#fargas rumblefoot

[lumendelmari]

AI test portraits of NPC characters from ‘The Grey Warriors,’ based on the Dungeons and Dragons module, ‘Out of the Abyss’. These were created using Midjourney on Discord. Featured are:

Prince Derendil, cursed elf prince trapped in quaggoth form (barbarian)

Eldeth Feldrun, shield dwarf fighter (her cartoon portraits crack me up!)

Fargas Rumblefoot, halfling explorer/rogue

Sarith Kzekarit, drow warrior (his close up is awesome!)

Broot, warforged juggernaut

Varan Fenhirel, half-elf ranger (the AI couldn’t figure out what to do with his hawk companion, lol)

Lucian Erenaeth, wood elf druid/ranger (I really like how the last portrait turned out, though it still needs work).

You can read the story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35100307/chapters/87436915

or

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13962836/1/The-Grey-Warriors

[janisjoy]

‘Shudder is a stern tiefling rogue/fighter, originally hailing from the desert city of Calimport. Stepping through a portal mirror, he descended into the Underdark alongside other adventurers to drive back the demon lords. Their quest was successful, but Shudder suffered greatly: He aged by thirty years in the span of a second, was driven insane multiple times, lost his halfling friend and apprentice Fargas Rumblefoot (who turned out to have been Fraz-Urb'luu, demon lord of deception, all along), witnessed the death of his god Kelemvor and - compelled by a demonic gnoll flail - gobbled down a chunk of the corpse of Orcus, demon lord of undeath. The Raven Queen, having taken Kelemvor's place, saw it fit to separate Shudder from Orcus' essence... by slaying him. Having been granted a new chance as an aasimar, he now serves her alone. 

Likewise caught up in the Raven Queen's judgement was Dawnbringer, Shudder's sentient sun sword. Her vessel - a golden hilt set with a brilliant ruby - was shattered, and Dawnbringer's spirit now shares Shudder's body. When called upon, she manifests as a blade of pure radiance in his hand. Both in the madness of the Underdark and beyond, Dawnbringer ever strives to be a relentless wellspring of cheerful hope for the often dour Shudder.’

Thank you Charredlore for providing the excellent background information, as usual :D! Commissioned by Charredlore (indirectly by one of his adventurers).

[lumendelmari]

A few inspirational images for outside the Tomb of Khaem.

Referencing Chapter 16 of “The Grey Warriors”.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/35100307/chapters/101331615

[lumendelmari]

Fargas Rumblefoot, halfling explorer/rogue from 'The Grey Warriors,' a retelling of a completed Out of the Abyss (Dungeons and Dragons) campaign.

Read the story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35100307/chapters/87436915

[lumendelmari]

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Aftermath

1485 DR / Day 41 

The Hold of the Deepking, Gracklstugh

The hatch slammed shut with a resounding—bang—and with it, the weight of all that occurred in the past few hours fell heavily on the Grey Warriors’ shoulders. The mutated dragon egg had been destroyed, Shal was revealed to be a succubus who served the mysterious ‘Dark Prince,’ and the red dragon, Themberchaud, had razed the city before ambushing the Hold of the Deepking. They’d lost two of their companions in the ensuing battle…

The surviving party members escaped the collapsing royal chamber alongside Deepking Horgar, Captain Blackskull, and Broot via a secret passageway beneath the throne. They found themselves in total darkness, unable to make out even the slightest detail of their hand when held just inches from their face. Fortunately, their other senses made up for what they could not see. A blend of earthy odors hung in the air. The atmosphere was chilled and stale, but it also felt heavy. Somehow, the stone-shattering din of the collapsing room above them was absent. The only sound that reached their ears was the scrape of their boots against the stone and the occasional rat scurrying by.

Kazimir was seconds away from summoning his dancing lights when Deepking Horgar struck a flint against an oil-filled channel affixed to the wall. The duergar alone had the sense to shield his eyes as a long line of blinding flame raced down the chute, filling the space with heat and bright light. Sarith hissed, and black spots danced in Prince Derendil’s vision. Captain Blackskull and Broot also turned their heads and shied from the flames. But Fraeya appeared only as affected as the surface dwellers among them and blinked hard—once, twice—before settling. Horgar thought that was odd for a drow but left it alone. [1]

“Follow me,” the duergar said as he descended the staircase. His impressive, black fur cloak swept the dusty floor behind him.

