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Campaign Journal
Dramatis Personae
The History of Brodan the Brandisher Brodan was born the only child of a wheelwright and his wife, devout Laraniians both, in the small hamlet of __________, where he was exposed early to the craft of blacksmithing. His size, quite large for his age, set him apart from the other boys and aided in the shop where his father put him to use carrying fuel for the forge and working the bellows. His parents also taught him the greater glory of service to Larani, and he decided to join the priesthood when he was twelve. Instead of merely being accepted into the ranks, the large number of would-be initiates caused a competition to be held, the winners to be accepted into the holy order... The first event was a trial by combat, the elders believing that the Laranian priest must be willing to undergo pain and bodily harm to defend his faith. Brodan did well, initially, clubbing the other boys with a battle lust that would only intensify in later years. However, one of the older boys pulled a dagger and knifed Brodan, leaving his unconscious form bleeding on the testing field. Because of his loss, Brodan was forced into the second match, a footrace, in which Brodan's high constitution and soon-to-be legendary endurance helped him stay ahead of the pack. However, his inexperience in racing showed and he finally dropped, beaten by a skinny endurance racer. Brodan's final chance was a swimming competition across the local pond. Unfortunately, not knowing how to swim, he was pulled, half drowned from the pond before the race had even begun. It was known only by his closest companions that Brodan maintained a deathly fear of the water ever since, and only the lure of adventure and the drugging of his food would get Brodan on a boat. After recuperating, his fury was immense, to say the least. Fetching up his father's smaller smith hammers, he arrived at the knifer's house and pummeled the boy into a pulp on the doorstep as his family watched, horrified. So fiercely did Brodan wield the hammer, after years of smith work, that he was called "the Brandisher" and was called outcast and ruffian and was made unwelcome in his home. Brodan fled the hamlet of his birth soon after, stowing away in a trading caravan, and heading to ___________, where he was finally allowed entrance to the priesthood of Larani, though his long sought after goal was hollow when attained. Brodan was schooled in the ways of Larani, but the youth grew restless within the walls of the monastery. He took his leave and met up with some other travellers namely Haukham, a Khuzdul blacksmith, and Shadoe's Claw, a renegade Lia-kavar Lyhavi mage of some skill. Haukham would later forge Brodan's "Jawbreaker," a hammer of immense size and strength. Together, the group explored some of the vast uncharted regions of the dark forests north of Lake Banath. They found a cave complex built long ago by a insane Shek-pvar, who's experements in necromancy had turned him into an ageless decaying creature. The mad creature believed that the unfortunate group were students, here to complete their training. Through cleverness and subtlety, the group managed to explore the complex and recover some of the old mage's relics, as well as convince it to destroy a group of gargun that had followed them here. Brodan eventually managed to flee the creature, but in doing so, lost Shadoe's Claw and caused the death of Haukham. With a new outlook on the world, Brodan the Brandisher entered into Shiran an older and more experienced man. He wandered into the Rafters Inn looking for a place to stay, and ended up meeting Khare Pesed (still travelling under the name Finlor of Telen), Arden Ford, Erithrian and Penryn the Red. Over several bottles of wine and playing on Brodan's displeasure with Laraniian philosophy, Khare managed to convert Brodan from Larani to Agrik, a move that would rock the entire island of Harn in years to come... Brodan traveled with his new comerades for quite some time, travelling, learning, strengthening. Eventually, Brodan was to emerge as enemies with Arden Ford and rivals with Khare for the position of Leader among the group. It was about this time, in northern Orbaal, that a porter by the name of Skyler Winterbourne saved his and Khare's life on Welmoch's Wall. Brodan and Skyler fast became friends, having the same outlook on women, battle and ale: the more the better... War Chant of Brodan – Deaf Forever (Mötörhead – Orgasmatron) Stoneface dog, swirling fog, gates open on the
dark dark night Sword and shield, bone and steel, rictus grin March or croak, flame and smoke, burn forever in
eternal pain Sword and shield, bone and steel, rictus grin Mother earth, mother earth, enfold you in her cold
embrace Sword and shield, bone and steel, rictus grin Deaf forever to the battle's din.
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