Theophraxis Backstory - Part One

The following is the first part in a set of blogs I'll be writing about Theophraxis, the gnome gunslinger I play on Time2TableTop's Dungeons & Dragons 5e  The Infinity Tower live stream. In typical gnome fashion his story begins long ago, certainly before his current adventures and in all honesty deeper back in time than any reliable memory can recall. Enjoy my ramblings and catch us every Tuesday night 6:30PM Pacific time on Twitch.

In the Beginning

Grand Ol' Tree was just a pleasant stroll from Around the Riverbend and an overnight's adventure to "The City." As far as gnome burrows went in those days, it was nothing special but those who called it home loved it exactly as it was.

The burrow was so named because of the Ginkgo Tree that served as the community's gathering place. It was beneath this tree that Heranomus Frinkke Rexadalica Wister Klingle Dutterwedge Omnibeard of Spanks Lerone and his family sought refuge from a horde of undead set lose upon the land by the Dread Wizard Snuffles. When the wizard was finally defeated and his army turned, Heranomus decided to set down roots beneath the tree partly because of the view, partly because of the network of caverns he found there, and partly (though one might suspect mostly) to escape his in-laws.

The undead hordes had done a number on the general health of the lands. There were numerous destitute gnomes, halflings, elves, dwarves, and even humans aimlessly roaming the wounded countryside. Heranomus decided that for the time being at least he could provide some much needed help to these unfortunate souls. The squirrels, badgers, rabbits, birds, and other small creatures who lived around him delivered his simple message: there was a place to stay beneath the ancient Ginkgo tree on the hill for anyone willing to work hard and do their fair share.

The message was heard and they came. Oh brother, they came. They came from all races. They came from all walks of life. They came from every trade. They came from every ideological bent. Within just a few weeks the caverns were full. Still they kept coming even though there was no place to put them.

Fortunately, the talent to solve the problem was readily available and nothing calms a mind like honest work. So Heranmous quickly organized the construction of additional chambers. They were nothing fancy--there'd be plenty of time later to gussy up the place--but they were livable and in so many unexpected ways quite comfortable.

All of that work required tinkers, smiths, stone cutters, carpenters, and other skilled folks. At the whims of luck and pragmatism, these good people had not been able to save anything beyond their most important or most valuable tools. So it can't be such a surprise to hear that they were simply under-equipped to do any real work on their own. Collectively, however, it was possible to assemble a massive collection of tools. As a community, they constructed workshops more extensive than those found in the wealthiest kingdoms.

Of course, they extended the natural underground caverns into a vast, intricate network. There really is no other possible outcome when so many gnomes with an itch for tunneling gather in one place for any length of time. An impressive above-ground settlement also began to take shape. So many people needed to be fed. Their garbage and other waste had to be managed safely. Lumber had to be gathered. Animals needed tending. Those who knew best rolled up their sleeves and organized all of these efforts.

The scars of the Dread Wizard Snuffles were not easily healed. Safety was on everyone's mind. In response, the warriors, magic users, and engineers who had found their way to the Ginkgo tree devised a defensive plan that included illusory magics, traps, secret passages, escape routes, and defensive strategies that would protect the burrow from attack. These needs were critical considerations for every new construction project that came along.

It became a habit for those in charge to meet once a week beneath the boughs of the Ginkgo to plan, problem solve, and manage what was becoming a robust burrow. At first, they gathered in a tent. Shortly, a small cabin was erected. Rooms were added as the community's needs grew so that eventually a sprawling complex surrounded that wonderful tree.

A few years of diligent work went by. Life was starting to feel like, well, life once again. On the fifth anniversary of Heranomus' invitation, a group spontaneously assembled around the Ginkgo to give thanks to the gods, to the tree, and to Heranomus himself. The gathering quickly turned into a 15 day celebration that drew in revelers from all around the countryside.

Every year after, the Ginkgo was the host to similar celebrations that only grew in size and merriment.

This spirit of joy, cooperation, and hard work weaved its way through every aspect of daily life in the burrow and its environs. Centuries later when the orc menace overwhelmed the lands, those who survived the harrowing flight to Tregeria carried those traditions with them. It was those traditions that drove the survivors to found a new community in the same spirit as had given birth to the home they had lost. They even went as far as to name their settlement the Grand Ol' Tree, a small but solemn honor that carried with it a new hope for a better future.

It was into this community, so steeped in tradition, that Theophraxis Tinkestro ala Mastrenordan Regalio Plinartee Sliverbrow Winterfoot of the Underroot was born a few years later.

Continue to Part Two.

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• Epic Gnomish Inventing
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