Garin goes all the way back the original Pool of Radiance. I wanted the thief skills in the party, but didn’t think much of a thief’s capabilities in that system and so wanted a fighter/thief instead. But the party was intended to be heroic, and “thief” at the time didn’t seem very “heroic” to me. So I tried to dream up a character who would have similar skills, but for very different reasons. And thus Garin Trapspringer was born.
Garin was born into the proud TrapSmith clan. The Trapsmiths were Hill Dwarves who had been designing, building, and selling traps in the eastern hills for centuries. Traps for Goblins, traps for thieves, traps for bears – you name it. From a young age Garin worked with his father and brothers, who specialized in animal traps – selling to bear hunters, shepherds protecting their flocks, etc. He was a gifted smith, with a knack for mechanics and a keen understanding of contraptions of all sorts. There was just one problem. He *hated* his job.
As a child he often snuck out into the forest, and often saw animals caught in such traps. He sometimes saw hunters killing trapped wolves and bears. Or members of a wolf pack struggling between fear and not wanting to abandon a trapped companion. As he grew older and refined his skills, he began sneaking out for a different purpose – sabotaging traps and releasing trapped animals. It was in this activity that he first met Elara – an elven priest of Ehlonna engaged in exactly the same activity. Between his intricate knowledge of the traps and her rapport with the animals they became quite, quite good at it. Too good.
It did not take long before the increasing rate of failed traps resulted in angry and unsatisfied customers, and Garin’s clan began investigating in earnest. It was only a matter of time before he was found out. So instead Garin confessed to his Clan, and left his heartbroken family to find his own path. In the process he abandoned the surname “TrapSmith”, and substituted one more appropriate for him personally – “TrapSpringer”.
With Elara as his guide he quickly became a devotee of Ehlonna, and helped Elara in her duties protecting both people from the darker aspects of the woods and the woods from the darker aspects of people. In investigating goblin bandits gathering in forests further north, they pair met Katarina and her companions, who were investigating the same activity. They decided to join forces in that adventure, and soon became permanent members of the group.
Garin is a quiet and thoughtful sort of fellow. Always paying attention to those around him and the first to notice and lend a hand when anyone needs assistance. He’s the one already holding out a pencil when you’re still checking your pockets and it hasn’t yet occurred to you to ask for one. He keeps an amazing assortment of bits and bobs in his backpack – everything from picks and tools for locks and traps to first aid kits for emergency veterinary care. In a fight he is often slow to engage and slow to finish his opponents, because he is constantly checking to see that nobody else is in trouble. This sometimes leads him to drop his guard when others are in trouble, as his full attention is not on the fight in front of him.
Garin is another character who maps somewhat haphazardly into D&D archetypes, depending upon edition. When he was created he was a fighter/thief with wilderness-related proficiencies – because there was no such thing as dwarven rangers in those days and rangers would not have his skills with devices. Ranger/thief would have been a bit more appropriate, but either way he hasn’t the slightest interest in or proclivity towards backstabbing. Its just not in his nature.
“dwarf explorer, male, broad shoulders, stout, mid 40s, slight smile, gaunt face, brown hair, short beard, helmet, leather over chainmail shirt, small tools on his belt, backpack”
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