Rike Neelson

Rike aiming at an opponent

### Relatives

Janine Neelson (Wife, Deceased), Duncan Neelson (Son), Nathan Neelson (Son), Gary Slateshoe (Lover)

### Affiliation

Waterdeep Guardsmen, The Corlinn Empire(Reneged), The Corlinn Nobles(Reneged), Waterdehavian Revolution, The New Blades

### Occupation

Sheriff, Adventurer, Beast Tamer, Medieval Survivor Player

## Appearances

### Appears in

The Lost Mines of Phandelver, Storm Lord's Wrath

### Debut

The Lost Mines of Phandelver

> The moral of the story is, I kill anyone I disagree with.
>
> - Rike, to the Corlinn Nobles

Rike Neelson is a human ranger who was born on the Oregon Trail. An ex-sheriff, adventurer, and revolutionary, Rike is known throughout the lands for his adventures and escapades. An incredible shot and athletic powerhouse, he is a force to be reckoned with in any battle, even in his old age.

Being born in 63 BT, Rike is 52 by the time he joins up with the Corlinn Nobles. Traveling with them for a number of months, he became very close to Rulf Hewlett and helped him establish the Corlinn Empire, becoming the General of the empire's military. Rike was adamantly against any sort of government, and being a part of the empire was his way of getting inside the belly of the beast.

Eventually reneging himself from the government, he started an uprising in Waterdeep. Gathering many people to his cause and turning many against the Corlinn Empire. Rike's rebellion got enough numbers where they were able to make an attack on Neverwinter, the empire's capital city. There Rike met his old ally and now Empress Fridu Kretu, and attempted to assassinate her, unsuccessfully.

Rike's travels led to him joining The New Blades, who convinced him to turn himself in, which he did. During Talos' attack on the Sword Coast, Rike went missing, his current whereabouts are unknown.

## History

### Origin

Rike Neelson was born on the Oregon Trail in 63 BT. His parents were both outdoorsy types who loved hunting, farming, and all sorts of outdoor activities. His parents were also quite pushing and loved to challenge their son, they'd would force Rike to compete in all sorts of tournaments and championships. Rike was fairly competent in a majority of the tournaments he participated in, but his skill in archery was unrivaled. Rike from the age of 14 and on never lost an archery tournament. He brought back medal after medal for his family, who became increasingly proud of him. Rike felt a lot of pressure to be the perfect son, the golden child, so he pushed himself even harder.

When Rike was 17, he decided to say goodbye to his family, and head north from the Oregon Trail, he found himself on the High Road. Following the road, Rike found himself at the southern entrance of a large city called Waterdeep. Heading into the city, he saw a few archers shooting at targets and went up to start a conversation with them. The archers immediately were antagonistic and show-offish, so Rike decided to put them in their place. Rike challenged them to an archery competition, which Rike easily won, Rike laughed at the archers, and walked off into the city.

Rike found an inn to sleep for the night in, heading inside he walked into a very noisy room, with music playing, people singing, and people talking over each other. He went up to the bar and asked for a room, the innkeeper said that she had to check if there were rooms available and left from behind the bar. While the innkeeper was gone, a thief walked behind the counter and began trying to steal the coins from the inn, Rike noticed this and decided to try and help. Rike pulled out a dagger and pinned the man's shirt to the counter. The man noticed, laughed, and said, "What you gotta do that for kid? Gonna make me kill you, eh?" With that, the man ripped out the dagger and swung at Rike, Rike jumped backwards, dodging the attack. Rike responded to the strike by grabbing a nearby vase and throwing it at the man's head, the man stumbled backwards, rubbed his head then looked up to see Rike Neelson's foot flying into his face. Rike landed with ease on the counter after kicking the man square in the nose, Rike then realized that the room had gone quiet. Rike looked around to see all the patrons staring directly at him, then the room burst into cheers and Rike raised his arms triumphantly.

