Player Character: Barbalias

Barbalias is a personal favorite of mine. He is stooped in tragedy and comedy both in ways that give him the opportunity to grow as a character during even a one shot. In combat Barbalias is a heavy hitter paladin that deals immense single target damage. Out of combat, Barbalias is an absolute train wreck that requires constant supervision and guidance from his team mates lest he lead them into one absurd situation after the next.

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Download the character sheets and details below.

Barbalias Level 1: Character Sheet / Details / Spell List

Barbalias Level 2: Character Sheet / Details / Spell List

Barbalias Level 3: Character Sheet / Details / Spell List

Barbalias Level 4: Character Sheet / Details / Spell List

Barbalias Level 5: Character Sheet / Details / Spell List

Barbalias Level 6: Character Sheet / Details / Spell List

Barbalias Level 7: Character Sheet / Details / Spell List

Barbalias Level 8: Character Sheet / Details / Spell List

Barbalias Level 9: Character Sheet / Details / Spell List

Barbalias Level 10: Character Sheet / Details / Spell List

Barbalias Level 11: Character Sheet / Details / Spell List

Barbalias Level 12: Character Sheet / Details / Spell List

Barbalias Level 13: Character Sheet / Details / Spell List

Barbalias Level 14: Character Sheet / Details / Spell List

Barbalias Level 15: Character Sheet / Details / Spell List

BARBALIAS:

A paladin with multiple personalities, a tendency to ramble incoherently, and a secret even he doesn’t know.

SUMMARY:

Race: Human

Class: Paladin/Warlock

Party Role: Single target damage/ tank/ healing

Alignment: Chaotic Good/ Neutral Evil Role Play Style: Dramatic/ Silly

Role Play Inspiration: The Tick, Glorian (Journey Quest)

QUICK TRAITS:

Traits: I consider everyone my friend. / I love to give motivational speeches. / I speak much louder than is appropriate at all times.

Bonds: I made a deal with a demon prince to erase my memory, including the memory of that deal. / I have a dead wife and son that I have forgotten about, but unconsciously I can be reminded of them.

Flaws: I rarely understand what is happening. / Complicated things like "maps" and "math" confuse me. / I forget pretty much any plan.

BACKSTORY:

Barbalias had never wanted an adventurer’s life. Growing up on a farm he took joy in the simple labors of tending to animals and working in the fields. Unlike some consigned to a life of hard labor, Barbalias reveled in the beauty of the rolling countryside, writing poetry (most of which he burned or hid out of shyness) and staring longingly into sunsets as he smoked his pipe.

Barbalias met the woman he would someday marry, when they were both still young. He and Antonia played together as children. As they grew up, the two found their affections for each other changing and, after a harvest dance, were finally engaged to marry with the blessings of both of their parents.

Only a few short months after having their first son though, Barbalias was called to the service of his nation to defend it against invasion. He did not wish to go, but his father had instilled in him a sense of responsibility that he could not ignore. Against the wishes of his young wife, Barbalias marched off to war with his friends and neighbors.

War was a cruel and awful affair for Barbalias. Though he found that a life of hard labor had made him a disciplined soldier and strong fighter, he had little taste for bloodshed. Instead, he spent most of his time with the wounded, tending to the minor injuries he could and staying by their beds bring them some consolation. It was in this capacity that Barbalias first came to actively worship Lathander.

After almost two years on campaign, Barbalias was finally granted leave to return home, the one thing he wanted more than anything else in the world. As Barbalias neared his hometown, however, there were obvious signs of some corruption or blight. Even several weeks ride from his home the crops were visibly grey and brittle to the touch. Rumors came to him during the weeks spent travelling home of some great plague or dire evil in his home village, brought in the panicked stories of the common folk, who all advised against him continuing on.

Fearing for his wife and child, Barbalias spurred on even as the sun itself seemed to disappear from the sky, masked by some ever present bank of blackened clouds. As he approached his village, the stench of death filled his nostrils, sickening him, but not nearly as much as the sight of the rotting town, its once beautiful landscape now derelict and populated by the walking corpses of his former friends and neighbors.

Barbalias carefully attempted to reach his own homestead, destroying only those undead he had to, and feeling much pain in doing so. As he approached his home, he began to recognize it as the source of this corruption. Inside, under a swirling cloud of black mist, lay the festering body of his child, recognizable by the locket given to him by Barbalias’ mother. The child had been laid in some kind of sacrificial circle, murdered, and left to rot.

In a fit of rage, Barbalias took to the town, slaughtering every zombie he could find. For weeks he searched for the source of the corruption, singularly driven by a need for revenge and the chance at finding his wife. Shortly, he fell in with a small band of adventurers with the goal of ending the corruption.

Eventually, the party traced the corruption to a natural cave. Inside Barbalias and his companions found Barbalias’ own wife in the midst of some profane ritual. Frantically she explained that her heart had broken upon being left alone and that she had made an unbreakable pact with an unspeakable force that promised to bring Barbalias home to her. The price had been the life of their son. But, she pleaded; now all could return to normal, as Barbalias, her eternal love, had finally come home to her.

