Kashak, Last of the Bluescales (Full + Extra Thoughts for Patrons)

I forgot to upload this here! A portrait I did for a Dragonlance 5e D&D campaign I'm in with Falindrith and -Crucible-. My little level 3 Monk~

He's a young runt -- 7 years old, so barely mature, and standing a smidgeon over 2 feet tall, 24 pounds soaking wet. Was meant to be the next-in-line storyteller/loremaster/possibly chief in times of peace for his tribe, the Bluescales. They lived in relative peace after the War of the Lance, in which they helped the Dragonarmies near the end (not enough to cause much impact beyond harassing Haven, though). Shortly after the death of their leader, the current "storyteller", Vakla, became temporary chief, and the next egg to be lain was considered to be their chosen next-in-line. Kashak hatched earlier than expected, making him more frail than others in his tribe. His somewhat sequestered upbringing proved to be a small boon, however, when two years after his birth, a neurodegenerative disease decimated the population of the tribe. Given his position, he was protected and cared for early, and the disease only took the motor skills of part of his left hand. Others in his tribe were not so lucky, from losing control of limbs, to paralysis from the neck down, to slow suffocation as their breathing became inhibited, killing a third of them.

Despite this, re-population was attempted while the disease was mildly controlled... Until a horde of sligs went unnoticed by scouts in the area, and attacked the Bluescales. Kashak attempted to provide a distraction for others to escape, only for a second group of escapees amidst the chaos to collide with his, causing a cross-fire. He narrowly escaped, not without a disfiguring wound or two, and believes himself to be the last of his tribe as the caverns he lived in have grown quiet and empty. Knowing only one detail of the attack (a name, "Mahsu") and a ceremonial dagger he was entrusted with, he took to Solace nearby after a week of hiding amongst the hills, and currently works in the Inn of the Last Home. He cleans, sweeps, runs errands around town, and delivers meals and drinks for patrons, while studying a muddy scroll he found on a rainy day. A quiet peace, until a noble draconian visits town, causes a scene, and is recruited alongside a few others in the town to investigate a missing wizard to clear the draconian of suspicions...

A lot going on! Maybe a busy backstory, but I wanted to both play into the campaign setting while also giving Falindrith, the DM, various hooks to work with to keep Kashak wrangled into this escalating mess of cultists, kidnapping, green flame, and strange watch pieces~ D&D has been one of the only things helping keep my mood high recently, given the state of the world and everything, so I cannot thank Falindrith enough for letting me join his table online. ; ;! Thank you so much, man. <3

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Expanding a bit on that last bit -- the world -really- sucks right now. My husband, Goolashe, is at risk of being furloughed from his airline job for an undetermined amount of time. My tablet has been in repair for nearly 3 weeks now, with still not sign of when it will return, and with the news talking daily of how the current dipshit in chief is appointing people and helping sabotage the postal service. The pandemic still rages on, because caring for others for even just three weeks is apparently hard for people. The protests continue, despite the media just washing their hands of it, caring more about a store being looted than, I don't know, the police brutalizing people and escalating things, homeland security being deployed against civilians, people getting life-long injuries to their eyes and elsewhere due to police misusing their tools...

D&D, I haven't gotten to play it in almost a decade. I love it to pieces. Being able to assume the role of a character, roll dice, have fun, tell stories with friends, explore a world, paint a picture, sketch a scene, talk to NPCs that the DM or even others at the table have thought up... It's a joy and a half. Sure, the world you play in may suck, but at least you can try to be a hero and do something about it. I want so desperately to fix problems in real life, but I'm powerless. I'm frail, weak, a nervous wreck a lot of the time, and generally don't have the means to help financially or otherwise where it matters. And that's so demoralizing, coupled with being unable to work in my full capacity.

D&D has definitely filled a hole that's been missing in me for a bit. I'm still trying to solve a few other problems, like how to help support Goolashe and our household in this stressful time, but... Just being able to, once a week or so, sit down and escape has been... God, I can't even explain it. It's almost healing in a way. Even if I'm shy a lot of the time at the table due to anxiety. Once I have my tablet back, I'd like to try doing more D&D things. Either in commissions, or through Kashak -- he's proficient with Painter's Tools for a reason! For now, I hope my lengthy backstory and ugly little boy, of whom I took elements from both kobold AND Dragonborn, will suffice. 

Enjoy, guys. Thank you for your continued support. It means the world to us, both me and Goolashe, now that things for the future are looking a little more uncertain. Take care of yourselves out there. Stay healthy. I love you all~