Lore 093: Balaban the Sheppard Balaban Karanci was a young boy when he lost his parents. Like all young boys who lose their parents at a young age, he idolized them. He still has the occasional nightmare about that long ago night... His brother, Efe, had a panicked conversation with their father. It was then that Efe came to Balaban's room and forcefully removed him. Little Balaban fought, but Efe was bigger and stronger. Outside he was forced toward a loaded cart, as a man in a dark cloak talked to Balaban and Efe's father, Korkmaz. Efe and Balaban were placed on the cart by another man as his mother watched weeping, telling them goodbye, and pleading Efe to take good care of Balaban. Korkmaz gave the cloaked man a large package. The last Balaban saw was the glint of steel from beneath the cloak as the man and Korkmaz shook hands. This would be the last time he saw them. The men didn't talk much, and Efe often told Balaban to sit down, hide, or be quiet throughout the journey. They were stopped a few times by bandits and encroaching creatures. Balaban enjoyed watching their captors fight with the bandits, though he wasn't sure whom he wanted to win. But the man in the cloak always won. He wished for strength. Strength like the cloaked man, whom called himself Tagon. It was the 5th night when Balaban asked Tagon why he was so good at killing bandits. "To save little boys like you. What you mean is how. How am I so good? And that's to save little boys like me." Tagon laughed. Balaban began to talk to Tagon each night, listening to his stories. Efe remained cold. Often Tagon would look at Efe, then grow silent with ominous brooding, and it was no longer fun for Balaban. Read more and be inspired by Balaban's incredible story, among many others, over on my P@🌳on. Link is in my bio: @dnd_icons #dndtoken #eldritchknight #dndicons #dnd #dndcharacter #dndart #dnd5e #dndcharacterart #ilovefantasyart #dungeonsanddragons #rpg #dungeonsanddragonsart #rpgcharacter #rpgart #pathfinder #fantasy #characterdesign #characterart #fantasyart https://www.instagram.com/p/CL-bmL4DjY_/?igshid=1hncsiscot9xh
