Alton Highlea, LG Halfling Paladin 1; ECL 1; small humanoid; HD 1d10 +2 (12hp); Init +0; Speed (20 feet) 15 feet with medium load; AC 19 (+0 Dex, +6 Armor, +2 Shield, +1 other), flatfooted 19, touch 11, ACP -8, Spell Failure 0%; Bab +1, Grapple -2; Atk +4 melee (1d6+1, critical 19-20/x2, longsword, small) or +3 melee (1d4+1, critical x2, mace, light, small) or +3 melee (1d3+1, critical 19-20/x2, dagger, small) or +2 ranged (1d4, critical x3, shortbow, small) or +3 ranged (1d3+1, critical 19-20/x2, dagger, small); Full Atk: +3; SV Fort +5, Refl +1, Will +2; SA: -; SQ: -; Str 12, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 16.
Skills and Feats and Languages: (8 skill points, 4/2.0 max ranks) Balance -6, Bluff +3, Climb -3, Concentration +2, Craft (woodworking) +4 (4 ranks), Diplomacy +3, Disguise +3, Escape Artist -6, Gather Information +3, Handle Animal +3, Heal +5 (4 ranks), Hide -2, Intimidate +3, Jump -3, Listen +3, Move Silently -4, Perform +3, Sense Motive +1, Spot +1, Survival +1, Swim -11; Weapon Focus (longsword); speaks halfling & common.
Class and Race Features: +1 size bonus to AC, +1 size bonus to attack rolls, +4 size bonus to Hide checks, +2 racial bonus to Climb, Jump & Move Silently checks, +1 racial bonus on all saving throws, +2 morale bonus on saving throws against fear (stacks), +1 racial bonus on all attacks with thrown weapons and slings, +2 racial bonus on Listen checks; Aura of Good, Smite Evil (Su) 1/day
Possessions: (N.B. all equipment is small in size) arrows (20) (1.0gp); backpack (2.0gp); artisan's woodworking tools (5.0gp); bedroll (0.1gp); flint & steel (1.0gp); oil, flask (5) (0.5gp); rations, trail (4) (2.0gp); waterskin (1.0gp); dagger (2.0gp); holy symbol, wooden (1.0gp); lantern, bullseye (12.0gp); longsword (15.0gp); mace, light (5.0gp); outfit, explorer's (0.0gp); banded mail (250.0gp); shield, heavy steel (20.0gp); shortbow (30.0gp); tindertwig (2) (2.0gp). Total gp value of equipment: 149.6gp
Magic Items: Poultice of Cure Light Wounds, 6 applications, cures 1d8+5 hp per application; Tile of Protection from Evil, CL1.
Description: At 3'5" and 39lb, Alton Highlea is unnaturally large for a halfling, and this, coupled with his natural clumsiness, makes him extremely shy and uncertain of himself. Named for his great-grand-uncle (once removed) on his mother's side, Alton Brandworthy, young Alton shows little family resemblance to his esteemed relative, apart from the pronounced proboscis which is such a feature of that worthy's physiognomy. Alton's eyes and hair colouring are typical of his race. He dresses in subdued woodland colours. His armour, however, is well polished and his shield bears the crest of Yondalla.
Personality: Alton is the youngest of his group of friends - he turns 20 in just one month, three weeks and six days! Deeply earnest and awfully shy, he is particularly in awe of his third cousin Mero (once removed on his mother's side), and a little bit in love with Bubbles Greenbottle, who's always treated him with the casual indifference of an older sister (not that they're actually related ... no, um, I didn't mean to suggest anything ... well, you know ... ) Of course, the fact that Bubbles has actually thrashed Alton once or twice in wrestling matches might have something to do with that. (The fact that Alton was actually too embarassed to do any more than make a token effort at defence might, however, have had something to do with the outcome of those matches!)
As for his neighbour's cousin's boy Jerran, well, really Alton thinks that he needs some guidance and encouragement to consider changing his ways. Just, you know, a little (at least at first).
History: Alton's parents, Talia and Rory, are respectable, hardworking members of the Amblestock community. Rory is a carpenter and Talia works in Hugh Highdumple's bakery on the Piai road near the centre of town. Alton spent his childhood in the usual pursuits of eating, playing and roaming the verges of the Silvergreen. When he was in his late teens, he started to help out in Rory's workshop, learning some of the skills of the woodworker, and discovering a passion for carving. He spends his spare time - not that there is much of it these days - honing his skills and producing more and more convincing carvings of the small animals and birds which inhabit the forest glades.
