Out of the Abyss: Cast and Crew

Zern Muzgardt

Race: Duergar

Age: 86 (human equivalent: 32)

Class: Cleric (Darkness)

Deity: Asomodeus, Laduguer (former)

Alignment: Lawful Evil

Hometown: Gracklstugh

Background: Acolyte (Underdark Experience)

Family: Zern belongs to Chan Musgardt, a prominent family of brewers and merchants in Gracklstugh. He claims to despise his family and be plotting their downfall—as any good duergar should! But he seems just as happy to have a drink and be merry with them in the meanwhile. He also has a sister of rather ill repute who has become rather intimately acquainted with Angel.

Goals: To spread the word of Laduguer’s death, and Asomdeus’ ascension to patron deity of the duergar. Ultimately, his goal is to become more powerful, kill his king, and to personally ascend to the throne of Gracklstugh.

Joined: Captured by the drow for slave labour immediately after leaving Gracklstugh. He was thrown into the cage a full 30 days before escape and met everyone as they came in.

Allies: He’d like to count the Church of Asmodeus… once he founds it. He made fast friends with Stool, of the Spiderweb grove and would be welcome to return to the myconid’s home any time. Among the rest of the group, he is only close to Angel. 

Enemies: The clerics of Laduguer, King Steelshadow, these damned Demon Lords!

Quirks: He can't go more than a few days without killing something, and killing is usually his first solution to any problem. Adding to his violent streak, Zern now seriously contemplates slitting the throat of anyone who disagrees with him, rather than arguing. He is rather intolerant of other faiths.

Backstory: Zern was raised in traditional duergar fashion by Chan Musgardt. At a young age, he was taught the art of brewing, and as a young man he joined the clergy and paid homage to the god of crafts. He easily completed his required service in the city militia, where he served as a chaplain and field medic. After his tour, he returned to his monastery where he continued his studies in hopes of achieving full priesthood. While he was still training however, Zern began to notice strange signs revealed to him during his daily routine. While polishing his shield, for example, he would notice a strange 9-pointed star forming in the blood splatter. He heard voices that whispered blasphemy in his dreams at night, and saw visions of the slain Laduguer in every foe he felled. Confused, Zern only began to pray more fervently, desperate to learn what these signs might mean. One conclusion seemed obvious, but Zern was loath to let himself believe it. Was it possible… that Laduguer was dead?

No sooner had the cleric thought these words, than a spot of vile darkness exploded across his chambers. And, when it cleared, a strange, devilish-looking man in long sweeping robes was standing on the floor before him. He had an unnatural aura, the power of which a young duergar had scarcely felt before in his life. Clearly this man was a god! But… he was certainly not Lord Laduguer… The man introduced himself as Asmodeus, king of the nine hells. And he told Zern a secret: Laduguer was indeed dead. The former patron of the duergar had been slain during the spellplague. Now Asomodeus had taken up his discarded portfolio and was granting the duergar clerics their spells in the guise of their fallen lord. Stunned, Zern merely sat there on the floor, and wondered in exasperation what he was supposed to do now—the god he’d worshipped all his life was dead! But Asmodeus patted the little duergar on the head and told him not to fret. He had seen the truth now, and as such was Asmodeus’ own chosen. The duergar would be just fine! Asmodeus had been taking care of them for generations. But, he needed someone to preach the word—to tell the clans the truth of their new lord. To this, Asmodeus tasked Zern, and he gave the duergar a little book entitled The Book of Vile Darkness. He told the cleric this was his sacred text, and bid Zern to read it and spread the word. Before leaving, he also regarded Zern's pathetic little wooden holy symbol. Poking the surface once, he caused a burst of darkness to explode out of the amulet and, when it cleared, one of an entirely new fashion was hanging around the duergar's neck. This symbol was made of some shiny metal and featured a 9-pointed star--just like the visions Zern had once seen in his bloodied shield! Then Asmodeus wished Zern good luck, issued a fond farewell, and vanished in another cloud of darkness.

