Never-vember: Day 13

@drakcomancer @neverwinternighting

Day 13: Betrayal

The final battle is at hand. All of their preparation and sacrifices, trials and triumphs, have led to this moment. And in this moment, the ranger predictably betrays them. Predictable, but still infuriating.

Khelgar doesn’t care why. He ignores any excuses or justifications. He only sees the face of casual cruelty and decides that face needs to be adjusted. With his warhammer. So when the battle begins, Khegar rushes towards his former compatriot with rage.

“Bishop! Ye traitorous two-faced Luskan-lovin’ worm! I’ll bash yer face with me hammer!”

Never-vember: Day 9

@drakcomancer @neverwinternighting

Day 9: Unconventional hero

“What, arrowbait? He’s more balmy than a belfry of bats!” . . .

“Still he did a decent job on the Construct. That’s somethin’ at least.”

Never-vember: Day 8

@drakcomancer @neverwinternighting

Day 8: Fire

“Ahh! By the gods Qara! Put out that fire ‘fore ye burn down the tavern an’ waste all the ale!”

Never-vember: Day 7

@drakcomancer @neverwinternighting

Day 7: Meanwhile, back at the inn…

Khelgar loudly snores while awkwardly propped up on a chair in the Sunken Flagon, sleeping off his latest attempt to empty the tavern’s stores of ale and subsequently bankrupt Duncan Farlong.

Never-vember: Day 6

@drakcomancer @neverwinternighting

Day 6: Two companions and/or your character forced to get along

“I dinnae care what ye have to say or what she promised ye. That horned devil girl ain’t ta be trusted an’ I say we leave her behind at Fort Locke!”

Never-vember: Day 5

@drakcomancer @neverwinternighting

Day 5: First impressions

“What, the goat-girl? Aye, Neeshka was a right pain in me behind! Thievin’ petulant child! Still, she got better when got to the Sunken Flagon and shared a few drinks. That lass could sling an insult wit’ the best of ‘em.”

Never-vember: Day 4

@drakcomancer @neverwinternighting

Day 4: The “good old days”

“Ye wanna hear ‘bout the good old days? The good old days was when I was fightin’ and drinkin’ my way up the Sword Coast, long ‘fore I ever heard the name ‘King of Shadows’. It was fightin’ orcs at Old Owl Well, an’ bestin’ the gith, an’ defeatin’ the Shadow Reavers. Those were the good old days.”

“Not this” Khelgar says as he gestures towards a mountain of administrative paperwork awaiting his signature as the new Knight-Captain of Crossroads Keep. “Compared ta those days, this may as well be Baator!”

Never-vember: Day 3

@drakcomancer @neverwinternighting

Day 3: A welcome surprise

“Wait a minute! Yer uncle owns a tavern? Well then, what ’re we waitin’ fer?! Let’s get ta Neverwinter!”

Never-vember: Day 2

@drakcomancer @neverwinternighting

Day 2: Your character’s best moment in the Harvest Fair

“Nu-uh! You can’t catch me!” A child playfully teases their friend as they run past the newly appointed Knight-Captain of Crossroads Keep. Khelgar Ironfist briefly glances at them before turning his attention back to the Harvest Fair.

The Shadow War had been arduous for most of the Sword Coast, but particularly difficult for the people of West Harbor. The victims of the war’s first strike, the Harbormen had been surprised and unprepared for the attack. Although they fought bravely, they barely withstood this initial attack and many fled to seek safely behind Neverwinter’s walls.

Still, the rural community was nothing if not resilient. Although their most prominent resident - Khelgar’s leader and predecessor as Knight-Captain - was seemingly lost in the final battle, they persevered with an unbreakable spirit. Many returned after the end of the conflict to resettle and rebuilt their homes in the swamps. They constructed defensive fortifications, planted crops, and petitioned for inclusion in trade discussions with the new Knight-Captain. As a gesture of goodwill and to honor the companion of their fallen hero, they even invited Khelgar to attend their first Harvest Fair since the end of the war.

