Breckwith

We lived on a charcoal farm at the base of the Whentoph mountains. We had to live close to the forest because we used it to make charcoal.

I had a very large, extended family, in which Harlan, my cousin, was a prominent member. He used to watch us younger kids and keep us out of trouble... wel... most of the time. I was kinda a rambunctious kid, always climbing and getting into scrapes and leading the other little ones into minor troubles as kids are known to get into. Harlan was always set to watch us, but it was easy to distract him. All you had to do was mention some bit of this or that, that came from some book and he would go all moon-eyed like he saw a pretty girl and then he would ramble and talk on and on and on. After he was talking, it was simply a matter of walking away and doing what we liked.

In any case, life for me was pretty good. Each day I only needed to do a few chores and after they were done, I had my time to myself. I would usually spend it at the creek pretending to be the most famous of my kin, Azar Belloma. He was a warrior of some skill. WEl... more than me by a great deal, but considerably less than Lord Balantine. All the chores helped me build my fram into what it is today and also made me one of the strongest in my family. After a time I was doing work with the 'menfolk' and was getting a full plate, just like them. Harlan stayed puny from doing little of the actual physical work, but I guess he worked his mind..? I don't even know if that is possible. It sounds painful to me. Anyway, this went on for several years until last spring when I was out beating on trees with a long log I had found. it looked like a sword and I enjoyed slaying the "orcs" and "goblins" I found there in the brush. Along came this incredibly tall creature, which I later found out was a troll. He grabbed me up and disabused me of thinking that I was a warrior at that time. He stuffed me in this filthy sack and then carried me away. I thought for sure I was going to end up in the bottom of a cookpot, but somehow I was dropped when a loud commotion was happening around me. I think that an adventurer found the nasty bugger and decided to give him what-for. I crawled out after all was quiet and found myself in snow. I walked for hours and fell asleep against a rough wall, but I was so tired, I didn't care.

I was shook rather roughly and when I scrambled to my feet, I found a guard straightening and leaning on his spear. "What for you leaning against the town wall son?" he asked me. I said, "Sorry sir, I didn't know it was your wall, I was cold and this was the only shelter I could find." He nodded and looked at me for a time. "You's a little big for a young fella ain't ya?" he asked again. "Yessir, or so my folks tell me" I replied. "Well's there's no sleeping against the walls of Icemule Trace, so's I suggest you's be finding a way to make some money.” He said, as he continued to look at me. I was feeling a bit out of sorts, as you may understand. "I am sorry sir, but I know of no way to get any money, if you could point me back toward Wehnimer's Landing, I'll be on my way." I replied. I shivered a bit as I waited. He grinned with an ugly gap-toothed smile and said, "oh, no son, there's no going there for you... leastwise not for the nonce." He spit through his teeth and leaned a bit more heavily on his spear."

I must have had a fretful look on my face and he must have been felt generous because he reached around behind a bush and found a delapidated suit of leathers and an old, bent short sword. These he handed to me and then said, "here, put this on and take this here sward and go around the bend yonder. You'll find a nasty little kobold. When you's see him, you's stick the pointy end into him until he stops squealing." I must have turned green because the guard laughed at my face so hard I thought he would hurt himself or maybe lose control of his bladder. I walked away, feeling a bit sweaty and cold at the same time. As I walked I thought about what he said. Kobolds are nasty little nicks and what do I care if they squeal when I stick em. I figure this is either me or it, and I don't want to die out here in the cold, alone away from my family, even that wuss Harlan. I walked some more and a squel rocked me from my thoughts. There in front of me was a nasty, filthy, evil little Kobold and he was standing out here in the cold. I got mad.... really mad. Everything turned red and I could not see anything. Time passed unrecognized by me until sometime later. When I could see things again I was on my knees and the kobold was skewered in half. Almost as if he had been cleaved in twain by that troll, but the troll was not in view. I looked around and saw nothing near me so I quickly stepped over parts of the kobold and found a small bit of coin and a gem. It was a blue spinel I think and this was fortunate. Azar was said to have eyes as bright as bright blue spinel. This was a sign, a sign that I was to follow in his footsteps and be a warrior like him. Needless to say, I was able to make my way into town and find a little shelter and food. Later a few nice people helped me and told me about a tour guide who would, for a fee, bring me to Wehnimer's Landing and let me stay there. I came to The Landing and started my training in earnest to be a warrior and to make my family proud."