Zern sat there for several minutes, staring at his toes. Then he rushed up at once to find his superiors and tell them of the thing he had just witnessed. Upon finding the priests however, Zern merely found himself a laughing stock—no one would believe his story! Enraged, Zern declared he would prove the truth of his new god! He would go out in the world and grow his new dark powers, and when he returned, no one would be able to refute him! Thus, he took up his shield (which was now magically emblazoned with the symbol of Asmodeus) and his sword, and charged out of the church. He charged all the way out of Gracklestugh, in fact, and didn't look back… until there were a half dozen crossbows pointed at his face.

Kian

Race: Dragonborn (green)

Age: 20 (human equivalent: same)

Class: Barbarian (Bear totem)

Deity: Korm

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

Background: Urchin

Hometown: Iceland Dale

Family: He was close to a fellow urchin named Kilmorn. He taught Kian everything he knows, but suddenly disappeared on the day of Kian's capture. After visiting Star Mountain, he has also found love in the form of a young elven boy, for whom he now fights. 

Goals: Aside from becoming a mighty warrior, Kian's greatest goal is to recall his forgotten past, which the drow sleeping poison stole from him. In a related goal, he also hopes to find his lost friend, Kilmorn, and ask after his sudden betrayal. He had been seeking a replacement for his lost pet, but has joyously completed that goal with the resurrection of Sir Mark, the Mouse. When his adventuring days are through, Kian's long-term plan may be to settle with his young elven lover in the new continent. There, they hope to establish the new world's first candle shop--Everlight. 

Joined: He was ambushed by the drow whilst seeking shelter from a storm on the surface. Betrayed by his only friend, he was shot full of drow sleeping poison and nearly forgot everything about his former identity upon his capture.

Allies: Kian is fond of all his teammates about equally, and doesn't seem to find offence with anyone. He had a beloved pet mouse named Mark, but he was tragically lost upon Kian's capture. The two have now been reunited thanks to a sympathetic cleric. 

Enemies: Rocks and rock accessories.

Quirks: Kian is incredibly level-headed and reasonable off the field of battle. But, once he starts raging, he turns into a crazed monster. He also has an overwhelming urge to steal and loot things.

Backstory: Kian grew up a proud barbarian of the Tribe of the Bear, in Icewind Dale. He was but young when the region was raided by orcs, and wicked drow from House Do'Urden. His mother was slain in the fight, and his father captured; their last act was to get their son to safety, and Kian along with other tribe children found himself shipped south into the care of a distant town. The warriors of Icewind Dale had intended to retrieve their children, but the battle with the drow had left them too splintered, and Kian  was forced to grow up on unfamiliar streets, waiting for the family that could not come to rescue him. Small and weak, he struggled to get by. Every day meant a boot to the face--but a good day might also mean a nice stolen bit of bread. The world's classiest bed was a  alleyway that might not be prowled by monsters tonight. It was a rough life that taught the young urchin many harsh truths about the world. But it was lonely. And it was cold.

Then one day, he was 'rescued' when he was ambushed by another urchin, a fellow dragonborn and survivor of Icewind Dale, named Kilmorn. In fact he first met the man via a knife to his throat. But Kilmorn was not an unkind soul, as the barbarian soon learned. He pitied the helpless boy, and offered to teach him the ways of the streets... if Kian could survive the training anyway. Thereafter, Kian could credit Kilmorn for everything he ever learned--about fighting, about sneaking, about the world. They were the closest of friends and travelled the wilds of Toril together like two brothers in arms. It was in defence of Kilmorn that Kian first learned to embrace the rage of battle, and the totemic spirits of his people. And, in return, Kilmorn gave Kian back something even greater.

One day, he elder urchin returned after travelling through town, a strange cage in hand. He informed Kian that he had brought him a present: a new friend to keep him company, should they ever be separated. Then he revealed what he had hidden in his cage. It was a mouse--a tiny grey mouse with a little pink nose. Kian at once squeaked for joy at the tiny creature and proclaimed him Mark the Mouse. To the dragonborn's mutual surprise and delight, Mark did not seem afraid of him, and took to Kian like a loyal dog. But, elated though he was at this gift, Kian began to wonder after Kilmorn's motives. A friend to keep him company, should they ever be separated. But... what could ever separate them?