Rike spent the night at the inn for free, but he woke up to the sound of people walking around him he woke up just in time to see the archers from earlier surrounding him as he slept. The leader of the archers shoved a thick piece of cloth into his mouth then put a bag over his head. Rike was then tied up and carried out the inn, he tried to free himself from his bonds but there was nothing he could do. The archers carried him to a pier of a lake where they took the bag off his head and the cloth from out of his mouth, Rike tried to talk them out of it, but it was to no avail, the men laughed and the leader crouched down to Rike's face and said, "Welcome to Waterdeep, or should I say... Goodbye." The men all laughed as Rike said, "That wasn't very clev-" but before Rike could finish, he was shoved into the lake. The men all ran off, as Rike squirmed helplessly as he sank to the bottom of the water. Rike hit the bottom and was running out of air, but he felt a rock on his hands, rubbed the rope on the rock and freed his hands, with that he untied his feet and swam to the top. Rike pulled himself back on to the pier, gasping for breath, Rike looked back at the light emanating from the city, his head pounding with anger, he got up and marched towards the city.

Making his way back to the inn, soaking wet and furious, he asks the inn keeper where he can find the guardsmen and heads to their building. Walking into the guard's building, Rike demanded to see the leader of the force, and an older man stepped out of a back room. Rike turned around to see an older man wearing a sheriff's hat and the Waterdeep Soldier's outfit. His belt had a gold emblem in the center of it, the man introduced himself as Baron Fellfew, the sheriff of Waterdeep. Baron and Rike struck up a conversation in which Rike told him about his experience and Baron agreed to help him, not before scrutinizing Rike for antagonizing the archers in the first place.

Baron asked Rike to walk with him, as they left the Sheriff's office, Baron revealed to Rike that he had heard about his acts at the inn the previous night. As they walked through the lamp lit street, the sun began to rise over the horizon, then Baron gave Rike a proposition, in exchange for Rike's service as a guardsman, Baron would personally help Rike find the men who tried to kill him. Rike shook his hand and agreed, officially making him a part of the Waterdeep Guardsmen.

### Life in Waterdeep

Beginning his training to be a guardsman, Rike went through many trials. However, due to his athletic ability and natural skills, he was able to breeze quickly through it. There he met fellow trainee, Richard Nixon, and the two became close friends. They often would go to a pub after training, or they would patrol together.

Finishing training, Baron saw much potential in Rike Neelson, and would take him on as an apprentice, looking to make him the next Sheriff. Whenever Rike was not patrolling as a guard, Rike was working with Baron to try and get his revenge on the men who tried to take his life, it was clear that Rike had an obsession.

After two years of looking for them to no avail, there was a brawl in the main square of the city. Rike rushed there with his fellow officer Richard and Sheriff Fellfew. Attempting to stop the madness in the streets, Rike saw one of the men that had tied him up in the crowd. Rike aimed his crossbow at him and fired at him in the chest, Rike rushed over to the man, who immediately recognized him. Rike smiled as he got his revenge on one of the men that tried to kill him. Rike then pulled the arrow from the man's chest and continued to try and stop the brawl. After about 20-30 minutes the brawl had essentially ended on its own. There were three dead bodies left after everyone walked away. Two were random people who had started the fight, but the other was the one Rike had shot. The two men were bloodied and bruised, clearly being killed by punches and blunt damage. As the other guardsmen inspected the man with an arrow wound, Rike acted like he had no idea, and he got away with it.

Heading back to his house, Rike felt guilty for what he had done and realized that it didn't make him feel any better. Rike had a sleepless night as he thought about what he had done. In the morning, Rike went to Sheriff Fellfew's office and told him what he had done, Rike told him everything. After Rike finished, Fellfew laughed, confused Rike asked what was funny. Fellfew explained that it was nothing to be guilty about, and he joked about how many people he killed because they crossed him. This was the first time Rike became weary of Fellfew.

