John Octavius Gray

John Gray

Biographical information
Full name	John Octavius Gray
Species	Human
Sex	Male
Birthplace	Torbeck
Nationality	Kalderani
Adventuring career
Class	Assassin
Level	3
Party	TB31
Affiliations	Kalderani Extraordinary Forces
Status	Alive
Campaign information
Campaign	The Burning
Player	Bertus
First appearance	TB31 S01E01
Latest appearance	TB31 S01E07

John Octavius Gray, commonly known as John Gray, is a Kalderani assassin, researcher and operative associated with the Kalderani Extraordinary Forces. He is a member of the adventuring company TB31, alongside Alaric and Lord Mayfin Solcarth. Gray is principally known for his investigation of the Communion of the Golden Hand and Orrin Marr's Royal Watch Tower, his fieldwork in the Swamp of Azaar, and his research into matters bearing upon Kalderani national security.

Early life

Gray was born in Torbeck into a middle-middle-class military family. Both of his parents are members of the Kalderani Extraordinary Forces. He received training in military and merchant naval service; the dates and institutions associated with this training have not been recorded.

During his early twenties, Gray spent six months in Duskwood, where he met the druid Thalor Rootshaper. Gray became Rootshaper's pupil and the two became friends.

For a short period, Gray served on a merchant protection detail attached to a transport caravan whose operator had been subcontracted by the Jade Conclave of the Yellow Sky. He later travelled to Coth-Rom and visited its University under the assumed identity of a researcher studying trade alliances and irregularities which might affect national security.

Gray was twenty-eight years old and a first-level assassin when TB31 began its recorded activities on 1 January 4691. He has subsequently attained third level.

Adventuring career

Vertwall and the Communion of the Golden Hand

On 1 January 4691, Gray departed Vertwall Crags with Alaric and Mayfin Solcarth. The party intercepted a wagon driven by Tommus and Nolyn and discovered four crates containing severed human heads. They arrested the drivers and brought both men and cargo to Lady Gildore. Gildore's investigation revealed that the wagon's mules were polymorphed children, that one crate carried a tracking spell, and that the drivers were under a dweomer which Oohmian clerics could not fully reverse. The consignment had been intended for the Communion of the Golden Hand in Vertwall. TB31 subsequently reconnoitred the establishment and arranged for a local boy to watch it.

Royal Watch Tower

On 2 January, Gray used his navigation skills to guide TB31 south-west of Vertwall in search of an unnaturally broad wilderness path. At the apparently abandoned Royal Watch Tower, he climbed the exterior wall and attempted to enter through an upper window, but found the internal shutter barred.

After Alaric and Mayfin breached the tower's doors, Gray took part in the confined fight beyond them. He pinned Lynardus Waterman through the foot with a dagger and felled another fleeing defender with an accurately thrown dagger. Once Waterman surrendered, Gray conducted much of his interrogation. He learnt that the tower was an active intake and holding site for Orrin Marr's operation, to which the Jade Conclave of the Yellow Sky delivered captives, including children.

Gray prepared against an attack from below by moving six casks of oil to the basement entrance. When Alaric returned from the roof after encountering a vitality-draining presence, Gray took a plain gold ring from Waterman and passed it to Alaric. Marr had required anyone assigned to roof duty to wear the ring, apparently as protection from the tower's magical ward.

Assault upon Marr's complex

When Alaric returned to Vertwall to seek assistance, Gray remained at the tower with Mayfin, Waterman, Kevyn Star and Carlus Wahl. He kept watch and continued speaking with Waterman. After Alaric's return, Gray used invisibility to scout ahead while the party investigated the lower levels. The tower's captives were freed and a concealed cave refuge and treasure cache were discovered.

Gray was present when a six-foot-wide magical eye appeared and subsequently exploded. He joined the descent into the sub-basement, where the party found Marr and his portal. TB31 pursued Marr through the portal shortly before midnight.

Displacement into Azaar

The portal malfunctioned and displaced its travellers separately into the Swamp of Azaar, approximately 25 kilometres from the Troglodyte Lair. Marr died after rematerialising and drowning, Mayfin remained missing, and Gray and Alaric survived.

