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Cogwheel
2007-09-12, 02:03 AM
Some would call him a paladin, he calls himself an ordinary man. Some would call him a martyr, others, an abomination. Those who know him simply refer to him as “ol’ Bill”. If someone were to ask them when he came to the village of Shepherd’s Retreat, they would not have an answer, only that he had been there for as long as anyone can remember. If one were to ask them of his last name, they would not remember, he’s just Bill, good ol’ Bill. Perhaps even he does not know the answers to these questions by now, but it scarcely seems to matter any more. he has always been there, always will be. Indeed, for the inhabitants of Shepherd’s Retreat, the village without Bill would be almost unthinkable. Since when the grandparents of those living in the village were but children, Bill had been there, there to help the village in whatever way he could. From defending from bandits, to finding a stray sheep in a snowstorm, to tending to the sick and injured, whatever the task, old bill was always there to help.

And then, one day, he wasn’t.

Aging is something that comes to everyone, death doubly so. After what seemed like an eternity, Bill’s presence was nowhere to be found in Shepherd’s Retreat. The villagers were at a loss what to do without him. Some wept, some simply sighed and shook their heads, a few accepted his death and moved on, after all, he was an old man, wasn’t he? All, however, mourned his death. his funeral was a sight to see, as every villager in Shepherd’s retreat and the surrounding areas attended, mourning the death of the kind man that was Bill, yet not one member of the church of the Shining One appeared, as though they had forgotten about him entirely. Those who knew him begged him to return, but the body of the man that was once Bill held no life within it.

Meanwhile, Bill had arrived in Celestia, in the realm of the Shining One. Though he was saddened by being forced to leave Shepherd’s Retreat, he was content in the knowledge that he had done what he could. his duty was done, there was nothing more to do, and now he would spend eternity in the service of the Shining One. But Bill was a wiser man than most, and in time, he saw the village suffer from the lack of his presence. Those still living in Shepherd’s Retreat needed a new guardian, yet none would come to such a place. Across the years, Bill had been the only one who had come to help, and indeed, it seemed as though he was the only paladin who would ever visit the tiny village.

Days after this revelation, Bill marched into the heart of Celestia, demanding a direct audience with the Shining One. When his request was not met, the Archons before the gates were shoved roughly aside as Bill stormed away to meet his god. Several days after, Bill had returned, smiling happily. It later became apparent that the Shining one had been kindly persuaded to give Bill permission to return to life to protect the people of Shepherd’s Retreat once more, though the exact words used to persuade the god were “If you don’t let me back down there this minute, I am going to call your good friend Olidamarra over here, and I’ll remind him to bring the Satyrs along, got it?”. Whatever the method of his kind, understanding and reasonable persuasion, Bill rose from the grave several days later as a Deathless, returned to life by what could only be described as a miracle.

The villagers were indeed, as he expected, shocked to see him, but they held no fear of his new form, understanding almost instantly that however he may look, this was still old Bill. They welcomed him back into Shepherd’s Retreat, and every villager rejoiced over his return for days on end. Ten years later, Bill still resides in the sleepy little village of Shepherd’s Retreat, “doing the job that’s put in front of me”. Even today, he walks the grasslands around the village, guiding the sheep along the rolling pastures.

Yes, he's undead (deathless, technically). Yes, he's still LG. Yes, he's still a paladin. No, he isn't going to spontaneously blackguard. In light of that, what say you, playground boards? Any good?

Oh, and he's been put to use since as a 12th level character (paladin 9 + LA 3 for death knight)