D Portrait of Dustin

Aric 'Dustin Dwint' Stoneheart

Half-elf — Silver Marches

Glamour Bard 3 / Dao Warlock 4

"Every story deserves a soundtrack."
7 Level
52 HP
16 AC
30 ft Speed
STR 8 -1
DEX 16 +3
CON 14 +2
INT 12 +1
WIS 10 +0
CHA 18 +4
View full sheet on D&D Beyond
Young Aric Stoneheart, The early days of the Wanderlust Revue
Young Aric Stoneheart, The early days of the Wanderlust Revue

Aric grew up in the village of Frostvale, nestled amidst the snowy peaks and towering pines of the Silver Marches. Born of an unlikely union between his human father, Gareth, a skilled hunter and woodsman of the village, and his elven mother, Lyariel, who hailed from the ancient woodlands of the High Forest, Aric’s upbringing was a blend of two distinct worlds.

From a young age, Aric had a love for music, inspired by the haunting melodies of the forest and the lively tunes sung by the villagers during their festivals and gatherings. He would spend hours practicing his birdpipes, weaving intricate melodies that echoed through the woods and filled the hearts of those who listened with joy.

The Fall of Frostvale

But fate had other plans for Aric and his family. A shadow fell over Frostvale, driving its inhabitants from their homes and forcing them to seek refuge in the icy peaks of the nearby Ice Spire Mountains. There, amidst the frozen wasteland, they encountered the yak folk, a fierce and brutal race of mountain-dwelling creatures. At first they were welcomed into the picturesque looking valley and given food and shelter, but on the second night they were put in chains and enslaved, forced to toil in their mines and quarries.

Most villagers did not survive long. After about a month of enslavement, a failed escape attempt with his best friend, Jorlan, led to Jorlan’s execution as a sacrifice to their Forgotten God. Aric blamed himself for the failure and the subsequent sacrifice of his friend. Consumed by guilt and grief, Aric vowed to escape and seek vengeance against their oppressors.

Escape with Kürbis

One fateful night, as Aric was preparing to make another desperate attempt at freedom, he encountered a solitary Goliath named Kürbis, who had been observing the yak folk from the shadows. Recognizing Aric’s determination and spirit, Kürbis offered to aid him in his escape, using his immense strength and knowledge of the mountains to guide them to safety. Under Kürbis’s guidance, Aric managed to slip away under cover of darkness, evading the yak folk and fleeing into the wilderness.

During his escape he found an old Tome and felt compelled to take it with him, hoping he might find some information in it that would help him seek revenge on the yak folk that enslaved him and his family.

Aric traveled with the Goliath for a time, learning from him the ways of survival in the harsh mountain terrain. Together, they faced many dangers and challenges, forging a bond of friendship and mutual respect.

The Ghost of Jorlan

Aric had been haunted by the memory of his friend Jorlan, the young man whose sacrifice had marked the beginning of his own harrowing journey. But now, as he trudged through the snowy wilderness of the Silver Marches, he found himself haunted in a different way altogether.

It began with whispers on the wind, faint and indistinct at first, like distant echoes of a forgotten past. Aric dismissed them as nothing more than the tricks of his weary mind, the product of too many sleepless nights and too many miles traveled alone. But the whispers grew louder, more insistent, until they were no longer whispers at all, but the unmistakable voice of his friend Jorlan, speaking to him from beyond the grave.

At first, Aric was terrified, unsure of whether he was losing his mind or if Jorlan’s spirit had truly returned to haunt him. However, the Goliath who had aided Aric in his escape, Kürbis, could not see nor hear Jorlan’s ghostly presence. To Kürbis, Aric’s reactions seemed strange, but he chalked it up to the trauma of their escape and the hardships they faced in the mountains.

As the days passed, Jorlan’s presence grew stronger, his voice filled with bitterness and blame rather than comfort. He accused Aric of leading them into danger, of failing to save him from his grisly fate, and of abandoning him to wander the spirit realm alone.

Aric tried to reason with Jorlan, to plead for his forgiveness and understanding, but the ghost would not be swayed. His anger and resentment only grew with each passing day, his accusations weighing heavy on Aric’s conscience like a millstone around his neck.

And so, as they journeyed ever onward through snow and ice, wind and storm, Aric found himself torn between the conflicting voices in his mind. On one side stood Kürbis, the stalwart Goliath who had become his friend and ally, and on the other stood Jorlan, the restless spirit whose presence threatened to consume him.

Yet, even in the midst of his turmoil, Aric knew that he could not turn back, that he must press forward and face whatever trials lay ahead. For though Jorlan’s spirit may haunt him, and though his own guilt may weigh heavy on his soul, Aric Stoneheart was determined to try and help Jorlan’s spirit pass on to the spirit realm.

The Tome

Aric was sure that the tome he took from the yak folk might provide a key to achieving this, but sadly he could not make any sense of the writing. He vowed to pursue studies to be able to decipher the book.

What he did not know was that soon enough this would turn into an obsession and every night before going to bed he had to stare at the pages, hoping to get a glimmer of understanding of what secrets the tome was holding.

Joining the Wanderlust Revue

Eventually, their journey led them to encounter a band of entertainers calling themselves “The Wanderlust Revue” traveling through the mountains. Drawn to their music and camaraderie, Aric decided to join them, seeing an opportunity to pursue his dream of sharing his music with the world.

