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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silmarillius" data-source="post: 2498068" data-attributes="member: 27666">Hmm...a tough time deciding which of my two favorite characters is my best. But I guess I have to go with my longest played, Nift Phaeldar.Copyright Garett Oliver 2005A gnomish bard raised by “Opal Phaeldar,” Nift has lived in Selby-by-the-water (town in my DM's home brewed campaign) most of his life. Being a runaway orphan, Opal took Nift under his wing, teaching him the ways of the bard, thus making him his heir. Nift is well mannered, and many the towns enjoy his music and comfort, though some distrust him and find him to be suspicious. He wears a cavalier hat with a white feather, musketeer boots, and a red leather shirt with leather lacing, brass studding, slashed with red satin. He has leather gloves and wears a red satin cape. He is 55 years old, is 3’4, 40 pounds, and has fair white hair, dark blue eyes and dark tan skin. Nift 1st Level Bard: Gnome Brd 1; CR 1; Small humanoid; HD 1d6 +2; hp 8; Init +3; Spd 20 ft; AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 13; Base Atk 0; Grp -5; Atk 0 melee, +4 ranged (+4 Light Crossbow), (1D6+3/19-20x2), +0melee/+4 ranged (+0/+4Dagger) (1d3/19/20 x3,) SV Fort +2, Ref +5, Will 3, Str 9, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 16, Wis 12, Cha 18. Skills and Feats: Balance +7, Bluff +8, , Diplomacy +8, Disguise +4, Gather Information +8, Hide +9, Knowledge (Baradic) +4, Knowledge (History) +7, Knowledge (Local) +7, Listen +7, Perform (String Instrument) +8, Read: Common, Feats: Dodge.History:55 years ago, a baby gnome by the name of Nift Diamondstar was born in the home of Luvi and Hildebrant Diamondstar. Luvi and Hildebrant loved their son with all their heart, and enjoyed every moment raising and teaching their son. For Nift’s father were Sorcerer’s. Though usually Gnome’s if pursuing the path of the arcane user would likely choose the way of the illusionist, Hildebrant found himself to be different from others, having unusually powerful powers. He pursued this path, getting himself into many untidily situations, but coming out of them miraculously. By the time he was in his 70’s, he met a wonderful and enchanting gnome named Luvi Silverstone the 3rd. When he first laid eyes on her, his heart raced, and her eyes fluttered, they were in loved. They soon were married and gave birth to their son. This all happened around 4 years before Nift was born, and before that, Hildebrant met a brilliant and talented wizard named Amorath, known to many people as “Amorath the Arcane.” Him and Hildebrant grew to become friends, and enjoyed the company of both Hildebrant Diamondstar and his girlfriend Luvi Silverstone. Hildebrant and Amorath also became partners in many of his magic endeavors, most night’s Hildebrant would come home to his Luvi and son Nift, and suddenly snapping at them for his food not being on the table on time, and too exhausted to spend even a moment with them, and his wife Luvi began to worry. She was a shy and frail gnome, and failed to see why his husband spent more time with his friend Amorath then he did with his own family, but it did put food on the table. As the years went on, Nift grew up splendidly, learning to read stories that his father gave him about brave knights and kingdoms far away. One place that intrigued him was a place known as Tal Slathan. He asked his father what this place was. His father then began to tell his son old stories of the place. (“Tal Slathan is covered in forested hills and swampland. Dwarves long ago settled there, and many of the precious gemstones that were not mined were still remain. Many went Tal Slathan, and founded the village of Oakhill, overlooked by Caer Pavallan. They traded foodstuffs to the dwarves of Marrowgate, in exchange for precious stones and silver. Their relationship was strong, and Oakhill grew prosperous. Then, one night in the dark of the moon, orcs from the Grey Hills sailed across Lake Elidyr in many skin boats. They raided Oakhill and besieged Caer Pavallan under the banner of the Blood-Drenched Fist. Though messengers flew across the lake to bring respite from the siege, aid came too late to save the castle. The orcish shaman, Grodd du Grumdash, summoned a great infernal shade that swept through the castle, unmanning those who guarded its walls. So Caer Pavallan fell, and those who would have come to Oakhill’s aid were captured and enslaved, or else driven from the shore. It was in this time that the dwarves of Marrowgate vanished, though whether they were slain, or fled, or sealed themselves within their delving no man knows. What is known is that, through haplessly captured slave labor, the orcs sought to mine the riches of Tal Slathan for themselves. Yet, while they long endured, they were in the end brought to ruin by the Shadow of Grodd du Grumdash, which had lain dormant for many long years while the orcs mined and prospered. Now, Oakhill lies in ruins, and Caer Pavallan stands over it like both a shadow, and a beacon for the lost riches of Marrowgate.) (1) I ventured to Tal Slathan with a former adventuring party of mine, but I was the only one who’d made it back, I was young and foolish.” “What happened to your party,” the young gnome Nift said. “I’d rather not say young Nift, for it is a story to