Rike went to his friend, Richard, and told him about his newfound suspicion of the sheriff. The two decided to follow Fellfew as he left the office that night. As night came, Richard and Rike left the guardsman building, saying goodbye to Fellfew, but then they went around behind the building and watched, waiting for Fellfew to leave. After about an hour, Fellfew left the building and headed toward the city center. Rike and Richard were on his trail, following his every move, Fellfew looked as if he was walking towards his house, but the two guardsmen were surprised when he continued walking past his house when he got to it. Fellfew went to a building and knocked on the door four times, the door opened to reveal a man in a red cloak. Fellfew was let in. Rike and Richard looked around to try and figure out what to do now, Rike decided to jump up and climb through a second story window of the building.

Entering through a window, Rike headed for the stairs, as he walked down, he saw a group of red cloaked men talking to Fellfew. They were discussing, "their deal," and how Fellfew wasn't giving his part. Fellfew then mentioned their name, The Redbrands. Shocked, Rike ran up the stairs and left the building the same way he went in.

Telling Richard what he saw, the pair decided to confront Fellfew the next morning. That's exactly what they did, the next morning they both went into Fellfew's office and told him that they knew he was in conjunction with the Redbrands. Shocked and angered, Fellfew sat silently, then chuckled slightly. Fellfew grabbed a glass of whiskey and took a sip, before chucking it straight at Richard Nixon. Richard fell backwards, hitting his head on the wall and incapacitating himself. Rike reacted immediately throwing a dagger at Fellfew, who had now pulled out two maces. Fellfew deflected the dagger by swinging upwards with a mace. Fellfew then dove out the window outside his office, landing on the grass outside. Rike grabbed a crossbow that was hung on the wall and chased after him. The battle took to the streets, with Rike shooting at Fellfew. Fellfew dodged multiple arrows then ran at Rike and struck him in the stomach with a heavy blow from his mace. Rike fell down, gasping for breath, but then stabbed a dagger through Fellfew's foot, causing him to fall in pain. Rike grabbed his crossbow, aimed at Fellfew's heart, and said, "Well Sheriff, it's been a pleasure." Rike smiled at Fellfew as Fellfew began to plead, "No, No! Wai-" as Rike shot him in the heart.

With Fellfew dead on the street, Rike took the sheriff's hat off of his corpse and placed it on his own head. Rike became the new Sheriff of Waterdeep, with a new mission, clear the streets of the Redbrands.

### Hunting the Redbrands

Rike was instated as the new sheriff, and at 19 years old, was the youngest sheriff in Waterdeep history. Rike led a new initiative to hunt the Redbrands and clear them of Waterdeep. Rike's first target was the Redbrand building where Fellfew talked with the gang. Unfortunately, when Rike and his men got there, the building was clear of Redbrands. Rike, was very frustrated and stormed out of the building.

Rike spent three years searching for the Redbrands, but he had no luck until a citizen came to the Sheriff's office and told Rike about a Redbrand sighting. Rike gathered his men and brought them to where the sighting was, which was in a clearing in the woods, when out of nowhere arrows started flying out of the trees at Rike's men. Rike yelled for his men to scatter as they had been led into a trap. Rike saw a Redcloak and shot at it, he heard a man scream in pain. Rike smirked at the fact that he got one, then Rike yelled, "Nixon! With me!" Rike ran into the trees with his crossbow. Rike found the body of the man he shot, he found a dagger with a magical crystal on it. Rike picked up the dagger and felt a magical energy flow through it. Rike took the man's dagger and scabbard, attaching it to his belt.

Rike, alongside Richard, shot Redbrand after Redbrand, eliminating them with ease, the two were a powerful duo. Rike saw the Redbrands running into a cave in the woods, and Rike ran after them.

Entering the cave, Rike pulled out his sword rather than his crossbow. Rike heard footsteps and people talking deeper into the cave. Rike announced himself, telling them to all just give themselves up. When suddenly an arrow flew out of the darkness, but Rike sidestepped, dodging the arrow. Rike then saw the man who shot it, then charged at him with his sword, stabbing him through the chest.

