Character Exploration 58 - Malbranchalianna

As we continue our week of exploring Snowcaster Elves we come to the background for our 58^th Random Rolls and first of 2017. Our snow elf comes from a dishonored family, is fascinated with magical items, was mentored by an undead, has a true love, and seeks justice. Linking all that together with her stat array which includes no stats under ten but a midrange dexterity, intelligence, and charisma left me with some tough choices.

Firstly I narrowed down my class choices by eliminating divine classes. I did this both because of the average wisdom score and an idea that instantly popped into my head when I saw the background rolls. Although she liked magic items I found her conflict subject being a spellcaster as a reason to rule out an arcane caster as well, even with the decent intelligence. Eventually I narrowed my choices down to investigator or cavalier and I went with Cavalier. I specifically choose the Order of the Seal, although that too took a lot of back and forth with the Orders of the Land and Penitent being in the running as well.

Now without further ado I present this week’s character.

Malbranchalianna - She of the Blinding Snow

Among the Snowcasters, both family and honor are among the utmost importance. Although with tribes of the artic elves being small, dishonored family members aren’t outcast, they are just stricken from the families records. Children of the dishonored bear no ill from their parents misdeeds, but they may never pass their parents name down through the ages to their own children. This is the family that Malbranchalianna was born into.

The young Snowcasters great grandfather was an architect considered a chosen of Findeladlara. He built some of the very few grand structures to honor the goddess. Her grandfather was a cleric and a high priest of Findeladlara. He was one of the council members of the tribe before he let the position fall to a younger elf so he could live out his twilight years. Her father was on track to become the honored staff, the highest rank of warriors tasked with defending the holy places of FIndeladlara. He was however disgraced.

Although her grandfather still has a place of honor among the tribe, Her father has been excommunicated by the church. Still in possession of his granted abilities from their patron, he was given the position of twilight speaker. The position is a dubious honor that sets the speaker apart from the tribe by making them the face of the Snowcasters to the outside world.

Malbranchalianna grew up hating the church and not understanding why her father still put faith in a goddess who would allow his chosen to fall in such a way. How could the elders not see that if Findeladlara didn't stripped him of his power then his crime obviously couldn't have been so bad. For his part her father never spoke of his wrong doing and like most Snowcasters faced his fate with icy determination.

Much of her father’s work was trading with the Ulfen tribes to the west. The family ranged between the mountains of the Crown of the World to the wind blasted plains of the Land of the Linnorm Kings. She grew up in the saddle of one of the great reindeer that many of her people used as mounts and beasts of burden. Being on the back of one of the creatures was as natural to her as walking.

Because the dishonor of a family member only effects that person – there are few offense extreme enough to outcast an entire family – Malbranchalianna was afforded every right of a member of the tribe. As she grew older she would spend a season here and there not travelling with her family. Many thought she would take up the mantle of her father or grandfather and become a member of the priests of Findeladlara, but she turned down every opportunity offered to her.

The daughter of the dishonored found much of her solace in solitude. She would take her mount out into the tundra and ride for hours on end. It was during these excursions that she found her mentor. In one of the lesser used mountain passes she came upon a man – a human man – who seemed lost and confused. She stopped to help the seemingly freezing man, but it turned out he was beyond help.

The human was dead but his soul was still tied to this world because he had died before completing his mission. He was a member of an order tasked with protecting a place called the Temple of the Frozen Heart. Followers of the Empyreal Lords (link tag) Tolc (link god article) and Pulura (link god article), as well as some Snowcaster followers of Findeladlara believed the temple housed a ice like crystal thought to be a piece of the heart of the Demon Lord (link tag) Kostchtchie (link god article). Not trusting Baba Yaga, long ago some of the Demon Lords essence from the Torc of Kostchtchie was syphoned off into the crystal to be hidden away.

The man’s task was to return another sacred object a stone that granted its possessor the ability to protect one from any physical harm for short periods of time. He could sense the stone nearby but his body was lost to the ice and snow. His spirit being attached to his body coupled with the fact that in the centuries since his passing the terrain had changed and he didn’t know if the temple still stood meant his mission would forever be a failure.

Malbranchalianna's sense of justice – not law which failed her father but true justice – could not let this pass. She swore to help him complete his mission. She would return to him often and allow him to ride her body in search of this Temple of the Frozen Heart. In this time he trained her in the ways of his order and the use of the protective stone. She became a fierce warrior and her childhood on the back of the tribes reindeer served her well.

Her time was not always spent with her mentor; she would also use her growing abilities to aid her tribe. Her strength of arms got her noticed by many but there was only one whose sense of right and wrong matched her own. She knew she was in love with him very soon after hearing him speak the first time. But her mission came first, she could not fail the man in the ravine.

Despite this her mission couldn’t stop her from seeing justice done among her people. When her young love was brought before the tribe for the crime of theft that she knew he couldn’t have committed, she had to stand up for him. Her undeterred pursuit of the truth discovered that another young elf had framed him because he too was in love with Malbranchalianna. The snowshaper – one of the iceblooded sorcerers the tribe would spawn from time to time – used his magic to make her love appear guilty. With no recourse she pretended to fall for the caster and tricked him into admitting his wrong doing. She used his admission of guilt to save her love, in the process destroying the casters reputation.

Even though she proved her love she could not yet take him fully into her heart. It would be a decade more before Malbranchalianna found the Temple of the Frozen Heart. And to its protectors she would return the stone even though it had shown itself to be useful. Although she could not return her mentor’s body she could feel his spirit fade from her body on completion of his mission. She was offered a place among the order which she gladly accepted.

Now that she is prepared for her own mission in life, she has embraced her feelings for her true love. She will defend the temple, her love, and her tribe with all her heart. The only thing she yearns for is the return of her father’s honor. But now she may have the means to do that, if she can figure out what his crime truly was.

First character of the New Year and she came out quite well. Although I’ve given my reasoning I’m sure there were hundreds of directions this could have taken. What class would you have chosen? Who would her undead mentor have been? Why was her family dishonored in your mind? So many possibilities what were your choices?

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The character illustration was created by Luis Perez. You can find him on Twitter, Tumblr, and on Instagram at luisperezart.

Character 23 - Standing-Stone

A strong, smart, charismatic half-orc; that all screams paladin to me. So today you get to meet the Abadarian half-orc paladin I made from Monday’s random rolls.

