Janet is a goliath bard and an ally of the Re-Slayer's Take. He is played by Dominic Monaghan.
Description[]
Janet is a tall (7 feet) goliath man with impressive physique and music-themed tattoos of great quality.
Although somewhat awkward, and despite describing himself as a lone wolf, he is charming around people he likes.[3]
History[]
In the past Janet met Timpani Guff and the two of them became friends, playing music together.
Around 839 PD[4][5] Janet noticed the undead activity around Josgren's Hollow and after witnessing an attack tried to warn the villagers about the whispers, but Vaughn Josgren Jr (a local politician) wanted to avoid a scandal, so he sent the goliath to jail. While imprisoned, the bard used his Clairvoyance spell to locate the whispers' layer. Days later, when it became obvious that Janet had told the truth, Vaughn sent a group of adventurers to break him out of prison. Heera Agneheart accessed the room where the goliath was chained, and he was initially perplexed, since he was expecting a guard bringing some balm for his most recent tattoo on the back of his neck. Heera, after some conversation, decided to trust him and gave him a vial to help him get free of his shackles, and then alerted her friends Idrin Shadowstep and Frog to come help. He and Heera also bumped fists as a formal greeting. They created an opening for them to leave the prison, and Janet, embarrassed, asked his tiefling savior to lift him a bit, since he wasn't very strong; she did so, and promised not to tell anyone.
When Janet met the rest of the Re-Slayer's Take he was very surprised when he realized that Timpani was with them, and the firbolg complimented him before asking if he could guide them to his caravan.[6] On their way there Idrin praised the goliath's tattoos, and adviced him not to accept any of Poogs' cupcakes (the goblin, in turn, seemed more concerned about the fact that Janet had been Timpani's friend even before him). They reached his caravan, where he told them they could take instruments to use against the whispers (who were sensitive to sound). He took the time to teach Frog the basics of how to play a guitar, and when he noticed she was completely metallic he simply told her that he saw her, to which she responded saying that she saw him too; he also helped Heera with her old ram-like horn so that she could blow it properly; finally, he gave Timpani "Old Salty", his old bass (although Idrin had to Mend it when the firbolg accidentally broke the strings). They then went to the whispers' lair, and on their way there Janet spoke with Frog about sounds for a bit, and got confirmation from Poogs that they were, in fact, friends (since Idrin had explained to the fighter that a person could have more than one best friend), so they fistbumped. When they finally reached the lair the goliath, concerned about the mushrooms that grew there (the source of the spores), told the group he would assist them from a distance, and took a moment to give Bardic Inspiration to Frog, Heera, and Farah with fistbumps. When the adventurers started destroying the mushrooms, Janet covered his eyes and started playing an invisible keyboard producing a song as a distraction, attracting the attention of the leader of the ghosts, the whispering mouther; eventually, he attacked too, casting Shatter to destroy the last two mushrooms, and hurting some whispers in the process. Since the biggest enemy was still focused on the bard, Timpani healed him and Poogs wrapped a rope around him just in case; this was useful when the whispering mouther engulfed Janet, knocking him unconscious for a few moments (until Timpani's Healing Word) while the goblin dragged him to safety. After that, Janet resumed playing his song, this time protected by Heera and completely healed thanks to Timpani, and shortly after, Idrin put an end to the battle by destroying the whispering mouther with a Lightning Bolt. Heera praised her new goliath friend for his role in combat.
When they returned to Josgren's Hollow with the good news Vaughn Josgren Jr appeared and claimed it had all been thanks to him, and graciously commuted Janet's (unfair) sentence. However, after Heera gave a moving speech about how the village deserved better leaders, the politician was overthrown and Janet was invited to stay. He accepted and they celebrated together, playing their instruments in a farewell party before the Re-Slayer's Take left. Days later Janet had become the villagers' new leader, and they had restored Josgren's Hollow to its former glory, even starting to erect a monument to honor the adventuring party that had saved them all. When four adventurers appeared making questions about the Re-Slayer's Take, however, the bard told them he didn't know anything about them.[7]
Character information[]
Notable items[]
- Spectral Synth[8]
- A caravan with several Echo Stones
- Multiple musical instruments, some of them given to the Re-Slayers
Abilities[]
Goliath abilities[]
Unless otherwise noted, the following abilities are assumed from the standard Dungeons & Dragons materials:
- Natural Athlete
- Stone's Endurance
- Powerful Build
- Mountain Born
Bard features[]
- Spellcasting
- Bardic Inspiration (d8)
- Jack of All Trades
- Song of Rest
- Expertise
- Bard College: College of Spirits
- Guiding Whispers
- Spiritual Focus
- Tales from Beyond
- Spirit Session
- Font of Inspiration
- Countercharm
Bard spells[]
| Spell level | Spell | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0 (cantrip) | Guidance | College of Spirits |
| 2nd | Shatter | |
| 3rd | Clairvoyance |
Appearances and mentions[]
- The Re-Slayer's Take
- "The Whispers" (RTx05) (first appearance)
- "The Hungry Cloud" (RTx06)
- "The Lost Light" (RTx08), mentioned only
- "The Rotten Soldiers" (RTx11), mentioned only
- "The Timberblight of Dead Man's Table" (RTx12), mentioned only
- "The Monstrous Mine" (RT2x04), mentioned only
- "The Decomposing Domicile" (RT2x13), mentioned only
Quotations[]
Trivia[]
- Music is his specialty.
- Despite his appearance he isn't very strong.
- He likes Heera Agneheart's horns.
- He isn't married.[9]
- He is allergic to certain types of mushrooms.[10]
References[]
- ↑ See "The Hungry Cloud" (RTx06). Janet has access to the 3rd level spell Clairvoyance. Moreover, Nick Williams confirmed his level and subclass on the Beacon Discord server.
- ↑ See "The Hungry Cloud" (RTx06). When Timpani cast Mass Cure Wounds it was mentioned that 38 was Janet's maximum health.
- ↑ See "The Whispers" (RTx05).
- ↑ George Primavera confirmed the date on Discord. See a photo of his answer.
- ↑ It is specified that this happens after the adventures of the Mighty Nein but before Bells Hells met.
- ↑ See "The Whispers" (RTx05).
- ↑ See "The Hungry Cloud" (RTx06).
- ↑ A homebrew item created by George Primavera.
- ↑ See "The Hungry Cloud" (RTx06).
- ↑ See "The Hungry Cloud" (RTx06).
Art:
- ↑ Official art of Janet, by Elaine Tipping (source). Used with permission.