Charting a Hover Path

Let’s unpack a new loveable dwarven NPC for your campaign and marvel yet again at Laughing Bear Games’ brilliant brush strokes.

Waterdeep is abuzz with rumors of a powerful hovertrain that will greatly increase the quality of life for everyone in the Realm. Traveling along the Sword Coast is long and arduous at times, so an anxious public wants all the details of this new marvel transportation system. The only problem is that the specific routes and rail stops aren’t quite finalized.

To address this critical need, The Forgotten Rails hired several skilled Dwarves dubbed “Path Finders” to map out all the logistics; as you can imagine, it’s a daunting task. The official Hovertrain Charter agreement makes it clear that new routes cannot interfere with any existing roadways. Plus, since its hovertrains travel at a maximum of six to eight feet off the ground, these powerful trains must have clear access from Point A to Point B. And that’s where these uniquely skilled dwarves come into our story!

So, we wanted a mighty miniature to represent our talented Path Finders and the critical role they play in the success of The Forgotten Rails. Thankfully, Cast n Play released a fantastic set of dwarven STLs with their Dwarven Legacy set. These sculpts printed beautifully on our resin printer and are absolutely stuffed with loveable details. You can also just grab this Dwarven Stonepath Explorers mini set btw.

Thankfully, good ol’ Laughing Bear Games answered our call for a brilliant Path Finder miniature. Arkansas Adam has already blessed us with numerous magnificent paint jobs, including a Side Guide, Miss Gadmack, an Orc drummer, a Soul Finder sister, and some ferocious Howlers. So, it’s clearly by the grace of the gods that we get to showcase one more of his painted miniatures for our campaign.

Cast n Play named this dwarven Path Finder “Dumoun,” and we love that moniker. We’re going to give him an adoring French accent and a gentlemanly demeanor to complement his top-notch topography skills. Omin Dran has hired a group of these specialty dwarves to map his rail routes, but Dumoun’s immense contributions rise high above the rest of the squad. Omin Dran will probably name a rail route after him when it’s all said and done.

Our sophisticated dwarf is extremely polite and rather formal in his verbal exchanges. Dumoun considers his work to be pure artistry. He carries all the necessary gear for the job and holds a unique reputation for “having a nose” for detailing the most efficient train routes. He doesn’t like to be rushed, deplores excessive enthusiasm, and never argues about gold.

He lives by the phrase “refaire le monde,” which basically means he loves discussing with fellow Path Finders how to make the world right. Dumoun believes his work will make a lasting difference, and that’s what drives his brilliance.

Fun, right?! Your game group can interact with Dumoun the Path Finding Dwarf in a number of ways:

• Bumping into him while he’s marking a new path.
• Breaking up a fight with a wandering monster.
• Gleaming new intel on The Forgotten Rails.
• Healing him after he took a nasty spill.
• Protecting him & his work against anti-rail opponents.

DM Ben has been pondering the best way to introduce the emergence of The Forgotten Rails to his players, and he thinks an inadvertent encounter with one of these Path Finders is the way to go.

Lastly, our prim and proper dwarf finds violence repulsive, but that doesn’t mean he won’t fiercely defend himself and his work. He majestically wields an arcane +2 shovel as his primary weapon, and besides packing a heck of a bludgeoning punch (4 d12+8), it has the following magical daily properties:

• Transmute Rock
• Passwall
• Stoneshape
• Note: it requires meticulous sharpening nightly.

Inscribed on his beloved shovel’s handle is the word “digger,” and it was gifted to him by his father when he was a child.

Dumoun is a fifth-level dwarven ranger. He also wears a Ring of Evasion and a red Cloak of Displacement as it’s him against the world when he is out on a path-finding mission. His only vice is that in group combat, he might get distracted if he spots something interesting in the landscape and slips away to investigate.

Once again, a huge thanks to Arkansas Adam for his fantastic paint jobs!! We’re really jazzed to share more of his excellent works in future posts. Be sure to visit his Instagram, Facebook, and Etsy (where you can request a custom quote for some paint jobs on your own pile of shame).

Until next time!