaves the Golden Blades. His desire to have vengeance is too great.
2 weeks ago - Daeros arrived in Gerenhold, and met covertly with Medrigar. As usual, the wizard only had bits and pieces of information. He asked that Daeros lay low, and wait for a message, so that the two of them could strike at an opportune time. Daeros began to have a feeling that Medrigar might have been turned.
1 day ago - Medrigar sent a message via a raven to Daeros’ inn room at the Ivory Stallion. (Despite being asked to lay low, Daeros was not about to hide. He chose a classy inn in the Merchant quarter. “Let Valtor know I am here. Let him come.”) The message said that Medrigar would meet Daeros outside the city walls at dusk. Medrigar never showed.
Today - Daeros gets another raven late in the evening (He considers snapping its neck, but doesn’t.) It is now afternoon, and Daeros sits in the Ivory Stallion mulling over the message.
The script is hastily written in Medrgiar’s precise script, but nonetheless it is carefully worded,
“The blankets here are so thin, but I cannot leave yet. My scribe has run off. Find him. The words he might write would be bane enough for to two houses. Break his quill for me when you find him.”
From here we are nearing the end of things. I have broken our campaign world by releasing the god of gods in my quest to find Valtor. Hopefully I can redeem him after this is done.
Chaotic Good Celestial Patron Warlock/Paladin Half Elf Noble Background
Grew up in the life of expectations and requirements, but plagued by a free spirit. In his studies of ancient lore, he uncovered old tomes detailing great heroes who had made a pact with powerful beings of the upper planes in return for great power. He then spent years until he was 21 to uncover the secrets of creating this pact, and when he did, he faked his death(in a laboratory experiment that was blamed on my PCs bastard half brother who would later become a tinkering gunslinger and my best friend/adventuring companion) and took up the life of an adventurer. A few years later he was called to more and more paladinesque deeds to soon find out the pact he had made required him to take up the life of a paladin. Torn between the freedom he craved and the power he had, he reluctantly became took up the life he had unwittingly signed up for and reluctantly completed the ideals of his order becoming a force against evil whilst being encouraged along by the archon who tricked me into taking up this role.
Basically a reluctant paladin who got bored with a simple life. Thinking of a chaotic good patron who serves a lawful good deity that kinda just watches over and pushes me back towards the straight and narrow path. Not really sure how great combat will be but i assume i can play the role of a tanky healer/support that has decent smites that can be used often. Not exactly familiar with the celestial hierarchy so if anyone could explain that id appreciate it.
P.S. appologize for any grammer errors as this was written at 1 am lol
Introduce your Paladin here for all to see. Leave a backstory and images.
Andras of the Flame
this story is kinda dark & graphic so read at your own discretion
Born to a young family in a small village, Andras Domin came into a world infested by evil and it was not long before that evil ripped him from his family and changed his life forever. It came from the forest like a fog filling the people with madness or turning them into beastly creature, none could escape its embrace. The villagers attacked each other both man and beast destroying the village till it was nothing more than ash and rubble. By the time the Paladins of the Silver Flame came to cleanse the area it was thought that there would be no survivors, but under the floorboards safely tucked away was a baby Andras.
Orphaned and now under the custody of the of the Order of the Silver Flame Andras grew and learned all about what it took to become a great paladin someday. He studied day and night all about the occult and the other evils of the world in an effort to learn more about what had happened to the his parents and the other villagers that fateful night so long ago. He would eventually end up on the front lines against evil with the help of the Order and a former bard turned paladin squire named Yasuo. The two of them would become known as the Bane of Fiends and the Dispatcher of the Undead as they cut a swath though the evil that infected the land. Later at age 18 Andras would marry and have one child and all was peaceful in his life.
That peace would end 5 years later when he was called to the front lines once again. While in the field he gets word that the town where he and his family lived had been attacked. Andras along with Yasuo traveled home as fast as they could only to find it mostly destroyed. Frantically Andras searched the town killing every beast he came across till he came to his own home. The door was still closed and it seamed untouched. Andras walked in and what he found was.... The house was empty and in disarray. There was signs of a struggle as if his family was taken there was other bodies in the home as if others were people in the house hiding from the evil outside the door. Andras was distraught as he walked outside and he told Yasuo "They are gone...those demons took them, I have to find them!" Yasuo walked in to the house but he didn't see signs of a struggle nor did he see the other bodies of the other villagers Andras had described. Instead he found only one body sitting at a table set for dinner, the body was that of Andras' wife covered in blood and stomach distended, on the table.. the remains of what looked to be a small boy. The horror of the situation hit Yasuo hard as he realized what lay before him and what Andras' had said. He realized that Andras needed his help, that he needed to be set straight so that he could mourn and let go of this idea that his family was taken but by the time he got outside to speak with Andras he was gone off to find his family that he believed taken.
Andras moved forward towards the library of the Order in an effort to get information as to where the demonic creatures he believed had taken his family would have gone. He searched though many tomes but none held the information he was seeking. Till he opened a tome that spoke of the ritual to summon a demon, a powerful balor named Volac general of an abyssal army. Andras thought who better to ask where his family is than a demon of the abyss, so began the greatest mistake of Andras' life. He summoned Volac to the mortal plane, believing that if the balor refused to tell him what he wanted to know then he would simply dispatch the demon and call on another till he found what he needed. That isn't how things worked out unfortunately. Andras demanded that the balor tell him where to find his family and the balor replied "you will gain that and more if you pay the proper price" Andras spit at the idea of giving his devotion to a creature of the abyss and attacked the balor, with a small pass of his hand Volac sent Andras flying and told him, " Fool this is not battle if you want information it will cost you." Andras knew he had no choice but to give in if he had any chance of finding his family. So from that moment on Andras would be chained to the whim of the balor Volac General of the Abyss' 38th Legion.
Andras awoke weeks later smelling of sin with no memory as to where he had gone or what he had been doing under the care of the Order of the Silver Flame. He carried great regret as to what he had done in his moment of weakness. As time passed Andras learned of his new found abilities the ability to eliminate evil with the very flames that gave birth to them and as much as he wish he could, he could not hide this from the Order. Fortunately due to the fact that he was raised by the order and that he had fought many times for the order, they never thought that Andras had become a warlock, instead they were convinced that Andras' had been blessed with these powers by the Silver Flame herself, so from then on Andras would be known as Andras of the Flame. With the Order unaware of the situation Andras prepared to leave the daily life of living within the Order in order to travel the world in search of a way to find his family and a way to rid himself of the curse he placed upon himself. Little did he know what Volac knew...what Yasuo knew. He would never find his family.
Andras of the Flame 13th lvl Paladin/ 7th lvl Warlock
Wow! That is really good! My paladin has a similar backstory, his parents where also murdered and he was also taken in by a sacred order in order to be trained into a paladin. But my story is no where as good as yours.
As a Half-Elf, Darian has always been torn between two worlds. He was raised by his mother, an Elven Loremaster for the first two decades of his life, wandering the woods, learning of nature, song, and magic. Despite his love for beauty and the natural world, he found the Elves frivolous and their philosophy to be ultimately unfulfilling. Because of this, at the age of 20, he left the elves, as well as his mother and sister, to live with his father, a Human Knight sworn to Lord Gradam. Here, he learned of duty, honor, and warfare. Despite his relative lack of training, he found himself a gifted, graceful fighter, though his father disliked his melancholic attitude and vain personality.