Khelgar was reticent to attend but Nevalle insisted it would be good to maintain strong ties with the farming community. He particularly emphasized the value of a positive public relationship since much of the Sword Coast was struggling to adequately feed itself in the aftermath of the war. Neverwinter needed West Harbor’s crops and trade to stave off a potential famine or possibly even food riots.

So Khelgar found himself standing in the middle of a rustic Harvest Fair, bored with the rural setting and wishing to be elsewhere. That was until a Harborman handed him a tankard of Harvest Mead.

“By the gods!” Khelgar exclaimed. “I haven’t had a decent drink in months! Ye cannae imagine the swill they serve in the Keep compared ta this! I’ve been tryin’ ta get ‘em to start importing Dwarven ales, but there ain’t a decent supplier in the area. This here will be a fine substitute! Lass, lemme talk ta yer merchants and local leaders right now. I need ta set-up a regular supply for the Keep. Hells, I’ll ship it all over the Sword Coast and really put this place on the map!”

Never-vember: Day 1

@drakcomancer @neverwinternighting

Day 1: Describe/draw who taught your character, or was a major influence on them growing up

“Huguagh!”

The dwarven fighter grunted as he hit the ground. Standing above him was the imposing figure of Lorne Starling, wielding an enormous blade ready to descend upon the prone figure.

Lorne chopped the blade downward, but Khelgar quickly rolled to the side and jumped to his feet. Panting heavily, he briefly retreated a safe distance while the Harborman readied himself for his next attack.

Quickly drawing a vial from his pouch, he pops the cork and gulps down a vial of darkly-colored liquid as he remembers a lesson from his early martial training.

“Remember, the surface dwellers are bigger than us. They’ve got size, reach, and leverage. So you take any advantage you can get. There is no dishonor in using tools, armor, or portions against a clearly superior opponent. Just be sure to focus on your own strength, and don’t become reliant on shortcuts.”

Khlumar’s words still rang in his ears. Or maybe that ringing was just the latest blow from Lorne. Either way, Khelgar took heed. He hated relying on magic, but right now his friend needed him to win the Trial by Combat. So as the magical power from the Potion of Bull's Strength enhanced his body, he focused on one thing: Defeating the Luskan assassin.

Charging at his opponent, he shouted “Come get some ye balmy barbarian!“

A quiet drink

@drakcomancer

A little gift for you buddy. I hope you feel better soon.

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Khelgar stands at the doorway of the Knight-Captain’s chambers, each hand grasping a mug of ale. He pauses, looking at his friend lying in their bed. They had been this way for a long time.

Days or weeks? It didn’t matter. It seemed like nothing could rouse them from their stupor.

Tired. Spent. Exhausted.

All accurate words for describing his leader.

Some in the Keep had chosen to hide the Knight-Captain’s condition while trying to maintain the illusion of continuous leadership. Others had left the Keep, convinced their leader’s malaise would never abate. Still others had fallen into despair, losing hope of surviving the Shadow War without their leader.

Khelgar ignored them all. He did not know what the Knight-Captain was experiencing, but he didn’t care. 

His leader would return to themself in time.

Khelgar did not hope. He knew. Just as when he knew that he would strike true upon swinging his ancestral weapon at an attacking zombie or he knew that Duncan would loudly exclaim his frustration when the dwarf would consume an entire barrel of ale, he knew the Knight-Captain would recover in time.

Courageous. Intelligent. Persistent.

Also accurate words to describe his leader. His friend.

The Shadow War would be long. There would be many battles with frequent losses and tragedy. But there would also be victory and triumph.

And Khelgar knew the Knight-Captain would recover and lead them to victory.

Khelgar takes a deep breath and walks into the room. He places the second mug beside the bed and take a seat nearby.

“Take as long as ye need. We’ll still be here when yer ready.”

He takes a drink from his mug and looks out the window upon the Keep’s courtyard.

