Neverending Nights

Race: Human
Occupation: Bartender of the Universe
Place of Birth: Tenderbar
Known Relatives: Mother (Unknown Name), Father (Unknown Name)
First Appearance: Neverending Nights – Seventeen: Heroes Bar & Keep
History: There’s much that isn’t known about “The Bartender.” Most speculate that he’s some kind of universal being – that he’s at every single bar, bartending and doing his job – all across the land, all at the same time. Whether he is some form of cosmic being, or he comes from a family of about three hundred known exact twins, remains unclear. And anytime someone asks him, he has a different story every time. (But then, it’s a bartender’s job to serve drinks and keep his clients entertained… so who knows the whole truth).

There are but a few scattered bars, where The Bartender is not actually the same Bartender seen at all the other bars. The reason for this has been endlessly speculated. Some have taken notice that The Bartender bares a striking resemblance to The Gift Giver; a man of legend, who supposedly flies all around the world in a single night, delivering gifts to those that have been good and well behaved. The Bartender, of course, typically declines any form of connection to the legendary Gift Giver; or depending on his patrons, sometimes creates elaborate stories about he has a twin who is The Gift Giver (and sometimes, if they’re really drunk, he will sometimes claim to be The Gift Giver himself).

One thing is certain; whether it’s one person, a hundred twin brothers, clones, or some form of Celestial Magic; the Bartender is always an endless source of information (if you know how to ask the right questions and tip the waitresses nicely). It’s even said, the very moment that the Dragon of Silverlake was defeated – that very second – every Bartender in every bar – raised their mug and claimed that all drinks would be free for the year.

Eyes: Blue
Hair: White (Balding)

Accessories:

NOTE: “The Bartender” has an unusual accent that has been known to rapidly annoy people. This could be so that clientele don’t keep asking him where he’s from. Or, he simply just had a bad accent.

Race: Human
Occupation: Survivalist, Herbalist, Druid of Dark Wood
Place of Birth: Dark Wood
Known Relatives: Mother (Unknown Name), Father (Unknown Name)
First Appearance: Episode Fifty-Eight: ‘VisionQuest’
History: Awyer was left with brigands by his mother at birth. While a caravan that she had been a part of was traveling through The Dark Wood, it was attacked by brigands. One of those brigands had impregnated her and kept her as a prison for several months. Even when it was clear that she was pregnant, the brigands kept her around. One night when they had gotten so drunk that they could barely stand, she knew she could make her get away – however, the child she had just given birth to, several weeks before (Awyer), was fast asleep. She had wanted to take the child with her, but knew that if she disturbed the child, it might awaken and cry – thus alerting the brigands. So that night, she made a difficult choice and managed to escape without her child.

When the Brigands recovered the following day, they saw that only the child remained. The left the child to the creatures of Dark Wood. However, nature did not see fit to have Awyer killed by creatures within the woods. Instead, the animals of Dark Wood adopted Awyer into their ranks; he was raised by Wolves, Deer, Elk, Squirrels and Owls. He was taught how to hunt by the wolves; how to move quickly by the Deer; how to defend himself by the Elk; how to gather food by the Squirrels and wisdom by the Owls.

Through these various animals, Awyer learned that there is more to the world than what the eyes see. The very trees around him were alive; and if he listened, he could hear them speak. Each leaf that caught the wind a specific way, or the way the stream moved; these were all voices of the land speaking out – wanting to be heard. Using a combination of herbs, Awyer was able to enter trances that allowed his body to see the spirits of the woods.

Awyer used his ability to commune with nature to help protect Dark Wood from those who would come to the woods, simply to kill wildlife or wreck destruction. Through his trances, he was able to teach the trees to move, and the land to defend itself. Because of that, Dark Wood gained a mysterious reputation that spoke of the woods being haunted. Awyer also helped those that were in danger by brigands who often used Dark Wood to hide in and ambush others.

Awyer was eventually approached by Amiee the Armorer, Grayson the Fighter and Peter the Ranger, who had sought out the Druid of Dark Wood for spiritual guidance. Awyer sensed much goodness in those before him and agreed to help them. Using his herbs, he gathered them on an astral journey that reflected on their own lives; providing mysterious clues to the answers they sought. Believing they had discovered what they needed, they thanked Awyer and left.

