Gristleback

Stub-class article · First seen: s19 · Last seen: s19
Gristleback
Gristle · the goblin in the potato sack · Gobbo
Portrait of Gristleback.
Character
StatusAlive
First seens19
Last seens19

Gristleback is a destitute goblin who came out of the brush in a potato sack to beg food from Steven on night watch in session 19 [13]. He is a returning character from the DM’s previous campaign, so this page records only what he did in Eldurae [3]. Asked in the morning to steal back what Aurelia had taken, he judged it suicide, offered a smuggler contact the party took for Hett Varn, and let slip that Seraphine rules Aurelia and once destroyed five Archmages alone [23][11]. He left when the party agreed to take Father Thomas along [16].

Overview

Gristleback is a small, hungry goblin who wandered into the party’s roadside camp on the edge of Aurelia’s farmland in session 19 and begged for food on Steven’s watch [9]. He is a returning character from the DM’s previous campaign, a cameo the table acknowledged out of character [3]. Following the DM’s ruling, this page records what happened in Eldurae and does not import that earlier campaign: the hard-luck story he told of a master who enslaved him belongs to it, and is not developed here [10].

What he contributed in Eldurae is small and lasting: the DM, speaking as him, named Seraphine as the ruler of Aurelia, and he offered a smuggling contact that the party took for Hett Varn [11].

Appearance and demeanour

A “small goblin in what looks to be a potato sack”, first seen as a very small humanoid watching the camp from the brush [12][13]. He is cheeky, scrounging and quick to take offence: he introduces himself with “the return of Gristleback”, sleeps “like a drunk baby” and asks for booze, and walks out the moment the party starts humouring an Aurelian priest [14][15][16].

Relationships

  • Steven: fed him from the party’s rations on his watch, let him sleep near the camp, and woke him in the morning to ask for help; Steven’s loose talk to him about the party earned a quiet word from Hugo [17][18][19].
  • Terry: joked that he would have smothered the goblin with a pillow had Steven not asked him to look after him, then spent his own watch watching him [20].
  • Hugo: overheard the exchange and invited the goblin to travel with the party for safety in numbers [21][7].
  • Hett Varn and Seraphine: the two names he put before the party [11].

Disposition towards the party

Friendly while there was food and company in it, and unwilling to take a risk for them. Asked whether he could break into Aurelia, he said “Maybe”, then, on hearing what was wanted, told them they would be killed and wondered why they wanted to go at all [22][23]. He did not accept Hugo’s invitation, and left when the party agreed to bring along an Aurelian priest [7][16].

Notable quotes

“My name’s Gristleback. It’s the return of Gristleback.” — Nick (DM), [14]

“Why do you want to go to Aurelia anyways? Place sucks.” — Nick (DM), [23]

“She flew through the sky in the Arcanvian War and fucking destroyed five Archmages by herself.” — Nick (DM), [24]

“Wait, you guys seriously humoring this? I’m out.” — Nick (DM), [16]

History in the campaign

Session 19: A Penitent Priest, an Unmade Leash, and the Pixie in the Dark

Main article: Session 19

A goblin in a potato sack came out of the brush on Steven’s watch asking for food, gave his name, wolfed down the rations Steven handed over and was allowed to sleep by a tree [25][2]. In the morning the party asked whether he could steal something back from Aurelia; he thought it suicide, offered a dwarf smuggler the party took for Hett Varn, and told them Seraphine, the ruler of Aurelia, had destroyed five Archmages alone [26]. Hugo invited him along [7]. When Father Thomas arrived and the party agreed to take him on, the goblin said he was out and walked away [16][27][28].

Status

As of session 23. Alive and departed. He left the camp of his own accord in session 19 and has not been seen since [27].

See also

References

  1. ^ Session 19, line 481-495: A goblin in a potato sack comes out of the brush on Steven's watch, names himself and is fed.
  2. ^ Session 19, line 530-532: Steven lets him sleep near the camp.
  3. ^ Session 19, line 542: OOC flag: Gristleback is a former character from the DM's previous campaign, a cameo.
  4. ^ Session 19, line 605-636: Morning: asked to steal back what Aurelia took, he thinks it suicide: "Place sucks.".
  5. ^ Session 19, line 645-648: Offers a dwarf smuggler contact, whom the party recognise as Hett Varn.
  6. ^ Session 19, line 654-660: The Seraphine lore: she destroyed five Archmages alone and is the leader of Aurelia.
  7. ^ Session 19, line 662: Hugo invites him to travel with the party.
  8. ^ Session 19, line 754-782: He says he is out when the party humours Father Thomas, and walks away.
  9. ^ Session 19, line 481-486: Inline citation.
  10. ^ Session 19, line 495: Inline citation.
  11. ^ Session 19, line 645-660: Inline citation.
  12. ^ Session 19, line 481: Inline citation.
  13. ^ Session 19, line 486: Inline citation.
  14. ^ Session 19, line 493: Inline citation.
  15. ^ Session 19, line 608: Inline citation.
  16. ^ Session 19, line 754: Inline citation.
  17. ^ Session 19, line 494: Inline citation.
  18. ^ Session 19, line 531: Inline citation.
  19. ^ Session 19, line 602-609: Inline citation.
  20. ^ Session 19, line 551-557: Inline citation.
  21. ^ Session 19, line 602-604: Inline citation.
  22. ^ Session 19, line 614-615: Inline citation.
  23. ^ Session 19, line 636: Inline citation.
  24. ^ Session 19, line 658: Inline citation.
  25. ^ Session 19, line 486-495: Inline citation.
  26. ^ Session 19, line 610-660: Inline citation.
  27. ^ Session 19, line 781: Inline citation.
  28. ^ Session 19, line 782: Inline citation.
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