## Overview Calford was once the beloved co-leader and moral heart of [[Talonalton]]. A sturdy man of integrity and wisdom, he stood as a symbol of decency and fairness in the mining town until his untimely murder at the hands of [[Sheriff Galver Dunodi]]. His death—motivated by greed and fear over a hidden gold vein—sparked a supernatural return: Calford rose as a **revenant**, a vengeful spirit with unfulfilled justice fueling his second life. Now, Calford walks again—his body restored but his soul burning with the weight of betrayal. Though undead in form, he is no mindless horror. He retains his principles and clarity, but his mission is singular: **Justice for what was done.** - **Name:** Calford - **Race:** Human (Revenant) - **Age at Death:** Mid-50s - **Class in Life:** Fighter (Champion) / Miner and Town Leader - **Status:** Undead (Revenant), active --- ## Background Calford was born and raised in [[Talonalton]]. A miner-turned-foreman, he gained the respect of the working class through sheer sweat and honesty. In time, the people turned to him not only for leadership but as a moral compass when the town grew. [[Sheriff Galver Dunodi]] enforced the law—but **Calford was the one people trusted.** When the town’s mine struck gold beneath the iron, Calford’s first instinct was to inform the [[Green Palace]]. He believed the kingdom should oversee and distribute the find responsibly. Galver, driven by fear of losing autonomy—and wealth—sought another path. Calford was ambushed, beaten, and left to die in secret. His soul did not pass on. --- ## The Letter to Councilor [[Rillion Rolid]] Calford’s final act before death was writing a letter to Councilor [[Rillion Rolid]] of the [[Green Palace]]: > _“I urge you to send representatives to assess the situation and help us manage this discovery in a way that will bring prosperity to all. The wealth of our land should be shared amongst its inhabitants…”_ The letter never reached its destination. Its discovery by the party served as confirmation of Galver’s guilt and Calford’s righteous intentions. --- ## Revenant Form Calford’s soul was bound to undeath by the weight of **unfinished justice**. Though his skin is pale and his voice carries the edge of the grave, he speaks with calm purpose, not wrath. ### Powers: - **Undead Resilience:** Resistant to damage, immune to fear and exhaustion - **Unerring Vengeance:** Can track Galver anywhere on the same plane of existence - **Sword of Final Oath:** His rusted but reanimated longsword burns with pale-blue flame when facing those complicit in his death - **Divine Echo:** At times, Calford seems to speak with voices behind him—the voices of the town that once looked to him for protection ### Appearance: Calford’s armor is the same mining chainmail he died in—patched with bandages and burn marks. His eyes glow faintly with pale silver light. His flesh is cold and firm like stone, but his movements are precise. --- ## Personality - **Alignment:** Lawful Neutral (now flavored by divine vengeance) - **Disposition:** Stern, focused, patient - **Speech Style:** Speaks plainly but with the weight of history. Every word matters. Rarely raises his voice, but when he does, it silences rooms. - **Philosophy:** "Justice is not revenge. It is correction." Despite his form, Calford holds no hatred toward the innocent. He bears no grudge against the living—only those who **chose betrayal** over decency. --- ## Relationship to the Party - May confront the party, asking whether they seek to protect the truth or bury it - Can become a reluctant ally if the PCs prove they uphold justice over convenience - His presence unnerves villagers—he appears dead, yet speaks like the man they once trusted --- ## Campaign Impact - Calford is both an emotional and supernatural catalyst - He could serve as: - A **divine executioner** (if Galver is captured) - A **spiritual guide** showing that undeath need not always be evil - A **haunting memory** for the survivors of [[Talonalton]] If his justice is fulfilled—either through Galver’s execution, confession, or death—**Calford’s soul may finally rest.** Alternatively, if Galver dies without atonement, Calford may remain as a wandering judge, bringing justice to other corrupt lands. --- ## Quotes - _“I am not here to punish. I am here to finish what was begun.”_ - _“He was my brother in law. I thought that meant something.”_ - _“You cannot build peace on a lie. You only sink it deeper in the earth.”_