Garen Warwick

Garen is the Character played by JJ in the Lobsters D&D campaign.

Childhood
Garen grew up in the town of Argiyus. His father was a blacksmith and taught him about blacksmithing and history as he was growing up. Garen grew up with two brothers, Kennor, who is 5 years younger, and Badon, who is 2 years older.

At the age of 4, Garen and his family had their house broken into. Garen watched in horror as the thief beat his parents and steal many of their valuables, including many of the materials each of his parents used in their trade. This plunged their family into poverty. Garen wanted to be able to defend himself and his family so that this could never happen again.

Barod would encourage Garen and Badon to stand up for themselves, he would often spar with his sons and teach them about sword combat. He wanted them to be able to join the army when they were older, as soldiers were respected and payed well. Mesirra worried that this mentality would make them violent. When Kennor was born, Mesirra saw how the "tough exterior" mentally had made Garen angry and Badon cold hearted. She made sure to teach Kennor to be kind to others above all else. Kennor had no interest in learning combat and instead helped his mother with the Tailor work. Garen and Badon were close growing up. Being stolen from and watching their parents get attacked make them want to be tougher so that that could not happen again. Their activities often revolved around getting into trouble, which often turned into thievery. Garen thought that it was justice that if they were stolen from, they could steal from others to regain the amount that belonged to them. Badon came up with the idea that they tell their parents they worked odd jobs at the farms around Argiyus, and that's how they were able to bring back goods. Garen and Badon would often steal food from the market, by having one of them be a distraction and the other grab goods unexpectedly. As kids, there was little suspicion from shopkeepers about what they were doing.

One day Mesirra brought Kennor to the market while Garen and Badon were there. Kennor saw Garen steal some bread from a distance. Not knowing why, he asked his mother "when isn't Garen paying for that food?" Mesirra figured out what was going on and brought Garen and Badon home. She told Barod and he yelled at them, telling them the dangers and irresponsibility of stealing. They promised not to steal anymore. Figuring out that Kennor ratted him out, Garen came to Kennors room when their parents were not around and threatened that he would hurt him if he ever told on him or Badon again.

Garen and Badon continue their lives as thieves. Badon would tell Garen that it was to get their family out of poverty, and their parents would be thankful for it. For several years, Kennor did not tell on them because he was afraid of what Garen would do to him.

When Garen was 11, he and Badon were caught stealing jewels from the king’s treasury. Stealing from royalty was a crime punishable by death. In the hopes of escaping before their identities were discovered, the two climbed out a window of the treasury. Badon was shot with an arrow in the eye during the escape, but survived and was able to pull it out, losing his left eye in the process.

When they got home, Kennor saw them with the Jewels and told them they had gone too far and he was telling mom and dad. In a fit of rage to stop him from telling, Garen punched Kennor, which was seen by their mother. Kennor ended up telling them what happened and Badon confirmed that’s how he lost his eye. Their parents decide to send Garen to boarding school due to anger issues and his parent’s frustration over his thievery. They did not send Badon because they know that if Badon was seen publicly, the fact that he only has one eye would identify him as the thief.

Boarding School
Garen is angry about going to boarding school. At school, Garen meets Maze. They bond over love of mischief and she becomes his new partner in crime. Maze is more focused on mischief for the fun of it, while Garen is in it for what he can profit. Maze helps him work on his anger and Garen begins to see the value in caring for another person over money through his friendship with Maze. He learns compassion through caring about her. This is the first person outside of his family who has ever tried to break through his tough exterior and shown that they care for him. Garen sees the disdain that Maze has over the typical roles she expected to fill as a girl, and he teaches her what he learned from his father about blacksmithing, sword fighting, and history.

Every week, when mail is brought in to the students, Garen receives a letter from his brother, Badon. Badon tells Garen in one letter that there are guards searching for the one-eyed boy, which has forced him into hiding. One week, Garen does not receive a letter from home. That same time week, Maze gets a letter telling her that she needs to go home, with no reason why. Garen wonders if Badon is okay, as this is the first week he has not sent Garen a letter in the past 4 years. He slips out of the school to check on his family. With Maze also going home, as no longer has any desire to stay at the school.

Returning Home
Upon returning home, Garen finds his family’s home burned to the ground, with “thieves deserve death” written out in some of the rubble. Garen assumes the king’s guards noticed Badon only had one eye, connected that he was the thief, and killed his family as punishment. He realizes that the guards will also kill him if they find him, since they know his brother was the thief. He flees town, in search of a new life.

