The Companions

Druss - The half orc fighter.

Druss is as charismatic as a lump of wood and as witty as a slug.He is a half orc by blood however the only thing that betrays this, apart from his massive frame, is that his lower jaw juts out revealing two small tusks.Standing 6'10", with hands the size of cured hams, and arms as thick as a normal mans leg, Druss has a formidable appearance.

Druss is the product of Orc's attacking a outlying farm owned by elderly couple almost 20 years ago. During the attack the farmer tried to defend his wife but was brutally killed and old lady was savagely raped. The old woman despite being already in her 50's became pregnant. She kept the child as she could not bring herself to kill it as she had never been able to fall pregnant to her husband. Birthing nearly killed her as the babe was the size of most 3 month old infants and she raised Druss teaching him to be a farmer.

Druss worked hard on the farm however the small patch of dirt could not support him and his mother as she needed many expensive healing herbs to fight an ongoing aliment. By the time he was 8 he was the size of most teenagers and he was working on other farms using his scythe to harvest crops with surprising efficiency. Druss moved from farm to farm earning extra money and soon became known as "The Harvester".

In the off seasons when there were no crops to harvest Druss tried hunting with a great bow he made however his size often gave him away. He then started working on fishing boats harpooning seals for blubber. Returning from his last trip he came home to find his mother dead in her bed, the illness finally taking her.

Now that nothing remained at the farm, Druss gathered together some gear, and with the money he had earned on the fishing boat bought some armour and had his harpoon and scythe converted into weapons for battle.

Druss was now ready to see what the world had to offer him.

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Naiden Swiftcaller - Human Bard.

In complete opposition to Druss, Naiden is all Charisma and not much else. Wit and his natural ability to pick up any stringed instrument and play it as good as almost anyone are what have got him by over the years. And made him popular with the local ladies, and perhaps not so popular with some of their husbands and suitors.Naiden knows a little of just about everything, which can be helpful but oftentimes can also be dangerous. Just enough knowledge to get himself and his friends into trouble is generally the outcome.Raised by simple farmer parents. They still work the land and Naiden helps...but not so that his skin would become calloused and cracked from too much hard work, he has a professional appearance to keep up you know.Before Naiden had even seen his first Lute or Mandolin, or sung his first note or even batted his first eyelid his inspiration for his later adult profession came from a wandering minstrel, Dupont the Grifter as he was known in his own circles, Dupont the Lute as he would have strangers know him. Dupont had been traveling through Rockyfalls but had been forced to stay for the whole winter due to heavy snow. He had been forced to make the best out of a bad situation. Using his charisma and appeal he lived comfortably off the charity of many of the townsfolk. During this time Naiden had become quite awed by the tall stores and limited musical talents of this wandering bard. As winter lessened its grip upon the area, so did the appeal of this overrated bards performances. He bid a hasty departure from the village and took with him many trinkets that he had managed to grift from lonely widows. Dupont's departure only heightened Naiden's curiosity with anything artistic. Over the years Naiden developed an extraordinary natural talent with stringed instruments of all varieties. He wrote numerous poems and melodies, songs to both lighten and sink hearts. Naiden has played at every annual Solstice Festival and the ever popular Onion Festival, his ballads bringing a tear to many eyes, no pun intended....well actually pun intended.In Naidens mind and perhaps many of the villagers too, his talent could not be denied and a strong drive to become recognized throughout the land has taken hold of his every thought. Naiden plans to take the world by storm with his artistic genius.

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Randall - Human Cleric of Tymora

Randell is a medium-sized, but quite overweight, man whose ribald youth is starting to turn into the grotequery of middle age. Most would say he was losing his physique, except that he never had a physique to start with. His shoulders are slightly hunched in pain from years of scribing books in the monastery, but he remains strong yet and has not yet fallen completely into the
decrepitude that the life of the sedentary often leads to.

He wears dull brown clothing, and his physique is turning to fat. Fine hands creased only with the labour of the indolent are out of keeping with the rest of his generally boorish appearance. His cassock is habitually stained from dragging in the mud, and occasionally from food if it is not wash day. He has an anxious look in his eyes, and a face clear of stubble, but he nonetheless
strives to project an air of supreme confidence that his abilities will win him through at the last, and this charismatic charm, despite his physical deficiencies, pervades the perceptions of those who see him.

