I'm not scared...Berri the Halfling Hero

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I have no idea why a dragon would pick me.  And my grandpa was crazy. Being a hero is crazy.  In a couple of weeks I have found out that while I am trying to cut up a goblin he is trying to cut up ME. I'm not scared but come on. The only thing that has kept me going is some real heroes I have met.  Samir and Miss Scarlace and hard drinkin' dwarf named Grim.  These folks and others seem to think that rushing off into the face of probable death is a fine thing to do.  I try to act as if its no big deal but those things are trying to kill ME. when I was helping Miss Scarlace do some mining I took a wrong turn and *Slice* - I was heading to meet my maker, and it hurt, a lot.  I reappered at the Binding stone but that is no trip I wish to mess with again.  I would just quit, and fish. I mean, I not scared but... the memory of Grandpa whirling those crazy blades and talking about the great halfling warriors... I have finally figured out how to swing the Kukri without cutting off my own legs, and I have earned enough coin to buy some stout copper armor.  I guess I am scared of disapointing my Grandfathers dreams.  I just need to stick close to the real heroes I have met.

Berriford Wyndcliff, Reluctant Hero

[ttdavet]

Frieda is a lot smaller then me, but she seems afraid of nothing, in fact many things are scared of her. She is a violent force of nature disguised as a very small humanoid.  I need to be more like Frieda.  I helped  a lovely couple go mining for copper and tin.  The Pandorns I believe.  Mr. Pandorn really knows his weapons. I am convinced if I am ever going to be a hero like the ones I have met I will need to devote myself to my Kukris.  A whirling fan of sharp blades between me and my opponents should help keep me alive.  I love living with all the tall folk in Hlint. I feel safe. The captain of the guard is relentless in his rounds. It seems like he ALWAYS there.  People have offered to let me travel with them but...not that I'm scared...I think I need to stay around Hlint for a while.

Berri

[ttdavet]

I went adventuring with not one but two people that don't use weapons or wear armor.  I couldn't believe it.  Rollie is a wise Gnome, and Honora is uh...Honora.  Neither of them have any weapons, they just punch and kick. Mr. and Mrs. Pandorn took us out hunting for animal pelts and it got scary. I wasn't scared but it was scary, really. There were these huge ogres, they were savage.  Mr. Pandorn put them in their place, well actually he hacked them to bits.  Stump a giantish guy that traveled with us as well Honora and Rollie just charged in beating away without fear. I made a few cuts and got bashed around pretty good.  I don't know if I'm cut out for this hero business every one else seems so courageous.  


Berri

[ttdavet]

I stare at my reflection in the side of my bronze kukri.  I hope to see a hero staring back.  The highly polished bronze contains waves and ripples which become more tightly packed as they near the razor sharp edge.  That thin edge, that short sparkling curved line is the only thing standing between me and the haunting chill of death. These kukri blades are more suited to the heroic life then I am. At each encounter that leap willingly from their belt ready to try their metal against any and all.  If they had awareness they would be disgraced that the hands that wield them shake in terror and the soul shrinks.  A false bravado is the best that can be accomplished and yet with my soul bound here, and nothing left behind, do I have any choice but to stay and hope that I will eventually become the halfling that my grandfather's memory and these bronze blades require.

[ttdavet]

I have improved in my skills enough that I am willing to adventure far from Hlint in the company of a large party.  The other day while far from home we were attacked be a determined gorup of mercenaries.  I was surprized when the battle began to turn against the great heroes I was in company with.  I had been badly cut and began a quick retreat.  One of my compatriots also ran and he was closely persued by a dwarf with a large ax. He cried for help but to help would have meant my certain death. Somthing I did not want to experience again.  I ran to a nearby hilltop and began ineffective bowfire into the melee.  My compatriot dropped, I stood there feeling guilty. Should I have been the one to die on the field of battle?  The dwarven merc stood confused; I stood afraid.  By some miracle the hero regained his feet and ran, I began firing at the dwarf again.  The great hero turned and fired. Finally the evil mercenary fell.  No one has ever chastised me for running from battle and great heros have advised it, yet each time I run for the chance of living I am left with a stain of shame.  I have returned from beyond the grave through the miracle of the bindstones and yet I can not seem to overcome my fear of death.

