Happenstance Loderr

by Semageon

**Happenstance Loderr** is a clay genasi barbarian blood hunter. They are played by Semageon.

## Description

### Appearance

Happenstance previously appeared to be a tall, dryad-like creature covered in moss, fungi, and flowers. They carry all their gear on their back, mounting their weapons and banjo externally against their pack. After visitng Eddeth, their attire consists of brightly colored overalls and a billowy blouse. The look pulls heavy inspiration from Russian folk costumes, focusing on saturated fabrics and intricate trimming. After Izha successful casted Transmogrification on then, their appear took on a matte appearance similar to terracotta pottery. What had previously been scars morphed into shiny gold veins, which bleed around their body in a manner that resembled kintsugi. Their eyes remained pink, but took on a more pearl-finish as opposed to the clouded appearance before. They now where Reed's daisy over their ear, as their horns were lost in the spell, and sport a long "devil" tail.

They have previously worn a series of wrapped raw fabrics and wrappings with a set of scale mail underneath the whole ordeal. With some gentle guidance and care from Izha, Happenstance had swapped to a custom maroon and pink jerkin with a portion of the raw fabric from before torn off and used as a decorative belt. After their difficulty in stealthing led to an attack that nearly got them and Vell killed, Happenstance removed their scale mail.

Before the Transmogrification, their face was hidden with a carved wooden mask covered in similar fauna, and they wore worn leather gloves. Cloudy pink eyes could be seen through eye holds in the mask. While the mask had shown to respond to the Decompose cantrip, it had been confirmed to be separate from Happenstance. The mask had been burned, broken, and was partially destroyed over the course of the campaign. What could not be restored had been replaced with reinforced plants via the Druidcraft cantrip, now consisting approximately 60% of plants.

Beneath the mask, it was apparent that the "whorl" of Happenstance's mask was actually a horn, with a broken stump of one on the opposite side. Their face was withered and clearly undead, and their body was covered in patchwork skin, with the majority of their upper half being covered in bruised lavender skin. They had an eye on both sides of their right hand, the palm embedded in a sun and the back acting as a snake's eye. They had a tattoo of blue peacock feathers on their right cheek that cascaded down their neck. It is assumed the tattoos mirrored the tattoos present on Mollymauk Tealeaf of *Critical Role.*

## Biography

### Background

Happenstance initially lived with their father in a "dark bog". He raised them and let them observe his work creating other bog walkers. They described him as loving and inquisitive, although they don't recall any physical characteristics of him. He taught them Sylvan, suggesting he may have been some form of fey creature.

For unknown reasons, their father abandoned them in the snow. They don't recall much of this time. They know they were hunted, and had an ever-present hunger. They think they may have stolen goods and killed people, but are unsure.

After wandering the land for a time, Happenstance found their way to their aunt's goat ranch in the Turst Fields. Eddeth has been described as a dwarven woman with wild red hair, although it is unclear what her exact relation is to them. They learned Dwarvish and some Common from her, along with their musical talents and various other practical skills. At some point, they left, and began traveling through Tal'dorei.

It is unclear when they began their quest for revenge, but it is likely that it didn't begin until after they were abandoned.

## Character Information

### Quests

Happenstance was attempting to locate and kill their father and any bog walkers they could find. They had found fifteen bog walkers prior to the campaign, but no clues regarding their father's location.

