Krenchar Do'ep's page

Krenchar's whole life has epitomised mediocrity. His family was just like every other family and his life was planned out to be just like everybody elses. As he result he doesn't want for much and doesn't dream of much. He has no delusions of being a hero. He just didn't want to spend most of his life standing on a wall or dying as fodder.
Some might say that he is cowardly. He knows his few strengths and many weaknesses so will favour his strengths and avoid his weaknesses.
With strangers he is wary. Many surface dwellers hate drow perhaps for good reason but mostly due to predjudice. As a result he has very few friends but the friendships he has he values highly.

Height: 5'10"
Weight: 111 lbs
Age: 168
Hair: Naturally silver but usually coloured some other colour to appear more half elven.
Eyes: Solid white
Skin: Light brown/deep tanned

If seen in day time it will be early in the morning or late in the afternoon and even then he will have the cowl of his cloak covering his face in an attempt to shield his eyes from the bright sunlight. At night time, if in familiar company he will have his hood off.

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Krenchar was born into mediocrity; his early life unremarkable. He is the youngest of three boys to parents who are sterotypical of drow working class. His father has been a member of the home guard(1) all of his working life and therefore it is expected that the sons will follow the same path. His two older brothers are also members of the town guard; neither of them being invited to the do the test to see if they are good enough for the army. Krenchar likewise wasn't invited on completion of his compulsory studies. Instead he was noticed as being quite competent with a long bow and rewarded by being posted to a satelite defensive position.

(1) Home guard duties include patroling the streets or city gates, guarding noble property or manning one of the many defensive satellite stations. The satellite stations are defensive positions beyond the city walls. The roll of those stationed there is to sound the alarm in case of attack but it is no secret that they are dispensable and the alarm is realistically their only duty.
The home guard shouldn't be confused with the army or elite forces. Most drow males dream of being in the elite forces first or the army as a second choice. Home guard is the lowest of the city defence roles.

Miscellaneous information
Krenchar means 'little spider' and Do'ep means 'Walkers of the Underdark' so his name roughly translates to 'Little spider of the Underdark'. Krenchar is a common name to give to a child with older siblings but vary rare for it to be given to a first born.

Krenchar waits, an arrow nocked. His emotions waiver between eager anticipation and fear of failure; of not being able to perform to expectation. Slightly behind and off to his left he hears leather armour squeak ever so slightly as his companion shifts his body weight. While waiting he scans the cavern around him. His marksmanship had earned him a place at one of the outer satellite defence positions. Possibly the most adventerous placement one from the homeguard could expect. He is 80 feet over the cavern floor in a small special built sniper balcony. His eyes pass over many similar balconies dotted at various heights on the opposite wall each with an archer or two likewise waiting. His eyes continue panning down to the kill zone where the tunnel opens out into the cavern, the floor strewn with rocks, debis and spiked defensive structures designed to slow the enemy. A 'clinking' sound of metal on metal echos out from the tunnel alerting all that the enemy is close. He tenses and pulls back ever so slightly on the bow string moving the tip of his arrow to point down into the tunnel exit. An ear piercing scream instantly taken up by others thunders out of the tunnel, the echo inside the narrow cavern confines causing it to grow constantly louder. Arrows from those behind the ground floor stone defenses start firing down the tunnel. Krenchar continues to wait. His heart pounds in his ears; his mouth dry. He draws back the bow and looks down the shaft waiting for the first of the enemy to enter. He doesn't have to wait long. They spew forth into the cavern slowing as they stumble over the rough terrain. Krenchar picks a target and releases. As he reaches back over his shoulder to reload he watches as his arrow flies down into the shoulder of his targeted enemy. He momentarily fumbles the reload as he picks another target. Drawing back he again fires but swears as he sees it miss it's mark and thump harmlessly into the floor. After another arrow or two is fired he can see the first wave of attackers reach the defensive wall and hears the clash of steel long spears hitting the shields of the enemy. He's about to fire down again when his eyes are drawn back to the tunnel. Emerging rapidly are giant lizards with long spear wielding riders. Immediately they start climbimg the wall with amazing speed quickly overcoming the lower balconies. Krenchar swallows, takes an extra moment to aim before releasing. His arrow thuds into the foreshoulder of one of the beasts. Behind him he hears his companion point at the wounded beast and yell "DOWN!". Relieved he sees the beast turn for the floor, it's rider clearly frustrated. He's half way through congratulating himself while reloading when a large lizard head appears over the opposite side of the balcony. Raising his arm instinctively and ducking down is all he can do before the lizard and it's rider are on him. The voice behind him states simply "You're dead." The lizard and it's rider turn and head straight down the cavern wall towards the main defensive wall, which is now quickly being overrun by the enemy. Krenchar stands and peers over the balcony edge, his instructor doing the same, observing the carnage below. Another minute or so later the exercise is called to a halt and the din of battle quickly receeds. The instructor gives some brief feedback delivered devoid of emotion, typical of drow exchange who aren't family or friends, "You need to improve. You need to draw faster and make sure those shots hit their mark. You have a prime position up here to do a lot of damage. If you can't do it we'll find someone who can. Let's head down to the debriefing." Krenchar follows the instructor down the narrow steps at the rear of the balcony feeling somewhat dejected.

