Azzoc Rockmuller

## Overview

Despite his parents upbringing to continue the family tradition of prospecting, Azzoc was always searching for more and joined The Thread to uncover the mysteries of Ekros.

## Physical Appearance

Long, iron rust colored, hair and thick beard. Bright malachite eyes on a serious face. Carries around a massive tome filled with spells. Usually in the thick clothes of a traveler with bit of hide armor, with a small hammer visible. He's short at 137cm (4'6") but still weighs 74kg (163lbs) as dwarves usually do.

## Background

From a young age, Azzoc was interested in ruins and stories. His parents, Balgret Rockmuller and Yalmala Forgestone urged him to follow their footsteps into becoming a prospector. After an initial trial run, and several near-death situations of Azzoc venturing too deep, his parents agreed he could persue his own path.

Not long after, Nara Granite of the Thread came to town, looking for new talent. Azzoc volunteerd and Nara became his mentor. Together, they traveled the region, visited some old ruins and studied at the many libraries and knowledge repositories the Thread offers.

## Campaigns

### Ill tides

#### Commander Cass

Azzoc came into view in the third cycle as he visits Krammond looking for his mentor Nara after the fall of Dukan. After sleuthing around the taverns and inns for information, he got wind of Tiberius Ward looking for adventurers. To gain more information in higher circles, he went along and saw a gathering at the town square. When he saw two figures walking in, he went to the most armored person in the crowd, Dietfried and his associate Yorarali to also go in. While they initially startled Tiberius and the figures Cassius Ward and Farren Dawnbeam, they were accepted and chosen to be lead by Cass into the forest to find and hopefully destroy some siege engines. After a quick get-together in a local barracks where they had All-Toppings Bread and Shaken Milk, they went along their way in a cart.

#### Siege Weapon Siege

On the route, there was already some suspicion about no carts coming from the north. They dropped a few carts and were closer to a very intricate and expensive carriage. After some deliberation, they decided not to investigate any further and were overtaken by them shortly after. In the woods, Azzoc carried the keg with black powder and was near the back of the pack when they stumbled into a nest of Murder Hornets. Luckily, they were able to run away and with some quick thinking were able to distract the hornets from doing much harm to Cass. Another short walk later they found the camp where siege weapons were built. Yorarali was sent to scout ahead and after a thunderclap nearby were able to approach the camp without detection. While Azzoc attempted to sneak into the camp, Farren charmed one of the bandits into walking away Dietfried entered, announcing himself. After a battle where they prevented anyone from escaping, they killed the captain and managed to capture a hostage on Azzoc's initiative, hopefully giving more insight into the command structure and the attempted siege on Krammond.

#### Doubt and distrust

The walk back to the cart was even less eventful. Dietfried set the siege engine ablaze, with some help of the black powder Azzoc was carrying and they walked. However, the hostage was getting suspicous in the eyes of the other members of the party, and was bound even better and questioned. While he was telling the truth about his wives, his name was false, and so was him 'not being important enough'. Azzoc was driving back the cart to Krammond when the party determined the hostage was too dangerous and needed to be executed. The hostage responded by using magic to get himself out of there and radiate out necrotic energy.

#### Bearer of bad news

Just in time, Azzoc jumped from the cart. He tried to warn the others but they were too close. After a look inside the cart, he took a quick glance around to find the hostage. It's then that the tome was noticed to be missing, and the captive was looking inside, no longer bound by the ropes. He continued to taunt Azzoc, giving back the book and taking the dagger from Farren and sword from Cass. The letter that Farren was carying also got taken, but opened and tossed back into the cart. He told Azzoc a 'true secret'; "Escape cannot be had while they who hold the key keep it hidden from the world.", before tossing him a golden coin with a mirror, meant for Tiberius. "Fransisco" was certain he wouldn't meet Azzoc again, unless Azzoc was granted an audience with the Synedrium.

After that, Hans-Dietrix, a very old elven Druid, emerged from the woods. Distrustful at first, thinking he was the one who burned the forest. Hans quickly realized what happened and agreed to come back to Krammond to look after the bodies and find the ones who were burning the forest. Before departure, Azzoc read the letter which revealed the bandits were looking into an audience with Rafael Marquez and that the orcs have Duskhold. They searched for the best entrance and were almost stopped from entering, but the guards saw what was happening soon and were allowed to travel to Tiberius.

