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Setting, part 3

People of Note

Emperor Thravys Ohlnoryah, Emperor of the Holy Empire

Male High Elf

Having ruled as the Divinely Appointed Emperor of the Holy Empire for the better part of 1000 years, the Emperor ascended to the throne when he was still a relatively young Elf of scarcely five centuries of age. During the time since he has expanded the power of the Holy Empire several fold and successfully waged a destructive war against the kingdom that once held sway in the western continent. He is seen as a visionary, missionary, and conqueror of an unenlightened people by most of his subjects and is well regarded.

As he approaches his 1300th birthday and eying the limits of his mortal years it is readily apparent that those around him are consolidating power in preparation for the changing of the guard. Thravys has had six children in his long life, so his legacy is bound to continue, but the Throne of Light is not passed via bloodline but by divine decree, thus his family is far from secured in his power. Regardless, the city of St. Almar is distant from the center of the Holy Empire and the Ohlnoryah touch will is bound to be felt for centuries to come. For the sake of this campaign Emperor Thravys Ohlnoryah will be a name of great significance against the backdrop of the story, but will not be taking an active role.

Lhenalos Ohlnoryah, Governor of St Almar & High Priest of Amiel

Male High Elf

A younger cousin to the Emepror, High Priest Lhenalos Ohlnoryah is, nevertheless, getting on in his years. At just over a millennia of age, he has lived a long and very impressive life. Originally not held in high regard by many of his fellows, Lhenalos was given the opportunity to guide an entire battalion of elven warriors in the subjugation of the western continent. His divine powers and keen tactical mind were pivotal to the conquering of the kingdom's capitol and as a reward he was given governorship of what would become St Almar.

Lhenalos has essentially shaped the city into his vision for the populace, thus much of what goes well (and goes wrong) can be attributed to him. Since a horribly botched assassination attempt some fifty years ago he no longer makes public appearances and, by most regard, his focus on law and order within the city has increased even more than its already 'more than sufficient' level. It is expected, based on his success with St. Almar, that he will continue to rule the city as its High Priest and Governor after Emperor Thravys leaves power, and that realization generates varied motions within the populace varies. Back when he made common appearances, the High Priest always wore divine robes and kept his waist-length golden hair pulled back in a single, long ponytail and his ice-blue eyes were known for their benevolent-yet-severe gaze.

Rhys Fairview, Head of the Fairview Family

Male Human

The great patriarch of the Fairview Family, Rhys has the esteemed position of guiding the numerous branches of his line. Everyone within St Almar is familiar with the Fairview Family, chosen exalted bloodline selectively guided and bred by the Elven nobility of town. These humans are trained, pampered, and doted upon like a human might do with a purebred dog. In truth, this is not far from the general consensus among the Elves. Rhys is a powerful tool for the Elves, both in dealing with his family and with other Humans who are beholden to the Fairview Household.

Elevated above standard "human status" by their Elven masters, the Fairview Family are referred to by the Elves as Bahnshee (not to be confused with Banshee), in much the same way Elven dogs are known as Cooshee. The Fairview Family are known for their tall, lithe, graceful appearance and their universally blonde hair. The three distinct bloodlines of the Fairviews (the aristocrats, the artists, and the wizards) have either blue, gray, or green eyes (respectively), while almost all other Humans in St Almar have brown or hazel. Rhys himself is always adorned in the finest of clothes. His once glorious golden hair has turned white with age but he keeps it in good order, pulled back in Elven fashion with loose tassels framing his face. His blue eyes are as astute as ever and, although he requires glasses to read, he refuses to wear them at any other time.

Inquisitor Aust Nilo, High Priest of Norr

Male High Elf

Twin brother to Talia Nilo, Aust oversees the martial activities of the Priesthood of Norr. An avid tactician, skilled warrior, and fanatical servitor of his faith, most denizens of St. Almar will do anything to stay out of his way and avoid his notice. He is responsible for the day-to-day activities of the guardsmen, but he also oversees the occasional combat maneuvers undertaken by the city's militia and its company of soldiers. If there are any military actions taking place inside or outside St. Almar it is almost certainly under Nilo's jurisdiction.

