GRUMBLE ROOTDEEP
FeyEarth Worker and Tunnel Maker
"The earth is safe. The earth is solid. The earth... the earth is hiding something. And I am afraid to dig deeper.""
Identity
- Residence
- The Deep Roots, tunnels beneath the Feywild
- Civilization
- Fey
Appearance
• Physical: A massive fey with skin like tree roots and hair like soil. His eyes are the color of gems found deep underground. He smells of earth and minerals. His fingers end in root-like tendrils. • Clothing: He wears work clothes made from leather and canvas, with a helmet made from a hollowed geode. • Distinguishing Marks: His voice sounds like earth moving, and he leaves trails of soil.
Relationships
- Family - His tunnels, which he considers his children
- Allies - A mortal miner who trades techniques with him
- Rivals - Other tunnelers who want his routes
Personality
- Traits: Patient, surprisingly talkative for an earth fey, deeply proud of his tunnels, terrified of open sky
- Mannerisms: Touches earth constantly, speaks of depth and pressure, collects gems
- Voice: Deep and rumbling, like earth settling
Backstory
Grumble was born from the first root ever grown, and he's been tunneling ever since. His network of passages connects every part of the Feywild, and his work will outlast even the realm itself. But he's terrified of the open sky, of the vastness above.
Daily Life
He spends his days tunneling, his nights reinforcing his passages, and his rare free moments admiring his work. He hasn't seen the sky in four millennia.
Secret
He's been hearing things in the deep. Voices, movements, something ancient and hungry. He's terrified of what might be down there, but he's too proud to ask for help.
Story Hooks
- 1 Something ancient has awakened in his tunnels and he needs help dealing with it
- 2 A PC needs to travel through his tunnels, but he'll only guide them if they help him investigate the strange sounds
Narrative Value
Guide NPC, quest giver, source of underground knowledge, character facing ancient fears ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════