After years of trying and failing to earn his father's respect, he became disillusioned with the human concepts of honor and duty, and left that world to wander the wilderness. It was here that Darian came across the Sacred Grotto of the Knights of Izaera, an ancient, lost order of Paladins that defend the world from evil and keep the balance between the Natural World and the realms of mortals. Here he spoke the Oath and emerged from that sacred place with greater power and a renewed purpose.
Darian Grenn - Oath of Ancients Paladin lvl 3 / Bard lvl 1
This is still a fairly new character so I don't have much for him yet. No images, etc.
Trying this again. I tried to post this and it was marked as spam. This is Grisel, my dragonborn paladin.
Credit to ninethart
Despite the way he looks, Grisel never thought himself destined for greatness. In fact, for a very long time, Grisel thought he was destined to a lonely, mundane existence, never knowing adventure or excitement, never suffering intolerable pain or loss, living his whole life in his little fishing village. But destiny had other plans for Grisel.
Growing up, Grisel was a simple boy with simple ambitions living in a simple village. Not content to be a fisherman as his father had been, Grisel joined his friends in signing up to be part of the village guard. However, unlike some of his friends, he had no ambitions of any sort of higher station. He guarded the storehouses, mostly against drunks stumbling into them in the dead of night. He was content to live that life, knowing no great desire but for the longing of the love of the most beautiful lady in his village, Tatiyana. But such desires he felt were distant as the sun in the sky. That is, until one day, when fate struck.
Credit to pohonkartun
One day, several adventurers washed up on the shores of his village. They were taken in by the elder, who believed them to be an omen of good luck. His village had something of a tradition, which was carried out around once every year. Someone from the village was to be sacrificed to a creature from the ocean, who was a herald of the sea goddess. They had not yet chosen a sacrifice, and these adventurers had shown up just in time to be the sacrifices in question. And the village elder believed that more sacrifices would satisfy the creature so much that it would grant the village prosperity for years to come.
As luck would have it, Grisel was chosen to guard the house in which the adventurers were locked. That is where Grisel met the dwarf Wade, who tempted him with promises of gold and riches and women and adventure. But Grisel was not easily swayed. When Wade inquired as to Grisel’s desires, Grisel had only one to voice. Wade promised Grisel that women easily fell in love with the bravery of adventurers, Grisel’s heart turned a little. Not enough to free the adventurers, but enough.
On the night of the sacrifice, Grisel found out something that troubled him. The village elder had decided that the adventurers were not sufficient sacrifice for the creature, they needed to sacrifice someone from the village itself. The lottery was cast and the person chosen was Tatiyana. That was enough to move Grisel. When the night was dark and most of the village hid and huddled in their homes, waiting for the creature to leave, Grisel brought the adventurers their weapons and freed them. Wade convinced him to stay and fight, handing him a bow with which he was not at the time proficient. The adventurers fought the creature as Grisel aimed shot after shot at the creature. Most of his attacks missed, though a couple found purchase. Then, as the creature loomed and most of the adventurers were felled, Tatiyana in its sights, Grisel shot one final fumbling shot. It struck the creature in an exposed weak point at its core and destroyed it. Grisel had done it! He had killed a fearsome creature!
Credit to shinji2602
Scoring the final blow against the creature gave Grisel a great sense of confidence. Wade invited him to join the party and he did. He bade farewell to Tatiyana and joined Wade and his friends on his first adventure, to a haunted island. There, he watched and his new companions all get killed by shadow creatures which emerged as soon as they stepped onto the island. Then he sailed away to the Moonsea, where he started his journey as an adventurer, learning to wield his draconic blood for arcane power, as well as finding a place among the followers of Bahamut, doing his great works.
Not only does Grisel serve Bahamut, but in fact, he has met Bahamut on several occasions, though Grisel has yet to notice. He has been sent by Bahamut to right wrongs all across the land and even across time. Along the way, in service of Bahamut, Grisel has felled many dragon cultists, defeated many dragons, and even become a hero.
As a servant of Bahamut, Grisel is no friend to evil chromatic dragons, especially those in league with the cult of the dragon. On his adventures, Grisel has taken out many dragons in the pursuit of his ideals. Dragons such as Venomfang, a young and foul green dragon living in an old wizard’s tower. Then he and his companions fought a fully mature white dragon named Arauthator, the Old White Death, who was defeated, but managed to flee with his life. The next dragon he faced was Chuth, the Emerald Assassin, a brutal green dragon and loyal servant of the cult. As one of the witnesses to the horrifying events at Phlan when Vorgansharax laid claim to the Cinnabar Throne, Grisel and his allies set their sights on the Maimed Virulence and took him down right at the seat of his power. Not simply satisfied with taking out such a colossal and corrupting threat, whose influence spread like poison across Phlan, Grisel sought out more disruptive draconic prey. To that end, he took to Skyreach Castle, to the lair of Glazhael the Cloudchaser, and took down that great white beast. After hearing of Grisel’s reputation for dragon slaying, King Hekaton of the court of the Maelstrom requested Grisel’s help from the Lord’s Alliance, despite his shaky relationship with the organization. With the king’s help and that of some other fellow adventurers, Grisel took down the Doom of the Desert herself, Imryth the ancient blue dragon, along with her spawn, an adult blue dragon named Anaxaster. Though he did not himself deliver the final blow, his strikes were powerful enough to drive her back into her lair. If an evil chromatic dragon should hear the name “Grisel,” even in a whisper, they now know to hide.
Indeed, as when Grisel left his home, his little fishing village, he was hailed as their folk hero, Grisel felt destined to be a hero. He personally witnessed the fall of Phlan as the dragon Vorgansharax took the town over. But it wasn’t too long before Grisel had a chance to return to take down the great beast. He, along with a new team of adventurers, called Team Lightning Round, took the beast down in the beast’s own lair, a throne room littered with a hoard of treasure. Grisel had become a hero, the hero of Phlan. But more adventures await him in the future. He is not yet done. Until he feels he has earned enough renown to win the love of Tatiyana, he will not return home, even if it takes him the rest of his life.
Wera Yngvardottir is her name. Vengeance Paladin LG. My playstyle is going to be the stalwart shield maiden esque kind of style. (Spear and shield) She has a spear that's been passed down from her family for generations on her father’s side (aasimar) one day it spoke to her about the uprising of the giants and charged her with bringing balance to the realm. When she asked who speaking it was said "All in due time my child but for now tell this to your father and be off to find others to stop the giants". Her father gave her his shield and told her to make hast to find allies.
Here's a little blurb about my paladin from a trusted source unknown to most.
To most dry-skins, the world only exists above the waves, and only beasts with tentacles and scales come from below. I will attempt to bridge that chasm of ignorance, and tell you what I know of this being called Bruenor. To start we will have to literally dive into Bruenor's past to find out that the majority of his life (as with most Aurirn) has indeed been submerged beneath the waters of Ta'lyra.
