Timpani Guff is a firbolg associated with the The Re-Slayer's Take. He is played by Nick Williams.
Official art of Timpani, by Elaine Tipping.[art 2]
Description[]
Appearance[]
Timpani is a robust firbolg man, with skin covered with bluish hair, red-headed, and with a lush mustache of the same color. He has gained weight in the last century.
Personality[]
He is a cheerful man, bumbling and sincere, and described as a "crackpot",[4] with a certain sense of spectacle.
Biography[]
Background[]
Timpani came from the Dwendalian Empire, but he traveled to Vasselheim and tried to join the Slayer's Take at some point before 636 PD, failing because he didn't have the right skills. He tried multiple times, unsuccessfully, with the last attempt being around 739 PD,[5] period during which he visited Shoresight Isle when he was still "in school" and with ties with the guild; there he befriended Duderonomous.[6] After returning to Issylra and being rejected again, he chose to live a life of isolation, traveling to many places, although keeping an apartment in Vasselheim where he was occasionally joined by a cousin.[7] He, however, ended up noticing strange phenomena involving monsters once defeated by the guild, so he started taking notes about the subject to show it to them, although he wasn't believed, making him suspect they knew something and were covering it. He met Gurt Stumpstuck during this time, and learned how to access his bog through a willow tree in the Vesper Timberland.[8] At one point, while traveling through the Utesspire Mountains, he met Poogs, a goblin who had ran away from his community; although the latter tried to steal from him, Timpani showed him only kindness, which caused the Curse of Strife to be lifted. Very thankful, Poogs gave him a cupcake, and they became friends.[9]
"The Carnivorous Cube" (RTx01)[]
Around 839 PD,[10][11] one year after meeting Poogs, he went to Himblewood with him to meet potential recruits for the Slayer's Take, and made a presentation describing the qualities appreciated in the guild, while noticing the promise in some of the candidates present. He ignored potential recruits that didn't seem remarkable enough (such as Derek, an accountant), and ended up calling four of them (Frog, Farah Vallari, Idrin Shadowstep and Heera Agneheart) to the stage; there he showed them a capture gelatinous cube as an example of the beasts they would have to slay. However, he tripped, hit the glass, and the ooze broke free.
While Timpani was hiding the four candidates defeated the monster, and although some of them were annoyed at the firbolg for not joining the battle, he acted as he had planned the fight itself as a test, congratulating them as the new members of the Slayer's Take, and telling them to look for him at dusk for their first job. At the end of the day, the group met him and Poogs in the forest, and Timpani decided to share with them a ghost story that was popular in the guild; his intention was to spook the new members, so when a terrifying sound was heard, Timpani assumed Poogs was helping him with sound effects. When they realized that wasn't the case, and noticed strange lights and an avalanche, they started running.
"The Bog House" (RTx02)[]
Timpani fell behind but managed to get to safety before being buried by snow. Shortly after, when four snowmen were heard approaching, the group hid, but when Timpani told them that the monsters' shiny backs were their weak point, he encouraged the adventurers to face them; during the battle the firbolg cast Cure Wounds on Farah. After the fight, when some roots dragged Poogs away, and although Timpani got distracted reflecting on how unfortunate his friend was, the others started going after the goblin, and the firbolg followed them.
When they found a dome made of green glowing energy, they tried to understand what it was and how to pass through it. It was then when Timpani told them the truth: he wasn't an actual member of the Slayer's Take, but a failed recruit who had been studying strange phenomena in the forest for a long time; he was convinced that the story he told them about Putridius Festerkin containsed some truth, and that somehow the dark druid was bringing back old monsters slayed by his former guild. With the desire of rescuing Poogs and the possibility of using this mission to actually join the Slayer's Take, the four adventurers agreed to help Timpani; Heera in particular was very impressed by the firbolg's resourcefulness. Idrin, who had been casting Unseen Servant as a ritual, tried to send it to the barrier, and Timpani got frustrated, claiming he had already tried that spell without success; this led the wizard to suggest that maybe the druid wasn't very good at magic, and called him ridiculous. Timpani thought for a while, and suddenly, moved by a sudden inspiration, he revealed a druidic rune under the snow symbolizing a secret entrance, after which he led his friends to a nearby willow tree and performed a ritual (knocking twice on the trunk, circling it six times, elbowing the center of it and touching with a muddy hand a knot that glows gold), opening a door to a bog.