He is currently well-regarded by the High Priest, and the fervor with which he has increased the police-state in the past five decades is nothing short of intense, but this is to be expected of an Elf who is rumored to have killed his father for the older Elf's blatant disregard for civic duty (the stories differ). Although he is on the shorter side for an Elf, Inquisitor Aust is nevertheless a frightening spectacle, being broad shouldered an stalwart for his kind and his gray eyes are of a steely countenance that more than makes up for the several inches of height. His jet-black hair is cut short, save for two braids-- one on either side of his face and tucked behind his ears.

The Honorable Talia Nilo, High Priestess of Norr

Female High Elf

Twin sister to Aust Nilo, it is Talia's task to handle the judicial portion of activates undertaken by the Temple of Norr. A skilled stateswoman, Talia knows how to interact within high society, though her true aptitude lays within the court system, one she has guided for over two hundred years and shaped into an efficient (some say TOO efficient) tool for law and order. Although she is a judge in her own right, she serves first and foremost as an administrator, providing guidance and mentoring to the judges and barristers which serve her will. Even though her role is more of a manager, she is still known to take occasional interest in certain cases and usually, once ever month or two, sits in as judge.

Far less feared than her brother, Talia is, nevertheless, highly respected up to the point that most give her a wide berth and try to avoid drawing attention, more due to her tendency to question random individuals for any number of reasons; these casual interrogations, more often than not, bring to light wrongdoings which may vary in severity from a guilty slight to out-and-out breaking of laws. Her even approach to wrong-doing means that she is as often willing to provide contrition and forgiveness as severe judgment. Like her brother, Talia is on the shorter side and she also has black hair which she keeps tied up in a bun for most of the day during her official duties; many female members of the law keeping profession have taken to copying the double-bun she maintains, which has become an unofficial badge of office. Although she is no warrior, her gray eyed gaze is no less unsettling than that of her brother.

Loris Whitecandle, Speaker for St. Almar's Tradesman's League

Male High Elf

Although he did not come from a well-to-do family, Loris is something of a success story for the workers of St. Almar. The first of his line to achieve any great renown, Loris did so through hard work and dedication to his craft, which happened to be the repair and maintenance of musical instruments. The only one of his profession in St. Almar, he rose to prominence several centuries past and has earned an excellent living plying his trade. He is well-regarded by most townsfolk and is known for his honest dealings and open dialogue with other tradesmen, landing him the position of speaker for the League.

Jovial, outgoing, and welcoming, Loris is one of few Elves with power who are not seen as oppressive or antagonistic. He is well documented as pushing for fair trade among non-Elves and non-Humans (granted, at reduced pricing, as is considered reasonable by most in power) and often represents the interest of League members who otherwise go without someone to speak on their behalf; certain legal disputes raised by prostitutes championed on their behalf made some very clear statements that Loris won't let anyone be left unrepresented. Despite being well off, Loris still prefers form over function in his clothes and even the raiments he wears to League functions stress functionality. Those who know him often joke that Loris must have Halfling somewhere in his family line since his hair is brass colored and curly, and he has more than a few freckles splashed across his skin. He is, nevertheless, a true high Elf, and, aside from the hair and freckles is a perfect specimen of his kind.

Lila Fairview, Chair of the Free Laborer's Union

Female Human

Usually pleasant and unassuming, Lila Fairview is known to be quite the spitfire when it comes to negotiating on behalf of the unskilled workers in St. Almar. Her family's pedigree helped the Free Laborer's Union form several decades back and she took over the position from her father in exchange for him agreeing not to have her mated; the family's Elven patron required a new baby and so that duty was given to her younger sister instead. Avoiding the position of brood-mother, Lila embraced her new role and never looked back-- this has created some strain on her position within her family in the past few years, but she doesn't seem to care.

