Trobriand is a legendary wizard who is known for his skill in crafting automatons: mechanical constructs that are animated by magic. His automatons are not mere machines, but works of art that combine metal, magic, and intelligence. Trobriand’s automatons are divided into three types: the ferragan, the silversann, and the thanatar. Each type has its own purpose, design, and abilities. In this page, we will explore the history, function, and secrets of Trobriand’s automatons, the ultimate constructs of magic and metal.
Scaladar
Silversann
Thanatar
Trobriand: The Metal Mage and His Iron Golem Body
Trobriand was a human wizard and a former apprentice of Halaster Blackcloak, the Mad Mage of Undermountain. He was fascinated by the creation of magical constructs, especially those made of metal. He learned the secrets of artificery from Halaster and developed his own style and techniques. He was known as the Metal Mage for his skill and obsession with metal creations.
Trobriand shunned humanity and other living beings in favor of his constructs, which he saw as superior. He met with and fought adventurers in Undermountain in his past, but this only caused him to become more paranoid and anti-social. He had limited trust of Halaster, and planned to seize control of Undermountain after his master’s death. However, before he could act, the Spellplague hit in 1385 DR, and Trobriand disappeared.
Trobriand’s most remarkable achievement was transferring his spirit into the body of a specially prepared iron golem, merging his spirit and metal. This gave him immense strength and durability, but also further eroded his sanity. He continued to create and experiment with new constructs, such as the bore worm, a 100-foot-long drilling machine modeled after a purple worm.
Trobriand was a master of artificery, the art of creating magical constructs. He invented many types of automatons, each with its own purpose, design, and abilities. Some of his most famous automatons were the ferragan, the silversann, and the thanatar. The ferragan were crab-like constructs made of iron that could crush enemies with their pincers. The silversann were spider-like constructs made of silver that could spin webs of metal and magic. The thanatar were colossal constructs made of adamantine that resembled dragons or dinosaurs. Trobriand also created many other devices, such as the wand of rejection, a device that could banish unwanted objects or creatures to a graveyard of discarded creations.
Trobriand had many conflicts with other beings in Undermountain and beyond. He clashed with adventurers who sought to plunder his secrets or challenge his power. He also fought with other apprentices of Halaster, such as Muiral, Arcturia, and Jhesiyra Kestellharp. He had a rivalry with Muiral over the control of the arcane academy they founded together. He despised Arcturia for her experiments on living creatures and her attempts to steal his creations. He feared Jhesiyra for her ability to manipulate the dungeon itself and her influence over Halaster. Trobriand also had a tense relationship with Halaster himself, whom he respected but also resented for his madness and tyranny.
Trobriand left a lasting legacy in Undermountain and beyond. His creations continued to exist and evolve after his disappearance, forming their own society and culture in the graveyard. His secrets and techniques were sought after by many scholars and artificers, such as Saddam Hasan ibn Arvalas, the leader of the Hands of Time guild in Sigil. His spirit also lingered in his iron golem body, waiting for an opportunity to return to power. Trobriand was one of the most influential and mysterious figures in the history of Undermountain, a wizard who transcended his mortal flesh and became one with his metal creations.
A possible chronology of Trobriand’s life is:
- Born in an unknown year in an unknown location.
- Apprenticed to Halaster Blackcloak in an unknown year.
- Founded the arcane academy with Muiral in an unknown year.
- Created his first automatons: the ferragan, the silversann, and the thanatar in an unknown year.
- Transferred his spirit into an iron golem body in an unknown year.
- Disappeared during the Spellplague in 1385 DR.
- Reappeared briefly during Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage adventure in 1492 DR.