Alric Dawnsworn

Name: Alric Dawnsworn
Race: Human
Class: Fighter (Champion Archetype, retired adventurer)
Age: Mid-40s
Appearance: Alric is a tall, broad-shouldered man with the rugged look of someone who has lived through battles but now seeks peace. His grizzled beard is streaked with silver, and his once-dark hair is now peppered with gray. His face is weatherworn, with faint scars running along his jawline and across one eyebrow—a testament to a life spent facing danger. Despite his age, his blue-gray eyes remain sharp, carrying a quiet intensity and a hint of melancholy.

Alric wears simple, well-worn clothing, including a long brown coat, sturdy boots, and a wide-brimmed hat to keep the evening chill at bay. Strapped across his back is a finely crafted longsword, its hilt wrapped in faded leather. Though he rarely draws it anymore, the blade has clearly been maintained with great care. A small silver locket hangs around his neck, which he occasionally grips when lost in thought.

At his side, leaning against a wooden dock or a rowboat, there is always a fishing pole, as Alric has taken to the quiet hobby to occupy his days.

Backstory

Alric Dawnsworn is a retired adventurer who now lives in quiet solitude by Twilight Lake. Once a renowned warrior, he left the life of sword and blood behind after losing his closest companions during a disastrous expedition many years ago. The lake offers him solace, and he spends his days fishing, mending his rowboat, and watching the sun set over the water.

To outsiders, Alric appears to be a simple fisherman—polite but reserved. However, his knowledge of combat, the region, and the hidden dangers of the lake make him far more than he seems. He serves as a potential ally, mentor, or quest-giver for adventurers passing through. Those who earn his trust may uncover that Twilight Lake holds more secrets than its tranquil appearance suggests—secrets Alric has spent years trying to understand.

Personality

• Quiet and Contemplative: “Most answers come if you give ‘em time. The lake taught me that.”
• Haunted by the Past: Alric avoids talking about his adventuring days, though it’s clear they weigh heavily on him.
• Reluctantly Heroic: Though he seeks peace, he won’t stand by if innocents are in danger. Old instincts die hard.
• Pragmatic and Grounded: “The fish don’t care for lofty talk. Neither does trouble.”

Gear & Loot

Weapons & Tools

• Longsword of Fallen Companions: A beautifully crafted longsword with a weathered hilt. The blade is etched with the names of Alric’s lost adventuring friends. Not magical, but exceptionally balanced (1d10 slashing damage).
• Fishing Spear: A sturdy, iron-tipped spear used for both fishing and defense (1d6 piercing damage).
• Fishing Tackle and Net: A well-maintained set of fishing supplies, including a collapsible fishing rod and small net.

Gear

• Traveler’s Coat: A rugged, weather-resistant coat lined with pockets that hold flint, a whetstone, and spare twine.
• Silver Locket: A small, heart-shaped locket containing a portrait of his lost love. Worth 10 gp, but priceless to Alric.
• Worn Journal: Filled with faded writings—some personal musings, fishing notes, and a few maps of the lake with X’s marking strange occurrences.
• Two Healing Potions: Hidden in the inside pocket of his coat for emergencies.

Personal Item

• Compass of the Dawn: A nonmagical, brass compass with an inscription that reads, “May you always find your way.” A gift from his late love.

Loot/Value

• Alric’s belongings have sentimental value but would fetch roughly 60 gp in total. The Silver Locket and Compass are worth more to those who care for their stories than to a merchant.

Adventure Hooks Featuring Alric

1. The Lake’s Secret: Alric confides that strange things have been happening at Twilight Lake—glowing lights beneath the water, whispers on the shore, and the occasional vanishing fisherman. He asks the adventurers to investigate, but warns them: “There’s something old and hungry beneath that water. Tread carefully.”
2. A Hero’s Shadow: A former enemy from Alric’s adventuring days has resurfaced, seeking revenge. The party stumbles upon the confrontation at the lake, where Alric tries to face the past alone. Will the adventurers step in to help?
3. The Locket’s Promise: Alric reveals the silver locket around his neck contains the portrait of a woman—his lost love, whose spirit is bound to the lake. To free her soul, the party must perform a ritual at dusk, but the lake does not easily surrender its secrets, and hostile forces seek to stop them.
4. The Old Warrior’s Test: Alric offers to train a party member in combat during their downtime, sharpening their skills with practical advice and hard-won wisdom. In exchange, he asks for their help repairing his rowboat or fending off beasts that have strayed too close to his shore.
5. The Lake Guardian: A mystical creature (perhaps a water elemental or celestial beast) has chosen Alric as its unwilling steward. He reluctantly admits his bond to the creature and seeks help protecting it from poachers or dark forces hoping to exploit its power.

Roleplaying Alric

• Speak in a steady, deliberate manner, often using fishing or lake metaphors. For example: “Patience is like casting a line—pull too quick, and you lose the catch.”
• Frequently look out over the lake or pause mid-sentence, as if lost in thought or listening for something.
• Be slow to trust, but soften when the adventurers show kindness, competence, or curiosity about the lake.

Alric Dawnsworn is a grounded, relatable NPC with a past worth uncovering and a role as the quiet sentinel of Twilight Lake Shore. Whether as a mentor, ally, or source of mystery, he adds depth and a touch of wistfulness to this serene and enigmatic setting.