Baldric Houndstooth

Baldric Houndstooth was a gentle lad. He had to be, given his size. Even by Gor'tog standards, Baldric was a big 'un. As a small boy growing up on a farm outside the clans of Zoluren, he'd been clumsy, several times falling and crushing treasured toys, and, on one occasion, a family pet. Over the years, he'd learned to use a soft touch and a careful step. At age fourteen, he was a cheerful, strapping youth, relied on by his father to do much of the heavy work in the fields.

One evening he was leading the family's small herd of inkhornes back into the farmyard when he heard a crash from the direction of the house. He turned to see several small figures boiling through the front door. He hurried over and found several goblins ransacking the house. He found his mother was crumpled on the kitchen floor, her eyes still and lifeless. Baldric was stunned. There had never been violence in his experience before. It had always been a peaceful, quiet life on the farm.

While he was still in shock, a sound at the edge of his awareness made Baldric look up from his fallen mother. A goblin had spotted him and was advancing toward him with a wicked-looking little sword bared. Baldric jumped up and grabbed the first thing at hand, which happened to be a wooden plank from the door that the goblins had bashed on their way in. He turned and saw the goblin lunge at him, barely managing to block the sword with the plank. Attracted by noise, more goblins rushed into the kitchen and came towards him. Baldric was quickly forced backward and fled out the broken door. He glanced over his shoulder. The goblins did not bother to pursue. They laughed vilely and turned away, eager to continue looting the home.

Still in a daze, Baldric wandered into the barn. There he saw his father collapsed on the ground, a goblin standing over him with a bloody sword. A fury welled up in Baldric. He roared and charged heedlessly at the goblin. The goblin turned around and grinned, not afraid of a farmboy, however large. The grin did not last long. As the goblin raised his sword, Baldric bashed wildly at it with the plank he still clutched in his hands. With more luck than aim, the plank knocked the sword from the goblin's hand and forced it backwards. Rage gripped Baldric and he pounded at the goblin, knocking it to the ground. He smashed the goblin again and again, finally crushing it with his great strength.

With his chest heaving, Baldric turned to his father. The older 'Tog's eyes moved, and his son took his hand. His father smiled slightly, and then his eyes closed for the last time. Baldric sat down heavily and wept.

A while later, Baldric cautiously went back to the house. The goblins were gone, and the house was a shambles. His mother's body was still there. There was no sign of his younger brother and sister.

Still carrying the plank, Baldric ran outside and began to search. It quickly became dark out, and, having rarely been far from the farm, he became lost. He kept searching and wandering until he collapsed, exhausted, and he slept.

He awoke to the sound of shouting. Evidently, he had fallen asleep close to a road. As he stood up, he saw a small caravan. It's driver was being attacked by a small band of goblins. In a rush, the horror of the previous day came back to him. Baldric bellowed and rushed at the goblins, still carrying his plank. These goblins, having more warning than the one he'd killed in the barn, faced him and he took several small wounds from their blades. Still, he bashed his plank at them back and forth. He was not doing well.

As it happened, a knight was also traveling the road that day. The knight came around a turn and saw what was happening there. Drawing a gleaming sword, he made short work of two goblins and drove the rest away. Baldric continued bashing at one of the dead goblins, shouting, "Bad! Bad!"

The knight gently put his hand on Baldric's shoulder and managed to calm him down. Baldric told his story, and the kind man took him back to his guild in the Crossing and had his wounds dressed. The knight was a paladin, and he told Baldric all about his god, Chadatru, and his guild's dedication to justice and protection of the innocent. Hearing this, Baldric knew that it was his life's calling. He pledged himself to the paladin guild that same day.