As Barbalias’ compatriots fell on her in an attempt to destroy the hag and end the corruption, Barbalias could not help but defend her, killing the men he had travelled with. His companions dead, his wife in league with some great evil, and his son slain by her hand, Barbalias was driven past the point of reason, and in a fit of tears took his wife into his arms in a loving embrace, breaking her neck as she confessed her undying love for him.

Driven beyond madness, Barbalias pleaded to every god he could name for some mercy. And, in his darkest hour, he was contacted by Adimarchus, The Demon Prince of Madness. Drawn to Barbalias’ divided nature and desperation, Adimarchus promised to forever wipe the memory of his family from Barbalias’ mind, so that he might begin his life anew. In return, Adimarchus required Barbalias’ unerring service. In his weakened state, Barbalias agreed.

Adimarchus made good on his promise to remove Barbalias’ memory of his family, along with most of his other memories and a good deal of his mental faculties. In Barbalias he created an instrument for freeing himself that could hide itself from demons and gods alike. Unaware of his quest, Barbalias would never be targeted by those who imprisoned Adimarchus centuries ago.

Barbalias, for his part, remembers nothing of his former life. He has a faint sense of his former self in wanting to be a good person, fleeting memories of a lost love, and the knowledge that he pledged his life to a god. In Barbalias’ mind, the voices he hears telling him what to do are the voices of the gods themselves, informing him of their divine will. He believes completely in the goodness of those quests on which they send him.

For the most part, Adimarchus allows Barbalias to continue on his personal path, sewing his own particular brand of insane chaos everywhere he goes while thinking he is doing good. Only occasionally does Adimarchus muster the power to contact Barbalias with some quest, and only if it is of great importance.

PERSONALITY:

Barbalias is a joyful, if somewhat clueless companion. He aspires to be the iconic paladin in all ways, but finds himself constantly falling short for a litany of reasons. Having been touched by Adimarchus, Barbalias teeters on the edge of insanity, staying just close enough to sane that people are constantly questioning his sanity.

His madness is usually quite innocent. It often manifests in long, rambling speeches full of near nonsensical metaphors and references, all of which he perceives as both accurate and well spoken. In fact, he is rarely, if ever, aware of anyone's disapproval of his decisions or actions. Instead, with childlike innocence he believes that almost everyone he meets completely likes him.

Barbalias considers everyone he meets his friend by default, acting with complete kindness towards them and expecting the same. When interacting with others Barbalias wears a constant hapless smile. He is often very confused by what is said to him, totally misinterpreting it or simply having no idea what the words used meant. This leads him to make decisions that others might find frustrating, though he is always quick to apologize, even if he has no idea what for.

It is this utter innocence and enthusiasm for being a good friend that endear so many people to Barbalias. People simply find it easier to tolerate his flaws than stay angry at someone that so devoid of negative emotion.

Barbalias, due to his being easily confused and extremely trusting, is easily manipulated by his companions and even by strangers. He rarely, if ever, suspects people of lying, because, in his mind, good people don't lie, and every person is good in their heart.

If left alone, Barbalias would likely only use violence in self defense. However, being so easily manipulated, he is often convinced to use it by his companions.

Though Barbalias remembers nothing of his past, the images of his wife and son will never leave him. Any woman or young boy that reminds him of either of those will draw his immediate affection and protection. He does not understand or remember why he does such things, but in the presence of such people, the madness which curses him seems to be lessened and a fatherly sense of duty replaces it.

Optional: As Barbalias you may consider rolling for personality regularly (suggestions for how to do so described below). Barbalias' second personality is the one dominated by Adimarchus. During the times he is dominated, Barbalias becomes a deeply motivated, brooding character. He speaks little, rarely consults his companions in his actions, and acts with singular drive to accomplish whatever goal has been put before him. These states can be triggered by the DM specifically giving orders (acting as Adimarchus) or by events which trigger memories of Barbalias' particularly traumatic past.

APPEARANCE:

Barbalias is an exceptionally large man, having spent the majority of his life farming. He towers over most humans and his musculature is almost that of a half-orc.

Barbalias wears heavy armor that seems as if it has never been polished and keeps the stains of a hundred battles on it. Along with this he wears a full helm, hiding his face from others.

It is a rare thing for Barbalias to remove his helm, but when he does, strangers are often shocked to see that underneath the helm of the man spouting near nonsense is a face made for melting hearts. His strong chin, chiseled cheeks, piercing blue eyes, and natural smile take people aback instantly, and often throw them off balance in conversation.

LEVELING UP & ROLLING PERSONALITY:

Barbalias will start as a typical paladin. If events that challenge his understanding of good never transpire, he will take the Oath of Vengeance and focus heavily on single target damage, using it to protect his friends from attackers.

If, however, Barbalias finds himself regularly confronted by his memoires, is manipulated by his evil companions, or is regularly dominated by Adimarchus, Barblias will begin to take levels in Warlock, making a Pact of the Blade with the Fiendish Patron. If you wish to roll personality for Barbalias use the following:

Charisma save DC 12 + Warlock level. On a failed save, Barbalias follows the "optional" personality.

#Paladins