Azzoc quickly found Tiberius, who was out celebrating the arrival of The Rose Company with his son Valerian Ward. Being the bearer of bad news about his nephew. Obviously, he got visibly upset and grabbed the dwarf to ask who did it. At that moment, Ellroy Niscayne spoke up to ask if that's him, but wasn't. I gave him the coin while telling that Cass died protecting him and the citizens of Krammond. With the coin, he cooled down and went inside. Idris came by and offered his support. Meanwhile, Valerian (Val) came closer and saw his cousin in the cart. The cart was moved into a building by some guards to protect the bodies, and Azzoc accepted some unknown drink from Ellroy. Being ove 20 years ago since he last had alcohol, he quickly got inebriated and got carried to a tent by Idris.

#### A new mission

Azzoc was woken up by Valerian to go to Tiberius. Still a bit groggy, he went after Val, with great haste. There, Tiberius asked some questions about 'The Event'. Satisfied but surprised with the results, he shared knowledge about a location in the Durus Mountains. Azzoc recalled some stories about the Sphere of Odelia, which was confirmed. But, they'll need a new party. After a quick stop from Valerian at Cass' bedroom and the bodies, where he got 100g as payment, they went back to the camp and recruited Ellroy, Hans-Dietrix, Idris and Hector for the trip. Hans mentioned something about new stars forming, which appearantly doesn't occur that often.

#### Vampires and scouts

Not too long later, Azzoc and the newly formed crew traveled north up the known path. Again, they encountered the strange expensive carriage. Very hesitantly Azzoc told the others, who in his shock stopped and questioned the person inside. He was inviting us in, offering us a ride as he was traveling to Tiberius. Getting very bad vibes, we bid our farewell and Azzoc caught a glimpse of the man inside, silver eyes like a vampire.

During the night, Hans observed the stars again and saw the green and blue ones were bound to meet during domething called Heartmeet, in 2-3 weeks, a Voghian gathering of sorts. He also determined the green star is aligned with necromancy, and the blue one with conjuration. As the group felt to relay this information back to Tiberius, Valerian sought out a scouting post nearby. We discussed about what was ahead, which was mostly hobgoblins and bears, and asked them to relay the information. After Ellroy came back with some meat and a story about Enembra the hunter, we went on our way.

#### The Sphere of Odelia

From the camp, we travelled directly to the location the Sphere was bound to be, inside a well in an abandoned town where drums were heard. However, when we came close, we started hearing screaming and presumably hobgoblins shouting for help. A little hesitant, Ellroy went ahead to scout and found several stone statues while we planned ahead.

While silently going to the well to see if we either need to help the hobgoblin or whatever is causing their screams, we came across a statue which had some residual transmution magic, as well as divination magic around their finger. Still a bit cautious, we left it for now as we went to the hobgoblins. We soon found them fighting a creature from the well, tall with snakes for hairs. The hobgoblins were using their shields and striking it, but were already heavily diminished in number. Just after Azzoc detected magic the presumable sphere to be on a nearby hobgoblin, it was shot by the snake hair creature and killed. Our adventurous dwarf quickly used mage hand to grab the sphere while the others got in position to help and fight the creature. Just as we were looking, the snake hair creature did something that caused most of the party to start to petrify. In an effort to help, Azzoc activated the sphere and lifted the curse, barely in time for Hans to not petrify completely. Hector fell to a very strong attack, but in the end just when snake hair tried to escape, Azzoc struck true with some magic missiles, killing it.

As soon as it was done, the party started healing up and the hobgoblins demanding to have the sphere. During some negotiations, Valerian offered to have the hobgoblins come to Krammond to flee from the necromancer near their home which they were seeking the sphere for. They might be valuable allies for the Rose Company anyway. On the way back, Azzoc broke off the finger with the magic energy in it, hopefully unlocking it's magic in some way later down the road.

1. ↑ The rest of us seek an audience with Rafael Marquez, leader of the Black Hound Knights. If him or his warriors were to join our siege, Krammond would surely fall. We’ll be able to retrieve what is required within. We have made good inroads and a deal should be reached shortly. The Orcs of Urokh have already done their part and Duskhold is prepared for us.