Unfortunately for Kian, he got his answer all too soon.
One night, while the urchin pair was resting in the fields of central Faerun, a sudden storm struck up to the East. The mighty winds ripped up trees by the root, and beams of lightning scorched the grasslands into a wildfire. Though a follower of the god of storms, Kian found himself terrified of the heavens for the first time in his life. Fortunately, he was not alone out here--and Kilmorn had a plan. Turning to the dragonborn, he shouted that they needed to get to shelter at once. Nearby, he had heard of a system of caves, which the storm should not be able to penetrate. He reasoned it would be a safe place to hide until all the chaos blew over. Nodding at once, Kian leapt to his feet and the two were off. They found the afore mentioned caves without much difficulty, and Kian even found the place cosy. He loved small, cramped spaces after all. And he had Kilmorn with him, and Mark. Everything would be all right! Absolutely!

At least, that was what the barbarian thought...until the first crossbow bolt embedded itself in his back.

The attackers, of course, were the drow--Hunters from Camp Velkynvelve. The cave had apparently been a little-known inlet down into the Underdark below the surface of Toril. Kian had heard of the drow before--Kilmorn had told him all about them! This lot was clearly out in search of new prisoners to enslave in Menzoberranzan and... well... a sly human and a hulking dragonborn must look like prime targets!
 At first, Kian took up his sword, ready for a fight. It would be a tough battle, but if they worked together, he and Kilmorn could do anything! The first few swings went well, and the lesser of the drow warriors hissed and reeled at the wounds dealt by Kian's blade. As the fighting continued, however, the dragonborn soon found himself overwhelmed. There were just... too many of them... If only he could get a few of these elves off his back... Desperately, he looked over his shoulder, to the place Kilmorn had been standing moments before. But, to the barbarian's horror, the man was no longer there. Instead, Kilmorn was half-way up an adjacent hallway, running for his life. He--he was leaving his own friend here to die! Struck by sudden betrayal, Kian could find the will to fight no longer. As several crossbow bolts struck him at once, the dragonborn felt the sting of the drow's sleep poison, and the world began to swim. With the last of his strength, he moaned the name of Kilmorn, his betrayer. Then, all was darkness...

Othokent Moxt Ir “Nosey”

Nickname: Nosey

Age: About 16

Race: Half-elf (High Elf)

Class: Paladin (Oath of the Dragon)

Deity: Ao

Alignment: Neutral Good

Background: Hermit

Hometown: A secret university in the desert. She was raised by an Elder Brass Dragon there, and now lives there with other scholars and ontologists.

Family: Nosey is the daughter of a polymorphed Brass Dragon named Erica, and a High Elf cleric of Corellon named Elegal. Of course, Nosey knows none of this. She was raised by her mother as an 'adopted' child, and grew up around scholars, all of various races, who taught her everything she now knows. 

Companions: Nosey has a celestial giant lizard, who serves as her holy mount. She also had a pet spider at one point, but it turned out to be her paternal aunt in disguise. 

Goals: Nosey's goals are to spread word of the Sundering, and to generally rekindle the notion of faith in a jaded world. She is also obsessed with knowledge, and thirsts to uncover the troves of lore lost during the Spellplague. 

Joined: Captured by the drow after she got lost in the Underdark, and wandered into camp. Apparently she followed a shiny jade beetle down a very dark hole and made it all the way up to Ilvara, tugged on her robes, and asked directions. 

Allies: She was particularly fond of Topsy and Turvy, a pair of deep gnome twins the group rescued from the drow camp. Initially she was friendly with Kian and Angel, though she distrusted no party members besides Zern.

Enemies: The Church of Lolth, blue dragons, anything evil

Quirks: Nosey is very outspoken, to the point that her bluntness sometimes gets her into trouble. She promotes the notion of faith, but not the sacrilegious worship of fiends--among which she counts Lolth. She is easily distracted by shiny objects and has a strange compulsion to bury them. 

