DavesGaming

Brademante has always known she was adopted by Gorion, and she’s always known she was well loved. As he says, he *chose* to adopt her. And since it was just the two of them as family, they’ve always been very close.  In Candlekeep, the Great Library, many of the monks were like extended family. Even some regular visitors became well known to her, Brademante has always felt loved and valued by those in her orbit.
Except, there were a number of monks who were more icy towards her. She never quite understood. But a small number, who have always been around her, are still almost strangers to her after her whole lifetime. Strange?

And Gorion was a loving parent. He taught her the importance of treating others with kindness and courtesy. He taught “doing the right thing” even if it was hard, or required some sacrifice. And Brademante embraced this as her own credo.
Even when it led to some surprising life choices. Gorion had hoped she would become a mage like him. And she tried, she really did. But from a fairly young age it was clear she could not wrap her mind around some of the concepts. Not so much the easy stuff, she could get the magical ABCs things. But magical physics were another matter. She was more comfortable with morality, being an encouragement to others and even metaphysics. Which led to some expectation she would be a cleric. Gorion could understand that.

Years ago, a big event for young Brademante occurred at age 5. That’s when a new family arrived in Candlekeep. An old friend of Gorion’s, Winthrop, bought the Candlekeep Inn. He brought his adopted children, Imoen and Amyntor. Brademante was thrilled to have other kids to play with. She and Imoen teased each other, and played all around the Keep, even sneaking in where they didn’t belong sometimes! But once they were caught, Brademante was shamed by being grounded. Do you know what it is to be grounded when you already live INSIDE Candlekeep!? Oof. She loved Imoen, but she was a wild one! 

Amyntor was Imoen’s older brother. Not by much, they were all within a couple years of each other. And Amyntor and Imoen weren’t really brother and sister. He was the son of some other friends of Gorion and Winthrop. His parents had died while he was very young and Winthrop adopted him, about the same time he adopted an abandoned infant, Imoen. So they all three had that in common. But Brademante felt something different and special with Amyntor. They became much closer as they grew older. And they both dreamed of helping make Faerun right and safe. It seemed every new visitor to the Keep and Inn brought stories of scary and dangerous things in the outside world. Brademante and Amyntor talked of how they’d love to set things right. To make it so people didn’t have to be afraid.

By their mid-teens Brademante and Amyntor had hatched a plan to be Paladins together. They would be the great heroes people seemed to need! What could go wrong with such a well considered plan? 
Well, apart from mentioning they were both pretty small. At 18 Amyntor was full grown at 5’5”. And he was a fair bit bigger and stronger than Brademante.  They were both slim and graceful types. Generally athletic, but not prototypical warriors!

They were fit and strong for their size, and they were able to qualify for Paladin training, both of them. They threw themselves into it with a passion. They pushed and challenged each other. They did not finish in record time or anything, but they both plainly passed all their training and their lessons.  Gorion always tried to be supportive, although truly his daughter becoming a warrior had shocked him.

This all wouldn’t be complete without emphasizing how close the three children of Candlekeep were. Amyntor and Imoen were truly brother and sister. Brademante loved Imoen as her impish little sister.  Brademante and Amyntor loved each other in a different way.  By the time they started training together Brademante and Amyntor knew when they started their adventure together they would be husband and wife.
When she mentioned this to Gorion he grew thoughtful. He said “let’s be sure you really know all about each other first.”  But he wouldn’t be more helpful about what *that* meant. He had just recently told Brademante he was pleased with what a good pair she and Amyntor were. But there were some things they would need to talk about before they made things “official”.

Then things got kind of nuts. There were several strangers visiting Candlekeep, who were apparently asking questions about Brademante! Seriously! How did anyone even care about the little girl who grew up in the library!  Then Gorion said they would have to leave Candlekeep, today!  With her head spinning, Brademante ran off to gather supplies for a journey. Armor, weapons, what else? She had just finished her training, she should be ready for this! She told Amyntor and Imoen so they should follow along.