Embracing the task of setting wage expectations, negotiating contracts on behalf of members, and even going so far as to establishing rules regarding safety in work assignments (without creating exceptions on behalf of employers for Beast-Kin laborers), she has been an agent of change which has improved the lives of those who do hard work for low pay. It is also rumored that she was responsible for getting Loris Whitecandle and St Almar's Tradesman's League to represent prostitutes who had been wronged systemically by their handlers/pimps. As with all Fairviews, Lila looks as though she has Elven blood in her linage (though she doesn't-- it's just over 30 generations of careful breeding) with golden hair and the administative line of her family's tell-tale blue eyes.

Vanya Goldleaf, Speaker for the United Merchant's Federation

Female High Elf

As the matriarch of the venerable Goldleaf Elven house, it is no surprise to anyone in-the-know that Vanya is the Speaker for the United Merchant's Federation; it is likely possible that she is also the predominant body and soul for the organization as well. Having taken over the business from her father upon his passing some hundred years ago, she also assumed his role as the head of the Federation, ruling the organization with an iron grip. There was a brief attempted coup some sixty years past and it created an opening of three seats on the board; no one has questioned her competence (or ruthlessness) since.

The Federation serves the interest of its members, and is one of the closest ties St. Almar has to the Holy Empire, since it is the Federation's ships that hazard the crossing of the Stormbreak Sea. Banking, Money-Changing, and monetary documentation are all governed by the Federation and, aside from the workers it employs from the Union, the vast majority of teamster and delivery services are wholly under their auspices as well. Vanya oversees all aspects of the Federation's activities and is also considered a valued civic advisor to the High Priest. Although not quite 700, Vanya presents herself as at least 100 years older, preferring conservative dress, wraps her platinum hair up in a clean, close braided coif, and is never without an expression that provides ample warning that she is not to be disregarded or disrespected.

"Uncle Hubert", 'Leader' of The Gathering Shadows

Rumored to be a Male Outsider

Little is known about the man referred to as "Uncle Hubert" aside from the fact that he must be a skilled diplomat and negotiator since he'd somehow convinced the Rogues, Warlocks and Cultists to coexist within a centralized 'power structure'. Having taken bits and pieces from each organization, he managed to seamlessly integrate them into a greater whole-- even his nickname takes its cue from the respectful tone used by the Rogue's Guild for their guildmistress, who goes by "Auntie". The open-nature of membership without required meeting attendance he took from the Warlocks, and the special glyphs and symbols used for secret communication comes straight from the followers of Loghul.

Aside from various rumors regarding him being an outsider (mostly due to the extreme fanaticism with which his most ardent followers serve), one thing that is widely known is that he never communicates to the Gathering face to face-- only through scrolls sealed with an intricate signet with wax colors that change seemingly at random to prevent forgery; supposedly only the leaders of each of the Gathering's factions know the system. It took the Lawgivers almost 20 years to track down the jeweler who crafted the signet but when they did the man slit his own throat after declaring himself an Honored Nephew. The term seems to be one provided posthumously to his preferred followers. To this day, no one knows what Uncle Hubert looks like.

"Auntie Mildred", Guildmistress of the Rogue's Guild

Female Halfling

The life of a Halfing is not an easy one on the streets of St. Almar and every urchin knows that survival depends on numbers. The Halfling woman known as "Auntie Mildred" is somewhere around forty years old and has supposedly been a member of the Rogue's Guild for at least thirty. She took over as guildmistress from the prior guild master, who had died after a Lawgivers raid on their prior base; although he got away, his wounds were fatal and he passed guild leadership to her. It was not a popular decision and within a week she had to fight for the position. She was victorious, and remains the guild mistress today.

Despite being ruthless when it comes to business, she is said to have complete dedication to the Guild and a true love for its members; they undeniably pay it back with loyalty in spades. She has instituted many laws and guidelines which were originally unpopular, but have since been embraced as a way to encourage honor among thieves, an a code of conduct by which to interact with fellow guild members. Despite being into middle-age, Auntie Mildred remains in excellent physical condition. Still, her position as Guildmistress means she does not spend so much time in the field these days. She is of average height for a Halfling woman and her inactivity in recent years means she is slightly on the 'cushioned' side. When she is in a good mood her doe brown eyes sparkle with good humor and she has an infectious smile but when conducting guild business her face remains an unreadable mask.

