I got my start in tabletop RPGs with the granddaddy of them all at a very early age. But as other RPG genres emerged I drifted towards them and played Dungeons & Dragons less and less, and ran D&D campaigns even less often. Still, every now and then a friend would start up a campaign and invite me to play and I would accept.

These campaigns are few and far between, but here are a couple of notable ones.

Forgotten Realms Safe Haven

Forgotten Realms

I've played in a few (A)D&D games set in the Forgotten Realms over the years; this particular one used the Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition rules. The campaign started in Cormyr in the year 1572 Dale Reckoning, with the kingdom currently under a regency with an infant king and his unpopular aunt ruling as Regent. Goblins, orcs and the like were plaguing the kingdom as a succession war loomed.

After this, the characters moved on to other threats. After venturing into Sembia and doing a side trip to Waterdeep and surrounding areas we traveled to Shadowdale, visited Myth Drannor, and prevented an invasion from the Far Realms, becoming heroes of the Realms in the process. After this we traveled to the Great Desert and crossed paths with the Zhentarim. Sadly the campaign eventually ended mid-adventure, leaving things unfinished.

Duncan Dawnstar

My character in this game was a Cleric of Lathander named Duncan Dawnstar. Duncan had actually been a character I had played before in university in a 2nd Edition AD&D game also set in the realms. This was just after the Forgotten Realms Adventure rulebook had been released, which introduced the concept of clerics of different deities having different abilities. The Dungeon Master for this game had a habit of making liberal use of undead in his games, and the rules for clerics of Lathander in the Realms book gave them more powerful turn undead powers so it made sense to choose that as a character.

When a friend started up a 3rd Edition Forgotten Realms game and let me know that his group needed a cleric, I dusted off Duncan and updated him to 3rd Edition rules. Befitting a cleric of Lathander, this version of Duncan possessed some ranks in artistic skills, notably painting and playing woodwind instruments (he would later also get some magic items that lent themselves to these skills). By the time the campaign had ended Duncan had taken levels in the Lathander-specific prestige class of Morninglord.

Safe Haven

Safe Haven was a 4th Edition D&D campaign centered around a city called, unsurprisingly, Safe Haven. The party started out as a group of adventurers for hire, but over time took a more prominent role. The campaign followed the party as we learned about the secret history of Safe Haven and readied to defend the city and more from an invasion. Unfortunately the game ended before we could finish the campaign's long-running storyline.

My character in the Safe Haven game was a nimble dwarf rogue who bragged about being able to out-elf an elf, and who harbored a dark secret.

Gedderick Sunstrider

Gedderick, or just Rick to most of the denizens of the tavern he frequents, is a rakish dwarf who enjoys wine, women and song (not always in that order). Standing nearly 5 feet, he is tall for a dwarf, and though not always obvious he prefers the company of humans to other dwarfs. The name of Gedderick's homeland changes depending on how much he has had to drink prior to telling the story but it is invariably a "distant dwarven kingdom".

Gedderick can almost always be found at Joe's Inn in Safe Haven drinking, eating, singing or enjoying some female companionship (or some combination of all four). He is coy about his backstory, covering it with more boisterous anecdotes. The most anyone can get of his actual history prior to arriving at Safe Haven is that while he enjoyed the drinking and feasting in the halls of the dwarven kingdom all the digging was a bit much. He is much more likely to spin tales of his wanderings and heroic deeds since departing his homeland, some of which may even be true.

While generally friendly and affable, boisterous even, if pressed Gedderick can hold his own. His bragging has on more than one occasion resulted in an altercation, but more often than not Gedderick is the one still standing when the dust has settled from the ensuing pub brawl. In general, though, Gedderick can be counted on to be friendly with one and all, especially with attractive women. Surprisingly the one type of person that Gedderick is most standoffish with are other dwarves.

The reason for Gedderick's hesitancy with his own kind is his darkest secret. It is also the reason he is circumspect about his history, covering any inquiries with a jest or story. Though he plays the rogue the truth is far from the image Gedderick projects. For in reality Gedderick is a dwarven prince.

The youngest of six children (three brothers and two sisters) of a dwarven king, Gedderick was born and raised as nobility. Like his elder brothers he was educated and trained according to his birthright in the traditions of combat and craftsmanship of dwarvenkind. Unlike his brothers, however, being the youngest accorded Gedderick lowered expectations allowing him to enjoy the benefits of his station without the heady responsibilities.

In time, however, Gedderick came to realize the reality of his situation. As the youngest brother he stood to inherit very little. In fact, when his father died and his eldest brother ascended to the throne his station would very much be in jeopardy. Growing up Gedderick had made a point to avoid palace politics as much as possible, but the truth was there was a great deal of court intrigue in the great dwarven kingdom. It gradually became clear to Gedderick that when the time came he would become more liability than asset to the royal household, a prospect that did not bode well for him.

In the end Gedderick chose to take his fate in his own hands. Taking what he felt was a fair share of his inheritance Gedderick disguised himself and snuck away as part of a trade caravan. As time went on he made his way further away from home, concealing his identity but unfortunately not his hedonistic lifestyle. By the time Gedderick reached Safe Haven he had spent his way through most of the treasure he had taken when he fled home. Now if he wants to continue to enjoy the lifestyle to which he is accustomed Gedderick needs to find a way to earn an income.

And so Gedderick has taken to offering his services as a rogue to adventuring parties. There are those who, if they knew the truth, might be sickened at the thought of a dwarven prince parlaying the skill of craftsmanship as a thief. For Gedderick, his best option for earning money with his skills without revealing his true identity.

Incidentally, Gedderick's chosen name of "Sunstrider" is a dwarven insult for someone who prefers the outdoors to the underground dwarf realms. This name, as well as his less than couth behavior and even his trim (by dwarf standards) beard are part of Gedderick's efforts to hide his true identity. All in all, despite his efforts at making a new life for himself, in the back of his mind Gedderick fears that he will be recognized. The ever present threat that one of his brothers or another member of the palace will have him killed to eliminate a potential threat to the crown, or worse (in Gedderick's mind) some faction seeking to ascend to power will try and use him as a figurehead as a contender for the dwarven throne weighs heavy on him, a burden he tries to ignore with his pleasure-seeking ways.

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