You see long ago, when Bruenor was birthed into this plane, his life was peaceful for only a few hours. What seemed to his parents as only moments after his birth the event of what we now call “The Great Storm” was beginning. For those of you who don't catalog times' passage allow me to explain. This means that Bruenor's age is equal to that of the Great Storm. 296 years ago, Bruenor's fate was sealed before he even learned how to swim. Gastael Magmahand who was Bruenor's educator through life explained the events to Bruenor centuries ago, so my telling of this to you is by far not first hand. I am sure scholars may know more accurately the timing of the events, but I will do my best to give you the events as it was given to me, by Bruenor, from Gastael all that time ago.
As far back as known to the Aurirn the great depths have never been so illuminated. While it lasted for only a moment, the brilliant light lit everything equally from the surface to the deepest sandy floor. The Aurirn not outside of their habitats were temporally blinded, those outside were not so fortunate. The best way for me to explain it is with two words. Force-less Eradication. It is assumed that this was the fate of well over 80% of the Aurirn population throughout all of Ta'lyra, more importantly to my telling, it was the reason Bruenor had no parents when Gastael found the infant clam-shell alone out on the terrace of the shaman's home.
At the time Gastael was only 90 years of age himself, and being newly appointed to Sage Apprentice, he had no time for this child. You have to understand the chaos that was happening was not like that on the surface. One moment there was a great hierarchy and civilization, then the next there was none. The structures of Aura and surrounding settlements were all there, but the majority of the inhabitants were just...gone. Gastael checked for everyone he knew who could look after this child, but could not find anyone. Furthermore, the Sage he was to train under was also missing.
From what I have been told, Gastael did the best he could to raise Bruenor in the only way he knew how. The first few decades were the hardest of course, the darkness and the deepening didn't help either. For reasons unknown to Gastael, the sea was so dark that no matter the time you always needed a lightbox to move about. The darkness never fully went away, even when the skysun returned from behind the clouds because the seas were far deeper then they ever had been. Also there were now surface structures below the waves. Chaos indeed.
During those first few years a loose-knitted stratocracy was put in place, and from that a civil counsel was formed. Skills of all those that survived were cataloged and all Aurirn were assigned duties. Professions to those of great understanding of their skills and Apprenticeships to those who's skills were a close match. Gastael, as he saw it, was unfortunate as he had the highest amount of knowledge dealing with the history of the Aurirn. He didn't want a leader position, but his knowledge of the old books set him in his position. That knowledge being, he knew where they were kept, not how to get to them, or what was in them.
Such as it was back then however, there was little that could be done about it. He was the Grand Sage, and he was also the only adult this orphan knew. Claiming it as his own he had to give the child a name. There was no time for deep thought, so Gastael used his Father's name 'Bruenor' and added the dwarven 'ald Strum' or 'of the storm' as his lineage. Gastael however, sought to leave his post as soon as he could train a replacement, so he created the “Auririan Order” to act as the council for such matters. This allowed Gastael to relocate to the structure where the old books were kept.
It is here where Bruenor calls home, and rightfully so for he has lived within these catacombs for well over 250 years. Doing what you might ask? Well of that I cannot speak much, because I have not been told more than this: There are creatures both from land and sea that constantly attempt to gain access to the area. It has been the self given task of Gastael to keep the area 'untouchable' to outsiders. Breunor has told me that the design and traps alone are sometimes not enough to keep everything away, so they handled what remained as they saw fit.
This was until a few decades ago when Gastael succumbed to an injury sustained from one of those encounters. Since then Bruenor has guarded the catacombs alone. Of course, in that time, I would assume Gastael did figure out how to gain access to the old books, and hence, I assume Bruenor knows but he has not told me such. So be wary, I do not know the depth of his knowledge, nor what that knowledge has done to his worldly views. I just know he's generally a quiet, kind, determined Sea Dwarf that comes around once in awhile for a drink.
--- Darren Krenbolt
Owner of Whitehall's Jug & Pint
Of course for those of you who reject homebrew as interesting. I'll tell you that he is such. Too late you say? Ha!
Introducing Wa'Anh Angeloak. He is an Oath of the Ancients Paladin with a Folk Hero background. Currently at 6th level.
Wa'Anh Angeloak hails from the High Forest of Faerun. His tribe, the Angeloaks, are followers of Silvanus and hold the Grandfather Tree sacred. The Angleoaks have spent generations in constant skirmishes with the local barbarian tribes as well as holding holy rituals in honor of Silvanus and the Grandfather Tree. Wa'Anh was annointed early in his life as a Tribal Shaman and began the necessary years of training. During this time, his prowess as a hunter with the long bow became evident and elevated the level of respect the Tribal Elders showed him with each passing year. A singular defining event would change his life forever. In the midst of a three day Shamanistic Ritual, Wa'Anh heard a disturbance outside of his Spirit Lodge. He emerged as the last of the warriors in the camp fell to a pack of roving Dire Wolves. Wa'Anh picked up a nearby sword and battle commenced. Against all odds and truly his tribal training, Wa'Anh killed the seven remaining Dire Wolves. The story of his battle grew with each telling as Wa'Anh spent the next month under the careful watch of the Shaman Healers. As the wounds healed it became evident that there was much more to this story. A Dire Wolves raking bite across his face had left seven puncture wounds. The seven small puncture scars left on Wa'Anh's face formed an exact replica of the Ghost Bear constellation, held holy in one form or another amongst every tribe in the High Forest, including the local Barbarians. This elevated Wa'Anh to a position of a local folk hero. It also left him questioning. Where was his true path...Shaman...Warrior? He heard a calling, and it was to much more than leading tribal battles and dancing the fervent rituals to Silvanus and Grandfather Tree. His heart was filled with joy and mirth and an urge to use his warrior skills to preserve and protect all that was good...and much further than the Angeloak Tribe. He set out on his path, a path that he hoped would lead him to take the Oath of the Ancients.
Appearance - Wa'Anh is defined most by his Angeloak Tribal Cloak. The cloak is created over years as tribal members grow. It is a patchwork of items beginning with the birth swaddling. Wa'Anh's is dominated by a Swath of Dire Wolf fur from his epic battle outside the Spirit Lodge. It also contains, weavings from family members, hides, and various other furs from many tribal hunts. In the forest it serves as a unique camouflage, in the city it is a vibrant, multi-color homage to Silvanus and the Angeloaks. His Great Sword and Chainmail both hold the unique patina due to the Angeloak infusion of copper into the sacred rituals of creating arms and armor. Wa'Anh is imposing in size with long brown hair and a full and braided beard. His holy symbol hangs around his neck, made of elk sinew and adorned with various acorns, chestnuts, claws, bits of antler, and teeth. He loves to dance, joke, and in general celebrate all that is good in this world.
Not currently playing one, but toying with a concept based on a game we played. The DM is planning a campaign 20-30 years into the future of our current game, so we were brainstorming what sort of characters we would play. She doesn't have a name yet, but does have a backstory.
Born of a scholar "rescued" from a dragon, it turns her mother had let her father be free in the world to increase his power, and fully embrace his draconic sorcerer heritage. While away, her mother gestated and bore her egg on Dragon's Tooth, home to the only Temple of Io and source of all dragons in the world. When her father was powerful enough, her mother revealed the truth of his freedom, and charged him with raising her egg in the new glorious city of Morningstar.