Life in Stewton
Garen came to Stewton when he was 16 and began a friendship with the blacksmith, Baldemar Wayland, who was impressed with his knowledge of blacksmithing at a young age and took him on as an apprentice at the Lord's Shield. Garen is clearly shaken about something from his past, however he shares little about the events of his life before arriving in Stewton.

Values
If Garen does not have a reason to have an emotional investment in something, his goal is to get the job done, get paid, and move on. He is protective of those he cares for, notably Maze, May and his brother Kennor, but is often crude towards those he dislikes.

Flaws
Garen has somewhat of a smug personality/approach to others. He enjoying picking on those who he finds frustrating.

Garen has a greed for material wealth. He can become angry at those who get in the way of his material gain. This is something he has been learning to change the past few years, however greed is still a desire that he is constantly in conflict with.

Garen has a tendency to be overcome with anger in the face of injustice towards himself or those he cares for. When Garen sees injustice, he can become violent and reckless in an attempt to bring what he sees as justice to whatever the situation is. He seeks vengeance when he or someone he cares for is wronged.

Goals
Garen has a desire for wealth and has no problem with stealing to accomplish this goal. He has been seem looting several locations such as Herman's hut and the Dukes home looting what treasure he can find.

Garen is loyal to those he cares for and wants to do what he can to protect them. As of "Family Reunion, Garens goals are helping May find her brother Gavin, travelling with Kennor to search for their other brother, Badon, and making sure Maze is able to provide for her Niece.

Ideals
does not care for rules and appreciates having friends who also care little for rules, however he is also aware that sometimes, the best thing to do is to suck up to the authorities.

"A Mad Mage"
 Session 1 - 24th of Flamerule (DM: Nate) 

Party Members: Dru, Maze, Baldemar, D

Garen is working at the Lord's Shield when he hears a commotion in town (Something happens with a golden sheep but I'm not going to write about that because I was having audio problems and I'm not sure on the details). A town guard asks members of the Militia to investigate if the Wizard, Herman, who was exiled from Stewton long ago, is responsible. Garen, Dru, Maze, Baldemar and D agree to help. The guard gives them a general direction of where Herman is likely to be and then leaves to find a map. Not wanting the guards to get in the way of taking any treasure they may find, Garen convinces the group to leave for Herman before the guard returns.

Coming upon a river in the woods, The group sees two Bugbears dragging what appears to be a body out of the river. The group hides behind a rock, however the Bugbears are aware of a presence. The group jumps across the river as the bugbears swim to their side. The bugbears flee when they see the party is larger in numbers than they are. Garen wants to leave the body and keep moving, however the rest of the group wants to see if the body is alive.

The body is discovered to be a Warforged who has no memory of who he is. The group decides to call him shadow and, to Garen's reluctance, shadow follows the party, as he is thankful to them for rescuing him. Shadow asks a lot of questions about what things are, which D works to explain to him. Garen mockingly jokes that Shadow is D's lover. The group camps in the woods for the night. (TBA conversation with Maze)

The next morning, the party arrives at a farm field with a hut in the middle. Garen tells shadow that he should approach the hut, unconcerned with Shadows safety. He remarks that if anything happens to shadow, then he won't slow them down anymore. Shadow does as Garen says and goes inside to find no one in the hut, just a skeleton, which Shadow brings outside. The group goes into the hut and D finds a book. Maze snatches the book from him and throws it to Garen, who reads it to the party, identifying is as "the journal of a mad mage." The journal seems to show that Herman has been trying to regain favor with Stweton and Stweton has ignored him.

The skeleton begins to move outside. Garen goes outside and grabs the skeleton, stopping it from moving. A voice enters Garens head telling him to "let Herman rest" Garen discovers that the voice is a spirit who watches over Herman and wants to let his body rest. Dru asks the spirit if Hermans body can be brought back to Stewton to show that he was not responsible for the golden sheep. The spirit is upset that Herman is returning to Stewton after he has tried to return for so long, but reluctantly agrees. The party heads back to Stewton. Garen bring the journal of a mad mage with him.

