The Gravetender
About
In the middle of nowhere, miles away from the town it belongs to, there’s a small, secluded cemetery bearing the name Sallowgrave. Its sole gravekeeper, perhaps seeking to ensure her succession,
brought in a child to serve as her apprentice some twenty years ago.
Basil spent most of their life in this cemetery, learning how to take care of the graves, how to tend to the headstones as the years and weather wear them down, how to prepare the bodies for funeral, what rites to perform, and how to give the bodies back to the earth. And, if there were some unfortunate souls with unfinished business on this mortal realm, how to help their souls find peace and pass on.
There was much to learn about death, perhaps that’s why neither Basil nor their mentor, Yarrow left the cemetery often over the years, until recent times, that is. A corruption reared its head in the cemetery, corroding and eroding the area, threatening to destroy the graves and the graveyard altogether - to find a solution or a cure, Yarrow left, leaving Basil in charge for the first time. After months of waiting, with no sign of the corrosion stopping, Basil decided to leave as well, trying to find their mentor, or a solution to their problem, to save their graveyard.
They have a lot to learn on their quest, and the questions just keep piling up with every step.
Personality
Positive: Optimistic, wise, insightful, calm, adaptive, cheerful, helpful, kind
Negative: Naive, childish, meek, petty, holds grudges, blunt
As a result of their sheltered life, Basil has a naive outlook and perhaps rudimentary understanding of some social norms. Their trust in others and lack of filter can put them into some troublesome situations out in the great wide world.
Basil’s a somewhat divided figure: they have a great understanding of death, and unending patience and sympathy for anything surrounding the end of life and the dead. They can be wise beyond their years on the topics of death and passing, but at the same time, their secluded upbringing and few relations cause them to form somewhat skewed relationships. They make friends and trust easily, but form attachments perhaps a bit too fast and have a hard time dealing with rejection and separation, after all, despite being surrounded by death most of their life, they never really had anyone close to them to lose.
Relationships
Yarrow (she/her) - Mentor, and parental figure. She took Basil in a long time ago. The nature of their relationship is
largely unexplored so far in the campaign. Their first contact after months included Yarrow reprimanding Basil for leaving the cemetery.
Iris (she/her) - Basil’s only friend in the cemetery. Unlike other ghosts, for some reason, Iris was allowed and was able to linger beyond
a short amount of time. Not even Basil knows what Iris’ past is, but according to her, she was a princess. She also tells great stories and has a knack for the dramatics.
Wen (they/them), Riv (he/him) and Sil (he/him) are allies (FRIENDS!) who Basil met on their first
journey outside of Sallowgrave. Basil was fast to trust these new people, and considers them their friends without questions already, even if some of them don’t really like magic or how Basil does it, or find them a bit odd. They’ve been
through a lot already, and Basil would die for them (technically, already have, but only for a second. Don’t tell Iris.)
Gallery
Fun facts & Extras
Fun facts
- They can do magic, but have no idea why or how to explain it, or where it even comes from.
- The first ever death saving throw I rolled for them was a nat 20, so they went down but just for a second.
- They like embroidery!
- Turns out, they suck at face painting if it’s not flowers or skulls.
- They’re super tall and lanky. (200 cm, so around 6′ 6″)