Backstory: Nosey went most of her life believing she was the bastard child of a High Elf man and a human woman, both of whom abandoned her when she was a baby. She was left in the forest to die, but was happened upon by an Ancient Brass Dragon. Moved with compassion, the dragon took her in and raised the half-elf as one of her own. Of course, in reality nothing could be further from the truth. Nosey's mother was the same Brass Dragon in human form, a woman named Erica, and her father was Elegal Vantur, leader of the Sun Elves of Star Mountain. The two had fallen in love during Erica's stay on the mountain, and were engaged to be married, though Elegal knew not the truth about Erica's true nature. Concerned about their future, Erica tried a bit of wild magic one night, and wished for a way to be a proper, humanoid, wife to her future husband--and bear him a child. She used the most powerful spell in her arsenal: Wish. In fact, it was both her first and last casting of the spell, and the dragon was therefore dismayed when at first it seemed nothing had changed. She was still draconic. Still keeping secrets.

Shortly thereafter, Erica learned she was pregnant and panicked. She fled the city, and shacked up with an old friend of Elegal's: Headmaster Eric. Once she had calmed down, she considered returning, but had since heard rumours that Elegal was engaged to an elven woman. Thus, she remained in the desert, and raised Nosey in Eric's college. Elegal, meanwhile, was heartbroken at his fiance's disappearance. He initially considered leaving Star Mountain to find her, and try to win her back. Ultimately, however, duty demanded he stay for the sake of his people. And thus the elf forlornly went back to his daily duties--alone. As the last of his ancient, noble line, he felt obligated to find himself another lover... unfortunately, every attempt was unsuccessful. It was too late. He had already found his theramin--his soul-mate--in Erica. And thus he was doomed to a life of loneliness: the last of his family.

Nosey, meanwhile, grew up among scholars. She heard the falsified story of her origins, and was kept distracted enough that she never questioned. She lived happily for many years, and learned about all manner of subjects from the other scholars--her 'brothers' and 'sisters'. She was affected by hoarding instincts, especially as she grew older, and spent an extended amount of time seeking and hiding treasures in the sands of the surrounding High Moor. The half-dragon also became talkative, adventurous, and proud, much like her mother's kin. From the combination of these, she also developed a penchant for getting into trouble--and her draconic name, meaning 'Nosey little elf'. On one such occasion, Nosey sneaked away from the school, and was missing until it was nearly dark. She was eventually found by Erica and ordered home. Nosey refused, however, and an argument erupted between the two on the unprotected High Moor. This attracted the attention of a native Adult Blue Dragon, who swooped in on the pair of Brass, seeing an opportunity to eliminate his enemies. Erica transformed but, distracted by the need to protect Nosey, she was eventually slain by her foe. The Blue, laughing at his victory, claimed Nosey wasn't worth his trouble, and spared the horrified half elf.

Consumed by guilt, Nosey became reclusive in the years thereafter. She rarely left her room, and scarcely spoke with the other scholars. No one is quite certain what happened next. Perhaps her horde of mismatched magic items threw Nosey into a frenzy. Perhaps a wayward spell fell her way. Perhaps all that time alone finally made the little girl snap. Who knows! But somehow, at some point, the little half-elf began to have visions. She could see images playing out before her—first of her mother’s lifetime, and then across the entire history of the draconic race. She saw visions of a primordial planet, Abir-Toril, where dragons once reigned. Then she saw in the clouds a tall fatherly figure, wrapped in sunlight. In his hands, he held two massive stone tablets, and when he cracked these together in the heavens, they exploded with thundering force. The sky, the earth, the planet itself were all rent in twain at his command. And, when the smoke cleared, there was not one planet but two. The first of these, Nosey recognized as Toril, her own home planet. Which meant the other had to be… As she was contemplating this, Nosey saw another vision, nearly identical to the first.  This time, the grandfatherly figure was angry. His stone tablets were missing, and as he raged the very floor fell out of heaven. The half elf watched as all of the gods screamed and fell to Toril, where they became weak and mortal. The images continued, and Nosey watched with horror and fascination. Wars were waged, the gods were trying to climb the stairs to heaven. But when they reached the top, grandfather was still angry. He threw his stone tablets to the floor, shattering them. The fighting continued. Gods changed names, faces, killed each other in cold blood.

