Sniktch
First Post
How to even start? My gaming group and I began to explore The City of the Spider Queen this weekend and had a blast, so I thought I would write it up and share our experiences. I’d like to eventually go back to the beginning so I can introduce the characters and their stories, and how they came to be at this place and time, starting their long, dangerous trek into the Underdark. Maybe I will soon, but I’d rather write this down while it is fresh in my mind. BTW, my game is not set in Faerun – we just didn’t let it stop us.
Without further preamble, the characters at the start of our journey:
Welby Hilltopple – Male Halfling Barbarian4/Rogue3/Shadowdancer3
Welby is a fierce warrior of the Panther clan of halflings, a feral tribe that lives in the heavily overgrown Tangles. When the Tangles were overrun by lizardfolk warriors led by a brutal half-dragon, the little folk of the wood scattered far and wide to avoid destruction. Welby Hilltopple went north with his elderly grandmother, separated from the rest of his people. His grandmother did not survive the cold winter, and the lone halfling continued until he reached Travensburg, where he fell in with his current companions. Withdrawn and soft-spoken, Welby, despite his small stature, presents a grim and imposing figure with his penetrating stare and wild looks. He typically dresses in a motley array of furs, skins, and feathers, and he has not sported a single hair on his head since he was kissed by a Vargouille in the ruins outside of Travensburg.
Stumpwater Jack – Male Dwarf Fighter2/Cleric of Clangeddin Silverbeard5/Templar3
Jack is a grim, dour, and unfriendly dwarf, even beyond those typical of his clan. He hails from the cursed mines of Karaz-a-Garodok, and journeyed to Travensburg with his life-long friend Eli to search for a way to break the curse on his homeland in the old dwarven ruins found near that town. Unfortunately, no remedy was found and Eli perished in the ancient mines, and Jack has grown increasingly unpleasant since that moment. It is doubtful his companions would tolerate him were it not for the skill with which he wields his flashing axe. A great enmity exists between Jack and Artimas, and to the others it seems only a matter of time before the two come to blows.
Artimas Sendant – Male Human Cleric4 of Arawn/Wizard(Necromancer)5/Master of Shrouds1
A self-proclaimed scholar and archaeologist who journeyed to Travensburg to study the nearby ruins, Artimas fell in with the party and joined them on their travels perhaps before they realized his true nature. He is a congenial and friendly person, and it is doubtful any conflict would exist if not for his true vocation. Although not an evil man, Artimas is obsessed with death and is a practitioner of the black arts and a follower of Arawn Lord of Death. Although he tries to use his abilities for only good purpose, constant exposure to death and negative energy has had a slowly damning effect upon his soul. Artimas appears to be a bespectacled, scholarly old gentleman with flowing white hair and moustache, and most never guess that he has not yet seen thirty years.
Quinn – Female Dwarf Cleric of Dumathoin10
Quinn is nearly the opposite of Jack in demeanor. She is quiet and compassionate and constantly looking out for the well-being of her friends and companions. She and Grick were both trained at the great fortress-monastery of Mann to the east. She was sent west to search for clues and signs of the great evil rumored to be growing in the lands and was led to the other companions by her dreams. She has proved to be an invaluable ally and it is doubtful any of our heroes would have survived this long without her. She is also a voice of reason and compromise in a diverse party, and her words of wisdom have prevented violence within the group several times.
Grick – Half-orc Monk7/Drunken Master3
A hulking brute with a heart of gold, Grick is Quinn’s lifelong friend and bodyguard. He was conceived to two loving parents, his father a once orc warlord who had long ago been converted to the teachings of the monks of Mann. He entered the monastery for training at the age of 5. Often bullied by other students due to his lack of wits and bestial appearance, he was befriended by the kind dwarf Quinn and became her constant companion. Shortly after joining the rest of the companions, Grick discovered a new mentor and his greatest weakness: alcohol. Taken under the wing of the great drunk fighter Maximillian Schent, he realized his great love of drink and natural orcish berserker traits. Quinn worries about her old friend now, watching him plunge daily into deeper depths of inebriation while slowly abandoning all his life’s training and discipline, and hopes that a long absence from civilization and bars and taverns will help Grick to find his focus once more.
Malobar – Male Elf Rogue7/Dungeon Delver3
A newcomer to the group. Malobar is an expert locksmith and trapfinder who has been employed as head of security by Lord Bryson for several years now. He is also an avid explorer and takes long vacations from the city to explore the ruins dotting the surrounding countryside. Lord Bryson sent him to find a group of adventurers to investigate the recent drow raids and lead them to the Dorien Crypts. He found our intrepid band just a couple of days away in the small town of Three Fords and convinced them to accept the mission.
