The History of Gim and Groft Milestone

Groft's adopted father, Gim Milestone, grew up in 1 farm newly built by his father in the forests near The Hamlet. At a time when the Hamlet was first growing and people flocked to the fertile land. Gim's family farm was small but turned in a steady harvest, and life was comfortable but uneventful. Gim dreamt of seeking a more exciting life beyond the boundary of the town, and left home as a teenager as soon as he was old enough to be hired by a trading caravan in the local tavern. This broke Gim's parents’ heart, who had been envisioning Gim to inherit the farm and build a family legacy, but Gim found no reason to return. At first hired as general help, Gim adapted to the hardship and dangers of wilderness travel driven by his desire for excitement, and after a few years’ time and working between several crews, turned toward the life of a guard/mercenary for hire.

Gim wandered the world for years, which turned to decades, going where his employers at the time would require, and having no family other than his crew and a few acquaintances in his travels. As he began to feel the weight of age, a fateful encounter changed his life. Working as a caravan guard, Gim's crew was attacked by party of Orcish outcasts seeking to take the caravan's food shipment. Casualties were grave on both sides, but the caravan crew emerged victorius. After the battle, Gim and the others discovered the outcasts nearby encampment and the reason for their foolish raid - a Half-Orc toddler lying ceremoniously in the outcast leader's tent crying for food. Gim was conflicted by his duty to protect the caravan, but also the guilt of knowing the outcasts' cause - that they were not driven by greed but only for survival. Gim took the child with him, completed his last contract, and set his adventuring days behind him. He returned to Chesterrath determined to bring up the child as atonement for his guilt.

When Gim returned to The Hamlet, he found that his parents had passed and the farm seemingly over-farmed had been deserted for years. Things had not flourished in The Hamlet as he Gim had expected, with only but a handful of homes and other surrounding small building, most aged and deteriorating being left. Having nowhere to go, Gim worked to restore the farm and made enough to keep himself and Groft afloat.

Groft grow up with Gim as his uncle, and was told his birth parents had died in a caravan attack. Though Gim has put his mercenary days behind him, he taught Groft what he knew of defending oneself. Gim sees his youth watching Groft grow up, who also bemoaned the boredom of farming life (in addition to coping with the prejudice of being the "different kid in town"). Gim was pleased to see Groft finding solace in his religious interest at the local church.

When strange events befell Chesterrath, Groft was ready to go beyond the boundary of the farm to protect the village, Gim dusted off his old shield and spear, and knowing it was time to pass it on to his adopted offspring.

The Milestone Family Homestead