The Halfling's Story

            Berwyn Brandobaer grew up in Fish Side. His parents settled here right after he was born, deciding to give up their wandering ways. They quickly fell in love with the coastal town and bid their gypsy band farewell. Berwyn's father, Eldon, started a courier service which has been the family's primary source of income ever since. Berwyn's mother is Claret. She mostly tends to the house and family, but has also found a place in the community as a midwife.

            Berwyn is the middle child. Bendon, his older brother, has followed in their father's footsteps and helped grow their courier business. At times, he feels a little angry at Berwyn for not being similarly dedicated to the family. The third and youngest sibling is their sister, Kith. She is only now a young adult and has yet to decide upon a path in life. She has been flirting with the idea of becoming an adventurer.

            Up until just over a year ago, Berwyn wasn't much better. Sure, he'd help with the business, delivering the occasional package, but he really didn't care for it. He would much rather lay about or go off to the tavern for some gaming and drinking. He was also a bit of a hot-head and his temper got him into trouble more than once.

            He has also known love. He was betrothed to a young female halfling named Natasha, whose family was from a clan of settled (non-gypsy type) halflings. Then, about a year ago, Berwyn's happy-go-lucky lifestyle changed. He and Natasha were taking a late night stroll near the woods outside of town. Their romantic walk was interrupted by a ghoul that had been roaming the countryside. Berwyn did his best to defend his love, but the ghoul was fast and strong. In the end, Natasha was killed and Berwyn managed to slay the ghoul in his fit of rage. He nearly died himself in the process. The battle left him collapsed on the ground, hovering at death's door.

            He was found the next morning by some locals, who quickly got him to a doctor. The ghoul's body was also discovered, but Natasha was nowhere to be found. Berwyn seemed to be recovering until two days later when reports came in that Natasha had been found . . . stalking the outskirts of the city as a ghoul. A group of local farmers trapped and destroyed her.

            Upon hearing this, Berwyn seemed to lose all will to live. He became afflicted with a deadly illness, bedridden, and in and out of feverish consciousness. He felt that it was his fault that Natasha had died. Not only died, but that her soul had been corrupted by undeath and that she would never be permitted entry into halfling heaven - the Golden Shire.

            He lay dying for a week. One morning just before dawn, his fevered dreams were interrupted by a vision. In his vision, he was visited by an emissary of Death, come to claim his soul. Upon weighing Berwyn's soul to determine his post-life fate, the emissary saw a potential within him. He made Berwyn an offer for a second chance at life. In return, Berwyn would

dedicate himself to serving the gods as a protector of life. In his fevered vision, Berwyn accepted. That morning he awoke, his fever broken. Within a few days, he was returning to health. However, there were lasting effects of his ordeal. His body had been left physically weaker from the affliction and his will seemed to have been fortified with a new strength of purpose and dedication.

            As soon as he was able, he went to the local temple of the god whose emissary had visited him. There he prayed and swore an oath to serve that god henceforth . . . to become a dedicated follower of Burthaggid, God of the Dead.

            For the past year Berwyn studied under Elder Falsworth, presiding cleric at the local temple of Buthaggid. He has learned all the tenets of his faith: assisting with burials, sanctifying graves, even presiding over ceremonies to mark the seasons. All of these fall under the dominion of the Burthaggid, Guardian of the Dead and Lord of Time. Berwyn refers to him reverently as The Death Father, and in fact sees his experience as a holy occurence: a rebirth after the death of his spirit.

            Finally, just a few weeks ago, the local temple was visited by the regional bishop of the church, a middle aged human named Father Grommel. Grommel spent several hours talking with Berwyn, quizing him on church practices and tenents, observing him in church functions, and questioning local attendees about Berwyn's character. In the end, he held a private ceremony in the temple in which Berwyn was inducted as a cleric of the faith, and given the title of Elder Brandobaer. He has been tasked by the bishop with the duty of increasing Burthaggid's presence in Fish Side and the surrounding lands by going forth as a living example of Death Father's love and protection.