Talden Skard is the son of Byron Skard, a local carpenter who took over his father's business at the age of 15 after both of his parents died of disease. As a young man Byron quickly established himself as a shrewd and competent business man; well liked and looked to for a calm head during turbulent times.
One day a young Varisian woman named Tanasia appeared in town selling flowers and herbal remedies on the street corner. Most of the villagers were content to simply ignore her but Byron surprised many of the villagers by taking the young woman into his house as a house keeper and maid.
Tanasia, was considered a strange woman with strange habits and although the villagers were grateful for her skills with animals, herbs and remedies, many considered her appearance in the village a bad omen. The day before every full moon she would go into the woods to collect ingredients for her poultices and wouldn't return until noon two days later. Villagers whispered that she consorted with fey and other strange creatures of the land during this time and would put charms and holy symbols out while she was away to ward off any evil spirits she might send.
When Byron announced that Tanasia was to become his wife, despite years of rebuffing offers from the parents of the many eligible young women in town, whispers began that Tanasia somehow managed to enchant Byron. Eventually Tanasia became pregnant and many hoped that she would settle down and they were heartened when she ceased her trips into the forest. Byron beamed with pride at the prospect of a child until the day Talden was born. For upon his birth it was readily apparent that Talden was different. Though he shared his parents looks Talden bore a peculiar and distinct birthmark over his heart and showed signs of being something more than just human. Despite Tanasia's protestations that Byron was indeed the father and that the mark should be seen as a great blessing from the spirits of the land, Byron was humiliated. Though he never cast them out, for it would have been evil in his eyes to leave a woman and newborn on the streets, he never shared a bed again with Tanasia and treated them as nothing more than permanent guests.
Talden has never known the love of his father or the acceptance of the town people. He has constantly worked to prove his worth to his father and even when he worked in his father's wood-shop learning the skills of a carpenter he was never anything more than "boy". Following his father's example the townsfolk have been content to ignore Talden but many are still quick to blame him for any accidents, mishaps, or mischievousness in town. When the Lumber Consortium requested volunteers and militiamen to deal with a small band of marauding orcs terrorizing the lumber camps, Talden volunteered hoping that protecting the village from outside threats would gain him favor and acceptance. However, the level of threat and danger was severely disguised by the Lumber Consortium and many of the volunteers did not make it home. When Talden returned, while many other men from the village did not, or returned maimed and injured, he was scorned and rejected as a crony of the Lumber Consortium.
Although the time spent hunting down the orcs taught him skill-at-arms, the value of comradery, teamwork and belief in his own strength, Talden has been growing increasingly discontent and has begun to wonder if there is something more for him outside of his little hamlet.