The Shadde-Quah or Axe Clan of the Shoanti are not known for their acceptance of outsiders. The hardy seafaring people don’t much appreciate change or variance. Even when you are born into the tribe, if you are different you are shunned. Such was the life for Standing-Stone’s parents among the people. Both Half-Orcs born of violence, they naturally took to each other as they were kept on the outside of the clan. And when their first child, a daughter, was born of full-orc blood their situation only worsened.

Looking to put distance between themselves and the tribal home of the Calphiak Mountains, the Half-Orc parents and their Orcish child left the lands of Varisia all together. The family trekked south as tales of the free land of Nirmathas spoke of a kingdom where one’s status was determined by their actions, not their heritage. They settled in a small town on the Tournadel River, near the border of Lastwall, wedged between the Northern and Southern Fangwood. It is here in these new lands that Standing-Stone was born.

Unlike his sister, Standing-Stone was born a half-breed like his parents. He was premature and sickly, and the midwife thought the child would never survive. But against the odds, he did. He grew up listening to the tales his father told, not just to him but to the whole town. His parents place as lore keepers among the Shadde-Quah translated quite nicely to a job as entertainers in a trading town’s main inn. His love of tales and his scrawny stature saw Standing-Stone, at the time called Slender-Reed, dive into book learning.

While his big sister took well to the fighting arts early, Standing-Stone spent much of his time reading and watching people. He made friends easy and he attracted others to confide in him. Growing up he spent much time as the ear to Four-finger Fezik, a Kelesh thief who came to Nirmathas to escape an uncertain future. The “reformed” criminal often regaled the young half-orc with tales of his own daring crimes. More importantly, he imparted life lessons and taught him how to pay attention to more than just the outward actions of people.

Standing-Stone should have learned these lessons better as he failed to see the true motives of Fezik. When the “ex”-thief’s past caught up with him, his friend managed to convince his pursuers of a greater bounty on the half-orc’s family. Fezik made his escape as the bounty hunters went to Standing-Stone’s household. Unaware of the ruse and defending against an unprovoked attack the young man’s mother was felled before the truth could come out. Because of Fezik, Standing-Stone lost his mother.

As he grew up and became a man, the half-orc hit a growth spurt. His strength became the talk of the town, although he still had a bit of a glass jaw. On his 14th birthday he lost his childhood name of Slender-Reed and became Standing-Stone. Being on the border of Lastwall and near the Hold of Belzkan meant orc attacks happened on occasion. Standing-Stone’s parents apprenticed the now strapping boy to a local priest of Gorum, following in his sister’s footsteps.

Standing-Stone didn’t take very well to the teachings. The chaotic nature of the god was abrasive to the sensibilities the half-orc had gained while his nose was buried in a book. There were many offense to the Gorumite and the apprentices were meant to carry out the punishments for these. Being tasked with the lashes of another apprentice who had failed to stand against the insurmountable odds of some local bullies was the last straw for Standing-Stone. The half-orc himself “failed” to properly apply the punishment and left the service of the Gorumite with no regrets.

The young man, now adrift, began searching for his place in the world; and with many travelers and traders coming through the small town on the river he had many paths to follow. What he knew of religion had left a sour taste in his mouth, so it surprised his parents greatly when he took up with some Abadarian warriors he met at the inn where his father worked. The sense of order and dedication spoke to Standing-Stone and he signed on to fight in the service of the knights in Lastwall.

During battles against the Orcs of Belzkan, Standing-Stone showed that his strength as well as his intellect could turn the tide. He began to make a name for himself, and when the Lord of the First Vault bestowed upon him the ability to smite the evil attacking the borders many of the aspiring paladins were in awe. Standing-Stone accepted the trust his god had imparted upon him, and dedicated himself even further to all that was right and good in the world.

Having served his term as a defender of Lastwall, Standing-Stone has returned home. His sterling reputation preceded him, something that he takes maybe a little too much pride in. The half-orc knows not what his god has planned for him, but he awaits the call of the Judge of the gods for whatever he sees fit.

Half-orcs are not known for their civilized manner, but an Abadairan paladin is certainly off the beaten path. If you’ve enjoyed meet Standing-Stone then consider becoming a patron of the CRB here. Also remember to follow us on twitter @SimonSezCRB. If you’re afraid of missing a beat, head to the sidebar and sign up for email notification, and be one of the first to know when a new posting hits the CRB. This is especially good if you’re finding the CRB on reddit as I can only post to a given reddit once a week. And finally there is a tumblr for the CRB, if you’d to see some more frequent musings from yours truly.

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Character Nineteen - Human Magus [Kensai] Prasoon Malhotra, the thinking blade

The first character of the New Year was no easy task, with the random rolls allowing for many paths. With the high int my first thought was to take an int based casting class, and that’s kind of what I went with. The high strength meant he could also be a decent melee fighter. My final decision on class was Magus with the Kensai archetype. I also decided to explore a people and place I hadn’t before, and thus we have a Magus of Varundi descent from the island nation of Jalmeray.

Prasoon Malhotra, the thinking blade

Belonging to the Dalits caste on the island of Jalmeray, Parsoon was considered one of the “untouchables” from birth. His parents served the will of the Thakur, Kharswan, toiling away as slaves to the undisputed ruler of the island. For the most part Parsoon and his family were content with their lot. They weren’t treated poorly—mostly ignored—and  being Dalit was the first step as a human on the path of enlightenment.

From the outside appearance the Malhotra family seems content, but Parsoon’s father didn’t treat the boy as if he was his own. The elder Malhotra had good reason, as Parsoon is not actually his child. The youngest child may hold the Malhotra name but Parsoon was conceived when one of the palace guards forced himself on the boy’s mother. Although his parents know that this is the case, they have never told another soul, not even Parsoon’s older brother.

In the royal palace the young boy grew up as a nobody, which suited him just fine. His favorite place on the grounds was the Thakur’s library, a room the decadent ruler never visited. Texts from the magical to the mundane sat gathering dust, but opened up a world unknown to one of the Dalit—a world of possibility and enlightenment.

As Parsoon grew his strength began to match his intellect; what had been a small scrawny boy had begun to become a strapping young man. Although he still kept mainly to himself, his shy and awkward manner hiding both his keen mind and incredible strength, he couldn’t go completely unnoticed. A sword for hire who would occasionally work on behalf of the Jalmeray government took notice of the boy. The mercenary offered the Thakur a tidy sum to allow the boy to be practice for his training, but the keen-eyed warrior had other plans.

