Kalen Dren

Kalen Dren is a human Paladin who believes in the Threefold God and is the primary crusader of the Eye of Justice. He leads a dual life as a member of an elite Waterdeep guard unit and vigilante crime fighter. Kalen suffers from a spellscar which numbs his body. The lack of feeling aids him when fighting but he does not experience pleasurable sensations as others do. Kalen believes his spellscar will eventually kill him.

History
Kalen was an orphan and was raised in Luskan by a rogue who took in children and used them in his criminal operation. While at the "orphanage", he met a young halfling named Cellica and the two became close friends. As he was begging on the streets one day he met the Paladin Gedrin Shadowbane who gave him the sword Vindicator, made him promise never to beg for anything again and cuffed him on the ear so he would remember the promise. Kalen joined Gedrin's church, the Eye of Justice, and travelled to Waterdeep with Cellica.

He joined the Waterdeep guard and was gravely wounded in a battle in the late 1470's DR. During the battle, he took an arrow intended for an officer named Araezra Hondyl, saving her life. Although he recovered from his wounds, he continued to behave as though he was disabled so that no one would suspect that he was the vigilante Shadowbane. Araezra took Kalen on as her aid although he wasn't expected to engage in combat because of his supposed disability.

In his Shadowbane persona, he roamed Downshadow in the upper levels of Undermountain rescuing damsels in distress and performing other noble deeds. In 1479 DR he intervened during a fight in Downshadow between a high ranking priestess of Sune, Lorien Dawnbringer, and an evil dwarven monk known as Rath. This incident brought him into contact with members of his guard patrol who didn't recognize him because of his helm. Over the next few days Kalen had several other encounters with the city guard and even eluded them on a wild rooftop chase through Waterdeep. During one of the encounters, Vindicator was taken by Areazra, although she returned the sword several days later after she discovered that Kalen was Shadowbane.

Shortly afterwards, Kalen came upon a strange blue fog that contained a crying young woman with blue hair. The woman was Myrin whom he rescued and took back to the rowhouse he shared with Cellica. Myrin was a wizard from Westgate who had been trapped in an intradimensional space by the Spellplague for nearly 100 years. She had an extremely powerful spellscar which allowed her to use another person's magical abilities if they were near her. Myrin attracted the attention of Lilten, the high priest of Beshaba, who made several attempts to kidnap her.

Rath, one of Lilten's minions, was finally successful and abducted Myrin and took her to a belltower. Kalen tracked Rath to Downshadow where the two dueled. Rath jumped through a magical gate which led from Downshadow to the tower and Kalen followed and bested Rath by knocking him off the belltower. Rather than kill Rath, Kalen turned him over to the city watch.

Equipment
Kalen wears leather armor and carries the epic bastard sword Vindicator, a blade once used by the god Helm. He wears a helmet to hide his identity as Shadowbane and has magic boots which allow him to run faster and jump farther than normal humans can.

Appearance
Kalen has dark hair and colorless pupils. Although he has the ability to heal himself, he refuses to use divine magic whenever he accidentally sheds the blood of an innocent. Because of this, his body is covered with old scars.

Relationships
Kalen was life-long friends with Cellic,a whom he regarded as a sister. His vows as a Paladin do not prevent him from taking lovers. He had a past relationship with his commanding officer, Araezra Hondyl, which seems to have ended amicably. In Downshadow, Kalen sleeps with Fayne, a fey'ri, causing Myrin (who had a powerful crush on Kalen) to be heartbroken when she saw them together. He is has a close platonic relationship with Leeera, one of Sune's priestesses.