I will have the details of our session as soon as I finish editing them.
Without further preamble, the characters at the start of our journey:
Welby Hilltopple – Male Halfling Barbarian4/Rogue3/Shadowdancer3
Welby is a fierce warrior of the Panther clan of halflings, a feral tribe that lives in the heavily overgrown Tangles. When the Tangles were overrun by lizardfolk warriors led by a brutal half-dragon, the little folk of the wood scattered far and wide to avoid destruction. Welby Hilltopple went north with his elderly grandmother, separated from the rest of his people. His grandmother did not survive the cold winter, and the lone halfling continued until he reached Travensburg, where he fell in with his current companions. Withdrawn and soft-spoken, Welby, despite his small stature, presents a grim and imposing figure with his penetrating stare and wild looks. He typically dresses in a motley array of furs, skins, and feathers, and he has not sported a single hair on his head since he was kissed by a Vargouille in the ruins outside of Travensburg.
Stumpwater Jack – Male Dwarf Fighter2/Cleric of Clangeddin Silverbeard5/Templar3
Jack is a grim, dour, and unfriendly dwarf, even beyond those typical of his clan. He hails from the cursed mines of Karaz-a-Garodok, and journeyed to Travensburg with his life-long friend Eli to search for a way to break the curse on his homeland in the old dwarven ruins found near that town. Unfortunately, no remedy was found and Eli perished in the ancient mines, and Jack has grown increasingly unpleasant since that moment. It is doubtful his companions would tolerate him were it not for the skill with which he wields his flashing axe. A great enmity exists between Jack and Artimas, and to the others it seems only a matter of time before the two come to blows.
Artimas Sendant – Male Human Cleric4 of Arawn/Wizard(Necromancer)5/Master of Shrouds1
A self-proclaimed scholar and archaeologist who journeyed to Travensburg to study the nearby ruins, Artimas fell in with the party and joined them on their travels perhaps before they realized his true nature. He is a congenial and friendly person, and it is doubtful any conflict would exist if not for his true vocation. Although not an evil man, Artimas is obsessed with death and is a practitioner of the black arts and a follower of Arawn Lord of Death. Although he tries to use his abilities for only good purpose, constant exposure to death and negative energy has had a slowly damning effect upon his soul. Artimas appears to be a bespectacled, scholarly old gentleman with flowing white hair and moustache, and most never guess that he has not yet seen thirty years.
Quinn – Female Dwarf Cleric of Dumathoin10
Quinn is nearly the opposite of Jack in demeanor. She is quiet and compassionate and constantly looking out for the well-being of her friends and companions. She and Grick were both trained at the great fortress-monastery of Mann to the east. She was sent west to search for clues and signs of the great evil rumored to be growing in the lands and was led to the other companions by her dreams. She has proved to be an invaluable ally and it is doubtful any of our heroes would have survived this long without her. She is also a voice of reason and compromise in a diverse party, and her words of wisdom have prevented violence within the group several times.
Grick – Half-orc Monk7/Drunken Master3
A hulking brute with a heart of gold, Grick is Quinn’s lifelong friend and bodyguard. He was conceived to two loving parents, his father a once orc warlord who had long ago been converted to the teachings of the monks of Mann. He entered the monastery for training at the age of 5. Often bullied by other students due to his lack of wits and bestial appearance, he was befriended by the kind dwarf Quinn and became her constant companion. Shortly after joining the rest of the companions, Grick discovered a new mentor and his greatest weakness: alcohol. Taken under the wing of the great drunk fighter Maximillian Schent, he realized his great love of drink and natural orcish berserker traits. Quinn worries about her old friend now, watching him plunge daily into deeper depths of inebriation while slowly abandoning all his life’s training and discipline, and hopes that a long absence from civilization and bars and taverns will help Grick to find his focus once more.
Malobar – Male Elf Rogue7/Dungeon Delver3
A newcomer to the group. Malobar is an expert locksmith and trapfinder who has been employed as head of security by Lord Bryson for several years now. He is also an avid explorer and takes long vacations from the city to explore the ruins dotting the surrounding countryside. Lord Bryson sent him to find a group of adventurers to investigate the recent drow raids and lead them to the Dorien Crypts. He found our intrepid band just a couple of days away in the small town of Three Fords and convinced them to accept the mission.
I will have the details of our session as soon as I finish editing them.
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