The man, a rahasyavaadee yoddha or mystic warrior, sought to bring a new path of enlightenment to the fore among the Varundi. Whereas people look to the houses of perfection and their unarmed monks as the pinnacle of the perfection of Irori, the mercenary with his mix of magic and swordsmanship believes that his style could rival that of the more traditional schools. Parsoon was to be his first student with a promise of being raised from his station among the Dalits to true enlightenment in one lifetime.

The young Varundi took quickly to the training of his new master, though the two had to hide their deeds from prying eyes. Parsoon chose one of the traditional weapons of the Varundi, the Kukri, as the martial implement to channel his growing arcane powers. His training would be cut short, however, well before he became the perfect balance of the two powers.

Word came from the palace that Parsoon’s mother was once again attacked by the guards and his father beaten for trying to defend her. The Thakur, wrapped in his hedonistic pastimes and caring not for the untouchables in his service, sought no justice against the guard. Parsoon was furious and snuck into the palace where he sought to bring his new abilities to bear on the guard, but  was only successful in burning down the one place he always cared for, the library.

The younger Malhotra was cornered by the guard and captured. Brought before the Thakur, he was to be sentenced to death, except the mercenary spoke on his behalf. Instead Parsoon was branded upon his forehead, the mark of the pariah, and he was cast out from Jalmeray. He traveled far from home to the lands of Avistan where no one knew his shame.

Parsoon spends his days as his mentor did, a sword for hire, but he always longs for home. The love of his mother the only thing that keeps him going, some of the other household staff of the Thakur send word to him of his family and these letters he keeps by his side always.

Character Seventeen: Uzelea Zandrov

There was a lot of back and forth on this one in my mind. When seeing a lot of other folks discuss what they wanted to do they went Inquisitor and I was going to try and steer away from the pack. However, there was an idea that sparked in my head and it absolutely required that I go inquisitor, specifically the witch hunter archetype.

Duke Vistani Zandrov began his life of nobility in Ustalav inheriting the noble title of Earl from his father. Content in his place and eager to lead his people fairly and justly even with the horrors that seemed to befall Ustalav ever since the fall of the Whispering Tyrant, Earl Zandrov married and very quickly started a family.

His first born was a son and heir to the throne. After giving birth his wife fell sick for quite some time. Upon the return of her health she very quickly bore him a daughter. And three years after that another. The family was growing and the lands the Earl rules prospered.

When his elder daughter was eight there was upheaval in the realm, the Grand duke was assassinated and his line, all but one brother, fell in the ensuing war. During the upheaval the Duke was found to be the murderer, his family stripped of power. Earl Zandrov, ever loyal, was give the title of Duke and the lands of the traitor were his to administer.

Uzelea the middle daughter was ever at her mother’s side and as she aged her mother began to school her at home. Not completely understanding all of the lessons, the eldest daughter was being trained to be her mother’s scion. And in so doing she also began to drag the younger daughter into her mother’s web.

When she hit puberty and the changes began to happen her father made a dread realization. His wife was no longer his wife. A night hag had killed his beloved and stolen her soul. She had bred two progeny of her own with the Duke. She had even orchestrated the fall of the Grand Duke to escalate her “Husband” and bring more power to her progeny.

Before the Duke could confront the witch posing as his wife she fled. The hag vanished with her youngest and more impressionable daughter before she could be put to the flame. Uzelea was distraught, heartbroken that she led her own sister to this fate.

The Duke still loved his daughter with all his heart. He made to give her everything he could, but her rage over the betrayal of her mother was the only thing that drove her. She needed to find the hag and her sister and bring them back. But with no idea how to go about it she was stuck, the noble in a bleak house.

Uzelea’s search for answers brought the attention of others who wanted to see hags destroyed. A mystery cult of the Empyreal Lord Tanagaar. The divine beings purview over the night was constantly attacked by Alazhra’s faithful, the night hags and their control of dreams and nightmares. A seer from the cult came to Uzelea and offered to train her in the ways of the sacred witch hunters.

Now the Duke’s eldest daughter has left the confines of the castle. She roams the countryside of Ustalav in search of her wayward mother. Her only hope is that she finds her and kills her, and brings back her sister before any irreversible damage is done. If on the way she roots out any other of the witch kin then so be it. 

World Building - First Steps and Factions

In last week’s world building article we touched on prep and research and it got a lot of response. Today we’re going to touch on the next step in the process. The problem is the next step in the process is subjective. It’s all about the idea that sparked in your mind to start your world building idea.

Some people mentioned they liked to start with a map of where they are creating. Whether you’re working on a full world, a country, a province or just a city as we are. Some people want to start with NPCs, some with the military and there are a hundred other places you can begin from. In this instance what catches my fancy is factions.

In my mind this city is still just barely moving out of chaos. The write up for Lung Bingci showed that his father was the first recognized Jueyin (roughly Duke) of the City of the Whispering Winds. With a newly recognized noble there are bound to be groups trying to gain his favor, depose of him, use his ascension for their own ends or control him like a puppet. If I can lay these things out in my head I think I can get a better idea of what the city will be like.

These factions are not fully formed with a list of members but they are ideas of what forces are moving around within the city itself. Once we have the factions laid out the discussion of who belongs in which faction becomes easier and opens the flood gates to actual NPCs. Again this is just my process and my starting point, you can start somewhere else and leave factions for later if you like.

The Royal Family

Since we’re basing this on the character write up I did it will just be the Jueyin (roughly Duke), his wife, three children and I will probably add a brother or two. I’m thinking one who backs his brother and one who secretly seeks his position. Family infighting is always a good plot hook.

The Royal Court

The duke and his brothers of course will be included. I’m thinking an emissary from Tengu to keep an eye on things. Probably a trade leader of some kind as well as the royal treasurer. I’m thinking the older brother controls the military but maybe a captain of the guard advises on internal issues. There could be more but this is just bare bones.

Thieves’ Guild

We won’t call them the thieves’ guild of course that’s boring. However, we’re talking about Ratfolk here and to not do a large organization of cutthroats and thugs would be a grave disservice. In this case though I don’t see them as being completely adversarial to the new nobility. Growth of the city means further opportunities to make money and I can see this guild aiding the local government on the sly.

Cult of a dark god

Again these are very vague ideas, but I really enjoy religion in polytheistic worlds. I’m thinking maybe a god of plague or pestilence. If we wanted to go really evil they could be worshipers of the Horsemen of Pestilence.

