Balthazar Stonescale

Dragonborn Barbarian (Berserker) - Shane in Heroes of Rosedale

Background

It was an evening like most others. Aatrox leaned back against the tree and let his legs dangle as he kept watch for the small caravan. He often hired on as a guide/guard for merchants traveling the roads between Buckmiris and Steadhelm, occasionally all the way up to Mantaus and Stoneybridge. The trips were by and large uneventful and it was an easy way to recoup some coin. Tonight he'd have no such luck as cries of “thief” and “kobolds” rang out from the camp. The eladrin grabbed his bow and jumped from the tree, landing easily on his feet and in a dead sprint for the caravan.

As he reached the camp Aatrox easily made his way to the spectacle. Two grown men covered in flour feverishly trying to hold on to a kobold, or so the travelers thought, and a loaf of bread being kicked about in the ruckus. It was an easy enough mistake for simple merchants to make, but in actuality they had caught a small dragonborn child, no more than 5 or 6, apparently looking to 'borrow' some food. Even for his small size the dragonborn strength was apparent, as it was all the men could do to hold on to the child. It was easy enough to put a stop to the commotion and explain the mix up to the travelers. Aatrox offered to look after the little scamp, and cover any losses out of his pay. After a small discussion they hesitantly agreed, but had his reputation been anything less than excellent among the merchants there more than likely would have been quite a bit more protest, especially from the two men covered in flour.

Aatrox led the boy to his little encampment just outside of the caravan. He rummaged through his pack and then handed the child some jerky. He couldn't help but wonder when his last meal had been as the jerky was devoured in a matter of seconds. The lad spoke a bit of common, but it was obvious it was not his primary language and he had merely picked up some words here and there. When Aatrox asked what his name was the response was something distinctly draconic. Unfortunately that was not a language the eladrin was very familiar with. Then he recalled the name of a dragon he had heard in tales around a campfire some years back… “Balthazar”. “How does that suit you lad, Balthazar?” He wasn't entirely sure, but he thought he saw a slight nod as the little rascal went for seconds of the jerky.

Over the years the two grew nigh inseparable. They built a small cabin on the outskirts of the small hamlet of Rosedale that they called home when they weren't on the road. Work for the caravans was steady throughout most of the year, and when Balthazar came of age he even joined his father in hiring on with them. It was the winter month though, when the traveling wasn't as easy and the caravans were fewer, that Balthazar enjoyed the most. This was when Aatrox would take his adopted son south to a small group of islands south of Buckmiris, the Fey Isles he called them. Though it was not common knowledge these islands held special meaning to the fey races for they were home to an entrance to the Feywild. Learning of the entrance was hard enough, but finding it could prove even trickier since it's location changed based on the lunar calendar.

It's true Balthazar had little time for school as most of his youth was spent on the road with his father. These yearly trips to the Feywild were where his lessons really took place. Aatrox schooled the boy on tracking and survival. He taught him to respect nature in all her forms, from the plants to the beasts, be they small or great. He tried to teach the lad to tread lightly, not to disturb more than he had to. Although Balthazar had a keen eye, unfortunately he has a heavier foot, and stealth did not come as naturally to him as it did to his father. Nevertheless Aatrox was generally pleased with the progress he'd make each winter.

It was roughly Balthazar's 10th winter in the Feywild and Aatrox had been giving him more freedom to roam and explore on his own. He had traveled a few hours from camp when he stumbled upon a cave entrance in the nook of a rocky hilltop. Curiosity overtook common sense, as was an all too common occurrence with the young dragonborn, and he ventured inside. The smell of rotted meat permeated throughout the cave and Balthazar found himself stepping over more bones than he cared to count as not to make more noise. Eventually he found himself looking at a rather large makeshift wooden door at least five feet wide and twice as tall. After listening carefully for a few moments, he could discern a rather intense snoring coming from beyond the door. The youngster thought better of the situation and hastily retraced his steps. He had just reached the entrance when the realization of what was snoring behind that door stood before him in the form of a cyclops.

