How would you rate my character backstory, I haven’t created him yet and I would like to fix any problems/make improvements.

Darroch Abelard is a good looking human man with light blond hair and a faint scar that slashes across the left side of his face; he appears to be around 20 to 25 years old. His father was a lumberjack and his mother cared for him, his older brother and his sister. When he was 14 Goblins raided the small lumberjacking encampment they lived in and Darroch’s father and older brother were killed trying to defend the family.

The remainder of the family was put into slavery and led into the underdark; Darren was sold to a harsh Goblin master who kept slaves for mining purposes. Years later there was a large slave rebellion lead by a charismatic man named Adonis. In the chaos that Darroch and another boy were able to escape through a small and cramped cave that caved in behind them, by sheer luck they ended up near Sanctuary and were able to enter.

I can't think of anything after this, I want him to become a paladin of Helm and I need something to get him to become one. How do most people become paladins anyways?

Become squires!

In my book, noone ever chooses to become a Paladin. It's a calling brought upon you by a greater power. Sometimes even against your own wishes. A Paladin has to be pure in mind, body and spirit, something that most independently thinking beings are incapable or unwilling to be.

I never saw the Paladin as the slayer of all evil, but rather as a larger-than-life defender of virtue and those not able to fend for themselves. Fearless and incorruptible in devine glory. The Paladin class could very well be a Prestige Class I think.

Paladins should be rare.

Many Paladins of Helm are processed through The Order of the Vigilante Eye of God. Or you can do as said above: Be a squire! You can always accomplish this task in-game as well by being a squire to a PC Paladin of Helm and achieving glory that way.

Foxhound How do most people become paladins anyways?

PHB 3.5, p. 43: Background No one ever chooses to be a paladin. Becoming a paladin is answering a call, accepting one's destiny. No one, no matter how diligent, can become a paladin through practice. The natyre is either within one or not, and it is not possible to gain the paladin's natyre by any act of will. It is possible, howver, to fail to recognize one's destiny. Occasionally, one who is called to be a paladin denies that call and pursues some other life instead. Most paladins answer the call and begin training as adolescents. Typically, they become squires or assistants to experienced paladins, train for years, and finally set off on their own to further the causes of good and law. Other paladins, however, find their calling only later in life, after having pursued some other career. All paladins, regardless of background, recognize in each other an eternal bond that transcends culture, race, and even religion. Any two paladins, even from opposite sides of the world, consider themselves comrades.

As for your backstory, of course we could comment on it, but ultimately it's entirely your own PC and your own background, and therefore your decision. If you're satisfied with it, just use it. If you're not, help us out and explain what parts you're not too happy about. Alternatively, WotC has a character development board under the D&D forums meant specifically for things like this (I'd link, but it's currently down for maintenance).

Anyone have a Helm paladin who would want to take on a squire? :d

The problem with the backround I have now is that I want him to become a paladin, but I have no driving force in place. I need something that shook the foundation of his life and made him realize his call to become a paladin. If anyone has any ideas how I should go about this, I would be very grateful.

Foxhound I need something that shook the foundation of his life and made him realize his call to become a paladin. If anyone has any ideas how I should go about this, I would be very grateful.

Foxhound When he was 14 Goblins raided the small lumberjacking encampment they lived in and Darroch’s father and older brother were killed trying to defend the family.

• What allowed the goblins to raid the place?
• How was his relationship with his family (specifically the brother and the father)? Were they (or did they become) role models?
• Did he try to defend his family himself; why/why not?

Snoteye, thanks for suggesting that, I was able to find a nice hook and complete the backstory.

To everyone else, thanks for all the help.