Khelvor De'Mortis's page

Khelvor De'Mortis
Male Halfling Paladin 1
LG Small Humanoid (halfling)
Init +3; Senses Perception +7
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Defense
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AC 19, touch 14, flat-footed 16 (+5 armor, +3 Dex, +1 size)
hp 12 (1d10+2)
Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +3; +2 bonus vs. illusions
Resist
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Offense
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Speed 20 ft.
Melee Greatsword +3 (1d10+1/19-20/x2)
Ranged Longbow +5 (1d6/x3)
Special Attacks smite evil (1/day)
Spell-Like Abilities Detect Evil (At will)
Paladin Spells Prepared (CL 1):
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Statistics
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Str 12, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 16
Base Atk +1; CMB +1; CMD 14
Feats Point Blank Shot
Traits Friend of the Family (Koya) (Ex), Magical Knack (Paladin)
Skills Acrobatics -1 (-5 jump), Climb -3, Craft (sculpture) +5, Diplomacy +7, Escape Artist -1, Fly +1, Knowledge: Religion +4, Perception +7, Ride -1, Sense Motive +6, Swim -3; Racial Modifiers +2 Perception
Languages Common, Halfling
SQ aura of good
Other Gear Scale mail, Arrows (40), Greatsword, Longbow, Backpack (9 @ 4.375 lbs), Bedroll, Belt pouch (3 @ 0.46 lbs), Earplugs, Ebony Figurine (Daltan), Flint and steel, Hip flask, Symbol of Erastil, Sack (empty), Scroll case (empty), Trail rations (4), Waterskin, 14 GP, 2 SP, 7 CP
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Special Abilities
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Aura of Good (Ex) The paladin has an Aura of Good with power equal to her class level.
Detect Evil (At will) (Sp) You can use detect evil at will (as the spell).
Earplugs +2 save vs. hearing effects, -5 hearing-based Perception.
Friend of the Family (Koya) (Ex) +1 vs foes threatening Koya.
Magical Knack (Paladin) +2 CL for a specific class, to a max of your HD.
Point Blank Shot +1 to attack and damage rolls with ranged weapons at up to 30 feet.
Practicality (Craft [sculpture]) +2 Bonus to saves vs. illusion spells and effects.
Smite Evil (1/day) (Su) +3 to hit, +1 to damage, +3 deflection bonus to AC when used.

Background Story

As easy to overlook as a child in a crowd, Khelvor De'Mortis, or "Khel" as he is called by those who know him, is a study in the ability of one to overcome even the toughest of odds in life and find a way to continue to look on the bright side of things. He was low born, to a family without two coppers to rub together, living in a logging camp on the foothills of the Fogscar Mountains where the rolling hills meet the Churlwood. His parents were "toppers", halflings who were known for their ability to quickly climb even the tallest trees, gaining an accurate measurement of the height, and then scurrying back down again. It was a rough life for Khelvor growing up, as he shared none of his parent's skill, instead always looking to the horizon and wishing for something more.

Because of his inability to perform as a topper, and the simple fact that his family couldn't afford to continue to feed the quickly growing halfling, he signed on to a work crew headed for the winter season to work in Galuria after his 14th birthday. There the inland fishing vessels of the mighty Ember Lake were built, and it was his hope to find some excitement, and a bit of coin, in the big city. For the first time in years Khelvor had a lightness to his step, and skipped along the cold road on his way to brighter things.

In Galuria, he found work indeed, but not what he was hoping for. While the larger men were hired on as carpenters and shipwrights, Khelvor was given a job as a laborer, assigned to sweep up sawdust and wood shavings. His pay for this thankless and tiring work? A place to sleep in the covered ship house, a smelly blanket, two pitiful meals a day, and three copper per week. As sad as it was, it was three copper per week more than he would have been able to make back home. So he lived through the short jokes, the jeers, and the bullies, and kept his chin up. He knew there was something out there for him, he just had not found it yet.