* Since Session 3, Happenstance has found recent evidence of their father in a graveyard in Emon in the form of a black tar-like ichor. It has been noted as similar to their "blood".
	+ As of Session 22, the party learned from speaking with Vex'ahlia De Rolo that Happenstance shares physical characteristics of Saundor, an archfey who Vox Machina has previously encountered and killed. He was described as being cruel and corrupted, and the description of Shademurk Bog matched Happenstance's memories of their home. While Happenstances description of their father are more monstrous than Saundor had been, the circumstances of his death make it possible that whatever kept him alive (or brought him back) may explain the evolution.
	+ ~~As of Session 26, the party discovered a string of mysterious murders having occurred around Emon in the past years. One of the murders in question involved the person presumably buried in the grave Happenstance found with evidence of their father's work.~~ (This connection has since been confirmed by Cass to not be relevant to Saundor or the bog walkers.)
* Since Session 7, Happenstance has found three more bog walkers. They were killed and burned in a funeral pyre.
	+ Out of session, Happenstance learned of ten bog walkers that had been killed by rangers of Syngorn. Happenstance performed a symbolic funeral ritual for them.
	+ In Session 42, five bog walkers were encountered by the party without Happenstance. Four were killed, and the funeral ritual was performed upon them by Reed.
	+ In Session 49, Happenstance performed a symbolic funeral ritual for every bog walkers, past, present, and future, who had or would pass away outside of their knowledge that they could never "meet" and "remember".
* Since Session 31, Happenstance has found one more bog walker, later named Vistra, in an arcane cage. They were left to be dealt with later due to the time restraints on pursuing Brianna and the cult, a decision that has made Happenstance unusually distraught and withdrawn. While it is unclear how they plan to address the issue, they begged Reed to "save Vistra" just before being killed.
	+ As of Session 36, Alistair was able to sever an arcane tether that pushed Vistra's monstrous behavior. Immediately after removing the connection, she was described as being robotic and almost catatonic. With a bit of gentle coaxing, the party was able to determine that Vistra was awkwardly adjusting to no longer being under control, and her behavior was similar to some Happenstance has previously experienced.
* In Session 35, Happenstance connected with an unusually sentient bog walker in a dream. According to her, the bog walker was Happenstance's actual creator, and had been attempting to keep them away from their father. Little information was gleaned from the conversation, but the location of Gladespool was highlighted, a location that had been previously mentioned to hold a portal to the Feywild. This bog walker has been dubbed Momstance.
	+ In session 43, a dryad named Wodena was encountered in Shademurk Bog. She informed the party that she was a slave of Saundor's, forced to assist his necromatic ventures and "mother" of the bog walkers. She showcased a caring and protective disposition towards them, both in her interactions with Happenstance previously and her appearance when Vell and Reed attacked several. She also claimed to have secretly created Happenstance in an attempted to take down Saundor on her own. While nothing else on the matter was discussed, it is assumed that her plan had not worked as intended.
* In Session 38, Happenstance split ways with the party to follow the lead of their father and Momstance's location, despite the party's insistence on the plan being too risky. They later confided in Reed that the primary reason they pushed so suddenly to split from the party was due to the recent warped perception of reality within the group, and the fears they harbored about bringing the group into a space they wanted answers from. The split is meant to be temporary, with the agreement within the party to give Happenstance three weeks before they try and find them.
	+ In Session 41, it was discovered via a strange Sending spell that Happenstance had been abducted by their father, and could no longer be communicated with. Out of game, it was confirmed that they had been abducted only that day, so there had been little time between the abduction and the call.
* In Session 46, the party confronted and slew Saundor. Happenstance had been under his control prior, and upon release regarded the party with heavy apprehension and suspicion, with threat of attacking. Through successfully talking them down and bringing Vistra to them, Happenstance informed them of what they'd seen and heard, and Wodena confirmed that the bog walkers (both in Shademurk Bog and the Material Plane) were no longer trapped under Saundor's control. While they did not immediately trust them, Happenstance accepted the party and Wodena's aid. They left the Feywild with the party, leaving Vistra in Wodena's care and taking with them a flower with the ability to bring them back.

Happenstance is trying to find their place in faith, despite being an undead creature. They mention being a worshipper of the Allhammer and wear a symbol of him in the form of a cloth pin.

* Happenstance attributes their reserve and lawful demeanor to an attempt to reflect the commandments of the Allhammer. They claim they "do not get mad", despite showcasing tremendous rage several times in combat.
* It has been suggested that Happenstance received mortician training in the past, though it hasn't been specified where from. Their primary method of handling funeral rituals appears to be cremation, but they hold respect and knowledge for other methods.
	+ Out of game, it has been confirmed by Sema that Happenstance's aunt, Eddeth Loderr, was a descendant of the Dust family from Wildemount. Happenstance had been taught and raised on the beliefs and practices of the Dust family through her, lending to their perspective on undead and high regard for the practices around death. This had not always been canon, as the Dust family was not a known group in *Critical Role's* canon until partway through the campaign. The decision to include the connection to the Dust family (and by extension the Clay and Stone family) was made with no changes to other present canon, as the connection only reinforced and fleshed out aspects of Happenstance and Eddeth's characters and motivations. This connection was also never intended to influence or impact the game, and existed mostly as an easter egg.
* Happenstance has shown interest in gods like Sarenrae and the Wildmother, but hasn't shown to have made any connection to either.
* Happenstance has spoken to Ally several times regarding their unique position as someone desiring a divine connection while also being an undead creature. They look to him as a figure of accomplished faith, and hold a curiosity regarding the Platinum Dragon's continued aid in their plights despite never attempting to reach out to him previously.
* In Session 50, Izha successfully casted Transmogrification on Happenstance with Wodena's aid, changing them from a bog walker to a clay genasi. Upon testing Turn Undead, the party discovered that the transformation had also removed their "undead" status.

