Dryca
| Dryca | |
|---|---|
| Non-player character | |
 | |
| Basic information | |
| Race | Gnome (Nether gnome) |
| Biographical information | |
| Full name | Dryca |
| Pronouns | he/him |
| Titles | Mortal Champion of the Stormlord |
| Also known as | Dryca of Ghostwall |
| Age | At least 40[1] |
| Places | Ghostlands, Xhorhas |
| Affiliations | Kord (deity) |
| Mechanical information | |
| Creature type | Humanoid |
Appearances | |
Dryca of Ghostwall is a gnome that lived in the Ghostlands of Xhorhas, between 836 PD and 855 PD.[2]
Description[edit | edit source]
Appearance[edit | edit source]
Dryca is a male gnome with a stocky build, a bald head and purplish grey skin marked with angular tattoos on his arms, torso and neck. He wore simple clothing: a white shirt and dark pants.[3]
Personality[edit | edit source]
Dryca is a mysterious and secretive individual, and also cold-minded, able to take difficult decisions in order to protect his people. He also was somewhat loyal to the Bright Queen, even if not very devoutly.[3][4]
Biography[edit | edit source]
Dryca was part of a nether gnome community in the Ghostlands. At some point in the last three centuries he met one of the last members of a lineage of champions of Kord that warded a passage to the Dreadnest, Lolth's layer in the Abyss. After the extinction of that line of trusted heroes, Dryca became the only one with knowledge of said passage.[4]
After 836 PD a Luxon beacon was found by the Spider Queen's forces, and she used it as bait to attract and slaughter Kryn forces. She forced the cooperation of Dryca for that purpose, threatening to harm the nether gnomes if he refused. Dryca met Dusk Captain Quana Kryn and her forces in the Ghostlands, where they were attacked by a group of draegloths that abducted her after killing her soldiers. Leylas Kryn used magic to travel swiftly to the Ghostlands, but was unable to save Quana.[3]
Dryca tried to travel to Bazzoxan to fix his mistake, but he was captured, beaten, and brought before the Bright Queen. Leylas wanted to kill him, but Dryca revealed that he knew a way of reaching Quana in the Abyss: the secret passage in the Temple of the Betrayer Gods in Bazzoxan. Leylas agreed to his plan and traveled there accompanied by Roshan and other two soldiers tasked with keeping an eye on the gnome, whom they did not consider trustworthy. In the temple, Dryca followed the steps of the ritual, giving the Bright Queen the Stormlord's Heart as well as making sure she understood the cost of the rescue mission, for the object could only allow the return of one individual. Leylas, who was in fact a dunamantic echo of herself, rescued Quana and the beacon they had been looking for, and after the Dusk Captain was again in Exandria, she, Dryca, and Roshan returned to Rosohna.[4]
Dryca spent a significant amount of time in the Dungeons of Penance in Rosohna, but he was secretely freed by order of Quana and left behind a waterfall in the Vermaloc Wildwood, in the place where her daughter Caelestis, corrupted by the Spider Queen, was to be executed beyond the reach of the Luxon beacons. Quana sent Roshan and the Watch away and went to meet Dryca, entrusting him with the mission of running away with Caelestis and taking care of her until her mother could find a way of curing her curse. The nether gnome tried to flee with the Bright Child while Quana prepared to defend them engaging with Roshan and the Watch, but the stress of the situation made Caelestis transform into a monster and kill Dryca and then the soldiers, before being slain by Quana.[5]
Appearances and mentions[edit | edit source]
Quotations[edit | edit source]
- Dryca: "So that's me, I suppose. Dryca, mortal champion. Purveyor of the Stormlord's Heart."
Trivia[edit | edit source]
- Based on his full name is very possible that his settlement is called Ghostwall.
- It is unknown if he was consecuted, but since he died beyond range of the Luxon beacons anyway, he won't have the chance of rebirth.[5]
- In his second appearance there's a mistake in two panels, where he's missing his tattoos, although they reappear afterwards.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Gnomes are considered adults after four decades.
- ↑ The official Critical Role time line graphic, accompanying the official post "What You Need to Know Before Watching Exandria Unlimited", identifies the events of The Tales of Exandria: The Bright Queen as happening in 855 PD. It is presumed that narrative's present, featuring Abrianna, takes place in 855 PD with the events featuring Caelestis taking place before.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The Tales of Exandria: The Bright Queen #1.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 The Tales of Exandria: The Bright Queen #2.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 The Tales of Exandria: The Bright Queen #4.
Art:
- ↑ Dryca, by CoupleOfKooks and Cris Peter from The Tales of Exandria: The Bright Queen #1. This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
- ↑ Dryca with the Stormlord's Heart, by CoupleOfKooks and Cris Peter from The Tales of Exandria: The Bright Queen #2. This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
- ↑ Dryca's final moments, by CoupleOfKooks and Cris Peter from The Tales of Exandria: The Bright Queen #4. This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
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