For four long years he worked the docks, cleaning up after the carpenters, and watching them work. On occasion he would palm a worthwhile piece of wood scrap and carry it off to his bunk in the evening, where he would use his nimble fingers to carve them into heroes, villains, monsters, and dragons. It was at night, with his little wooden army, that he would find some peace and enjoyment. He would fight battles, rescue the princess, and save the village from certain destruction, night after night. Then, one day while sweeping up on the docks, misfortune struck.

It was a day like any other, with the regular comings and goings on the docks. The sun was high in the sky and Khelvor was hard at work, cleaning up the mess that everyone else left behind. On this day a new group of men from the outer areas had come in for work. A rowdy group of them had gathered by the ship house and were joking with each other and shouting remarks at Khelvor. In his usual manner he ignored the taunts, thinking to himself that the people who have such foulness in them were not worth getting upset over. As he walked to the trash barrels near the men one of them walked towards him, talking louder and saying that runts had no place in a city of men. Unexpectedly he kicked Khelvor in the rump as he had passed by, causing him to fall over a pile of wood and onto the ground. As poor Khelvor fell, a number of his tiny wooden miniatures spilled out of his pocket onto the ground.

As soon as he gathered his senses and realized what had happened he reached for his treasures in an attempt to gather them back up, his backside still feeling the sting of the large man's kick. The bigger man quickly snatched up a handful of the tiny figures and began joking about the child having his toys with him while he worked. The others joined in on the laughter and taunted Khelvor and his toys. Tears streamed down Khelvor's face as his heart sunk into his chest. What had he done to deserve this? The big man that had grabbed the toys was only spurred on by this, laughing along with his friends. Then, with a hand that dwarfed the tiny figures, he closed his fist and crushed the delicate wooden toys into fragments, letting them fall to the ground. It was then that things began happening very suddenly for Khelvor, who was already suffering from the altered vision of tear filled eyes.

From behind where he was sitting Khelvor saw a long stick lash out from behind him, rapping the large man on the top of the head. The man tumbled to the ground like a sack of potatoes, and suddenly his group of friends were no longer laughing. A hand touched Khelvor on the shoulder, and despite the pain he felt in his heart, a sense of peace washed over him, and his sobs quickly stopped. Then, from the point behind him, strode a man dressed in simple clothing and carrying a short pole with metal shod ends. The friends of the large man rushed up to quickly throttle the newcomer who had dropped their friend. The next few seconds were a blur of bodies falling to the ground, the resounding crack of wood on bone, and a flurry of activity coming from the man who had stood up for the miserable looking halfling. In that short span of time, this simple looking man had laid low all six of the new workers who had decided to spend their afternoon teasing someone who could do nothing to defend himself, and it had cost them dearly. Moans came from the pile of men and it was clear that none of them would forget this beating for a good while.

The man then walked over to Khelvor and extended a hand, helping him to his feet. He introduced himself as Daltan, and asked if he could buy the halfling a drink and perhaps a bit of lunch. Khelvor quickly agreed, glad to be as far away from the nasty men as possible before they came back to their senses. So the two of them walked off from the docks towards the inner part of the city. They shared a meal, and on Daltan's request Khelvor shared the story of how he came to be in Galuria and some of his experiences since his arrival. He also was asked to show the stranger some of his toys, which Daltan immediately took an interest in, praising their quality and attention to detail. Then it was the stranger's turn to share his tale.

It seems that Daltan lived a life as an adventurer during his younger years, something that immediately fascinated Khelvor. Sitting here next to him could be one of the very knights that Khelvor had carved from his imagination! Daltan had made quite a fortune for himself over the years, fighting evil and doing good wherever he and his friends were able. Daltan called himself a paladin, a faithful servant of Erastil, whom Khelvor was familiar with as being a goodly god. After the years grew on, and his age began to show, he had decided to retire from the life of adventurer and become a simple merchant. He opened a small shop in Galuria and began selling the very goods he was once a buyer of, adventuring gear and equipment. Because of his experience as an adventurer himself he was an instant success. He was able to ease into retirement and continue to make a very good living for himself and his family.

