Kreev B. Earbender

* Origin
* Hag-turned
* Reincarnated

Kreev is a Bard from the settlement of refugees that fled the Empire of Eskarya. Kreev has a penchant for story telling and creation; often using such creations in his performance.

## Backstory

After training at the College of Wyrdsingers in Jal'Hinto the college. Kreev made his way to Elysia to preach their message and perform to a wider audience. Through the following years he built a reputation in the city for his talents with his trope. As momentum around his skill as a bard grew he was approached by a merchant hoping to compete with Bound Accuracy and persuaded Kreev to mention his superior product in his next performance. With the extra coins, Kreev happily accepted. Soon more organisations emptied their coin purses to have their own propaganda productions. To which; again, Kreev accepted.

When approached by members of the Eskaryain War Council was asked to put on one of his special performances Kreev seemingly had a sudden and unexplained change of heart. Egged on by his close friend Dazomar, whom believed it to be an excellent prank, Kreev decided to put on a different and incredibly damning rendition of the performance. Ultimately insulting the Paladins of Zitus and the war effort in Sameria.

Kreev was forced to flee at the intermission or loose his life. Leaving his acting trope and home destroyed. Essentially blacklisted, rumours spread and many other methods inacted by the scorned employer to destroy his reputation. Finding some refuge in Badagbett, a familiar face found him, Dazomar, and encourage him to join him North where he could rebuild his reputation, and find his way again. On the way they met Pickle, the kobold, to which both took a shine too, as the kobold helped the two get passed the mountain wall and into the North.

## Performances of Creation

Creations of Note = 15
* **Towel;** for a damsel in distress *(the Morgan)*
* **Soapbox;** to elevate oneself when performing
* **Sword;** to slay great evils *(Bloody Bones)*
* **Chair;** so Pickle can reach the table
* **Shield;** to protect against a spike trap, to suck up to Elderfall
* **Greatclub in the shape of a Dragons Head;** for Dazomar to not use
* **Passive-Aggressive Cushion;** to spite Raisuboi
* **Waltzing Ribbon;** to Dance with Alzara, to silence the void and remember more joyful times
* **Fancy Stone;** to lure away some kobolds
* **Goldpiece with tails on both sides;** to rig the odds
* **Swagbag;** to hold the first profits of Freehearth Home Cooking
* **Knock-off Terra Stone;** to trick a Dragon
* **Golden Chalise;** to drive home ones point
* **Crystal Gem;** when revealing his Wyrdsinger prophecy to Ana
* **Machinery Cog;** so a lift doesnt plummet us to our deaths

## Tales Composed

* **Of Wolf & Wail;** A rather exaggerated tale used to rally the refugees on Chronicle Coast before it became Freehearth, to demonstrate they have nothing to fear when working together. The tale depicted various members of the refugee camp performing supreme acts of bravery and heroism in a land new to them; to end the curse of a Morgan and reunited her with her love in death.

* **The Unfamiliar Family;** A tale used to impress a band of Carnival folk in the hopes of securing an act amongst them before they performed before Elderfall and the queen (with success). The Tale depicts a soldier coming home to a family he doesn't recognise only to be revealed he is in fact a Doppelganger whom has assumed the mantle of the dead soldier so that their daughter may still grow up with her parent.

* **Emerald & Lime;** A rather heavy-handed and unsubtle sonnet used to suck up to Elderfalls residents and the Queen at Bazaars Carnival. The tale depicts a lost bear cub, using a magic Emerald & Lime Elderfall shield to trick/escape evils of the forest and make his way home to the safety of Elderfall and the Queen herself.

* **Its pronounced Faybarge;** A humorous tale designed to relieve some tension after the party raided a Tomb, which backfired contributing to a Paladin of Dagda falling into a spiral of self doubt and faith, ultimately leading him to completely abandon his way of life and walk off into the forest. The tale depicted a Dwarf getting revenge on a pompous Elf by creating a beautiful and handcrafted Fraberge Egg and entrapping the Elf to purchase it, knowing it would insult and moon its owner every time he would move near it.

* **The Kings Chalise;** A tale used to demonstrate to Pickle that there is always two sides to every story, argument or even Tenant. The tale tells of a Foreign King with hopeful intentions of a Peace Treaty with the Thri-Kreen, but through rash decisions and rushed actions, leads to a misunderstanding in which both parties are doomed to death and fighting as they fail to try and understand each other.

* **The Waltz;** Recovering from torture from the hags; Kreev having his throat cut couldn't speak but wished to still be of use and comfort for Alzara. With no way of communicate Kreev instructed Alzara to dance with him, as a gentle melody began to play from a ribbon he created. With very little input in what story was being told; the two allow emotions and memories of simpler time guide them through a ballet.

* **The Ash of Lovers Hill;** Kreev began to tell the story to distract a bunch of mercenaries whilst there was a rescue attempt made to free political prisoners (or insurgent) Cynogthorn, however the tale was cut short as the rescuers were detected. Cynogthorn spoke of prophecies and fate, which struck of interest to Kreev from a prophecy of his own. Later that day as the party tracked down what they believed to be a vampire spawn, Kreev continued his story seemingly divining the days events in his own way. The story told of two lovers whom seemed to fall apart, revealling that one had been turned into a vampire spawn and had broken said relationship to protect the other, not wanting to give into their new desires and harm them. The tale ends unfortunate, as the vampire bites their lover and turns to the sun to be with them in death. In Glenmara, the party finds a vampiric Ogre Urkhor who, not wanting to give into his new violent ends elects to end his undeath much the same as the tale, walking into the sunlight so they may not hurt another soul.

