Ruffstrom Darkridge
When the party met Ruffstrom Darkridge in Bravia, he was already something of a living legend—at least, according to him. A rock gnome famed as an inventor, explorer, and founder of the Great Gnomish Workshop, he had a knack for walking into dangerous situations with the same casual confidence he used to haggle for drinks.
The meeting came through a chain of tavern introductions—starting with a bar brawl, progressing to free rounds from Grunk, and ending with Ruffstrom casually inserting himself into a rescue mission for a certain Mara. From that point forward, he travelled with the group through shipboard skirmishes, dungeon crawling, and more than one incident of arson.
After saving Mara and hearing her story, the party raced to find a hidden treasure before the Bravian invaders could seize it. The trail led through dangers above and below ground, and eventually into a fabled treasure chamber guarded by Etuna. In that chamber, Etuna allowed the group to take a relic: the mysterious Life in the Mist manuscript. Ruffstrom read it.
As his eyes traced its pages, he experienced an immediate and intense enhancement of his magical abilities—though he never revealed to the others what the manuscript truly contained. Whatever knowledge it held, Ruffstrom took it to his grave.
His Death
Ruffstrom’s end came during a desperate fight aboard Zoran Tross’ warship. When a crewman attempted to ignite the ship’s gunpowder stores, Ruffstrom rushed to stop him, but he failed to prevent the fuse from being lit. He fled—but too late. The explosion tore through the ship. Ruffstrom died in the blast. His bodies were recovered by an Owlin Warden and brought ashore. Standing on the coast, the group vowed to seek a way to bring him back.Stolen Fame
The gnome known to the party as Ruffstrom Darkridge is dead—killed in the explosion aboard Zoran Tross’ warship. The party carried his body ashore, swore to resurrect him, and carried his body with them in their Bag of Holding.
And yet, in the weeks following, reports surfaced of Ruffstrom Darkridge very much alive: leading expeditions for Solharbor Antiquities & Exotics, and corresponding with academics who behave as though nothing is amiss.
This has led to a persistent, uncomfortable question: was the Ruffstrom who died with the party the real Ruffstrom Darkridge… or an impostor?
And yet, in the weeks following, reports surfaced of Ruffstrom Darkridge very much alive: leading expeditions for Solharbor Antiquities & Exotics, and corresponding with academics who behave as though nothing is amiss.
This has led to a persistent, uncomfortable question: was the Ruffstrom who died with the party the real Ruffstrom Darkridge… or an impostor?
Life in the Mist
Life in the Mist is an ancient manuscript by Godfrey Cantrell, dealing with the nature of the planes and the boundaries between them. The original was thought lost centuries ago, with only garbled fragments and unverified citations surviving in scholarly circles. The book’s notoriety comes from the legend that only those who have lived several lives—whether through reincarnation, possession, or stranger means—can decipher the deeper layers of its meaning.
During the party’s expedition to Etuna’s treasure chamber in Althena, Ruffstrom Darkridge recognised the manuscript. While others focused on the more obvious treasures, he kept his attention fixed on the weathered pages, using detect magic to confirm its arcane potency.
Etuna allowed the party to take the book. Ruffstrom read it in the following days—visibly experiencing a surge in magical ability. He said nothing about its contents.
After leaving the party to persue her own goals on Althena, she had to time to investigate Etuna and reflect on all that had happened. Her thoughts, voiced to the party in fragments, were uneasy:
The manuscript was given to them by Etuna, who aluded to a sort of master whom he served. Ruffstrom’s secrecy about its content suggested a dangerous ambition or knowledge, either personal or from something else.
When Ruffstrom later died in the explosion aboard Zoran Tross’ warship, the Life in the Mist was destroyed with him. Hootalin, privately, felt a grim sort of relief. In her mind, better that the book be lost forever than risk unleashing its power on the world.
During the party’s expedition to Etuna’s treasure chamber in Althena, Ruffstrom Darkridge recognised the manuscript. While others focused on the more obvious treasures, he kept his attention fixed on the weathered pages, using detect magic to confirm its arcane potency.
Etuna allowed the party to take the book. Ruffstrom read it in the following days—visibly experiencing a surge in magical ability. He said nothing about its contents.
After leaving the party to persue her own goals on Althena, she had to time to investigate Etuna and reflect on all that had happened. Her thoughts, voiced to the party in fragments, were uneasy:
The manuscript was given to them by Etuna, who aluded to a sort of master whom he served. Ruffstrom’s secrecy about its content suggested a dangerous ambition or knowledge, either personal or from something else.
When Ruffstrom later died in the explosion aboard Zoran Tross’ warship, the Life in the Mist was destroyed with him. Hootalin, privately, felt a grim sort of relief. In her mind, better that the book be lost forever than risk unleashing its power on the world.
Children
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