Neverending Nights

Race: Human
Occupation: Knight of the Bloodhunt
Place of Birth: Elkayjun
Known Relatives: Mother (Unknown Name), Father (Unknown Name), Gariff (Brother)
First Appearance: Neverending Nights – Episode 1: Heroes?!
History: There are a number of mysteries that surround the Knights, Gariff and Kabewse. Though Kabewse has told people that he was born in the hot, arid lands of Elkayjun – there are no records that indicate his birth took place there. There is no record of his mother or father having ever lived there.

If one is to believe Gariff’s story, it’s that he and his brother, Kabewse, had always wanted to be Knights when they were older. Day in, day out, they had supposedly sat perched on their patio railing watching the Knights of the Bloodhunt train. Some have speculated that Gariff and Kabewse are not their real names, and that perhaps the Knights are sons to a King in some distant land (who had forbid them to become Knights because of the dangers that it entailed). To add to the ever growing mystery of the dynamic, knightly duo – they have never removed their mask – save for one time, when they had been question by the Captain of the Crimson Draco Legion in the City of Pomtom. Some Bards, such as Dimi, have claimed to have traveled with the Knights, and saw only a shadowed version of their faces, that were so horribly scarred that – for the first time in his life – words had failed him on how to describe it.

On the way to the City of Neverending, Gariff and Kabewse saved a woman who had been kidnapped by a tribe of barbaric trolls. At the Red Dragon Inn, they indirectly inspired (or perhaps intentionally so) Peter and Grayson to seek out their own adventure and become (in)famous – so that they could get free drinks at the bar, as these two Knights had.

Even stranger still, was that – the fact that where ever Peter and Grayson were – the two Knights could usually be spotted nearby. Whether they were walking around the City, or wandering around the various vendors in the City of Ator – the two Knights were never far behind. It was in the City of Pomtom, where the Captain of the Crimson Draco Legion suspected Gariff and Kabewse of being Peter and Grayson, since they wore the same colored armor. This was the first – time, confirmed – that the Knights had ever removed their helmets. Whatever the Captain of the Draco Legion saw in their faces, was enough to give him pause – and in the end, excuse them. Amiee the Armorer had contacted Ann the Armorer, in the City of Ator, to make armor that was exactly like Gariff and Kabewse’s, and was able to easily bypass the Crimson Draco Legion hunting party – who believed it was the two Knights that they had previously questioned.

The mystery of who they truly are, seems as though it will be forever shrouded in mystery. After the defeat of the Red Dragon, Crimson, both Knights seemingly vanished. There are rumors that the two Knights have traveled to other lands to inspire others to rise against the other Chromatic Dragon Orders around the world; but this has never been confirmed.

Eyes: Unknown
Hair: Unknown

Accessories:

SWORD: Kabewse is equipped with the standard Knight Blade and shield.

Race: Human
Occupation: Journeyman, Trainer
Place of Birth: Crestfallen Nether
Known Relatives: (Unknown)
First Appearance: Neverending Nights – Sixty: But I’m A Lover, Not A Fighter
History: John the Journeyman left his homeland of Crestfallen Nether to travel the world. Seeking to enhance his fighting skills, he learned from various, well known fighters – which included various types of sword fighting skills, such as one handed, two handed, fencing, Kendo, and other exotic weapon styles and weapons. While traveling across the barren lands of Tattooeion, he encountered an old wizard named Alek O’Wand. (John the Journeyman was pretty certain that the wizard had changed his name to O’Wand, as a reflection of him being a mage and probably was not his true birth name). Regardless, Alek O’Wand informed John the Journeyman that he actually knew John when he was first born, however John’s father never cared for Alek and never trusted him because of his magic. However, when John’s father passed, his blade had been given to Alek O’Wand to hand down to his son when the time was right. Alek had told John, “I have something that belongs to you. Your father wanted you to have it when you were old enough. He never trusted me, because of my magic; this sword is also magic, and your father feared it would corrupt you if given to you at a young age, and that you might follow me on some damn, fool, idealistic mission.” When he had handed the magical sword, with the green, pulsating blade, he added, “I have had a vision that you will play an important role in this life. The day will come where you will train one, just as I will train you in the ways of using magical swords.”