Plot to over throw the Duke

This faction was actually one of the first to pop into my head. Just a group that doesn’t want a royal line and seeks to remove the Jueyin and his heir. Secretly aided by one of the Jueyin’s brothers of course, because family squabbles are the bread and butter of political intrigue stories.

And that’s just what I have off the top of my head right now. But that leads me another minor topic, bouncing ideas off other people. One of the best ways to create is to talk things out with someone else. I have a few friends that I bounce ideas off of. I also post to facebook and reddit with the hope that I can get a dialogue going with more people. The more ideas you open yourself up to, the better your creation will be.

So those are the factions I’m going to flesh out soon. Do you think there are other factions that should exist within the City of Whispering Swords? Other major players within the political fabric of the city’s reality? Let us know what you’re thinking.

Character Sixteen: Marluk Denbrauth

Life in a small town can be very daunting for anyone let alone the youngest child of a Merchant family. Brother already being groomed as the heir to the family business. Sister being shopped around the upper classes to marry more wealth into the family. Left to your own devices, the forgotten youngest child can lead to all the wrong things.

The Denbrauth trading company had a thriving business through the small towns and villages of Brevory. Marluk Denbrauth was never interested in any of this. He spent much of his childhood running around with some of the older boys who were constantly getting themselves in trouble. Many times Marluk would find himself sitting in the kitchen with his father scolding him after he and his best friend got caught stealing, or cheating people out of their money at games of “chance.”

Always feeling his Brother and Sister had everything to look forward to Marluk felt like an outcast in his own home. When he turned twelve and puberty set in this was even further exacerbated what his Jann blood emerged and his Suli heritage was revealed. His family was further horrified at the stigma this might bring to them and sought to keep their youngest child locked away at home.

While he was being hidden away his parents gave birth to a new youngest child. At first envious of the boy, his heart softened as the child grew and was the only member of the family not afraid of him. The two youngest of the Denbrauth clan had a strong friendship even with their many years apart. When the youngest of the clan caught the pox and died at age four Marluk was heartbroken.

His brother’s death infuriated Marluk who broke from the family. Leaving his life in exile to rejoin his childhood best friend on the streets. Having moved up from petty thief to a member of what passes for the biggest gang in a small town, the young Suli was quickly swept up in things that would sully is parent’s reputation. Not the brightest of the toughest of thugs Marluk was quick, of both fingers and wit, and transitioned nicely into a life of crime.

One fall when the nearby villages were bringing their harvests to the market square all this changed for the Suli thief. Travelling among the farmers, vintners and goat herds was a holy man, a paladin of old one eye, the god Erastil. The man looked the part of a woodsman selling his own furs at market but flashed a little too much coin for his own good. Marluk and his troupe made to relieve him of his riches one night. The fight was quick, none expected the resistance they got and Marluk lay unconscious as his fellows ran off.

When the Suli child awoke he was in a comfortable bed being tended to by the woodsman. He wasn’t restrained but he still didn’t run. The follower of Erastil had seen the pain in the young boy’s eyes even during the battle. The Paladin offered to take him away from the town and show him a better life. He wished to show him the bounties of the world through the one good eye of his god. With nowhere left to turn Marluk left that day with the Paladin.

Years later Marluk returned to his home, bow in hand, symbol of Erastil around his neck. He met with his father who hand since retired, leaving the business to his brother as expected. He sat at a table through the night and much of the day, the same table at which his father scolded him as a child. The teachings of the stag god put family first and on that day Marluk reconciled. He was now not just a paladin but he was once again a member of the Denbrauth clan.

Remember the first person to post a race (Core or featured), that will be the race I use for my next randomly rolled character.

Character Fifteen: Americ Frisk

In the shadow plane Abasalom is one of the view cities to have a representation there that is inhabited and thriving. A lot of trade goes on between Abasalom and Shadow Abasalom and to the end many Fetchlings move from their home plane to the city of the Starstone. One such transplant is the shadowsilk weaver Uven Frisk.

Frisk came with his wife and in his time as a successful weaver in human city he has expanded is family. A boy and two girls at first graved the Frisk family. But it was the fourth child, born with a streak of silver hair, which really brought the Frisk’s family attention. The elder of the Kayal, what fetchlings call themselves, saw great promise in the silver haired boy child and took him from his family to learn at the elder’s feet.

Amric Frisk was different from even his earliest memory. The young boy would talk to things that weren’t there, claiming to speak for invisible people from the past of the fetchling people. Worst still he would correct the elders on matters of history and language because the “people” explained why they were wrong.

After years of frustration the fetchling elders sent Armric back to his family, and that’s when his education really began. When he returned home on his first day a gruff older fetchling, one of the few who Amric had ever seen grow a beard came calling. He sat with the boy and explained that his ‘people” weren’t just any “people” they were connections to all the lives Amric had lived before. He was the reincarnation of many great fetchling heroes and he too would become such.

The woodsman was a loner but Amric’s past selves long for his family. Part of being connect to all that it meant to being a fetchling in the past meant that Amric needed to stay connect to the people in the now. Amric eventually left the woodsman and lived with his family and his past selves in Abasalom. He even took a lover and lived the perfect life as a beacon to his people. A perfect life that could never last.

Remember the first person to post a race (Core or featured), that will be the race I use for my next randomly rolled character.

Character Thirteen: Karas Vert

Growing up in poverty in a small town in Taldor was no easy life. Karas Vert was the only son of parents who worked the land for the local lord. Their home was little more than a small thatched hut on the outskirts of town with the other serfs. Karas was born premature and sickly, leaving his family to spend what little they did have on his care through most of his childhood. Every illness and disease that tore through the town struck the boy particularly hard.

In his early adolescence Karas showed some small magical talent. He was taken off to one of the many schools of magic that dot Taldor’s cities. But being poor from a small village in a school with aspiring wizards from families with money meant Karas was very often picked on and ridiculed especially because of his sickly appearance. The fact structured magic didn’t suit him well gave his aggressors even more fuel.

The only friend he found in his time away from home was a huntsmen who passed through town often. The hunter was reviled by the townsfolk, but he brought only the best skins and meats to the city. And when there were problems with wandering monsters the Hunter could be counted upon to wage war against the creatures. Karas was the hunter’s only friend, and the hunter Karas’.

What the town didn’t know was that the hunter was a discipline of war. He revered the ancient spirit of the apocalypse and in his heart he sought the end of the world. Karas learned from his friend that no one anywhere would ever look out for him. That surviving meant doing things by yourself for yourself. In the end the world would fall to ashes and it should do so sooner rather than later.

