(orig. published Jan. 14, 2024)

Six strangers awakened in a dungeon cell…

Five years ago, our D&D campaign began! Learn a bit about each of the eight player characters at the forefront of our epic tale, featuring their own hand-drawn art!

Garp Garp, Goblin Bard

Played/Illustrated by Juston – he/him (uppermind.ink)

Garp Garp abandoned his goblin clan when he heard the beautiful music of the Blue-Haired Bard. She taught him the power of thrash before mysteriously vanishing! Now, he uses that power to protect his friends with the help of his flaming familiar, the Level Skull! He’s also dabbled into darker magic and proclaimed himself Lord of Bones!

Fable, Catfolk Cleric

Played/Illustrated by Larissa – she/her (royallydivine on Instagram)

Fable is a sweet and caring catfolk with a sneaky trickster side! She hails from the distant kingdom of Eldoris, and is constantly appalled by the terrible things that happen here in Lyrea. She calls upon the cat goddess Xalyn to bring light and healing to this unwell kingdom!

Mishka, Tiefling Fighter

Played/Illustrated by Kelsey – she/her (@lumiseal on Twitter)

Mishka was once a member of the Royal Guard, but was cynical, restless, and unfulfilled. Adventure was exactly what she needed, and she thrives in the chaos of this group! Even when she ran into a trap and lost an arm, she simply kept the limb to wield as a grotesque weapon, even getting it enchanted and modified for maximum damage!

Eventually, Mishka found a calling where she least expected – training meek wizards of the Unseen Library into adept battle mages. She stayed with them after they were displaced, to help rebuild.

Gin, Human Monk

Played/Illustrated by Boon – he/him (@zenmonkie on Twitter)

Gin is an enigma, a wandering drunken monk who is either two steps ahead or three steps to the side. For instance, he’s the only member of the original party who wasn’t kidnapped… he saw the others being taken and simply hopped along for the ride, to see if he could help. He is fiercely protective of his friends, especially Garp Garp, and will make demonic pacts to prove it! He’s also an avant garde brewmaster, for anyone daring enough to try his mixes.

Tourmaline, Genasi Blood Hunter

Played by quinn – they/them (quinnntastic_ on Twitter)

Tourmaline began her journey as a sweet, naïve, young genasi (an elemental daughter of human and genie) who was abandoned by her birth parents and raised by two loving dwarves. However, she quickly fell into bad company and was tricked into drinking the blood of villain Ans Fleurellian. This changed her into a blood hunter, able to pay life for power, and set her on a heavy path of learning the world’s hard truths.

Tourmie was whisked away to the Indigo, a mysterious realm of the dead, but while her time traveling with the party may have come to an end, her story is far from over!

Lani, Aasimar Rogue

Played by Riley – they/them

Lani grew up in the seedy streets of Crestfall, along with a tight-knit group of other orphans. She’s an aasimar, chosen for protection by a divine guardian… but hers was nowhere to be found. Her time with the party was the shortest, as her loyalties stayed with the orphans, but any time our story returns to Crestfall, she remains a stalwart ally.

Unfortunately, sometimes life gets in the way. We had to write a few characters out of the party over the years, but that was also a chance to meet some new faces!

Olly, Gnome Wizard

Played/Illustrated by Vi – they/them (vidraws.com)

Olly spent most of his life studying magic at the Unseen Library, before the Grand Council sent him out to join our heroes and spy on them! He did this, reluctantly, but his travels opened his eyes to where his allegiance should truly lie. By the time the party made it to the Library all together, Olly was ready to fight alongside them to the bitter end!

Kornaan, the Cobbler

Played/Illustrated by Zack – he/him (me! @z130gucki on Instagram)

Kornaan was a half-orc cobbler in the sleepy port town of Loam who marveled at the wondrous tales from adventurers who came to repair their boots as they were passing through. He was inspired, and set off to become an adventurer himself!

Since I’m the one running the campaign, Kornaan serves as a blend of player character and NPC. He travels with the party and offers help, but he’ll always take a backseat when it comes time to solve problems (sometimes I even use him to create new ones when needed!). Nevertheless, his arc over the years has brought him from bumbling wannabe to real adventurer!