Timpani brought them to the hut where Gurt Stumpstuck lived, expecting the dwarf to give them some advice, but he instead identified the adventurers as the "chosen ones" in a prophecy, and gave them the legendary weapons of the Spectral Hand to fight undead threats. The firbolg then thanked Gurt, and told him not to be a stranger, but when the dwarf started talking about Timpani helping fix his swamp, the group left in a hurry. They returned to the green dome, and with their new magic items they were able to pass through, along with Timpani.
"The Frozen Puppet" (RTx03)[]
Timpani and his friends appeared in the middle of a blizzard in a tundra, and they looked for Poogs until they found him in a cavern that they recognized as the old lair of Rimefang, a dragon defeated by Vox Machina and the Slayer's Take. There, they had to fight the dragon's skeleton, puppeteered by marionette vines, and Timpani helped by using his healing magic on the adventurers, and joining forces with Poogs to free Farah the two times that the enemy's attacks left her trapped. The druid managed to keep his team alive until they defeated the marionettes, and when they found a box with many earrings inside, Timpani's loud voice helped them discover that they were communication devices.
Fan art of Timpani's deserved friends, by Elaine Tipping.[art 3]
After that, Timpani decided they could try to use that encounter with Rimefang to prove the Slayer's Take what was happening in the region, so they started making their way back to Himblewood, dragging with them the dragon's skull. The druid used a blue jay to send a message, and shortly after a cardinal returned with the answer. Following the instructions, Timpani and his team met with two members of the guild, and he tried to explain what had happened, but he wasn't believed, as members of the Slayer's Take didn't like him much, and considered him a bad company; not even the adventurers' support convinced them, so the members of the Slayer's Take left.
Both Poogs and Idrin told him that part of the reason why people didn't trust him was that he had been lying during his activities, and the druid promised to be more honest in the future. When Timpani stated his desire of unveiling the truth and helping people, Poogs immediately went with him, being followed shortly after by the other adventurers. The following day they settled into an apartment on the outskirts of Vasselheim, where the firbolg had a big map of the area with several marks.
"The Voiceless Village" (RTx04)[]
Fan art of Timpani's apartment, by Elaine Tipping.[art 4]
Timpani proposed a first mission for his new team: a couple of days before meeting them, he had talked to a deaf tabaxi that had been ignored by the Slayer's Take, since the story they brought to the guild (how their companions had been abducted by a strange fog in a swamp) didn't interest them. The younger adventurers agreed with the firbolg, and he told them to prepare for the rescue mission, allowing them to take anything from his very chaotic apartment; at one point Heera, who had been trying to tidy it up a little, heard him say they had finally found his good chair, causing her to be discouraged. When Poogs brought them cupcakes made with his own sweat, the druid ate them without a worry, since he was used to the flavor.
Casting Transport via Plants, he brought them to the swamp the tabaxi had told him about, but they appeared in quicksand. He tried to free Poogs first, since he was the shortest, but he failed so Frog had to help him; eventually, they all managed to reach solid ground following Farah's advice. When they reached Josgren's Hollow, the village where the tabaxi and their companions were traveling to, they found it very deteriorated, and with the villagers obsessed with avoiding loud noises. While they were there, Frog theorized that the strange mold growing everywhere might isolate the sound from inside the houses; Timpani, curious about that possibility, started loudly stomping wherever he saw mold, and the neighbors told him to be quiet. Shorly after, Igor from the Slayer's Take appeared and started shouting at them, but that sound did attract the attention of the strange fog they were looking for: the whispers.
"The Whispers" (RTx05)[]
During the fight against the whispers Timpani and Poogs ended up in quicksand again, and the firbolg, trying to get free, sank even faster, so when the battle was over the rest of his friends had to hurry because he was already under the surface. After he was rescued he noticed that Farah had been poisoned by the fog, so he used Lesser Restoration to help her. After that a local politician, Vaughn Josgren Jr, told them to take someone they had in the local prison (because he had been warning them about the whispers and they hadn't believe him) and use him to fight the local ghosts, offering them money as an incentive. Timpani pretended the money was a gift, but when Heera told him that Vaughn wasn't a good person and they should deal with him, the druid reminded the group that their priority was to fight ghosts, although he agreed to take some action against the politician later.
In order to allow Heera to enter the prison, Timpani and Farah pretended to have a fight. He, however, kept mentioning her age, not realizing that was irritating the half-elf, which led to her taking the distraction way more seriously and hitting him several times, causing him to lose a tooth; when he asked why she had kept hitting him, even when the guards weren't looking, she told him she wanted to keep it authentic, and the firbolg believed her. When the prisoner was finally rescued, Timpani was very surprised, recognizing his friend Janet the goliath, who was very glad to see him too. Timpani complimented his friend's appearance, after which he asked him if he could guide them to his caravan.