*****

Brademante and Amyntor are another pair of characters from my old PnP folders. They were created for a game I played in College. Actually, it was the first game I played in apart from my old gaming buddies I’d known through High School.  As it turned out, I really didn’t like the DM. So I only played for about a month, before I found a DM and players more my speed.  Which left these two at 3^rd level “forever”!
As you’ll see, they are really nothing special. I used them once as part of a Gold Box team, but neither has a strength bonus so they are really marginal in those games. And I *think* that’s the only time I’ve used them since what, 1981? It has been a while…

Brademante

Human Female LG      unkitted Paladin
12 – 16 – 13 – 14 – 14 – 18
short sword specialist, flail, weapon and shield style

Amyntor

Human Male LG     unkitted Paladin
13 – 17 – 15 – 12 – 16 – 17
long sword specialist, two-weapon style specialist

Both characters only ever adventured in 1E, as such they will be unkitted. But, I will take advantage of weapon specialization!
Neither character will be a mighty warrior, until they amass some levels and better gear. I figure they are about equally tanky (or NOT tanky!). Brademante, as Gorion’s Ward and having the better charisma will be on point.  I expect having few native bonuses, but slightly different fighting styles they will vary over the course of the game who is more effective.

Their names are from when I was on a big mythology thing. Amyntor is among the Greek kings who sailed for Troy.  I don’t recall his adventures, I’m sure I could search the Iliad and find him…
Brademante is maybe better known? In Carolingian mythology she was the “White Knight”. The only woman Paladin whose signature look involved a white shield and helmet plume (I find white a little boring, this won’t be her game look!). She has a different fate in different tales. She was either killed with most of the other Paladins at the Battle of Roncesvalles in 778 AD. Or she had left the team to marry Ruggiero (Roger) and raise kids…  (such is the way of mythology, every tragedy has a “not tragedy” version. Of course the tragedies usually became the operas or epic poems).

Update 1

Bonus update! The first part of the story unfolds.

*****

The small party traveled several hours from Candlekeep. Gorion had told Brademante they were heading for the Friendly Arm Inn. Brademante knew of this place, it was a small castle converted to an inn. About a day’s travel from Candlekeep, the majority of travelers to The Great Library had come by way of the Friendly Arm Inn.
Further, Gorion told her they would meet with two old friends of his at the inn, Khalid and Jaheira. Brademante did not know these names.

Brademante was still stewing over why this sudden flight, what was Gorion worried about? And did this relate to why she had literally spent her entire life at Candlekeep and never traveled at all before?
It also seemed a little odd that Gorion did not seem entirely pleased that Amyntor and Imoen had followed along. Did he seriously think she ever would have left without her friend and her future? No, he presumably knew that. That’s why he was only a little unhappy and had resisted saying anything.

As she pondered, Gorion had taken them clear of the road and they were now walking through thin woodlands.

“Quickly child, go back to your friends and get to the Friendly Arm Inn”
Brademante obeyed without question. She heard a booming voice command that “I only want your ward” and something stuck hard in her shoulder as she ran. Why would anyone want her?

She heard a couple of explosions behind her, and she soon ran headlong into Amyntor and Imoen. She was in a panic for a moment, not thinking straight. Her friends helped her to calm down, and she related what happened. What little she had seen. They heard another loud noise in the distance. Gorion was using powerful magic like they’d never seen before. They checked Brademante’s shoulder, it was not a deep wound. They decided to make their way back and help Gorion, but everything was quiet now. Imoen was very worried if someone was hunting them. So they moved back that way carefully, looking as best they knew how to avoid an ambush.
Brademante was encouraged by her friends. Amyntor’s steady confidence, and Imoen’s cautious alertness disquised by her bold bravado.

Retracing her steps took far longer than she had expected, they had all gotten more spread out than she would have guessed. But she could see that clearing ahead.