## Fables in Tosima

### Ballyargus

The party travelled to an abandoned village, overgrown with fungal spores and fungi, eventually leading underground where they met the Famorian Goll and his prisoner Maeve. In the aftermath of Ballyargus the party questioned Ana on her somewhat problematic sword causing her to leave ahead of the group. When returning to Freehearth the extent of their prolonged exposure to the spores revealed itself. Kreev dying first. Pickle dying an hour later. And Ana being found dead another hour down the trail. With three deaths to navigate Kreev was revived but the party resources lacked for anymore. Ana was rushed by Ered on steed to Clerics.

And in a desperate plea to not loose Pickle, and with no more diamonds to bring him back; Kreev forced his hand ushering Auxley to contact Armenti, the arcanaloth, saying they if they could bring back the kobold the contract would be signed. Kreev had no time for the arcanaloths savior theatrics, already frustrated and annoyed with himself that he couldn't save him and that this was resorted to in the first place.

The impact of Ballyargus; particularly after an intense conversation with Raisuboi & Ered. And the whole situation with Pickles contract weighing on Kreev had made him overly protective of the kobold. Whether that stems from worry of losing him again or guilt is unclear. However, this was no more evident than when the party went to explore a sunken ship of the northern coast. Kreev spending most of the encounter pulling and ushering Pickle away from danger, even going as far as slowing his movement and putting himself between the kobold and aggressive sharks. Even after Pickle expressed his disdain Kreev went on to deny ever doing anything. In following outings Kreev also voiced his own disdain/mistrust for Pickles *"new companions"*, shunning the imp 'Devils Lettuce' & Yangant, reserving a particular hatred for Armenti, regarding him as the figurehead of Pickles situation (and the embodiment of his own guilt, blame and figurative demons) somewhat aware that his voice had entwined Pickle with them in the firstplace.

Kreev has since taken it upon himself to research how to fight devils and demons; without Pickles knowledge, preparing and waiting for when the fiends inevitably ask too much of the innocent kobold and drop the kindly, helpful charade.

### The Mallact Coven

Few things could have prepared Kreev for his battle with the Mallact Coven. What started out as a day investigating a Lumbermill Kreev remained relatively unserious; as the party learned they were infact being warned away from the forest by Boggles Kreev began casting illusions, juggling, and mimicing flatulance to entertain the Fey creatures. That, however, abruptly changed when the party came face-to-face with the hags.

As the party stepped behind a waterfall into a Cave system they heard the voices of a greatwyrm being assulted by the Coven. And as the party intervened the threat of the coven was made apparent. Any sense of whimsy and humour all but left as Kreev watched many of his friends fall at the hands of the coven, left feeling useless and inconsequential, having to default to playground insults and mockery as the party took spell after spell and beating after beating. Kreev could only watch as Ered and Raisuboi all fell and regained conciousness as he was ultimately carried away, bleeding out, along with Alzara & illinois.

What followed was literal torture for the trio; Kreev turned into a troll and harvested as was Alzara and Illinois. As well as his throat cut; not enought to kill him, but enough to cause him pain evrytime he should try to usher a word. Finally saved by a rescue party, Kreev was left broken as to how to continue as an adventurer, left feeling all but useless in combat. And as an actor, dealing with the lingering injuries cuased by the coven, forcing him into silence for weeks to come. The only positive Kreev could gleam from the ordeal, was a theraputic moment shared with Alzara, both in a moment of vulnerability; sharing a dance and moment away from their stuppour. And that Bolva remained at large, allowing Kreev and opportunity to redeam himself. Tell her exactly what he things of her, and generally become the bane of her pitiful existence for aslong as he can draw breath.

### Costume Change

Kreevs feeling of being a hinderance in battle had only be exastibated by the enemies that began to mount around him and Freehearth. With an impending dragon attack on the horizon, a vengeful Dao and now old allies turned corrupt. Kreev had faced literal death on multiple occasions, being brought back from the beyond only by the grace of his allies and their gods. On a return trip to Toorboney, Kreev hoped to find an old ally, Azar Toraven who had seemed to become a vampiric or dark entity after an encounter with the Tome of Aog Bàs.

Azar, now calling himself the Herald of Annihilation explained that he would usher in the dark silence of the world, the final cruscendo to life's song. And while Kreev debated that a story or song is rarely ended it is carried on in the people and future that retells it, the sentiment was lost, as was anytrace of the being they recognised as a founder of Freehearth.

In the ensuing battle the party struggled to hold back the corrpt dissedence magic thrown at them as well as the hordes of zombies littering the battlefield. And it seemed that Kreev would once again be judge by the Phantom Queen. Looking over the unwritten pages, Kreev would return once. But not without a larger toll to be paid; the price of his return this time being reincarnation. Kreev would return this time not as a dragonborn but as a forest gnome. Perhaps his new stature was a reflection by his feelings of his own intrusions predeath. Perhaps it is a test to see if he is capable of living up to the man he wishes to be. Or perhaps his new form is entirely random. Either which way the reincarnate not only brought a new body to Kreev, but also a potential tonal shift in his sensibilities and battlewariness.