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Brother Laurence of the Chizoba Sect – Steal this Major NPC (download)

Please welcome The Id DM, and his first submission at the Shack.
Download the PDF: Brother Laurence of the Chizoba Sect

History

Long before being known as Brother Laurence, the man currently a pillar of the community, he was known by his birth name, Kayin Erslad. Kayin’s mother, Dina, stayed at home most of her life caring for her five children. Kayin’s father, Laurence, was a quiet man who performed what labor he could to provide for his growing family. Kayin’s childhood was uneventful and quite normal in a small farming community. He was provided basic education and started to work in the surrounding fields as a teenager.

Around this time, a plague ravaged the countryside. The unknown source of the plague left the people of the region defenseless, and the majority of Kayin’s town was felled by illness. Kayin’s mother was the first of his family to be taken by the plague. He watched his father care for her broken body in the days leading up to her death. In the following months Kayin’s siblings departed the mortal world one-by-one. Finally, his father was struck with sickness and it was clear Kayin would soon be alone in the world.

Kayin was sitting by his father’s side during the moment of his death. Before passing on, Laurence spoke to Kayin in a weak voice, “Son, leave this place and never look back. Remember us, but you were spared for a reason. The gods must have wondrous things in store for you.” The deaths of family left Kayin a teenage orphan; not knowing what to do or where to go, he drifted throughout the kingdom surviving. Inheriting great strength from his father, he earned a meager income by performing odd jobs and challenging manual labor over the span of several years into young adulthood. He roamed the kingdom lost for approximately 15 years. It is rumored that he engaged in unsavory mercenary activities, but no proof of those actions remains on record. He does not freely speak of this time in his life, and only his first mentor knows these facts from his past.

During a cold and rainy evening, Kayin sought shelter in a local temple. Penniless, fatigued, sick and severely malnourished, Kayin’s spirits were never lower; he passed out in a pew inside the temple and was found the next morning by Abbott Ciro. Kayin was administered care and provided with hot meals throughout the next week as he was nursed back to health. Kayin was disoriented in those first days, but Abbott Ciro spoke with him when he was finally coherent.

“Son, you’ve been through so much. The gods have guided you to us. They must have wondrous things in store for you.” Even in his stupor, the words dropped like an anvil inside Kayin’s heart. They were the same words his father spoke to him the night he died. Tears rolled down Kayin’s face as he wept, lamenting the loss of his family and his directionless life. Abbott Ciro provided a listening ear, “You want a different life. We can help you find one. I offer this opportunity to you, which you can refuse without punishment.” Kayin was ready to start the next chapter of his life, and accepted Ciro’s offer to be educated at the temple.

Kayin took his father’s name, Laurence, and immersed himself in his studies. He excelled in his training to become a Cleric. His strength and compassion forged by his personal tragedy made him a natural warrior-healer. Abbott Ciro honed Laurence’s skill and guided him through his personal anguish. Laurence completed his training and became a member of the famed Chizoba Sect, a religious-military order that provides spiritual guidance, law enforcement and protection in the kingdom.

Laurence relished the opportunity to perform good works across the kingdom. He quickly made a name for himself in a variety of skirmishes. But it was not until the Battle of Fayden Hill where he found greatness. A powerful necromancer, Vilmer the Dark, terrorized the area with a growing horde of undead creatures. The Chizoba Sect responded to the crisis and sought out Vilmer’s lair. The order dispatched on the mission was quickly overrun by the sheer number of undead creatures, but Brother Laurence charged through the masses of undead warriors and delivered a killing blow to Vilmer the Dark. As Vilmer fell, so did his warriors, but Laurence bears a massive scar down the right side of his face from the conflict.

After the Battle of Fayden Hill, Laurence was honored in the Chizoba Sect and granted the title of Brother, which he hold proudly to this day. Over the years, he has elevated his status within the organization and is the leader of the Chizoba Sect in the seaside town of Poormina, a bustling community in constant need of both spiritual guidance and law enforcement.

Current Lifestyle

Brother Laurence resides in the seaside town of Poormina, and can routinely be found attending to patrons in the Temple of Dawn, a place of worship. He continues to serve the Chizoba Sect as a mentor to young members and other adventurers. He pledges allegiance to the gods and works to shine their light throughout the town of Poormina and the greater kingdom on a daily basis.

