The Feodus Five

FEODUS BACKSTORY

ORIGINAL

Feodus (originally named Skiath) was abandoned by his parents as an infant, but fortunately for him he was quickly adopted by a wandering female Tortle who claimed she was looking for abandoned children to care for. She took him to her home, a hidden place in Tufenes named 'The Dark Ember Monastery,' where he was raised as a spy and assassin. Not entirely enjoying the life, Skiath fled the monastery when he came of age, taking the name Feodus and trying to leave that lifestyle behind.   Sadly for him, the Dark Ember Monastery does not let members go so easy, and he has been on the run for decades, making a name for himself in various crime circles as a gifted Charlatan and conman, using his many skills on various jobs, almost always succeeding, and building a crew around himself that he called upon when needed.   First he convinced a Leonin named Bulward to join as his muscle. Feodus recruited Bulward after seeing him battle at the Fighting Pits in Bronzehook. Though Bulward was not victorious, his ferocity and size made him seem like an ideal enforcer, and Feodus was missing some serious muscle. Though not the brightest warrior, Bulward is strong and loyal, and has been with Feodus a long time, and owes much to Feodus himself for helping him find worthy battles and opponents.   Next, Feodus found a goblin lockpicker and forger named Glirmank to join, knowing Glirmank's skills could be used in a number of cons. Feodus recruited Glirmank from the back alley's of Obre's capital city after finding her breaking into King Clain's personal fortress. He helped her escape without being detected after warning her of Clain's special enchantments against intruders, and she decided to stick with the charming swindler, joining his crew, impressing him with the various identities she had forged for herself using her Calligraphy skills. Glirmank contributes much to the crew, including her forgery and lock-picking skills, as well being unusually good at combat. Though she hides it from everyone around her, it did not take Feodus long to discover she was secretly an Artificer, but he kept that knowledge to himself knowing how handy a secret like that could be one day.   Soon enough, Feodus realized his crew needed more skills. Feodus recruited the Tortle Tyrondras once he realized the crew could use a healer, and he figured a cleric would be the best way to go. He found Tyrondras in a small temple to Gibevon in the outskirts of Magiault Island, and instantly saw the Tortle's mischievous spirit and how it would mesh well with his team.   The final member of the Feodus Five (as Feodus eventually named them), was found after Feodus began a search for a bard to provide distractions and alibis for their various travels. He had heard of a young man named Adaxian who was performing in Obi, and after watching his show Feodus knew the bard had some talent, though he might prove difficult to recruit. But then he saw Adaxian flirting with the governor's daughter, and his plan was set. The next morning Feodus sent an anonymous message to the Governor of Obi concerning the whereabouts of his daughter, and it wasn't long before, Feodus who just "happened" to be wandering the halls of the government center, came across a fleeing, half-nude Adaxian. As Adaxian tried to explain himself Feodus helped sneak him out of the government center and they fled Obi on a chartered vessel Feodus had prepared the night beforehand. Thus, owning Feodus a debt, Adaxian agreed to join Feodus's crew, enticed by the offer of travelling with a group (safer than going alone) and Feodus's words about vast sums of money they could collect while working together.   However, not every job required his full crew, and a few weeks ago, Feodus took on a small, but very profitable job in Magiault, and fell into a trap set for him by a Monastery member named Donshoma, the same tortle who adopted him years ago. She offered him leniency, but demanded he do a job for her as payment, and to finally break his chains to the Monastery. Feodus was cornered, and had no choice, he had to take on her task. To help him, Donshoma grants him a POTION OF POSSIBILITY, which contains magic unheard of in Domunz. She warns him to only use it at utmost need, as any other who see this magic and know what it does will need to be put down before the secrets can spread.   Despite knowing how dangerous Donshoma is, and that involving his crew with her mission might bring about their deaths, Feodus agreed, even to her terms about keeping the Monastery's involvement a secret from his own crew. Now, crew gathered, Feodus (keeping the full danger of this mission, and many details from his crew), leads them toward a brightly lit mansion in the wealthy sector of Magia city, hoping against hope the heist works out.   A few months after the successful heist at the Scrollage estate, the Feodus Five were travelling through the small island of Abrault when Feodus found a scroll summoning him to a meeting with Donshoma. Nervous as always, Feodus slipped away, meeting her within the small chapel to Grantones. She had a new job for him, and it was not optional. He told her he owed her nothing now, and she could not make demands on him, and she told him the reward would be 30,000 GP, but he still said no, knowing involving himself with Donshoma was bad news. She simply laughed, and told him he was taking the job, or else he would never see the other members of the Feodus Five again.   He rushed back to the Inn and found their rooms ransacked, and every member was gone. Donshoma met him there and confirmed she was holding them hostage until he completed the task she required. He told her his success always required a crew, and she simply told him to recruit new members, assuming he had alternates throughout Domunz. She handed him a scroll with instructions and a map, and then left.   The scroll spoke of a place called THE NOVUDEISIEN high atop a cliff in the Tranquil Mountains in the North of Domunz. Inside, supposedly, could be found ancient knowledge and treasure guarded by a ferocious monster. Donshoma wanted that knowledge, and said Feodus would know it when he came across it.   Minutes later, Glirmank appeared, having followed him to the meeting with Donshoma, using her exceptional stealth skills to stay hidden. Glirmank was not happy, and said she would help in this task only to save their friends, and then she was done. And then they set out to recruit some help.   Despite Donshoma's words, Feodus only had one recruit in mind, a Bugbear Monster hunter named Gogga who had once saved him from a manticore in the forests of Tufenes. The promise of a new monster to hunt and a reward was enough to convince Gogga, and soon after they ran into a group of traveling bards known as The Charismatic Crooners of Chalinos, and he met an Earth Genasi Bard named Rhokabol who seemed like he would also be a useful resource for the mission. Rhokabol was enticed at the promise of a reward and Feodus's assurance that his team could handle the quest easily, and Feodus had a team again.   They set out for the mountain, following Donshoma's instructions, and Feodus was nervous. A new team, Glirmank angrily stomping beside him, the two new members quickly realizing the Feodus Five was down a few members, and he suddenly found he was not as confident as usual. Still, they had to get this done to save Tyrondras, Adaxian and Bulward. This would NOT be the end of the Feodus Five.   And so, with a heavy heart, and lacking his usual allies, Feodus climbed the final peak to The Novudeisien, hoping Donshoma had not sent him to his death...