Living in a metropolis of dragonborn, elves, humans, dwarves and every other race under the sun, she was raised with a slightly absent father--his studies and city duties keeping him busy--and a completely absent mother. She studied at the finest of schools with the inherent knowledge that she was to be a spellcaster like her parents, and that they expected great things from such an elder dragon and one of the men who founded this magical city. And yet, it wasn't until a city parade and the display of soldiers fighting that a spark of inspiration finally struck her. Their moves were nonlethal and elegant, but she could see the power behind each blade, each fist, each shield. These fighters were of incredible prowess and power, but their control was so beautiful that she knew she wanted to be like them.
That's when a strange man came into her life, a man her father told her was his former guardian. This man had "saved" her father from her mother, had escorted him into the world, protected him, and also helped found this great city. This man told her to call him uncle, and while often away on missions, his visits always included stories of grand fights and clever strategies. Her uncle discovered her love of fighting, and taught her some of his knowledge. How to wield a shield to defend yourself, how to use it knock your enemies off balance, how to hold a sword, how to win a battle. How to control that power. How to use the skill wisely.
She wasn't a fighter or a spellcaster, but she had the tools to begin. When he left the next time, she went to the Temple of Bahamut and asked for guidance. It didn't come until she came of age. A dream told her to take a pilgrimage to the Temple of Io with a guardian. She knew her mother would be at the mountain but, as a blue dragon, was not one of Bahamut's chosen. Her father, likewise, was becoming more and more like her mother's red-scaled kin. And so, when her uncle returned, she asked him to escort her there. He was honored, and sought special dispensation to step foot upon the dragon's holy mountain. It was a quick journey, only three days, but each night brought visions that were both dreadful and wonderful and left her exhausted each and every morning. Upon entering the temple--alone, for her human uncle could be allowed on the mountain, but not into the holy site--the lone Cleric of Io offered her a sad smile, and bade her to wash in the sacred pool.
The waters burned. Her scales peeled and her stomach churned. She doesn't remember anything but pain and light and a spiritual sense of emptiness and fulfillment all at once. She awakens an eternity later--in real time a week. The Cleric is with her. She finds she's on her stomach, lying just outside the pool. She clawed her way out. There's still steam rising from her scales. Her...no, not her scales. They couldn't be. Her scales were a deep blue with a tinge of red. But these... The hand moves at her command. Her scales are...are white, but not. Shiny. Opalescent. She's only seen that color before on the mithril armor of the fey elite soldiers.
"You are a chosen of Io," the Cleric tells her.
And then he's gone, leaving her alone to try and comprehend it. She's been reborn, and doesn't know what she's meant to do. Her clothes are gone, but part of the temple's horde lies before her. Clothing and weapons and tools. There's armor, that she knows she must wear. A shield that she picks up by habit. A sword...no, a mace that she secures to her new belt. It feels right. She is a chosen of Io. Not a mere fighter or even eldtrich master like her uncle. She has a higher calling that...that she doesn't know what, not yet. But she will face that calling as a paladin.
Her mother wants to use her in political machinations. Her father can't comprehend what's happened.
Her uncle gives her the same sad smile as the cleric and tells her he's been down this road before. At least, he offers, she doesn't have to travel alone.
(It comes to pass that, in researching, Chosen of Io have a great destiny...of their choosing. One became a great healer and was the founder of all healing magics among the mortal creatures. One joined with demons and became the first Shadow Dragon. It's shaped by their identities and choices, and is always spectacular if they can survive the trials and fellow dragons. They're few and far between, but always important in some fashion, and often shaped by events in the world.
It also leads to unique Paladin of Io build that's got tidbits of all three subclasses of the Paladin build that fit thematically with the setting and her training i.e., Purity of Spirit feature with a Channel Divinity of Vow of Enmity feature).
Cade Vangar
Oath of Vengeance Paladin of Torm
Cade grew up in Berdusk with his two younger brothers, Andor and Braylon. His mother was claimed by sickness when he was still a boy, which left his father, the sheriff of Berdusk to raise them by himself.
Cade knew from a young age he wanted to be a Paladin, particularly after he watched a Paladin from Elturel dispatch an orc in the fields near his home. From that moment forward, he dedicated his life to training to be a Paladin.
When he was 13 years old, he was sent to Elturel for the martial side of his Paladin training. Having a sheriff for a father means you grow up knowing how to fight, and Cade excelled at fighting. At age 18 he was sent to Tantras to finish the spiritual side of his training. It was there that things took a very unexpected turn.
Primed and ready to recite the Oath of Devotion, Cade received terrible news. His youngest brother, Braylon, had been killed in combat. His other brother, Andor, had also been dispatched to the same battlefront.
On his Oath Day, he prepared to step forward into the light and speak the words of Devotion. But when he stepped forward, the light did not shine down on him. He could not remember the words to the Oath. At that same moment, the doors to the temple were thrown open, and in strode a man wearing battle worn armor bearing the crest of Torm. No man dared stop him or his two companions, even when he pointed a finger at Cade and said in a deep, gravel voice, "We choose him."
Even High Cleric Barriltar Bhandraddon could do nothing to stop this. This was an ancient law, written by Torm himself. When the OathSworn come to claim an initiate, they cannot be denied.
Cade left with these silent, stoic men. They told him of his destiny. They told him he would avenge his younger brother, and fight side by side with his other brother against a seemingly unending army of goblins and orcs.
They told him this as the sat him in the Judgment Chair, his back against the base of the statue of Torm.
And then, after they asked him if he was ready, they shoved a spear through his heart.
Cade died and went to heaven, and when he arrived there, he met an Angel named Arcturion. In Cade, Arcturion found a kindred spirit. He bound with Cade's soul, forever linking the two, and thrusting Cade back to life. Cade passed the Trial of the OathSworn.
Because Cade passed the trial, he was given his divine spell focus: an indestructible gauntlet forged from Adamantine, Mithril, and Boonstone. While the metal was still white hot, it was fused to his right arm, unable to be removed and forever linking him to Torm.
Cade was now ready. His real training could at last begin.
Bretthew, Oath of Devotion Paladin
Just some ideas - not very polished yet.
Bretthew was called to become a Paladin while accompanying his merchant father's caravans' as a youth. His easy smile and boyish charm made him a favorite of the merchants in the caravans. He learned sword play from the caravan guards, and grew to love the life on the road visiting new towns and lands. His father, however, getting older decided to put down roots in a town with his mother. Bretthew and his siblings took to helping their parents set up shop and they prospered. After a time two travelling paladins came to town. Bretthew sought them out for news of far away land and adventures. The paladins were struck by Bretthew's charisma and experiences and they invited him to train with their order.
Train he did. Soon he was ready for his first action with the order - rooting out an evil warlock from his tower. The warlock was slain, but with unintended consequences. As the group was sweeping the tower in search of dangerous items, Bretthew came across a trembling young girl - the warlock's daughter. Bretthew explained that her father had been sent to the light and the girl demanded that she also be sent to the light so she could be with him. Bretthew explained that her father had taken a long and painful path to the light, but that he could show her a less dangerous path. He arranged for her to be taken to a convent to be introduced to the path of the light.
Bretthew often found himself wondering about the child, and eventually took a sabbatical from his order and became a carpenter at the convent so he could be near the girl. He shaved his head and grew a beard and the girl gave no appearance of recognizing him. Bretthew was pleased that the sisters reported that the girl was an excellent and devoted student. As she grew she also became interested in the way of the paladin and sought training.
