D&D Crusader's backstory

Saol Neart

Saol was born into a clan of nomadic warriors and hunters. They valued strength, resolve, and battle skills. Since he was the second son, his family and clan did not hold high hopes for his life.

While he was still little, he felt a calling to prove his strength and might both in battle and skill with the greatsword.

On the edge if their clan's lands, there was a hermit who lived in solitude. The rumors of this hermit, state he knew much in the ways of battle, strength, and the greatsword. He also heard that the old man was the only surviving second son his clan ever had; and he knew that to survive he would need this man's help.

When he arrived at the hermit's small hill cave, he was cautious at first. He did not know how to convince the hermit to train him in the ways of battle and the sword. So many rumors about this man made it hard for him to approach the cave, let alone the hermit himself. He decided to sit in front of the hermit's entrance until the hermit acknowledged his existence.

Several weeks passed and he entered a trance like state where Kord came to him and gave him a greatsword. Kord then told him to stand and prove his might to Julockamu. When he awoke, Saol found his greatsword in his lap and the entrance to hermit's cave covered with a large boulder. Knowing how to prove himself, he went to the boulder and split the rock in twain. The sound was literally earth shattering and Julockamu awoke to the noise with a start. As Julockamu stared out the entrance, Saol stood outlined by the full moon behind him. This act alone proved an impressive feat of strength, but the rock halves laying to the side of Saol only confirmed the hermits assumptions; this was his new apprentice. Julockamu stood and told Saol that he would train Saol in the ways of Kord's crusaders.

The two trained continually for many years. They stayed within the hill area while the clan traveled around their territory. News traveled back to the two every so often; raids by rival clans, battles with Gnolls, and blood fueds with the Norotos. Saol stayed with Julockamu and continued his training.

When the tribe was attacked by a large band of Drow, Julockamu deemed he was ready. They confronted the raid leaders right away and his training showed through. Julockamu and he battled at the forefront of the clan and helped repell the Drow back into the Underdark.

The battle raged for several days and involved large amounts of night fighting. His training helped him keep focused and prove his strength and resolve to his clan.

When the last of the Drow left the clan's lands, there was a huge celebration. The clan feasted for two whole days and his brother and father proudly sat with him during the feast. After the feast he had his third, and strongest, calling. The pull told him that he had to go out into the world and represent Kord and show his strength off to the world. His clan tried to persuade him otherwise, but his mind was made up.

With all his posessions he could muster, he traveled out into the world to gain in strength of will, might, and resolve; to prove that good will triumph and a little luck goes a long way.