Awyer smiled. The Dragon of Silverlake was an abomination that he could feel tainting the land, even from miles away.

Several weeks later, Peter sent a messenger to Awyer thanking him. The Dragon of Silverlake had been defeated. But Awyer already knew. He could sense a balance being restored to the land – the taint of the Dragon of Silverlake’s undead status was gone from the world.

Awyer accepted Peter’s offer to visit the City of Neverending and see the Bar of Destiny, which he and Grayson had opened with the money rewarded to them by the Dwarves of Silver Lake Mountain. While there Awyer met Madame Marie the Mystic, and eventually wed.

Eyes: Hazel
Hair: Blond

Accessories:

WEAPON: Awyer is capable of making an assortment of things using every day herbs, including poison.

Race: Dragon
Occupation: Gold Dragon, Priest of Blackmire Church (Home of Resurrections, Reincarnation And Rose Carnations)
Place of Birth: Blackmire City
Known Relatives: Sandscale (Brass Dragon – Brother), Stoneclaws (Bronze Dragon – Brother), Skywing (Copper Dragon – Brother), Argent (Silver Dragon – Brother), Platinum (Platinum Dragon – All Father)
First Appearance: Neverending Nights – Thirty: Good Elf… Bad Elf?
History: Thousands of years, the Order of the Dragons – Chromatic (Black, Blue, Green, Red, and White) and Metallic (Brass, Copper, Gold, Silver, and Bronze) swore that they would not influence the World of Mortals. However, the Chromatic Dragons were deceitful in their promise to leave the Mortal World and soon returned to it.

Argent, the Silver Dragon, watched over the world, furious that the Chromatic Order was doing so much not only to influence, but rule over the world. The most powerful of the Chromatic Order was none other than the Red Dragon named Crimson. Her relentless evil influence spread across the land as she amassed an army called The Crimson Draco Legion. Argent fought with the other Metallic Order, saying that sitting idly by was not the right answer; that they too, had to return to the world and do something about the Chromatic Dragons and their evil ways.

Auric was the only Metallic Dragon that agreed with Argent – that something should be done. When Argent left the Realm of Dragons to venture to the World of Mortals – Auric soon followed. As the Dragon of Gold – Auric was gifted with visions of possible futures. He saw the Blade of Destiny enter the hands of the Bloodline and that most of those visions led to Blackmire City.

Auric took up the guise of a Mortal by the name of Zoe-Din. Fearful that the would be Bloodline would be hurt or worse – Zoe-Din took on Priestly abilities. As fate would have it, and as his visions had predicted – The Bloodline came to him. It was not Peter or Grayson that had been injured however – it had been Pawl the Dorf. Auric sensed something within Pawl’s bloodline – something he tried to trace back, but could not. Pawl had explained that he had been raised by humans, but that did not seem right. There was more to Pawl the Dorf. Auric agreed to ‘reincarnate’ Pawl since the adventurers could not afford a full resurrection (Auric still felt compelled to not completely over step his bounds by the Oath he had made).

Pawl the Dorf perished a number of times, returning back to Auric’s temple for another attempt at reincarnation, until he finally perished – and by this time, Auric had discovered that Pawl the Dorf came from the long line of Mysticforge Bloodline, responsible for making the Blade of Destiny thousands of years ago, to fight Dragonkin (namely the evil and overly greedy Chromatic Dragons). Auric had come to realize that Pawl’s parents feared that the Chromatic Dragons would come seeking him out and that it was better to hide him among the humans, where he might be safe. The Dwarf’s birth name was not Pawl – that had been given to him by the humans – it was truly Taylor. Auric, against his own Oath, reincarnated Pawl as a Dwarf and reunited him with Peter and Grayson to nudge them along Destiny’s Path.

Auric has enjoyed his time among the mortals, and even after the defeat the dragons Crimson and the Dragon of Silverlake; Auric remains in Blackmire City, under the human guise of Zoe-Din, where he had often assisted the citizens against battles against the undead armies that have marched against it.

