The story so far
Biography
Character overview
A young gnome male in his mid to late twenties, Finnetharyn Fimbleshanks, also known as Finn, has short wild purple hair that spikes outward like he's never once considered brushing it, and a matching short purple scruff along his jaw. His eyes are violet, heavy-lidded and confident — the eyes of someone who is always three steps ahead and knows it. His expression is a wide, slightly lopsided grin that sits somewhere between charming and dangerous, the smile of a man who knows something you don't and is enjoying the advantage. His build is lean, and he wears a brown leather jacket with decorative trim over a dark olive green high-collared undershirt, finished with a small star or compass brooch at the collar — the outfit of a traveler or rogue who likes to look just respectable enough to get through the door. Everything about him reads as a charismatic troublemaker who is frequently underestimated and quietly delights in it.
Finnetharyn Fimbleshanks is known for his magical abilities, musical talents, and comedic storytelling, utilizing figments and musical accompaniment to enhance his performances. During the Phaendar market festival, he attempted to create a diversion by casting an illusory war horn, but local hunters recognized the trick and mocked him. He later performed a comedic tale about a kobold who believed he was a red Ibzairiak, using music and figments to entertain the crowd, which was well-received, resulting in patrons sending pitchers of ale and food to his table. When chaos erupted in the Taproot Inn after Aubrin the Green was struck by a ballista bolt, Finnetharyn began a rousing anthem and hurled a telekinetically-flung tankard at a Fahrak. He was struck during his casting but continued to engage in the ensuing battle. After the fight, he listened at a trapdoor and heard the innkeeper shushing people below. Finn prayed at the statue of Desna for his parents after discovering his family home ransacked and bloodied. He found an ebony butterfly carving at the shrine, recognized as Aubrin the Green’s keepsake, and planned to return it to her. He engaged in magical performances to support his allies, casting spells like Lingering Performance and Courageous Anthem to enhance their capabilities in battle. During a confrontation with Ironfang Legion, he began a magical battle performance to bolster his Party as the enemy approached, moving strategically to position himself and casting spells, compelling a Fahrak Scout recruit to flee from the fight. After the battle, he participated in organizing the refugee Main Camp, leading a survival group. While exploring the Fanwood, he played magical music for a hermit, earning goodwill and provisions for the Party, and successfully negotiated a better price for supplies. In a later encounter, he resumed his battle song while his Fangwood Six fought off a swarm of wasps, contributing to their victory.
Finn has taken on a leadership role within the survival team of his party. He contributed to Camp's foraging and herd, gaining two goats, and participated in tracking with Wren. He assisted Wren's southward search and approached a Zulgat patrol, recognizing a javelin bait when one Zulgat beckoned and backing away. He opened the ensuing fight by casting a dart spell and later used a Force Barrage against the attackers. Finn butchered a gecko for meat and provisions, and after following tracks to The River and abandoning the trail, he helped find and harvest edible berries. He bolstered the Party with bardic magic against Bramble Lashes. After rescuing a wounded girl from Surviving Mitflit, he threatened a Surviving Mitflit, questioned him about a matching boot and nearby loot, and secured Surviving Mitflit as a guide to the marked "Treasure House." He has demonstrated magical abilities, including healing and cold magic, and has engaged in nonviolent communication and conflict resolution, such as during a confrontation with Kellogg, where he attempted to prevent further aggression while others aided Bruneg, using magic to restore Bruneg to consciousness on two occasions. At Gristledown, he supported the Party and used cold magic to attack a blood-soaked skeleton. He conducted thorough searches for hidden items and compartments, utilizing a Seek spell to discover a secret compartment beneath the floorboards of Kellogg's shack, where he found various items including another boot, twenty arrows, fire arrows, and potions. Finn contributed gold and some items to the Party stash and placed potions into the stash as well. He has knowledge of three ranger camps in the southern Fangwood, though their specific locations remain unknown. He has brought in small amounts of food while ranging and gathered more provisions for Camp.