"Uncle Rathford", Speaker for the Warlocks of the Gathering Shadows

Male Human

Not one to mince words, Uncle Rathford is known for speaking his mind, which he does often. Some might presume the Speaker for a clandestine group such as a cabal of Warlocks to be hesitant to disclose any kind of information, but Uncle Rathford rarely avoids the truth, but he always prefaces his answers with the knowledge of whether or not getting a response will result in the death of the individual questioning him. Said inquirer will then get another opportunity to either continue the line of questioning or to retrace their steps in the discussion-- most choose wisely and the rest get their answer then end up dead.

Empowered by neither Waha nor Loghul, Uncle Rathford claims to have Uncle Hubert himself as a patron (further evidence that Hubert is likely an outsider of some variety). Being separate from the two main factions within the cabal gives Uncle Rathford a convincing 'middle ground' an neutrality in the dealings of the warlock organization. Although he is early into middle-age, time has not been kind to Uncle Rathford. Not considered 'handsome' by any stretch of the imagination, most would consider him outright repulsive. His sparse, stringy black hair is greasy and unkempt and he is missing at least a quarter of his teeth. Despite being pale, appearing both sickly and frail, Uncle Rathford is rumored to be incredibly powerful, having pinned a charging Rhino Beast-Kin before cutting out the offender's heart with a sacrificial blade.

"Aunt Twilight", High Priestess of Loghul

Rumored to be a Female High Elf

A figure of almost mythic proportions to the followers of Loghul, the High Elven beauty known to those outside her organization as "Aunt Twilight" is scarcely more than a collection of rumors, legends, and ghost stories. According to the few cultists willing to discuss her, they say that she only ever appears to the most faithful within their group and that she supposedly lives within St. Almar, somehow managing to avoid being detected or caught by The Holy Temple. Other, more clandestine whispers suggest that she doesn't 'live' within the city at all, and that she is, in truth, a member of the undead.

Some may question as to whether she truly exists and, if she does, if she is everything she is supposed to be. The one thing that is going for her legend is that the numerous stories don't conflict on three points: they all agree that she is Elven; they all conclude that she was among the original Elves who conquered the western continent; they all state that she is an earthly conduit for the Dark God Loghul's power. If these three pieces of information are true then it can be concluded that she is likely very dangerous to anyone who gets in the way of the cult of Loghul.

"The Shepherd", Leader of The Militia of Holus

Rumored to be Male Human

Little is known about the enigmatic figure referred to by the Militia of Holus as "The Shepherd". The title was taken from the old religion's texts, referring to the earthly embodiment of Holus' love providing guidance and protection to his flock-- ie: the followers of Holus. What has been pieced together is that the all-but-lost religion often held ceremonies and rituals guided by the equivalent of a high priest, and that individual's title was 'The Shepherd'. To this end, most who study The Militia of Holus use the term synonymously-- but the followers seem to keep it distinctively separate.

Reports vary on the individual (or perhaps individuals) serving as the leader(s) of the Militia of Holus, but most conclude that it is likely a single person (or no more than three), who is almost certainly a Human (possibly a half-orc, or even a dwarf), and that they are established in the city, possibly even in a position of power among the city (which returns to the general consensus of The Shepherd being a Human, since half-orcs and dwarves can't really attain any true authority or standing). Regardless of The Shepherd's identity, he is a rallying point for The Militia and the Holy Temple will not likely be able to root them out and halt the movement without exposing and eliminating him.

Archmagus Sisa Fairview, Headmistress of the Holy Arcane Order

Female Human

Sisa Fairview, as if it were not obvious by her name, is a member of the Fairview family. Records also indicate that she is a true-blooded member of the magically adept portion of her lineage and her talent with thaumaturgy reinforces those records. One of the few members of the Holy Arcane Order to have both a natural aptitude and learned skillset with spells, she is a true force to be reckoned with in all things magical. Moreover, there fact that she was originally assigned the status of a noble Elf-child's plaything-- a family pet; Sisa was discarded after she became a teenager and was no longer considered 'cute'. In fact, if the stories are to be believed, it was the Elven child who named her, mispronouncing the word 'Sister' as the 40-something year-old Elf was still learning Common.