He no longer participates in military missions for the Chizoba Sect, having retired from active service years ago. He lives in a modest room in the back of the Temple of Dawn. He has a rich history of relationships with a wide variety of characters in town, including more unsavory elements. Many of these relationships were built up during his days as a battle cleric and enforcing the kingdom’s policies in the growing town of Poormina.

He travels to the capital city once or twice each year for an audience with the leader of the Chizoba Sect for the kingdom, High Priest Adamar. Brother Laurence often has to defend Adamar and the policies of the Chizoba as they have been called into question in recent years. Many in the kingdom see the religious-military organization as unnecessary and their tactics imposing. Growing resentful of the Chizoba Sect is making the daily operations in the Temple of Dawn more difficult for Brother Laurence. His kindness and devotion to the residents of Poormina have spared him from any ugly incidents, which have been reported elsewhere in the kingdom against members of the Chizoba Sect.

Appearance

Brother Laurence is a 6’1” Human male. He remains well-built and athletic even for his age of 58. He is mostly bald and typically found in his red, yellow and white Chizoba Sect robes. His most prominent feature is the scar that runs down the right side of his face. The scar starts above his eye and slashes down the side of his face. The scar gives Brother Laurence a grizzled look, and his hawkish eyes can instill a sense of power if he is irritated and glares in someone’s direction. However, the grizzled exterior is usually softened by his gentle disposition and patient personality. His voice drips with the experience of a man that has seen many a dark day and lived to talk about it.

Personality

Brother Laurence is primarily focused on caring for the citizens of Poormina and the patrons in the Temple of Dawn. He continues to educate new members of the Chizoba Sect and mentor them along their own quests. His patience and openness can at times be his undoing, as he gives everyone – even the most unworthy – an opportunity or two to fail him. However, his compassion and empathy have gained him a countless number of allies inside Poormina and across the kingdom. Some of his most trusted allies are those that would be considered criminals by most people; there are rogues and other scoundrels that will drop their current activities in a second to respond to Brother Laurence’s call for assistance.

His loyalty and understanding makes his criticism sharp and powerful. Brother Laurence rarely raises his voice, but his tone takes on such a serious edge of disappointment when he is displeased that it cuts deeper than any outburst of yelling could match. He ignores many of the political issues that surround his position within the Chizoba Sect, dealing with High Priest Adamar only when required. He is personally conflicted about the role of the Chizoba Sect in government, but keeps these thoughts to himself as he does not wish to clutter the minds of the patrons in the Temple of Dawn or his young students. He believes that he owes his life to Abbott Ciro and the Chizoba Sect, and he will protect the institution even though he has private misgivings.

Application to Campaign World

Brother Laurence and the Chizoba Sect can be applied in multiple ways to a campaign setting. First, Brother Laurence can function as a hub for a wide variety of missions for the player characters. His veteran status of previous conflicts means he holds valuable knowledge of enemies and dangerous territories in the kingdom. When starting a new campaign, Brother Laurence can serve as the primary mentor for one or more player characters in the campaign world if they have a religious or divine background. He could also serve as an interesting mentor to a player character such a thief or rogue by trying to teach the character to change his or her way; or use that player character’s skills for a greater good. If the party develops a fondness for Brother Laurence, then he could later be placed in some danger where the party needs to act to in order to rescue him.

Second, the Chizoba Sect could be used as a constant backdrop in a campaign world. The political ramifications of a religious-military organization having such a close audience with the leader of the kingdom can unfold in many interesting directions for player characters to work through during a campaign. The Chizoba Sect is a highly structured and organized religious order spread throughout the kingdom. Each town features numerous Chizoba meeting halls and churches with extensive rituals and doctrine. Crimes are not only seen as a violation of law but also a violation of the gods, and punishments are swift and severe. The moral authority wielded by the Chizoba permeates all corners of the kingdom and assists to retain order as the population explodes.