. . .

Read more: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35100307/chapters/129783106

[lumendelmari]

Chapter Thirty-Seven

The Grey Warriors

1485 DR / Day 41 

The Hold of the Deepking, Gracklstugh

“You will not be leaving the palace,” Deepking Horgar Steelshadow V announced as his hand closed around Brimtongue, the enchanted warhammer that had been in his possession for decades. He muttered its command word under his breath, and the faint runes began to burn red hot. Kazimir immediately recognized them as Infernal.

“That’s not good,” the tiefling muttered.

“But that’s even worse,” Fargas said as the iron door to the throne room swung open. The eight Stoneguard waiting outside marched in to join their counterpart. They held loaded crossbows in their hands, which they promptly pointed at the cornered adventurers.

“We knew what we were getting ourselves into,” Balasar said gruffly as his eyes darted around the room, seeking a secondary exit. There were none that he could see.

“But did we?” Kazimir yelped.

“The egg must be destroyed,” the dragonborn answered.

“And the people of Gracklstugh need capable leadership,” Fraeya added sharply.

Zelyra rested a comforting hand on the tiefling’s shoulder. “We’re doing the right thing,” she said.

Kazimir sighed in defeat. He knew they were right—but why did doing the right thing consistently land them in ‘chance of certain death’ scenarios?

The wizard quickly relayed the spiraling situation to Captain Blackskull via sending stone. Shal was an obvious threat, and the Deepking was not in his right mind. It was enough for Blackskull to surge forward with her coup. But the captain blatantly recommended that the companions not engage the Deepking until she was present. But more than fifty Darkhafts, the Deepking’s secret police, stood between Errde and the throne room. It would take time for the captain and her honor guard to work their way in and for the word to spread amongst the Stoneguard to break their cover. For now, the adventurers were on their own.

“Bind their hands!” Horgar commanded.

The guards began to quickly advance.

But the companions had no intention of going willingly.

. . .

Read more here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35100307/chapters/123922831

or

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13962836/37/The-Grey-Warriors

[lumendelmari]

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Speakers of Stone

1485 DR / Day 35

An unknown location outside of Gracklstugh

The companions slowly sat up, recovered from the nauseating feeling of teleportation, and took in their surroundings with bleary eyes. For a moment, no one spoke; such was their shock. It was not until the wizard among them began shaking with silent laughter that the group returned to their senses. Immediately, Kazimir was fixed with five disapproving glares.

“What in the Nine Hells were you thinking?!” Fraeya exploded as she stormed up to the smirking tiefling and jabbed him roughly in the chest with her index finger. “You think this is funny, huh? We just lost the damn egg!”

“I don’t think it’s funny!” Kazimir responded, though his lips were still twisted in a partial smirk.

“Somehow…I don’t think I believe you,” Nine drawled bitterly.

“Did you know the obelisk would react that way when a spell is cast into it?” Zelyra asked the wizard as she favored the right side of her head. Derendil had accidentally elbowed her as they landed. Not that she was complaining! Secretly, the druid was glad that was the extent of her injuries. The quaggoth could have landed on her. That would have been a whole different ordeal.

“How did you know that’s what I did?” Kazimir asked cheekily.

Zelyra tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “So, that flaming sphere just appeared out of nowhere? I may not understand the arcane like you, but I know enough.”

“It was a joke, Z. Sheesh,” the tiefling muttered. He sobered and said, “I didn’t know what it would do. All I could surmise was that there was some sort of dormant energy within the obelisk that could be activated with magic—any magic. You could have done the same thing to a similar result.”

“And so, in all your wisdom and brilliance, you decided to throw fire at it to test your theory?” Fraeya concluded testily.

Kazimir shrugged nonchalantly.

...

You can continue reading on Ao3 or FF.net...