Seeing Khelvor's talent with his hands, his pure heart, and his kind soul, Daltan saw one last thing he might do in the service of his god before his tale came to an end. At the conclusion of their lunch, Daltan offered Khelvor a job at his shop. He would be responsible for helping tend the store, stock goods, and offer a special service that no other store could; custom sculptures of a brave customer in his newly purchased gear, to be given to a loved one to keep as a token while the hero was off chasing down evil and saving the world. In his heart Daltan knew that this would be the path that would bring Khelvor the confidence he needed for what was ahead of him.

And so, Khelvor began his work with his newly found friend. He was given a room adjacent to the shop where Daltan worked, and he was welcomed by Daltan's family to their dinner table. He cleaned, he stocked the goods, and he carved wonderful figurines of the various customers that wanted to purchase a token for a loved one. And on the side, he learned about Erastil. It was never pushed upon him, but rather thrown into the conversations he had with Daltan during their working hours. He learned about what a paladin really was, and what was expected of them. He was told about how the strong should always protect the weak, and that one should never allow for a fellow to be trod upon by other. He learned of chivalry, of purity, and of what was expected of those who found within themselves the strength to fight for those who could not. And he also learned about the weapon that Erastil favored above all, the longbow.

During his off times Khelvor also developed a keen interest in not only hearing tales of adventure, but reading about them as well. He spent hours pouring over books and tomes that Daltan had collected over his years of adventure, and also made use of the public libraries of the Twilight Academy. While he seemed to have an almost innate knack for a few minor magical tricks, his attention was drawn more to the ancient tales of the lands surrounding him and the people that came long before him and his kind. His appetite was insatiable and he absorbed knowledge like a sponge.

Khelvor made several visits with his adopted family to Sandpoint over the years of his employment, usually to pick up a shipment of goods for the store. His family had close ties to the Mvashti family and they stayed with them on almost every occasion. Khelvor was always very fond of both Niska and Koya, and was always eager for the journey to Sandpoint so he could listen to their tales of the lands beyond his own.

For another six years Khelvor stayed within Galuria, learning from Daltan and working by his side. During those years his skills expanded, he honed his craft on target and customer alike. For the targets, he learned how to put a bow to use in ways he had never imagined. He learned to hit the smallest of targets, ones that moved, and even those targets hidden behind obstacles. For the customer, he learned wit, banter, and a silver tongue. His sales pitch was a thing of beauty, and he prided himself on always offering the fairest of prices without being taken by a shrewd haggler. He learned of the people of the lands and the surrounding areas of Galuria. And he learned that a life as a merchant was not what he was meant for, and Daltan completely agreed.

So it was, just a few weeks ago, that the day came where Khelvor said his farewells to Daltan and his family, promising to return soon with his own tales of adventure. Tales of new-found adventure in the familiar city of Sandpoint reached his ears and set his course. On his back he carried a pack of goods, given to him by Daltan and his family. He also carried with him the bow that Daltan himself had made for Khelvor, just the right fit for his small stature. And hidden in a pouch on his belt was one final thing he took away from his adopted family, a small ebony figurine of the man who had changed his life forever, one Khelvor had carved with the most delicate touch and care.

It was not long after his arrival in Sandpoint when Khelvor received the summons to the Mvashti household, finding Niska on her deathbed. It was there where she swore him to his oath, to accompany her daughter on a long and dangerous journey. It was there that his adventure began...

Mannerisms: Khelvor is light-hearted and is always quick to produce a smile when needed. His years with the family of Daltan taught him strong values and the worth of companions. His motivations lie in living a full life and doing good for others as it was once done for him. He will be the first to stand up for the little guy in a situation, even if that little guy is twice his size. He is eloquent in speech without being ingratiating and his still humble enough to buy a beggar a bowl of stew with the last coin in his pocket.