For example, one possible thread through the campaign is increasing dissent toward the Chizoba Sect:

A cultural revolution is threatening to shatter the power of the Chizoba Sect in the kingdom. Every day, more people question the methods of the order while the growth of science and innovation has changed beliefs that were previously considered dogma. Whispers have filled the air most recently regarding the Chizoba’s response to this challenge. Leaders in art, science and other disciplines have departed the kingdom. Whether they are fleeing persecution or being silenced by an arm of the Chizoba is unknown. Members of the Chizoba have become fragmented themselves between those that hold fast to the traditional doctrine and those that are more willing to accommodate the changing times.

Final Notes

The art for Brother Laurence was a commission completed by Grant Gould, a licensed artist for Lucasfilm, Topps and other companies. I informed him of the character’s background and said, “Basically, can you give me a more badass version of Pete Postlethwaite from Romeo + Juliet?” He delivered in spades, and completely captured the look for Brother Laurence.

Last, please visit my site, The Id DM, and read the article about how to use NPCs to build the campaign world for players for more thoughts on how to utilize characters (like Brother Laurence) to bring life and flavor to your campaign.

Download the PDF: Brother Laurence of the Chizoba Sect

Drig’Drall, the Station Master – Steal this NPC

“If that freight doesn’t get loaded on time, I am going to turn you into a cow catcher!”

[Looking at his stop-watch] “They are very, very late. Someone is getting tied to the train tracks.”

Drig’Drall’s Story

Drig’Drall was once a Barbaric Monk of a wild tribe of Goliaths from a deserted wasteland of a country. His clan practiced a strange form of primal magic combined with rigorous mental training which turned them all into powerful fighters. However, after a raid into the low country (populated mostly by elves, humans, and half-lings), Drig’Drall was injured. He lost his right eye at the hands of a group of elf rangers, and one of his legs was horribly damaged. Drig’Drall was unable to flee and was left behind by the other members of his tribe.

Drig’Drall was held by the elves for many years as a makeshift prisoner of war. Despite having slain several elves as a member of his tribe’s raid, he was treated fairly as a prisoner, and one day, the elves decided to let him go free. They did have a caveat: he was forbidden from returning to the land of his kinsmen – he must remain in the lowland and make his own way amongst the people which he formerly wronged.

At first, Drig’Drall found life very hard. He was hated by most people for belonging to a race which was historically at war with the lowlands. But, over the years, he began to adjust to his new life.

But the world wasn’t waiting for Drig’Drall to adapt, the world was changing. New technologies began to spread across the plane and from that, new metal behemoths called “Trains” began to spread. The first time Drig’Drall saw one of these giant steel wyrms, he was horrified and scared. However, a kindly gnome tinkerer, who was making some repairs on the train’s engine, explained to him how the machine ran.

Drig’Drall took a liking to the Gnome and he offered to lend him a hand in his repairs, making good use of his brutish strength. This would be Drig’Drall’s entry point into a long career working on and around the trains. In this career, Drig’Drall’s stature and appearance would serve him well and he earned his way up through the ranks to finally take the spot of the coveted station master.

Drig’Drall Now

Drig’Drall is currently a station master. He has earned a reputation as being an incredibly rough Goliath to deal with, which has also earned him the reputation of having the most timely station on the rail. Nobody wants to be late when they pull into Drig’Drall’s stop. He makes sure that all the freight is always loaded on time, and that every train that comes into his station is in its peak working condition, even if this means that he has to get out there and repair it himself.

Drig’Drall’s Appearance

Drig’Drall stands out like the proverbial sore thumb. He is about 7’6” tall and weighs over 300 pounds. His pale gray face is marked with traditional Goliath markings; however, his fashion, is a bit different. He usually wears a navy blue pinstripe suit, a perfectly clean pearl colored shirt, and a large red neck-tie. He also usually has on a round black hat, that has a striped red and blue ribbon wrapped around it. Apart from his fairly unusual clothes, he also always wears a single iron gauntlet on his right hand, and carries a long black and gold cane (which his peons have not so lovingly started referring to as his beatin’ stick). He carries no jewelry save a golden pocket watch, which he keeps in his jacket pocket on an extremely long, Goliath-sized, golden chain.