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13962836/29/The-Grey-Warriors

[lumendelmari]

Chapter Twenty-Six

The Gift

1485 DR / Day 34

The Whorlstone Tunnels, Gracklstugh

The adventurers were all too glad to leave Buppido's gruesome lair behind and continue their exploration of the Whorlstone Tunnels. Fraeya and Fargas resumed their positions as scouts in the front of the group, while Zelyra elected to join Sarith as a rearguard. Normally she would have walked in the middle of the group with Kazimir and Derendil, but she wanted to give the prince his space.

Almost immediately after Derendil had walked away, Zelyra realized her mistake. Her words had come out too soon and at the worst time. The prince was still recovering from the shock of attacking her. Her thoughtlessly bringing up his curse and comparing him to a primal animal had been incredibly insensitive. She reasoned that she would apologize to him later, perhaps when they stopped to rest. But when that might be was anyone's guess. The druid could only suppose that they were not returning to Ghohlbrorn's Lair until they had enough proof to bring back to Blackskull or found the missing dragon egg. Until then, they would likely be sleeping in the tunnels.

As Fargas and Fraeya led the party to the mouth of a third open chamber, the faerzress changed again. This time, the magical energy was neither pale silver nor sickly green. Instead, it was bright gold and spun in hypnotizing patterns, as if in time to some sort of dance or song. The rogues watched the faerzress for a moment before peering around the corner. To their disappointment, the chamber beyond was not empty, and its inhabitants were all acting rather odd.

. . .

Read the rest on Ao3 or FF.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13962836/26/The-Grey-Warriors

[lumendelmari]

1485 DR / Day 32

The Shattered Spire, Gracklstugh

The Shattered Spire was an odd little building, resembling more of a run-down shack than a proper tavern. But several patrons milled about its entrance, and both Fargas and Sarith attested to its popularity amongst the locals. An enormous, fragmented stalagmite jutted out of the Darklake some forty feet from shore and functioned as a natural foundation. A bridge comprised of woven rothé wool and wide planks of zurkhwood linked the tavern back to land. The bridge swayed and creaked as the adventurers crossed it but was not nearly as treacherous as the spider-silk bridges in Velkynvelve.

“I could see this being a problem after one too many ales,” Kazimir quipped. The tiefling then purposely jumped on the first plank, launching poor Fargas into the air as the halfling walked in front of him. Fargas laughed and asked for Kazimir to do it again, but the others were less than impressed.

Inside, the tavern was crammed with patrons, but there was no sign of Werz Saltbaron. Instead, the tables were occupied by all manner of everyday Underdark-dwelling denizens—duergar, drow, svirfneblin, orcs, a few derro, and even a handful of kuo-toa. Kazimir’s attention, however, immediately zeroed in on a fellow tiefling. With bright blue skin and ram-like horns that curled down and around their arched ears, they were hard to miss within the dour crowd. But before the wizard could approach them, they rose from their seat and abruptly exited the building. Kazimir’s shoulders slumped.

“Maybe you will see them again later,” Zelyra offered as she perceived the tiefling’s disappointment.

“I didn’t even know what I was going to say…I’ve just never met another of my kind,” the half-devil solemnly replied.

Zelyra did not press, but she was taken aback by the admission. Truthfully, she knew woefully little of his kind. But the few stories she’d heard from Laucian and those in Taras Aldar claimed that tieflings were an ill-omen, a treacherous race. And yet, Zelyra saw none of that in Kazimir. On the contrary, he was polite, funny, charismatic, and mischievous. And yet, the druid had also perceived a sadness about him that only appeared when Kazimir thought that no one was looking. More than ever, she wondered what his story was. How did he find himself on the Material Plane? Half-devils were even less common than half-elves, after all.

But that was a conversation for another time. “Come, let’s find us a place to sit,” the druid bade as she tugged on Kazimir’s shoulder.

The wizard’s gaze remained fixated on the tavern’s door for several breaths before relenting.

xxx

Secondary link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13962836/23/The-Grey-Warriors

[lumendelmari]

Chapter Twenty-Two

Dunglorrin Torune

1485 DR / Day 32

Ghohlbrorn's Lair, Gracklstugh

"No, no, no! Zelyra, you are still pronouncing it wrong. I said, good morning, and you just responded with the equivalent of, I will pee on your leg!" Prince Derendil said with a heavy sigh.