Krenchar only vaguely listens to the debrief, instead reliving the exercise in his head and looking for opportunities where he may have done better. However the final wrap up of the head instructor did catch his attention. "The alarm was successfully sounded by the 7 count and your defences held until count 86. Not bad but it should be better. Every count you can hold the enemy off is more time you are buying for the next lot of defences. Remember, most of the home guard's bravery awards have come from these outer defence positions. You should be proud that you are good enough to have earned the right to fight here. Right, let's set up and do it again." As the gathering disperses Krenchar decides that 'posthumous hero' is not something he wants associated with his death.

Krenchar is expected to follow in his father's footsteps, as his two older brothers have done. To do anything lesser would bring shame down on his family. He wasn't good enough to do better than his father so that meant he had only one other option if he wasn't to remain in the home guard. And that option only existed because so few others wanted to do it.

The young drow (aged 140) finds himself at the front door of one of the few illuminated houses in the city. Banging loudly on the door with a clenched fist he waits. A few moments later a drow of advancing years opens the door. Krenchar instinctively squints momentarily even though the light coming through the open door is dim. The elder drow scans the younger measuring him up by sight alone. After a moment he stands aside and simply states "Do'ep. Come in." The host steps aside and sweeps his arm towards the room to accentuate the invite. As Krenchar steps inside the older elf says "You can call me Cobra." Seriously?! What a dick. Krenchar thinks but is glad his back is to his host in case his facial features betray him. The small room he steps into is bare except for two chairs in the centre facing other. One other exit door exists opposite the main entry. The most striking feature however are the four floor to ceiling murals, one on each wall. Each of the murals have a large central figure. "Please take a look. Take your time." Turning first to his right his eyes are drawn immediately to the central figure. The central figure in this one looks almost human but there is enough facial features exposed to show that it is actually a dark elf. Despite being strikingly beautiful her blue eyes and the set of her jaw is hard and unforgiving. Her hair is long, black and wavy with the faintest hint of the tips of her elven ears appearing from beneath. Her clothing is that of human nobility. Each finger flaunts a ring with a large stone set in each. The backdrop of the image is a large castle set in bright sunlight. At her feet lie three drow males. Their bodies and faces are distorted by pain despite their eyes being lifeless. From each of their mouths a white froth speckles their lips and a salivery strand flows from their mouth to form a small pool on the ground. The elder's voice looking over his shoulder says "Akorbryn. A master of disguise and poison. You may have heard of her more commonly referred to as Black Widow."
Having not heard of the character he wasn't sure how he should respond so moves on to the rear wall.
The central figure of this one is a drow of middle age, tall and powerfully built. The pomel of a great sword appears over his right shoulder where it is strapped across his back. His long white hair contrasts starkly with his near black skin. His shear size, confidence and disposition is immediately intimidating. "The Wraith". Krenchar whispers the name with near reverence. He has never seen the man nor even his image but the stories of him are legendary. "Correct" comes the elder's reply. Krenchar finds it difficult to pull his gaze away from the man but it is drawn to his feet where six dark elven men and women lay butchered. The young elf lingers on the dead bodies for a moment before moving on to the third wall.
This figure was a younger middle aged drow. Dressed in an elven mithril shirt and two bloodied short swords crossed in front of his thighs. The man's hair is silver and his facial features somehow recognisable. Krenchar searchs his memory wondering why he should know this person. After 10 seconds or so it dawns on him. He turns to look at the elder man behind him stating, perhaps a little too excitedly, "This is you." The elder nods. The man's name now made sense to the him. "Cobra because you have two deadly fangs."
"Correct" The elder replies before continuing. "Tracking down and slaying deserters is an exercise in patience and diligence. But for those who succeed it brings recognition of results and therefore rewards."
Krenchar also now understands why this house is illuminated. This ex-infiltrator has sacrificed his dark sight to the cause. The elder watches as Krenchar turns his eyes back to the mural and looks at the character's feet where two drow females and a drow male lay dead. The elder takes the opportunity to impart some of the knowledge that is the reason for the would-be infiltrator's visit. "An infiltrator has two main purposes, one, spy on the enemy above and report back here and two, kill any deserters you find. You will be expected to report back here every five years. If we don't hear from you much beyond 10 years you will be labelled a deserter and other infiltrators will be sent to find you. We haven't heard from The Wraith in over 20 years so their is a big rewarding bounty for anybody who is able to bring him or his head in." Krenchar briefly looks at the last mural before the two sit in the middle of the room. The elder starts the conversation "So, tell me why we should send you to the surface."