Then one fateful day in the 10th year of the girl's study at the convent the unthinkable happened. She approached Bretthew after weapons practice in the yard. She invited him to practice with her. Bretthew was surprised. He had not carried a weapon since arriving at the convent and was known to her only as a carpenter. The girl, now 17, challenged him, told him she know who he was, and repeated her request to be sent to the light like her father. Bretthew refused to fight her, but she had another card to play. "If you will not give me what I want, then I will send all my 'sisters' to the ever loving light." Then Bretthew knew he had to fight, but 10 years of idleness betrayed him and he was bloodied close to death. At this his opponent smirked and coolly said "I will leave you with the same pain I have had since the day my father died. You will live with the knowledge that you are powerless to help the weak and innocent. This is just the beginning." She turned away from him, and the last thing Bretthew heard before losing consciousness was screaming within the convent... Bretthew, upon recovering from his injuries, devoted himself again to the order, knowing he had to find the power to stop this girl from her destructive ways.
Rhogar Kimbaatul, a Red Dragonborn Paladin of Vengeance. Our campaign takes place 20 years after the end of the Rise of Tiamat campaign, and pretty much everything dragon related is considered evil and is hunted down. Supposedly, the dragons were all killed out* (and yes, this includes the metal ones). Facing tensions outside their borders, many dragonborn tribes have been getting conquered by a devout Tiamat worshipper named Balasar Dardendrian. Only the Kimbaatul had the strength to resist the Dardendrians (as nondragonborns have no interest in helping out anything draconic at this point), and this was mainly because their mountain fortresses were hard to lay siege to. One weakness of the Kimbaatul, however, was their dependence on farmlands which were harder to defend, some of which were inhabited by other races which paid annual tribute to the Kimbaatul. During one battle, Rhogar, then a soldier, witnessed a Dardendrian general butcher a group of halflings who had surrendered. Enraged, Rhogar broke ranks and blindly charged the general, at one point using his breath weapon to disfigure the general's face. The general responded by beating Rhogar to within inches of his life. Rhogar was only saved because his troops forced the Dardendrian army to retreat. Shortly thereafter, the Kimbaatul signed a nonaggression treaty with the Dardendrians; the Kimbaatul were unable to continue the conflict, and as Balasar sought conflict with human/elven nations, he was in no position to weaken himself. Rhogar, still seething with rage towards Balasar and the general, swore an oath of vengeance, in contradiction of his lord's policies and accepted banishment from his clan.
I worked with the DM to create my character, needless to say.
Drusilia Liadon,
Drusilia was born to a noble family in the town of Silverymoon. As the youngest child she was given over into service for the gods as thanks for her family's good blessings. At a very young age her beauty attracted the priestess of Sune and Hanali Celanil. It was there she learned to nurture and care for the beautiful things of the world. Because of her desire to protect what is beautiful she learned to use a weapon. She chose the whip not because of its ability to harm, but for its ability to stop fights. Drusilia first and foremost was raised to be a priestess of Hanali Celanil, and Sune, though she is not a cleric. She grew up learning the rituals and rites and is prepared to bless lovers young and old.
Now at the age of 100 Drusilia has started down the path of a paladin. She looks forward to when she can swear her oath and becomes a full paladin. She has recently left the temple and set out to do the bidding of her goddess, Hanali Celanil. She will attempt to spread love and joy wherever she goes despite her surroundings. Drusilia carries the tools of a priestess of Hanali Celanil. She makes sure to have scented candles, perfume and incense so she can always smell of beautiful things. She also carries an alms box where she collects alms for the poor. Whenever she comes into a new town she distributes what she collected based on needs, blankets food shelter for a few nights ect. She is currently on the road to Daggerford, continuing her trials to become a paladin.
Drusilia's hobbies are praying, dancing, singing (badly) and practicing with her whip.
Flaw: Drusilia is entirely too trusting. If someone professes faith in Sune or Hanali Celanil she is likely to trust them competely
Turiel Navor, Tiefling Paladin.
Oath of Devotion
Turiel was left on the doorstep of a church as a baby, his parents were unwilling to raise him due to his demonic appearance (he is the first of his family to be a tiefling, the pact resulting in his appearance was a recent thing). The villagers wanted to abandon him in the forest but the priest sent them away and decided to raise him in the church.
Facing hate and distrust his whole life, he learnt how to defend himself in a fight, but being raised by the priest he did not blame people for their hate.
His goal in life is to atone for the evil pact that resulted in him being a Tiefling and to find a "cure" for this curse (as he sees it). This redemption cannot come from any mortal means, his God must grant it.
Until he is redeemed, he has vowed never to father a child, this taint will end with him, one way or another.
Koz Bey, Order of the Medjai, Human Paladin, 5th level, Oath of Vengeance
Based upon's everyone favorite character in The Mummy, Ardeth Bay. Mad props to Oded Fehr who protrays him - he is awesome and to this day if he turns up in something I wills top to watch it. When I started him, little did I know that the Medjai are actually a real part of history which made this an even interesting concept to play. In my interpretation, the Medjai is the martial arm of a a large religious organization. They are problem solvers for this organization and often go on missions. The analogy in my mind is the function of a detachment of Marines assigned to a carrier. They are the fighters and report to the ship's captain but otherwise are independent. Koz was assigned to a far foreign land to serve the local temple for the religion. The later would go on to be murdered (of course) and thus he took an oath of vengeance and has become in charge of the site until a new religious leader is dispatched from the home land.
Nasir Alqanun is my Oath of the crown Aarakocra Paladin. He grew up in the streets of a big desert city and hated the chaos that ruled there. So he vowed to become a knight of order. He started training with weapons and praying to Maat, the goddess of law. His weapon of choice is a whip, because he is very weak and can't use most melee weapons efficiently. He acts as a kind of vigilante, though he prefers to be called "Independent City Guard". Despite his past, he loves his city and would die defending it.
My paladin originally hailed from Amn and his town was beset by Calimshan mercenaries, his mother and father killed in the insurgency, and ran to the mountains. He met many orcs and half orcs (speaking their language), eventually meeting a spouse half-orc guerrilla fighter. Again, skirmishes forced them out of the area and up to Waterdeep to find their fortune.
In Waterdeep, he found despair joining a mercenary company that failed miserably while his wife sought and gained success in a different troupe. They split apart, divorced, and the paladin left, penniless, to Neverwinter. He began his journey at Level 1 in the Starter Set and just recently raised enough experience to go to Level 3. He wears an elaborately-designed tunic and cape with an outrageous hat -- similar in style to the Renaissance-era Musketeers. He is often better suited for battle-dress duty compared to actual combat and has only led a few successful attacks into battle. He has rolled more than his fair share of 1s, but his party usually picks up the slack. He tends to fearlessly charge and fall flat on his face. His enemies still fear him even though he has never landed a single smite. They have surrendered on numerous occasions, and he has spared their lives in order to jail them for their crimes.
He's a non-AL Human-variant Mercenary Veteran 14/12/14/11/15/16 Str/Dex/Con/Int/Wis/Cha from Level 1 (Inspiring Leader) to Level 3 for Oath of Crown. I intend to give him the Observant Feat at Level 4 and switch to Arcana Cleric at Level 5. He has Athletics, Insight, Medicine, Perception, Persuasion, and a +1 Longsword (plus usual starting equipment).
