Grimmet Darkdrop

Grimmet Darkdrop – The Filthmancer

Grimmet Darkdrop is not your typical gnome alchemist. He’s not a curious tinkerer or a jovial trickster; no, Grimmet crawled out of the gutter and never quite left it behind. Covered in grime, with nails blackened from chemicals and a permanent layer of soot on his face, he stinks of death, poison, and rot. His bloodshot eyes gleam with a mix of madness and cold calculation—a perfect fit for the dark world of Bard’s Gate’s underbelly.

“Poison is an art, not a crime—unless you get caught.”

Shady Origins

No one knows exactly where Grimmet came from, and if you ask, you’ll get a different answer every time. Some say he was once a promising alchemist expelled from the Greyflask Academy for "unethical experiments." Others claim he grew up in the streets, brewing his first poisons from rat bile and street refuse to survive. What is known is that Grimmet thrives in shadows and has no qualms about getting his hands dirty—literally or figuratively.

“The streets taught me everything worth knowing—trust nothing, and always carry a backup vial.”

A Taste for Poison

Grimmet’s fascination with poison goes beyond a mere profession—it’s an art form, a passion. He brews concoctions that can kill in seconds or curse someone with a slow, agonizing death over days. His poisons aren’t just efficient; they are crafted for maximum cruelty. Each new poison he invents brings him twisted joy, and he loves to test them on unsuspecting victims, often taking careful notes on how long it takes for them to die or how badly they suffer.
Among his favorites:
"Green Rot" – Causes internal organs to liquefy over several hours. "Darkdrop’s Bliss" – A slow-working poison that induces euphoria before shutting down vital organs. "Ironlung" – Fills the victim’s lungs with fluid, drowning them from the inside.

Working for Guaco

Grimmet has found a lucrative home in Bard’s Gate’s underworld, working for Guaco, the halfling crime boss attempting to unify the city’s gangs. Guaco values Grimmet’s discretion and brutal efficiency, making him the go-to poisoner for silencing political rivals, troublesome debtors, or inconvenient witnesses. Though many of Guaco’s men find Grimmet revolting, they also fear and respect him.
Despite his disgusting appearance and twisted habits, Grimmet is frighteningly competent. He runs his alchemical lab in an abandoned warehouse at the edge of the city, surrounded by shelves of bubbling vials, dead animals, and mold-encrusted tomes on toxicology. The air is thick with noxious fumes, but Grimmet breathes it in like fresh spring air.

“I don’t care what it smells like—it’ll kill you just the same.”

Personality and Habits

Grimmet is sly, cruel, and utterly pragmatic. He’s not one for small talk, preferring to focus on his “craft” and avoid unnecessary distractions. His sense of humor is dark and macabre, often joking about the gruesome deaths he’s caused. He rarely bathes, claiming it’s a waste of time, and his clothes are perpetually stained with unknown substances—some of which might still be alive.
He’s known for:

• Chewing strange herbs that stain his teeth green and black.
• Keeping pet rats, which he feeds with failed experiments.
• Talking to his poisons like they’re old friends.

Enemies and Allies

Grimmet’s loyalty to Guaco is purely transactional. He respects the halfling’s ambition but would switch sides in an instant if a better deal came along. His work has made him enemies among rival gangs, alchemists who were once his peers, and anyone who’s survived one of his poisons.
Notable Rivals:

• Drannix Fallowbrew – An alchemist in the alchemical guild, who seeks revenge for the “accidental” death of his brother after drinking one of Grimmet’s brews.
• The Redcaps – A gang that lost several key members to Grimmet’s poisons.

Notable Allies:

• Poppy Underhill – Who once paid Grimmet to brew a special sleeping draught for a disappearing act.
• Wonderful – Who tolerates Grimmet in her bar only because of his usefulness.

Physical Appearance

Grimmet is a short, wiry gnome with greasy black hair and perpetually bloodshot eyes. His skin is pale and blotchy, covered in the grime of his work. His tattered alchemist’s coat is stained with various unknown substances, and his teeth—darkened from years of chewing strange herbs—are an unsettling shade of green. Despite his disheveled appearance, his eyes are sharp and calculating, missing nothing.

“I may be filthy, but my poisons are pure perfection.”