Ssaled Baar II

*"If you do not have the strength to do it, then I shall be your sword. If you do not have the heart to do it, then I will be your guiding light. If you are afraid, or lost, then think of me or stand by my side and I shall be the bulwark against all of your fears."*

- Ssaled Baar II

**Sir Ssaled Baar II, Knight of the Land** is a member of the Adventurer's Guild. He currently resides in a house in the woods near Phandalin with his significant other Ssheszi. When he is not in at his home, patrolling the woods, or on an assignment from the Guild, he occasionally stops by the Tavern or the Pool in Phandalin.

## Appearance

Ssaled at a glance appears mostly human. He stands at about 5'10", has pale skin and short, black hair. His eyes are the main thing that give away his nature as a yuan-ti pureblood as they are yellow and have slitted pupils like a snake's would. His skin is also marked with serpentine scales that are mostly translucent and barely perceptible.

One of his most notable features is a scarification tattoo on his face that resembles a snake winding it's way up his face and opening its mouth to devour his right eye. This snake tattoo has words in draconic that tell a cruel poem of how he is cursed by his people. It seems to extend down to the rest of his body.

Ssaled is usually seen wearing a green suit of plate armor that has golden accents, the holy symbol of Tyr embossed on the breastplate and pauldrons in the shape of a deer's head on the right side and a lion's head of the left.

## Personality

Ssaled's personality is heavily ingrained in the idea that he is a noble, and just knight and protector of the land. Thus, he is a very positive individual and is usually smiling. He finds joy in the happiness and company of others and is a very outgoing individual. He seeks to help or cheer up everyone around him as best as he can, often speaking words of wisdom and inspiration or otherwise offering to fight against those who have wronged them. He strongly believes in preserving the light, happiness, and beauty in all things in the world and will stand firmly against anyone or anything that would take those things from him.

Ssaled is wary and usually hostile toward anything he perceives as evil, often taunting or speaking invectives against such things. Ssaled regards his friends and loved ones as the most precious things he has and will often stand by their side, fiercely defending them and doing anything to ease their pain or rid the world of the things that would cause them harm.

While his past behavior was often impulsive and indicative of a lack of understanding of social norms, Ssaled has become more patient and wise to such things in more recent days. Although, he his still sometimes prone to impulsive behavior and social clumsiness.

## Relationships

### Other Yuan-ti

Ssaled abhors the atrocities and behaviors of most of the rest of his race and considers himself a major exception among his people. His hatred for them was so intense, that up until he met Ssheszi, he simply referred to every other yuan-ti as "*cretins.*" His interactions with Sshezi have changed his mindset however, and he sees that there is room for redemption and reform in his people as a whole. Ssaled has thus made it a personal goal of his to try and remove the influence of the yuan-ti's gods and find a path to redemption for his people as a whole.

### Ssheszi

Ssheszi is Ssaled's lover. He stumbled across the other yuan-ti one day in the woods near Phandalin. Like with most other yuan-ti, Ssaled was extremely cautious and wary around him. However, after finding out that Ssheszi was banished from his temple, Ssaled eased up and tried to learn more about him. As he did so, he came to realization that Ssheszi took joy in pain only because it was what allowed him to break through yuan-ti's natural lack of emotions and feel in the first place. This changed Ssaled's perspective on yuan-ti in general and he sought to teach Ssheszi ways of finding joy and love that didn't involve pain. Somewhere along the way, with the aid of a couple of Philters of Love, Ssaled realized that he himself had fallen in love with Ssheszi and that Ssheszi, in his own way, had fallen in love with Ssaled.

Ssheszi is the most important person in Ssaled's life and he would do anything to preserve the bond they share.

### Rainy

Ssaled views Rainy as one of his closest friends. She was the one to open his cage and free him when adventurers raided his old temple. Some of Ssaled's early adventures were with Rainy and he quickly became enamored by her simple, honest, but just and and good way of thinking. Rainy constantly made Ssaled question himself and his way of doing things and those thoughts shifted him to being a better person because of it. However, this led Ssaled to become head-over-heels in love with Rainy, as he practically idolized her. His feelings and advances were never requited however, and Ssaled eventually grew to move on from his feelings for her, but never forgot all that she had done for him.

Although they do not see each other very often, Ssaled still thinks of Rainy fondly and will always remember all the things they've said. In a clearing somewhere in the woods near Phandalin is a tree sapling with a single blue ribbon tied around it. Ssaled thinks of Rainy whenever he sees this ribbon.

### Chari Hatashi

Chari is one of Ssaled's best friends who he met not too long after joining the guild. In their early days, when Chari called herself a princess, Ssaled believed this without a shadow of a doubt and swore himself to her as a knight of her kingdom. As they were both positive and high-spirited people they got along quite well and even went on a few Guild assignments together. They speak regularly and confide in each other sometimes when they aren't feeling well or something happens to affect their mood. His bond with Chari is so great that he formed a bloodpact with Chari and Shin. Ssaled officiated Chari and Shin's wedding and has sworn a vow of protection to their son.

