Tom Sandheaver is the youngest son of Odo Sandheaver who is the local builder in
Deepvale. As Tom had several older brothers he only
worked part-time for his father and had plenty of time to explore the vale. Eventually he
started wondering about the countryside outside the vale and, despite warnings from his
friends about the dangers involved, set out one day with a single companion, Posco Brownlock.
Together they survived in the wild by using their natural stealth but eventually they became lost in
a forest and looking for a place to stay the night squeezed under an ancient arch deep
in the wood.
This arch proved to be a portal into a large and unruly city where they were quickly captured by
slavers and bought by a strange-looking creature who might once have been a halfling
but was now undead. This weird creature set them to work as cheese makers but they got to
sleep in a warm barn at night and also made friends with a lively hobbit-child called
Hanna.
As luck would have it their new owners found the portal back to their world, Oerth, and
Tom and Posco were re-united with their families. The experience has persuaded Posco
that he will not leave Deepvale for sometime but Tom has more adventurous blood in him
(his maternal grandfather came from outside the vale). On learning that his
friend
Arlo Burrows may be travelling to the city of
Zothay
he volunteered to go with him. He now hopes that he can trade his distinctive cheeses
in that city.