Drig’Drall’s Personality

Drig’Drall is a fairly difficult character to deal with. He is very wary of dealing with strangers and usually talks in a very grouchy manner. Although he is usually pretty grumpy, he deals fairly with patrons of the rail and provides information to travelers who are curious about the area around his station. However, when dealing with the other station workers, he is fierce – punishing those who do not work to his standard. He is highly disciplined, and expects everyone who works with him to share that same work ethic.

Using Drig’Drall in your Game

Drig’Drall is designed to be used for games that have some type of technological element. I currently am using him in a homebrew Steampunk world for 4e, but you could easily use him in an Eberron game, or virtually any other game that uses trains for that matter. I have presented him here without stats, but for the purposes of game rules, he is a mid heroic tier Goliath Monk/Barbarian Hybrid.

Drig’Drall may simply make a single appearance as the players either arrive or depart from Drig’Drall’s station. He can be used to get information about geography or even about local commerce, politics, or current events. If he is attacked, he fights back fiercely. He doesn’t have any magic items or money, but his extreme barbaric monk training has honed his fighting skills into an extremely dangerous weapon.

Kerocene, the Quasi-Deity – Steal this NPC

Kerocene, paladin, and the mayor of Old York, is a Half Mercury Dragon that is the grand daughter of Bahamut. She lovingly refers to our group of adventures as her idiots. Even going out of her way when they are off doing other things to call on new idiots.

When she first appeared, she was held captive by the old ruler of Old York. She was freed, fell in love with a paladin, and together they had three children – all of whom died tragically, sending her into a rage. For 500 years she plagued the material plane, spreading death and destruction as deep as the pain in her own heart. After cured of her madness, she became a paladin herself (to better pay tribute to her late husband), and went on to become the ruler of Old York.

Being a quasi-deity, she doesn’t age like normal folk, making her a rather staple ruler for the time being. It is guessed that she will continue to rule over Old York until she is next in line for deity-ism. Seeing as Tiamat and other deities haven’t found a way to destroy Bahamut, it doesn’t look like Kerocene will be going anywhere for a long time.

Braxis Midewin, Dwarf Artificer Auctioneer – Steal this NPC

Braxis owns and operates the Midewins and Friggols Magical Auction House and Artifact Emporium. He’s a thinker, and likes to go against the normal day-to-day operations of other stores. He decided instead of letting heroes come to him, he would bring the store to them. Braxis created a magical device called the Auction Assistant 1000 (500 GP to buy, or DM’s price). It is a small mechanical device that can be attached to any metal object, and for a small monthly fee (10 GP or DM’s price) it will allow the hero to magically connect to Braxis’s emporium and see what wonderful items he has for sale. It will also allow the hero to join in on the silent auctios that he runs from time-to-time.

Braxis’s shop is located in the merchant district of Fallcrest. The shop has been open for a few months now and is widely popular. Braxis is looking to expand his store to other major cities as well.

Braxis was born in Hammerfast to Gravix Midewin, the greatest Dwarf Artificer ever known. His father taught him everything he knew up until the day he died in the battle of Briar Fjord. Unable to deal with his father’s passing, he left Hammerfast to get away from the memories of his father. He decided to head to Fallcrest to look for work. Knowing that he left his father’s Artificer Guild in good hands, he set off for his new life. On the way, he had many great adventures, and one in particular would change his life forever.

While searching an old ruin, he ran across a band of orcs chasing a small goblin into the forest. Being somewhat curious, he followed the group. Braxis discovered the orcs had captured the goblin and had him tied up in a cage hanging from a tall tree. He could overhear the orcs yelling at the goblin, “You make Redcaps weapons better you tinker them or we fee you so the Sand Slurper.” The poor goblins said, “Never will I use my powers tohelp you.” Braxis knew right away what the goblin meant. The goblin was an artificer, like himself, but was still a goblin. His dwarf gut told him to just turn and leave, but all he could think about was something his father had told him a long time ago, “Your life is not judged by the outcome of your life, but by the actions you take to get there.” Without hesitation, Braxis attacked the orcs and drove them off. He let the poor goblin down from his cage, and without saying anything, turned to walk away. That’s when a shy, timid voice said, “Thank you, sir.” Braxis stopped in disbelief. Did this goblin just thank him? He turned and stared at the goblin, and at that moment not a word was spoken, but an everlasting bond was made between the two. Braxis grunted and motioned for the goblin to come with him.