Karas accepted this and sought to dedicate himself to one of the horseman. On a moonless night in the shadows of a dead tree the hunter took Karas to commune. Karas was touched by the spirit of the Horseman and was chosen by pestilence to be his disciple. Karas’ weakened form a testament to his ability to survive the plagues his new master would bring upon the world.

As Karas furthered his teachings he began to feel the disease flow through him. His body still sickly looking but able to process even the worst illness the world had to offer. Pain too began to mean little to him as the foulness that flowed toughened his physical form to harm. His master called on him to spread his word and in doing so he would steal poultices and remedies from local healers. Forcing his masters will upon the world.

But even in his hate and anger Karas still sought acceptance. Always outside of society, in his heart he longed to be a part of it. For a year he forgot his vows to Pestilence and fell in love. Even the huntsman turned his back on his former protégé, calling him weak. But even love could not save him, when his touch began to sicken those around him. His lover growing rancid-smelling pustules at his caress. And once more Karas was alone.

Now saddled with the foul plague magic flowing through is viens. Karas must decide whether to head back into the embrace of the Horseman. Or seek to fight off this foulness and seek acceptance where he has never found any.

Character Twelve: Lung Bingci - Ratfolk

This was a tough one. First off where to go with a class. Investigator, Rogue and Wizard all seemed like good choices. A few people had suggested bard even with the charisma of only 13. But the other part was lore. I like to build my characters based on the lore of the world as well and I had to look at what little was already said about the Ratfolk here. And since I went with Tian Xia as the location I really wanted to use the Chinese analog stuff and I had to look up the equivalent of a Duke in China. But that’s the kind of research I like to do when building a character.

Only once in their existence have the Ratfolk been known to have a kingdom of their own. The empire of Diguo-Dashu which was driven back into the caverns of Sekamina after their deadly but failed war against the Imperial Lung Wa of Tian Xia. The Diguo-Dashu took dozens of cities and so when the empire was sealed back up into the Darklands many stragglers were left without a home, enemies of the state at worst, outcasts at best.

It was many years before the Ratfolk themselves began to create their own communities once more. Longer still before they had a home to call their own on the surface. In the Tengu controlled region of Kawnlai, the ruined City of the Whistling Sword became home to many descendants of the exiled Ratfolk of Diguo-Dashu. It was a start to make a new life.

The city in ruins was mostly disparate groups scrabbling over resources. Infighting among the Rats was common as many factions sought control. Finally war, if you could call it that, between a half dozen of the bigger families and organizations. When the dust settled Li Bingci, his family and allies stood victorious. Li claimed the title of Jueyin (roughly equivalent of Duke) and was recognized by the Tengu of the region.

Li Bingci had one son, Lung Bingci, heir to his throne and also a target. The younger Bingci was sent to live with his uncle outside of the City of Whispering Swords. Uncle Jin Po taught at one of the Academies in the human controlled lands of Tian Xia. Li sent his son not only to ensure the safety of the heir but also to educate his son in the art of magic, something the elder Bingci believed would help cement the power of his families rule.

Li’s early development was not easy he thought himself better than those who surrounded him. He would cheat his fellow students out of anything they were foolishly willing to bargain with. The younger Bingci thought because of his status that rules did not apply to him the way they did to the lesser students. This was very soon beaten out of him by Uncle Po when he became aware of his nephews activities.

Lin Po taught a very specialized school of magic. And Li was, not originally willingly, always at his side to learn. Many of the masters taught of the elements but Master Po taught of the non-element, the void. The connection between the heavens and the earths, the spiritual nature of all existence. Through these teachings Li Bingci learned how everything had a connection, even those of noble birth and those not. His duty when he would take the reins of power from his father would be to keep the City of Whispering Swords connected to the lands of the Tengu, to keep his people connected to each other and to create a balance between the heavens and the Ratfolk.

Does this fit with what you would have done? Excited about seeing a thriving city of Ratfolk in Tian Xia?

As ever we move forward. First person to post a race (Core or featured) that will be the race I use from my next randomly rolled character.

Character Eleven: Vandas Ilisthian

In case you forgot, here are the random rolls for this character.

Vandas Ilisthian born poor to the servitors of House Vexidyre in the city of Zirnakaynin. Abused and beaten by his older sister, she even drowned him once when he was six. An event he barely survived after claiming to have visited the pits of the abyss. The experience wiped all fear from the heart of the young drow. Sadly the lack of oxygen to his brain also caused permanent brain damage in the young boy. As he grew the constant depredations of his sister forced him to grow bigger and and strong until he could finally ward her off on his own.

House Vexidyre was a harsh mistress, keeping its citizens in line through the sadistic and cruel tortures of the followers of Lord Shax. One of the few escapes for peasants was to give service to the Blood Marquis' chosen. But only the most depraved of drow could not only stand up to the tortures but also dish them out as well. Even though commoners could make their way into the ranks of the faithful, mostly the honor went to younger members of lesser lines of House Vexidyre itself.

Vandas wanted out, the life of a peasant was not for him. He craved power and he craved blood. In his way stood all the other hopefuls but his worst competition was Keldrinth Naragas, the lesser cousin of the House. Even among the other cousins Keldrinth was considered a lock to get the one open spot as servitor of Shax. And true to his "destiny" Keldrinth won out against all others.

Vandas however was not to be denied. Furious at the priests for not choosing him. Seeing it as politics over skill and devotion. Vandas stormed into the priests quarters when he was indoctrinating Keldrinth Naragas. He took the scared knife off the wall and murdered the priest, he followed up by killing Keldrinth and his eager hangers on. And when they found him he was soaked in blood tearing out the insides of his victims. The priests went to move against him but they couldn't for Shax himself was pleased. He bade that Vandas be a tool of the church to be sent against all that opposed Lord Shax.

Final Notes

Vandas Ilisthian is a Warpriest of Shax with the Champion of the Faith archetype. He only gets one skill point a level due to his int and that goes into Sense Motive everytime. You cannot turn away the wrath of Lord Shax with your twisted tongue.

Character Ten: Kokan Hybusa

I hadn't really hashed out any mechanics this time around just that he is a base rogue but here is the tale of Kokan Hybusa.

Before we get into it here are the random rolls in case you forgot.