After making his way through the cave, Rike had slain multiple Redbrands in here already. Rike walked cautiously down a corridor, he came across a sharp turn in the cave, he peered around to see a man with tattoos on his face meditating next to a fire. Rike walked around the corner and yelled at the man to get up. The tattooed redbrand looked up at him, and screeched, launching himself at Rike was baffled and said, "What the fuck?" As he was tackled to the ground, knocking the hat off his head. The redbrand and Rike fought for a while in the cave, their swords clashing. Rike got slashed across the left side of his stomach and grimaced in pain, but then Rike grabbed the man's shoulder and stabbed through his chest, killing him. Rike took a closer look at the man's face and recognized him as the man who tried to kill him on his first night in Waterdeep, the only difference were the tattoos that were now on his face. Rike chuckled and said, "Bastard," picking his hat back up and leaving the corpse there to rot.

After clearing out the cave, and effectively wiping out the Redbrands, Rike returned as a hero to Waterdeep. Rike had accomplished his goal, he was just unsure of what to do now.

### Hero of Waterdeep

Rike, now 22, had a fairly easy life being the sheriff of a town now ridded of criminals, very much thanks to his own efforts. Rike worked with the Judge of Waterdeep, Mason Drawl, to increase the quality of the city itself. Rike worked to make the city a better place for people to live.

One night while Rike was walking through town, he decided to get dinner. He walked into a restaurant and was greeted by everyone in there, Rike smiled sheepishly and waved at the patrons and workers. Rike sat down at a table, this was where he met Janine Neelson. Most people in the town treated Rike as if he was some sort of God among men, but Janine never acted that way, in fact, she laughed at him and made fun of him. This peaked Rike's interest, the two immediately hit it off in the restaurant that night. They talked for hours upon hours and eventually Rike was forced to leave due to the restaurant closing. Rike awkwardly said goodbye, just for Janine to say, "Aren't you going to walk me home?" Rike very happily agreed to that idea.

After arriving at her home, Rike and Janine shared a kiss. Saying goodbye, Rike asked if he could see her tomorrow, to which she agreed. Rike and Janine saw each other many times after that, and after two years, Rike asked her to get married. The pair married four months after his proposal. Rike and Janine lived happily for a long time.

About six years after their marriage, Rike participated in reality crystal show, Medieval Survivor, where he placed fifth.

Rike's life was generally calm for about six years, that all changed when his first son, Duncan, was born. A year after that, came his second son, Nathan. Rike, Janine, Duncan, and Nathan were a happy and healthy family.

### Leaving Waterdeep

Rike, dealing with the death of Janine, left Waterdeep for long periods of time. He also decided to resign from his role as Sheriff and let Richard Nixon take that role. Duncan and Nathan were left under the care of Janine's mother.

Rike was fueled by anger and hatred due to what had happened. His mental state began to spiral down, and he began killing as a sell sword, not caring if the people he was killing were evil or not. Rike spent years as a vagabond, returning to his home in Waterdeep every other month or so. This all changed when he went to Phandalin in 11 BT

### Traveling With the Corlinn Nobles

Rike came across an adventuring party who was led by Rulf Hewlett. The party had recently lost a member and were eager to fill that spot, Rike traveled with this group for months, and assisted as they hunted down his old enemy, the Redbrands, who he assumed incorrectly had been gone for a while. Rike got along well with the party, which consisted of Krisena Quinne and Fridu Kretu. He also got along quite well with the goblin that the party had adopted, Droop, and he took ownership of the horse that the group owned, Big Sebastian.

When Rulf revealed his goal to create a new empire, Rike was very much against the idea, as he hated governments, due to what happened, he viewed them as oppressive and destructive. Rike bit his tongue however, and decided to help Rulf, mainly because he thought it was such an outlandish idea that it would never happen, and also because Rulf had helped him as well. Rike assisted as Rulf traveled from town to town, recruiting villages to newly founded Corlinn Empire.

