Butternut's Biography

[Butternut]

Following the goblin wars, the remnants of the Foxburr clan settled in a small dell in the foothills east of The Shires and northwest of Kingsport. It seemed an idyllic place, and the halflings got on well with their human neighbors. They felt safe living so close to the 'big ones', and life was good.

Butternut grew up in this warm, positive environment, learning the ways of her people. As she grew, it became apparent that Butternut had a natural way with animals and felt at home in the wilds beyond the edges of the hamlet. Soon she was developing into a skilled hunter and tracker.

Eventually, Butternut married a young halfling name Deeproot. Their children, Primrose and Talon, were the pride and joy of Butternut's life, and they grew strong and healthy. Butternut spent much of her time teaching them her love of nature.

Returning home from a hunt with her clansmen Saddlehorn and Bootstrap, they saw great plumes of smoke rising from the dell. Racing home, they found the village in flames and every last halfling slaughtered. The few goblin bodies scattered about the macabre scene left no doubt as to the culprits in this horror. Gathering up and burying the lifeless bodies of her husband and children shattered Butternut's world. Through her tears and agony, she vowed to avenge her slain children.

The next morning, Butternut, Saddlehorn and Bootstrap set out to track down the goblin marauders. For days they pursued their prey deeper into the hills and mountains to the north. One morning, they caught the warband of goblins still in camp and struck hard, firing from the top of a rise down onto the camp. They slew many, but were quickly overwhelmed by the more numerous and more experienced goblins. Bootstrap was the first to die, pierced by several spears flung by the goblins as they ran to attack. Saddlehorn moved forward in a valiant attempt to defend Butternut with his sword, but he was no match for the swarm of goblins. Surrounded and with no where to run, Butternut drew her sword and dagger, determined to sell her life dearly.

With seconds to live, salvation came from an unexpected source. Arrows flew in from two sides, dropping goblins right and left. Disheartened, the creatures fled, though less than a score of them survived.

After the battle, Butternut was approached by the small band of rangers that had saved her life. Impressed by her courage and determination, the leader, a half-elf named Galen FarWalker, offered to train Butternut in the ways of the ranger. Butternut accepted, and has spent the last several years under Galen's tutelage.

Another member of the small band, a gnome named Carbunkle, realized that Butternut had magical talent. When she wasn't busy with Galen's ranger training, he helped her nurture and develop her mystic abilities. It quickly became obvious that her close ties to nature made Elementalism the best fit for her talents, and she soon mastered the most basic spell-casting skills.

Having completed her training, Butternut finds that she misses the life she once knew. It has been seven years since that fateful day - seemingly a lifetime ago - and she has changed so much from the naive young woman she was then. She sees a grim, hard road before her, yet hopes to find love and happiness again some day.

Word has come to her that the Cynallonian military is looking for adventurers to lead an attack on the old fort at Gateway. From what she has heard, the place is infested with goblins and their ilk. It seems to Butternut that there is no better way to repay them for the slaughter of her family and her clan.

The trip to Crossroads is long and hard. Butternut pays for much of the trip by hiring on as a guard for merchant caravans and other travelers. She arrives exhausted, but eager for revenge.