Kazimir and Eldeth immediately exploded into howling laughter as Zelyra dropped her head into her hands. The druid's face instantly turned bright red. "Why is this so hard?" she groaned. "I picked up on Druidic much easier than this!"

"How old were you when you learned Druidic?" Kazimir asked.

"Twelve," Zelyra answered truthfully.

The tiefling snapped his fingers. "They say learning new languages is easier when you're still young. The older you get, the harder it is to rewire your brain with new ways of thinking," he said.

"Don't feel bad, Zelyra. I'm struggling too. We can't all be geniuses like the grey-one over here," Eldeth said, jabbing her thumb in the wizard's direction.

Kazimir stuck his tongue between his lips and blew a raspberry at her.

*follow link for more*

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13962836/21/The-Grey-Warriors

[lumendelmari]

Chapter Twenty-One

The Darklake Docks

1485 DR / Day 31

Ghohlbrorn’s Lair, Gracklstugh

Before the door to the drow elves’ shared lodgings had fully shut, Fraeya pounced. “Okay, we’re alone now! Start talking. You came back—why?” she demanded.

Sarith took a deep breath. He’d known this conversation was coming for over a tenday, but that didn’t make it any easier. Instead, the foreknowledge had only caused him to stew. Even now, he debated just how much he was willing to reveal. Sarith knew better than to place trust in anyone. Never again. He had learned his lesson. It was just the way of the drow. But he felt further cornered with each passing reverie. Or rather, lack thereof. How long now had it been since he actually found rest?

The warrior had thought he was better off alone. He had thought he didn’t need the foolish individuals he’d escaped Velkynvelve with, but he was wrong. Someone needed to know the truth. The dreams had intensified. Sometimes, he could see the nightmarish visages with his waking eyes! And while he was too stubborn and proud to admit that he might be afraid…

Perhaps he couldn’t fully trust Fraeya. But Sarith could trust that she was unlike any other drow he’d met, save maybe one. And for now, that was enough.

FF.net link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13962836/21/The-Grey-Warriors

[lumendelmari]

1485 DR / Day 21

The Lost Tomb of Khaem

When Dawnbringer confirmed that the tomb was clear of both traps and undead in the wake of Brysis’s defeat, the adventurers felt safe enough to settle down in the hidden room for a well-deserved long rest. Fargas fell asleep within just a few minutes, so deep was his exhaustion. His companions took more time to wind down. Zelyra cleaned and bandaged Balasar’s hand; it had been her spell that burned him after all. Near them, Kazimir eagerly studied the sword taken from Brysis’s sarcophagus.

Like Glimmer, the ancient sun blade was an invention of the Netherese people. But Dawnbringer—as the wizard soon learned she was named—had the added novelty of sentience. Kazimir had so many questions, and Dawnbringer was glad to answer to the best of her ability. She was only a sword, after all. And yet, a sentient sword that had once been attuned to an arcanist. This was the opportunity of a lifetime! [1]

“But why would an arcanist need a sword?” the wizard pondered aloud.

“Why not? It’s foolish to rely on magic alone,” Zelyra answered. Then, when Kazimir gave her a baffled look, the druid clarified, “Think of it this way: if your well of magic ran out, what would you turn to?”

[lumendelmari]

1485 DR / Day 21

The Lost Tomb of Khaem

When the rest of the group caught up to him, Fargas knelt upon the precarious ledge of a steep cliff. Nine, Kazimir, Balasar, and Eldeth came barreling through the narrow fissure that was the tunnel’s exit with such gusto that the halfling scarcely had time to signal for them to stop!

