The history of the Half-Orc orphan of Vel Anir may never be told truthfully, but where fate is determined the union of Tybalt the Grey’s parentage will eternally be known. His story reaches before his birth with that of his father. An Orcish War Chief, Bodah-Khall, was responsible for at one time uniting the Valley Tribes that lived sparsely in the Dales of Vel Anir. His legacy would speak of a man who was unexpectedly civil for his kind and at one time forged a neutral alliance with the Houses of the mighty human kingdom. For a time there was peace, and for a time the Valley Tribes were allowed to flourish as hired hands primarily under House Virak [1].

Ten years of prosperity was born out of Vel Anir’s tolerance for the Orcish Tribes. In that time a young Lady of House Virak became a frequent guest of the War Chief. Lady Arlyn had become infatuated with the “Noble” Khall. From a young age to womanhood she was entranced by their customs and tales, she bridged a gap between the world of men and orc. And in time the Lady’s father an influential member of House Virak came to regret his leniency. A romance bloomed between the War Chief and his daughter.

Many Valley Orc would claim that it was Bodah-Khall’s infatuation with a human woman that led to the downfall of the unified horde. Others would claim that the human woman had bewitched their leader. But what would be the truth? Fear and shame saw that any truth be obscured to time.

House Virak set upon a campaign to dispatch the Valley Tribes claiming that Bodah-Khall had taken Lady Arlyn and held her hostage. To what gain? The question was seldom ask as the tribes were cast in the shadows of discrimination and old hatred. Orcs were beasts to be slain and it was thought little when the Lady Arlyn’s father rallied against the horde.

Sir Martin Stonewall was a childhood friend of the Lady and a Knight of House Virak. Fiercely loyal and devoted to the lady he led the siege upon the Khall’s encampment. A mighty warrior he fought valiantly carving his way through to the War Chief’s tent where he would be surprised to find the Lady with a grey skinned child latched to her breast. Sir Martin would know a truth that history would not tell, and that truth would be his burden to keep. Too weak to flee the encampment Lady Arlyn called upon her friend to break his bond to House Virak, and take the child consummated by her union with Bodah-Khall. Take the child to safety away from Vel Anir knowing that babe would be put to death by her father.

In the smoke and haze Martin Stonewall despite his protests would take the boy and head far west nearer to the Falwood. It would be told that the War Chief was put to death by House Virak for treason and the death of Lady Arlyn. This was a story that would confuse the Knight who discarded his crests and banners in order to hide the Half-Orc child, and changed his last name to Stone.

Martin taking on Lady Arlyn’s final wishes took the boy on as his own naming him Tybalt Stone. Settling in a farm town the former Knight would raise the grey child. But in the largely human settlements Tybalt was not welcomed due to his Orcish blood, tormented by his peers and mocked by the adults all the boy knew of affection was his adoptive father’s lessons. He was led to believe that he was the byproduct of Martin’s tryst with an Orcish woman.

But it was to be so that Tybalt was a kind child with a wild heart. Having spent twelve years in the village Meadowbrook he was a known figure, and eventually earned the respect of the elders as his size and strength allowed him to perform tasks of labor many others could not. A wildfire however would catch in the summer and take the village in a swath of heat and terror. Martin and Tybalt would do their best to help the villagers escape the wild flames, and in the aftermath Tybalt prayed over an Elvish Messenger from the Falwood. It was revealed in that moment as through prayer and touch Tybalt stole back the bite of flames that marred the Elf’s lungs with the Blessing of the Cosmic God Tychan.

Villagers having witnessed clamored towards the boy for healing, but Tybalt untrained and startled by this revelation himself was unable to aid further. But Martin knew this sign to be something more and for the first time was honest with his son, and on the journey to the City of Elbion told Tybalt who he truly was. Arriving in Elbion the Half-Orc was brought to the Temple of Tychan where he was taken as an Acolyte of the Holy Order. At the age of seventeen the Half-Orc took his Oaths and started down the path of a Paladin.

As a member of the Holy Order, Tybalt, could not claim his birthright much to Martin’s relief believing it protected the boy. The former Knight would do his best to aid his son on his journey, but would eventually pass away from a debilitating sickness that robbed him of his mobility. The death of his father was Tybalt’s first test of conviction, and though pained and questioning why Tychan would allow Martin to die, questioning why he would deny him the power to heal? Ultimately the Half-Orc Paladin did not turn from his faith. At the age of Twenty-One, Tybalt the Grey, left the city of Elbion to begin his Mission in service to Tychan. Traveling the face of Arethil as a messenger of faith and a healer.

1. House Virak of Vel Anir