Character Biographies
Key of Destiny Campaign
Samuel Olib Mudbeard
Samuel was born the 3rd son of Realgar Mudbeard, an unusually modest dwarf who worked most his life working in the coalmines. Samuel’s elder brothers took up their father’s occupation, but Samuel chose a more studious life and dedicated himself to the ministry of Reorx’s teachings.
Samuel read of the Cataclysm and how many of the world believed the gods had abandoned them. He knew that it was their own lack of faith that had made them blind. He did not believe the gods could or would ever abandon their own children. The War of the Lance brought with it the rediscovery of the gods and the faith of the world recovered.
But there came a time again when the faith of the world faltered; and with it, Samuel’s. It was the dawning of the current era, now known as the Fifth Age—the Age of Mortals. Magic was draining from the world, and he could no longer perform blessings in the name of Reorx. For years, Samuel clung to the belief he was being tested. He continued to preach from village to village with no receptive audiences. “Show us what your god can do!” they would shout. But Samuel’s prayers brought naught but divine silence and snickers from the current tavern’s patrons.
Samuel returned home in despair. He found his family much as he had left it. Without any exceptionally physical skills, he began working with his clan’s construction guild on design plans and blueprints for new buildings and tunnels.
For a few years Samuel stayed in his hometown, hidden away and sheltered from the outside world. What few travelers that passed through brought little good news, and mounds and mounds of bad news. Tales of destruction on an almost “Cataclysmic” scale almost surely seemed exaggerated. It wasn’t until a lone kender passing through that looked positively glum did Samuel start to wonder how bad things really were. “Kendermore is Nevermore,” the kender stated without the slightest tweak of humor or sarcasm.
Samuel decided he had to find out more of what was going on in the world. He set off for the largest human settlement about a week’s journey away. Humans always seemed to have their nose in global politics, so perhaps they could shed some light on the state of affairs.
One night along the way, Samuel awoke to find two goblins rummaging through his stuff. He picked up the nearest rock and crashed it onto the head of the first unsuspecting goblin. The second drew a rusted knife and slashed him on his left arm. Tripping over his shield, the two goblins were able to scoot away with most of his meager possessions. Cursing the vanished moons, Samuel bandaged his arm as best he could and went back to sleep. The next morning he awoke with an arm so swollen and purple, he knew it must be infected. He continued on his way to the human settlement, more disgruntled than ever.
Samuel’s arm grew weaker every day. The human “healers” seemed quite adept at dulling pain… the medicine they administered was quite soothing and addictive, but it did not seem to be repairing the damage his arm had taken. It did, however, induce weird dreams at night. Rarely did he remember much of them in the morning, but occasionally he would awaken worried that the same red-haired kender in pink bunny slippers had once again snuck into his room and “borrowed” his bushy brown beard.
Unable to hold a nail and swing a hammer at the same time, he felt his usefulness slipping away. The global turmoil again seemed far away, like there was nothing he could do about it anyway. Samuel began to wonder if he should just return home.
Then one night Samuel had a particularly vivid dream. In his dream he had felt a compulsion to prepare a breakfast for two. A visitor arrived carrying a small parcel. Samuel politely invited the stranger in for a meal. When Samuel asked about the parcel, the stranger said it was a delivery for someone who “chooses to listen.” “I’m listening!” said Samuel. “No, you’re not.” With these words the stranger and his parcel vanished.
Samuel got up the next day and went into town, determined to “listen.” He walked through the marketplace trying to pick up any good gossip, but no one wanted to talk to him. He hung out at the tavern and asked the barkeep if anything exciting was going on. He even listened to a roaming bard sing a song of the great Heroes of the Lance. But he still couldn’t seem to figure out what he was supposed to be listening for. As dusk approached he climbed a hill and watched the sunset. Perhaps listening to nature is what he was supposed to be doing. As darkness settled in Samuel was shocked to see there were once again 3 moons in the sky! Solinari, Lunitari, and Nuitari where all there. Samuel scanned the sky for the constellations… Reorx, Habbakuk, Gillean…. But where were Takhisis and Paladine?
Samuel ran back to the inn he was staying at. At the counter stood that blasted red-haired kender, without the bunny slippers this time. “His name is Mud…” the kender started, and the innkeeper couldn’t help but crack a smile. That joke got used quite a bit, lately. The kender turned to Samuel, “Oh there he is! Hi, I’m Squee Razzlederken! A pretty lady asked me to hold onto this until I found you!” He then produced a small parcel, neatly wrapped, just like the one in Samuel’s dream. Samuel unwrapped it to find his former Medallion of Faith, with Reorx’s symbol still finely engraved on one side. On the reverse, however, was another symbol, that of Mishakel. Samuel stood there for what seemed like hours as the realization of the return of the gods and his ensuing blindness to that fact washed over him.