Finn initiated the ambush on a Hobgoblin patrol with a battle song and a burst of needle-like magic directed at a trooper. He was shot by a surviving trooper before that trooper fled. After the fight, Finn participated in looting and continued with the Party toward the Caves. He later contributed an embellished tale at the campfire, presenting Vendel Coldblade as the terror of Mitflits. He has a keen eye for detail, as demonstrated by noticing shrieker mushrooms near the Cradle entrance. He used a tune to aid in searching the reptilian-faced Small Underground Chamber, where he discovered shiny objects and a hidden niche. He identified a Braided Root Cradle, indicating that the xulgaths regarded the suspended crystal as a religious object, and recovered a Potency Crystal and a Leaf-Shaped Gold Pin among the treasures. Finn advanced into areas with crystal growths to bolster the Party with magic and song. He triggered a hidden spear trap, resulting in injury, and was struck by a xulgaths clamp and critically bitten by a monitor lizard, leaving him weakened. He shook off some poison effects and retreated while renewing his anthem. He cast Animated Assault to animate corpses against the xulgath and finished the last ambush enemy with a volley of magical darts.
Finnetharyn Fimbleshanks is a survivor of Phaendar and a militia member, recognized with Party as one of the Fangwood Six. He speaks Fey, calls himself a bard, carries a lute, and plays drinking songs. During the night, Finnetharyn heard movement around Main Camp, woke Gundugar, and pointed out two human-sized shapes in the trees. He questioned a Chernasardo Ranger about the forts and Ironfang, then told him Party sought a permanent refuge for refugees and invited the Rangers to find them if they secured one. At Fort Ristin, Finnetharyn played a drinking song to lure out the Korreds, praised one’s beard, and signaled the attack. He blasted a korred with Phantom Pain, later dropped another with an enchantment, and finished one with Force Barrage. In the courtyard, he cast Command, Revealing Light, renewed Party’s battle song, and frightened several Korreds into fleeing. Against the redcap, he supported the front line with magic and song, mocked its bloody cap, and cursed it to make it easier to strike.
Finnetharyn is a gnome and a Nirmathan who uses magic. Longfrond referred to Finnetharyn as “the magic mushroom fairy.” He conversed with the wood giant Herge, defended the party by explaining they were Nirmathans investigating survivors, and offered Herge lodging in the party's cave. He taught Mira and the wolf cubs to sing over several days. He haggled with Norby and purchased a battle lute she brought. In the burned clearing, he argued that local Ironfang Legion were part of the invasion and warned about Ironfang Hobgoblins; he advised Herge to throw rocks at Hobgoblin Mercenaries Tied To Maltheum. In combat, he bolstered allies with song, inflicted painful mind-afflictions on a scout, cast defensive and offensive magic (including creating a firewall and later freezing and finishing a corrupted pixie), resisted the pixie's sleep arrow, and otherwise joined the party's engagements through the session.
Finn has demonstrated the ability to sing to produce battle music that enhances allies, cast Animated Weapons to attack enemies, and employ laughing curses to incapacitate foes. He carries a Force Barrage Scroll and displays a confident demeanor during battle. Finn contributed to the defeat of Scarvinous with a force barrage, supporting the party by renewing battle music and curses throughout encounters. He travelled with the party as an animal tamer, using battle songs and magic in combat. He first remained below the jammed stairwell, then reached the upper floor and began a battle song. He searched the redcap room, finding an expanded healer’s toolkit, healing potions, and bandages. Finnetharyn renewed his song and struck the older Redcap with needle-like magic. He calmed the frightened Draft Animals with a performance, fed them dried fruit, and told them to remain until the party returned. In the training room, he found and warned the others about a hidden stair trap. He bargained with the leprechauns over liquor, later tried to manacle the korred, and participated in the search of Halk’s sealed stone caches. During the fight with Halk, Finnetharyn maintained his battle song, urged a spriggan to flee with magic, and used mocking magic against Halk before Halk slowed him with oppressive magic.
Finnetharyn is a member of the party who carries a wand of reaching given to him by Vendel Coldblade. He tasted the fort’s pink magical paint with Vendel, but neither initially identified it. He assisted in retaining the Marvelous pigments for later use and commented on the sewing kit found with valuable cloth. Finnetharyn discovered a secret door in the former commander’s room. During a confrontation with a wooden guardian, he positioned himself to bolster his companions with Courageous Anthem; however, his needle darts caused no damage. In a fissure, he renewed Courageous Anthem and released a disorienting flash that dazzled two giant beetles. On the return journey, he examined an unidentified scroll until it was identified as a scroll of Cursed Metamorphosis, which he could not yet learn.