It was while he was there, watching a robin and trying to work out how he could capture that cheekiness and purity, that he first experienced the touch of Yondalla's presence. Like a feather-light brush on the edge of his consciousness, he became aware that he was not alone. Looking around he could see no-one but he felt a presence which both enlivened and calmed his spirit. The sun shone more brightly, the colours of the world were sharper and the robin looked into his eyes with such deep wisdom and fellow-feeling that he was enraptured by it all.
Time and again he returned to that glade. Sometimes he waited until the sun had set - and there was nothing out of the ordinary in that place. At other times, he was again caught up in a passionate response to all that he saw and smelled and heard - all his senses atingle at the presence which he recognised and yet could not name. And often that same robin was there to observe, there to sing and sit and be a companion in his seeking.
Alton's absences were noted. His father questioned him, his mother teased him, saying, "Now leave him alone, Rory - I do believe our Alton has find a young lady to court." Blushing furiously, Alton denied it - but could not bring himself to explain what he was doing. His father became impatient, his mother hurt at the distance which developed between her and her only child. Still the young halfling kept his silence. There seemed no way he could explain what was happening to him. Indeed, he didn't really know what it was that drove him to the point of obsession.
Finally, one day, he went to the glade. The robin was there. It sang to him in greeting. He climbed onto a bough of the big oak at the centre of the clearing and watched, and waited to see what would come. What came was something quite different to his hoping.
He heard a cracking of branches and a crackling of leaf litter from off to the north. Soon a large, ugly humanoid came into the clearing, squinting in the sun and cursing in some foul tongue which seemed made for cursing. Alton froze in his place - for the creature came with sword drawn and violence in its gait. The robin, unfazed, continued singing - and even hopped over towards the intruder, as if inviting a kindlier response than it received. For without hesitation the beast swung and caught the fearless singer with the tip of its blade, causing feathers to fly and cutting of the song in mid-trill. Horrified, Alton stood up and, without thinking, leapt from the branch were he was perched onto the murdering invader. As he rushed earthward, he felt strong, gentle hands uplift him, and a fiery energy fill him. He turned in midair and landed feet first on the creature's head. Poleaxed to the ground, the beast collapsed and breathed no more. Blood pooled beneath its head, staining the rock which stuck up from the turf just at that point.
Weeping with fear and adrenaline and grief, Alton turned to the robin and picked it up gently, trying by force of will to restore life to the damaged little breast. For just a moment he felt the flicker of something, and then looked up into the sadly smiling eyes of a halfling woman who said, "Not yet, my beloved - that is a gift for a time yet to come." She then turned and moved into the forest, disappearing in an instant in the dappled shade and half light.
After that, in the days and weeks to come, Alton was attentive to his duties and obedient to his parents. He said nothing of the encounter, even when Coyo Durgen came into the village with news of a dead orc not far from the edge of town. He thought Coyo looked at him curiously but he didn't say a word.
Puzzled as to what had happened, and saddened by the loss of beauty and innocence in the world, Alton began paying more attention to religion than he had previously done. He went to whatever services Alton Brandworthy offered, not having to be chided or reminded by his mother but eagerly and attentively - listening to the words of the patriarch, puzzling over their meaning and their message. Old Alton noticed the young lad's change of attitude and made opportunities to exchange the odd word with his nephew.
Over time the two were together more often - and eventually young Alton unfolded the events of that day. The elder listened carefully, nodding occasionally, and at the end of the story sat in silence so long that he seemed to have fallen asleep. Eventually, taking a deep breath and rubbing the tip of his nose in a way that Alton had come to recognise as habitual, the priest said simply, "The Lady has claimed you as her own. The actions you took, and the words you heard, make it clear that she has called you to fight evil in the world. Yet I do not think she wants you to be her priest. Rather, she calls you to a more martial way. Rarely is one of our people sent forth as a knight of virtue - but I think that is her will for you."
When the boy was silent, he went on, "I will see to your training. I will speak with your parents and we will find a way for you to do as the Lady bids. You will have much to do - this is a path that will demand the whole of your life. Are you prepared to follow this way?"
"Prepared? No. Willing? Yes. I will do all that I can to serve her - how can I do anything else?"
After that, life was full of training and prayer - rarely in that sunlit glade, for there was little time to go there - and learning the skills that old Alton said he would need. He spent time with Clara Wanebur, learning of herbs and bandages and fevers and the setting of broken bones. He spent time in the militia, learning from his third cousin Mero the skills of the warrior. He spent his spare time carving - making pieces that he would sell, saving the money to pay for sword and dagger and bow. For his armour, he spent a whole season working with Veryl Tillbough, hauling coal and pumping the bellows and cleaning the forge.
And always, deep in his heart, was the stirring vision of that woman, those eyes ... and the burning reponsibility to care for this fragile world, protecting it from evil.