Igglo Frixit (Goblin Artificer), or Friggol – as Braxis calls him, and Braxis have been together ever since that fateful day in the forest. Friggol is a master artificer trained in the Goblin ways. They both, over the years, taught each other their respective clan’s craft, and together created many wondrous items, and had many grand adventures together.

During a typical excavation of an old ruin outside of Fallcrest, a small item was found. The item was not like any the two had ever seen before. It was round, made of metal, the length of a small dagger, and had several ancient runes written on it. After several months and numerous spells later, they realized the item was of Modron creation. The item no longer worked, but they were able to take the ancient Modron tech and reverse engineer it into what they now call the Auction Assistant 1000.

Cap’n Spivey – Steal this NPC

Captain Spirodos “Spivey” Swiftknife is currently the captain of the HMS Nightingale, a merchant marine vessel.

Many rumors surround this man. And the truth may top them all! He was once a captain in the Imperial Navy and took part in the battles against the Sea Kingdoms. He was also tried for, convicted, and exonerated of piracy and other crimes on the high seas (including firing upon the Imperial flagship and allegedly burning it to the waterline).

Officially, he is a war hero … in the minds of some, he is a seafaring opportunist.

His name of Swiftknife is fitting, as he is a quick bladesman, preferring a cutlass or dagger.

He is known for his uncanny luck in getting his ship through many of the worst battles and storms -usually while completely sodden full of rum as he bellows orders to his crew!

Whatever the truth is, he is an able seaman and skilled at getting out of almost any situation on the ocean, no matter how desperate it is. Storms and ships and commanders at sea have been bested by the cunning, resourceful and nefarious Cap’n Spivey!

Paynia, the Shadar-Kai Holy Assassin – Steal this NPC

Paynia Dragonheart– (Monks name)
Paynia Shadaria– (True Name)

Age – 21
Sex – Female
Height – 5’10”
Skin Color – Grayish White
Hair Color – Black

Life was Hard
Paynia hails from the Shadar Kai village of Borukai, deep inside the Shadowfell. As a little girl, she endured great hardship – her parents were slaughtered in front of her by a band of Tiefling mercenaries. Paynia was taken out of the Shadowfell and sold into slavery until she turned 16. She was then bought by a group of old monks from the local monastery.

Receives a Purpose in Life
Paynia soon realized the monks were different. They began to teach her their ways, their beliefs, and how to fight as a White Dragon Assassin. She quickly became the best pupil the monks ever had. When she turned 18, her inner shadow powers began to emerge, and to the monks this was the one sign that they had been waiting for. “A warrior who controls the shadows will come forth and vanquish evil from the world.” Paynia quickly became a Grand Master of the White Dragons and a disciple of her God’s word.

Fulfilling her Destiny
At the age of 21, she went through a sacred ritual called “The Blessing,” where a portion of her God’s power was given to her. She has now become a White Dragon Avenger, but more importantly, a Hero to all who may need help, and to go forth and cleanse the world of evil at all costs.

Glitch, the Warforged Bodyguard – Steal this NPC

Glitch is a Warforged, built to be fighter and a bodyguard. He stands approximately 7′ 7″ and is 3 feet wide at his shoulder. He is rather fearsome to look at, but in all actuality possesses a child-like innocence and curiosity.

Unfortunately, when Dr. Melkanin created him, he made a minor miscalculation. Rather than being a fighter, he is a barbarian. When directly addressed, he will sometimes experience an inner short in programming and attack the nearest square, sometimes only narrowly missing his allies.

When I introduced him to my PCs, Dr. Melkanin had sent them to dispatch the terror in the labyrinth under the city. He tactfully didn’t mention the creature is his creation. Glitch waits in the front room of the labyrinth, so they don’t have to look hard. The walls of the room are beaten and battered. Glitch doesn’t know why, so he assumes there’s something else down there with him.

When the party questioned him, looking for the other monster, I rolled randomly to see if he would glitch out.

Image by Jani Hamalainen, used with permission.

