Wellby Tealeaf

"Ah yes, I've had quite a day as well. Woke up late and I'm only now just getting to my second bottle." - Wellby Tealeaf, AoR 597, Commenting on the exhausted appearance of his companions as they returned from the cursed ruins of Berez.
HalflingBaroviaBardThe VistaniSaviours of BaroviatheirStrahd Von Zarovich.

History

Life in Barovia

Wellby has lived his entire life in Barovia, his early year spent growing up in the Svalich Woods. As a teenager Wellby began to travel Barovia, looking for a more purposeful existence. It was then that Wellby would meet the Vistani, a roaming group of humans and elves. While with the Vistani, Wellby learned most of his bardic skills, eventually becoming one of the better musicians around Vistani circles. While he was often seen as free and equal, at least in Madame Eva's group, Wellby became something of a pet with the Vistani outside Vallaki, the group occasionally caging Wellby so he could not leave.

Meeting the Saviours

Fresh off an escape from the Vallaki Vistani camp, Wellby was found by the Saviours of Barovia outside the gates of Krezk. Wellby had arrived looking for shelter, spooked by rumors of a nearby Werewolf pack. The town guards were not interested in unknown visitors, though they'd later be persuaded by the Saviours to open the gates to Krezk. Looking for a new purpose and protection from the Vistani, Wellby agreed to join the group.
Wellby would accompany the group to several important areas, such as; The Amber Temple, Vallaki, The Wizard of Wines and the Abbey of Saint Markovia. But it was his time at the Wizard of the Wines that would change Wellby's fortunes.
Once Norgold Dragonsbane had been resurrected, Wellby stuck around with the group, though with each mission he grew more and more wary of the danger they'd faced. Faced with the prospects of entering Berez and Ravenloft, Wellby graciously excused himself from the adventuring life, changing professions to what he would describe as a professional wine taster, much to the chagrin of Davian Martikov.

Retired Life

Wellby would quickly settle down at the Wizard of the Wines, being quite content with a life of unlimited drink and feasts. Because of his service with the Saviours, Davian Martikov allowed Wellby to stay and live at the winery. Though his overdrinking and general lay about attitude would often rub people the wrong way, Wellby's quick wit and charm could always win them back, not to mention his skill on the lyre was unparalleled.
Even after the defeat of Strahd at the hands of Colborn Sergeant and the Saviours, Wellby remained at the winery. He choose to forgo his life as a Vistani entertainer, especially since that group had been outed as servants of Strahd. Wellby would lead a comfortable life at the winery, drinking and singing his days away.

Escape from Barovia

Several years after the events of The Saviours, Wellby was offered an escape from the demi-plane in the form of a very particular magic item; a smooth stone, when enabled, would allow Wellby the power to travel through a Bag of Holding, into another Bag of Holding in another location. So it was that Wellby Tealeaf escaped Barovia, and became something of an undetectable pickpocket across Naneth.
No Bags of Holding were safe from Wellby's reach, nor were the trickets and coin held within them. Wellby built himself quite a comfortable life outside Barovia, managing to travel the world on the power of his stone.

Tomb of the Nine Gods

However, fate would strike out at the free-living Halfling once again, as in AoR 607, Wellby found himself transported to a Bag of Holding in the care of Hans Caldarin, an adventurer of The Slayers. Wellby had become trapped with the group inside the Tomb of the Nine Gods. Wellby decided to aid the group on their quest of ending the current Death Curse, which would happen to involve slaying an Arch-Lich; Acererak The Eternal.
Wellby aided the group best he could, though once the time came to fight Acererak, Wellby fled the group and found himself trapped in a room with no doors or windows. Wellby would have been trapped forever, had it not been for the chance opening of a portal, courtesy of Kairon and Hans. Wellby would escape death once again. With the Death Curse ended, Wellby disappeared into Hans' Bag of Holding once more, bidding the group farewell.

Basic Information

Race: Lightfoot Halfling, Male
Ethnicity: Barovian
Occupation: Bard, Professional Wine Taster, Pickpocket
Other Names/Titles: Tealeaf
Home: The Wizard of Wines, Barovia (Formerly), Naneth
Status: Alive

Dates

Born: AoR 562
Died: Unavailable