Sloade Pitrogar's page

Race Line in Profile:
CG Male Human
fighter
1
Class Line in Profile:
(HP 13 AC:15 T:11 F:14 Saves F:+6 R:+1 W:+1 CMB:+4 CMD:15 Init:+1 Perc: +2

Sloade Pitrogar remembers his father kneeling in the field as the dirt poured through his fingers. The ruined crop withered about him. A few moments later his father walked through the door and looked around at his hungry brood. When his eyes settled on Sloade he tearfully said, “Boy! It is time for you to learn a trade, a trade other than…this”. His eyes drifted momentarily to the ruined crop. “The blacksmith Jonas needs an apprentice and you’re old enough, and strong enough. Tell Ma to pack you some food and your nameday’s best clothes”.
Jonas looked him over. “Eh! I guess he’ll do.” Sloade not only did, but thrived! It was not long before he was crafting beautiful arms and armor. Jonas’ shop was a must-stop for anyone wishing to attend the tournament held each year after the long winter. “Soon you can hang out your own shingle.” Jonas remarked to him one day, “but it better be in another city because I don’t want to compete with you!”
One day Sloade was working at his anvil when three men entered the blacksmith shop. Sloade had seen them before as they had purchased several items in the past. The meanest of the three approached Jonas. “You owe me a refund old man!” the man growled as he threw the breastplate to the floor with a dull clank. The armor had a gash across the stomach. “I almost lost me innards do to that junk!” Jonas bent down and examined the armor. “There is nothing wrong with this. There are some weapons that can rend even the most well-forged armor. Who did you fight against?” Jonas asked. “That is none of your business, old man! Refund me and I’ll be on my way.” Jonas offered the man back his breastplate. “This is all you’ll be getting. I forge good armor and weapons, what misuse they suffer once they leave this store are not my responsibility!” The man placed his hand on the hilt of his blade. “Last chance old man.” Sloade did not notice one of the other men moving into position behind him. Jonas shook his head and began to look for the closest weapon in reach. “Then I guess we will take our refund then!” As Sloade began to raise the sword he had been busying hammering out, he was hit from behind with a helm that he had worked on earlier in the day by the man who had slipped behind him. As he fell to the floor he saw the mean man slash Jonas across the belly with his sword. “Now you will feel what almost happened to me!” The man screamed.
Sloade next smelled the smell of smoke in his nostrils. His eyes opened, but he immediately closed them due to the brightness of the fire. Fire! He forced his muscles to move. Through the smoke he found Jonas’ body but the man had already gone to join his deity. He scrambled out the door just as others were running toward the flames with buckets of water. It did no good-the blacksmith shop was destroyed.
His clothes and face covered in soot, Sloade went to every inn in town asking about the three men. “Oh those three!” the elderly innkeeper said at one inn, “They were a mean bunch! They left this morning and I can’t say it was soon enough! They were cantankerous and I thought I would have to call the city guard on them.” When Sloade asked the elderly innkeeper if they said where they were going, the innkeeper answered in the negative. “I don’t know where them boys are heading and I don’t want to know. Seems to me they don’t stay in one place too long, though.” As Sloade started out the door, the innkeeper laughed. “Are you going after them like that? Boy, you have no coin, no horse and your clothes are singed. You’d be better off joining the army! They will feed you, train you in arms and since the army is always on the move you might find those fellows.” The innkeeper continued to laugh as Sloade walked out the door. He might have meant it as a jape, but the idea was already taking root in the boy’s head. He went back to the ashes of the blacksmith shop and found some blackened armor and a sword. “Now where is the nearest recruiting place.” Sloade thought as he stepped into the city’s street.