horrid to tell, perhaps another time.” Over eight years had passed since Nift was born, and Hildebrant and Amorath were growing close to achieving what they had worked towards for so many years. But, something so horrible had occurred. Some say Amorath went mad, but Hildebrant knew better. Tremors in the city had started forming, and the tower of Amorath the Arcane had collapsed. Hildebrant was at home for the day. He remembered before leaving that Amorath had told him he made a breakthrough, and appeared to have not slept for days. Hildebrant told him he should take some time off from our project or that if his wits aren’t about him something may go wrong. “You are surprisingly a wiser man than I, but I can’t stop now not when I’m this close,” Amorath replied. “This is as much my project as it is yours, and I’m warning you that if we go through with this too soon, the effects could be catastrophic,” said Hildebrant. “This……this is my life’s work, I’ve worked towards goal far longer than you Hildebrant Diamondstar, and it shall not be taken away from me!” said Amorath. “Amorath, you have gone mad, and I fear for my wife and child that I may be losing myself as we’ll, spending to much time with this endeavor….you want the glory all to yourself, you have it, but I shall not have anything more to do with this madness,” said Hildebrant Diamondstar, and with that, he left the tower. The very next day, more than half the town was destroyed, and the towns’ people were quick to blame the magic users Amorath the Arcane, and Hildebrant Diamond star. Knowing this, Hildebrant pleaded with his wife that they must leave; his wife replied “Dear husband, I love you, and will go where we can be safe, but I can’t bear to have our son be the victim of your ways, and be taken from the town he loves so dear!” “You are right Luvi….Young Nift, your mother and I have to go away for a long while, we don’t know if we can ever return for you, but we want you to stay here at the orphanage,” said Nift’s father. “But father, can’t I come too?” replied Nift. “No son, I will not have you be the burden of my mistakes….” With that, they dropped Nift off at the orphanage, and Luvi and Hildebrant headed towards the west…Whether they felt the choice Luvi and Hildebrant made for their son Nift, he always remained in their hearts. As for Nift, a slow rage had been building inside him for a number of years, he missed his home and family, and was teased by many the other children for his size. Nift left the orphanage, as he felt that by now he could make it on his own. He soon found himself in a bad crowd, gambling, stealing. Until one day he got into a fight with a young Half-Orc over some gold that Nift was lucky to have come across. Suddenly, a well dressed man came to the aid of Nift, and surprisingly, was able to send the Half-Orc on his way. “They way these children are able to walk the streets unmonitored, OH…no offense little one,” replied the man. “That was…..hey I’m pretty big for a Gnome, so I’d appreciate it if you’d leave me alone,” the homeless Nift replied. “Yes I could see you were handling that young half-orc pretty well, my name is Opal Phaeldar.” “Ummm…names Nift Diam……..no, just Nift, I gave that name up a long time ago.” Nift replied. “Well look, my place isn’t far from here, what do you say to a clean bath and a good meal,” replied Opal. “Well it’s better than this back alley, sounds good”And so after that one night, Opal and Nift became the best of friends, and Nift had found a new father, not one who would abandon you to a hell whole, not one who spent all his time working and never enough time with his family. Opal, for years, taught Nift in the ways of the bard, usually none as successful as Opal, for he was a well respected musician with an uncanny wit and a clean cut beard. Nift idolized him, and adopted his old last name just as his parents did, for his mentor’s. From that day, he would be known as Nift Phaeldar.1. A Guide to Character Creation in the Lakeland’s Campaign Setting by Daniel J. BishopNift was over 15 now and still living with his mentor Opal Phaeldar. Nift had adopted this new name and abandoned his old one because of his childhood trauma. Though Opal had been flattered, he was curious as to why Nift had not kept both names, for as he knew a Gnome to have many names is far too common. But Nift usually kept to himself by those sorts of things. Opal was a popular social figure in Selby by the Water, and often afflicted himself to many social gatherings. He earned this popularity by becoming a well known musician for a number of years and had managed to interest Nift in taking up the guitar. “Bards are too uncommon in this world lad, but their music is most sought after,” said Opal. “I had spent the better part of my adventuring career as a Bard. Ah, my poetics and musical lyrics would inspire greatness in all of my allies, motivating them to do better in combat, why I could remember a time back when I was you age that……well…you’ll have your own adventures someday….your first music lesson begins tomorrow,” and with that Nift went to sleep.The way I tried to play this character was a swashbuckly type diplomat, who always has a flair for the dramatic. But he got killed by a Humaniod Bear one of my fellow players was playing...say hello to Nift 2! Just kidding...</blockquote>

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