Yopparai

Yopparai's tragic childhood included his abandonment by his elven father, and the loss of his mother in a fire set by an angry mob of Nerina citizens. The city fathers, shocked by the actions of the mob and having no facility to care for the young waif, sent him away to the Sunny Sanitarium to be raised and cared for. They were not aware of the questionable treatment policies there.

In the sanitarium, Yopparai spent his formative years with the "guests" of Sunny. He adopted a crazed old man who lived in the Padded Wing as a father figure. Needless to say, it left him with a rather unbalanced world view. The doctors felt that it would be best if Yopp suppressed all memories of his childhood. They succeeded in this endeavor through the "therapeutic" use of strong, hallucinogenic herbs and aversion therapy. Compounding these factors, the guards made sure that all the inmates had a steady supply of booze. In their professional opinions, a liquored ward was a quiet ward.

Upon his escape from Sunny he made his way back to Nerina. He fell, literally, into the profession of the swashbuckler quite by accident. Having consumed a large quantity of hooch in one of the local farmers' barns, Yopparai prepared to make his way back inside the city gates. As he staggered past the door, he noticed a sword, propped against the wall by one of the other revelers. Feeling a little unsteady on his feet, Yopparai tucked the hilt of the weapon in his armpit and used it as a crutch on the walk back into town. He was so impressed with this navigation aid that upon his arrival in the city, he promptly lifted a second blade from a sleeping cityguard.

Early in his career Yopparai adventured in the world mainly to get cash with which to buy booze. He valued things very little, often pawning valuable objects for a few gold and silver, which he then promptly drank. Faced with the choice of dropping a priceless statuette or a mug of cheap beer, He would keep the beer every time. But it wasn't long before he met an insane young priest in training named Random, who served in the church of Yigg. Random showed Yopp the divine gifts which were drunkenness and insanity. He also educated Yopparai in the ways of Stuff.

Though Yopparai has taken part in many "serious" adventures - including the ill fated attack on the Dracolich with Elhennan and company, and the battle for Necropolis - he is better known for his songs (see "The Collected Songs of Yopparai"), his impromptu parties, and the truly bizarre events in his life. He has given birth to his own daughter, had numerous serious relationships (with sheep) and during one Yiggmas season, fought several battles with hams (losing at least one.)