Eyes: (Dragon) Gold, (Human) Brown
Hair: (Dragon) Gold, (Human) Brown

Accessories:

NOTE: Zoe Din carries a wooden cross at all times, since Blackmire City has often been marched upon by the Undead Pirates, namely of the Black Sparrow crew, since it is so close to the Scarasea Oceans.

Race: Elf
Occupation: Royal Guard to the Silverpine Order
Place of Birth: Silverpine
Known Relatives: Mother (Unknown Name), Father (Unknown Name)
First Appearance: Episode Fourty-Three: ‘Got Some Time To Kill?’ (as R’ubine H’uud), Episode Sixty-Five: ‘Epic-Logue’ (as Annette the Archer)
History: Annette the Archer was a member of the Royal Guard of the Silverpine Order located in the Silverpine Forest, home to the majority of Elves in the land. The entire forest has a tinge of silver to the tree bark and leaves; this is believed to be because of Silver Lake Mountain, located in the middle of the massive Silverpine Forest. Deep within Silver Lake Mountain, the Dwarves have made their home where they forge the world’s largest supply of silver. Much of this silver washes through the many underground rivers and lakes within the mountain, eventually pouring into Silverlake, just outside the mountain. From there, it is said those flecks of silver then seep into the soil, which is then absorbed by the trees.

When rumors of the Crimson Draco Legion growing stronger throughout the land began to surface, L’riq – King of the Silver Elves hand picked several of his most trusted and most skilled Guards to venture outside of Silverpine to gather information about the Crimson Draco Legion. Annette had been one of those picked. Extremely skilled with the bow – said to be the best in all of Silverpine, she ventured out. She found the world beyond Silverpine to be one full of war, mistrust and abused of the land and it’s resources by the Race of Man. She adopted the name R’ubine H’uud, after a local legend she had heard about within the City of Neverending. This would disassociate her with the Royal Guard, in the event anything happened.

For years, she traveled all across the land, stopping at every human town, village and hamlet she came across, attempting to gather information about the Crimson Draco Legion. Little did she know, during these years – the father of the Chromatic Dragons had taken up residence in Silverlake Mountain, driving the dwarves from their rightful home and reigning terror on the elves of Silverpine.

After sometime, she had gathered enough information confirming the growing power and numbers of the Crimson Draco Legion. However, her constant questioning of various citizens also drew the attention of the Crimson Draco Legion, and as she planned to return to Silverpine, she found herself ambushed and captured. She was then brought to the dungeons, deep in the ground, where the Crimson Draco Legion questioned her about her inquiries into the Crimson Draco Legion order. She refused to give any information. Even as more prisoners were brought in – those, like her who were trying to find out about the Crimson Draco Legion – or those who refused to swear their allegiance or resources were brought in by the dozens. Still, she did not trust any prisoner brought in – knowing that the Crimson Draco Legion could easily plant a spy within one of the prisoners, so she maintained her facade of being R’ubine H’uud.

Even when reports of the Crimson Draco Mother – the Red Dragon named Crimson – being slain by two unlikely heroes who were brought in, she did not break her cover. To her, the two who had been brought in seemed very unlikely as people who could slay a dragon. Those two were none other than Peter and Grayson. The Crimson Draco Legion kept Peter and Grayson subdued with magic, attempting to probe their subconscious about the magical sword that had been used to kill Crimson, the Dragon. Most of the Mages who attempted to probe their psyche usually fled or eventually became insane, unable to comprehend the mental barriers the two of them had, apparently.

The two were eventually freed by Amiee the Armorer, who had used forged armor to mimic that of the Crimson Draco Legion. It was not until Ruth the Redeemed had come in search for Peter and Grayson that she freed Annette and the other prisoners to riot against the Crimson Draco Legion – allowing her and Pawl the Dorf to escape and continue their search for Peter and Grayson.

