Gado The Keeper

Gado The Keeper

Long ago, a wise Synvarnan seer known as Malzora foresaw a great catastrophe in the world of men, and decided to make her way to the human nation of Hylach. Before leaving the forests home to her druidic enclave, Malzora performed a powerful ritual in a knot of an ancient, gnarled oak, and called forth a spirit from the fey, which embodied part of the tree. She named the fledgling spirit Gado, who would follow and adore Malzora unfalteringly for the next 300 years, until her death.
Malzora never lived long enough to see her prophecy come to pass, and toward the end of her life her faith in her own visions began to fail. She became despondent, and even began to accept human life's perks over her druidic roots. Gado's life became one of servitude in a menial sense - handing out refreshments at the lavish parties Malzora would host, or keeping her home clean and presentable as she lapsed into depression and idleness.
Malzora's passing left Gado directionless and morose for a long time, but his belief in Malzora's visions drove a desire to search the outer reaches of Hylach for evidence of the impending disaster. Years later, news came to Gado of Hylach's fall whilst he was within what would centuries later become the kingdom of Galdra.
By chance or fate, Gado was discovered by the founding members of the Wayfarers, and became the keeper of the headquarters, where he would remain for the next 1000 years. Gado, concerned that a catastrophe of similar proportions will befall Galdra unless its people take heed, remains convinced that maintaining cleanliness and good order is the only way to preserve human civilisation.
Gado is a fastidious and devoted caretaker. Gado takes great pride in the work of the order, no matter how menial others may perceive some of his tasks. Gado sees it as his responsibility to clean up after members of the order who may have more important tasks to perform, and considers a job done well if it is done invisibly. He expects no thanks or recognition for his toil, drawing no salary from the order, and preferring to work in the background. He will often rise at dawn, and will have completed many of his chores before anyone else is awake.
Gado is not completely monastic in his outlook, however, and holds on to certain possessions and heirlooms with great care. As well as several trinkets collected from generations of Wayfarer leaders which he keeps within his hollow gourd for-a-head, Gado's pride and joy is his highly polished, ornate silver serving tray. This was the only item he elected to take from Malzora's home after her death, and depicts the oak tree from which he was created, his literal and figurative roots.

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

Gado is around 3 feet tall, with a body mostly comprised of knotted, twisted oak branches. Some assorted flora decorate his person, depending on the season. Instead of a head, he has a hollowed-out gourd, which has a fixed, carved expression.

Facial Features

Gado's face was carved by Malzora on their journey to Hylach. She decided that having a face would make Gado more acceptable to humankind, and selected a Butternut squash, which she hollowed out and carved with some ancient runes, as well as a rather rudimentary face. The effect can be disconcerting - Gado has a fixed expression, and his voice seems to emanate from his whole person, rather than localised on his mouth. The whole thing takes some getting used to.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Gado has been alive for an extremely long time, so a detailed account of every action in his life would fill several tomes. However, there are some key events which should be documented here. Following Malzora's move to Halach, and her subsequent adoption of Halachian culture and trappings, Gado attempted an intervention of sorts. He began by continually reminding Malzora of their mission in Halach, but since she ignored his more subtle attempts at persuasion, at one particularly lavish party Gado decided he had had enough, and refused to serve any more drinks to the guests. Malzora, mortified, punished Gado severely by locking him in the cellar, restricting his access to sunlight and thereby nearly killing him. Torn between devotion to his maker, and his reason for being, Gado continued to serve Malzora until her passing, some short years later.
What followed was something of a dark age for Gado. He had a vague sense of impending doom as a result of Malzora's vision, but frustratingly little to go on to do anything about it, since Malzora had largely wasted her time in Halach. Feeling hopeless, Gado chose a direction and began walking. He walked for a very long time, living in forests and glades, meeting few people, and those he did meet regarding him with a sense of suspicion or even outright hostility. Gado's memories of this time have faded significantly, perhaps due to his listlessness and lack of purpose, his spirit held a looser connection to his corporeal form.
Eventually, Gado was happened upon by a Half-Elf Ranger named Poldar, who had some vague knowledge of what he might be. It so happened that to some fanfare, the first Wayfarer Lodge had been established recently, and Poldar had the good sense to take Gado along for examination. The Synvarnans, recognizing Gado for what he was (and seeing his potential value), at first 'requisitioned' Gado as their property. In fact, Gado was the first magical prisoner of the Wayfarers - although a guest, he was initially kept under enchanted lock and key. Of course, his good nature quickly become apparent, and before long he had established himself as a capable servant, working in the background tirelessly to maintain the Lodge's appearance.
Over the centuries, Gado's duties would evolve, and become ingrained in the very fabric of the organisation, after all, there are none now living who remember a time when he has not kept the Wayfarer Lodge in good working order. Gado has seen thousands of members come and go, but looking back over his life, most he found treated him with a kind of complacency - taking his presence for granted, and perhaps not viewing him as a fully fleshed out personality for them to get to know. As such, he formed lasting relationships with only a handful over his millennium in the Wayfarers.
The first leaders of the Wayfarers were largely preoccupied with establishing the order, and Gado existed mostly in the background, which suited him for the most part. He was glad to not be adrift in the wilderness any longer, and felt that the presence of the Synvarnans (his makers) must signify that he was on the right track. At any case, things were happening, and he was busily devoted to his tasks. However, in 589 the Wayfarer's first female leader, a Synvarnan named Alcantra took charge after a period of unrest, and so began a golden age of nearly 300 years of her rule, during which the Wayfarers expanded significantly. As well as an accomplished leader, Alcantra was a talented primal spellcaster with a deep knowledge of the processes required to create Gado, and she was duly fascinated by his presence in the lodge. It was Alcantra who began to formalise Gado's place within the structure of the organisation, gave him more responsibilities and trusted him with access to some of its hidden areas.
A significant ally of Gado's came in the form of another Synvarnan named Reilar, who served as healer of the Wayfarers during the Synvarnan exodus and some of the subsequent transition to human rule. He joined around 920, and remained in place for over a hundred years. Reilar was present when the Wayfarers moved to their current location, and was responsible for casting the enchantment upon an old-bricked up window in one of the rooms which fills the room with magical sunlight, around the clock. Gado and Reilar had never exactly seen eye to eye, and indeed Reilar had often found Gado's habits not to his liking. Reflecting on Reilar's decision to create the enchanted window, Gado decided it was out of a sense of duty to Synvarna's former glory, and to protect at least of of their presence in the Wayfarers for the future, since he himself would be forced out shortly afterwards, the enchantment being one his final acts as a Wayfarer. (In fact, he stole some powerful reagents in order to make the enchantment permanent, and was dismissed as a result.)