In time, Brademante was able to think at what was here. And she noted the large warrior was no where to be seen. Brademante looked through Gorion’s things, she found a letter advising him to leave Candlekeep promptly. And the writer seemed concerned that the one entrusted to Gorion had perhaps been too sheltered. (Obviously herself?) The writer also suggested Gorion should meet up their old friends Khalid and Jaheiera at the Friendly Arm Inn. It was signed “E”.
Helpful and mysterious all at once. At least the first course of action seemed obvious, off to the Inn.
Imoen suggested they should move out.

I’ve read such beasts rarely attack humans? Maybe it knew we were all young and dumb. No other wolves turned up, just the one. But it was a tough fight for us. It was quick and strong! It bit Amyntor very painfully. After we killed it we both exhausted our “Lay on Hands” restoring his wonds. But we can only do that once a day.

Not too much further on, the path was becoming wider and was cobbled. We met a traveler heading the other way. I struggled to remembered if there were any particular courtesies for encountering someone who might be someone you’ve heard of?

The gentleman gave us directions and distance to the Friendly Arm Inn. Of course there was a marker right near the road with the same information. But I think I got directions from Elminster? Funny he didn’t give a name. But he spoke in a kind tone that was strangely calming, I felt better for the exchange.

And we were getting close to the Inn now, just a couple hours left.

The guards were friendly, just reminded us of the rule, keep your fights outside.

As we approached the entrance to the old keep, a mage in green was coming the other way. I detected evil in abundance!

He started casting a spell and we attacked to disrupt his casting. Two guards jumped in alongside us to help. And soon we all had him down. On searching his body we found a bounty notice, a reward was offered for me! By name. Obviously this wasn’t going away.

Feeling a little shaky now, I led us up the stairs into the Inn.

There was a large and busy common room filling the first floor. We saw the innkeeper had a counter, a desk across the room and started heading that way.

“Yes?”
“Gorion is not with you? I can only assume this is not good.”

We had met Khalid and Jaheira. I felt a certain relief. Although casual conversation revealed these old friends of my father’s were off on their own first adventure. They were husband and wife, and were obviously a little older than us. Being elves, they were likely a lot older. But they were not quite what I was expecting.

We had a seat together. That was a relief and I was about ready to fall over from exhaustion. We talked a little about Gorion, and they mourned with us. We shared what all we knew and they were very concerned. They said they had received a message through friends to head here and meet with us. But there was no grand plan beyond that. They were concerned at anyone who could have slain Gorion. They must be very powerful, beyond the abilities of any of us to face. Which is certainly why Gorion sent me away when he saw them. I felt a little guilt drop away as Jaheira spoke, I could not have helped my father. I wolf almost killed the three of us!
Amyntor suggested we should stick together. Obviously five would be much stronger than three.
Jaheira agreed and said she was Druid, she could provide whatever healing we might need.
I mentioned Gorion had taught me a team always needs a mage of some sort too, we were currently short on that count. But this was a good start.
Jaheira said they had been investigating an “iron crisis”. Much recently forged metal was proving brittle. We should all carry extra weapons on that account. And they were heading south to Nashkel. A small town just over the border with Amn. But there was an iron mine there that had been producing much of the corrupt output. They meant to look into that. It might be good for us to head away from here for a while, and spend some time training and working together.
That sounded like an excellent plan to me.

The next day we set out to the south.

I hate to hope for trouble. But we need to gain some experience together before we end up in a big fight.

*****

We’ll call this the first version of the team. Obviously still missing a mage. This is an interesting crew, none of these characters are *bad*. But its not an extremely strong crew either.
Khalid and Jaheira are tied for the best physical strength, both have a 15. So not a Strength bonus in sight!
Yet every single character has a Dexterity bonus. Imoen is tops with an 18, Brademante and Khalid both have 16s. So this is a quick and agile sort of team.
For smarts, Imoen is significantly the smart one with a 17. Of course she’s a little rash.
The wisest team member is Amyntor with a 16. Although Brademante and Jaheira would both qualify as wise.
Brademante leads for charm. With an 18 charisma she will take the lead in every plot or business related talk. Being Gorion’s ward, this is also convenient from a story perspective.

I will be making a few changes ahead, although I think four of these characters are here to the end.