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Balathar Darlantan

Balathar Darlantan was a half-elven merchant, adventurer, warrior-thief and, later, politician serving as Baron and then co-Baron of Dantareth with Cyrus Glenwill. Throughout his life, Darlantan gained fame as one of the members of the Gondolas, an ascendant adventuring party in the region during the latter portion of the 8th century A.M. Though not a founding member of the Gondolas, he became instrumental in several of their assaults on various fortresses of goblinoids and denizens of the Underdark. Following a tumultuous several months that saw many of its main members killed, Balathar found himself to be one of the most powerful individuals in the party, and its only surviving warrior following the murder of governor Cyrus. This ultimately paved the way for his own ascension and, as Baron, he would use his political and military influence to wage a war of expansion against the neighboring Barony of Aber-Zlin.

Early Life

Born in the small town of Mirsaki to a local watch vendor, Balathar never knew his human mother. He spent much of his youth plying his father's trade of repairing, crafting and selling watches and other jewelry. He found that he had an affinity for working with his hands, a skill which was honed by long hours under the tutilege of his remaining elven parent. Questions regarding his lineage were not encouraged and, being a bastard and half-breed, he was often isolated from others in town.

As he grew into a young man and the political climate in the region worsened with the arrival of strange folk who sought to subtly manipulate then Baron Belarus Corguth, his father insisted that he undertake formal martial training with his uncle Brallamed during one of his brief visits from Encyclon so the young Balathar could better protect the family interest, as they were too poor to hire help. Despite becoming an able warrior, the isolation he faced for his racial differences ultimately led him to dabble in crime as he quietly honed his eye for the value of possessions as well as molding his skill with his hands towards a private, tidy career in petty larceny. His father was ultimately killed by local brigands shortly after his fateful encounter with the Neutralian crusader Virgil Tyrion.

Membership in the Gondolas

After the fledgling Gondolas' inaugural victory in assaulting the local keep at the behest of Baron Corguth, Virgil was sent on an errand to see how much money the group could get for the spoils they had collected, as liquid funds were needed to seek resurrection of several slain party members. This led Tyrion into the shop owned by the Darlantan family, and a fateful meeting that would alter both of their destinies.

After conducting their business, the two were attacked by a group of local ruffians who were seeking vengeance, no doubt in the employ of Corguth's enemies. Although the duo killed the offenders by 'hucking daggers', a later reprisal left Darlantan's family shop in ruins and his father slain. Seeing that the half-elf handled himself well in battle, Virgil offered him a place in his adventuring party. Having nowhere else to turn and seeing the opportunity for a dramatic change in his life, Balathar accepted. The two soon developed a fast and eager friendship.

A depiction of Balathar's murder of Bishop Wizlan Shrane of Urstwater during the Gondolan invasion of that city in the spring of 885. Composed by an unknown political propagandist of the Shardinavian guild in Urstwater, c. 885.

Description

A posthumous painting of Baron Balathar commissioned by his wife Edina, by the halfling portrait artist Gustav Khaerst in the Holding, c. 891.

Personality

Adventures

The Death of Balathar

Balathar and Matthew Migtay slain by the marilith-queen Mamoba, Monarch of Zancobal, General of Demogorgon, on the Island in the spring of 888.

Items/Possessions

Spells/Abilities

Relationships