[approximately 10 years later]

Krenchar finds himself back in the small dimly lit room of 'Cobra's home. He is somewhat nervous after his 5 year visit didn't go well. He didn't have much useful intel then and feels that this time will be much the same story. After 15 minutes of desperately trying to sell his 'hiding from the enemy' as 'spying on the enemy' his fears are realised. Cobra states with the faint hint of venom his name conjures "So far your time above has been less than impressive and certainly less than useful. You haven't given us anything we didn't already know and you haven't seen any deserters. How's your night site? Fine?" Krenchar nods nervously. The ex-infiltrator retorts "I'm not surprised. You do realise the surface dwellers live their lives during the day don't you?" Krenchar nods nervously at the rhetorical, sarcastic question. "That means you need to be awake during the day also. You have only been coming out during the night when no-one can see you haven't you?" Krenchar says nothing but continues to look at his feet, his silence telling the truth. "Coward." The word is spat out with vengence and although silence follows the word echos in the empty room further driving the truth into the young elf as it lingers. Cobra stands and paces around the room for a few minutes, stroking his chin as he ponders his next move. Krenchar waits hoping for this to be over soon. Finally coming to a decision the elder stands behind his own chair looking at the top of younger's head. As he speaks Krenchar looks up at him for fear of being disrepectful if he doesn't. "I am giving you one last opportunity, and I'm going to make it easy for you. There is a place called Freedom Town in the Hold of Belkzen. From what I hear of it watch your back, however, the advantage is those that live there have no more hate for you than they do for any other citizen. Your drow heritage won't stand out any more than the misfits that live there. The Hold of Belkzen has a large orc population. I want you to make contact with these orcs and see if you can set up a meeting with some of their clan chief's and some of our top people. That's all you need to do. Don't try and broker any deals yourself. Don't offer them anything, just set up a meeting." The faint venom momentarily enters his voice again. "I can't make it any easier for you. If you can't do this you are no good to us so you can go back to manning the city defences. I hope I am making myself clear. Now go."

(Although being a Surface Infiltrator Krenchar isn't taking the drow trait as he wants to keep his night vision. See Trunau background.)

Apon leaving his home land Krenchar made his way from town to town steadily moving toward Freedom Town. On enquiry in (town name) he was informed of the tiny frontier town of Trunau. Usually Krenchar would try to sneak into a town at night to avoid the town guard and then remain as inconspicious as possible to avoid undue attention. However his gentle queries in sounded like doing the same in Trunau and getting it wrong sounded like a sure way to end up dead. They don't things that creep around at night. Instead he decided to risk entry the normal way and was surprised by the reception. Of course having dyed hair and claiming to be a half elf works well if he can avoid eye contact. Krenchar stayed at the Ramblehouse and was only planning to stay for a couple of days but the people of Trunau were different from most of the surface dwellers he had met. They didn't seem to mind that he hid his face during day time. In other places that typically aroused suspicion and then either fear or aggression depending on the person.

In summary
- He continues to stay in Trunau thinking that he has some time up his sleeve (he does have 5 years before he has to go back).
- Being in Trunau but not 'pulling your weight' for the benefit of the community cause residents to become suspicious so he has to do something (plus earn some coin). Having full night vision he speaks with Halgra who is happy to put him on night watch defenses which is what Krenchar wants anyway. During his night watches he scouts beyond the town walls, his night vision giving him an advantage over almost everybody else in the community.
- Months turn into years. He still plans to go to Freedom Town but keeps delaying. In fact he likes Trunau. He feels part of a community and more importantly he feels important. He can properly contribute to this community and it is appreciated. He finds he doesn't want to go back to his home town where he will just be another nobody. Here he is somebody.
- Over the years he starts training others in scouting beyond the walls at night and trains some of the kids who are coming of age. (Maybe he trains some of the fellow PCs when they are teenagers. I'll work this into the background after selection is made.)
- 10 years has passed. Krenchar realises he is never going to move on to Freedom Town. He is needed here (in his own mind at least). He realises he is now a deserter and may meet a fellow infiltrator one day (or maybe even a bounty hunter duegar or similar). He continues to wear his hood during the day, not only to shield his eyes but also to hide his face. He is edgy during daylight hours and suspicious of anybody new.

re: Dwarf Trained trait Krenchar has no reason to be trained by a dwarf nor to have giant combat training. I plan to start the game without this trait but roleplay the learning of it with one of the dwarves in the group. (I assume there will be one.)

