Artwork by  sparksstars

Born the child of the trading lord Bartimus Graywater, many thought Art was a bastard born from one of the many elven maids under his father's employee. For most of his life, Art never knew. His father instead groomed him to one day take his place as both head of the Graywater homestead, Moonbrew Manor, and succeeded him as Lord of Trades. Over the years Art was taught skills in profit, persuasion, deceit, and learned both Elven and Dwarven tongues for businesses with outside dealers. He was also taught basic skills with weaponry to prepare him should the need for physical force and defense arise.

When Art turned twenty-one his father decided to share another side of his life kept in the dark from both his son and most of the rest of the world. Bartimus was part of a secret sect of occultist known as the "Yonoloth Brotherhood", a group of magic users and worshipers who saw all forms of magic, even the more vile methods, as a means of unlocking the secrets of the universe. It was also here that Bartimus met Art's true mother, Cikra, a Shadar-kai, who came from the Shadowrealm on behalf of their deity and mistress, the Raven Queen. The two had a secret affair that resulted in Art's birth, but his mother deemed the Shadowrealm too dangerous for a half-elf like Art, hence why he was given to his father to raise. This revelation inspired Art to seek out whatever means to find his mother, even selling his soul for the sake of power.

Calling upon the powers of the Nine Hells, Art summoned forth demons to bind him to an infernal pact to make him a warlock. His chosen patron was the Yugoloth known as Tibus-Kor a two-headed demon with an unusual affinity for mortals and there senses of "right and wrong". As part of their pact, once a day Art would dedicate one soul, be they beast or mortal, deemed "guilty of injustice" to Tibus-Kor whose soul would be sent to the demon to torment for eternity. Thus granting Art his warlock abilities he needed to finally set forth on his adventure.

In the following years, Art became part of a band of bold adventurers and set forth upon one quest after another. Their exploits included stopping an invasion of Underdark raiders, saving Waterdeep from infiltration by Tiamat cultists, sailing with pirates to find a cursed treasure, and preventing the summoning of an unspeakable horror from beyond the stars.

One venture did finally lead Art into the Shadowrealm where he was able to see his mother at least. The reunion, while sweet, was short and bitter, for his mother did not wish to return with him and abandon the Raven Queen or her people. In truth, she never wanted him to find her for what consequences might befall her, her son, or Bartimus for such a union. However, the Raven Queen herself showed mercy for a touching moment, bequeathing Art with a red rapier called "Moon's Blood" which became his favored weapon.

After his adventuring days were behind him, Art returned home only to find his father imprisoned after discoveries to the Yonoloth cult and dealings with criminal rings to further his traders wealth. Bartimus accepted his punishment and left the inheritance of Moonbrew Manor and trading line (only the legitimate ones) to Art. Begrudgingly Art accepted and used both his newfound wealth, his skills and influence from his adventures, and open-minded nature to reshape the Graywater name into something better.

Now, as a self-made lordling of the nearby village of Warden's Rest, Art Graywater spends his days tending to his father's name and business, accepting his quieter lifestyle. Though, like many in his shoes, a part of his years for his adventuring days.



Yeah, I've been nostalgic about playing D&D (thanks to stuff like Baldur's Gate 3 no less) and decided to revisit an old character I used to play. Some details on this oc have been updated to fit the 5e D&D but overall Art has remained the same since first playing him in freshmen highschool over a decade ago.