Garp Garp was taught the power of thrash by the legendary Blue-Haired Bard, who belted odes to the god Thrashikus and inspired Garp to become a bard himself. So when, years later, Garp heard rumors that Thrashikus was leading attacks on towns throughout Lyrea, he knew he needed to investigate.
However, he soon learned this "Thrashikus" was no god at all, but a charismatic and dangerous dwarf wielding a battle axe guitar. Alongside the Blind Berserker, an infamous outlaw with an unquenchable thirst for destruction, and a devoted cult of groupies, he left nothing but ruin in his wake. Garp Garp knew at once – these were False Prophets of Thrash, besmirching the name of the real deal!
When they finally came face to face with our heroes, Garp was especially gutted to find a centaur named Gerald (her-ALD) caught up in the frenzy! Gerald was once a protégé of Kingbird, but after Garp outplayed him in front of the Queen, he pledged new loyalty to Thrash, and vowed to travel the land singing its praises... only to fall . Their ensuing battle proved heavy in more ways than one.
From a gameplay perspective, I wanted these cards to play off each other very naturally, by combining the impulsive stat buffs of Inspire with artifact/enchantment hate to convey their wanton destruction. For instance, "Thrashikus" obviously pairs well with the Blind Berserker, gaining buffs each time she smashes something, but he also gets pumped up when ANYONE cracks an Inspiration token (since each one is an enchantment leaving the battlefield). Combine that with Gerald's recursive Inspire ability, and you've got a potent combat engine!
Five years ago, our D&D campaign began! Learn a bit about each of the eight player characters at the forefront of our epic tale, featuring their own hand-drawn art!
Garp Garp, Goblin Bard
Played/Illustrated by Juston - he/him (uppermindink on Instagram)
Garp Garp abandoned his goblin clan when he heard the beautiful music of the Blue-Haired Bard. She taught him the power of thrash before mysteriously vanishing! Now, he uses that power to protect his friends with the help of his flaming familiar, the Level Skull! He's also dabbled into darker magic and proclaimed himself Lord of Bones!
Fable, Catfolk Cleric
Played/Illustrated by Larissa - she/her (royallydivine on Instagram)
Fable is a sweet and caring catfolk with a sneaky trickster side! She hails from the distant kingdom of Eldoris, and is constantly appalled by the terrible things that happen here in Lyrea. She calls upon the cat goddess Xalyn to bring light and healing to this unwell kingdom!
Mishka, Tiefling Fighter
Played/Illustrated by Kelsey - she/her (@kelseesi)
Mishka was once a member of the Royal Guard, but was cynical, restless, and unfulfilled. Adventure was exactly what she needed, and she thrives in the chaos of this group! Even when she ran into a trap and lost an arm, she simply kept the limb to wield as a grotesque weapon, even getting it enchanted and modified for maximum damage!
Eventually, Mishka found a calling where she least expected – training meek wizards of the Unseen Library into adept battle mages. She stayed with them after they were displaced, to help rebuild.
Gin, Human Monk
Played/Illustrated by Boon - he/him
Gin is an enigma, a wandering drunken monk who is either two steps ahead or three steps to the side. For instance, he's the only member of the original party who wasn't kidnapped... he saw the others being taken and simply hopped along for the ride, to see if he could help. He is fiercely protective of his friends, especially Garp Garp, and will make demonic pacts to prove it! He's also an avant garde brewmaster, for anyone daring enough to try his mixes.
Tourmaline, Genasi Blood Hunter
Played by quinn - they/them (quinnntastic_ on Twitter)
Tourmaline began her journey as a sweet, naïve, young genasi (an elemental daughter of human and genie) who was abandoned by her birth parents and raised by two loving dwarves. However, she quickly fell into bad company and was tricked into drinking the blood of villain Ans Fleurellian. This changed her into a blood hunter, able to pay life for power, and set her on a heavy path of learning the world's hard truths.
Tourmie was whisked away to the Indigo, a mysterious realm of the dead, but while her time traveling with the party may have come to an end, her story is far from over!
Lani, Aasimar Rogue
Played by Riley - they/them (@ratbrick)
Lani grew up in the seedy streets of Crestfall, along with a tight-knit group of other orphans. She's an aasimar, chosen for protection by a divine guardian... but hers was nowhere to be found. Her time with the party was the shortest, as her loyalties stayed with the orphans, but any time our story returns to Crestfall, she remains a stalwart ally.
Unfortunately, sometimes life gets in the way. We had to write a few characters out of the party over the years, but that was also a chance to meet some new faces!
Olly, Gnome Wizard
Played/Illustrated by Vi - they/them (vidraws on Twitter)
Olly spent most of his life studying magic at the Unseen Library, before the Grand Council sent him out to join our heroes and spy on them! He did this, reluctantly, but his travels opened his eyes to where his allegience should truly lie. By the time the party made it to the Library all together, Olly was ready to fight alongside them to the bitter end!
Kornaan, the Cobbler
Played/Illustrated by Zack - he/him (me!)
Kornaan was a half-orc cobbler in the sleepy port town of Loam who marveled at the wondrous tales from adventurers who came to repair their boots as they were passing through. He was inspired, and set off to become an adventurer himself!
Since I'm the one running the campaign, Kornaan serves as a blend of player character and NPC. He travels with the party and offers help, but he'll always take a backseat when it comes time to solve problems (sometimes I even use him to create new ones when needed!). Nevertheless, his arc over the years has brought him from bumbling wannabe to real adventurer!
Lore Spotlight #9: Sagas Week - The Ballad of Nasty Pete
Once, some years ago, a goblin hunting party trekked out from the wheeled metal city of Contraption to find meat. They attacked a group of gnomes, but as they fought, the goblins noticed something unexpected -- a baby gnome with an unmistakable, familiar ferocity.
After some squabbling, the goblins spared the child and returned him to Contraption, to raise as one of their own. Nasty Pete, as he came to be called, thrived in his new home, joining his friends on hunts and eventually earning his Teeth, a remarkable rite of passage which had never before been achieved by an outsider! He was as goblin as any could be.
When Garp Garp was born, pulled up from the primordial mud pits by his father Blargg Blargg, old Uncle Nasty Pete was there to watch. Of all the goblins, he was the one Garp missed most after he ran away from home to become a bard. On lonely nights, a gentle song can be heard drifting across the Lyrian plains. A song filled with awe and fondness and triumph and love. The Ballad of Nasty Pete.
(Shoutout to @uppermindink for doodling Pete on this piece, along with his own character Garp Garp!)