John the Journeyman trained faithfully with Alek O’Wand, until the old man had finally said, “It is time for you to move on. You are ready.” The last thing he said, before going to sleep forever was, “Remember to take one in as I have taken you in. You were lost. Another will come to you, lost as you were. Take them in train them. Embrace them. They may just do something great later on in life.”

John the Journeyman buried Alek O’Wand, unsure what to believe from the old man’s many tales. He eventually came to a large city wall called Stonewall, where a young boy tried to rob him. John the Journeyman captured the young boy and was about to turn him over to the authorities, when suddenly he heard Alek O’Wand’s words, about taking in another who was lost like he was. John the Journeyman began training David the Delinquent in the ways of swordsmanship, giving the young boy something to focus on.

John the Journeyman would later be approached by Peter, Grayson and Amiee. He agreed to teach Grayson the many different forms of sword fighting that he had learned in his travels.

Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown

Accessories:

WEAPON: John the Journeyman uses a green, glowing, magical blade, said to be able to cut through anything, so long as his will power willed it.

Race: Gnoll
Occupation: Guard
Place of Birth: Onyxhovel
Known Relatives: Isiah (Brother), Kane (Brother)
First Appearance: Neverending Nights – Forty: Something’s Not Quite Right
History: Hailing from Onyxhovel, Isiah, Jake and Kane were tasked with finding a guard to protect their cavern home. The three of them ventured out into the world and found many adventurers would try to kill them, rather than listen to their chances of handing out employment. During one such instance, the trio traveling into a lower caverns that they deemed “Guk” – combining “gooey” and “yuck” since the floor was covered with an odd slime. It was there, they discovered most of the creatures were undead (and thus no suitable guards could be found here!) – one of the undead attacked them, but they managed to defeat the frenzied ghoul who wore and odd, flowing, black, silk sash. They decided to take the weird sash and leave the caverns where they finally encountered an Ettin by the name of “Ettin the Exiled” who agreed to become their guardian.

However, the Ettin did not prove to be a very good guard. The Ettin had unknowingly been “tricked” for lack of a better word by Peter, Grayson and Pawl (in the form of a minotaur at this time), by forcing the two heads to argue with one another, allowing the trio to quickly run by. Later, even Andrea, Daniel, and the three goblins (Albert, Bob and Charlie) had managed to get by the Ettin with no problem.

Isiah told Kane to go check on the Ettin to see if it was even alive, because it was allowing so many people into Onyxhovel. Unfortunately, Kane would end up possessed by Pawl the Dorf, after the minotaur form perished on a trap. Pawl had possessed Kane for some time, until Andrea the Assassin caught up with Peter, Grayson and Pawl and she back stabbed Kane, killing the gnoll and releasing Pawl’s spirit, yet again.

Isiah and Jake found Kane’s body much later, when he had not returned from checking on the Ettin. Perhaps even more strange was Kane’s spirit was hanging out by his own body, explaining to the disbelieving brothers, that a Dwarf had “shoved” him out of his body and possessed him – and now that his own body was dead, he had no way to return to his body – or any body! Isiah and Jake vowed not only vengeance against the one who killed Kane, but also sought a way to get Kane back into his body – or any body!

Where they are in this quest, remains unknown.

Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown

Accessories:

WEAPON: Jake uses a non magical bow.

Race: Gnoll
Occupation: Guard
Place of Birth: Onyxhovel
Known Relatives: Jake (Brother), Kane (Brother)
First Appearance: Neverending Nights – Forty: Something’s Not Quite Right
History: Hailing from Onyxhovel, Isiah, Jake and Kane were tasked with finding a guard to protect their cavern home. The three of them ventured out into the world and found many adventurers would try to kill them, rather than listen to their chances of handing out employment. During one such instance, the trio traveling into a lower caverns that they deemed “Guk” – combining “gooey” and “yuck” since the floor was covered with an odd slime. It was there, they discovered most of the creatures were undead (and thus no suitable guards could be found here!) – one of the undead attacked them, but they managed to defeat the frenzied ghoul who wore and odd, flowing, black, silk sash. They decided to take the weird sash and leave the caverns where they finally encountered an Ettin by the name of “Ettin the Exiled” who agreed to become their guardian.