Randell has been studying and working in the secretive monastery high on the hill for far too long. He has studiously avoided progressing in the ranks of the clergy through the studied art of competence at the cashbook and the journal, and not through competence as a missionary bringing the blazing light of Pelor to the peasants. Randell's calling from Pelor has been different to that, but no less important. Randell has spent ten years as the bursar for the orphanage, and in this role he has been competent, faithful, and diligent, if not brilliant.

To date, Randell has shown a hot desire for nothing but food and the avoidance of physical labour, but he has maintained his devotions to Pelor, and Pelor has never doubted him. However, due to his contact mainly with children during the day and his hessian cassock at night, he has maintained an appearance of being boorish and ill-kempt to most people, although they nevertheless find him charismatic and wise. Randell's indolence at physical labour, however, has brought him some scorn from rivals within the priesthood, and there have been rumours that Randell's role in the orphanage has allowed him to indulge in forbidden, perverted pleasures of the flesh while sustaining his studied art of laziness through misrepresentation and fraud in the monies of the Church. Completely unfounded, these rumours have lead to Randell's removal from the post of bursar, and the Abbott has told Randell to seek his way in the world to bring the blazing fiery light of conversion to peasants, gentry, and the nobility. Randell is
dismayed at the besmirchment of his good name, with rumours unproven and never brought directly to him by his accusers, and is woe-begone indeed to find that his former post of bursar - where he did nothing but good for the children - has gone to an overbearing, thin, man of despotic nature and devilry in his eyes. The rumours of Randell however have been widespread, and Randell's accusations have been met with stony silence and the desultory glare of the stupid. Randell's previous indolence is not completely cured, but he is now driven by his love for the small creatures of the forest and the small children in the orphanage - oh what shiningly bright eyes they have as they learn of the blazing crimson way of Pelor from Randell's tongue and become even more rooted in their faith! - towards a more proactive and adventurous way of life.

Randell is tired of having bad things happen to him. Now, Randell wants to happen to bad things!
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Crimson - Human Male Finesse Fighter (ooo ahhh) :P

Crimson is a professional and always has an air of control about him. Every move he makes or word he speaks is calculated to achieve desired effect. He never allows emotions or the circumstances, no matter how dire, to master him. He tirelessly maintains himself in top condition, and constantly seeks to improve his martial skills.Crimson also is terribly cunning, able to outthink as well as outfight his opponents. One aspect of his professionalism that is rare in a man is that Crimson usually never kills unless it is necessary. There has been the occasional exception, where Crimson killed somebody simply because he really wanted to. On two of these three occasions the victim had made the mistake of angering Crimson and provoking him. Crimson has vowed to "never leave an enemy in his wake." He does not take threats lightly. For the most part, those who are not enemies of Crimson or his allies have nothing to fear from him.

Crimson's greatest hatred and disgust is reserved for those who are willing to abandon or betray their children in an effort to save themselves. This is because of the events during his formative years, specifically because of something that was done to him by adults that as a child he should have been able to trust. Although Crimson has never revealed his total past, it appears that somebody close to him, most likely a parent or a close family friend, betrayed him when he was less than nine years of age. Whatever it was that happened, Crimson has been extremely reluctant to completely trust anybody since then.

Crimson is a tactical master, taking every advantage offered him and seeking to create more. He'll often do this by taunting his foe into anger and mistakes. Crimson is a consummate warrior, combining his agility and warrior's weapon skills to be a very dangerous swordsman. He specializes in a two-weaponed fighting style with the use of a two shorts or short sword and lonsword for added damage. He also favour's the bow or Heavy Repeating Crossbow.

Crimson reveals little about his past, but a little is known about his early life. Crimson was born into the streets and spent his youth in Baldur's Gate; here, he was constantly abused by his father and his uncle. He was taken in by a mercenary guild and taught the tricks of the trade including the basics of fighting. As Crimson practiced, he flourished, becoming a most efficient swordsman with unmatched agility and was hired by many merchants for his sword arm.