Starting Gold: 400 gp
Current Gold: 60 gp, 0 sp, 3 cp
Physical Description:
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 180 lbs.
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Halden Elwood is a rugged looking man. He is both muscular and agile. His hair and beard look rather unkempt, as if it's been a while since he last returned to civilization. He typically wears a chain shirt, preferring the increased mobility over heavier armors. In town, he tends to wear a dark-green cloak in order to avoid the off-chance of somebody recognizing him.
Personality:
Halden tends to be wary around strangers, as he has spent plenty of time dealing with dangerous and untrustworthy people. However, once he does come to trust someone, he is a loyal friend. He does not seek out conflict, but has no problem resorting to violence if a situation turns ugly. He enjoys spending time in the woods, as well as drinking (which has become a bit of a problem as of late).
Halden is not especially religious, mostly because he was not exposed to many religions living in the rural forests. He can be somewhat grim, and is beginning to regret his criminal past. His biggest fear is that someday, karma is going to catch up to him and he will be punished for his past misdeeds.
Background:
Halden Elwood has always had a rough life. His parents were hunters living in the forests of Brevoy. Unfortunately, his mother died in childbirth, and his father, a man named Kassen, never truly recovered. Kassen did his best to teach his son the skills necessary to survive in the wilderness, and young Halden was a natural hunter. He was especially talented as an archer, and loved the feeling of taking down game from afar. However, the life of a huntsman was very lonely, and Halden felt himself longing for a sense of companionship. He had no real friends, and his father was always very strict and distant. It was no surprise when he ran from home in search of camaraderie as a teenager. He ended up in the River Kingdoms, where he joined a clan of bandits.
For several years, Halden spent time as a member of a number of different bandit clans. They made a fortune robbing caravans and stealing from travelers. After a successful raid, they would get drunk and celebrate. For the first time in his life, Halden had friends. He loved the sense of adventure that living as an outlaw and hiding from the authorities brought. However, these good times would not last.
Eventually, Halden ended up joining a group of brigands led by a man named Galvar. These bandits were much more ruthless than any other group that Halden had been a part of. They were willing to kill innocents, even women and children, in order to make a profit. Halden began to feel that what he was doing was wrong. One night, after a successful caravan raid had left Galvar's bandits with several prisoners, Halden decided that he had had enough. After most of the bandits had gotten too drunk and tired to notice, Halden managed to sneak through the camp. He was able to quietly free the prisoners, and stole some gold from the camp's stash. Unfortunately, Halden was spotted by a sentry while attempting to leave camp. He did not hesitate to draw his bow and put an arrow through his former friend before fleeing into the woods.
With Galvar's bandits, as well as local law enforcement, on his trail, Halden Elwood decided it was time to disappear. An expedition into the uncharted wilderness seemed like the perfect opportunity for a new start. As to whether Halden would continue on his path to redemption, or return to a life of crime, that was not yet clear.
