Anchor, The Goliath Paladin
dicecloud.com/character/gvgny6tpQ5MjX…

Anchor grew up living with his tribe near The Spine Of The World, the glacial mountains of the Sword Coast. From a young age his role in the tribe had been determined, and he spent the first fifteen years of his life being raised in the art of Adjudicating. For those unfamiliar with the tradition, adjudicators helped to settle disputes between others in their clan. Anchor, at the time known as Goren Icebridge, took well to his studies and showed great promise of being a fair and reasonable adjudicator. As he entered his teens, however, Anchor began to grow jealous of his fellow tribesmen and their tales of combat and glory out in the wilderness.

During one harsh winter season, a caravan arrived at their encampment. They had gotten lost in a storm and were horribly off course from their destination. The tribe offered to take them in until the storm passed and they could be on their way. Goren and many other young Goliaths sat with these travelers as they shared their stories around the warm fire. One of these travelers, a retired sailor by the name of Blake Tideshrew, told tales of his time at sea on the vessel, The Raving Maiden. Goren sat there with stars in his eyes as he imagined a life at sea, exploring the world and fighting all manner of monstrous sea creatures, which Blake went into great detail about when questioned.

As the storm cleared and the caravan prepared to part ways with the tribe, Goren had come to a decision. Not even bothering to discuss his departure with his Chieftain, Goren left. The caravan was glad to have him, as both a guide for the immediate area and as a guard, whose mere presence would be enough to keep most small time threats from bothering them.

Eventually, the caravan arrived at their destination, the City of Neverwinter. There, Blake was quick to hook Goren up with the current captain of The Raving Maiden, Captain Lionel Tiger. Goren was hired immediately and was taught everything he would need to know to help keep the ship afloat. Unfortunately, Blake had not been entirely truthful as to what kind of ship The Raving Maiden was.

For nearly 25 years, Goren Icebridge served under Captain Lionel Tiger, who was known as one of the most feared pirates along the Sword Coast. Goren had some reservations about stealing from innocent merchant ships and raiding poorly defended port towns at first, but now far away from his tribe and those who taught him right from wrong, his fellow pirates easily turned his thoughts to the glory of conquest on the open sea. Eventually he earned his new name, Anchor, for being strong enough to throw an anchor onto an escaping vessel and pull it back to where his fellow crew could jump aboard.

Anchor's career as a pirate ended in his mid 30's. That day started just like any other, with Captain Tiger choosing their bearing, and declaring an attack on the weakest ship they saw first. As fate would have it, this ship ended up being a small passenger boat carrying a group of clerics from Candlekeep. As The Raving Maiden neared their prey, Anchor laughed as he saw these clerics stay above deck and start praying while the crew of their ship did nothing to try to escape their pursuers.

Captain Tiger, wanting to at least have a bit of fun with today's hunt, ordered Anchor to perform his famous trick. "Perhaps a show of our strength will scare some sense into them!", he shouted. As the ships grew closer, Anchor picked up the ships anchor and began to spin it over head. Then, once close enough to make the toss, Anchor saw that the clerics had stopped praying and he realized that their eyes had all become blindingly bright.

**SHA-KOOM** Divine energy shot down from the heavens, tearing through the sails, then Anchor, then the hull of The Raving Maiden. In that moment, time froze for Anchor. He could feel himself falling through the decks of the ship beneath him and then into the murky blue even further below. The light from that divine strike grew darker in the distance as consciousness faded Anchor. It was then, on the brink of death, that Anchor heard a voice.

"So far from home, earthen one. These icy waters are far too warm for your blood. You have brought nothing but violence and suffering to those who've traveled peacefully through my domain, and for that you have been brought to me." Anchor could not reply, but he could hear the words clear as day over the sound of rushing water past his ears.

"I can save you. I can send you back to dry land and fresh air. At a price. There will come a time when I need you and the skills of which you were born for. Until that time, return to the shore, and never again spill the blood of the innocent."

The next thing Anchor experienced was the feeling of his face slamming into a sandy beach. He found himself floating on a plank of wood, which he could only assume was part of his ship (he never asked around as to the fate of his Captain and his crew). Trying to stand, he fell, and realized that he could barely put weight on his left leg. After being found and cared for by a wandering Tortle healer, Anchor swore to keep true to his promise to the Sea. Never again would he commit an evil act, and with all his might, he would try his best to prevent others from doing so as well.

Once healthy enough to do so, Anchor pledged his life to the Gods of the Sea, unsure of which one it was who spared his life and set him on this path. Now in his 50's, Anchor has joined a caravan on its way to Nightstone, where he was asked by members of the Emerald Enclave to use his training as a mediator to help with the talks between the denizens of Nightstone and the Ardeep Forest.

dicecloud.com/character/dXkbRfdsSKd94…

As a young Tortle, I've always had a curiosity in the ways of healing. This probably comes from our parents dying while we are young, or the fact that we sometimes get injured visitors to our little Island of Snout. I joined a human temple when I was still fairly young, in hopes of learning medicinal aides, and the like. A few years later, I began to feel a secondary presence in my life. Describing the presence to the priests, they believed it to be there Goddess, Mishakal. Not having any reason to doubt this, and being excited that a goddess of healing chose me, I began training with the clerics of the temple, in hopes of gaining insight into their skills.

Years have gone by since then, and I find myself preforming small 'miracles' for small towns when I come by them. When I find other who are touched by the gods as I am, I am always tolerant. I ask in depth questions on there first 'encounter'. I always take their word that they have had these direct experiences. I occasionally run into trouble while on the road, and find myself glad of my healing abilities, and of course my mace and shield. Sometimes I wonder if I give to much of myself to strangers, but I must continue to assist those in need of aide and healing.

