Balenor Forsend

Balenor Forsend is a male human Bard and an NPC in the Heroes of Sanlow campaign.

## Biographical Information

### Current Status

Active

Balenor is a wandering minstrel who quested for an old forgotten wizard’s tower along with Anneth Arcard. The two were captured by troglodytes and he was rescued by the Heroes of Sanlow and accompanied them in the effort to rescue Anneth from the monsters who held her. He returned to Sanlow and, along with Anneth and her family, left Sanlow for Myjdun.

## Background

Balenor Forsend is a wandering performer originally from Keypton, but who has traveled all around the Kingdom of Emeron and surrounding region. In 1159 he came upon a map that purported to show the location of a forgotten wizard’s tower past the Unwelcoming Hills south of the kingdom.

Dreaming of the riches within, Balenor made his way through the kingdom to seek out the tower, stopping in towns and settlements along the way to ply his trade to fund his journey. When he was in Sanlow, the last settlement in the kingdom before the Unwelcoming Hills, he met and was smitten with a local girl Anneth Arcard. The two decided that the treasure that was surely in the tower could fund a life together and the two decided to quest after the tower together.

## Captured

Balenor and Anneth found the tower without too much trouble, but to their surprise it was inhabited by a pack of troglodytes led by a druid named Tasskar. The two were captured and interrogated. Upon learning that Anneth was from in Sanlow, Tasskar had some of his men take Anneth east into the Violent Forest where they had a large camp. Balenor, able to speak Draconic, understood these orders, but was unable to do anything to prevent it.

The troglodytes continued to beat and question Balenor about Sanlow, but he knew little of the village as he’d only passed through it once. Still, the troglodytes kept him alive, seemingly for entertainment if no other reason.

## Rescued

Fortunately for Balenor, Anneth’s father hired a group of local townsfolk, who would later go on to become the Heroes of Sanlow, to find and return her. Their trail led them to the tower, where they defeated the troglodytes and rescued Balenor.

Balenor explained what had happened, and expressed his desire to join them in the effort to find and rescue Anneth.

## Saving Anneth

Along with the Heroes of Sanlow, Balenor entered the Violent Forest in pursuit of Anneth and the troglodytes that took her.

They located the monster camp, which was full of troglodytes, bullywugs and lizardmen all working together. Scouting performed by Balenor and Xandrik Wharfside located Anneth as well as an old woodsman named Herman, caged in the camp. However the monsters numbered over one hundred, so a direct assault to affect a rescue was deemed impossible.

The group retreated to make their plans and, after a violent encounter with some goblins who briefly kidnapped Ella-Beth Stanton, were able to plan an assault on the camp whereby Inithabel, Ella-Beth, Edwin Drood, and Balenor would create a distraction by setting fire to the palisade wall that surrounded the camp while Xandrik, Fenton Arrowsmith and Hatch climbed the wall to pull Anneth and Herman out of the encampment.

The plan did not go perfectly, and Herman was killed in the attempt, but Anneth was rescued and the heroes fled north. The monsters in the camp, led by the lizardman Druzaak, broke camp and gave chase. Edwin sent a warning to Sanlow via his familiar Valor, and made for the village as quickly as possible with the monster army at their heels.

## Arrival at Sanlow

Balenor and Anneth traveled with the Heroes of Sanlow back to Sanlow though the monsters of the camp that held her were giving chase and hot on their heels.

Upon arriving in town Anneth was reunited with her family, who was preparing to evacuate ahead of the arrival of the monsters. Anneth's father Robert had difficulty accepting that Anneth wished to have a future with Balenor, but thanks to the intervention of her mother Marger, he relented and allowed the minstrel to travel to Myjdun with them.

## Skills and Abilities

Balenor is a capable actor and orator and capable of performing skilled oratories and acting performances. He is also a competent swordsman, preferring a rapier and light armor, and dabbles in limited magical ability.