Niamh Griiam

Character History

Please remember that events described in this article are roleplay and acting. Actions done in-character do not reflect on the actual person portraying the character!

The Seelie Court

Shortly after Niamh had learned to walk, he was given a sword at a young age by his father. “Take this and do the name Griiam justice,” his father said with pride. From that moment on, Niamh trained every morning—sometimes with his father when he had time, but more often with his sister, who had gone through the same training at a young age. The techniques were fun to learn, but endurance and strategy were a struggle for him. His frustration often led to tensions within the family. Yorlias feared the shame that might befall him, and Taelia feared their father’s wrath. Niamh vividly remembers the anger on Taelia’s face after an argument with Yorlias. Sometimes, she took that anger out on him during training: “Try harder! Are you doing this on purpose? Get it together!” While Niamh and Taelia were never particularly close, they seemed to understand each other without words.

Their mother, Shivan, was often away due to her profession. As a guard, she was required to be present both day and night. Whenever she was home, she would bring clothes or pastries from the palace and share the latest gossip. Taelia always looked forward to her mother’s visits, spending long nights talking with her. Niamh, on the other hand, knew that he was in for yet another lesson on palace etiquette and the dangers of conversing with Fey. He learned these lessons the hard way—his sister and mother often tricked him into making unintended promises. One Fey moon cycle, he was forced to clean Taelia’s room. Even worse was the pact with his mother, which compelled him to reveal his deepest secrets whenever she asked for them. Because of these experiences, Niamh convinced himself that he was well-prepared for such tricks—and, of course, capable of using them himself.

Thanks to his relentless training, his combat skills developed somewhat well. While attending soldier combat classes, he held his own in fights against his peers. However, Oberon’s son, Kiruan, and his shadow, Awnyuh, remained the only exceptions. No matter how hard he tried or what tactics he employed, he could not match their talent. To make matters worse, Kiruan’s condescending attitude made life difficult. Every week, Awnyuh attempted to trick him into swearing a pact. Because of Kiruan’s high status, Niamh had few allies in training. The only one he could turn to was Ruahri, who was more interested in the arts and Fey magic than in combat and often skipped lessons with Niamh.

One day, Seamus, the old war major who oversaw their training, caught them. He had always been strict and tried to push Niamh with grueling tasks so that one day he could stand as Kiruan’s equal and bring honor to Yorlias. After the incident with Ruahri, Seamus exiled Niamh for five years to the Feywild beyond the court. “May the beasts and magic of the Fey Realm grant you new insight into survival and combat.”

During this exile, on the outskirts of the court, he met Fáinne. They quickly grew close, and he felt drawn to her. The stories of the brutality of the revered Titania unsettled him. One day, when he discovered Fáinne’s lifeless body, something inside him shattered. Lies, deception, and sugar-coated words. The sacred court, the military campaigns led by Yorlias and his mother, Shivan, unimaginable brutality told by Fáinne, yet hidden from him. He was expected to follow in his parents’ footsteps, just as Taelia soon would. It was the life his father had set for him. This court, which was likely responsible for the death of his newfound friend, and he could do nothing.

Who could he still trust? No culprit would ever tell him the truth, only twist it: “I wasn’t there,” when the real answer was, “I had someone kill her.” He needed allies. No, he needed more power. The mortal world held many magical artifacts. Perhaps one of them could force a mighty Archfey to reveal the truth.

A whisper interrupted his thoughts. “Let me help you,” said his future patron as a portal to the material world opened.

Two Fey cycles remained before Seamus would expect him back in the military. Surely, that would be enough time to find what he was looking for… right?

The Mercenary Life

Niam liked the Material Plane, Faerûn. Life here seemed much simpler: simple problems, simple solutions. No intricate schemes, no constant manipulations. He noticed the newfound magical power flowing through him. The voice he sometimes heard in his mind was clearly the source of this power. Niam quickly learned to trust it and follow its guidance.

During his travels, he encountered a group of mercenaries and helped them fend off a goblin attack. After spending some time with them, he decided to temporarily join their guild to earn some gold.

On his adventures, he met Krowhan, a dragonborn mercenary. Their friendship deepened even further when they discovered they had, unknowingly, spent the night with the same woman on the same day. After a few nights of celebration, their paths eventually parted again, but Niam looked forward to their next meeting.

His mercenary work led him to Neverwinter. The city always had plenty of job offers, though most were small, dull errands that the city guard didn't want to deal with. Finding a lost cat, tracking a possibly unfaithful spouse, running errands for an elderly mother—none of it paid particularly well.

In the Protector’s Enclave district, Niam came across Sand’s Magic Shop. His interest was piqued when he discovered the Ring of Truth. However, the shopkeeper, Sand, named a price far beyond what Niam could afford.

Determined to find better-paying work, he searched for larger contracts and eventually took on a job as a bodyguard, escorting goods to Phandalin.

Family Tree

Parents

• Shivan Cosain-Griiam

• Yorlias Griiam

Siblings

• Taelia Griiam