As the youngest member of the Holy Arcane Order to attain the status of Magus, it was only a handful of years until she rose to the highest rank of Archmagus, and scarcely two years after that she ascended to the status of Headmistress; at 31, she is now the leader of the Order when most members are just starting to eye Magus status. As with all Fairviews, Sisa is fair of feature, light of skin, and graceful with every movement. She is lithe and, despite looking delicate, she can be a force of nature when angered-- a common occurrence if rumors are to be believed. Like most Magi, Sisa cuts her hair incredibly short and, even though her rank permits her more flexibility in that regard, it is often assumed that she does so to spite her memory of her Elven child 'friend', who used to dote over it and brush it daily. Sisa's eyes are as green as emeralds and sparkle just as brightly, but when she is deep in reflective thought a dullness often appears in them, speaking of pain that cannot be assuaged.

Vax Shardtooth, King of The Nibblers

Rumored to be a Male Kobold/Lizardfolk/Demon/Dragon

The vast majority of information about Vax Shardtooth is hearsay and rumor, but the one thing that IS known for certain is that the Nibblers have a centralized organizer, leader, and, some say: king. Only having formed in the past handful of years, the Nibblers have grown to a point of recognition due to their activities. Originally limited to just the Slums, every year Vax continues to guide the kobolds and increase their reach, undertaking crimes in the poor district and the docks; just this year there have been signs that they have expanded their movements to the business district and there is no doubt that the Lawgivers will not stand for the disruptions.

As for Vax Shardtooth himself, little is known as he rarely meets with anyone outside of The Nibblers with them surviving. Hazy, first-hand accounts have identified him as a large Kobold, though occasionally a Lizardman, Demon, or even humanoid Dragon; the final story was from a drunkard and most disregard it-- Dragons are rare enough but the idea of a humanoid Dragon is beyond preposterous. Vax's scale color is reported to be some variant of red, orange, brown, or dun, but he has never been spotted in direct lighting. Even Vax being a male is left up to conjecture, but, considering the Kobold race does not elevate females beyond the status of egg-layers, it is a safe assumption to be made. The one consistent feature that has been used to identify him in all eye-witness accounts is that his dark vision causes his eyes to glow orange rather than the usual red; all captured kobold criminals are tested on their dark vision before being executed but no orange has yet been observed.

Golna Bronzehammer, "Mayor" of the Slums

Female Dwarf

As with most Dwarves, Golna avoids chaos and seeks to provide clear, consistent guidelines and carefully crafted sets of rules which are to be followed. To this end, the old Dwarven woman has spent more than half of her 200-something years building a community out of the trash-heap that is the slums of St. Almar. Although it hasn't been an easy project, Golna strove to follow in the footsteps of her great grandfather-- stories of whom were told to her by her grandfather when she was a young girl. It was his father, the famed Urmun Bronzehammer who first united the dwarves and created a lasting alliance with the human kingdom which existed before the elves came to the western continent. Although she has no illusions that her little collection of poor folk could ever rise up and overthrow the new masters of the land, she still believes that lasting improvement is possible.

Dubbed the "Mayor" of the non-Elven and non-Human portion of town, Golna is well-regarded by most of the southern Slums, but is forced to fight a battle (sometimes literally) with the goblinoids, who occupy the northern portion. Although it's been a few years since Golna has taken part in any of the turf wars, she makes certain that her most ardent followers are there to lead on her behalf; she refuses to give an inch of neighborhood that she's fought so hard to build up from nothing. The hard years of fighting have given Golna a rough edge that doesn't go away, even when she smiles. Her graying red hair is usually carefully groomed and pulled back in a warrior's bun. She is never without her war hammer and shield and she always conducts herself as a war maiden, despite the practice having died out within a few decades of the Elves taking control.