###

### Notable Items

#### Current Items

* +1 Halberd (bought at The Melting Bowl)
* Cloak of Protection (exchanged with Izha for Cloak of Elvenkind)
* Daisy (gifted by Reed)
* Wodena's Flower (gifted by Wodena)
* Banjo
* Personal Journal
	+ The text is handwritten in Dwarvish braille script.
* Symbol of the Allhammer
* Broken wooden mask (affixed to face, fused with horn)
* Alchemy Kit
* Flask of oil
* Playing cards
* Dice set (obtained from the cult of Tiamat HQ in Kymal)
* Sparkly rocks (recovered in rock slide at the Emerald Post)
* Various dolls recovered from bog walkers
	+ Knitted stuffed owl, baby doll, wooden doll
* Hand mirror
* Simple gold ring

#### Former Items

* ~~Halberd~~ (was destroyed and left as a grave marker at bog walker pyre)
* ~~Sparky purple scarf~~ (given by Reed to bandage their bleeding hand, then given to Vistra)
* ~~Ring of Mind Shielding~~ (given to Reed, then "stolen" back, then "returned")
* ~~Cloak of Elvenkind~~ (obtained from the cult of Tiamat HQ in Kymal, exchanged for Cloak of Protection with Izha)

### Abilities

#### Clay Genasi Abilities

* Poison Resistance
* Worker In Clay
* Tremorsense (30 ft.)

They formally used the Geek and Sundry blood hunter build, and switched to the 2020 build following session 35.

#### Blood Hunter Abilities

* Blood Curses (2)
	+ Blood Curse of the Eyeless
	+ Blood Curse of the Fallen Puppet
* Blood Hunter Order: Order of the Ghostslayer
	+ Rite of the Dawn
	+ Curse Specialist
* Blood Maledict (3 uses)
* Brand of Castigation
* Crimson Rite (1d6)
	+ Primal Rite: Rite of the Flame
* Ethereal Step (1 use)
* Extra Attack
* Fighting Style - Great Weapon Fighter
* Hunter's Bane

#### Barbarian Abilities

* Rage (3 uses)
* Unarmored Defense
* Reckless Attack
* Danger Sense
* Barbarian Path: Path of the Wild Soul
	+ Lingering Magic (5 uses)
	+ Wild Surge

## Quotes

* "I can hold enough faith for the both of us." (to Reed)
* "These people are friends." (to Vistra regarding the party)
* "No matter where you go, love will find you." (to Reed)

## Trivia

* The flowers displayed on Happenstance's body appear to be a lavendar-variant of wooly rosemallows (*Hibiscus lasiocarpos*), and are identified by the same name. They are said to be indigenous to Wildmount swamps and wetlands.
* Bog walkers are both a player character race designed by Sema and a series of monsters designed by Cass. The most notable difference between the two are the levels of sentience demonstrated and the mechanical effects of music created by them.
* The primary component of Happenstance's form appears to be a former member of the Mighty Nein: Mollymauk Tealeaf. According to the DM, unlike in Season 2 of Critical role's narrative, the Mighty Nein had discovered a disturbed and empty grave when originally returning to Mollymauk's grave.
* Happenstance has been noted to smell like sickly sweet flowers. When bleeding, they also smell of bad eggs and decay.
* Sema noted that while he always planned on multi-classing Happenstance as a barbarian and focus on leveling there as soon as it was narrative appropriate, the Primal Path had been undetermined. The decision was said to be left up to how an aspect of Happenstance develops. After revealing to pick up the Wild Soul Path, the decision appears to be tied to what aspect of Happenstance's background the character gravitated towards in terms of discovering more about, namely their connection to they Feywilds.
* Following the Feywild arc, Sema ran a alternate-universe version of the combat against Saundor as a oneshot. The fight consisted of primarily players from the campaign, featuring a couple fans of it as well, but no characters from the main campaign. The fight consisted of The Prometheus and The Veil, homebrew monsters Sema created inspired by Happenstance and Saundor. Saundor took on a more ghostly, spriit-like presence, directly possessing and puppeteering both Happenstance and player characters. Happenstance was initially seen normal, but the environment transformed them into a hulking monstrosity under Saundor's control. The encounter was entirely non-canonical, using a different interpretation of the Saundor character, and ended with both Happenstance and Saundor being killed.