Finally, someone slew a pretty girl with long flowing hair, and the entire world screamed with her. The Weave, which brought all magic to the world, shattered, and Toril was all but ripped to shreds as a result. The Spellplague was on. But beyond the tongues of blue fire, Nosey could see something else happening. That other planet, the home of the dragonborn, was getting closer to Toril again. And soon, the two were so blurred together that they could not be told apart.

Then she saw grandfather again. This time he stood proudly above the ruined world and declared that there would once again be order. “The Sundering shall happen again,” he whispered above the broke world, “And I will re-write the tablets of fate so that this tragedy might never occur repeat itself…” Nosey watched with curiosity as the man clapped his hands together over the merged worlds and once again hurled them apart. Then she stared as he drew from each planet a block of stone, and began to slowly write upon the rock in some strange script. It all seemed so real… for a moment the half-elf almost forgot that this was a vision… But that was when it happened.

The grandfatherly figure glanced over his shoulder, pausing in his work. “Oh damn,” he muttered to himself, “And just what are you doing here, little mortal thing? Did you get lost on the way to the Fugue?” It took Nosey a moment to realize that the man was speaking to her, and she looked about in confusion for anyone else in the room. Finding none, she at last replied: “No, I’m not dead.” This seemed to confuse the grandfatherly figure, and he eventually just told the elf to be gone and resumed his work. Nosey wasn't sure how to leave however. And besides: she had nothing to return to. Her mother was dead. She'd never met her father. And... well... this nice old man just happened to be the first person she'd felt she could truly trust. Thus, Nosey remained where she was and leaned over the elder being’s shoulder. It’s hard to say how long this went on, but eventually the man introduced himself as Ao, the overgod. He explained the history of the world that Nosey had seen as well as his plan for a new Sundering to set the Faerun right again. This captivated Nosey, who immediately exclaimed that she wanted to help. Ao simply replied that he did not take followers, and tried once more to brush the elf off. But somehow, perhaps after months in the ethereal realms, Ao finally gave in. He begrudgingly appointed Nosey his paladin and sent her back to Toril to ‘spread the word’ of the Sundering, and to renew the notion of faith to a disheartened Faerun. And Nosey did too! In fact, she inadvertently spread the word even as far as the Underdark…

Angellon (and Lazarus) Melarn

Nickname: Angel

Age: 119 (human equivalent: 17)

Race: Drow

Class: Dread Necromancer (Lich Transformation)

Deity: Vhaeraun

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

Background: Noble (Deep Delver)

Hometown: Menzoberranzan

Family: Angel was the Thirdboy of House Kenafin, and would have been 4th son of House Melarn. He despises his entire family, however, and is close only to his twin brother, Lazarus. 

Companions: Navi, a small celestial in the form of a bat who hopes to save his soul (heh).

Goals: Angel's primary goal was to exact revenge on House Melarn and Menzoberranzan for Lazarus' murder, and to find a way to resurrect his fallen twin. 

Joined: Captured by Ilvara to be sacrificed in Menzoberranzan. She was likely going to sell him to House Melarn so they could do the deed themselves.

Allies: The Church of Vhaeraun; to a lesser extent, he aligns with the Curch of Eilistraee, with which his own church was merged not so long ago. Among the refugees, Angel was initially close to Zern, and neutral towards Kian. He was annoyed by Nosey and her infuriating compassion... though he felt compelled to keep the half elf out of trouble, since she reminded him of his brother. 

Enemies: House Melarn, the Church of Lolth

Quirks: Angel's heart only beats 1-4 times per minute—and he's waiting for the day it stops entirely. He has two souls bound to his body—one living, one dead—after saving his brother in infancy. This  same streak of love that prevents him from achieving true evil and lichdom.