"Goldflesh"
 Session 2 - 25th of Flamerule (?)(DM: Dan) 

Party Members: Dru, D, Calan, Cordelia, Gavin

Dru believes she will be able to use magic to help Gavin's father recover from goldflesh. The party goes to the Shepherdson's house to help him. Upon arriving at the Shephersons, D and Garen take notice of May, Gavin's older sister. They both approach her and talk to her about how she is doing in the midst of everything. Gavins younger siblings keep running into Garen as they are running around the house, annoying Garen.

D is eventually called to assist Dru, Garen continues to talk to and try to comfort May in the midst of her father being turned to gold. He gives her a gem (source TBA) and offers to make her a sword at the forge in exchange for a new set of clothes, as she is a tailor. He has clearly seemed to take a romantic interest in her. He leaves the Sheperdsons ready to make her sword and hoping to see her again.

"Sheep Heist"
 Session 3 - 25th of Flamerule (DM: Nate) 

Party Members: Dru, D, Gavin, Shadow, Maze, Malrakus

The party travels to the Stewton prison to steal back the golden sheep. Garen initially tries to follow the parety to see what all the noise they are making is about. He is eventually seen trailing them and plays it off as if he was just walking up to them. Garen mentions climbing up to bust in through the ceiling, which he is told would attract to much attention. Once inside, Garen helps to distract the guards while Shadow tries to pick up the sheep. He is unable, and the party leaves the prison. Before leaving, Maze has shadow pick up several flies that were turned to gold by touching the sheep.

Garen, Maze and Shadow return to the Church. Maze tells shadow about the Duke and how he tried to abuse her. Shadow becomes angry at this. Garen supports Maze by telling Shadow that the Duke is responsible for his family's death. Maze tells shadow that she trusts Garen, which means that Shadow also comes to care about the injustice that Garen just told Shadow about. Shadow agrees to help them kill the duke, should to opportunity arise.

Maze asks Garen if he still has the diary of a Mad Mage. He does, and Maze tells him that she would like to give the book to Elias, because he would likely appreciate having the book in the church collection, however Maze also wonders if the book could be useful and wants to learn the spells. They decide to hold off on telling Elias about the book.

"The Book"
 Subsession - 26th of Flamerule (DM: Seth) 

Party Members: Dru, Maze

Dru had a plan to steal the journal of a mad mage from Garen. Garen, Dru and Maze were all in the town at the same time early morning getting bread. Garen and Maze came together from the church, leaving shadow at the church for the morning. Dru tried to swipe the book from Garen, but he left it at the Chruch, so Dru approached them about taking the book. She told them that this was because she believed it could be used to help heal Gavins father (which was a lie). Dru initially tries to flirt with Garen, but Garen sneers at her. (Garen doesnt like Dru after she accused him of being a theif) - Glad that she doesn't have to go through with the act, Dru becomes more aggresive towards Garen. This makes Garen even less interested in giving her the book. Dru smirks at him, saying that she could tell May that "Garen was willing to let your father die when he could have helped her," Garen is irritated but concedes, not wanting his bridge with May to be burned. Maze asks for more convincing that the book will actually help heal Mr. Sheperdson Garen pulls Maze aside and they plan to give the book to Dru, but rip out the pages of the spells in the back. (Maze wants to rip them out to show Elias and keep access to the spells, Garen wants make Maze happy and wants to make a jab at Dru). Maze and Garen return to the church to get the book. The transfer of the book is planned for the beginning of the next session.

"Intentions"
 Session 4 - 26th of Flamerule (Dm: Nate) 

Party Members: Everyone?

Garen brings the diary of a Mad Mage to Dru, who takes it and quickly finds that the spells have been ripped out of it. Dru gets angry at Garen and tells her that he did not keep up his end of the deal, to wich Garen tell her she asked for the book and she now has the book. Dru tells Garen that she needs the spells in order to save Mr. Shepherdson, to which Garen says that she needs to talk to Maze, since Maze is the one who has the spell pages. Dru angrily tells Garen that she does not need to hold up her end with May. Garen, not believing that Dru really needs the book to help Mr. Shepherdson, Garen travels to the Shepherdsons to see that his condition is worsening. Now believing Dru, he returns to town and tells Maze that he is going to get the spell pages from the church, which Maze agrees to.

