The Foppish Hat

Once in a while, a character does or says something that becomes legend, or at least. a really good catch phrase. I know of one such character. Groomp, Son of Groomp.

No he was not one of mine, though I wish he were at times. He was a sellsword, long before 3e or 3.5 e was even an idea and long before they were delegated to to one dimesional roles unless you could really handle animals... Anywho... I digress... but we were all still playing at the time... no one left for college as yet.

Groomp Son of Groomp, was a barbarian, brawny, thick muscled and headed, with an over developed sense of self worth. He was the first of us to refer to himself in third person, and always third person. More Chaotic Stupid rather than Good, Groomp kept the party moving, and could supply alternate plots due to his "legendary exploits"... some with real women. He once fought the five brothers of Cyrilla, who dogged him to save her and her family's honor. If we hit a town, one of her brothers and or cousins would be there to try to avenge her reputation.

He loathed foppish hats. He would insult whomever was donning one, despite party size, or thinking of his own safety. He was really good at insults.... just enough to cut, never coarse, or bawdy. He gave all he got and on many occassion was not enough, so we had a fund set aside for either bail and or resurrections.

Trying to list his exploits would only tarnish his legend. Oh, the beasts he had slain, the number of women who did indeed press charges, and the number of times he was reincarnated as a halfling, troll, or goblin would boggle the mind.

In later games we all paid homage to the character in one way or another. I can recall a Sword of Groomp, and I myself used a foppish hat named Groomp's Hat of Foppishness.

Thank you Groomp Son of Groomp wherever you are...