### Shin Hatashi

Shin is another one of Ssaled's best friends along with Chari. They met initially through adventuring and as they spent more time together, their bond grew. Now, they are close comrades and support each other in most aspects of life. Ssaled supports Shin just as he does Chari and formed a bloodpact with him just as he did with Chari. He has helped Shin with some of his bounties and was went with him to confront his grandfather. Ssaled has sworn to watch over Shin's son should anything ever happen to him and is still searching for a way to restore Shin's arm.

### Axel Smit

"Master Smith" Axel is the one Ssaled usually goes to whenever he needs work done on his weapons, armor or other equipment. Ssaled greatly appreciates the work Axel has done for him and is a fan of his craftsmanship. Although Axel is often generous with the prices of his services and frequently offers to pay for the costs himself, Ssaled usually refuses this and insists on paying Axel for the full value of his work. Eventually, Ssaled apprenticed under Axel until he learned how to make armor and weapons himself.

## Magic Items

#### **Attuned:**

Ring of Feather Falling: This ring is a simple silver band with sapphires embedded in it in the shape of a feather. It causes Ssaled to fall slowly, removing the danger of perilous heights

Boots of Speed: These boots were obtained in the ruins of Ssheszi's old temple after they went there and slew most of its inhabitants, including a Yuan-Ti Anathema that sought to devour the temple's worshipers and ascend to an even higher stage. The boots themselves afford Ssaled bursts of increased speed.

Necklace of Prayer Beads: This necklace contains holy beads that store divine magic that Ssaled can call upon each day. Ssaled found these beads over the course of a few of his adventures. Currently the Necklace consists of: 1 Prayer bead of Bless, 2 Prayer Beads of Smiting, and 3 Prayer Beads of Curing.

#### **Unattuned:**

Scalerend: This is a Dragon Slayer Longsword created by Axel Smit and is Ssaled's primary weapon of choice. The blade has a wavy shape to it, and has a crossguard in the shape of two snake heads pointed outward. Aside from being a magical blade that is especially effective against Dragons, the sword has another enchantment. Anyone who draws Scalerend from its scabbard briefly hears words of encouragement from their loved ones in their mind.

Anvilcrash: This is a warhammer of smiting that Ssaled obtained from the lair of a beholder. Although he seldom uses it, he anticipates needing it should he have to face constructs again in the future.

+1 Shield: This is a worn, blue shield with the holy Symbol of Tyr embossed on it. It is the shield that Salazar used and the only shield that Ssaled has ever had. It has protected him from swords and sorcery alike. Ssaled has used it to withstand dragon's breath, fire balls and even a conjured meteor. The shield in his hands is also vital to Ssaled's offense, as he often uses it as tool to throw his foes off balance and take advantage of the opening. It was enchanted to be magically fortified by Axel Smit.

Mariner's Plate Armor: Ssaled's armor has special runes fitted to it that enable him to swim and float his body to the surface should he fall unconscious underwater. Ssaled obtained these runes from a construct factory belonging to a bounty that Shin Hatashi was hunting.

Continual Flame Locket: This locket is not magical itself, but houses within a 9th level continual flame cast on it by Urbell. Folded within is also a leaf gifted to him and blessed by Ssheszi. This is Ssaled's most prized possession.

Cloak of Billowing: This is a snow-white cape that always seems to blow in the wind even when there is no wind present. Ssaled received this cloak after going on a quest in which he died to winter wolves.

Cloak of Many Fashions: This cloak, usually worn as a half cape over his cloak of billowing, can change its size and style to any other type of cloak. He occasionally uses it to protect himself or Ssheszi from the weather. This cloak was gifted to him by Chari Hatashi.

Decanter of Endless Water: Ssaled crafted this after Ssheszi set fire to a tree. It is a source of endless water and can magically expel it out in in trickles or powerful geysers.

Clockwork Amulet x3: These were also obtained from Ssaled's various adventures. With them, Ssaled can ensure that his strikes hit using the orderly magic of Mechanus.

Sending Stones: Ssaled has had various sending stones made. With them, he can have short exchanges with people at least once per day regardless of physical or planar distance. He currently has a set for Chari Hatashi, Shin Hatashi, and Ssheszi.

## Random Facts

* Ssaled's name, is in fact, pronounced "Sir Salad Bar the Second." Ssaled was intended to be a "joke character" based on Don Quixote.
* Ssaled did not know what a salad was until about a year or so after he joined the guild.
* His favorite fruit is apricots.

## Art

Because of copywrite laws, do not post art that you do not have permission to use in this field.

Ssaled Full Image (art by pix)Ssaled (left) and Ssheszi (right)