Delholmes was the owner of the little book shop in their village near Took. It was in his shop, with his help that Ulthok learned to read and write. Mother and PaPa thought that was a waste of time, no dirt farmer halfling needed to read and write. But ulthok never wanted to be a farmer. His brother Delthak was already gone adventuring so he hooked up with a traveling show, which actually turned out to be connected to a thieves guild. They soon realized how nimble and flexable he was it didn't take them long to train him and incorperate him into their so called shows.
Ulthok moved to Weallin,the capital city of Cormilin, with a rogue Halfling from the show known as Trapspringer. Ulthok just referred to him as Uncle. So his early schooling was most in the thieves’ guild where he showed a great ability, which some thought mystic.
The city streets and back allies of Weallin were a rough place for child as many would try to play on his innocence. Few realized he was a Halfling so as time pasted Ulthok learned to play the part of a simple child. His innocent appearance would put bullies and thugs off as they were over confident. They would think they had him cornered and his purse would be an easy pickings. The guild had constantly put him through training of jumping, rolling and dodging. They also taught him how to handle a knife and short sword. The guild was rough on him so Ulthok would know the pain of failing. His often bruised face added to the look of easy prey. Escape was his main goal but there were time when a bloodied thug lay in the alley with his own purse missing.
Shopkeeper’s wives would take pity on the poor little thing and give him food at the back door. This allowed Ulthok to view the locks and passage into the shop for a later return at night. Part of his training to retrieve items assigned to him and return to the guild. Picking locks, unlatching windows and even scaling walls to access upper windows became a natural skill. At first Ulthok thought it more a game but in time he realized the lose to the shop keeper meant harder times for them and their families. It wasn’t unusual for Ulthok to sneak back and replace the items, much to the disapproval of many guild members. Of course there were also the charlatans that cheated their customer, those Ulthok visited for fun and to deal evens. When the guild threatened to take dark actions against Ulthok for stealing back and returning items Uncle Trapspringer would step in and Ulthok’s only punishment would be harder training. The harder training paid off as Ulthok achieved the status of “Master Thief” before he reached his age of maturity. But there were still things he needed to learn. Uncle Trapspringer tried to tell Ulthok about how to sense traps and wards. Though he boasted about the simple spells he could cast he lacked the skills to teach the arcane.
Shortly after Ulthok found himself placed in the servitude of a local Wizard when he had been caught picking his pocket. Little did Ulthok know it had been arranged by his uncle. That servitude turned to an apprenticeship. The wizard saw the attention to detail and the natural sense of his surroundings that Ulthok possessed. The simple cantrips of everyday life only took one or two trials before Ulthok could perform them skillfully. As the years progressed the wizard instructed him in more and more difficult spells. One evening the wizard presented Ulthok with a paper bound package. When Ulthok unwrapped it it was sturdy leather bound Boccob's Blessed Book. Many runes decorated and in the center was an inscription,”
Presto
Tome of Magic
Ulthok Rydenham “.
Ulthok looked at the inscription, “Sir it says Ulthok Rydenham.”
“Yes lad..you are no longer my apprentice. I have shared with you what spells I can but it is up to you gain the skill to cast them. There is still room to add your own.” Along with these the wizard gave him an amulet of life protection and a scroll that provide him with a creature to aid him similar to having a familiar. “As you go out to see what you can do, these may help …use then wisely.”
Ulthok had learned to wield magic as no Halfling had been able to do before him. This unique combination of skills was quickly recognized by the local court and Ulthok was recruited for “Special” missions. But what he had learned to love were the random adventures he picked up at the local Inns . The next few years Ulthok honed his craft and gather a bit wealth to boot. It was in one of Inns he heard that the King of Shanntara was looking for adventures to serve as a reaction force for the King and his allies. Little did he know what adventures awaited?
What game do you own the 
Return to Charadun - Q&A
The Morphing Game
Return to Charadun - Recr
Sorry to see you both go but thats the nature of online gaming so no hard feelings. Hope everything turns out ok for you both.
