Elinor Thistletop
If soldiers risk their lives for the city, the least I can do is tell their stories.
Elinor Thistletop is a young halfling bard who has always had a knack for storytelling. Unlike most journalists, she also has the courage to venture onto the frontlines, which quickly made her a valuable reporter with a niche all her own. As the leading "Combat Correspondent," as she likes to call herself, she offers a unique perspective on military affairs and events unfolding on the battlefield.
Although many members of the STN Fighters Guild were initially skeptical about allowing a civilian onto the frontlines, especially one they feared they would have to protect, making their jobs more difficult, Elinor quickly proved her worth as a bard. With her moderate healing abilities and her talent for inspiring those around her, the soldiers she fought alongside soon learned that she was an asset on the battlefield, not a liability.
It came as no surprise when the Fighters Guild gave her the callsign "Inkwell." What began as a playful reference to her profession as a journalist quickly became the name by which most of the fighters guild knew her. Over time, the nickname spread beyond the Fighters Guild, and today she proudly uses Inkwell as both a nickname and her pen name.
Throughout the years, Inkwell has built strong connections within the city and its guilds. Among the first of these was Tiesha Tanglewire. While the two had worked together for years, Tiesha's appointment as Guild Master of Logistics proved to be a turning point in Inkwell's career. By bringing major stories to guild leadership before publishing them, Inkwell showed that she respected the people she wrote about, which made those same people far more willing to trust her in return.
As Guild Master of Logistics, Tiesha was often involved in coordinating support for Fighters Guild operations alongside her husband, Fizzlewick Tanglewire, the Commander of Operations. Tiesha was frequently in a position to ensure Inkwell was included in situations where major events were unfolding. With the approval of a commander and the ability to contribute to frontline efforts, few ever questioned these decisions.
Elinor found herself accompanying military expeditions and reaching the frontlines far more frequently than any civilian could. These opportunities allowed her to develop her own niche, one that would eventually make her famous throughout the city through her column: "Combat Correspondent Inkwell, reporting for duty."