Born in Tian Xia but relocated to the Andoran port city of Augustana along with his family and a flock of other Tengu, Kokan Hybusa has always been a bird out of place. Bullied by his sister before they moved, bullied by the human children when he arrived in Avistan and all but forgotten as the middle boy of eight children by his parents. Life seemed ever so rough for the young Tengu. It didn't help that as he grew older he spent most of his time in books, absorbing as much knowledge as he could possibly get his wings on.

Kokan's search for knowledge didn't just stop at the temporal. He spent much time studying magic, although he had no aptitude for it, and religion as well. One of his early mentors was a Halfling sage named Ilsa Tanglebriar. The young Tengu would listen to her tales of the days she was a slave in Cheliax and her musings on the portents of the future. When asked about his future though she would furrow her brow and don a dour face, claiming not to be privy to that information.

Kokan was set to go off to study with masters in the Universities of Almas when he finished his studies in Augustana. But fate has a way of changing plans for you. Although he was very used to being bullied himself, now that his younger brother the, runt of the family was in school the bullies had started in on him. One day on the walk home Kokan's brother Takaaki was ambushed by a group of young thugs. Kokan ran to his aid and for the first time fought off attackers. Kokan was unaware of his own strength in in a fit of mindless rage one of the bullies fell, impaled on Kokan's beak.

Kokan was beside himself, he never intended to kill anyone. The bully's friends sought to slander him, but witnesses not the least of which was the Halfling seer Isla painted a better picture of his selfless act of defense. Still with the stain of death on his beak the offer to university fell though and Kokan was left with no future.

In the intervening years Kokan held a number of jobs and seemed ever the picture of the hardworking peasant. But in this time the Tengu was plotting and waiting. He kept his eyes open and his mind sharp, learning everything he could about the underworld of Augustana. Until one night he said his prayer to Calistria and took up a mask and a blade and stalked the streets. He stopped a mugging that first night at the cost of two broken ribs, but his true mission in life had begun. No more bullies, no more scavengers preying on the weak, just vengeance.

Character Nine: Horguk the Sieger

Before we get into it here are the random rolls in case you forgot.

So at this point Unchained came out and I decided to go with the unchained Barbarian using the invulnerable rager archetype. The other thing is: looking over this background one of the first things that came to my head was which god he would follow. He receives the blessing of Varg the Orc, deity of Iron, siege engines, and war. Blessed at birth, destined to become the living siege engine.  That helped pick out some of the mechanical stuff.

Structural Knowledge Religion trait - You gain a +1 trait bonus on Knowledge (engineering) checks, and Knowledge (engineering) is a class skill for you.

Earthsense - As a swift action, you can gain tremorsense to a range of 60 feet until the beginning of your next turn. You can use this ability once per day at 1st level, plus one additional time per day at 5th level and every 5 levels thereafter, to a maximum of five times per day at 20th level.

Basically Varg gives knowledge of buildings so that you may better destroy them. And you cannot hide from me, I can sense your movement.

Starting Feat: Power Attack, and going to move into some fun with Improved Sunder, which is something I've never really used before.

And here you have it: Horguk the Sieger

In the Belzkan Hold either you are a warrior, or you serve. Although much of the labor is done by slaves of various races, the Orcs who cannot fight are treated barely above this chattel. Being born into a family of peasants is never pleasant, and unless you can prove your worth you will be left to rot under the thumb of true orc warriors. That is unless one of the orc gods specifically singles you out as one of his chosen. On the day of his birth Horguk the Sieger was so chosen, one of a set of twins he carried not one, but two recessive traits: Being born half-human while his twin was full orc like the rest of his siblings, and having the blood of stone flow through him. What may have been an inauspicious birth leading to a life of ridicule changed when, as the stony crystal and granite head of the Half-Orc child tore his mother open, a large rocky humanoid form appeared before the family and midwife proclaimed the child the chosen of the god Varg.

The Horguk was raised by his family until he was six and then he was turned over to The Ironbound, worshippers of Varg. The stone born half-breed was instructed in the ways of destruction, his body whipped when he failed. They built inside of him an insatiable rage and an urge to destroy, as well as hardened his already tough body. The Ironbound holy men thought that Horguk would craft their greatest siege engines. What they didn’t expect was that Horguk himself would be their greatest siege engine. His stone body would shrug off the pelting fire of a towns defenders while Horguk’s mighty swings would bring down doors and walls. But that was his destiny, not his present.

For a time before his coming of age, Horguk was also taught the art of destruction by the Shaitan bound to the service of Varg. These beings of rock bestowed upon their earthly kin a horn dedicated to The Iron Warrior. Before he could take down a wall by himself, Horguk learned the true destructive power of Varg as he would destroy solid stone outcroppings with just the sound of the horn. But destruction should be personal, it should be visceral and it means more when dealt by ones own hand. At his coming of age Varg again recalled his Shaitan servitors and the Horn was taken from Horguk and returned to its place in the hall of the orc god.

But for all his training and all his power, there is one thing even a God cannot get between and that is an Orc and his kin. Set to march on a human settlement the Orcs of Horguks tribe allied themselves with others tribes, orc and monsters alike, who sought to expand the borders of their peoples and wipe away the human trash. The stone born half-breed was sent with his twin to siege the town with a pride of Leonine warriors. During the siege Horguk’s brother fell, but the lionmen pressed forward. Horguk stopped to tend to his sibling but the other Orcs and Leonine in his unit attempted to force him to press the siege. In a fit of fury Horguk fought his way past his own troops carrying his brother, and in his betrayal the Leonine commander fell ending the alliance between the lionmen and the Orcs, causing the two tribes to fight each other instead of the human settlement.

Now Horguk, supposedly Chosen of one of his people’s own gods, was cast out for choosing his brother’s life over the battle. He now roams the Belzkan Hold. Clanless. Looking for answers to his own life. Waiting to hear the call of Varg again. Praying for a visit from the Iron Warrior’s Shaitan servants. Anything to make sense of what he has become.

Character Eight: Quentin Queizzlefoot

Before we get into it here are the random rolls in case you forgot.

Quentatriliocious, aka Quentin Queizzlefoot, is a Gnome of not-yet ill-repute. But he’s trying, he swears! Son of Alia and Ferrous Quizzlefoot, his parent were well-known rapscallions among the Gnome community. Although his parents were never viewed as wantonly harmful, everyone for leagues knew them for the con artists they were. Seeing as most of their shenanigans was aimed at non-gnomes, the surrounding communities let them slide for the most part. That was until the death of Caratimatine “Carmine” Longbottom.

