Baleon The Bloodhound's page

Baleon was an ordinary city guard when he married Medina, an exotic Varisian dancer who travelled from town to town with her nomadic clan. The marriage caused a scandal among Medina’s caravan, who disowned her and left without a goodbye, and with the local neighbourhood, who looked down on Medina as an “outsider”.

However, Baleon and Medina were happy for a time, even with the neighbourhood’s open hostility and racism slowly sapping at the newlyweds’ happiness, and planting the roots of an insidious depression in Medina. However, their relationship took a turn for the worse when, after a year of trying to conceive, the couple discovered from a travelling doctor that Medina was infertile.

Baleon’s sensitive nature, which had served as an emotional anchor and rock for Medina, was no longer enough to keep her from depression, as she felt cursed: She was utterly alone save for Baleon, and now she felt she had “failed” him. Her depression and insecurity over losing her husband led to violent arguments, and tearful accusations that Baleon did not really love her.

Feeling worn down, isolated, and helpless, Baleon believed that he had failed his wife, and that she was punishing him with her accusations. In his despair and desperation, he turned to the comfort of another woman, and took to avoiding Medina, subconsciously hoping that by punishing Medina, he would force her to climb out of her well of depression, even if only to rail against him.

That is when the murders started.

It began with the disappearance of local pets, then children went missing, leaving only the occasional bloody fingernail or lock of torn hair. One morning, after returning home from a tryst with his mistress, Baleon found the house deserted, and the burst door lock, tossed furniture and fresh blood stains foreshadowed the inevitable discovery that his wife was gone. All that was left was her wedding ring, which he snatched up before taking off after the spattered blood trail out of Westcrown toward an abandoned mill. There, he found the cultists and their lieutenant, who overpowered Baleon and set him in irons, along with several other prisoners, including his wife.

Beginning their ritual, the cultists slaughtered several of their prisoners, including Medina. As the cultists turned to Baleon and the remaining prisoners, Baleon felt the dark energies of the ritual fuel him, and he burst free from his shackles.

Baleon slaughtered the cultists and engaged their leader, but quickly found himself outmatched by the lieutenant's dark powers. With a final, fury fueled suicide lunge, a divine spark burst to life within Baleon. Golden fire enveloped Baleon’s blade, and the glowing steel shattered the cultist’s weapon and armor, and rent through flesh and bone. Baleon collapsed, exhausted.

Days later, an Iomedean priest explained to Baleon that he had unlocked dormant divine power into a paladin’s smite. Baleon received a commendation from the temple, but local authorities quietly swept the investigation under the rug for fear the incident would undermine the abilities of Chelish authority. None of the other victims' families received any information or resolution, for all the bodies (including that of Medina) were cremated, to Baleon's fury and indignation. The church of Iomedae was able to protect Baleon from becoming another piece of forgotten "collateral", but Baleon lost his position in the city guard and reluctantly agreed under a gaes not to reveal the circumstances of the case in order to avoid an "unofficial" execution.

However, Baleon’s guilt and uncertainty weigh heavy on his shoulders: He had failed the victims, and above all - he felt - Medina, who would not have been alone had he not abandoned her.

Baleon left Westcrown, resolving to put his newfound blessings and training to redeeming himself by fighting a noble cause: Halting the Abyssal tide pouring from the Worldwound, far to the north. Eventually, Baleon hopes to either earn enough gold from adventuring to bring his wife back from the dead, or at least her soul's liberation and safe passage out of the Abyss, where is certain her soul remains trapped.

You were forced to take part in a demonic ritual as a youth after having been captured by cultists. Whatever the ritual’s purpose may have been, it didn’t work out the way your captors envisioned—rather than corrupting your soul, you absorbed the ritual’s energy and made it your own
before you escaped to safety. Ever since, you’ve been haunted by strange nightmares about the ritual, and have long felt that the energies it bathed you in have changed you. Recently, those energies have changed—
it’s as if you’ve f inally managed to come to terms with your past and have turned the ritual’s aftereffects to your advantage, following the old adage of what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. You’ve been unable to learn
more about the ritual or what it was for, but the question lingers in the back of your head to this day. This nagging has instilled in you a fury against demonkind. Today, when you face demons in combat, those energies
bolster your fury, granting you a +2 trait bonus on all combat maneuver checks against demons. Associated Mythic Path: Champion. Multiple Characters: You and any other PC who takes this trait were all part of the same ritual, and it was only by working together that you managed to escape—further, the support of your fellow ritual survivors has played a key role in your coming to terms with it, and you retain a close bond of friendship
(or perhaps a friendly rivalry) to this day.

You grew up around those who fight the demons, and from their stories you learned about the demons' weaknesses. You likely have joined that nation's cause as a crusader.

Benefit(s): Once per day when fighting demons, you gain a +4 trait bonus on a single attack roll.

You are no stranger to loss and intense emotions.

Benefit: You gain a +2 trait bonus on all saving throws against emotion spells and effects.

A religious mentor instilled in you a sense of uncompromising integrity. You often speak your mind in defiance of any fear or hatred it might earn you, a habit that inspires others to trust you.

Benefit(s): You gain a +1 trait bonus on Diplomacy checks. This bonus increases to +2 when the Diplomacy check is made to influence those who are already friendly or helpful toward you.

1) Medina: Baleon seeks a way to free her soul from the clutches of the Abyss. What's more, Baleon's memory of his late wife drives him to seek justice... And redemption.

2)Justice: Too much is wrong with the world to stand idly by. Baleon once stood by and has regretted it ever since... He will not make the same mistake again.

3)Fairness: Whether noble, common, criminal, human, elf or orc, all deserve the protection of the law - None should receive special treatment based on class or birth, nor should they be punished for it.