Backstory: Angel and Lazarus were twin sons (3rd and 4th), born to Kyrnill Kenafin (now Melarn) in 1372, during the Silence of Lolth. Both tainted with  love, the two bonded together and chose not to destroy each other in-utero as often occurred with drow. It should have meant a potentially happy childhood together for the pair, but there was one problem. According to drow tradition, the third son of every house must be ritualistically sacrificed on the day of his birth as an offering to Lolth. During the Silence, Lolth had cut herself off: neither granting spells, nor answering the prayers of her people. Some thought her dead, while others presumed that the goddess had lost faith in her followers. This would unnerve a cleric like Kyrnill, and the good-aligned Lazarus imagined she would waste no time in murdering the eldest of her twins. Thus, Lazarus took the initiative and beat his brother into the Material Plane, hoping it would spare Angel's life.

He wasn't wrong. Not more than a few hours out of labour herself, Kyrnill donned her ceremonial robes and pried her new-born twins apart. Taking the screaming Lazarus to the shrine, she cast the elder boy upon the altar. With her ceremonial spider blade, she cut out the baby’s heart with ease, and offered it beneath Lolth’s image. Lazarus was slain instantly, and his soul damned to Lolth’s Demonweb Pits along with all of the others sacrificed in her name... 

Or so Lazarus thought. But there were two things the drow boy hadn't anticipated, and the first involved Lolth. During the Silence, Lolth was not only ignoring her living servants, but also her dead ones. She had sealed all entrances to the Demonweb pits, and thus souls of sacrifices and loyal followers alike were building up outside. Thus, Lazarus' lost soul saw its chance for escape. The other involved Angel. Moved with compassion for his brother, Angel reached across the Ethereal Plane and bound Lazarus’ soul to his own, identical body. This gave Lazarus a new touch of life—a permanent link back to the mortal world—and spared his soul both from Lolth’s wrath. However, the touch of death invaded Angel's living body and nearly killed him. When his heart restarted, its pace was abnormally slow, and has only been getting slower across the decades. Though Angel didn't know it at first, the shadow energy overtaking his metabolism would eventually turn him into a baelnorn...

But the Kenafin knew nothing of this. They raised Angel--then called Ollarath--as Thirdboy of the House and, when the realized his knack for magic, even began preparing him for a future in wizardry. Lazarus, meanwhile watched over his brother from the Ethereal plane, and the two communed in Reverie. As they grew, so did their bond, and so did Angel's temper. Lazarus' murder left him angry and defiant. He refused to comply with Lolth's wicked faith, or its corrupt matriarchy. This unnerved the boy’s teachers, but was initially ignored… Then, everything changed when the Spellplague struck.

In a fit of wild magic, Angel accidentally tapped into powers he should not be wielding for at least another century—dark, necrotic powers!—and thus revealed himself to the Melarni. Horrified, the family considered killing him while they had the chance. Kyrnill, however, still hoped her son could be taught submission. She locked Angel away until he would bow to her will but, strengthened by Lazarus' presence, he resisted all forms of torment. Eventually, he was left to rot. Then, when the Sundering began, Angel heard the word of Vhaeraun in his head, telling him the time to rebel was nigh. Compelled by the god’s words, he took on the Eladrin name, Angellon, meaning ‘He who practices the old magic’. He then broke his bonds and escaped Menzoberranzan to join the clergy of Vhaeraun. (Though he didn't know it at the time, his brother had a similar revelation: he was approached by Eilistraee, Vhaeraun's twin.) Now an outcast, Angel began travelling the Underdark, hoping to grow his powers so he might one day return to exact revenge on all Menzoberranzan. After a few years of travel, he became acquainted with the ways of the tunnels and the mushrooms, and even learned to care for himself. Unfortunately, all of that changed when he happened to run into a familiar face, one night near Velkynvelve….

~*~

I probably should have posted this first, but we're getting to the point where it was needed so: Ta-da! A guide to the main characters. This was a long time in coming, but it took me a while to get the backstories, etc for Zern and Nosey. I still haven't gotten much out of Kian's player, so I'll make a point of trying to get closer to him in-character now that we're on the surface.