Garen gets the spell pages from the church and returns to town to find that everyone else has headed to the Shepherdsons. Garen arrives and gives the pages to Dru. Garen processes that Dru wanted the spells to help John, which means that she is a magic user. Garen shares this belief with Shadow, Maze, Dave and Gavin outside of the Shepherdson's house. Gavin panics, wondering if Dru is making things worse. Maze implies that Dru could know the witch responsible for the gold disease.

Garen goes inside and when Dru says that they have halted the golds progression, Garen asks for the book back. Dru says she still needs the book, however later slips up and says she doesn't have it anymore because she no longer needs it. Garen catches her lie and accuses her of being up to something. Garen threatens to reveal to the whole town that she is a Sorcerer. D returns to the house, hearing the commotion and tells Garen that he needs the book to get information on goldflesh. Garen grabs his shirt and tells him "you better be telling the truth," then tosses D to the ground.

"Deconstruction"
 Session 5 - 26th of Flamerule (Dm: Nate) 

Party Members: Baldemar, Maze, Shadow

(Gnome studies shadow, go to get glowroot, there is no glowroot, discuss plan for killing the duke, Garen works on sword while Shadow watches)

Maze, Shadow, Garen and Baldemar head back to the Lords Shield. On the way back, Baldemar stops at the home of a Gnome, (Name). The Gnome comes back with Baldemar to the Lords Shield. The gnome opens up Shadow and begins looking around inside him. The gnome discovers a needle and several vials in one arm that prevented the spread of the gold, while the gold is spreading up the gears of shadows other arm. The prevent the spread, the Gnome removes shadows arm.

The group travels to (Name?) to acquire more glowroot, however they discover that he has none. Garen angrily tells him that finding glowroot should be his highest priority. He tells them the the only glowrrot is very far away.

Upon returning to town, Maze sees May gathering water at the well. Maze and Shadow start asking May questions about Garen. May notices that shadow only has 1 arm attached and panics, asking what Shadow is.Garen diverts the situation by asking to walk May back home. Maze makes kissy faces at Garen when he does this. On the walk, Garen explains that shadow is a warforged and that they thought they could get shadow to carry the sheep, however sadly, it was too heavy.

After taking May home, Garen returns to the Lords Shield where he discusses plans about the duke with Maze and Shadow.

"Family Reunion"
Session 6 - 27th of Flamerule (Dm: Nate)

Party Members: Baldemar, Maze, D, Shadow, May

(Garen goes to meet Maze in town, shadow follows and asks annoying questions, skeleton comes out of lords shield, mob forms to find witch, Garen and May lead the charge, Garen dips into Dukes house, Garen finds Kennor, who says that Badon is still alive,Garen tortures the duke and kills him, Garen respects D more for assisting, Garen gives the sword to May and tells her that he is going to help find Gavin.)

"Coven"
Session 7 - 1st of Eleasis (Dm: Nate)

Party Members: Baldemar, Maze, D, Shadow, May, Cadbury

The party encounters a large group in the woods having a party. They join the party, however some members become suspicious when the partiers do not let them leave. There is discovered to be a magical circle around them that

"Hospitality"
Session 8 - 2nd of Eleasis (Dm: Nate)

Party Members: Baldemar, Maze, D, Shadow, May, Cadbury

The party travels to a hospitable monastery. D returns to the group

"Nightmares"
Session 9 - 3rd of Eleasis (Dm: Nate)

Party Members: Baldemar, Maze, D, Shadow, May, Cadbury

Garen has nightmares about his family and their deaths

"Past and Present"
Session 10 - 4th of Eleasis (Dm: Nate)

Party Members: Baldemar, Maze, D, Shadow, May, Cadbury

"The Calm Before"
Session 11 - 5th of Eleasis (Dm: Nate)

Party Members: Baldemar, Maze, D, Shadow, May, Cadbury

"The Bonds of Family"
Session 12 - 10th of Eleasis (Dm: Nate)

Party Members: Baldemar, Maze, D, Shadow, May, Cadbury

Group arrives in Winterchest. Maze is brought in to be royalty. Sometime soon after, Garen leaves with Kennor to go find Badon.

"A Guild Plan" (Garen returns to the campaign)
soon after Garen helps Badon to escape, a plan is formed in the thief’s guild to attack the dukes castle. D and Dru reunite with Garen and meet Badon for the first time.

"Castle Panic"
Garen, Badon, Dru, D, Crusher and Cecelia break into the castle, and fight off many guards. D, Garen and Badon all get into the vault, and get away with many treasures. Crusher is killed in the process.