However, the Ettin did not prove to be a very good guard. The Ettin had unknowingly been “tricked” for lack of a better word by Peter, Grayson and Pawl (in the form of a minotaur at this time), by forcing the two heads to argue with one another, allowing the trio to quickly run by. Later, even Andrea, Daniel, and the three goblins (Albert, Bob and Charlie) had managed to get by the Ettin with no problem.

Isiah told Kane to go check on the Ettin to see if it was even alive, because it was allowing so many people into Onyxhovel. Unfortunately, Kane would end up possessed by Pawl the Dorf, after the minotaur form perished on a trap. Pawl had possessed Kane for some time, until Andrea the Assassin caught up with Peter, Grayson and Pawl and she back stabbed Kane, killing the gnoll and releasing Pawl’s spirit, yet again.

Isiah and Jake found Kane’s body much later, when he had not returned from checking on the Ettin. Perhaps even more strange was Kane’s spirit was hanging out by his own body, explaining to the disbelieving brothers, that a Dwarf had “shoved” him out of his body and possessed him – and now that his own body was dead, he had no way to return to his body – or any body! Isiah and Jake vowed not only vengeance against the one who killed Kane, but also sought a way to get Kane back into his body – or any body!

Where they are in this quest, remains unknown.

Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown

Accessories:

WEAPON: Isiah uses a non magical bow.

And this time, I decided to play a character I could be familiar with again (there was a previous game of WoD: Mage I played, where he was a D&D / Ren Fair kind of guy so I had a connection there)… but this… this would be a connection to a previous WoD game… calling back to the World of Darkness: Hunter game… I’d played a character who was a singer of a (fictious) band called Steel Destiny.

I posted about it previously – the first post here, and a follow up here.

Steel Destiny Band Members:

• Sam Branor – Vocalist
• Christian Oliva – Guitarist, Brother to Jane Oliva, Steel Destiny’s drummer
• Jane Oliva – Drums, Older sister to Christian Oliva, Steel Destiny’s guitarist
• James Aldrich – Bass

The band members are references to actual musicians I like – Christian Oliva is a reference to the late guitarist Criss Oliva of Savatage; Jane Oliva is a reference to Jon Oliva, brother of Criss Oliva and vocalist of Savatage, and James Aldrich is a reference to Doug Aldrich a guitarist who has been in a number of bands (I knew him from Lion, but he went on to play for Dio, Whitesnake, and an assortment of other bands). Sam Branor, when I created him, was not a reference to anyone.

So here we are now – heading into Mage, and I decided to play the Bass Player for this game. Essentially he has abilities that allow him to influence the mood, minds, and dreams of people (which he usually uses during their concerts – to help people get into the music, or convey specific emotion; like ballads really tear people up when they’re at the concert).

One of the things, he can do is enter/influence dreams – and I called that power The Nightmask. This is based off the New Universe comic Nightmask, who was a character who had that same exact power.

Now in order for him to use the Nightmask ability he has to hum or sing a (fictional) song from Steel Destiny called “The Dream Thief” – which puts him into the mental state of entering the “Dream World.”

So naturally, I wrote the (fictional) song lyrics for the song…

“The Dream Thief” – Steel Destiny
Written by Sam Branor and James Aldrich

In the shadow, in the dark
There is no light, there is no spark
But I can sense, something there
A never ending nightmare

I can feel it feeding
As my dreams are bleeding
It’s thriving here
Living off of all my fear

Chorus:
And when I close my eyes
I fall into a real I despise
There’s no respite
In this land devoid of light

The Dream Thief awaits
To feed of my dreams
The Dream Thief tastes
The sound of my screams
The Dream Thief!

In the dark, in the shadow
There is no spark, there is no glow
But I can feel him out there
The never ending nightmare

Tonight, I made a stand
Tonight, I clench my hand
Tonight, I face my fears
Tonight, the Dream Thief dies here!

Chorus:
And when I close my eyes
I fall into a real I despise
There’s no respite
In this land devoid of light

The Dream Thief awaits
To feed of my dreams
The Dream Thief dies
As I open my eyes!

This naturally means I need to make a (fictional) CD/Single cover too, right? Yes. Yes, I do.

The art for this is by the amazing Ken Kelly.

And here it is with the lyrics…

The astound Ken Kelly art without my stuff…

And this is the first issue of Nightmask from Marvel, for which the power name comes from…