The silence stretches out from the afternoon into the late evening, but Khelgar stays by his friend’s side. He has the time. He has all the time in the world.

Never-vember: Day 5

@neverwinternighting, @drakcomancer

Day 5: An embarrassing situation during an adventure

Khelgar and his aide make their way to the mage’s tower. Conferring with the Keep’s archmage, they collect divination reports to be reviewed later (and compared with the scouting reports) at the weekly strategy meeting. They also review the stocks of potions and other alchemical mixtures the wizards have been working on.

A few wizards have been doing some more mundane work to magically improve their basic tools, such as enchanting shovels to be less heavy and pickaxes to be slightly sharper. While some of the mages had previously grumbled about this being ‘drudgery for hedgemages and apprentices‘, their efforts had significantly improved the speed and effectiveness of the Keep’s construction projects. Projects that were essential to rebuilding Neverwinter in the aftermath of the Shadow War.

“Excuse me Knight-Captain!” A young bright-eyed mage called out to the duo as they were about to leave and spoke at excitedly rapid pace. “If I might have merely the briefest moment of your time, I have been working on a project that may be of great interest to the Keep. It may significantly improve the speed of the construction projects, far greater than the mundane efforts my colleagues have been assigned with the workers’ tools! If I may, I would love the opportunity to discuss it with you.”

Khelgar looks at his aide. She looks down to check her daily itinerary.

“We are slightly ahead of schedule sir. We can spare a moment here.”

Khelgar give a nod in thanks before turning his attention back to the mage.

“Alright, what have ye got?”

The mage grins widely before escorting the duo to their corner of the tower.

“This way, this way!” They say excitedly.

The trio arrive to see a mechanical amalgam of metal and wood, assembled into roughly the shape of a person. Standing slightly below Khelgar’s height, the figure stood motionless near a workbench cluttered with an array of tools.

“I was inspired by tales of modrons from a passing planeswalker. Fascinating creatures to be sure! Regardless, I started building an automaton. It’s still in the early stages, but I envision it can work with the laborers to help in several specialized functions. Due to the alchemical lubricant and several enchantments, this machine can dig faster than a laborer. Despite it’s diminutive size, it’s stronger than all but the greatest warriors so it can lift stone or rubble. And it’s highly durable!”

“It’s far too time-consuming and resource-intensive to make enough automatons to replace the entire labor force, but I can make a few of them. They can be used for particularly dangerous construction such as dealing with a decrepit and collapsing building, or digging in a dangerous mineshaft.”

The mage beams with an eager and excited pride.

“Well what do you think, Knight-Captain?”

Khelgar thought back to the last time an excitable person spoke at length about a magically mechanized construct.

“Don’t worry Khelgar! I’ll remember the command word soon!”

Khelgar chased the Construct around the Keep’s circular basement chamber, as Grobnar shouted and Kistrel looks on with a blank - but seemingly amused and bemused - expression.

Khelgar panted as he ran after the animated suit of armor.

“Ye tell that walking pile o’ scrap to give me back my trousers, or I’ll throw ye off the battlements, ye balmy bard!”

Khelgar abandoned the memory and examined the machine for a moment before turning back to the mage.

“Make sure ye work with the foreman an’ clear it with ‘em before ye do anythin’. And make sure ye have multiple ways to shut it off, in case of an emergency.”

“Start by tryin’ one out and see how it works. If it’s good, make a few more. If not, then it was a good try but get back to magically enchantin’ tools.”

Khelgar give a nod.

“Ye did good, spellslinger. Keep it up, an’ maybe one day ye can be an archmage yerself.”

Compliments to mages didn’t come naturally to the Knight-Captain, but he knew that sometime leaders need to encourage their followers. It was a lesson he learned from watching his predecessor during the Shadow War.

He gestures to his aide. “Come on, let’s get going. We’ve been running ‘round the Keep all day, and I could use some lunch at the Phoenix Tail Inn.