[ttdavet]

Today I had a series of adventures and I was THE warrior for the group, we killed Ogres, Trolls, Harpies, Mercenaries, Shadows and Bone Golems.  I know that I had lots of help, and that I was barely myself they had covered me in so many enchantments. Yet, I felt like a Halfling Hero. A holy man we called Father, a bone faced Swashbuckler, a goblin wizard, and a man with a patch over one eye hardly look like an army for the forces of good against evil but we were.  My kukri blades twirled like a deadly fan scoring hit after bloody hit.  Perhaps with more training I will become the warrior my grandfather dreamed of.  I was nervous but not scared, I would leap out and draw the ogres to us, baiting them into a trap of spells and sneak attacks.  Fighting as part of a well coordinated team begins to define this halfling as a hero.  I hope you are proud of me Grandfather.

[ttdavet]

I was trying to make a map of the area around Hlint, when I was attacked by bugs.  Big beetles, stink bugs, fire bugs and then from the shadows steps a good friend, Freldo.  We made quick work of the bugs and he saved nasty bits from them for an arcane purpose I don't understand.  He proposed that gnolls living nearby were a nuisance to his bug hunting and that perhaps we should take care of them.  I was confident and exhilerated as they fell quickly to the bronze blades I weild.  Freldo's magic and steel assured an outcome of easy victory.  I realize that so many of the great heroes I meet have many skills, in weapons and magic that I do not posess.  To become a true hero I will have to devote myself to the study of the Kukri like no halfling ever has They will need to become an extension of myself.  I have even begun learning weapon crafting in an attempt to make my own blades.  They will never be as good as the Kukri that I can get from Mr. Pandorn (Kyle) or Mr. Stonecutter but in crafting my own I hope to become more deeply involved with the weapons  that have begun to define my heroic life.  The fear has begun to fade as I begin to gain the confidence that I can truly help stem the rising tide of evil.   I met a beautiful woman who gave me an iron dagger, the best blade I have ever held, its balanced different then my kukri but of such craftemanship that I can swing it almost as well.  I offered to pay her for it but she said some one had done her a great favor and this was her way of passing it on.  I too will pass this blade on to another along with the tale, I will call it the "Iron Dagger of Goodwill".

[ttdavet]

what a strange day it has been, I met another halfling warrior and he uses two kukri just like I do. My grandfather must have been telling the truth!  The only halfling hero I ever meet and he fights exactly as my grandfather described. His name is Jay Peacemeadow and he has travelled the world.  He confidently led a huge group of very experienced heros on a trek all over Mistone.  Amazing! Inspired by his confidence I went with my good friends Rollie and Stump and together the three of us delivered a healthy blow to the ogres which seem to gather near Hlint. Mr. Osymandius continues to hold court in Hlint, him and some guy with wings were talking about very scary stuff including battles with demons from other planes.  To help in this war I will need to become much better then even Mr. Peacemeadow is.  Trying to learn to be a better warrior I have strated listening to the teachings of Rollie. His wisdom allows him to fight without armor or weapons.  I will never give up my armor or weapons but if I can translate some of his lessons to the Kukri I will become a better hero, a better  halfling.   Knowing about the path one chooses makes the choice easier and the outcome more assured.  I think is what he was trying to teach me.  Being a hero will take more then courage.

[ttdavet]

Now I am scared.  A really horrible thing happened in Hlint today.  I was sitting on the bench talking to friends as I do much of the time.  There were lots of folks around when suddenly I hear a scream from Miss Rhynn over by the pond.  I rush over to see what is happening and a demonic woman cloaked in great magic has Miss Rhynn and has a sword at her throat.  Miss Annalee and a very rude woman in red are screaming for me to stay back.  I stand my ground looking for help against this attacker, I turn to a man Mr. Peters, reputedly a Paladin of great standing, and  he denies any help.  At this point Mr. Garret of the town guard rushes to Miss Rhynn's defense, but alone he is no match for this demon woman and is cut down in cold blood.  

Still none of the great heroes move to assist.  I begin to believe that I have been displaced to another world where morals and ethics mean nothing and everything is just a game for power.   Many are screaming for people to move back and I do, to the road, though I am filled with disgrace.  I stand in the road just as the demon woman summons a Balor, a demonic force from hell.  The demon kills an innocent bystander, I regret not knowing his name.  I continue to rail against this great injustice but not a single one of the great heroes present will do anything at all.  They try to explain, she is too powerful, she is a force of nature, there is nothing we can do.  "But she is summoning demons here in Hlint and threatening one of our own, two have already died" , I cry out.  At this point the demon woman rushes from behind the tree and kills me where I stand.  I didn't even have my weapons out.  