For now, he's a Paladin on a mission (find Summit Hall and be knighted by the Order of Samular). Right now, my Paladin's only feat is Inspiring Leader. However, when he hits Level 4, he can take another Feat: I intend to open his eyes to the world around him with Observant. This opens his eyes so much that he multiclasses to Cleric at Level 5. He will choose the Cleric's Arcana Domain -- taking the Green-Flame Blade and Sword Burst cantrips. Where might he be when he gains these new powers?
It wouldn't be difficult to use this build in Adventurer's League. For example, using the standard array, he could be 13/10/12/8/15/16 (and then +1 WIS at L4 from Observant and +2 WIS at L8 as an ASI).
Vengeance Paladin Named Daeros. Noble background. This is th background we wrote up. The writing may not be great but the basic story took us up to the beginning of the campaign
The boys moved quietly through the woods. Daeros, tall, blond, and bronzed by the summer sun, lead the way.His body moving with a predatory grace. Scrambling to stay a pace behind him came a dark-haired, wiry boy dressed in clothes better suited for a dinner party than their current game of capture the flag.
The thinner boy suddenly stopped, his slender fingers reaching out to grasp a handful of his companion’s shirt. The lead boy held fast, a grimace of frustration crossing his face.
“What is it now, Medrigar? Another squirrel in our path?” he chided in a whisper.
Medrigar pointed up ahead. The green banner they sought shifted lazily on the wind as it clung to a branch in a clearing to their right.
“Yes, I know. We are ‘flan-king’ the position.” Daeros split the word as if he were instructing a young child. You must have read about ‘flan-king’ in one of your old books.”
“On the ground. Below it.”
Daeros strained to see the pieces of orange peel scattered in the grass below the banner.
Medrigar shifted his position to look behind him, his lean figure fit into the shadows of the branches around him, “Theris mentioned having an orange this morning…”
Daeros remembered his southern cousin bragging about how neither the Dragonspires or Arkendals would likely see such a delicacy in their lands, while his family, the Pruhirsts, had an orchard of them.
Medrigar continued, “but he is on our team. If he has been here, why did he not take the banner?”
The apple sailed through the air striking Daeros squarely in the back as he reached for the banner.
“You are defeated, Sir Knight!” Dalina cheered, holding a second apple at the ready, a broad smile on her face.
Daeros laughed. Even with his back turned It was easy to imagine the look of pride on his face.. Supportive of his sister, he was always pleased when she did well, even against him.
“When you let Theris join my team, you must have known you’d lose.”
Puzzled, Daeros turned just in time to see his older cousin, Theris, emerge from the wood behind Dalina, a self-confident smirk on his face.
“Once again, a Dragonspire has been outmaneuvered, by a Pruhirst.”
“Outmaneuvered? You cheated!”
“Please, it is a child’s game. It is a wonder your lovely sister will even play with you. She is surely too mature a lady for such infantile pursuits.”
Medrigar sensed trouble, and moved quietly out from the shade of the trees.
“Ah look! The Arkendal has finally arrived. Looking for the scraps of battle as a little crow should! I’m surprised...”
“Theris, please…” Dalina interrupted, placing her hand on his forearm.
...but there was no time for diplomacy as Daeros’ fist hammered into Theris’ face…
“...but Father, he cheated! If it was a battlefield, he would be a traitor!”
“ENOUGH!” Markan’s tone was clear. His voice went from a roar to a cold calm, “It is not a battlefield. It was a game. You will apologize.”
Daeros stood in the main hall of the castle, a room used by his father to settle matters of his people. Many disputes had been resolved here.
Medrigar and Dalina stood off to the side, they had spoken their piece, but it was obvious that Markan was disappointed in his son’s behavior regardless of the surrounding circumstances.
Theris and his father Lord Wehn Pruhirst stood side by side not far away. Wehn’s pudgy fingers stroked his red-gray goatee as though he were grooming a prize stallion. His face wore a sour look. He spoke.
“Your boy has both a temper and a lack of manners, Markan. Perhaps he should come south with me. I can apprentice him to my smith, Bathrik. I’m sure we can teach him how the nobility is intended to behave, or at least teach him a useful skill.”
Theris huffed in amusement.
Daeros’ face flushed a deep red.
######
Through the small gap between the door and wall, Medrgiar could see Markan slumped in his seat. Head sunk into his hand, brow heavy and lined. Markan lifted his face to stare at the starlight streaming through the window. Medrigar slipped away thinking on how his own father would have reacted if it had been Medrgiar who threw the first punch.
“He probably would be throwing me a party.” he whispered to himself as he headed down the corridor.
“How many times has he told me, ‘The actions we take have consequences.’ What are Theris’ consequences? Has father not told us both that the Pruhirsts are untrustworthy? ‘Watch what you say around them.’ he told me.”
Medrigar could hear Daeros ranting as he approached his friends’ room. He knew he would be speaking to Dalina.
“Why does he tolerate them when he knows how they are? He would never let me behave as they do. Yet he makes me apologize! Someone has to teach them a lesson.”
Medrigar knocked carefully on the door, then entered the room. Dalina indicated a chair to her right.
#######
Along the east coast of the Dragon Reach between Tantars to the south and Calaunt to the north was the land holding of the Dragonspire family, a proud family dating back generations. The patriarch, Markan, was a warrior who flew the Dragonspire banner, a dragon over a spear on a field of black, gold, and red with pride. His wife Polyaina came from distant southern lands. The eldest son, Markan II, and twins Daeros and Dalina made up the rest of the family. While Markan II was learning to become the next ruler, and Dalina was becoming a stateswoman bargaining for peace, Daeros turned his pursuits to the art of combat and war and was slowly becoming a Paladin of Torm like his father before him.
To the east, ever shrouded lingering mist from the nearby wetlands, crept the lands and stronghold of the Arkendal family. Valtor Arkendal, rival of Markan Dragonspire was constantly plotting revenge over the rejected proposal of marriage of Dalina to his son, Markan II.
“Concentrate, Daeros. Your faith in Torm is the source of true strength.” says Markan. “Direct the power of that faith towards the sword in your hand. If you’re intentions are pure, Torm will strengthen both your sword and spirit with what you will need to defend our people.”
Sweat dripping, brow bent in concentration, Daeros focused on the sword. For a moment, it began glowing with a white inner light. Daeros’ eyes snapped open. The faint glow of the sword vanishes at the same instant.
“Father!” Daeros exclaims, excitement in his bright eyes. “I… something… I felt something...” the excitement passes as realization and frustration cloud’s the young man’s features, “...but I lost my focus, didn’t I?”
“Do not fret son. True strength comes from faith,” says Markan, “You will learn to build this faith to it’s full potential with practice… and trust.”
#######
The hour was late as the horse stumbled before the gates of Dragonspire Keep, throwing its rider to the ground. The guard’s crossbows stood ready as Medrigar rose from the ground, and dusted himself off. A sense of urgency and fear was apparent to the guards even in the flickering shadows of the torchlight.
“I must speak to Lord Dragonspire.” was all he said.
“What is this you say? What has your father done?!” barked Markan, “I must know, lives might be at stake!”
Medrigar hesitated before answering “I have uncovered a terrible truth about my father. I believe he has entered into a pact to bring about your downfall. He and Wehn Pruhirst have a gathered a host of mercenaries and humanoids which they plan to lead upon you to bring apart your downfall.”