"The Sarge", Leader of the Hobgoblin Mercenary Group "Pik-Zagn" ("War Boys")

Male Hobgoblin

Although there are few prospects for residents of the slums to improve their lot in life, the past six years have seen a change in the status quo, namely the rise in power of a skilled tactician and warrior known only as "The Sarge". Like most individuals who might gain the ire of the Holy Temple or the Lawgivers, the Hobgoblin warlord does not use his actual name. Unlike most would-be leaders of the slums, however, he isn't trying to disrupt the status quo-- if anything, he has forged a place for himself within it. The Sarge has spent the last half decade creating a lasting legacy in the form of one of St. Almar's first unsanctioned mercenary units. At over 60 members, The "Pik-Zagn" (translated loosely from Goblin, the name means "War Boys") has gained notoriety for their willingness to 'get stuff done'.

While the contracts they fulfill are usually quasi-legal at best, The Sarge obviously has enough foresight to avoid any blatantly illegal activity or, if they Boys DO engage in it, he has enough where-withal to avoid making it public. At just past middle age for his species, The Sarge is, nevertheless, quite a specimen to behold. Standing several inches taller than an average Human, he also exceeds the height of may High Elves. Broad shouldered and stocky, The Sarge is starting to gain a little girth around the mid-section common to many who are starting to show their years. His jet-black hair, which is a stark contrast to his brick red skin is always cut thin and he maintains a 5 o clock shadow regardless of the time of day.

Mistress Leticia, (Self-Proclaimed) Ruler of the Beast-kin

Female High Elf

Originally born to the venerable Elven family House Verdantbough, Leticia was always something of an eccentric-- she gave all of that up when she moved to the slums. Oh, the stories that can be (and are) told of the profane and perverted elven noblewoman who has forsaken her family name and embraced the title of ruler over St. Almar's Beast-kin. While some would presume that a High Elf involving herself in the affairs of the city's downtrodden couldn't possibly be a bad thing need only know that Mistress Leticia does not do what she does out of compassion or good-will; anyone who is familiar with her knows that she does it for her own amusement. Ruling over her vassals like some kind of criminal king-pin, Mistress Leticia's touch on the community is both beneficial and detrimental; depending on her mood she can be kind or harsh-- and sometimes both.

She is well-known for taking advantage of Beast-kin's weak position within the community and often recruits the poorest and most desperate for any number of horrible activities but what positives she accomplishes in the slums means most of her worst activities are overlooked by those who benefit from her presence. In addition to running a mob-like organization, Mistress Leticia is also known as one of the primary supporters (and operators) of the Beast-Kin cage fighting racket. Although technically able to be classified as a 'crime lord', Mistress Leticia does not look the part, presenting herself far more like an innocent Elven maiden. She usually wears light, airy clothing of multiple layers, almost like a princess out of a fairy tale, and her platinum, thigh-length hair is almost always left free to flow in a luxurious, gleaming waterfall. Her amber eyes are one of her most striking features, and one that disrupts her otherwise gentle and meek visage: they have the severity and lethal gleam of a hunting cat.

"Sammy the Bear", Beast-Kin Cage Fighter

Male Bear Beast-Kin

The current fan-favorite of the cage fighters among the Elven nobility, the ursine Beast-kin known only as "Sammy the Bear" has been the champion of all upper class fights for almost a year. One of the few Beast-Kin who can freely travel the upper class sections of the city (presuming his handlers are with him), the Bear has attracted quite a following. He has fought in twenty five official fights-- one fight every fortnight, and has been victorious in all of them. This level of success, coupled with his history, has earned him the title of "Ameil's Champion".

Although not a lot is known about his past, his handlers claim he had grown up in St. Almar itself and was taken in by the Holy Temple during one of their outreaches to the poor. There, they cared for him and provided him what he needed to prosper, giving him food and shelter and teaching him a pliable trade. One day, the small satellite temple was attacked by thugs trying to make off with its meager riches and Sammy helped to protect it, driving the men off while saving the lives of the clergy. Whether the story is true or not, there is no doubt that Sammy's fighting garb includes a necklace with the holy symbol of Ameil on it. A massive Beast-kin Bear, