Brayden Foxley's page

Brayden strives to be the heavy-hitting punisher of the party, designed to deal damage and tank while still having some healing capability.

An Andorian who watched his closest friend bloodily murdered in front of him, and now seeks justice in the form of freeing those around him from slavery. Brayden became a Paladin and devout follower of Iomedae. Directed to the begin his adventure during a vision of his goddess, he seeks justice in ending slavery wherever it still exists. While he alone may not be enough to alleviate the suffering, he will return to Andoran and report his findings to his companions to see what may be done.

Brayden knelt at a fountain in Andoran, a statue of Iomedae across from him. Moss covered the rocks on the ground of the massive stone structure. Water emerged from just in front of the statue's feet, spouting up to waist level and then trickling back down into a reservoir. The process was mesmerizing and tranquil; something one could daydream next to for days while staring up at the sky. Years of condensation and evaporation had formed residue on Iomedae's sword, although this was maintained by the town's workers.

The statue was beautiful and breathtaking. She carried a long sword and shield. The stone cape that adorned her back had been dyed scarlet by some form of magic, and the Light of the Sword embossing her shield had been heated and painted to maintain its lustre. A white and golden haired aasimar man, Brayden's skin was as pale as moonlight, yet it had a certain glow. He wore a suit of scale mail on top of a blue and gold doublet. He kept his hair short and straight, adding a squareness to the rest of his face also complimented by his jawline.

As he knelt there, Brayden wept. Orc barbarians had slaughtered his mentor and lifelong friend, Illidus, and he had been asking for redemption. He collected himself, and shouted up at Iomedae.

"I will not be taken prisoner by my free will!"

"I will never abandon a companion, though I will honor sacrifice freely given!"

"I... I will suffer death before dishonor!"

Reciting the tenets as he had done so many times before, Brayden grew frustrated. His companion, a noble paladin, had been killed nearly two months ago, and Brayden had been beside himself with grief. He asked Iomedae for deliverance and restitution at midnight every day, yet nothing ever happened.

But today was different. The air was almost alive with electricity. Just breathing it in caused Brayden to form knots his stomach, making him nauseous and lightheaded.

Just then, the Light of the Sword emblazoned on the statue's shield began to glow. It grew brighter and brighter, and the outline of the statue now took on a ghostly, almost ethereal presence. Brayden heard a powerful female voice begin to speak in his mind.

"Young Brayden, please do not fear the death of your companion. He died a noble death, worthy of a paladin, in order to protect his friend.
Honor his sacrifice that you may carry in his footsteps. Rid the lands of oppression, and never refuse a challenge.
I bestow on you the rites of the paladin. Head North to the snow-covered lands if you seek answers."

With a flash, an iron bardiche appeared in the sky and fell horizontally at Brayden's knees with a loud clang. The glow on the statue's shield had faded, and the statue returned to its lifeless self.

Brayden stared into the distance, his eyes unfocused, entranced by what had just happened. He didn't know how, but he felt renewed. This was the blessing he needed. These were the words he wanted to hear. His prayers had been answered, and he felt reborn.

Brayden quickly stood up. With a smirk on his face and a look of renewed hope in his eyes, he thought to himself, My dear friend Illidus, I will not forget you as long as a I live. I have been shown the way by our goddess, and I will seek answers and justice in my travels.

Now a paladin, Brayden collected his long sword and prepared to travel in search of vengeance.

Brayden was unexpectedly born to human artisans in Andoran. While his mother was certainly leery of his shockingly white tresses at birth, his father assured her that this was a blessing from Iomaedae.

Growing up, Brayden became fascinated with the history of his hometown, learning of its one-time bleakness and its later revolution and redress from injustice. He felt empowered by his new knowledge, and chose to worship Iomedae devoutly.

A natural charmer, Brayden spent his adolescence courting various human girls, spending his parents earnings on charms, spices, and flowers for them. His flirtiness was directed not only at women, and Brayden found himself attracted to men and women; humans, elves, and dwarves all the same. Not everyone was always as accepting, as he would find out when purchasing a purple mule-hair scarf for a half-orc and presenting it alongside a tap on her bottom.

Brayden befriended a fellow human, Illidus, when he joined the Eagle Knights of Andoran early in his adulthood. Once a slave himself, Illidus mentored Brayden in combat and altruism, teaching him how slavery once plagued Andoran and that nothing is more important than the health, safety, and happiness of others.

While traveling through the wilderness, Illidus and Brayden encountered a tribe of orc barbarians, who captured Illidus and slaughtered him as Brayden watched. This would affect Brayden for years as he continued to search for those barbarians and obtain justice that his friend deserved.