“How could he have done this? His jealousy knows no bounds, and the Pruhirsts?... Do he not realize the ramifications of bringing war to the people of this land?... I must think on a plan of action. Guards! Take Medrigar to the guest room. See that he stays there.”
##########
While walking with Daline he tells the story of a mysterious being who has been slowly corrupting his family for the past several years and turning them truly evil. What he discovered horrified him! His father’s soul has been slowly eaten away from some evil corruption of the being and he had planned a war against the Dragonspire family.
“My whole life I have done my best to live to to my father’s ideals. I think some of those have come from his failed dealings with your father. But there are a few lessons I will always keep with me,” he explains. "Information is power and an enemy at your back is an invitation to disaster." After a few thoughtful moments he continues, “I think those are more true about life and lessons I always keep in mind.”
“Recently though,” he continues “I have started noticing some odd behavior from my father. Strange meeting in the heart of the night, things like that. Then one night I saw him heading out into the deep woods alone. I decided to follow to see what was going on. He went into a clearing and there're was speaking with a dark shape with an inhuman look. After a few minutes of whispered conversation the shape saw me. I used some quick magic to hide myself and started making my way back towards the castle. That is when the dark wolf shapes burst from the trees in pursuit.
He tells of how he slipped away in the night and traveled here to Dragonspire castle to warn them of what was to come truly worrying about what might happen to not only his family but the Dragonspires as well.
On the eve of the 3rd day there, Medrigar hears what he had been dreading. The horns of the army blew out a warning to the castle of its impending doom. Outside the walls was a mighty army led by the mighty orc warrior, Kulfang. He was a brute of an orc with pale green skin covered in scars from his many victories. A scar runs down the length of his face, turning one eye useless, a small price he paid to defeat his foe. A mighty war axe strapped to his back, he bellows out the order to charge.
This army had been given to the Arkendal family to be used to destroy Markan and rule the territory. This army, filled with all manner of goblins, orcs and other creatures even more vile slowly blackens the terrain and it pours forward like a wave of death over the castle.
Though the family and their warriors fought with honor and bravery they were no match for the numbers of beasts that surrounded them. The castle was soon doomed to fall.
During the fighting young Daeros races into the throne room to see his father in combat with Kulfang. It soon becomes apparent the orc will overcome the might of Torm’s follower and Markan falls to the axe. Daeros watches in stunned silence and the orc Kulfang grabs the family’s mighty longsword, “Burner” and summons forth the magical fires that live within it. Grinning with a feral ferocity he bellows out a roar of victory.
As Daeros is about to charge in and fight Kulfang to get his revenge his sister Dalina chances by looking for help.
“Daeros, there you are.” says Dalina. “The fires are consuming the castle and Medrigar is trapped in his room.” Glancing in the room, she sees her father at the feet of the orc and a gasp escapes her lips as she turn pale.
Dalina grabs Daeros’s arm as he is about to charge in holding him back. “Come with me, he needs your help. Please,” she pleads, “I cannot lose you as well. Do not become the thing you and father have fought against all of your lives. A fellow human needs your help.”
Daeros shakes his head as if to clear his thoughts. “You are right.” he says, defeat in his voice. “I must help save as many others as I can from the slaughter that has befallen us. Quick, lead me to him and I will see what I can do.”
At that they race through the castle to help the young mage escape from his room. Soon they arrive and see the two guards lying dead in front of the door. Grabbing the keys Daeros unlocks the door the throws open the door to release Medrigar from the prison.
5 years later…
The murky sky couldn’t have made its intentions more clear. Bleak and cold, the rain began to fall on the two figures. One tall, muscled, and armored carrying a longsword and shield. The other a slight figure dressed in simple, dark clothes, a heavy cloak, and holding a quarterstaff.
The castle and the surrounding farms in the distance were little more than overgrown ruins. The cemetery behind the castle had an entire corner dedicated to the unworn headstones of those that died 5 years ago. A raven perched atop one of the new stones preened itself and then fluttered off to sit inside a piece of broken castle wall out of the rain.
“Why did I come back here?” the armored figure broke the silence as he looked away from the raven.
“There is a darkness here. You would have been drawn to it, even had I not summoned you.”
“Summoned me? Choose your words carefully, mageling. It was your family that did this, but you have no power over me.”
“I am sorry for what happened.”
For a moment no one spoke as the bitter wind spun the brown leaves in the corners of the ruins, and scattered others around the grounds.
“I know… and I know you have been here... hiding, watching, researching I’m sure you would say. Why do you stay?”
“There is a darkness here… I am drawn to it also.”
“I was away from it. I was leagues away when Jasod got your message.”
“Your body was away…”
“I WAS 200 LEAGUES FROM THIS GODS FORSAKEN PLACE!”
“Did your childhood leave? Did your soul? Did your time as a sellsword occupy your mind enough to make you forget?”
The armored man’s sword was in his hand in an instant. Despite the explosiveness of the act, the dark haired man didn’t flinch from the blade pointed at his heart.
“You have grown stronger in my time away.”
The wind tossed the leaves again, They whorled for a second around the feet of the two figures.
“I had to. This time I stayed while you ran away.”
The two men locked eyes. For a moment words were simply unequal to the task of all that had passed between them.
The sword point moved steadily to the dark man’s shoulder, pushing back his cloak to reveal the silver raven pin concealed beneath.
“Why did you call me here, Arkendal?” Daeros said, he spat the name like a mouthful of venom.
“There is a darkness here…” Medrigar replied.
5 years ago - Dragonspire house and the surrounding grounds are attacked by Knarr Orcs lead by the Orc Warlord Kulfang. Mercenary humans (bandits and barbarians) are also amongst the attackers. Medrigar arrives too late to warn the Dragonspires that his father Valtor Arkendal is behind the attack, and that Medrgiar believes that Valtor is in consort with some dark power.
The Dragonspire forces fight hard, with Daeros in charge of a flanking force. Daeros’s father sends for him in the battle and tells him he must get his sister, Dalina, to safety. He hands Daeros a broken sword hilt, and tells him he must keep it hidden and safe. Daeros reluctantly agrees, and with Medrgiar’s help, Daeros, Dalina, Medrgiar, and Daeros’s retinue escape to the city.
Daeros and Medrigar return at their first chance to find Dragonspire collapsed and in flames. There is no sign of his father or mother. Daeros wants nothing more than to kill Valtor, but knows that to attack House Arkendal is suicide. He swears vengeance on Valtor.
4 years ago - Daeros sets up Dalina with a noble family to the west, and sets out to make his way in the world, to learn to fight and lead men so that he can come back for Valtor.
3 years ago - Daeros and Medrigar reunite to go on a series of adventures. They gain some true combat experience that Daeros desperately needs to become more than a mere grunt as a mercenary. During the adventures, Medrigar realizes that his being around Daeros is a constant reminder of what he has lost. The two part company.
2 years ago - Daeros becomes part of a mercenary group called the Golden Blades. His combat experience begins to win him promotions, and he starts to move through the ranks. He takes dangerous missions, and leads his men through them successfully. His ability to tend to the wounded in his company is a huge boon.