NEW BACKSTORY

Some time after giving Donshoma the instructions to the ritual, Glirmank left the group, fed up with all the trouble Feodus kept getting them into. Not long after that, Feodus and the others learned of Donshoma's death at the hands of Death Joints, and that the ritual they had given her had been given to the Lich Ryker McAult and the evil King Clain in their attempt to destroy the New Gods and their champions. Disgusted, the remaining members of the group left Feodus, furious that he had gotten them involved in a plot that had almost ended the world.   Decades passed, and Feodus became a lone operator, rarely taking on the big heists of the past, but continuing to operate relatively successfully. One such heist had him crossing paths with the Pirate Queen Neraban the Beheader, who took a shine to him, though she often commented on how his age was starting to slow him down. Their love affair lasted barely a year, but it became clear neither wanted to be tied down, and yearned for the adventure of their pasts, she for the seas, Feodus to be back conning the rich out of their money (and occasionally spreading the wealth among the poor).   As they parted ways, she granted him one of her secret Potions of Longevity, which he gladly took. Little did Neraban know that Feodus had already found her stash and helped himself to a few more vials of the potions, decreased his age by almost 5 decades after taking all of them.   His youth restored, Feodus took on a pseudonym and continued his exploits over the next few decades, continuing the smaller heist as he learned former members of his crew had moved on or died in the interviewing decades.   Recently, he had begun hearing rumors of the numerous portals to other realms appearing all over Domunz and Orrocid. One elusive gateway hidden in the plains of Tufenes apparently led to the realms of Ravenloft, a place that Feodus had long ago learned had a particular house supposedly full of treasure. Knowing that age would eventually catch back up with him, and wanting one last big score to support him should he ever need to retire, he decided this would be a golden opportunity.   He researched for years, eventually returning to the physical age he was during his last heist with the Feodus Five. During his research he encountered a man who claimed to have escaped Ravenloft, describing the SHADOWLANDS realm and a small dwelling within that matched the description of the house with the treasure within from Feodus's research. He gave Feodus the MIST TALISMAN he had used to escape, giving him instructions on how to use it, but warned him that it alone would not guarantee his safety if he were foolish enough to enter Ravenloft. Taking the warning seriously, Feodus used what remained of his stolen fortune to have a GHOST STEP TATTOO done on his upper back, figuring the ability to become incorporeal might be useful in Ravenloft   See a massive score in his future, and both knowing he would need a team and missing his old allies, he recruited a Goliath named ERGLOK (needing muscle), and the he reached out to Glirmank the Dwarf, his old second-in-command in New-Shi, and persuaded her to join him for one "final" adventure, dodging all her questions about his age, and being careful NOT TO GIVE HER ANY INFO about where they were going.   While the group traveled through the plains of Tufenes toward Dew Cork, Feodus held the Mist Talisman and concentrated on the SHADOWLANDS and the dwelling with the treasure. After a few hours, the group was enveloped in a strange mist, which cleared as they approached what appeared to be a moderate size house, dilapidated and falling into ruin. With more mists covering their path, and a thunderstorm raining down upon them, Feodus encouraged the group to head toward the house looking for "refuge." Excitement was building in him, though he still had no idea what they were walking into...