Employment

Within the dining hall of the Lodge, there are six statues, some of which were transported from the former Headquarters. Part of Gado's responsibilities is maintaining their appearance, but he is also the only individual who remembers these people, and so he is often asked his opinion about their relative greatness, and worthiness for this timeless honour:
Yolvan Alastin
The first statue depicts Yolvan, the first leader of the Wayfarers. He ruled for some 90 years before he departed Esharra due to old age. Credited widely with the formation of the order and its establishment in Galdra, Gado spent much of his reign in a prison cell, and so he doesn't remember much.
Harador Alastin
The second statue shows the second leader of the Wayfarers, and young and rather nervous Synvarnan, who was eventually stabbed by one of his own order (leading to a period of unrest which would once again leave Gado adrift, only this time forgotten within the bowels of the lodge for 4 years). Gado credits Harador with his initial release, but is also critical of his weak leadership.
Alcantra Jalandis
The third statue shows the most historically lauded figure in the Wayfarer's history, Alcantra, who served for more than 300 years. She is credited with the expansion of the order, and Gado has nothing but a glowing pride for her achievements. Some historians later criticized some of her more experimental magical practices, but Gado will hear nothing of it.
Alia Rozenciel
The fourth statue shows the first leader of the Wayfarers who was not a full-blooded Synvarnan. Alia Rozenciel was a celebrated philanthropist, who took over the Wayfarers following the retirement of Alcantra, who left the coffers full and the order's reputation in the best shape it had ever been. What followed was a highly divisive time in the Wayfarer's history - her supporters laud Alia's charitable works - never before had the Wayfarers touched so many lives. However, several issues arose around bookkeeping, and by 932 an insurrection had taken place, with human rule coming into force. Alia lost her position in what was effectively a coup. Opinions differ if she was the victim of a grave injustice, or fled a mess of her own making in disgrace.
Uthad the Bold
The next statue is of the second human to lead the Wayfarers, Uthad. Gado doesn't remember much about him, having only served for a paltry eleven years. Gado is not sure why there is a statue of him, but he speculates the answer has something to do with politics.
Stilgar Galantis
The final statue shows the 9th leader of the Wayfarers, a human named Stilgar, who had one of the longest reigns of any human to lead the order. Stilgar is credited with bringing some stability back to the order following the break of democratic tradition in 968, and before civil unrest which would claim the life of his successor. Gado tends to judge any leader by Alcantra's impossible standards, but he speaks fondly of Stilgar, who he recalls discussing the Wayfarer's golden age in depth with Gado, and aimed to emulate some of their former glories, an ambition which Gado greatly admired.

Gado has maintained the working headquarters of the Wayfarers for longer than anyone can remember. A fastidious and devoted servant, Gado prizes order and cleanliness as the foundations of civilisation.

View Character Profile

Alignment

Lawful Good

Age

1500 years

Date of Birth

Unknown

Gender

Unknown

Eyes

None

Hair

None

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

None

Height

3ft

Weight

50lbs