The Crew of the Reef Runner

The heart of every campaign is the player characters. Without them, the DM is merely yet another fantasy hack. If you've read my Planescape pages, you'll know that my players are very creative and able to come up with some interesting oddballs. This campaign is no exception. In this area of the web, you'll find information on my players' characters, as well as some stuff on a few of the key NPCs of the game.

	Yamalla Captain, architect, and builder of the Reef Runner. A laid-back, rastafian Shore Lizardman Sha'ir. [Played by Ron Hay.]
	Srgt. Triangle First Mate and Tactician of the Reef Runner. A no-nonsense, honorable, career Island Lizardman Marine (Fighter). [Played by Josh Rintamaki.]
	Armondo Master of the Rigging and Cook on the Reef Runner. An Italian gigolo who happens to be a Human Thief. [Played by Robb Pratt.]
	Kalaban Navigator and Quartermaster of the Reef Runner. A dashing Human Rogue who's really not the Prince of Thieves (wink, nudge). [Played by Alan Wasserman.]
	"Krick" Crewman and Elite Shock Trooper of the Reef Runner. An impressionable young Korb Hunter (Ranger) that's trying to fit in with all the humans he finds himself surrounded by. [Played by Rick Coen.]
	Lori Crewman and Morale Officer of the Reef Runner. A young and slightly naive Human Rawun (Bard) who happens to have both an incredible singing voice and an odd knack for knowing a tiny piece of trivia about everything. [Played by Neil Clennan.]
	"Selkie" Crewman and Assistant Navigator of the Reef Runner. An escaped slave, this young Human girl is more at home with animals than people. [Played by Linda Hudson.]

Most of the NPCs that are key to the campaign are the same ones that were key to the cartoon. For the most part, these characters will not be directly encountered by the party; or if they are, it will be in a diplomatic rather than combative manner.

	Ren Ren was the primary hero of the cartoon show. He is young and honorable, and mostly idealistic (he does know a bit about how the world really works, however). In terms of the campaign, he's gotten "stuck" being the prince he is, rather than an adventurer in search of the Treasures. He has accepted his lot as the protector of the mostly restored kingdom of Octopon, but he refuses to officially take the throne until the threat of Dark Water is ended once and for all. In terms of game stats, I am currently viewing him as Paladin, of at least 6th level.
	Ioz Ioz is one of Ren's three friends who sailed with him during the cartoon. This character was an experienced sailor - well, pirate, actually - who initially shows Ren the ropes of how to handle a ship. Over the course of the cartoon Ioz slowly reformed his larcenous ways and became an honorable, if short-tempered, man. In my campaign, he is still by Ren's side, serving as the Master of Arms. He also is responsible for a network of informants which he uses to gather information on what's happening across the surface of Mer - especially as it relates to Bloth. If it's possible, Ioz longs for the sea and adventure more than Ren. In terms of game stats, I am currently viewing hims as Corsair (Fighter kit), of at least 9th level.
	Tula Tula is another of Ren's friends who sailed with him on the original quest. For most of the series, she is officially an Ecomancer. However, it's fairly obvious that she's from more shady origins as Tula behaves more like a thief for the early episodes. The cartoon gives the impression that women are not viewed equally with men. Thus, for Tula to be adventuring is something of a shock. Tula also comes across as being well aware of the stereotypes of women and not being happy with them. She likes to actively shatter any preconceived notions of women. In the campaign, she is like Ioz and still at Ren's side. Nominally, this is in the role of advisor, but chances are it's more due to the romance that was hinted at during the cartoon series. In terms of game stats, she's a bit of a muddle. Tula is a dual-classed Ecomancer/Thief. However, I'm also portraying her ecomantic skills as following the Hakima cleric kit. And, based on how I'm currently running the game mechanics, being an ecomancer means being a multi-classed Druid/Psionicist. Thus, she's about 3rd level in Thief, and at least 8/8 in her Ecomancer class.
	Niddler Niddler is a monkey-bird and the last of Ren's friends from the cartoon series. Naturally, this character is the model for my description of the race found in my Player's Guide. Niddler started the series as a slave of Bloth's, but he escaped in the pilot episode. He joined Ren mainly because the prince offered to feed him more regularly than Bloth did. However, he quickly overcame both his initial attitude as well as his apparent cowardice and became a very useful member of the crew. In my campaign, I view the events of the cartoon show as having significantly shaped Niddler. He still serves Ren, and is the only one of the original cast to still travel. This monkey-bird acts as Ren's messanger and spy. Niddler is rarely found in Octopon, as he is travelling on one mission or another. The game stats I've drawn up for this character are a bit of a stretch - I've decided to portray him as Thief of at least 7th level.
	Bloth Bloth is the main villian of the cartoon series. He is a large, vile, and evil man who seeks to gain the Treasures for personal gain. Nothing is above (or beneath) him. Although he was mainly portrayed a one-dimensional villian, he did have a decent sense of style about him. (It was kinda hard not to like him, even though he was the Bad Guy.) In the campaign, Bloth is still around, and still seeking the Treasures. However, he realizes that Ren is about the only way he's going to get them. So, he's set up a spy network to try and figure out what Ren is up to and where the remaining treasures are. In the meantime, Bloth continues to prowl the seas and attack any ships he comes upon. In game terms, I've decided he's actually a Half-Ogre and a Corsair (Fighter kit) of at least 12th level.