"The Hungry Cloud" (RTx06)[]
While traveling through the marsh Poogs asked Timpani if he had had other adventuring companions before him (referring to Janet), and the firbolg confirmed he had. When they were in the bard's caravan he offered Timpani his bass, "Old Salty", and when the druid tried to play it he broke the strings, so a very frustrated Idrin had to Mend them, allowing Timpani to play a very decent melody. When they reached the lair of the whispers, where their leader (the whispering mouther) resided, the adventurers started destroying the mushrooms that produced the spores the ghosts used to form a body, and Janet started playing a song as a distraction, attracting the attention of the biggest enemy. To help his friend 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, who used Mass Cure Wounds on him, Idrin, and Heera, and shortly after, the wizard put an end to the battle by destroying the whispering mouther with a Lightning Bolt. After Poogs confirmed that the people kidnapped by the whispers were still alive Timpani went with them to heal them.
Later, when they were celebrating back in Josgren's Hollow, Timpani told Poogs that he was his best friend, and gave him a harmonica, which Poogs loved. As they were leaving the village with the rescued Igor, the wereboar told them he would make sure the Slayer's Take wouldn't bother them, and when he showed some hesitation about the quality of their own group name, Timpani assured it was a good one. Shortly after, a seagull arrived, informing the druid that they had a new job, so they started making their way back to Vasselheim to prepare, and arguing if they should go to Timpani's apartment or visit actually decent shops in the city.
"The Monster in the Mirror" (RTx07)[]
On their next mission the Re-Slayers went to Shoresight Isle with Timpani's Transport via Plants spell, but appeared on the edge of a cliff and fell, since they were all tied to each other and Timpani was heavy; luckily, they were able to catch themselves in time and climb back up, in the firbolg helping Poogs. After that, Frog complained about the incident and Timpani explained that in her last visit to the island the oak they had crossed through wasn't that close to the sea. They went to the lighthouse, where they met Timpani's old friend, Duderonomous, who, after some effort, remembered that he had been the one sending the seagull to the druid, whom he hadn't seen for 86 years. They all went together to the local inn, where, while Duddy was trying to explain to them an old case of the Slayer's Take in the village, the customers attacked the group, controlled by some sort of invisible ghost tentacles.
In order to deal with the villagers without killing them, Timpani cast Enhance Ability on Frog, making her more charismatic, and suggesting her to talk to one of the men there and remind him of his actual personality as an art enthusiast (which ended up working); after that the druid decided to keep supporting his team and cast Guidance on Idrin as an encouragement. After all the villagers fell unconscious, the undead entity attacked Frog and tried to drag her inside a puddle of ale, but Timpani and her friends grabbed her in time and saved her. After that they returned to the lighthouse, and suddenly Duddy's eyes started glowing, as he called the building his house, with a voice that wasn't his own.
"The Lost Light" (RTx08)[]
Duderonomous, under the control of the entity (the ghost of an aboleth), caused the lighthouse itself to deform, and its shadows to move, and Timpani realized that the entire place was enchanted with the Magnificent Mansion spell. However, before he could do anything, he and Poogs were sent through a doorway that then disappeared, leaving them trapped for a while, dealing with visions and other illusory harmful manipulations. Eventually, all the Re-Slayers were able to return to the same place in the actual lighthouse, but Timpani, shaken by what he had experienced, didn't say much, focusing instead on healing Frog with Cure Wounds.
When they heard Duderonomous upstairs, they went to help him, and with some effort (which involved Idrin casting Light to make the lighthouse work again) they managed to scare away the ghost. Timpani then examined his friend, who was still confused and with translucent skin, although aware of who the firbolg was. Timpani, when looking at the mage's back, discovered a message with instructions, and after they followed them, they were able to restore Duderonomous's memories.
