This is Minch Wikiwiki, Deep Gnome Scribe, another commission of a Reaper Miniatures Balto Burrowell, Gnome Wizard (77166). Minch has lived quite the life already. You can read ALL about it below:
Adopted at birth by the monks of Abster Abbey (from the undercommon for “Memory”), Minch Wikiwiki never knew his real family – and he didn’t care; his fellow monks WERE his family. The monks of Abster Abbey were based in Mantol-Derith, and as such were represented by various races of the Underdark, all of whom shared the same singular goal – to research and document the forgotten histories of the Underdark.
Early in life, Minch displayed a unique aptitude for drawing and writing. His skills with the quill quickly earned him a reputation as a brilliant calligrapher and scribe; as a result, his very first job in the scriptorium was to catalogue and transcribe the enormous collection of data on flora and fauna from the area. This effort was critical to the Abbey. While the Abster Abbey monks were historians and archeologists and scribes by trade, they were also adventurers and mercenaries by necessity as the Underdark is a treacherous domain. To adventure beyond the safety of the monastery walls, the monks would need protection. Thus, they not only documented the creatures and vegetation of the Underdark, but also derived potions and poisons from what they encountered. An understanding of the dangers they faced provided protection as they explored the reaches of the Underdark in search of lost knowledge and hidden relics, and the mastering of the creation of these serums further provided a martial advantage in their expeditions.
The monks could not, however, rely on these poisons alone; they maintained a strict daily regimen of martial combat training so that the dangers that lurk in the dark would never stand in the way of their quest for knowledge. Unfortunately, Minch struggled in his martial studies early in life. While his brush strokes were quick and elegant, he was unable to achieve the same flourish with the hammers of his fellow Duergar or bows of his fellow Drow. Only through decades of study and training did Minch finally find his answer. While he lacked the strength to masterfully manipulate a club or shortsword with a single hand, and lacked the size to successfully wield a greatsword or greataxe, he found balance and control with a gentle two handed grip on his longsword. The sword became an extension of his body; his slashes were swift and smooth and precise - almost as if painting ancient runes in the air with the long steel blade. Even the quills that Minch had mastered on parchment throughout his life became formidable – and discreet – weapons in his hands. He would sling them like darts with pinpoint accuracy, or strike from afar as his blowgun made them fly. Especially unlucky were those who found themselves pierced with a quill laced with any of the poisons he had studied for so long.
Shortly after his centenary birthday, Minch took over as Master of the Scriptorium. His new title and responsibilities granted him access to a vault of strange and powerful poisons, potions, and recipes as well as dusty elvish tomes previously unknown to him – or anyone, save his predecessors. In these tomes, he discovered the secrets of an ancient elixir; this elixer, carefully derived from the fluid of an extremely old aboleth, could in theory bestow those who consume it with the knowledge and experiences of the horrific ancient creature.
There were rumors of such a creature hibernating on the surface - a far safer target the one active in the underground; so, Minch set out to lead an expedition in search of the fabled creature. Alas, upon reaching the surface world, the monks found themselves stranded in a war-ravaged land - a land in chaos due to what he would later come to learn was called “The Twilight War”. One night, while camped in the mountains, a lone masked figure approached the motley group. Then, without warning, the strange figure lit up - radiating as bright as the sun - and cut down every last member of the group - save Minch. While scarred, beaten, and confused, Minch’s knowledge of potions and poisons served him well that day. Laying wounded amongst the dead, he inhaled one of his concoctions - an Essence of Ether - and tricked the strange figure. He was left dead. – uncertain of the reason for the attack.
Minch has been wandering the surface ever since in search of the rumored aboleth, while always keeping a cautious eye for the strange masked man. Mink always keeps a “specially prepared" quill in his inkwell… just for him...