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Phylis

Phylis Breena "Sparklegem" Roywyn "Geargrind" Ellywick "Stubtoe" Mardnab Zeddlefeddle Timbers

Race: Rock Gnome
Class: Artificer (Armourer)
Looks: hood, helmet, heavy armour, sparkling blue eyes
or beneath all the metal: wiry stature, left arm and leg are missing, left side of the body covered in crystals, which also protrude from the skin in various places; black hair which turns into crystals at the back of her head

One Unique Thing

Crystals cover half of my body and pierce my skin in some places.

Background

Phylis Breena "Sparklegem" Roywyn "Geargrind" Ellywick "Stubtoe" Mardnab Zeddlefeddle Timbers [from here on called Phylis for brevity] was born 126 years ago to Aodhan Roottender and the renowned Alchemist Nissa Yolona "Bubblebrew" "Greeneye" Tayaris Zanna Zeddlefeddle, head of the Zeddlefeddle clan. Phylis grew up tutored by her mother, but soon discovered she was less interested in brewing potions and far more in constructing devices and working on metal and leather. Discovering her lust for adventure as she reached adulthood, she traveled the sword coast, learning from different gnomish smiths and artisans, though she regularly returned home to help out the clan and aid her mother in her more difficult and dangerous experiments.

It was during one of these visits that she met a member of the Neverwinter agents. Immediately intrigued by his tales of adventure, Phylis decided to join the faction. In the next few decades, she made a name for herself as a natural spy, scout and infiltrator. She traveled widely, still learning from other craftsmen, but usually also on a secret mission for her city. This might have gone on for the rest of her life had not family matters intervened. Back home, her mother had attempted for almost a century to settle the old feud between her clan, the Zeddlefeddles, and the Timbers, another clan better known for their mining operations than for their inventiveness. She was finally close to an official treaty, but too old herself to seal the deal with a marriage. Feeling she owed her family, Phylis volunteered and entered into a union with Warryn "Shortears" Timbers [name abbreviated]. The marriage brought the desired peace to her clan, but it also turned Phylis' life plans on their head.

The fresh couple was joined by more people from both clans as they set up in a quarter in Neverwinter, and Phylis had her hands full managing the running of the joint clan holdings while her husband was out prospecting. She never became particularly good at it, but dedication and diligence proofed enough, and the small community prospered. The birth of two healthy twin boys marked the high point of this endeavor, and during the extensive celebrations it seemed that the animosity between Zeddlefeddles and Timbers had been all but forgotten.

That all came crashing down just over a decade back. While the twins were visiting one of their aunts from the Timbers clan, a magical accident of still somewhat mysterious nature killed Warryn and crippled Phylis. Crystals covered much of the interior of their home, clearly spreading outwards from Phylis' lab. Warren was half transformed into and half impaled by crystals, his body rigid with a crystalline exterior. Phylis was believed dead at first, almost half her body having been transformed into crystals as well, but closer examination revealed she was somehow still alive. The Timbers were quick to blame Phylis and the generally careless nature of the Zeddlefeddles with their endless crazy experiments. They took the twins into the Timbers, and relations between the clans are now worse than they were before the marriage. The community Phylis had put so much work into building quickly fell apart.

It took years for Phylis herself to recover physically. Her left arm and leg were completely crystallised and cut off as she was removed from the site of the accidents. More crystals still protrude from her skin in several spots, usually hidden by her armour and a hood. While her mother nursed her she was able to adapt her armor so it would support her, allowing her to function normally while she's wearing it. Almost worse than the physical scars are the psychological ones: Phylis still does not understand exactly what happened, and her seeming unwillingness to explain has driven both the Timbers and many from the Neverwinter faction to distrust her - most suspect some fey power has guaranteed her survival, and there is the question of what exactly that power is planning. With patience and diligence Phylis worked her way back into the trust of the Zeddlefeddles and most of her superiors in Neverwinter, though there are still some who would see her expelled from the faction.

Personality Traits

Curiosity may have killed the cat, but I'm made of sterner stuff. I'll survive it.

My word is my bond.

Ideals

Civilization is our wall against bloody anarchy. Without rules and rulers, we'd be savages tearing at each others throats.

Bonds

Though few know it, I have served my city faithfully for decades, and I will continue to do so even if some don't want it and others don't deserve it.

I am loyal to my clans. Yes, both of them, even if one disavows me; I will never break the oath me and my husband made all those decades ago.

Flaws

I am very self-conscious about the accident and its consequences. I still feel that I am to blame for the death of my husband and the feud between my clans.