By the power of the bindstone I return to stand and stare at my own grave in the road of Hlint, too afraid to approach.   The demon woman finishes with Miss Rhynn and tosses her in the pond.  It turns out that all of that death and destruction was caused because Miss Rhynn admitted to having some feelings for Mr. Ozymandius and he is alledgedly betrothed to the demon lady, they all called her Kae.  I suppose I can understand an all powerful demon woman showing up to take issue with a young woman that has feeling for her fiance. Jealousy is often the root of evil acts.  Chaos and evil are afterall what demons are all about.  

The truly disturbing part was what took place after the attack.  The demon woman was actually defended in her attack on the town.  It was stated that the demon woman is actually on our side in the war against Blood and that may be true.  So this makes her actions acceptable?  "Why was I killed", I asked.  "Because you would not leave",cursed the woman in red.  "But I did leave", I replied.   "But  you wouldn't SHUT UP", she screamed.   "Silence is only demanded by tyrants, goodly peoples welcome discourse".  The woman in red finished by condemning me saying she would always fight by the side of Kae but she would never fight by my side.  

If Blood is defeated but our world is still ruled by bullies and tyrants, where simple saying that "summoning demons is wrong" is good enough to get you killed, where great paladins and heroes simple shrug and say "thats the way she is" will the world truly be any less evil?  We will have traded one tyrant for another and ideas like lawfulness and the common good will be simply platitudes designed to appease the masses while others play a game of  power mongering.  Where the very powerful can slay the innocent for no greater reason then they were an irritation.  A great bard once said "the best among us lack all conviction and the worse are filled with a passionate intensity."  Does this describe the world in which I find myself?  Is there no group which stands for something greater, which actually rails against chaos and evil no matter how powerful?  I am truly scared.  

( //ooc -  great RPing from so many, thank you, but please remember we are real people and some of us don't like real swearing, it is one of the reasons why I choose Layo)

[ttdavet]

I still don't quite get the whole story about the riders but what I think I heard at the big meeting is 1) the crazy halfling from Pandemonium loves his five horses and a lady name ka..... who knows, it abusing the horses to get the halflngs cooperation in causing mischief and mayhem in our world.  2) Miss Ireth has a daughter, that has wings and who guards another plane of existence, and she has been kidnapped and tortured (wings clipped, etc. ).  I know that my view of the world is black and white, right and wrong. This is why Miss Ireth and I didn't see eye to eye over the whole demon summoning lady but on the matter of someone's child being kidnapped we can completely agree, it is wrong.  Despite my thinking Miss Ireth has been rude (I was too, so I deserved what I got) I could see the pain in her eyes, I hope her daughter is rescued and OK. I doubt I can help but I would.

 My mouth got the better of me while I was sitting on a bench in Hlint.  I was spouting off about what Mr. Ozy said about high and mighty wizards, I was giving examples like Mr. Mith well Mr. Mith was right there and I didn't know it.  I tried to apologize and he said "leave me or I will turn you into a frog".  Needless to say he doesn't want to buy my silk anymore. I must learn to stay quiet.  

I continue to fight and I continue to have fear, I guess it will be with me forever.  I hope Prunilla is keeping Grandpa well.

[ttdavet]

I studied with Rollie, he talked about improving my strikes by practicing  hitting past the target.  He broke a rock with his bare hands.  He is very wise.  

I also went to the arena with some friends. What a great place, we were able to spar with each other without fear of death, now thats what I call magic.  There was a man there named Boon Loom.  He has about as much practice with a blade as me, or so I thought.  He finished me quick, I never touched him.  He explained that he was a weapon master.  Son of a weapon master, grandson of a weapon master.  This guy really knew his stuff.  I talked with him for quite a while about his style and his philosopy about fighting.  He is extremely focused on his weapon, a scimitar. He says that the techniques he is using take training, lots of training but, they can be applied to nearly any martial weapon incluinding my kukri.  Much of what he said went  right over my head, and not because I am short, but maybe someday I will become a weapon master.