Nerd Dice: Background: Leythan Arlis

Name: Leythan Arlis
Age: 23
Race: Human
Class: Paladin
Alignment: Lawful Good
Religion/Deity: Torm

By Stefan

Leythan originated in the far-away kingdom of Impiltur at the Sea of Fallen Stars. He was born as a son to a well-to-do trader's family in the kingdom's capital Lyrabar. The Call reached him quite early at the age of 13. This was greeted with mixed feelings by his family as he was the only son and quite obviously wasn't going to follow in his father's footsteps as a tradesman. On the other hand, they imagined him joining Queen Sambryl's council (which was made up largely of paladins), with the prospect of him becoming a nobleman.

His parents apprenticed him to a respected paladin of the royal council. Although his life was now filled with meaning and he was full of determination to live up to the high expectations placed in him, he also had to face subtle but constant disdain for being a commoner. Worshipping Torm did not make things easier for him as he stood out against the ranks of followers of Ilmater among the other paladins.

In the final years of his apprenticeship it was mainly the sense of duty imprinted in him by his teachers and his religion that made him follow through. Still, he knew that he would lead a life of a royal guard for many years before there was a remote chance of achieving higher ranks and respect, which was not at all to his taste. He convinced himself that he could serve his duties to his Deity and the good folks of Faerun much better by trying to learn from charismatic paladin Piergeiron Paladinson of Waterdeep. His parents' opposition to his plans kindled his determination to be released from his obligations to the kingdom and he set off by ship to Suzail in Cormyr. The endless days of routine work or idleness on board made him aware of his freedom and at the same time a closer bond with his faith in Torm.

When he arrived in Cormyr, he accepted a couple of missions with the excellent Cormyr army to battle the orcs in the mountains around Scull Crag. He saved up enough money to make his way across the vastness of the Western Heartlands to The Sword Coast. However, by the time he had reached the City of Elturel, his enthusiasm for being an apprentice again was gone. Quite on the contrary, he found the roaming of the land and helping people where they were in most need of protection a far more rewarding experience.

Being a follower of Torm had opened a few doors for him in Elturel and gave him good companions in faith and battle. Although he was not officially a part of Elturel's army or a mercenary for its paladin ruler, High Rider Lord Dhelt, he saw it as his duty to serve the people of Elturel and its plains as a protector from such evils as the Cult of the Dragon or the Zentharim, who have felt the slash of his greatsword more than once.

As such tasks are often beyond the capabilities of one man, he often sought the help of other good-hearted adventurers. He was pleased when his deeds were rewarded with gold or admiration but it was his faith in Torm and the eternal quest to bring down Evil that formed the essence of his motivations and beliefs.