Searlus was born into a talented Nordenland minstrel’s family as their third-born son. Unfortunately, his life would change drastically when the parents discovered that their child was taken by fey and replaced with a look-alike version of their son called a Wechselkind. At first grief, fear and anger clouded the family’s mind yet, the eldest son was able to convince them to keep the young Searlus in their family. In time Searlus was seen as another child in the family and took naturally to his father’s craft. He enjoyed music and storytelling but always felt drawn to tales of armored heroes fighting valiantly against dark forces. When the family performed for an aristocrat’s household a crew of brigands broke in and attempted to slay all in attendance. With furious fighting, the brigands were defeated and Searlus was injured protecting the young daughter of the aristocrat. When the aristocrat offered Searlus anything he wanted the young Wechselkind asked for a chance to become better at protecting people. The aristocrat used his connections to hire a retired adventurer to train the small-statured Searlus and trained him in the beginning path of a Paladin. With great zeal and gusto, Searlus battled and fought well enough to pass his trials and eventually took his vows as a Paladin of Devotion. Now, Searlus is hired as a talented minstrel who also acts as a bodyguard for the nobility posing as a childhood friend of their children or as a doll in their care. Once an evil fiend or bandit attacks his clients he unleashes the full might of his talents as the Little Tin Knight.
Searlus
Race: Wechselkind +2 Con, +1 Cha, Artificial Form, Childish Agility, Faerie Glamour,
Stats (27- point buy)
Str 14 Dex 12 Con 12 Int 9 Wis 10 Cha 15 (base stats)
Str 14 Dex 12 Con 14 Int 9 Wis 10 Cha 16 (racial and feat adjustment)
The three things that I wanted to achieve with this build are:
- Charismatic Child at Heart.
- Defender of the Defenseless.
- Little Light in a Grim Dark World.
Race
For the Race of this build, I went with Wechselkind. With this race, he gains +2 to Con and +1 to Cha, Artificial Form, Childish Agility, and Faerie Glamour.
Background
For Background I chose Entertainer. This gives him the skills of Performance, Athletics, Tool Proficiencies of Disguise Kit, Flute, and the Background Feature of By Popular Demand.
Class
For the Class makeup of this build, I went with a mix of Bard 1 /Paladin 5 (Oath of Devotion). With this combination of classes, he gains a large number of defensive abilities from both classes featuring racial abilities, strong damage dealing from Divine Smite, Extra Attack and Spells, and strong mobile with Childish Agility. He is a gentle entertainer for his clients who becomes a hardened target for his client’s foes.
Bard 1 is the beginning of this build with the skills of Lyre, Drum, Pan Flute, Perception, Persuasion, Deception, Spellcasting, and Bardic Inspiration.
Paladin 1 is where Searlus picks up his training for being a protector for the aristocrat’s young daughter. This level gives him Divine Sense, Lay on Hands, and proficiencies in martial weapons, shields, and medium armor.
Paladin 2 grants him access to Fighting Style: Interception, Spellcasting, and Divine Smite.
Paladin 3 is where he becomes the little knight that Searlus dreamed of being. At this level, he gains Divine Health, Channel Divinity of Sacred Weapon and Turn the Unholy, Oath Spells of Protection from Evil and Good and Sanctuary, The key part of this level is Channel Divinity: Sacred Weapon and Turn the Unholy. With either one, he becomes a tyrant of defiance against his foes with the ability to buff his to hit with his Cha bonus or place fear into the hearts of each fiend and undead around him.
Paladin 4 is where he picks up the feat Shield Master. With Shield Master, he can shove a foe as a bonus action, gain a bonus to Dex saves with his shields AC bonus, and he takes either half damage or no damage on Dex saves using a reaction.
Paladin 5 is the final level for this build with access to Extra Attack and 2nd level Oath Spells of Lesser Restoration and Zone of Truth.
Spells
Wechselkind
Disguise Self (Child Only)
Bard
Cantrip
Mending
Vicious Mockery
1st Level
Detect Magic
Feather Fall
Longstrider
Sleep
Paladin
1st Level
Compelled Duel
Cure Wounds
Divine Favor
Protection from Evil and Good
Sanctuary
Wrathful Smite
2nd Level
Lesser Restoration
Magic Weapon
Zone of Truth
Equipment
Standard Bard equipment with a Longsword Pan Flute and Drum. Buy Half Plate, and a Shield when you get the funds to do so.
Character sheet from DND Beyond
https://ddb.ac/characters/76180525/TGs9Ry