"The Dark Well" (RTx09)[]
Before they followed the aboleth Timpani healed Duderonomous (restoring his skintone) and cast Cure Wounds on Frog, humoring Idrin and pretending he didn't need healing even though he obviously did. After that they went to the well where the ghost was hiding, and Poogs and the druid told each other to be careful before going in. In order to bait the aboleth, Timpani gave its skull to Farah so that she could talk to it more persuasively. When the monster started chasing them outside the well it knocked Farah unconscious, and after Heera called Timpani, the firbolg, using Spider Climb, went in again and used his Healing Spirit (in the form of a starfish) to help the fallen blood hunter, also using a Healing Word for Heera before she left to fight their enemy. After Farah was recovered, they went outside, where the aboleth had been defeated. Timpani congratulated his friends and healed them all, after which they went to the sea cave to close a portal the ghost had been using. The druid assured them that he could handle it alone, and started the process; however, when he was almost done, a voice complained about his meddling, and a spectral black finger attacked Timpani, leaving him confused and unfocused, talking nonsense.
After Idrin determined that was likely a magical disease they tried to bring the firbolg to Duderonomous, but he used his Hidden Step to walk away, still confused, running towards a tree and casting Transport via Plants. His friends ran after him and crossed the portal in time, appearing in the Utesspire Mountains. Recognizing the area, Poogs agreed to bring Timpani to his old home to help him.
"The Curse of Strife (episode)" (RTx10)[]
The group traveled through the mountains keeping the still confused Timpani tied to Frog with a rope, so he wouldn't walk away again. At one point, when they were entering a dark tunnel, Poogs asked for light and the firbolg lifted a rock; however, when Idrin cast Light on the item, Timpani decided to throw it away, but his goblin friend took it.
When they arrived to Hug Hive, Poogs' now reformed settlement, they were greeted by Freedom Windsong, a doctor and friend of the younger goblin who agreed to examine Timpani; based on the symptoms, he determined the firbolg suffered from mindfire, an effect of the Contagion spell, and left him with his assistants, assuring the group that with a few hours and the proper ritual, Timpani would be healed. When they checked on him, shortly after, Timpani was wrapped in glowing moss.
"The Rotten Soldiers" (RTx11)[]
Timpani was under freedom's care while Hug Hive was attacked by an undead army. The goblin doctor stayed with him to heal him as soon as possible, refusing to leave even as monster got closer to their hiding place. However, the Re-Slayers successfully stopped the attack, and shortly after the Timberblight left, Timpani appeared, completely healed and ready to fight.
"The Timberblight of Dead Man's Table" (RTx12)[]
After saying goodbye to Freedom and his people, Timpani and his friends used miniature horses to return to the tree that had brought them to the Utesspire Mountains, and the firbolg confirmed that even though he knew how to reach their destination, he couldn't bring them there directly, since Dead Man's Table was barren after the ritual Putridius performed there. After telling his mount Thunderhoove to guide the other horses back home, and after thanking the Re-Slayers for helping him, he cast Travel via Plants to the Vesper Timberland, arriving through a tree near Dead Man's Table; when they reached the top Putridius was already waiting for them. A battle ensued, and Timpani focused on supporting the other adventurers, casting Barkskin on Idrin and using Cure Wounds to heal an unconscious Heera (although being attacked by the Timberblight with Mind Sliver as he was doing so). After Farah caused an elk stampede Timpani got inspired by them and cast Healing Spirit, which appeared as a calf abandoning the group to approach and heal an unconscious Frog, who defeated Putridius as she was taking the unconscious Poogs away from him.
Timpani woke the goblin up with Mass Cure Wounds, healing the rest of the party in the process, and Poogs told him that maybe their new deed would convince the Slayer's Take to accept them; the firbolg, however, declared they had a team of their own already. After a brief celebration Poogs suggested to go back to Himblewood to rest, and although Timpani told him he was still a good stab squire, the goblin decided to leave his knife in the plateau, declaring he was done with it. As they were making their way to the town, they were stopped by people of the Slayer's Take led by Heldwell, very ready to kill them, and telling Timpani he should have stayed as a nobody; however, one of them, Sweeny (a gnome), saved them by teleporting them to a bakery where Kashaw Vesh told the group Osysa wanted to speak with them.
Relationships[]
Poogs[]
Poogs is Timpani's best friend. He seems to have known Poogs for a while,[12] long enough to work with him and expect him to support him in activities such as pretending to be members of the Slayer's Take. After they met and Timpani knew the goblin wanted to replace his own teeth with a new, more human-like set, the druid commissioned the wizard Duderonomous, who completed the task and sent the teeth to them.[13]
When Timpani noticed that Poogs felt jealous of Janet (because he was unaware of the firbolg's past friendships), he reassured him telling him he was his best friend.
Character information[]
Notable Items[]
- Field guide with his own notes
- Climbing gear
- Magic earring
Former Items[]
- Coin purse, stolen by Heera
Abilities[]
Firbolg abilities[]
Unless otherwise noted, the following abilities are assumed from the standard Dungeons and Dragons materials.