As they go their separate ways, grateful for Kürbis’s assistance, Aric vowed to honor their friendship and never forget the debt he owed to the Goliath who had helped him in his hour of need. And as he set out on a new journey, accompanied by the music of his flute and the memories of his past, Aric knew that his adventures were only just beginning.

Now, as a member of the traveling troupe, Aric learned to play the flute and the lute and used his musical talents to entertain and uplift others, bringing joy and laughter to those he meets along the way. But deep within his heart, the memory of his lost friend and the desire for vengeance still burn brightly, driving him ever onward on his quest for redemption and justice.

Aric 'Dustin Dwint' as one of the renowned performers of the Wanderlust Revue
Aric 'Dustin Dwint' as one of the renowned performers of the Wanderlust Revue

The Bard's Apprentice

With his travels alongside the Wanderlust Revue, Aric found himself immersed in a world of music and performance, honing his skills with the flute and lute until his melodies echoed through the hearts of all who listened. Yet, beneath the surface of his enchanting performances lay a burning desire for redemption and revenge, fueled by his obsession with the mysterious tome and the memory of his lost friend, Jorlan.

As Aric's talents flourished, drawing ever closer to mastering his craft, his thirst for knowledge expanded to include the realms of magic and combat. Intrigued by the arcane arts and driven by a need to protect those he cared for, Aric delved into the mysteries of spellcasting and martial prowess.

It was during this time that one of the true bards in the Wanderlust Revue, a seasoned performer with a wealth of knowledge and experience, took notice of Aric's potential. Seeing the spark of determination in his eyes and the raw talent in his music, the bard took Aric under their wing, becoming his mentor and guide on the path to unlocking his full potential. Under their tutelage, Aric delved deeper into the study of magic, learning the intricacies of spellcasting and the ways in which music and magic intertwine — learning to channel his musical talents into powerful spells and incantations.

Comprehend Languages

As Aric delved deeper into the mysteries of the ancient tome, his thirst for knowledge grew ever more insatiable. After years of tireless study and countless attempts to decipher its cryptic contents, he finally unlocked the ability to cast Comprehend Languages, believing it to be the key to unraveling the book's secrets.

As Aric cast the spell upon the ancient tome, he felt a surge of anticipation coursing through him, eager to finally unravel the secrets that had eluded him for so long. As the arcane energies took hold, the text before him began to shift and transform, revealing snippets of information that offered tantalizing glimpses into the tome's enigmatic contents.

He deciphered passages detailing ancient rituals of devotion and sacrifice, where followers would prostrate themselves before the Forgotten God, offering blood and flesh in twisted rites of worship. The translated words spoke of a mysterious connection between the Forgotten God and the elemental plane, though the details remained shrouded in ambiguity and uncertainty.

Despite the horror of the revelations, Aric found himself inexorably drawn deeper into the tome's dark embrace, driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a desperate desire to uncover the truth hidden within its forbidden pages.

The Birth of Dustin Dwint

As the years passed and Aric continued to travel with the Wanderlust Revue, his talents as a musician and songwriter blossomed. Inspired by the adventures and camaraderie he found among his fellow travelers, he poured his heart and soul into crafting songs that spoke of courage, friendship, and the beauty of the world around them.

One song, in particular, captured the hearts of audiences far and wide — a stirring ballad recounting the heroic rescue of the Goliath who had once saved him from the clutches of enslavement. Although he never mentioned his involvement in this particular story, he did name the song after the Goliath: the Ballad of Kürbis Kohl. Older members of the band remembered the Goliath that was traveling with Aric when he joined.

With its haunting melody and poignant lyrics, the song struck a chord with all who heard it, earning Aric acclaim and recognition as a gifted songwriter and performer. He became known as “Dustin Dwint” — the artist name he took as a member of the band. And as his fame grew, so too did his resolve to continue sharing his music with the world.

Don Juan

As the Wanderlust Revue journeyed through the bustling city of Yartar, they encountered a new member who would forever alter the course of Aric's journey. Don Juan, a paladin of Tyr, sworn to uphold justice and protect the innocent, joined the troupe primarily as a guard, his imposing presence and unwavering dedication to duty immediately earning him the respect of his fellow travelers.

Despite his stoic demeanor and reluctance to speak of his past, it was clear that the paladin hailed from a noble background, his bearing and mannerisms betraying the mark of privilege and upbringing. Yet, beneath the veneer of nobility lay a heart of gold, and as Aric soon discovered, a kindred spirit yearning for purpose and redemption.

As they journeyed together, Aric and Don Juan forged a bond of friendship, drawn together by their shared experiences and mutual respect. Though their paths had diverged vastly, they found common ground in their quest for justice and their unwavering determination to right the wrongs of the world.

It was not long before the paladin's talents as a swordfighter caught the attention of the Wanderlust Revue, and he soon found himself joining the acts as a performer in his own right. With each graceful flourish of his blade and each resounding clash of steel, he captivated audiences far and wide, his skill and precision unmatched by any other.

When Aric expressed an interest in honing his own skills in combat, the paladin was more than happy to take him under his wing, sharing his knowledge and expertise with the eager young bard. Under the paladin's watchful eye, Aric learned the art of swordplay, mastering the techniques of combat and discovering new ways to channel his musical talents into his fighting style.

With each passing day, he grew stronger and more confident, his skills as a performer and a warrior honed to perfection by the guidance of his mentor and friend. And as they continued on their journey, bound together by the ties of friendship and the shared pursuit of justice, Aric knew that he could always count on the paladin by his side, a steadfast companion in the ever-changing tapestry of their adventures.