As many of you know, I came back to Arelith after a few years break, originally coming back on my dwarf, Harran Braidstone, and after a couple of months playing, and Irongron's brand new Underdark, I wanted to try something radically new ... and after a few false starts, I created Martin. To say its been a wild ride would be an understatement.
Martin's early period:
(please do not be insulted if I misspell your name, especially you pain in the rear drow)
Salindra Montraven They started out as allies and slowly, it grew to a very strange and twisted relationship. One of the most influential characters of Martin's development ... all the bad and good of it. Martin never was, nor will he ever be, comfortable in the presence of this woman.
Kiya the blacksmith Kobold - She was the one who explained some very fundamental aspects of the Underworld - in that, there are no friendships, only alliances.
Grogak the very ugly, snarly, rude, greedy duergar whose player is certainly none of those things.
Putik Kapas Martin's first interaction with a UD character that did not leave him terrified, and, helped him in many ways. Also a wonderful buddy to hunt and explore with. Very helpful player.
Soulafin - the super angry drow wizard. Likely the drow Martin hated the most, and, if I had to choose just one drow, it would be this guy who taught Martin, more than anyone else, that he was truly at the mercy of his "superiors".
Nom Nom the goblin enchantress. This little goblin was probably the first influential character Martin met who actually helped him in her own, twisted way. Besides that she was tons of fun to be around.
Azaria a budding matron. While Martin found her reckless and, somewhat, suicidal at times, I found her to be a fun, and unpredictable, hunting buddy.
Nakia Mournmist the brilliant, elven wizard. Probably the first "friend" Martin actually made, and one of the very few people who ever helped him without some hidden agenda. I loved every moment I had to spend with this character. Martin may, or may not have, had similar feelings.
Nives the former matron. Wicked awesome drow and helpful, polite player.
Kharne Riscorve Complete lunatic, but a ton of fun to hang around with. With any of my other characters, it would have been impossible to RP with this guy in a non-threatening way ... just one of the many benefits to playing a slave - you can RP with just about anyone without having to take a stand for or against the person/religion/situation.
Growth Period also known as the Goblin Years
I should say here, as a whole, the goblins took Martin under their fetid, smelly wing and taught him a great deal about survival and loyalty. Odd as it would seem, Martin grew to really care about these little, horrid creatures and found in them, a measure of security, which he sorely needed after living so long in complete panic.
Berthaz aka Momma WOW! What a ride! This little goblin was so much, unpredictable, chaotic fun, I knew I just had to convince her to take ownership of Martin .. and thankfully, the player agreed. I had so much fun with this gang, and Momma in the lead, than I have had on Arelith in a long while. She's gone now but any who knew her knows what I'm talking about. Awesome character! I still hear her screaming "Martinz!".
Yasdia Well ... we had employer, torturer, betrayal ... fear induced cooperation ... I'd say that's a right perfect drow development. If Martin never sees him again, it will be too soon but for me as a player -
- I hope there is more.Catalin Snow An unexpected meet up and, then, a long period of involvement, much of which I can't discuss here due to spoilers, but was one of the very few friends he found in his misery. While he had learned to never trust surfacers, he grew to trust her. She is probably the last thread of Martin's former sanity, and that's about all I can say about that.
The Goblins Never would I have imagined that I could enjoy my character being poked, proded, vomited on, and various other disgusting acts, than I have had with this crazy bunch. I will never forget how Drizzle, trying to protect Martin from a hostile Matron, chose to "mark" Martin in a way that nobody could question who owned/protected him. Many, many knee cap drooling moments that I will always remember. Just a bunch of awesome silliness.
Kish'rin My favorite gnoll ever. One of Martin's longest running UD allies. (remember, there are no friends in the Underdark.
)Kaxandra Martin's first and longest running co-slave. Was a blast to develop a brand new type of relationship - one where Martin had to protect and teach another, though with her charisma and charm, she had little issue with most UDers, singing and dancing her way out of most trouble. Some spoilers here I can't mention, but fun to interact with in the Underworld, as well as the Overworld.
Min Fantastic character that also drove Martin to distraction as he tried to protect this very child-like character from a hellish world. Also more spoiler info that I, sadly, can not reveal, but she taught Martin, and likely others, much of what the horrors of living in slavery does to a person's mind.
Goloya Lady orog whom Martin worked for as he crewed the Dreadnaught. Great hunting buddy and employer. Had a lot of fun sailing the upper seas with this very intimidating, very tall, orog Missy.
Ireguta My favorite duergar ever. Please bring her back!
Torvas Harlan Finally an enemy Martin can openly hate and attack upon sight without risk of torture from anyone! Boy howdy did I enjoy hunting this guy and getting into all our scuffles, despite the outcome.
Martin's maturation in the Underdark - aka present day
Azuilah - aka the Gatekeeper I have been astounded at how much I have grown to love this character. After a period of flailing about with an absent owner - spoiler info here - Martin found himself under the ownership of a very scary woman, who, slowly, over time, became far less scary - more spoiler info - which caused their relationship to move into a direction I'd have never expected. As the ride is not yet over with Madam Gatekeeper, with many spoilers involved, I'll just leave it as - pure awesomesauce!
Alair An interesting character relationship developed between these two. From pure enemy to cooperative allies, to sympathetic character. Very interesting.
Filtel I'm not sure I can say anything about this character or Martin's relationship with him that isn't a spoiler ... well I can say how much fun it was to watch him wield a broom, stand around on one leg, and frog hop from giant mushroom to giant mushroom. Oh - and I can't forget one of my favorite Arelith lines ever involving bees, flowers and dragons. Yeah, everything else is spoiler stuff so .... YAY for Filtel!
Talyrrae Though few interactions with this drow, holy cow what a scary character! From the very few times these two met, Martin was left absolutely terrified. Brilliant evil nasty drow.
House Vh'larra Was fun to have a well played antagonistic group! We did enjoy hating them.
Ann Thrule
Ann is SO much fun. I love her dry sarcasm and her ability to laugh at herself. Oh and her preferred method of dealing with traps! Martin has grown to admire her so much, he even copies her battlecry! 
"Die! Die and be forgotten!" So much fun to go on hunting sprees with this lady!Amana Such an interesting development with this character. Starting out that Martin tried to hide from her at all costs, terrified of her even, suspicious and wary. Over the course of a long period, that changed - spoiler information - to something very different. Martin had such a roller coaster of emotions with this lady and eventually just grew to accept it for what it was and not dwell on what it lacked. A well played out dysfunctional relationship these two.
There are many more characters that I remember, but can't place their names, and then of course those that hid their identities from me. I have had more diversity on character involvement and interaction on Martin than I may have on all my other characters combined ... you all made playing him absolutely a joy. And though Martin's tale is not finished, after playing him for a year and seeing him develop ... well I wanted to leave this.
Thank you all.
