Geertruud Smallbottom
Note: this article is a work in progress.
Many of the books and brochures about foreign countries, traditions, animals and plants available in Farenia are connected to one name: Geertruud Smallbottom. There is not a single bookstore or library in Farenia, that doesn't have a book or two of hers, or one of the maps. And all of them usually show signs of heavy use.
The travels of Geertruud Smallbottom:
Starting her career as a magician, she soon got bored by all the theory and after some incidents, she quit her apprenticeship, packed her most important items into a leather bag and left Perelline for good with the next ship to Land's End on that same day. After exploring Shirki for some months, she contacted her friend Margo Weedlebeam in Perelline, to start a business for publishing books and maps.
Ojiro (Han), day 15 to 17 - Locals had told us stories about the Orochi, a giant eight-headed dragon. So we travelled northeast to see it. Finally, we arrived at a big lake where it was supposed to be. There sat an elderly man with a long white beard, wearing a straw hat and playing a wooden flute. When he had finished his fine melody, he greeted us warmly and said: "If you can reach that small group of trees over there and come back while the melody is still playing, this stone is all yours." - He held up an almost fist-sized sphere of jade. - "If you cannot, you have to spend a night with me." - We willingly accepted, as we were sure to win, having heard the melody and measured the distance to the trees.
When we were preparing to run, the old man grinned, played three tunes and then broke the flute in two and said:
Geertruud introduced the Words of Aziz to Farenia, which are now getting imported in large numbers for Queen's Day and other festivities.
"You have lost, you won't make it back while the melody is still playing."
The next morning the old man left with evil laughter, transformed into a giant eight-headed dragon and flew away.
G. Smallbottom, Never underestimate a dragon
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Geertruud by ZeD (commission)
Facial Features
Despite being outside and in the sun a lot, she has pretty pale skin with a permanent blush on her face, it is unclear though if it is a bodily feature or a sign of the permanent embarrassment she is in due to all the things happening to her.
Identifying Characteristics
Geertruud has a colourful body tattoo starting at the neck and going down to her ankles.
Physical quirks
When excited, she gets an intense hiccup.
Special abilities
Geertruud has the innate skill to get into trouble and embarrassing situations, many of them include damaging or losing some of her clothing. If there is a muddy puddle to fall in, she will be the first to do so.
She has developed some expertise in plants and all things edible.
She has developed some expertise in plants and all things edible.
Apparel & Accessories
edited photo of a real dress by Tillerz
Geertruud is usually wearing knee-high brown leather boots, a knee-long red corset dress and a white blouse. Depending on the temperature, some things might come on or off.
edited photo of a real backpack by Tillerz
Mental characteristics
Education
Geertruud
Employment
Geertruud is honorary chairwoman of the Perelline Society of Explorers and Finders of Ways, nominated by the Society in her absence for all her detailed maps and region and culture descriptions. She is also a member of the Guild of Cartographers, Mapmakers and Scribes. Her source of income is the business with Margo Weedlebeam.
Accomplishments & Achievements
Her published works contain:
- A Comprehensive Guide to Butterflies
- Apes of Calika - A Lustful Species
- A Study of plants and herbs, and which ones you should avoid under any circumstances
- Detailed mappe of Calika
- Pigments of Faith - Religion in Calika
- Never underestimate a dragon
- Onehundredtwentyseven ways to make a decent tea without having actual tea
- Starving To Death? Things You Thought Are Inedible
- Running In Circles
- The Underbelly of the Wild Lands (unpublished yet)
- When North Is South - Finding Your Way Through A Desert
Failures & Embarrassments
If there is one thing she regrets, then it is not refusing a present given to her by a tribe, which made her the spiritual guide of the tribe. Soon enough she found out this honour also included a full-body tattoo from neck to ancles.
unnamed village (Calika), day 25 to 32 - After a week in the capital named Charakur, we progressed deeper into Calika, which is alternately covered by sparse woods and dry steppes, with small villages sitting here and there, where water is available. When we arrived in a tiny settlement about six hours away from Charakur, excited people first pointed at us and then towards a bunch of big rocks, just a stone's throw away. An elderly man led us there to show us some crude carvings, apparently a gnome in different poses. The old man touched the carvings, then our face, comparing the measurements of both.
Finally, he began to chant loudly, and everyone around us joined in. He handed us a gnarled staff and led us back to the settlement, inviting us to have a rest in one of their small huts.
When we woke up the next morning, he was waiting for us already, surrounded by a group of men holding several items. He made us sit on a big slab of stone splashed with colours and gesturing to free our back. Dear lord, the unexpected pain! Two of the men started poking us with needles, pushing colours into the skin. And it was not just a small image! The procedure lasted until sunset when finally everything from the neck to the small of the back was covered in colour.
We tried to sneak away on day two, but they caught us, and it lasted five more days until the front of the body and the legs were also covered with images. After a full week, we managed to escape in horror, leaving behind the heaviest objects from our backpack and our pride.
This was also the first time we had a hiccup for a whole week.
G. Smallbottom, Pigments of the Gods
by unknown, heavy mod by Tillerz
Social
Family Ties
Religious Views
She believes in what might be most useful in the current situation.
Mannerisms
Geertruud is always referring to herself as "we" and "us". This gets especially annoying for others if it has to do with work. "We need to do this immediately!" Because in this case, she is addressing those other people to do the work. Many of them don't mind, as long as Geertruud is standing around, waiting, and looking pretty.
Relationships
Wealth & Financial state
Her parents started placing all the earnings from the books and maps in Geetruud's room, which looks like a treasure cave by now. If a large enough number of coins makes a heap of gold to become sentient, her room would be the first place where this happens.
Plot Hooks
Lost - There has been no message from Geertruud for three months, whereas she has sent pages and maps every month to Margo (her editor) before. The last message from Geertruud arrived from Bonoloku with her next target location being the Wild Lands.
Rumblings - Strange things are happening since a small wooden box from Geertruud arrived at her parents' house. The box says "Do not open under any circumstances!!!" Geertruud's parents are looking for some investigators to find out. This could lead into some "Jumanji" game interlude. As the box is in the room with all the gold, only trustworthy people will get hired, so the PCs will get this job only if they have done noteworthy things before (eg. helping Margo).
Divine Classification
People watching her might title her Goddess of Mishap.
Alignment
chaotic lawful
Current Location
Year of Birth
2620 PB
245 Years old
Birthplace
Spouses
Siblings
Children
Presented Sex
female
Sexuality
Geertruud is pretty open to almost everything, as long as it is fun.
Eyes
bright green
Hair
flaming red
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
pale with a permanent blush
Height
4 feet
Weight
40 lbs
Quotes & Catchphrases
"Found it! ... whoops, now it's gone again."
"We've been here already, right? Twice, or more often?"
"Ouch, this stings. A lot."
*sigh* "Ripped it once more!"
Aligned Organization
TC
What a lovely and interesting person! She sounds like she's been on many adventurers, I'd love to hear about them some day. These plot hooks especially have me intrigued, and I really like the idea of integrating plot hooks in character articles (might do the same if you'll let me ^^).
Tillerz
Sure do. And thanks. :) I am adding more to this character soon.