Bartholomew Reginald Baldwin XXIX

Kobold, Paladin / Bard / Warlock, Natu

A member of the Soul Shepherds.

Background.

Bartholomew Reginald Baldwin XXIX, also known as ‘Arse’, is an Emerald Kobold from the town of Emerald’s Rest. Arse was always very reckless and immature, shirking his duties just to have fun with friends. To this, his parents would always comment, “Stop being such an arse and get back to your duties.”

One of his preferred playmates, Cassian Astor XXVIII, was much more disciplined than Arse, but Arse was always very talented in swordplay since his family comes from a long line of Emerald Scourge.

Arse was never able to formally become an Emerald Scourge due to his immaturity, lack of discipline, and overall fear of death. One day, during the defense of Emerald’s Rest, Cassian Astor XXVIII was mortally wounded, a young vibrant ember snuffed out. Arse visited his friend on his deathbed, hearing his final words regretting not being able to see the world. This mentally broke Arse, splitting his personality into an idealized version of himself (Bartholomew), which reflected Cassian, and his normal self, which reflected all of his innate insecurities (Arse). Bartholomew emerges in combat and in times where an “Emerald-Tongue” is needed, while Arse is his default personality.

In the days following Cassian’s death and burial, Arse prepared to leave his hometown. Armed with Cassian’s blade, Arse lopped off his tail and carved himself with the symbol of Natu. He then set out to explore the world and find the City of Gold.

Stolen Valor. During his travels, Arse encountered a fallen Solar Scion. During a prophetic vision experienced by Diallos, the truth of Bartholomew’s “induction” was revealed: a halfling Solar Scion fell while protecting a group of Kobolds from Demons in the Battle for Atlas. An Emerald Kobold (Arse) later approached the corpse, stole the fallen warrior’s Solar Scion Insignia, and assumed their identity.

Arse then set out to become a Solar Scion, pledging his blade to secure the path to Paradise so that Cassian’s Soul can rest there, and hoping that maybe he can find the fabled “City of Gold” along the way.

Legitimized Solar Scion. After months of fighting alongside the Soul Shepherds, Bart publicly revealed his true Kobold identity and his origins to the Ecclesia Solari. With the advocacy of the Soul Shepherds and the Whispering Grove Druids behind him, he was permitted to enter the Mirror Realm and face his Dark Self — a trial every Scion must pass. He defeated Dark Arse not with violence, but by offering him friendship and a peaceful death, granting his shadow a vision of the home and family it never had. Upon his return, High Priestess Cetra officially knighted him into the Holy Order of the Solar Scions. In the same ceremony, Cetra declared that Kobolds are no longer to be classified as Fomorians — a proclamation Bart inspired.

Key Relationships & Bonds.

• Deepened his bond with Silas Clemens during Silas’s recovery from losing his arm, urging him to lean on friends rather than on the Trinity.
• Formed a genuine musical friendship with Hans Brin, the one-armed flutist from Damocles College.
• Recruited Frederick, Meek, and Meek Sr — former Cloudbeard pirate Kobolds — into the Soul Shepherds’ crew after the battle at the Janus City Aque-Docks.
• Earned the respect of the Arcadian Phoenix by freeing caged birds on the Elephant Spire, leading the Phoenix to declare him worthy.
• Spoke directly to the Great Natu Tree, which remembered the Emerald Dragon Clorox from when it was a sapling. The two shared a moment of musical mourning, reciting an epitaph for the fallen dragon whose tooth forms his Blade of Clorox.

Items of Note.

• Blade of Clorox — a sword belonging to the Emerald Scourge, whose tooth forms the blade.
• Obsidian Pepper Orb — won at auction in Janus City; whispered to him in Draconic.

Personal Quests.

The Emerald Scourge — is after Arse for taking Cassian’s blade. The Martian Imperium has also now occupied Emerald’s Rest, Bart’s hometown, seeking to resurrect Clorox. He has promised Frederick they will deal with this after Jupiter. City of Gold — still the dream.