Carmine was a, well, he was a major figure in the movement for the Gnomes return to the first world. He was considered a rabble-rouser by some, and a philosopher by others. Quentin’s parents somehow got caught up in a plot that sought to remove Carmine from the equation. In the end the only people who could be attached to the body were Quenetin’s parents, who decided it was best to run than face ‘justice.’ Quentin was left with his aunt and uncle at the tender age of 15 when his parents went into hiding.

Aunt Berutania and uncle Uwenalacalious were performers by trade. They put on a show travelling from town to town. Not just among the forest Gnomes, and by his 30's Quentin had visited the human, elf and dwarf lands performing with his aunt and uncle. His time on the road taught him the finer points of acting, which on top of character building, taught him the fine arts of disguise and lying. The young Gnome also took quite well to picking up the languages of every land he traveled through.

During a stint in their forest home, between performance tours, Quentin was approached by a Gnome claiming to be friends with his parents. Quentin’s aunt and uncle never really spoke about his parents; they changing the subject whenever they could. But this Gnome told Quentin about his parents’ self-imposed exile and betrayal. In secret Quentin began training with the “family friend” to find his missing parents and clear their name.

Some quick and dirty investigation let them to an illusionist who was supposedly in on setting up Carmine. Quentin’s acting skills came in handy and he and the family friend managed to get enough information to blackmail the trickster Gnome. Information wasn’t as forthcoming as they would have liked, which left them at a dead end, but the Illusionist was willing to pay to keep his dirty secrets from being aired. Grown and looking for answers Quentin still seeks out his parents; even if he has to lie, cheat, and steal to find them. One day he will.

Character Seven: Merin Underfoot

Before we get into it here are the random rolls in case you forgot.

I had a very clear picture from the background. But the high Wis with low Cha was a real challenge. Finding just the right class and then having the background fall together. In the long run I finally decided on inquisitor. I’ve never played an inquisitor before so I overlooked it for a while. In the long run though, I thought it was the best class for the background I had in mind.

I also rolled on the chart for inquisitors and got:

Zealot - Your devotion is fanatical and your powers are clearly proof of your connection with the divine. Although you know that other gods bestow similar powers upon their own disciples, you either revile or pity those of "lesser" faiths. You gain access to the Zealous Striker faith trait.

All this brought to life the tale of Merin Underfoot.

Merin Underfoot speaks very little of his past. The very few who get to know him well know that he was born into poverty in Cheliax. His family was large and served the church of Asmodues directly. Merin was caught sneaking around by one of the Prince of Laws clergy. The enraged priest used his lord’s dark powers and for a moment killed Merin only to bring him back to life to show him the error of his ways. The Halfling’s parents eventually died and he and his five siblings, including his twin sister, were separated by the church.

Alone and angry, the pain caused by the Asmodean church was too much for Merin to bear. He sunk into a deep self-loathing and spent more time being disciplined for his failures than anything else. Driven by hatred he stalked the cleric that had killed him as a child, intent on killing him but he just couldn't do it. Instead his time watching the now older priest revealed his secrets, and they were enough to drag the Asmodean through the mud. It ruined his reputation and brought tortures upon him that Merin would never imagine performing himself.

Later Merin would escape for but a little while. Spirited away by the Bellflower Network to Westcrown, he could have remained a free being. It was seething hatred for the church of Asmodeus and longing to find his family again, if they were even still alive, that drove the former slave to find a way back. Seeing his zeal, the Church of Milani accepted him into their ranks. An older Halfling named Zera, a mystic of the bloody rose Goddess, took him under her wing. He found guidance from the clergy of The Everbloom and swore an oath to the cause of her church.

Now Merin has returned to Cheliax, where he took his punishment for escaping with stern acceptance. He may have left Merin the slave, but now he returned as Merin the infiltrator. Living within the very walls of the church of Asmodeus, he feeds the Bellflower Network the information they need to stay one step ahead of Cheliaxian agents. Meanwhile he continues searching for the whereabouts of his siblings, hoping to help them escape whatever fate the hated Asmodeans have brought upon them.

Character Six: Argus Holt

Before we get into it here are the random rolls in case you forgot.

Alright so I'd chosen a class and what we're looking at here is a Ranger with the Freebooter Archetype. I rolled on the Ranger chart and got:

Detached Observer: You set yourself apart with a pall of cold logic that allows you to see weaknesses in members of your own race that you strive not to succumb to yourself. Most likely, you pick your own race as your dominant favored enemy, and you excel as a spy or assassin paid to capture enemies of your organization. You gain access to the Cold and Calculating combat trait.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Argus Holt

Argus Holt, son to a sailor and born with the elven blood of his mother's great grandfather running through his veins. Argus lived in a small coastal village, his father was away most of the time and his mother worked as a clothes washer for what little extra cash they could get. Life was quiet but it wasn't easy, and it got worse when his father's ship went down in a storm. The young half-elf who had already felt very alone became even more withdrawn and with his father's income gone he and his mother lived in near poverty.

Despite the fact his father died at sea, the waves always called to young Argus. From the time he chanced upon a school of Hippocamus at the age of ten, dreams of living on the water always traipsed through his mind. He hopped his first ship at 12 leaving his mother to see the world. He had a hard time connecting to the other sailors but he would watch and listen, often disgusted by what his own kind could get up to in their boredom. But despite humanity’s shortcomings, Argus longed for the acceptance of his peers.

One of the passengers during his first sea voyage was a young noble and his son. The aristocrat’s son seemed to be so good at everything; climbing the rigging, running the rails, tying knots, even helping to fend off a boarding party of Sahuagin. Argus tried to make friends in his own clumsy manner but the noble boy clearly felt superior to him. He took this as a challenge and swore to always push himself, always trying to be better than the young noble boy.

Being in close quarters with so many people for long periods left Argus with a need to clear his head during his time ashore. He began looking for other forms of solace and this led him to the church of Gozreh. Prevalent in every coastal city was at least a small church to the god of the wind and the waves. Dedicating himself to a life at sea Argus took Gozreh as his patron giving himself over as a waterborn and taking whatever the god could throw at him good or bad.

Now Argus has built at least a small reputation for himself as an able-bodied seaman. He was known to be an excellent helmsman even in the roughest storms, a child of every port of call. The Half-Elf ranger travels the world one boat at a time.

For some simple mechanics I gave him these traits:

Worldly social trait: Once per day when attempting a skill check for a skill you're untrained in, you can roll twice and take the better result.

