Egcweald Windbearn

The first character I ever created for D&D was a fighter by the name of Garth the Unforgettable. He was a long-lived character, up until I started playing in Jim's campaign in high school. For the first session, I created a fighter to whom I gave that name...and he died before the end of the first session. I'd had many fine adventures using that pseudonym, and just couldn't bring myself to use it again after he died so ignominiously. At the time, it just felt better that he cease being Unforgettable.

Around that time, the Dragon published an issue that had a list of I believe Gaelic name roots with which you could put together unique names for your characters. The name I came up with was Egcweald Windbearn (probably not correct, but I've always pronounced it as if the "G" wasn't in there). The name, broken down by roots, meant "possessor of swords, child of the wind". Sounded good cool, right?? Okay, it really did when I was 13.

In the campaign, Egcweald became a legend in his own right and eventually became the template on which later characters were built. Some notable events:

- At second level, he single-handedly defeated a minotaur. The party was in a tight hall, and Egcweald had been the one to get the door open. Unfortunately, the minotaur blocked entry into the room, and the party couldn't get in the doorway to assist. After the battle, he took the horns from the beast and mounted them on his helmet.

- As a small side adventure, the party was asked by the local farmers to help get rid of a grizzly that was terrorizing them. After much searching, and some guerrilla-like tactics from a bear played far too intelligently, the party prevailed outside her lair...only to find her now orphaned cub inside. Before the party could slaughter the cub, Egcweald placed the bear under his protection and "adopted" him as his own. He was named Cuddles, and he was eventually a full-fledged member of the party...he was even knighted for his part in saving the King! Yes, Sir Cuddles.

As our party had a monk, with the Speak with Animals ability, Egcweald learned some grizzly bear phrases to better train and coordinate with Sir Cuddles. He even had his own bear-sized suit of chainmail and a saddle so Egcweald could ride in style!

- Egcweald's unofficial nickname was "Clang". During one of the first adventures, Egcweald was called upon (since he had 18/57 STR) to open a door. Alas, our DM had a vicious sense of humor and the door was actually at the top of a flight of stairs which Egcweald found out the hard way. In plate mail. Needless to say, stealth was no longer an option for the party that night.

Due to his relationship with Cuddles, Egcweald's character has become more akin to a ranger than simple fighter. He typically wears armor no heavier than chain, for example, and travels with nothing he can't carry on himself or Cuddles. You'll see that born out in these character sheets.