GLIRMANK

ORIGINAL

Feodus recruited Glirmank from the back alley's of Obre's capital city after finding her breaking into King Clain's personal fortress. He helped her escape without being detected after warning her of Clain's special enchantments against intruders, and she decided to stick with the charming swindler, joining his crew, impressing him with the various identities she had forged for herself using her Calligraphy skills. Glirmank contributes much to the crew, including her forgery and lock-picking skills, as well as the combat ability due to her SECRET Artificer abilities, which she has not even shared with Feous, though he has noticed how handy her armaments are. (NOTE she has not used the special features of her armor in front of him or anyone else YET, nor used any of her other artificer abilities in front of anyone)   PLAYERS CHOICE on whether or not to reveal what she can do.   Glirmank knows the depths of Feodus's schemes and cons better than the rest of the group, having been deeply involved in many forgeries for him. She doesn't trust him, but she also knows that man needs her, and that is enough for now.   Following the successful heist at the Scrollage Estate, and Glirmank spying on Feodus's odd meeting with the Tortle Monk, Glirmank kept her eye on the leader of their team. She did not like that Tortle, and worried what business Feodus had gotten them into.   While traveling through the small island of Abrault, they were staying at an Inn when she saw Feodus receive a small scroll and try to slip quietly away from the group. She followed, stealthily, and went unnoticed as he met up with the tortle once more, whose name she learned was Donshoma. Donshoma demanded that Feodus take on a new job, 30,000GP in pay, and though he told her no, Donshoma told him it was not optional as her people had just kidnapped the rest of the Feodus Five and they would not be returned alive unless Feodus completed the mission.   She followed Feodus as he fled back to the inn, finding their rooms ransacked, and Glirtmank realized spying on Feodus had saved her from being kidnapped as well. Donshoma reappeared and Glirmank stayed in the shadows, as Feodus was forced to accept the mission, and took the instructions from the tortle. Donshoma told him to recruit new allies for the mission, and then left.   Minutes after Donshoma left, Glirmank showed herself to Feodus, who was glad she had not been taken. But Glirmank was not happy, and said she would help in this task only to save their friends, and then she was done. And then they set out to recruit some help.   Despite Donshoma's words, Feodus only had one recruit in mind, a Bugbear Monster hunter named Gogga who had once saved him from a manticore in the forests of Tufenes. The promise of a new monster to hunt and a reward was enough to convince Gogga, and soon after they ran into a group of traveling bards known as The Charismatic Crooners of Chalinos, and they met an Earth Genasi Bard named Rhokabol who seemed like he would also be a useful resource for the mission. Rhokabol was enticed at the promise of a reward and Feodus's assurance that his team could handle the quest easily, and Feodus had a semblance of a team again. Glirmank was not pleased at Feodus lying to the Bard about the competence of the current members, but she knew they needed the help.   They set out for the mountain, following Donshoma's instructions and the map she had given to Feodus, heading to a tall peak in the Tranquil Mountains far to the North of Domunz, to a place called The Novudeisien. Supposedly they were looking for "ancient knowledge" and Feodus would "know it when he came across it," and the ridiculously vague instructions did little to put Glirmank at ease.   She knew Feodus was nervous, and could understand why, but it did not stop her from being angry at him. They were heading into a dangerous mission with a new team, and the two new members were quickly realizing the Feodus Five was down a few members, and the Leader was not as confident as usual. Still, she knew they had to get this done to save Tyrondras, Adaxian and Bulward.   And so, with a heavy resolve and knowing she would have to settle things with Feodus one way or another, Glirmank climbed the final peak to The Novudeisien, hoping the task would not be the end of the Feodus Five...

NEW BACKSTORY

After the Feodus Five survived their encounter with the Sphinx, Glirmank parted ways with Feodus, deciding he was just not worth the trouble, and was appalled to learn the ritual they had uncovered had been used by The Lich Scrollage and the evil King Clain to try to destroy the gods of Domunz. Feeling guilty, she spent much of the next hundred years helping to rebuild the small town of New Shi (formerly Shi-Town) after it had been destroyed by fiends invading Domunz.   She figured Feodus must have died in the intervening years, Tieflings not being as long lived as her own race, and was shocked when Feodus showed up at her doorstep, asking for her help in one "final" heist, promising the money would go toward Shi-Town.   Reluctantly, and expecting more shenanigans (and uneasy when Feodus would not explain his continued youth). Infusing her items including her new Signet Ring which allows her to recover spells, Glirmank decided to go along, keeping her wits about her and being wary of her companions, both Feodus and the new member, the Goliath Erglok, who seemed nice enough if a bit stupid.   While the group traveled through the plains of Tufenes toward Dew Cork, they were enveloped in a strange mist, which cleared as they approached what appeared to be a moderate size house, dilapidated and falling into ruin. With more mists covering their path, and a thunderstorm raining down upon them, they headed toward the house looking for refuge, having no idea what they were walking into...

ERGLOK ZAUDATH

BACKSTORY

Recent addition to the Feodus Five, though the name is confusing as with him there are only 3 of them (unless he is counting wrong, which does happen). Spent most of his life with his people in the Goliath Tribelands in the Cambrey Mountains. Due to his martial prowess and raw strength, was chosen to become a mercenary and send money/aid back to his people, though he usually forgets and spends it on alcohol, Koce, and a good time, sending whatever remains home.   It was not until he visited Chalinos in Domunz that he met Feodus and was invited to join (temporarily until he proved himself according to Feodus)   While the group traveled through the plains of Tufenes toward Dew Cork, they were enveloped in a strange mist, which cleared as they approached what appeared to be a moderate size house, dilapidated and falling into ruin. With more mists covering their path, and a thunderstorm raining down upon them, they headed toward the house looking for refuge, having no idea what they were walking into...