Sprocket Waywocket Shadowspinner is the only daughter of Lundil and Rilla Shadowspinner, a well-respected inventor/merchant family from Anchoril on the island of Lantan. Sprocket’s favorite part of her family’s work involves the travel, or more specifically, the instantaneous travel through portals. She also enjoys studying a variety of subjects and has an aptitude for magic. She has the typical gnomish sense of humor and has, on occasion, used illusion spells for such fun things as making a popular portal to Waterdeep look like it led to one of the Nine Hells, or at least, what she suspects the Nine Hells would look like. That trick would probably be even funnier if used on non-gnomes.

She studied magic under the tutelage of a local illusionist Nathee Nornock and became best friends with Nathee’s son Cognoggin, himself an inventor instructed by Sprocket’s mother Rilla. When Sprocket’s studies were complete, she was presented with a beautiful little white rat born to Nathee’s own familiar. Sprocket and Widget took to each other immediately.

Widget’s fur changes color on occasion, and since he’s become Sprocket’s familiar, her own hair changes to match his coat. She adores him though, and considers her hair color changes a gift rather than an unwanted side-effect. Both are somewhat green as of this writing. Ironically, Widget’s changes probably are a side-effect of being born in the Nornock’s household “lab” quite close to a not-entirely-stable portal. Sprocket sometimes calls him her “moodrat.”

Now that she’s old enough to strike out on her own, Sprocket has been doing what she likes best— hopping through portals to various parts of the Realms.

Widget and I decided to help out testing the new portal outside of Anchoril. We’ve been having a lot of fun going through the various portals on Lantan, usually with a group of gnomish inventors and merchants, or, if we are lucky, wizards that can whisk us back home soon after. Half the fun is finding a return trip home though— we’ve been able to travel as far as Waterdeep (lots of portals there!), Chult (scary sounds in the jungle and people twice as tall as me!), and the Pirate Isles (we went through a portal with the entire ship on the way home!). This time we didn’t get dropped in a place with any known portals (well, any I know of!), and stranger still, we didn’t arrive with the rest of the portal party, and I have yet to find any gnome merchants to obtain quick passage home. I’m in the Border Kingdoms, I’m sure, because I can smell the Lake of Steam from here. Looks like the perfect excuse to try other means of travel, though I’d like to send word home to mom, dad and Cognoggin (and the designer of the “nonmagical portal” for that matter) that I’m okay, but 2000 miles or so off course, and on Midsummer’s Eve of all days.

Character sheet: Sprocket Shadowspinner [Rock Gnome Illusionist]
Widget [Rat Familiar]

Honeymoon

My name is Nosila. I am the eldest daughter of the chief of our small tribe, deep in the jungles of Chult. I was raised with love and care, well able to protect myself in the wilderness, but my first trip out to hunt alone changed my life.

I spent part of the day alone and felt quite proud of myself, but a little frustrated with my prey. After tracking a small forest deer for the better part of the morning, I found myself racing headlong down a trail when one false step cracked a branch and set it running before I could take a shot!

Looking back, I am glad that the only creature I came across was another human. The jungles of Chult are full of hidden dangers! With barely a word, he joined me in the chase, and we spent the rest of the day bringing the deer to bay.

Of course, I should have paid more attention to where I was hunting. My tribe has been arguing with a neighboring group for years over the best hunting grounds between us. By the time I realized Charzth was “one of them”, I already knew that I liked him. A lot.

Sadly, I returned home. I tried to forget Charzth. I couldn’t. I tried to talk to my father about it. He was very unhappy with me. I wondered what was happening in Charzth’s tribe. As time went by, I decided that he had forgotten me.

Instead, he and his friends stole into our village one night and kidnapped me.

I certainly didn’t fight very hard, I know! Still, after we’d lost our pursuers and sat down to talk, we realized that we couldn’t go home. Staying with either tribe would just cause more trouble. So, we decided to leave Chult for a while. We can travel the world a little and let things settle down.

We even have my shaman’s blessings. As we sat and talked, he came silently into the circle. He seems to think that our marriage will help restore peace between the tribes, so he wed us right there. He plans to quietly work on reconciliation while we’re gone. I wish him well!

Character sheet: Nosila [Human Barbarian mate of Charzth]

Thus far...

Well, where do I start? Often I hear this story from the begging, you know when they were born and all. I would like to start there but to tell you the truth I really don’t remember the day.

My earliest memories are from the age of six or so. They are memories of living on the streets of Waterdeep. I can not tell you my parents’ names for I can’t recall ever meeting them. No… better yet let’s just say I grew up with the streets as my parents. Not that I am complaining mind you, a young lad can learn a lot picking pockets and stealing food to survive. Whatever, I don’t mind.

Growing up in the gutters, performing tricks for coin, or sneaking into basements for warmth in the winters, I learned to survive no matter what. By the age of fifteen I was running errands for some people I am trying to forget. While this may seem wrong to many, I had regular meals and people who protected me. In the end it is all good.

Around the age of 25 I was taken in by a temple to Tyr. And it is there I learned that there is no justice in this realm that you don’t make for yourself. Oh don’t get me wrong, they were nice to me for a while. Until I figured out how they were using me to strike at those who used to befriend me. Whatever, I learned a lesson.

There is something else that happened around that time. Ale, oh blessed nectar of the gods. And with ale comes bars, and with bars comes adventurers. I would listen to their tales of the road and revel in the songs of glory. It is around this time that I also figured out what I really enjoy in life. Ale, women, ale, the open sky above me with the road at my feet. And ale. Oh, there was one other thing I learned that I like, it was in my last night in town; I like a good fight. Of course as it stands now there are four dead, found at the docks, IT WAS SELF DEFENSE. The fact that they were town guard does no go well for me though. Alas, this put me on the road, so it is all good.

I found myself hired on a caravan as a guard to Luskin. Humans can’t tell how old elves are, so I lied about my age. I fit in well and traveled a few months with them. Well until the time we were attacked and nearly slaughtered to the man. The greed of others never seems to amaze me. So a new road had to be taken.

I traveled for many years, finding no place to my liking, until. Until I found the Border Kingdoms. Oh what a place. No real government to speak of, just a bunch of small kingdoms. Well that is what they call them, some of these so-called kings have complete reign over forty people. Battles from skirmishes to all out wars are common place. I witnessed one town change rulers four times in a week. Change can be good.

One kingdom knows me best. Lord Sotac the Kind has three beautiful daughters, three daughters I know very well. Sotac the Kind has declared that I am to be killed on sight. Sometimes when I am sneaking back out of his kingdom at night I think he will kill me soon. But one quick look back to his daughters and I remember it is all worth it. Ah, women.

Over the years I have made a minor name for myself here. I am usually recognized quickly when I come into town. Some towns give me welcome, for I have done a great service for them. Others just see me as another traveling sword, a man to be used or ignored. A few, well… a few see me as a marked man, as someone who stood in their way and defied the will of their people. Like I said, I love it here.

Character sheet: Maiyr [Wood Elf Fighter]