I now find myself in a caravan on my way to a town called Nights Tone? The destination means little to me, just the cause. I hope to prove myself worthy of Mishakal's blessings, and may she aide me in my quest to heal others. My understanding is that Giants are attacking whatever they feel like, and the local elves haven't been to friendly with the people of Nights Tone.

Theren Xiloscient
dicecloud.com/character/N3w2BeRa8KpXv…

For as long as anyone in the village could remember, the monks that lived in the cloister near my home village has protected our forest home, healed our sick, and offered any other aid that the villagers might need. Despite the fact that the monks were of many different mixed races, the good that they have always done for us has made it so that even my people, the Wood Elves, were willing to accept them. In fact, my people were so grateful that over 1000 years ago they began a tradition of every 100 years sending the youngest of the village to be raised at the cloister and given the teachings of the monks. 100 years ago, at the young age of 25, the one chosen for this honor was none other than myself.

For 100 years I was raised at the cloister, learning their ways, both in philosophy, religion, and combat. After all, not everyone that has been swayed to a darker path can be stopped or turned aside with words. Sometimes, even good people must take up violence to protect everything that is good and just. My mentors have decided though that now is the time for me to set out on my own Journey, to refine the skills that I have learned, and to come to my own conclusions about the world. Whether or not I return, or even if I choose to continue following the teachings I have learned, are entirely up to me.

For now, I have heard of many wrongs that need to be righted in a place called Nightstone. With no specific goal, and no specific destination, that seems like as good a place as any to begin.

Marcon Astoro, human fighter

dicecloud.com/character/Qx3hgYABZ3ATj…

They had rented rooms at The Magister's Mark, a public house popular with students and wizards in Innarlith. It had been a long day. If they were being honest, it had been almost a year of long days. And even in the best times, they were not prone to restraint.

"Don't insult me with this work!"

"What am I doing wrong?!"

"Everything! These summoning circles wouldn't corral a dretch. Disgraceful."

"Do you ever get tired of insulting me?"

Lilandra Astoro, called Lilandra Riddler for her confoundig abjurations, pinched the bridge of her nose and looked wearily at her nephew.

"Marcon, I know you can do this. These diagrams are simple, if you would just apply yourself. If you didn't waste so much time on fencing manuals and waving swords around -"

"It isn't a waste of time!"

"It's a waste of MY time. Your parents apprenticed you to me. Your intellect and effort are tools I must hone. But it seems I overestimated your capacity in those regards."

"You are such a bitch!"

"Don't be a child!"

"Don't tell me what to do!"

"I am your master! You will do what I say!"

"Wrong on both counts!"

A rushed gathering of belongings. A slammed door.

There have been more promising starts to adventuring careers.

dicecloud.com/character/k28r24DpZxiPq…

Galen Wormwood was unwanted from birth, an unwanted child from an unwanted coupling. He was tossed away as soon as his proud mother could get rid of him, left to die in some dangerous cavern or other. Fate had no such plans for Galen, though, and he was soon picked up and brought to the surface. He was raised by a noble family that thought it a grand jest to raise a half-drow child, and they didn't exactly take the best of care for their pet.

One fine afternoon, at what he reckons was close to his fifteenth birthday, Galen grew fed up with his new "parents," took a butchers knife and gave the whole family a red smile. It didn't take long for news of his murders to reach the authorities, however, and he soon found himself hiding in back alleys, digging for what little food he could find around the area.

His first real friend was a man who went by the name of William the Swift. Shifty Bill, as those around called him, made a living pilfering from the rich, and took a shine to little Galen. Galen made a good partner in con schemes, bumping into people to get their attention, while old Bill robbed them blind.

"They're hardly even people," Bill used to tell him, "Besides, they won't miss a few coins here and there." Bill couldn't have been more wrong. One time was all it took. One mistake, and William the Swift was swiftly shortened by exactly one head-length. Galen was devastated. They just couldn't help taking everything away from him, could they? Galen's skin hardened right up like stone in his fury, and he lost it.

The whole town was gone the next morning, save a single pier, where a boat had once been docked.

Crewed up with a gang of the rowdiest bunch of hooligans he could muster on such short notice, he started harrying noble cities from here to Waterdeep. He even earned a nickname or two in the process. Galen the Mad and Galen Stoneskin were his favorites, though "that pirate bastard" and "that damned drow" were uttered much more often.

It all came to an end one night, when another ship came up behind his. He thought he was going crazy, but one of them was swinging a whole damned anchor over his head. Before he'd even processed it, there was a crash, and an anchor came right down on top of his head, splitting his face wide open. What happened next, he wasn't so sure, but he woke up with his face sewn together, but all askew. And worse, yet, he was in a goddamned jail.

It wasn't long before he got out, though. They kept him alive so he could steal for them, so he did, and he waited. One day, he'd get back at them. And in the meantime, he'd use them to get rid of his legal problems. Fortunately, 30 years after he started, he got the chance when a minor rebellion overthrew his master. And he politely opened the door for them, before just walking away and leaving them to do what rebels do to nobles they overthrow.

https://dicecloud.com/character/qr9pH7wfH33FfQtzE/Ealwald
Ealwald, Human Wizard.

Training in the top wizard academies in Waterdeep, Ealwald had an insatiable thurst for knowledge of the arcane. During his studies, he would always be studying the libraries for hours on end. He would spend countless hours experimenting, trying to find answers to questions that have baffled to greatest minds in in the arcane, and was at one point foolish enough to think that he could. Frustrated at the slow pace of academia, Ealwald began to realize that to gain the knowledge that he seeks,he would need to strike out on his own. Afterall, think of all the knowledge he could gain exploring the world.

So he becomes an adventurer. Where he quickly realizes that the first question he needs to answer is....[url][/url]WHY IS EVERYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD SO DUMB!?!?!