Leithbridge Gravenhurst was born the third son of four children to a Brevan noble family. His father's role for all of his sons was clearly spelled out. Leithbridge's oldest brother, Lysander, will inherit all titles and estates. His second brother, Ruthier, was sent to study the arcane arts. Leithbridge himself was expected to become a priest, whereas his little sister, Telmaine, was to be of use to the family in catching the eye of another prominent noble family scion and garner yet more wealth and prestige. Still, a noble's son should be educated and Leithbridge was schooled in his letters and sums as well as taught the skill of arms in the traditional Aldori way. Of course, living in the capital city of Restov ensured the best of tutors. Thus, it was Leithbridge's desire to join the vaunted ranks of the Aldori Swordmasters that brought him to this point.
His mother, a noble daughter of House Medvyed, taught her children many of her family's customs and traditions. Her lessons included graceful interaction with the courts of the fae, a respect for nature and the skills to thrive in the wilderness, her family's upholding of the ancient ways of Curchanus, and how to find their way through the deepest wilds. Of them, Leithbridge and Telmaine took his mother's teachings to heart, venerating the wild places, the fae and the memory of Curchanus.
While Leithbridge was daring and a natural leader amongst his childhood friends, leading them on grand adventures reminiscent of an early Brevoy; Telmaine seemed born to nature. From the way Sylvan trilled off her tongue, to her unerring insight into the mysteries of nature, Telmaine expressed the ancient myths of the Medveyed family having been born of the first world.
Upon his coming of age, Leithbridge had decided that the priesthood wasn't for him. Having failed to change his father's mind, Leithbridge stole away during the night, taking only those belongings he could carry. He knew his mother would understand and with her gentle way she would avoid the lightning and thunder that would be his father’s invection. On his way through the manor, Leithbridge passed a portrait of one of his esteemed forebearers, an original Taldan pioneer and one of the founders of Brevoy, a student of the Baron Sirian Aldori himself, and one of Leithbridge's personal heroes. His ancestor's dueling sword, mounted below the portrait for as long as Leithbridge could remember, reminded him that he had nothing more than the paired daggers his father insisted all of his sons wear at all times to call his own. As no one ever used the sword and since, to Leithbridge's way of thinking, he was pursuing the path of his ancestor, he removed the sword and took it with him. The only pang of regret Leithbridge felt at his departure was a sense of abandoning Telmaine. As consolation (and truthfully, to assuage his guilt) he promised to come back to rescue her once he has secured his fame and fortune.
Here we find Leithbridge Gravenhurst, on his own and wishing to put distance between himself and his family. The opportunity to explore uncharted lands and possibly make a name for himself are just what he desires.
Leithbridge Gravenhurst CR 1/2
Male Human Fighter (Aldori Swordlord) 1 (Inner Sea Primer pg 24)
NG Medium Humanoid Human [Taldan(Brevan)] (PRPG Core Rulebook)
Init +4; Senses Perception +0
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DEFENSE
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AC 15, touch 14, flat-footed 11 (+4 Dex, +1 Armour)
hp 13 (1d10+3)
Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +0 (+1 vs. fey spells and supernatural abilities)
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OFFENSE
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Spd 30 ft.
Melee MW Cold Iron Aldori Dueling Sword +8 (1d8+1/19-20/x2)
. . Dagger, silver +5 (1d4) 19-20/x2 P or S
Ranged Dagger, silver +5 (1d4) 19-20/x2 P or S
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STATISTICS
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Str 13, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 14
BAB +1, CMB +2(+3), CMD +16
Feats Fighter Armour Proficiencies, Fighter Weapon Proficiencies, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Aldori Dueling Sword), Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus [longsword (Aldori Dueling Sword)]
Traits Ancestral Weapon (mw cold iron aldori dueling sword), Noble Born (Medvyed)
Skills Acrobatics +4, Climb +0, Diplomacy +2 (+4 vs. fey), Heal +0, Intimidate +6, Knowledge (nature) +6, Knowledge (nobility) +3, Knowledge (religion) +4, Perception +0, Ride +4, Sense Motive +0, Survival +0, Swim +0
Languages Common, Sylvan
Combat Gear Masterwork Aldori Dueling Sword, cold iron, Dagger, silver, Padded Armour; Other Gear Blanket, winter, Broskvovice (1/2 bottle) (Brevic plum brandy), Explorer's Outfit, Flour (1lb.), Holy Symbol, silver, Oats (1lb.), Pouch, belt, Rations, trail (2.5 lbs.), Sack, Salt (1lb.), Signet Ring, Waterskin (1 lb.), Whetstone (1 lb.)
Age 18
Physical 5'11", 185 lbs, Golden eyes, Brown hair, Bronze skin
Ancestral Weapon - You have inherited a sacred tribal weapon wielded by your forebears since the days before the Rain of Stars, and you were trained in its use from a young age. Select either cold iron or silver. You begin play with a masterwork melee weapon made of the material of your choice. You must be proficient with this weapon, and its combined cost cannot exceed 500 gp. You gain a +1 trait bonus on attack rolls with weapons made of the selected material.
Noble Born - You claim a tangential but legitimate connection to one of Brevoy’s noble families. If you aren’t human, you were likely adopted by one of Brevoy’s nobles or were instead a favored servant or even a childhood friend of a noble scion. Whatever the cause, you’ve had a comfortable life, but one far from the dignity and decadence your distant cousins know. Although you are associated with an esteemed name, your immediate family is hardly well to do, and you’ve found your name to be more of a burden to you than a boon in many social situations. You’ve recently decided to test yourself, to see if you can face the world without the aegis of a name you have little real claim or care for. An expedition into the storied Stolen Lands seems like just the test to see if you really are worth the title “noble.” Choose one of the following noble families and associated benefits.
Medvyed - Your family has long a deep respect for the wilderness and is superstitious about the creatures that dwell therein. You gain a +2 trait bonus on all Diplomacy checks made to deal with fey creatures and a +1 trait bonus on Will saves made against their spells and supernatural abilities. Your family motto is “Endurance Overcomes All.”