Laredd Brewer, the Tavern Owner – Steal this NPC

Name: Laredd Brewer
Race: Human
Age: 40 years old
Occupation: Brewer, Tavern Owner

Family History:
Laredd Brewer is a 12th generation Brewer and the 4th generation tavern owner. His great-grandfather Frobaen Brewer became very well known after he changed the family recipe to include more exotic hops procured from far away lands. With so many people wanting William’s ales, he decided to open up The Rotten Apple. Now, the tavern has stood for 100 years and Laredd is preparing for its centennial party. He is expecting guests from near and far, as well as scoundrels trying to get their hands on the Brewer family recipe.

Personal Information:
Laredd is married to Gildalla, the daughter of the local watch captain, and she is in charge of the kitchen and the guest rooms in the tavern. Laredd and Gildalla have twin sons named Frobyn (named after his great-great-grandfather) and Astaus. Astaus seems to have a knack for the magical arts while Frobyn has taken up interests in the family business. Laredd does his best to shield his family from the seedier goings-on that are bound to start up in a tavern. The really nasty characters tend to stay away from The Rotten Apple due to its family ties to the watch.

Appearance:
Laredd is a muscular man standing at 6 feet tall. He has a full, dark beard kept trimmed close and keeps his dark hair cut short with just enough length to brush back without it standing up on end. He is always smiling and can usually be found behind the bar, wearing an apron and wiping down the mugs for the next thirsty customer.

Attitude:
Laredd is usually in a cheerful mood and willing to strike up a conversation with anyone. He especially enjoys telling stories of his great-grandfather’s adventures while looking for the ingredients for the famous Brewer family recipe. Laredd does not mind a tavern brawl every now and again but prefers things to stay civil most of the time. He is not afraid to throw rowdy patrons out and is known to rough them up a bit when needed. Even with his family ties to the local watch, he would rather handle the troublemakers himself and keep the tavern from getting a reputation as a lawman’s hangout and lose the paying customers that may not be willing to drink in the same room as the watch.

Cultural Standings:
Laredd does not have any cultural biased and will let anyone visit his tavern as long as they are paying customers and not causing trouble. If there is trouble, he prefers to handle it himself instead of calling on his father-in-law or other local authorities.

Image by Kyle Ferrin, with permission.

Fade, the Night’s Exile (steal this NPC)

The realm of the Fae is strange, unknown to those who live in the “mortal plane”. They fear it, and none seek to live in its shadow. The mortals whisper about it, knowing it for its ties to nature, to the forests, to the full moons…and to the stars of night.

Fade walks the mortal plane, exiled from it by a terrible upheaval of Fae magic. He left behind a brother and a lover, and stands every night, remembering and crying for them. He has been roaming the lands, seeking to discover how he can return. The moon waxes close to full again; will this be his chance?

Fade works as a traveling minstrel, his exotic dark skin and hair attracting much attention…and more than a few admirers. What strikes them as most memorable is the vivid green streak which runs through his hair.

Few know that he has honed his craft into something more deadly, mixing the sounds of his fiddle with the magics of his Fae nature. He works as an assassin, a job to get him by as he searches for an answer to his exile, before it becomes eternal. He will spare no cost to escape the prison of the lowly mortal realms.

Cornelius Fibble: the Gnome, the Legend – Steal this NPC

Famous Quotes:

“Size doesn’t matter, all that counts is how you use me…eh, I mean, it.”
“Call me an ‘ankle biter’ one more time and you’ll be missing an Achilles tendon!!”
“Oy! Barkeep, get me like five beer bottles. No, I don’t need the beer. Time to start crackin skulls.”
“Did you ever hear the one about the bartender that turned into a Platinum dragon? <a long pause> Neither did I.”

Who is Cornelius Fibble?
Cornelius Fibble is a bard who has developed something of a reputation across the lands. He is well-known for being a traveling storyteller, minstrel, philanthropist, and entertainer, but he is also infamous for being a trouble maker, bar fight starter, and general public nuisance. He is something along the lines of a rock star in the world of Dungeons & Dragons.

On paper, Fibble is a bard first, but he also has picked up skills from his former adventuring companions in the past. He has learned some Rogue Skills, Wizard Spells, and Martial Talents. He is a bard among bards and a true dabbler in a variety of combat styles.

