Smōk
Smōk (a.k.a. Smokey the Bugbear, Timothy)
Smok is a male bugbear and the only known surviving member of the Cragmaw Tribe.
Campaign Recap
As of the beginning of the campaign (14 Tarsakh), Smok was one of the Cragmaw Tribe bugbears working as a henchman for Nezznar in the legendary Wave Echo Cave. For more information about the Cragmaw Tribe's activities, visit the Cragmaw Tribe page.
Leaving Wave Echo Cave
On Day 16 of the campaign (29 Tarsakh), Collateral Damage finished their battle against Nezznar and his minions in Wave Echo Cave. During the final push, a Cragmaw Tribe bugbear named Mosk - who joined Collateral Damage two days prior - went room-to-room and attempted to convince Nezznar's minions to join him and turn on Nezznar.
Of the bugbears who decided to turn on Nezznar, Smok was the only survivor because he barricaded himself inside a room (Mosk was killed by Nezznar in the final fight). Collateral Damage eventually found Smok on their way out, and they convinced him to join them. Smok, with his tribe defeated and no better options, begrudgingly left with the group, which also included a dwarf named Nundro Rockseeker who was being held captive by Nezznar.
In the chaos of the fight against Nezznar and his minions, Collateral Damage effectively replaced one bugbear ally (Mosk) with another (Smok), but they didn't take the time to ask Smok for his name. Instead, they decided to start calling him "Timothy" without consulting him, and Smok went along with it rather than correcting them.
Cryovain and the Trolls
On Day 16 (29 Tarsakh), after leaving Wave Echo Cave, Collateral Damage (and Smok and Nundro Rockseeker) started walking toward Phandalin. When they approached a bridge on the Phandalin Miners' Trail, they spotted three trolls, one of which was quickly scooped up and flown away by a white dragon.
The two other trolls, blaming the group in front of them, charged ahead. For more details about the encounter, view the Phandalin Miners' Trail page.
"Smokey the Bugbear"
On the night of Day 16 (29 Tarsakh), Collateral Damage, Smok and Nundro Rockseeker rested near the bridge on the Phandalin Miners' Trail. In the morning of 30 Tarsakh, the group realized that the bugbear friend they called "Timothy" was gone, but they found a note:
Hey guys, sorry I had to leave during the night, but it didn’t seem like you would let me leave. You didn’t even ask me what my real name is! My name is Smok. I’m done working for groups like you who just want to hurt others. I’m peaceful. I want to help others.
Now that the rest of my tribe is gone, I’m finally free to do what I want. I’ve been wanting to try this idea for a long time, but I finally get to do it now. I’m going to travel town to town, helping people and talking to them about the dangers of forest fires. My friends call me Smokey. I think that’s got a ring to it, right? Smokey the Bugbear!
Be careful with torches when you’re around trees, and for the wizard, don’t use fire magic in a forest. Take care!
Your friend,
Smokey the Bugbear
After reading the note, Conor McGregor played with his tinderbox, lighting fires to... honor... Smokey.
Meeting Brophilius
On Day 18 of the campaign (Greengrass), Smok was wandering through the Neverwinter Wood when he was confronted by a horned devil named Brophilius and his two imp servants (Eddie and Yep). Brophilius and the imps had followed Smok's trail from Wave Echo Cave, as they believed it to be the trail of a different bugbear (Mosk).
Brophilius demanded that Smok tell him who had the Deck of Many Things. Smok didn't know anything about the deck, but he said he was with a group called Collateral Damage that had some strange magical abilities (including a sword that turned Herb Stoner from a gnome into a tiefling). Smok told Brophilius that the group was probably in Phandalin, and Brophilius and the imps flew away in that direction.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Smōk’s village in the Neverwinter Wood - Guuld'dar Aath - was burned to the ground along with many other goblinoid villages in a great "cleansing" at the hands of members of the Circle of Swords. This cleansing left many of the goblinoid families and tribes of the Neverwinter Wood homeless and destitute, making them ripe for being absorbed by the strength, might and protection of the Cragmaw Tribe.
Smōk himself, being very young when the cleansing occurred, never really overcame the psychological terror of seeing villages razed to the ground by fire or many acres of the forest engulfed in flames, destroying the natural hunting grounds and the very livelihood of his kin. Seeing his fear, the members of the Cragmaw Tribe determined as a cruel joke that Smōk would be in charge of campfires and lighting the settlement torches each night.
He took the responsibility in stride, but he never overcame his fear and hatred of fire or the Circle of Swords for putting him in this position. Smōk determined his destiny was to both spread the message of fire safety and to rid the world of the Circle of Swords that enacted the cleansing of the Neverwinter Wood.
Employment
Smok previously worked as a henchman for the Cragmaw Tribe and, most recently, for Nezznar in the legendary Wave Echo Cave.
Morality & Philosophy
Smok strongly believes in protecting others and protecting nature, and his primary concern is warning others about the dangers of forest fires.
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