#smpr

First up, Wren Amberstaer! A highly refined noble wood elf from the Emerald Enclave, Wren is the party's cleric, treasurer, and resident complainer. Wren was the most fish-out-of-water among the members of the party, having come out to the Great Wide Empty not for fame or money, but as an exile from her family back home in Alaghon in the land of Turmish. Wren also occasionally has deceptive prophetic visions that leave her questioning if her fellow party members will die, or if it's just her goddess Selune playing one big practical joke on her. By now, Wren is finding she quite likes the rough lifestyle of a scavver, and eagerly awaits her next foray out into the desert...

Next, we've got Muriel Penmangle-Castor (whew what a name)! Muriel is the party's rogue-tificer, acting as the party's thief, utility man, and resident expert on Aberrant magics all in one. Muriel lived on one of the Castaboves before The Flare, and watched it happen in real-time from a distance. He's lived through the worst the Great Wide Empty has to offer (so far), and has only come away with a little bit of madness! At the moment, he's particularly interested in the spells created by the Aberrant magics of The Flare, regardless of what it does to his mind. Say one thing for Muriel Penmangle-Castor, say he's determined to get to the bottom of this...

This finely dressed fellow is named Atticus Freeman! Atticus is the party's Warlock, acting as an amateur occultist, researcher, and divine telephone line to an enigmatic figure only known as The Patron. Atticus also dwelt upon a Castabove, but just as The Flare hit, was snapped out of his reality and into a time-void, in which he met The Patron. The Patron had Atticus sign a contract, put on a suit, and promise he'd do just exactly as The Patron asked, no questions asked. Atticus acquiesced (I mean what else can you do when caught in a time-void with an interdimensional businessthing), and after an onboarding process complete with a powerpoint presentation, was dropped right back into the Great Wide Empty twenty years later. Now, Atticus tags along with the party, doing his best to handle a rather toxic work-life balance on account of that pesky Patron always cropping up...

This one here is Spike Speagle, with only a little bit of inspiration from the Cowboy Bebop character of the same name. Spike is the party's monk-fighter, acting as the heavyweight drinker, brawler, and sharpshooter so no one else has to. Spike's past is shrouded in much ambiguity, but he has worked together with Muriel on scavving jobs on more than one occasion, and seems to respect his expertise when it comes to more arcane subjects. Spike has briefly mentioned his brother on more than one occasion, but seems unwilling to share more than is absolutely necessary at the moment. Perhaps he is due for an unfortunate encounter with his past sometime soon...

Alfred Delveccio is up next, and what a gentleman he is! Al is the party's full-on fighter, acting as the pure muscle, the smooth-talker, and the city slicker as well. He was initially the most reluctant of the gang to continue on adventuring, having previously worked for the party's enemy, Jonithas Frew. Al had himself a gang of goons that sadly all perished(?) in the literally explosive final session of Act I. Al keeps a cool head most of the time, but has been known to lose his temper on those that seem to be taking advantage of people weaker than themselves. Now, Al is a staunch ally for everyone in the party, willing to die for his new gang...

This ray of sunshine is Aimens Ingres! Aimens is a fresh new recruit for the party, fulfilling the role of ranger. He also acts as the party's perch-seeker, pocket-healer, and friendly face to those less sociable, like Muriel. Aimens has come from Waterdeep, seeking out a strange voice in his head urging him to venture forth into the Great Wide Empty. He and Al know each other from Al's days as a mob boss in Waterdeep, but seeing Al as he is now (much more docile) has certainly taken some getting used to for Aimens. Aimens is seeking to become a Mage Knight, a well-respected guard position in the city of Boundtown. However, only time will tell if he will stay with his job, or seek the voice that calls him out into the wasteland...

And finally, rounding out the party, we have Flint Laramie! Flint is an interesting fella, taking up the mantle of the party's sorcerer. At the moment, Flint is the party's gunslinger, spellslinger, and problemslinger. His family owned a ranch out in the Great Wide Empty before it was the Great Wide Empty, and has since lost it due to a particularly violent altercation with some scavvers, one of which possibly being Spike Speagle. Flint has taken up his grandfather's old revolver, heading out into the wasteland, promising revenge on those that killed his grandfather and his kid sister. Now, Flint can only hope that no more problems arise on his account, as the party has already had to save his sorry self from the clutches of a particularly ruthless thug in the lower third of Boundtown. For now, it's only a matter of time before Flint and Spike are set on a crash-course to a reckoning...

Hoo wee! That's everyone, PC-wise at least. There's a whole cast of other side characters that you'll come to know as you read, but they don't matter quite as much as the stars of this show. Give it up for the fantastic party members of SMPR! I sincerely hope you enjoy reading through this blog. It's been such a treat getting to craft this world, watching these players romp around in it, and I hope you enjoy it just as much as we are! If you stick around, expect plenty of western, a healthy serving of weird fiction, a bit of comedy, a lot of drama, and perhaps even a hint of romance... (I'll let you speculate between whom)