Gray endured the swamp alone for a time before finding Alaric. The surviving companions later travelled to Azerel. Gray's individual encounters before the reunion have not yet been recorded.

Fieldwork in Azaar and Mikelmin

Gray maintained field notes and maps during his travels. His swamp records identify a skinning lodge, skeletons, reed beds, fishing holes, a strange man, a witch's hut and a trolloc fisherman. He also found one unidentified, unusual crystal and collected pollen samples from five shooting flowers.

Gray later prepared notes and maps concerning the forested area above the Mikelmin Mines.

Appearance and personality

Gray is a twenty-eight-year-old man, 1.8 metres tall, with light olive skin, dark-brown hair and blue-grey eyes. He has a rugged, weathered appearance and sharp features. During the Vertwall expedition he wore studded leather armour and carried a light crossbow, rapier and dagger.

His conduct is characteristically investigative and tactically deliberate. He reconnoitres unfamiliar locations, listens for concealed opponents, questions prisoners, prepares defensive measures and scouts ahead when concealment is available. He appears more strongly motivated by information and useful capabilities than by wealth, status or prolonged social bargaining.

Abilities

Gray is a third-level assassin. His recorded abilities are as follows.

Thief skills

• Backstab
• Climb Walls
• Detect Illusion
• Detect Magic
• Detect Noise
• Escape Bonds
• Find/Remove Traps
• Hide in Shadows
• Move Silently
• Thief's Cant

Proficiencies

• Blind-Fighting
• Cryptography
• History, Modern
• Improvised Weapon
• Investigation
• Navigation
• Orienteering
• Reading/Writing
• Reading Lips
• Riding, Land-based
• Swimming
• Ventriloquism
• Weapon Specialisation

Gray speaks Kalderani, Shaikar and Ancient Gallentene.

Assassin skills

• Assassination
• Identify Poison
• Treat Poison Victims
• Herbalism

His combined training gives him particular competence in investigation, covert observation, poison work, travel and wilderness navigation. He has also demonstrated skill with daggers, a crossbow and a rapier.

Relationships

Alaric

Gray's fellow member of TB31. Both survived their separate displacement into Azaar, later found one another in the swamp and travelled to Azerel.

Lord Mayfin Solcarth

Gray's fellow member of TB31. Mayfin's present whereabouts following the portal displacement are unknown.

Lynardus Waterman

Initially an opponent whom Gray helped disable and interrogate at the Royal Watch Tower. Waterman subsequently provided the party with information concerning Marr's operation and the layout of the lower tower.

Lady Gildore

A powerful Vertwall magic-user who assisted TB31's investigation of the wagon intercepted on 1 January. Her tower was destroyed the following day.

Thalor Rootshaper

A druid whom Gray met during a six-month stay in Duskwood. Rootshaper became Gray's teacher and friend.

Research and intelligence

Gray has recorded several reports and rumours which he considers relevant to Kalderani security:

• A report from Tanner that an unidentified sculptor is a Malanthean spy who uses statues to communicate secrets.
• A wizard-related rumour, obtained from a young bard, concerning Scale's weights; its precise meaning remains unrecorded.
• Information that eight Ioun stones, described as gems, had been made.

Gray regards this type of research as work which Kalderesh should undertake in preparation for threats from hostile states. The claims above remain reports or rumours rather than established facts.

Possessions

• Backpack.
• Sturdy belt.
• Belt pouch.
• Light crossbow.
• Crossbow quiver containing twelve bolts.
• Dagger.
• Rapier and scabbard.
• Studded leather armour.
• Potion of healing.
• Potion of extra-healing.
• A badge issued by the Wizard Guild in Azerel, permitting entry to the Guildhouse.

Notes

• The character's full name is John Octavius Gray; John Gray is the common shortened form.
• Gray is described in the TB31 roster as an assassin/researcher.
• His recorded social class is middle-middle class and his Fame score is 2.
• His precise date of birth, alignment, religious affiliation and kit have not yet been recorded.
• The precise nature, duties and current status of Gray's own association with the Kalderani Extraordinary Forces require further documentation.