Zebedee
Gnarley Ranger
Zebedee, commonly known as Zeb, is a resolute and rugged ranger hailing from the Gnarley Forest. At 30 years old, Zeb's recent life has been marred by tragedy and a thirst for vengeance against those who wronged him. His experiences have honed his skills and hardened his resolve, making him a formidable guardian of the forest and its outskirts.
Physical Description
Zebedee stands tall and robust, with an appearance that speaks to months of solitary life in the wilderness. His unkempt beard and intensely focused eyes reflect a man shaped by the harsh realities of survival and personal loss. His attire, though worn, is functional, equipped for the demands of life in the wild.Rangers Background
Once a contented family man and proficient trapper, Zebedee's life took a dark turn when bandits, led by the notorious Feldrin, brutally attacked his family. The loss drove Zebedee into the depths of the Gnarley Forest, where he vowed to fight against the corruption and lawlessness that plagues his home.Personality
Zebedee is defined by a quiet intensity and a relentless drive for justice. While he harbors a deep-seated anger towards those who destroyed his life, he remains guided by a moral compass that aligns with the principles of The Gnarley Rangers. His solitude has not dampened his willingness to aid those in need, especially against common foes.- Resolute and Skilled: Known for his expertise in trapping and survival skills.
- Burdensome Past: Carries the weight of personal tragedies that have hardened him.
- Protector: Despite challenges, remains committed to safeguarding his family and locals.
Motivation
His primary motivation is to exact vengeance on Feldrin and his cohorts while disrupting the operations of bandit gangs linked to the Temple of Elemental Evil. Zebedee is determined to protect the innocents of Nulb and the surrounding areas from the fate his family suffered.- Survival: Driven by the need to protect and provide for his family amidst Nulb’s harsh realities.
- Revenge: Seeks justice for the brutal atrocities committed against his family.
- Restoration: Desires to restore his home and reputation within the community.
Relationships
Zebedee's interactions within Nulb are complex and heavily influenced by his past and current circumstances. Known for his protective nature, he has a contentious relationship with Lady Lmag's Men due to past altercations and a neutral but cautious rapport with patrons of the Waterside Tavern, where he sometimes acts as an unsolicited guardian. His relationships are strained by the town's criminal elements and his own quest for vengeance, isolating him further from those he might otherwise call allies.- Lady Lmag's men: Zebedee views them with suspicion and disdain, holding them partly accountable for the lawlessness in Nulb.
- 3. Waterside Hostel of Nulb Patrons: Known as a guardian figure, he occasionally visits to ensure no harm comes to the innocents.
- The Gnarley Rangers: While not officially part of their ranks, he shares a common goal of protecting the wilderness and its denizens.
DM-Only Section: The Darker Tale of Zebedee
Show spoiler
Secret Background
- Feldrin’s Retaliation: Zebedee’s interference in a brawl involving Feldrin’s men led to severe repercussions, including harassment and brutal acts against his family.
- Poisoned Meeting: A supposed reconciliation meeting at the Waterside Hostel ended with Zebedee being poisoned, highlighting the treachery he faces.
Motivations
- Desperate Measures: Initially sought peace through appeasement but was betrayed, fueling his drive for vengeance.
- Isolation: Increasingly withdrawn from Nulb’s society, focusing solely on revenge.
- Secrets: Zebedee suspects Feldrin's band has ties to the Temple's deeper evils.
- Goals: Intends to dismantle the local bandit infrastructure and expose any connections to the Temple.
- Hidden Agendas: Zeb's intimate knowledge of the forest makes him an invaluable ally or a deadly foe, depending on his perceptions of one's character and actions.
Politics and Secrets
- Conflict with Bandits: Continuously harassed by bandits connected to the Temple of Elemental Evil, complicating his existence in Nulb.
- Unseen Alliances: Suspected of harboring secret alliances to counter threats, though details remain scarce.
Zebedee's Story
Zeb, a trapper by trade, ran afoul of Feldrin and his men about three months back. Four of Feldrin’s men had been in town drinking a bit too much one day when they started harassing Kitty Girl (see 3. Waterside Hostel of Nulb ) a little too hard. Zeb stepped in to stop the situation, but it only escalated into a brawl. In the ensuing fight, Zeb snapped the neck of one of the bandits. The other three fled. Nothing good was to come of that. Feldrin’s men began to harass Zeb and his family. They shot crossbow bolts into his front door at night. They intimidated local traders into refusing Zeb’s business and set men to shadowing his wife. They even broke into his home and stole his children’s toys. One night, they killed Zeb’s horse by chopping off its legs and using the blood to paint a horned skull on his house. Having been through enough, Zeb arranged a meeting with Feldrin at the The Waterside Hostel . The trapper swallowed his pride and apologized, asking for forgiveness. He offered Feldrin furs and pelts. “My traps are bountiful,” he said, thinking that a bribe might calm the fury of the bandit lord. It didn’t, but Zeb could not have known that. “Indeed,” Feldrin said, ostensibly accepting the olive branch and shaking hands with the trapper. All was forgiven, or so it seemed. At least until Zebedee passed out from the poison in his drink. The next morning Zeb awakened in his own home, in his own bed. His house had been wrecked and thoroughly looted. His wife and kids were gone. There was nothing to speak of what had happened except for a single note. Signed from Feldrin. It read, “Now your traps are bountiful. And now you are forgiven.” Zeb’s lungs froze with anxiety. His chest clenched with panic. In a daze, Zeb left his home and entered the forest. He checked his traps, one by one. And one by one he found his family. They were there, caught and mangled. Murdered. Wrought iron bear traps had snapped bones and ruined flesh. It was a man who was made weak by sorrow that fell to his knees and wept. It was a man burning with vengeance and hatred who rose.
Zebedee Opinion on Bandits of Nulb
Show spoiler
"These bandits, especially The Hangedmen, they're a blight upon Nulb, a festering wound that corrupts everything it touches. There's no honor in them, only a hunger for power and cruelty. What they did to my family... it was beyond barbaric. I can still hear the silence of my home, where laughter should've been." "Naelin, their leader, he’s a monster in man’s guise, his soul as twisted as the dark corridors of the Temple that gives him shelter. They don’t just rob and kill; they take pleasure in breaking you, in tearing apart everything you’ve ever loved right before your eyes. If you're planning to cross their path, be wary. You’re not just fighting men; you’re battling shadows that bleed poison into the very land we walk on. I warn you, with every breath of mine that remains, tread carefully, for their malice knows no bounds."
"Vengeance is a trail left cold by the morning dew."
Zebedee Gnarley Ranger
Ranger Level 5- HP: 44
- AC: 16 (Leather armor + Dexterity)
- S 16 I 13 W 14 D 12 Co 16 Ch 8
Special Abilities
- Favored Enemy: Bandits
- Natural Explorer: Gnarley Forest
- Primeval Awareness: Detects enemies within the forest
Alignment
Chaotic good
Current Location
Species
Ethnicity
Children
Current Residence
10. Trapper's Cottage
Sex
male
Eyes
dark brown
Hair
shaggy brown hair and full beard
Height
6'1"
Belief/Deity
Ehlonna
Ruled Locations
Trappers Cottage by 3orcs
Comments