Glimmer was tucked away, but the enchanted sword produced just enough ambient light to create a slight dome around Fargas’s hunched form. Nine skidded to a halt and planted her feet. When Kazimir ultimately crashed into her from behind, the impact barely forced her forward an inch. Balasar also saw the halfling and the cliff’s edge. But Eldeth did not. The shield dwarf charged through and would have gone straight over—taking poor Fargas with her—if not for Balasar’s quick action. He grasped the back of Eldeth’s ill-fitting chainmail shirt and yanked her back towards him. The conflicting forces of momentum sent the pair sprawling to the ground, clear of the edge and Fargas. Prince Derendil, Stool, Fraeya, Zelyra, and Sarith caught up shortly after.

“Thank ye for that,” Eldeth muttered as she righted herself. Balasar numbly patted her shoulder. The alternative, watching the pair fall to their deaths, was unimaginable.

Alternate Link below:

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13962836/16/The-Grey-Warriors

[lumendelmari]

Official character art for our campaign. 

Top: Fraeya, Kazimir, Balasar, Zelyra, “Ranger”

Bottom: Eldeth, Sarith, Prince Derendil, Fargas

I can’t claim rights to all of these portraits. I did a lot of reworking, some of it in Photoshop, some of it hand drawn and then digitalized. They’re not perfect but closer to what I envisioned for these characters than anything I could find. Prince Derendil and Fargas are almost entirely colored pencil, interestingly enough. 

I realize some NPCs are missing. I never made custom portraits for Shuushar, Stool, Buppido, or Jimjar. I wanted to but they never came out exactly how I wanted them to...so we stuck to the module art with them.

[lumendelmari]

Chapter 7 - Caught in a Web

Every step the group advanced towards the village of Sloobludop filled Balasar with increasing anxiety. And yet, the dragonborn's kuo-toan friend did not seem to share his worry. While Balasar had not known Shuushar long in the grand scheme of things, the dragonborn could not help thinking Shuushar's character was changed from when he'd found Balasar along the shores of the Dark Lake months prior. Shuushar had been peaceful then, but now he was exceedingly so. To the point where Balasar feared nothing could pierce the kuo-toa's tranquil façade. Not the threat of advancing drow, not a storm of fire, nor attacking demons or aberrations.

Something very strange was happening in the Underdark, Balasar decided. Something that took a creature's ordinary quirks and amplified them.

Three days now had passed since the prisoners escaped Velkynvelve. Shuushar had promised that by keeping a fast pace, they would reach his village in that time. But the rockslide and subsequent encounter with the carrion crawler had cost them hours of travel. Even with the aberration's quick defeat, they'd still had to pick their way through the wreckage of the cave-in. At least one more full day of travel lay before them and it by far would be the hardest. The Silken Paths were an unavoidable obstacle. The name alone filled Balasar with even more trepidation. Hordes of orcs, drow, duergar, demons, you name it, the dragonborn would gladly face them. But spiders—

Crossposted on Fanfiction.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13962836/7/The-Grey-Warriors

[lumendelmari]

Chapter 5 - The Unforgiving Dark

The fugitives quickly swam towards the shore, aware that their drow captors, the raging fires, and the fighting demons were all still very real threats above them. They were surrounded. For the wounded vrock also remained. Its ocher eyes intelligently tracked their every move. And Sarith alone knew of the hidden danger within the very pool that they swam within. He chose not to warn the others—though not out of spite as one might think.

Test them now, the drow reasoned, before we flee into the unforgiving dark.

Not a moment later, Eldeth cried out in pain as the object she thought was a large rock jutting out of the water suddenly struck her. The rock began to liquefy, revealing its true form to be a gray ooze. Eldeth knew well the danger of such a creature. Gauntlgrym, with its endless maze of underground chambers, had no shortage of them. Those who were unfortunate to find themselves struck down by one were treated to a slow, torturous death; for the ooze dissolved the flesh of their prey with acidic secretion and absorbed the bones left behind.

"Beware the ooze!" Eldeth bellowed in warning to those who swam around her.

Eldeth kicked her stubby legs but found no purchase. The pool was deceptively deep. A melee battle would be almost useless. The slippery creature struck again and this time, the sizzle of corroding metal came with it as acid began to eat through the snug chain shirt Eldeth had taken from the armory.

Crossposted on Fanfiction.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13962836/5/The-Grey-Warriors