- Firbolg Magic
- Detect Magic
- Disguise Self
- Hidden Step[14]
- Powerful Build
- Speech of Beast and Leaf
Druid features[]
- Druidic knowledge
- Spellcasting
- Wild Shape
- Druid Circle: Circle of the Shepherd
- Speech of the Woods
- Spirit Totem
- Mighty Summoner
- Guardian Spirit
Druid spells[]
| Spell level | Spell | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0 (cantrip) | Guidance | |
| 1st | Cure Wounds | |
| 1st | Healing Word | |
| 1st | Unseen Servant[presumed] | He said he tried the spell before, suggesting he knows how to cast it, potentially through a feat |
| 2nd | Healing Spirit | Has taken the form of a pine marten, a starfish, and an elk calf |
| 2nd | Lesser Restoration | |
| 2nd | Enhance Ability | |
| 2nd | Spider Climb | |
| 2nd | Barkskin | |
| 5th | Mass Cure Wounds | |
| 6th | Transport via Plants[15][16] |
Appearances and mentions[]
- The Re-Slayer's Take, every episode
Quotations[]
- (speaking to himself, then noticing the rest of the group already left) "You guys don't even understand the half of how unlucky old Timpani Guff is. Oh, boy... This always happens to old Timpani Guff."[17]
Trivia[]
- Nick Williams has admitted that Timpani is one of the dumbest characters that he has ever played, and he loves it because of how freeing it is.[18]
- Him and Poogs are rare examples of characters that start their adventure as both player characters and characters controlled by the GMs.
- Given his region of origin and the fact he's a firbolg, it is possible he has a connection with the Guiatao Clan.
- He has a cousin who has been with him in Issylra at least once,[19] but it is unknown if they are from this continent.
- He is a visual learner, and when he takes notes he fills them with drawings.[20]
- He is occasionally called "ranger", but this is likely a profession and not the class itself.
- Timpani considers Janet hot,[21] but it is unclear if him expressing it is simply a sincere compliment or also a hint of attraction.
- He used to play music with Janet.[22]
- He and Duderonomous have a private university joke, which consists on hugging and shouting "Hot beef" at the same time.[23]
- In a way, Timpani's character mirrors Putridius Festerkin's story: an unusual druid who was rejected by the Slayer's Take and started a project of his own that was, in a way, still tied to the guild. The main difference is that, while the Timberblight resorted to resentful vengeance, Timpani thrived after finding friends and allies with whom to do good deeds.
References[]
- ↑ See "The Bog House" (RTx02). He has been trying to join the Slayer's Take as an adult firbolg for hundreds of years, so he has been doing so for at least two centuries.
- ↑
Critical Role (@CriticalRole) on Twitter: "MEET THE RE-SLAYER'S TAKE!" (2024-05-21).
- ↑ See "The Voiceless Village" (RTx04).
- ↑ Critical Role (@CriticalRole) on Twitter: "MEET THE RE-SLAYER'S TAKE!" (2024-05-21).
- ↑ See "The Frozen Puppet" (RTx03).
- ↑ See "The Monster in the Mirror" (RTx07).
- ↑ See "The Voiceless Village" (RTx04).
- ↑ See "The Bog House" (RTx02).
- ↑ See "The Curse of Strife (episode)" (RTx10).
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Critical Role (@CriticalRole) on Twitter: "MEET THE RE-SLAYER'S TAKE!" (2024-05-21).
- ↑ See "The Dark Well" (RTx09).
- ↑ See "The Dark Well" (RTx09).
- ↑ See "The Bog House" (RTx02).
- ↑ See "The Voiceless Village" (RTx04). Timpani confirms he can use this spell but that in order to access Gurt's bog he has to use a password regardless.
- ↑ See "The Bog House" (RTx02).
- ↑ The Re-Slayers (Bonus) Take w/Matthew Mercer
- ↑ See "The Voiceless Village" (RTx04).
- ↑ See "The Bog House" (RTx02).
- ↑ See "The Whispers" (RTx05).
- ↑ See "The Hungry Cloud" (RTx06).
- ↑ See "The Lost Light" (RTx08).
Art:
- ↑ Official art of Timpani, by Elaine Tipping (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Official art of Timpani, by Elaine Tipping (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Timpani's deserved friends, by Elaine Tipping (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Timpani's apartment, by Elaine Tipping (source). Used with permission.