Annette led the rebellion against the Crimson Draco Legion and successfully defeated them. That’s when she discovered that the rumors of Crimson’s death were validated – and that the Dragon had indeed been killed by Peter and Grayson. She also learned that the All Father of the Chromatic Dragon had taken up residence in Silverlake Mountain driven the Dwarves from their mountain home as well as the Elves of Silverpine. She knew in order to defeat the Dragon of Silverlake she would need Peter and Grayson’s help – so she began searching for them.

In the time she sought them out, Peter and Grayson had already gotten the Blade of Destiny reforged by Pawl the Dorf, and had been teleported into Silverlake Mountain, where they had defeated the Dragon of Silverlake. She had finally caught up with Peter just outside the City of Neverending as he was speaking to three goblins (Albert, Bob and Charlie). She decided to join Peter on his quest to help the Goblins, once she learned that the Dragon of Silverlake had been defeated.

Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown

Accessories:

WEAPON: Annette the Archer is said to be the most accomplished Archer to walk the world. There is no target too small that she can not hit with an arrow.

Race: Human
Occupation: Armorer (Not To Be Confused With Smith)
Place of Birth: Northern Stonepark
Known Relatives: Mother (Unknown Name), Father (Unknown Name), Ed the Engraver (Husband), Eloise the Elegant (Daughter), Dexter the Delightful (Son)
First Appearance: Neverending Nights – Episode Fifty-Two: ‘These Aren’t The Heroes We’re Looking For.’
History: Ann the Armorer has lived in Northern Stonepark for a vast majority of her life. In her youth, she was an artist (and referred to as ‘Ann the Artist’), but as she got older she developed a skill creating armor. Under the guide of a mysterious silver haired man named Dean (who never seemed to age, over the years), Ann’s skill at creating armor became legendary. Dean, before leaving, informed her that one day, her services will be called on – and to be ready. Because at a moment’s notice she will need to develop armor that would disguise two would be heroes being viciously hunted down by the Crimson Dragon. (This seemed like crazy talk to Ann, because there had been no dragons in the land for thousands of years!) Dean saw the doubt in her eyes, and simply said, “The one who will request the armor from you will be another Armorer – she will tell you the code, and you will know it’s time.” Still, Ann was not convinced, so Dean added, “Tonight, when you go to Artifact Succession, you will meet a man there – his name will be Ed the Engraver. You two will, very quickly, fall in love with one another.”

As if the talk about Crimson Dragons wasn’t already foolish enough, the idea that Ann would meet someone at Ancient Succession and fall in love was ludicrous. So few people came through Northern Stonepark, and she knew almost everyone – and there was certainly no one named Ed the Engraver, and the chances of someone passing through with that name and title was little to none.

Still, Ann had wondered – how did Dean even know that she was going to Antique Succession tonight to begin with?

While she was at Ancient Succession, it had begun to rain. Travelers, who normally passed by Northern Stonepark without even stopping, were forced to take shelter within the small town now. The once small, barely populated town, was now packed with people. It was there, that Ann the Armorer bumped into a young man, her same age – when he had turned to apologize about bumping into her – her breath caught. He was strikingly handsome. His smile sent her mind spiraling. “My apologies, my lady,” he said, bowing ever so slightly. “My name is Ed the Engraver. Might you have any idea where I might take shelter for the night, until the storm passes?”

Dean had been right – not only had someone by that name and title come through – but by one look into his eyes – she knew she had fallen in love.

Ed the Engraver had taken shelter at The Stone Work Inn. But the following morning, when the weather had cleared and the other caravans were leaving Northern Stonepark – he did not go with them. Instead he sought out Ann the Armorer to thank her. As it turned out, he never left. Instead, he stayed to get to know her better, and in time, asked for her hand in marriage. With her armor making abilities, and his sharpened skill at engraving – the two of them began traveling, and eventually opened a business in Pomtom. And once again, years later, Dean’s prophecy had come true, when Amiee the Armorer had approached her and asked about making special suits of full plate armor.

Ann the Armorer and Ed the Engraver eventually wed, and had a daughter by the name of Eloise the Elegant, and later a son by the name of Dexter the Dashing.

Accessories:

WEAPON: Ann the Armorer has no magical weapons, but supposedly wears magical armor.