Physical Description / Appearance
Cornelius Fibble is a short, even by gnome standards, but he is fairly handsome. He has deep green eyes and a short goatee. He has well kept, short, brownish-blond hair, with some salt and pepper gray coming in as of late. He looks like he might be nearing middle age for a gnome. Cornelius has several magical tattoos over his body: one on each of his forearms and one on his neck. He has other non-magical tattoos as well, and some distinctive facial piercings, which he has picked up all over the world.

Fibble is always decked out from head to foot in the nicest clothes that money can buy. He is extremely conscious about his appearance and is always staying in tune with the latest fashions. However, over his clothes, he wears a set of old leather armor, with a few studs here and there, which he inherited long ago. He will never be rid of it.

In addition to his armor, Fibble wears an assortment of weapons. He usually has a bastard sword slung over his back, a small rapier, a few daggers, and a crossbow hang at his waste. He also has a pretty hefty spellbook full of rituals and magic spells which was were passed on from his old wizard buddy. On top of that, he sports an incredibly handy utility belt which hold all kinds of tools. Although it might not be obvious to the simple observer, he also has several hidden pouches around his being which hold a variety of alchemical and thieves tools, as well as stowed daggers and shuriken.

Finally, Fibble always has his trusted lute and pipe. He usually carries them either swung around his back, or in his hands. He never lets them out of his sight. They have served him very well over the years.

Personality
During the day, Fibble is kind, enthusiastic, and fun. He often shows up in a village and puts on free performances for the children of the town. Women flock to hear him tell stories in village squares. He is popular with virtually everyone. He has lots of stories to tell, most of them are grossly exaggerated stretches of the truth, but they are all entertaining none-the-less.

However, at night, Fibble hits the town in a big way. He is usually found in bars, pubs, and other alehouses, flirting with the tavern maids and making very crude jokes. He is an extremely strong drinker and puts most humans and even some dwarves to shame with the sheer quantity of flagons that he can put away. He often challenges people to drinking games in order to get a hold of some easy gold pieces (not as though he really needs them, just that he finds the process exhilarating). When Fibble gets his way and has a chance at catching a taste of some night life, past outcomes have resulted in: groups of wild drunk naked men having a swim race across a river in the middle of the night, taverns burned to ash and cinders, week long stints in the public jail, forgotten slumbers with demon princesses, etc. The list goes on. Fibble has a knack for always getting himself in trouble, but somehow, he always manages to get himself back out again. After all his years spent as a hired minstrel, adventurer, dungeon delver, and sometimes burglar, Fibble has stocked up quite a fortune, which is put to good use whenever he gets into a little too much trouble.

Using Cornelius Fibble in Your Game
Fibble is an NPC which can fulfill a great many roles. He is designed to be the infamous fifth man, that last party spot which you just can’t fill. As such, he is also made in order to fill a variety of combat roles. He is firstly a leader, but also has some striker, defender, and controller powers. His dabbling has honed these skills to something akin to perfection. He can be hired to take the role of an empty spot in a party containing only 4 players and he will tag along on virtually any adventure the party could dream of.

Apart from meeting Fibble randomly and having him join the party, Fibble can be met just about anywhere. He might be found in the middle of town singing or telling stories to a group of young children, or the party might find him flirting with a pretty lady in just about any part of town. At night, he can be found in just about any tavern in just about any city in any world. He might have a reason to be there, he might not. If there is alcohol involved he might very well be in the area.

Fibble is always eager to help out new adventurers. He cherishes the fire and spirit that true dungeon delvers cling to. He might ask to tag along on an adventure just to watch and write a poem or story about it.

He never appears as an antagonist to the Player Characters. He can be killed, but killing him grants no experience. He is not an evil character, just misunderstood. If a fight gets real between the party, he will attempt to negotiate or simply run away (something he has also gotten very good at over the years).

Cornelius Fibble Stat Block

You could easily change up Fibble’s Stats to fit into any game or setting. He is a fairly basic fantasy character in so much as the powers and traits he possesses can be found in virtually any type of Role Playing Game out there. He is presented here as a snapshot at level 8 (the upper heroic tier) for Dungeons and Dragons 4e, but changing his stats to fit into a different game, or a different level of play is not a difficult task.