6 months ago - Daeros gets a message from Medrigar asking him to return to Gerenhold. The wizard says that he has infiltrated his father’s company, and that his father is planning even blacker deeds than the fall of Dragonspire. Daeros leaves the Golden Blades. His desire to have vengeance is too great.
2 weeks ago - Daeros arrived in Gerenhold, and met covertly with Medrigar. As usual, the wizard only had bits and pieces of information. He asked that Daeros lay low, and wait for a message, so that the two of them could strike at an opportune time. Daeros began to have a feeling that Medrigar might have been turned.
1 day ago - Medrigar sent a message via a raven to Daeros’ inn room at the Ivory Stallion. (Despite being asked to lay low, Daeros was not about to hide. He chose a classy inn in the Merchant quarter. “Let Valtor know I am here. Let him come.”) The message said that Medrigar would meet Daeros outside the city walls at dusk. Medrigar never showed.
Today - Daeros gets another raven late in the evening (He considers snapping its neck, but doesn’t.) It is now afternoon, and Daeros sits in the Ivory Stallion mulling over the message.
The script is hastily written in Medrgiar’s precise script, but nonetheless it is carefully worded,
“The blankets here are so thin, but I cannot leave yet. My scribe has run off. Find him. The words he might write would be bane enough for to two houses. Break his quill for me when you find him.”
OOC: You can read that as you will. Daeros knows that “the scribe” must mean Ard. Medrigar’s mentor. (Whom Medrgiar told you before that he felt Ard was a sinister person.)
Also, if any of this comes up, you know it:
The Knarr - a wild region, hills and forests, to the north of Gerenhold. The forest is said to be home to Orc and barbarian tribes, and worse. You have never been there except to hunt stag when the Pruhirsts visited one summer.
The Green Maiden is said to be a nature spirit that lives between Gerenhold and the Knarr. Stories about her range from a helpful sprite, to a force of nature. She has supposedly helped people when lost by leaving clues back, but has also tormented loggers and hunters. When you were a child, you know that the farmers used to leave small tokens to her to ask for a good harvest.
The Order of Stonefist is the law enforcement/town guard/militia of the city of Gerenhold. Their headquarters is the Stonekeep outside of town. You are known to Guard Captain Brice who is the leader of the town guard wing of the Order of Stonefist.. He is a good fellow who you grew up with. You can trust him.
“The Sheath” is a large tower outside of town. The Twin Blades run “the Sheath.” The Twin Blades employ many unsavory characters, but they are useful in information gathering, spying, etc for the city. Now that you have been a mercenary, you have a lot more respect for these types of individuals. The Outriders (rangers/scouts) are also employed through this building.
The Magister’s Council is the ruling body of the city. The Magister’s Council is made up of influential people from a variety of facets of Gerenhold. They make the laws, levy the taxes, etc. Your father was the Magister of Agriculture at one time, and a member of the council. You have no idea who is on the council now, as the membership changes regularly so that no one can wield power too long.
5 years ago - Dragonspire house and the surrounding grounds are attacked by Knarr Orcs lead by the Orc Warlord Kulfang. Mercenary humans (bandits and barbarians) are also amongst the attackers. Medrigar arrives too late to warn the Dragonspires that his father Valtor Arkendal is behind the attack, and that Medrgiar believes that Valtor is in consort with some dark power.
The Dragonspire forces fight hard, with Daeros in charge of a flanking force. Daeros’s father sends for him in the battle and tells him he must get his sister, Dalina, to safety. He hands Daeros a broken sword hilt, and tells him he must keep it hidden and safe. Daeros reluctantly agrees, and with Medrgiar’s help, Daeros, Dalina, Medrgiar, and Daeros’s retinue escape to the city.
Daeros and Medrigar return at their first chance to find Dragonspire collapsed and in flames. There is no sign of his father or mother. Daeros wants nothing more than to kill Valtor, but knows that to attack House Arkendal is suicide. He swears vengeance on Valtor.
4 years ago - Daeros sets up Dalina with a noble family to the west, and sets out to make his way in the world, to learn to fight and lead men so that he can come back for Valtor.
3 years ago - Daeros and Medrigar reunite to go on a series of adventures. They gain some true combat experience that Daeros desperately needs to become more than a mere grunt as a mercenary. During the adventures, Medrigar realizes that his being around Daeros is a constant reminder of what he has lost. The two part company.
2 years ago - Daeros becomes part of a mercenary group called the Golden Blades. His combat experience begins to win him promotions, and he starts to move through the ranks. He takes dangerous missions, and leads his men through them successfully. His ability to tend to the wounded in his company is a huge boon.
6 months ago - Daeros gets a message from Medrigar asking him to return to Gerenhold. The wizard says that he has infiltrated his father’s company, and that his father is planning even blacker deeds than the fall of Dragonspire. Daeros leaves the Golden Blades. His desire to have vengeance is too great.
2 weeks ago - Daeros arrived in Gerenhold, and met covertly with Medrigar. As usual, the wizard only had bits and pieces of information. He asked that Daeros lay low, and wait for a message, so that the two of them could strike at an opportune time. Daeros began to have a feeling that Medrigar might have been turned.
1 day ago - Medrigar sent a message via a raven to Daeros’ inn room at the Ivory Stallion. (Despite being asked to lay low, Daeros was not about to hide. He chose a classy inn in the Merchant quarter. “Let Valtor know I am here. Let him come.”) The message said that Medrigar would meet Daeros outside the city walls at dusk. Medrigar never showed.
Today - Daeros gets another raven late in the evening (He considers snapping its neck, but doesn’t.) It is now afternoon, and Daeros sits in the Ivory Stallion mulling over the message.
The script is hastily written in Medrgiar’s precise script, but nonetheless it is carefully worded,
“The blankets here are so thin, but I cannot leave yet. My scribe has run off. Find him. The words he might write would be bane enough for to two houses. Break his quill for me when you find him.”
From here we are nearing the end of things. I have broken our campaign world by releasing the god of gods in my quest to find Valtor. Hopefully I can redeem him after this is done.
Chaotic Good Celestial Patron Warlock/Paladin Half Elf Noble Background
Grew up in the life of expectations and requirements, but plagued by a free spirit. In his studies of ancient lore, he uncovered old tomes detailing great heroes who had made a pact with powerful beings of the upper planes in return for great power. He then spent years until he was 21 to uncover the secrets of creating this pact, and when he did, he faked his death(in a laboratory experiment that was blamed on my PCs bastard half brother who would later become a tinkering gunslinger and my best friend/adventuring companion) and took up the life of an adventurer. A few years later he was called to more and more paladinesque deeds to soon find out the pact he had made required him to take up the life of a paladin. Torn between the freedom he craved and the power he had, he reluctantly became took up the life he had unwittingly signed up for and reluctantly completed the ideals of his order becoming a force against evil whilst being encouraged along by the archon who tricked me into taking up this role.
Basically a reluctant paladin who got bored with a simple life. Thinking of a chaotic good patron who serves a lawful good deity that kinda just watches over and pushes me back towards the straight and narrow path. Not really sure how great combat will be but i assume i can play the role of a tanky healer/support that has decent smites that can be used often. Not exactly familiar with the celestial hierarchy so if anyone could explain that id appreciate it.
P.S. appologize for any grammer errors as this was written at 1 am lol
David Silvertail, Dragonborn Oath of Devotion in service of the lost god Njord.