Storm Pilot regional trait: You gain a +2 trait bonus on Profession (sailor) checks, and you treat the wind force of environmental wind effects (see Table: Wind Effects) as one step less powerful for the purposes of determining any penalties on ranged attacks and Fly checks as well as whether you would be checked or blown away.

Character Five: Calgadien Telmiriel

Before we get into it here are the random rolls in case you forgot.

I decided eventually on fighter, although there were a number of good choices. So I rolled on the fighter chart as well.

Schooled
You learned to fight in a structured environment where you were exposed to a variety of weapons, armor, strategies, and tactics. You learned to fight as part of a unit, how to follow orders and how to command a squad. You gain access to the Tactician combat trait.

With the high intelligence I decided on the Tactician fighter archetype.

When the elves left the world the few that were left behind didn't all stay to defend the elf lands. Some stayed in the human lands, living among the countries of man. Calgadien Telmiriel's family was left in the Taldane Empire upon the exodus, joining with the army in its military pursuits. They moved into the frontier of Andoran when it was Annexed by Taldor and then stayed when the Andorans opted to cut ties with Taldor and join their fates with the rising Cheliax empire.

When Andoran revolted in 4669 Calgadien's father, Aedarion, who served with the Adoran army as his father had before him, took to arms alongside the humans of his family’s chosen land to overthrow the now infernal Chelaixian Government. The family’s military tradition along with the Aedarion's valor in battle prompted the offer of lands and title to the family bringing the long serving family into the ranks of the Andoran Nobility. Sadly during the battle Aedarion's best friend and Eagle Knight of the Golden Legion lost his life. A death bed promise saw Aedarion adopt Gedric's now orphaned baby son Kirius, his mother having died at child birth.

Like all of Aedarion's male children Calgadien attended military school in the Andoran capital of Almas. Calgadien made it through the basic weapons training and had no small amount of martial prowess, but it was his sharp and intuitive tactical mind that got him noticed. He was such a talent that the instructor of military history Cordan Ulis took the young elf under his wing giving him personal tutelage. Calgadien graduated with the offer of a commission as an officer.

For all of Calgadian's good points he also had his bad. The young elf was more than a little haughty and vain. He made it through more than a few relationships during his school years, most of which ended because the girls he was seeing couldn't put up with his attitude. In one instance a commoner on scholarship to the academy had some unkind things to say about Calgadian, which he probably deserved, but when his father was brought into it Cal's ego couldn't take it and he stole the poor boys sword, which may not be worth much but was a gift from his father for acceptance to the school.

Now an aspiring officer Calgadian looks forward to the future and greatness in the eyes of the Andoran nobility.

Character Four: Nerek Quickwhisper

Before we get into it here are the random rolls in case you forgot.

I was having a little writers block when I started this one so there is a chart I usually don’t roll on. All the classes before the Advanced Classes Guide (ACG) have a random chart. For our Halfling I went Gunslinger and that has a chart I rolled on.

Defining moment

Guns are inexorably linked to a moment where your life dramatically changed. Perhaps you were so sickly as a child that you couldn't turn a crossbow's winch or bend a bow, but firearms showed you that you could still hunt and fight. Perhaps you picked up a firearm in a desperate moment to help a wounded gunslinger and knew that you had just taken your first step along the same path. a firearm at your side instills in you a sense of purpose and destiny that no one can take away.

As with our previous gnome, I made some changes to the base race using the features in the Advanced Races Guide (ACG) and I also picked some traits so you can see where the characters is getting some of his flavor. For the record I love traits, they are really good at making each character unique.

Nerek Quickwhsiper

Halfling Gunslinger (Mysterious Stranger)

The Mysterious stranger lets me use Cha for Grit instead of Wis so it’s a no-brainer. I also switched out some racial abilities so the current ones are as follows. Plus the two starting traits

Fearless
Adaptable Luck
Swift as Shadows
Weapon Familiarity
Keen Senses

Traits

Silent Hunter

You gain a +1 trait bonus on Stealth checks, and Stealth is always a class skill for you.

Black Powder Fortune

As long as you are wielding a firearm, you gain a +2 trait bonus on all saving throws against curse, fear, and emotion effects.

Nerek Quickwhisper son of the smith Arak Quickwhisper and Marita Thistledown. Born of a secret tryst between the two lovers. Marita was promised to local businessman Elspan Winterleaf but fell in love with Arak, Nerek's birth being the first proof of her dalliance. The bastard son of Arak drove Elspan who was also the leader of the local Halfling mafia into such a rage that he made an attempt to kill Arak but Marita sacrificed herself to save him. No one could ever link Elspan to the murder but everyone knew it was him.

Nerek's childhood was a happy one even without a mother. His father raised him well and doted on him, as he reminded him of his mother. Although Nerek was bright he still had a tendency to get in trouble by doing what the other kids told him to. He was good natured but a tad gullible. As a result there were punishments which toughened up the young Halfling considerably. Nerek made friends easy, even lovers although his absent mindedness meant his romantic relationships didn't last long.

It was in his late adolescence when he met Gilean Niblefingers and the two were almost inseparable. Gilean became the sounding board for all of Nerek's ideas, hopes and dreams. It was also from Gilean that Nerek learned what happened to his mother. Arak had never really talked about Marita's death it still saddened him, but he also sought to protect his son. Rightfully so as when Nerek found out that Elspan Winterleaf was thought responsible he went into a rage. Nerek's heart ached and he sought revenge.

The plan was simple, sneak onto what amounted to the Winterleaf estate and kill Elspan as he had killed Nerek's mother. For the first time even Gilean didn't know the plan, Nerek didn't want to get his friend in more trouble than he could handle. Nerek hunted his prey in the dead of night, sneaking past what little amounted to Halfling home defense. Nerek's natural agility made it easy, and he found himself right in the room of Elspan. Dagger in hand he looked over the snoring form, but couldn't do the deed. Angry and sad and hurt, murder was still not in his heart. So the distraught Halfling looked around and grabbed the strange thing off the night stand, he took Elspans gun, the gun that killed his mother.

Horrible at keeping secrets Nerek spilled his guts to Gilean the next day. Gilean being of good heart, and sounder mind then his friend made Nerek tell his father. Some harsh memories were dredged up that day, but Arak knew how Marita was killed and he knew this was the weapon that did it. Nerek vowed to never let it harm an innocent again, but to learn to use it for the greater good. The thing that took his mother would never bring fear to any again, especially not Nerek.