"War stories"
The party arrives at a sizable inn, they rest for the night to lay low, and find the room Kennor got ahead of time. At dinner, some people tell them the story of the hero Garen Warwick. Unbeknown to them, Maze has worked to clear Garen’s name.

"Castle Nights"
Arriving in Patagonia, the party finds May. Garen and May reunite. They agree to fight off the bandits that are causing problems for the town.

"To Catch a Bandit"
The party goes to find the bandits. They encounter fairy fire and are led to the elves. They agree to bring the leader, Fang back to the city with them

"Get Out Alive" (Season 1 Finale)
Morristown guards are seen from afar in the woods. Garen forced Badon to hide. Upon approach, Fang goes with a guard to the city. Dru and D run away and are chased, Kennor and Garen are taken prisoer. Garen finds May is the cells. Kennor is taken and tormented and they find that he uses magic. Garen is free to go. Maze says she cannot help kennor escape. Garen goes to free May as she is his “betrothed” and bribes the guard to let Kennor out. They leave, find Badon, and head towards the elves.

Season 2
Season 2 begins with a 4 month timeskip. The events that take place at the Elven clan are recorded through Journal entries made by Garen, Kennor, Badon and May known as "The Warwick Journals."

Baldemar Wayland
Baldemar runs the Lord's Shield and is the blacksmith who Garen apprentices for. Garen sees Baldemar as a mentor-like figure. When Garen respects Baldeman, he does not trust Baldemar to know everything he is up to.

Gavin Shepherdson
Gavin often comes into town and hangs around the Lord's Shield. Gavin thinks that Garen is super cool, as he is slightly older than him and works at the blacksmith. Garen finds Gavin to be annoying, though Gavin is completely oblivious to this and follows Garen around whenever he can.

Mazeline "Maze" Lumley
During session 1, Garen can be seen sticking closely to Maze as they travel through the woods. The two seem to enjoy mischief together, as seen when Maze swipes the journal of a mad mage from D and plays monkey in the middle with Garen with it to annoy D. Maze also convinces Garen to join her and shadow into the prison in session 3. In "Deconstruction, Maze is seen teasing Garen about his feelings for May. In "Family reunion," it becomes clear that Garen is angry at the Duke for having a history of hurting Maze.

May Weaver
Upon arriving at Gavin's house in Session 2 (Dan), Garen takes notice of May. Garen and D strike up a conversation with her. When Dru calls D to assist her, Garen continues talking to May, offering to make her something at the blacksmith in exchange for her sewing him a new set of clothes. Garen appears to have a potential romantic interest in her. Garen walks he home from the water well in "Deconstruction," to the taunting of Maze. In "Family Reunion," Garen helps May rally the riot against the witch. At the end of the session, Garen brings May the sword he has been working on for her. Garen tells May that he is going to help her find Gavin and the two leave the Shepherdson's together.

D
Garen and D seem to rub each other the wrong way. D backs up Dru in "Intentions," and Garen makes threats to D that he will hurt D if he is not being honest about his intentions with the Diary of a Mad Mage. Garen spots D looting the Dukes house while he is fighting the Duke. Garen yells out to D that the Duke is evil, and asks D to help him kill the Duke. D agrees and assists, Garen, which gains D the respect of Garen.

Shadow
Garen enjoys teasing shadow and thinks its funny to tell shadow things that are not true. Maze convinces Garen that he needs to be nice to and look out for Shadow. Once Maze tells shadow that Garen is her friend, Shadow becomes more caring of Garen. Shadow continually asks Garen questions while watching him smith a sword and walking into town with him. When Shadow sees Garen torture the Duke, he becomes once again wary of Garen.

Drusilla "Dru" Sage Whittaker
Dru accuses Garen of being a thief in session 3, telling him that she is suspicious that he plans to steal the golden sheep before it can be returned to the princess. This conversation annoys Garen. In "intentions," Dru and Garen argue about the necessity of the Diary of a Mad Mage. Garen accuses Dru if being a magic user at the end of this session and threatens to tell the town. Dru also makes threats to Garen that she will destroy May's view of Garen. The two appear to remain hostile towards each other.

Kennor Warwick
Kennor is Garen's younger brother. He is clearly happy to see Garen when Garen rescues him.