Daryl, Human Paladin of Ted

Daryl was born in a hamlet to parents who worked a small farm, producing goods they traded in the nearby town of Winterhaven. They lived a simple but happy life but tragedy struck Black Fever fell upon his hamlet, killing all the inhabitants bar Daryl.

Aged 7 at the time with no family to turn to and never having travelled elsewhere, Daryl did the only thing he could think off and travelled to the town of Winterhaven to seek aid and refuge. Upon his first arrival at Winterhaven he walked to the market, hoping that someone who had traded with his parents would take him in. Unfortunately as soon as he mentioned the Black Fever the town guard was called and he was thrown out of the town and told not to return, so fearful were they of the disease’s deadly touch.

Cast out, alone and bereft, Daryl once again did the only thing he could think off – he sneaked back into town. Thus begun 5 years of dodging guards, living in orphanages when he could and on the street when he couldn’t, running with thief gangs and generally living off his wits and what he could steal.

At the age of 11 his life took an unexpected turn. Thinking to make an easy mark, Daryl attended mass at the Church of Ted, God of Loyalty and Devotion. Having lifted gold from the alms box, he sought to leave the Church but was stopped by a Father Fredrickson who had seen him steal from the collection. The town guard was called for as stealing from a church was a serious crime but the Father intervened. Any punishment would be lifted as long as Daryl worked in the church for one year as penance for his crime. Thinking the Father a kind but naïve type the guard acquiesced, fully expecting to be called to track him down for leaving the father’s service within a week.

In fact Daryl fully intended to do precisely that, taking advantage of the warmth and safety of the church before leaving in the middle of the night, hopefully with some stolen loot to make the entire endeavour worthwhile. Yet, he did not. The Father treated him with kindness he had not experienced since his parents were alive and the hard, yet honest work he was set took him back to that same time, working on the farm with his family.

The year passed and Daryl was genuinely happy for the first time since his parents died. Father Fredrickson saw to his teaching and upbringing and was proud of the young man Daryl was becoming yet saw he was not destined for a life of a priest in a church yet was unsure what his path was to be. He asked Ted for guidance in this matter, and whilst he received no overt answer, Ted did seem to intervene.

A Paladin of Ted was brought to the church named Revan. He had been critically injured whilst on a quest and was brought to the Church in the hope that the healing powers there-in would be able to save his life. They did but his injuries would prevent him from ever fighting in earnest again.

Daryl visited Revan often during his recovery and was regaled with tales of adventures and quests, of lands strange, of dungeons dark and monsters fearsome. Thus formed a strange yet strong friendship between a 12 year old boy and a 45 year old crippled knight. Observing Daryl and Revan together, and the new light shining in Daryl’s eyes, Father Fredrickson realised Ted had in fact heard him and answered his prayers.

The Father spoke to both Revan and Daryl. Daryl was overjoyed at the opportunity to become a Paladin of Ted, Revan wept at realising Ted had given his loyal servant a new meaning in life.

Thus Daryl was trained in the ways of Ted and ordained formally into the Church. He was taught to beseech his God for aid and how to channel the power that was in turn offered to him. He was taught the needed martial skills he would need to call upon to fight evil wherever it may stand.

Overtime Revan accepted his role as the teacher of a new generation of Paladins and began taking on more students but Daryl was always his most favourite and most promising candidate.

Eventually, at the age of 22 - for the path of a Paladin is long and hard - Daryl could not be taught anything more by Revan. He was a Paladin in all but name. Now he had to stride forth and spread the word of Ted before formally speaking his Oath to Ted and becoming a full Paladin of the order.

To this end, Father Fredrickson put out a call for adventurers to investigate cult activities in Shadowfell Keep that Daryl may test himself in the crucible of adventure and emerge a full Paladin of Ted. The call was answered by a misfit band of adventurers who would later become known as the Crimson Company.