He had heard tales from his father about these monsters and even though this one only stood a mere 8ft tall, roughly, it was a more formidable foe than Balthazar had ever faced. He was so shocked that he barely thought to dive away as a giant club smashed into the ground where he had been standing seconds before. This was a fight he could not win, but the cyclops still blocked his only discernible exit. The giant club came smashing down again as Balthazar narrowly rolled away. He leapt to his feet, drew his sword and quickly tried to compose himself. It was only a matter of time before the noise roused what he could only assume were more of these monstrosities sleeping behind that door. As he charged the cyclops he felt a rage, unlike anything he'd ever felt before, well up inside of him

So focused on his attack, he didn't see the club swinging in from the side until it was too late. A black shadow passed before his eyes and Balthazar knew that death had come for him. He reached into the depths of his soul to let out what would be his final battle cry. Pain seared his throat as lightening spewed forth from his mouth blasting through the incoming club. He stood there gasping for air in awe of what had just occurred. He looked up, searching for an answer. Instead he saw the shadowy form clinging to the neck of the cyclops. At first glance it looked like a panther… then Balthazar noticed the tentacles protruding from its shoulders… displacer beast! Anyone who had ever heard of the Feywild knew a displacer beast when they saw one. Not even take time to count his good fortune, he seized the opportunity and darted by the cyclops to freedom.

He ran for what seemed liked an eternity, until he could go on no further. The young dragonborn dropped to his knees, his throat still burning from the lightening. Then like the a wisp of smoke going up from a newly lit campfire there was a pop in the wind. Balthazar raised his head and found himself staring eye to eye with his salvation and his inevitable doom. The cold amber eyes of the displacer beast seemed as if they looked right through him. The beast opened its maw and Balthazar closed his eyes. Puuuuuuur One eye blinked open just in time to see a tongue lick him across the face.

The look on Aatrox's face was somewhere between apprehension and bewilderment as his son strolled back into camp covered in dust and gravel with a displacer beast by his side. He instinctively reached for his bow but retracted his hand as a smile creased his face. “I'd wager you have quite a story to tell lad, looks like a mountain fell on top of you. If I didn't know any better I'd think your scales were made of stone”.

So, Balthazar Stonescale, Aatrox, and Kha'Zix, the umm kitty, ended their stay in the Feywild a bit early that season and headed home to Rosedale. Balthazar didn't really mind as he had learned more during this shortened trip than all of his past ones combines.

He spent the rest of the winter the same way he spent most of his time around Rosedale, hunting the surrounding forests and making sure the families had enough meat and furs to last them. Any excess he'd sell off to the merchants or the random winter caravan. He wasn't really in it for the coin though, any excuse to spend time amongst the trees and stars seemed like a good enough one for him.

Status

  • Alive

Residence

  • Rosedale

Occupation

*Hunter
*Caravan Scout/Guide/Guard

Animal Companion

*Displacer Beast named Kha'Zix. Carries a hollow traveling pack on his back to conceal his tentacles and appear very much like an ordinary panther.


Character Summary:

Balthazar Stonescale, level 1
Dragonborn, Barbarian (Berserker)
Heartland Option: Arid Desert
Dragonborn Racial Power Option: Dragon Breath
Dragon Breath Key Ability: Dragon Breath Strength
Dragon Breath Damage Type: Dragon Breath Lightning
Associate: Trained Displacer Beast
Auspicious Birth (Auspicious Birth Benefit)
Theme: Fey Beast Tamer

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 18, CON 12, DEX 16, INT 10, WIS 12, CHA 16

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
STR 16, CON 12, DEX 16, INT 10, WIS 12, CHA 14

AC: 18 Fort: 16 Ref: 15 Will: 13
HP: 33 Surges: 9 Surge Value: 9

TRAINED SKILLS
Athletics +9, Nature +6, Perception +6

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +3, Arcana +0, Bluff +3, Diplomacy +3, Dungeoneering +1, Endurance +1, Heal +1, History +2, Insight +1, Intimidate +5, Religion +0, Stealth +3, Streetwise +3, Thievery +3

POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Dragonborn Racial Power: Dragon Breath
Multiple Class Utility: Defender Aura
Barbarian Attack: Vengeful Guardian
Barbarian Attack 1: Jarring Smash
Barbarian Attack 1: Run Down
Barbarian Attack 1: Savage Cut
Barbarian Attack 1: Life-Ending Strike

FEATS
Level 1: Unarmored Agility

ITEMS
Cloth Armor (Basic Clothing) x1
Greatsword x1
Adventurer's Kit
Javelin

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