The sea is full of wonders; any bard worth his salt knows that. Not that “Anchor,” as he is called, spends enough time on the shore to listen to any bards. As a hunched warforged covered in barnacles and rocky coral, any trip onto the mainland is driven only by the purest necessity.
Once the war had reached it’s ultimate conclusion, warforged dispersed into the world to find niches for themselves. Many turned to lives of adventurers or mercenaries, seeking to continue sharpening their sculpted talent for bloodshed. What else was a sentient construct good for?
Anchor despised the chaos of the war; he couldn’t fathom how one creation could seek to end another. He blames the ‘bloated’ races for inventing murder and destruction, as well as the death of each sentient creature he personally witnessed at the hands of his brethren.
As soon as his captain fell to an opportunely placed spell, Anchor renounced his rank and designation. He wandered the world for years, facing hatred and misunderstanding wherever he turned, until he came upon the sea. Here was a place free from the corrupting influence of dwarves, elves, and humans. A new home where they could not follow.
Ever since, Anchor has wandered the sea floor, enjoying the deep twilight of midday in complete solitude. Now and again he happens upon some reminder of the surface world, usually some exotic stash of treasure or the odd shipwreck. Months will pass as Anchor dutifully drags these pollutants back onto the nearest shores, piece by piece. His handiwork can be seen wherever plunders of the deep ‘mysteriously’ wash back to civilization.
Plot Ideas:
(1) Anchor recently handled an item of immense value to the party, whether by plot or literal worth, but deposited on some forgotten shore within the area. They must convince him to reveal the location of their quarry, or attempt to follow him to his favorite seafloor junkyards.
(2) The party must contact an underwater civilization, but do not have enough personal magic or wealth to sustain a long visit. Rumors of Anchor, the aquatic warforged, surface; perhaps they can enlist his aid?
(3) In a twist of fate not entirely lost upon him, Anchor attempts to enlist the party to help in his sea-cleansing efforts. He has found something beneath the waves that he alone cannot remove, but refuses to detail what it is until the party agrees to his terms. Is it a grand ship, sunken by greedy pirates? Or dumped cargo best left untouched?
Thomas Charlton
