Percy was originally inspired by one of the base portraits when I was first putting together a party for the original Icewind Dale. Its listed as a “gnome thief”, but to me it has always looked more like a halfling. Bold, confident, and more hero than sneak-thief. And that impression turned into the Percival below.
Percival Took always knew he was a bit different. While most halfling children loved to run and play, he always had a purpose. For him fireside stories of heroes and adventure were not just stories, they were a future. And as much as his family tried to nudge him toward gentler pursuits he was always firmly convinced of his calling. All halfling children love to compete at rock-pitching, and Precy was no different. But he wasn’t just good. He *excelled*. Every spare moment was spent honing his aim, learning to be aware of his surroundings, and mastering ever more complex trick shots. Before long he could call out “second pine cone from the left on the third branch” and smack it out of the tree without even seeming to look. Other adventure-inclined halflings often turned towards stealth and more roguish skills, but that simply was not what Percy had in mind. He sparred with the local militia and guard every chance he got, and when that ceased to be challenging enough he sought out human guards for better practice. They rarely took him seriously, but he was willing to take his lumps and always sprang back up cheerfully for more. Before long he was considered practically a mascot for the human constabulary.
Percy took the opportunity not just to practice fighting with much larger folk, but also to learn how humans thought, how they saw him, and how best to shape that to his advantage. He quickly noticed that the more he leaned into his naturally outspoken tale-teller persona the easier it was to manage human relations. They seldom took him seriously as a threat. So if they were inclined to be friendly, the amusing incongruity of the brave and bold little man put them at ease. If they were inclined to be unfriendly, it led to them dismissing him as a serious threat – giving him a sizeable advantage in initiative if hostilities did break out.
Once Percy felt that his training was sufficient, he marched up to the local lord’s castle to volunteer with the castle guard. The Guard Captain didn’t know quite what to make of him, and had trouble taking him seriously as a reliable fighter. So when the request came down for a bodyguard to “babysit” the lord’s teenage daughter, Katarina, he immediately took the opportunity to get Percy out of the regular rotation without giving up one of his more trusted soldiers. Percy knew why he was given the assignment, but figured he had to start somewhere. And getting in good with the lord’s daughter couldn’t hurt. He quickly found that she relished his stories, and accepted him as he presented instead of snickering like most humans.
One fateful day while Percy was preparing to take Katarina out walking he noticed the activity seemed “too quiet”, and caught furtive movements out the window that didn’t feel “right”. So he had Katarina hide behind a wardrobe while he took position nearby, watching the door. When the first ruffian burst in with weapons drawn he smiled to see the pint-size obstacle in front of him. Until his companions to either side sprouted knives to the throat and the little man began beckoning him to approach…
When the guards arrived they were astonished to find five bandits down and Percy calmly cleaning his weapons and chatting with Katarina. The captain questioned how he possibly could have defeated them all by himself, but Percy just shrugged and said, “The way I figure it, they were simply outnumbered”. “Outnumbered! how?!?” exclaimed the Captain. Percy just winked at Katarina and replied, “There were only five of them, but I had six knives….”.
As Katarina began training in earnest for her own adventuring career he knew he had found his place. He always continued to refer to himself as her “bodyguard”, but in truth he became just as much advisor, partner, and friend. And when she set out to make her way in the world, he was right there by her side.
Percy’s fighting style is based on causing initial confusion with a rapid-fire spread of throwing knives incapacitating foes to either side as he charges in to engage carefully selected foes in melee. He is very good at using larger folks’ size against them in group combat, and his “signature move” is the no-look knife throw to take out secondary combatants while never taking his eyes off his melee opponents. Using thrown knives to the face to force his current adversary to dodge in the direction of his waiting dagger is also a common tactic.
Percy’s characterization has always been quite consistent. In some games he is a fighter, in some a swashbuckler (Pathfinder’s Flying Blade archetype suits him to a T). Even certain kinds of ranger sometimes suit him. But the swaggering knife fighter who doesn’t feel disadvantaged in the slightest by his size has always been his signature persona.
“halfling male,british,mid 40s,short neat brown hair parted on the left,lopsided grin on his face,strong jawline,clean shaven,cool,confident,athletic build,short black leather vest over white shirt,black pants,high black leather boots, tossing a knife in the air”
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