Name: Simon Darlock  Gender: male  Race: human
Class: Fighter 1 Background: Noble (prince)  Alignment: Chaotic Good
Age: 23  Height: 6'2"  Weight: 160#  Eyes: brown  Hair: dark brown  Skin: fair

	Ability	Score	Mod	Save				Attack	Range	To Hit	Effect
	STRENGTH	18	+4	+6		Initiative: +3		Longsword	melee	+6	1d8+6 slashing damage
	DEXTERITY	16	+3	+3		Speed: 30'		Dagger	20'/60'	+6	1d4+4 slashing damage
	CONSTITUTION	13	+1	+3		Armor Class: 17 [19]		Longbow	150'/600'	+6	1d8+4 piercing damage
	INTELLIGENCE	18	+4	+4		Hit Points: 11		Unarmed Attack	melee	+6	5 bludgeoning damage
	WISDOM	10	+0	+0		Perception: 10
	CHARISMA	14	+2	+2		Hit Dice: 1d10

Skills: Athletics +6, History, +6, Intimidation +4, Persuasion +4, Stealth +5
Special Abilities: Dragon Chess, Dueling Style, Medium Armor Master, Second Wind

Equipment: Scale Mail Armor, Shield, Longsword, 2 Daggers, Longbow, 20 Arrows, Quiver
Diplomat's Pack, Wineskin, Dragon Chess Set, Royal Charter, Signet Ring, Banner, Fine Clothes

Name: Simon Hackman  Gender: male  Race: half-elf
Class: Warlock 1  Background: Criminal (heretic)  Alignment: Chaotic Good
Age: 89  Height: 6`2"  Weight: 141#  Eyes: dark brown  Hair: black  Skin: pale

	Ability	Score	Mod	Save				Attack	Range	To Hit	Effect
	STRENGTH	10	+4	+7		Initiative: +2		Eldritch Blast	240'	+6	1d10 force damage
	DEXTERITY	14	+2	+4		Speed: 30'		Fire Bolt	240'	+6	1d10 fire damage
	CONSTITUTION	12	+1	+1		Armor Class: 11 [14]		Dagger	20'/60'	+4	1d4+2 piercing damage
	INTELLIGENCE	14	+2	+2		Hit Points: 9
	WISDOM	9	-1	+1		Perception: 9
	CHARISMA	18	+4	+6		Hit Dice: 1d8

Skills: Arcana +4, Deception +6, Investigation +4, Nature +4, Persuasion +6, Stealth +4
Special Abilities: Darkvision 60', Fey Ancestry, Magehand, Spell Sniper, Thieves' Tools

Spell Slots: 2   
1st: Faerie Fire, Hellish Rebuke, Hex, Sleep

Equipment: Fine Clothes, 2 Daggers, Wand, Thieves' Tools, Dungeoneer's Pack, 2 Bedrolls, Wineskin, 2 Waterskins

 As the seventh son of the seventh in his line to rule, seers predicted Simon Darlock would accomplish great works. Then again, what else are seers to say after being introduced to the newborn son of a king? It was practically impossible the babe would inherit the crown. Six brothers stood before him in line, and at least four of them appeared fit. Yet Simon displayed remarkable potential, often surpassing expectations in matters of cunning or might.
 His guile was sufficient that he often lurked behind curtains at important state events. He looked upon dozens of foreign dignitaries through the eyes of a child. When old enough to be invited to these events, the protocols of diplomacy were already second nature to him. While not generally precocious, young Simon amused himself and entertained courtiers by cultivating a mastery of dragon chess. It helped to pass the time between endless lessons about genealogy and great battles of the past.
 The young prince faced more arduous training as he matured. Though exempted from corporal punishments, Simon was otherwise given no special treatment at the Royal Military Academy. Early training focused on the best practices for utilizing various forms of weapons and armor. With maturity he proved strong enough to endure even the harshest exercises, often hungering for greater challenges. Mountain warfare, amphibious assaults, and covert operations -- performing effectively alongside several different types of special forces enabled Prince Simon to prove his mettle.
 Having shown the ferocity of an officer along with the persistence of a hero, Simon returned to his father's side only to become quickly bored by it all. Peacetime meant endless meetings to manage the transition of estates or promote economic development. The prince longed to prove himself in battle, or at least as a strategic planner; but instead he did nothing more noble than make the case to better fund the capitol's public library. Dressing up for formal receptions, supervising minor lords . . . even chess matches with old friends from far off lands could no longer satisfy Prince Simon.


 Born into a family of prosperous horse traders, Simon Hackman's youth is a progression of tragedies driven by corrupt legal practices. It started when a visiting duke claimed to have been sold a dying horse falsely presented as fit. Though a respected seer was able to divine that the questionable horse was killed by a relentlessly demanding and cruel rider who did not allow the beast enough access to water, the presiding magistrate refused to hear this evidence. Meanwhile the duke hired a crafty legal advocate who paid scoundrels to spread rumors of Hackman family fraud while he was in court glibly orating on behalf of the complaint. The family had to sell every last steed to pay out the ruling against them.
 Yet young Simon Hackman was reasonably clever, so he did not lose hope. In fact, he redoubled his efforts at school, paying particular attention to disciplines like rhetoric and logic. He hoped to reverse the ruling against his family. Instead, he learned enough about the law to understand that, in his homeland, simply being the son of a convicted fraud is cause enough to be barred from giving advocacy or even voluntary testimony. Meanwhile his family's woes increased as his father's reputation prevented steady employment. They moved from a luxurious townhouse to a tiny hovel in a much more crowded district. Aristocrats now shunned a man who once served them well, and the Hackmans started taking odd jobs just to keep food on the table.
 For Simon's part, he proved to be an able operative for a local gang leader. The well-mannered and educated lad had a knack for looking into disputes and deducing the reality behind a conflict. While performing no violence of his own, Simon did the leg work to inform his boss about the real story behind instances of corruption or disloyalty in the gang. While this sometimes led to murder, the young man was at peace so long as he had been diligent in his efforts to uncover the truth.
 Through his underworld contacts, Simon became enamored with the Stonekeepers. This secret society saw no disloyalty, but discretion was always an imperative since their occult studies were condemned by church and state alike. After investigating their rituals, Simon joined their ranks. He could already navigate the local criminal underworld, so he was a vital asset in obtaining purloined books, hiding forbidden talismans, and rallying urchins to act as lookouts or timely distractions. As he learned to cast spells, Simon became a full member of the group. Yet not long after, he was arrested and tortured. Authorities claimed to be acting with holy purpose, but in truth they sought what he knew about his old gang's leadership.


Simon Darlock rescues Simon Hackman from captivity, yet both must flee the realm after this daring jailbreak. The prince expects the heretic to act as his squire, and the heretic is grateful to be rescued, but neither is an experienced killer, while the night is long and full of terrors.