Maelbulg the Halfling

Maelbulg the Halfling (PRONOUNCED: /'meɪlbl̩g/*MAIL-bullg*) was a Ghûlblooded half-giant from Grymm. In life, he was one of King Yswarg's closest companions, and in undeath, he was the last of the Graveknights.

> *Once, Grymm was a beautiful land, full of life and joy. Now, it is tainted by death and sorrow. There is still beauty; there is still hope. Perhaps my home can one day be a home for other peoples, even if mine are no more. While the Eternal Springs no longer flow, they still give us hope. Hope for a future. I shall persevere and continue my quest. Pray that I will see it through.*
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> > -- Graveknight Maelbulg
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### Aliases

Sir Maelbulg of Nadd, Graveknight Maelbulg

## Description

Maelbulg was significantly shorter than his brethren, the giants, standing at only a little over seven feet. By the First War of the Gods, he was bald, but he had a grey beard. His eyes were naturally yellow in life, but they became solid and glowing in undeath. His skin went from fair to grey when he became a Graveknight. He was sometimes seen in a set of full plate armour, wielding a massive sword.

## Personality

Maelbulg was usually described as grim and mournful by his few companions among the living. He was compassionate to those who wandered into his home, but he did not welcome them to stay among the corruption. He was lonely, but he did not seek to curse others with his path, just to reach its end as soon as possible.

## Possessions

### Bedel

Maelbulg forged the magical blade Bedel himself when he was knighted by Yswarg as a young man. He wielded it even in undeath, letting its holy light guide him even in the darkest of days.

### Soulstones

The soulstones of the other Graveknights were collected by Askegra, the only trained reaper of the order. Before Askegra and Maelbulg parted ways, Askegra gave the soulstones to Maelbulg. During the Second War of the Gods, the soulstones temporarily lost their power due to the Graveknights' oath, but the power returned once Omrathir was imprisoned.

### Vial of Holy Water

Askegra gifted Maelbulg with a vial of a powerful healing potion that could cure most diseases with only a drop. The Graveknight used it to test the living for the curse.

## Relationships

Askegra and Maelbulg were known as the Radiant Twins when they were both alive. They were each other's closest friend and companion.

## History

### Early Life

Maelbulg was born in AA955 to a Giantish farmer and his Ghûl wife. He worked in the fields from an early age until he was noticed by a passing lord, who requested the boy serve him as a page. From there, the halfling was made a squire and, eventually, a knight. Shortly after he was knighted, Yswarg chose him as a personal companion.

### First War of the Gods

When the war broke out, the Giants renounced the elder deities and destroyed everything sacred to them. On the isle of Darvimghor, the high priest of Quinoth, Llwmach, desecrated the Temple of Quinoth. As vengeance for this slight, the god cursed the Giants with a consuming sickness. As corruption and plague began sweeping the land, Yswarg gathered his closest circle of companions to him. Together, they made a pact with Omrathir, exchanging their souls for immortality in undeath. On that pact, he founded the Graveknights, an order tasked with cleansing Quinoth's curse from Grymm and the neighbouring lands. At first, Maelbulg, like the other Graveknights, was equal parts healer and warrior, tending to the ill and slaying those that were already consumed.

However, as time went on, Yswarg realised that there could be no cure. He ordered the Graveknights to begin giving the infected a swift and merciful end. Askegra refused to obey this order and continued doing what he could for those who were struck by the curse, even building a hospital by the Eternal Springs. Yswarg commanded Maelbulg to find Askegra and enforce the royal orders. When Maelbulg reached his friend's camp, Askegra showed him that he had made a potion from the water of the springs that could indefinitely stave off the curse. Maelbulg agreed to defend the hospital and help guide other survivors to the springs. However, a horde of those already consumed by the curse descended upon the springs and attacked the Graveknight's camp. The two warriors saved as many as they could, but the springs were defiled and their power lost. Askegra was able to save two vials of his potion, but he knew that it would not be enough to keep even one person alive for long. He gave one to Maelbulg to use as he saw fit.

Soon after, the two received word that their king had been slain in battle. The Graveknights, without a leader, began to fall apart. Reports started coming in of other members of the order giving up and meeting their end. By the time the godswar was over, Askegra and Maelbulg were the only two left.

With much work ahead of them, they parted ways and each took a half of their continent to cleanse.

## Rumours & Legends

* As sightings of the Graveknight became less frequent, he became a sort of bogeyman figure in the Borderlands, used to scare children into taking their medicine. "Warding off Maelbulg" became synonymous with avoiding death.