As consciousness intrudes on blissful ignorance of his predicament Krenchar takes as much time as he dares to open his eyes. Waking in the land of the light dwellers was never comfortable for creatures of the underdark. However the scream created a sense of urgency so sneaking a peek from under his lids he is relieved to see that his environment is dimly lit. Opening his eyes fully he quickly scans his surrounds. Finally comprehending the desperation of the situation he tries desperately to rid his mind of the fog of sleep. Having a salivating giant approaching your prison with a bubbling cauldron in the background certainly helps clear his senses. Fear is the first emotion to replace the fog and his reflex is to move as far from the threat as possible. Scrambling backwards he forces his mind to start thinking. Bereft of weapons and limited in mobility intellect was to be his only weapon. A plan starts to coalesce in his mind but he needs to be out of his prison for it to have any chance of working so swallowing bravely the drow says nothing and waits. The giant waits briefly for some sort of action and when none is forthcoming she opens the cage and drags him out by a leg leaving him dangling upside down. Krenchar takes his opportunity calling out "WAIT!". Hard as he tries he can't fully keep the fear and revulsion out of his voice.

"It's not so much a pretty tale but more of a riddle. I bet you are smarter than your friend over here." The drow waves a hand towards the giant seated by the fire while keeping eye contact with his captor.

"Please put me down as it is hard to think like this and I would hate deny you the opportunity of showing how smart you are by messing this up." (Bluff check?)

Once he sees the giants are listening he slowly and clearly recites the riddle commonly told to drow children.
"It cannot be seen, cannot be felt,
Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt.
It lies behind stars and under hills,
And empty holes it fills.
It comes first and follows after,
Ends life, kills laughter.

What am I?"

Krenchar waits for that brief moment of distraction as the giants switch their focus to solving the riddle before activating his darkness ability on himself. Immediately he turns and runs as fast as his legs will allow. As he sprints away he can't help but feel some regret that the irony will be lost on these simple minded creatures.

Krenchar raises his drink and nods in acknowledgement of the toast. He matches the mouthful of mead of his toast but the formalities were just for show. His eyes were fully on the man sitting opposite him the whole time trying to measure him up before getting to the nitty gritty of why exactly he sought out the drow. Despite being eager to hear what the man has to say he is careful to show no sign on it on his face. After hearing the brief and somewhat vague explanation he flipantly states

"The mead and the sunshine bring me here." Neither was true but nor was he trying to sell it as truth. He presumes the merchant wasn't really interested in what bought him here. He contemplates for a brief moment before continuing.

"I'm not surprised. I do have skills rarely found elsewhere. I assume we are talking of nocturnal activities here. If not then your rumours are more deceptive than a doppleganger." Pausing he looks for any reaction but the man across from him gives away nothing.

"Let's just say that I have means at my disposal that you ..." Not knowing how much this man knows he stops himself from making a generalisation which would give away too much information about himself and decides to change his wording. "... that some people would find difficult to stomach. So yes, I do have skills that are very suited to a small and unsavory but sometimes necessary niche."

Moving his drink out of the way he leans forward with his elbows on the table to make sure his potential employer hears and fully comprehends his next statement.

"So if there is any sort of deception in your proposal you would do well to remember that. If not, let's talk business."

Picking up his drink he leans back in his seat expecting to hear more detail of what the gentleman has in mind.

Krenchar instinctively winces and starts to bring his shield up to protect his eyes as the braziers suddenly alight. Fortunately they only light to a soft glow so he lowers it to a more naturally defensive position. He takes a moment to survey the room before slowly and quietly stepping further into it. Stealthily he moves down one side of the statue trying to be quiet but in a silent room even the quiet squeak of his leather armour sounds like he might as well be clanging around in full plate. Slowing as he passes he inspects the gargoyle and the weapons it holds before continuing on to the back wall. Standing in front of the first mural he inspects it closely; not only the picture itself but it's colours, it's quality of workmanship and and materials used to create it. 'Arlanghar the Brave and Bold' he presumes. Sheathing his sword he runs his right hand gently over the mural feeling it's texture but more importantly feeling for anything which doesn't match that texture. He does the same with the other two murals, taking his time, not sure if he wants something to happen or not. Finding nothing after his thorough inspection he turns back towards the statue while contemplating how to proceed. After a short while of deliberation he comes to the conclusion that if he doesn't change something nothing will change. He decides to take each weapon in turn, the sword, then the staff and finally the bow and place them at the foot of each mural. Taking a deep resolute breath he steps towards the gargoyle.