Rike decided to return to Waterdeep with the Corlinn Nobles, when he got there, he was shocked to find out that he was considered a criminal for not paying his taxes, and that his two sons were sitting in jail because of his actions. Rike talked with his old friend, Germy Rounder, and convinced him to let him through the main gates. When the party made it through the gates, Germy declared that he was with Rike. They decided it would be too dangerous for Rike to walk around without a disguise, so they shaved off his mustache and hoped nobody would recognize him

Making their way to the courthouse, Rike was immediately recognized by the Judge, Mason Drawl, despite Rike's protest that his name was not Rike, and was in fact *Michael Venepor*. Giving up the act, Rike demanded his sons be freed, when the Judge declared he would not free them, Rike was shocked and hurt, because he viewed Mason as a friend. Nevertheless, Rike went to the jail himself and freed Duncan and Nathan, who were very happy to see him. Rike returned to the courthouse to try and convince the Judge to let him go, but when the Judge tried to have Rike apprehended, Rike shot him through the head, killing him. Rike was saddened by this, but did not show it, he decided that his old friends viewed him as an enemy, and if that's what they wanted to view him as, that's what he'd be.

Rike and the Corlinn Nobles made their way to the sheriff's office, where Rike met his old friend, Richard Nixon. Richard had admitted to turning the town against him and disgracing his legacy. Rike asked his old friend to settle this the old-fashioned way, with a duel. They went back-to-back, took ten paces from eachother then turned around and shot, Richard was known for being quick with a crossbow, but Rike was quicker. Richard was shot straight through the head, killing him instantly. Unfortunately for Germy, the arrow that Richard Nixon shot struck Germy in the ribs. Germy was rushed to a wraith named Mykrul that Rulf knew, so he was saved from the brink of death.

Germy Rounder was instated as the new Sheriff of Waterdeep, Germy ensured Rike that he would restore Waterdeep to its old status and make it a city worth living in. Rike was confident in Germy, as Rike was heading out to leave through the city's main gate, Rulf began talking to Germy about joining the Corlinn Empire and after a long discussion, Germy agreed. Rike was angered by this, but bit his tongue once again, saying nothing. The Corlinn Nobles left Waterdeep and headed north.

Rike proved to be an integral part of the group and his importance showed itself when he helped recruit the group of sell swords to fight a dragon in Thundertree. After the battle of Thundertree, where the group cleared the town of the infesting monsters, Rike watched as Rulf recruited the sell swords to their cause and rallied them to attack Neverwinter. Rulf was successful in his recruitment and the newly formed army rode towards Neverwinter, attacking the capital of the Empire.

Rike assisted Rulf in the capturing of Neverwinter and arresting the old emperor. Rulf took the throne, appointing himself as Emperor, and appointed Rike as the general of the Corlinn Military, which was a great job for Rike in theory, but Rike's hatred of government led to him making the army be complacent and unmoving.

### General Neelson

Becoming a general really didn't affect Rike's life too much, after traveling with the Corlinn Nobles for a while they split up to do their newly appointed jobs. For about a year Rike was working on a project of his own though, starting a revolution to take down the newly formed empire. Rike had been planning this for a while, he used the Corlinn Empire to destroy the previous empire, which would've been too powerful for him to do on his own.

After a year apart from the Corlinn Nobles, they reunite after hearing word about the Black Spider being in the Wave Echo Caves. Joining once again with Rulf Hewlett, Fridu Kretu, Krisena Quinne, Skeletron, and Droop. The party made their way to Wave Echo Caves, upon their arrival they met a Half-Elf Wizard named Brevaion. A rivalry quickly started between Rike and Brevaion.

## Abilities/Skills

* Acrobatics
* Agility
* Skilled Marksman
* Charisma
* Swordsmanship

## Gear

* Heavy Crossbow
* Dagger of Returning
* Rapier
* Whip