Asta the Deep-Minded

This article is about the dwarf. For the drow, see Asta Jegg'Dralnoc.

Asta the Deep-Minded was an elder dwarf woman who followed Hal Stoutheart's Tethyamar expedition in the 1480s DR.^[1]^{[note 1]}

“

Ridiculous! A bunch of fully-grown Dwarves running around like a bunch of fool surface-dwellers — no offense — trying to resurrect an old, played-out mine. And for what? "The Jewels of Ardor?"
Hah! Those things aren't worth more than a handful of copper. What's all this fuss for?
Not that anyone will talk to me about it. "Don't worry, grandmother, Stoutheart knows what he's doing" is all they'll say. I need someone with a clear head to be my eyes and ears. Someone who'll find out what they won't tell dear old granny. You look like the type — interested?

”

— Asta^[1]

Description[]

Asta had dark eyes and a bob of white hair. She wore a fine dress and carried an ornate staff.^[1]

Personality[]

“

Stoutheart came out of nowhere, telling a tale about the fabulous jewels to be found in one of the long-abandoned Mines of Tethyamar. And somehow he's managed to recruit gullible Dwarves from every nook and cranny of the Underdark to follow him. I should know, my nephew is one of them.
But what hold does Stoutheart hail from? Who are his kin? Nobody can say. And if you ask him, he just changes the subject.

”

— Asta^[1]

In the best tradition of dwarven elders, Asta was suspicious, grumpy, and stubborn, and used this to help her kin. She immediately knew that Hal Stoutheart's promises were suspect, and remained unaffected by the influence of the jewels of ardor even as the expedition degenerated into chaos.^[1]

History[]

“

So Graz'zt was Stoutheart? Hah!
Don't we look foolish? Tricked by a Demon Lord into running after worthless crystals! Though, you know what? I'm glad it was him. Just think of how much more embarrassing it would be if we'd done something this stupid all on our own!
Why, if Graz'zt didn't exist, we'd have to make him up!

”

— Asta^[1]

Asta arrived at the Tethyamar Mining Outpost when her own nephew Freygar Plumbline joined Hal Stoutheart's expedition. She immediately picked up how odd the situation was and how her fellow dwarves were turning into manic oddballs, and strongly suspected that something foul was afoot despite the general air of wealth and glory. When a group of opportunistic surfacers arrived at the outpost to get work, she roped them into helping the other dwarves stay alive and investigating the odd goings-on. Her benevolent scheme came to the aid of Freygar, Eluf the Steadfast, Hagen Silverthumb, Gunhild the Watchful, and finally Inger Ingersdottir as they ran into problems. Her suspicions were ultimately proven correct when it turned out that Hal Stoutheart was long-dead, and the expedition leader was none other than the demon lord Graz'zt, seeking the lure the dwarves to ruin by exploiting their own greed.^[1]

Appendix[]

Notes[]

↑ The Mines of Tethyamar is dated to 1487 DR, as it seems to reflect Graz'zt's activities during the Rage of Demons event.

Appearances[]

Video Games

Dungeons & Dragons Online (The Mines of Tethyamar)

References[]

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 ^1.6 ^1.7 Standing Stone Games (July 2017). “The Mines of Tethyamar”. In Dungeons & Dragons Online. Daybreak Game Company.

[2] The Mines of Tethyamar is dated to 1487 DR, as it seems to reflect Graz'zt's activities during the Rage of Demons event.

[ddo-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 ^1.6 ^1.7 Standing Stone Games (July 2017). “The Mines of Tethyamar”. In Dungeons & Dragons Online. Daybreak Game Company.

[1]

[note 1]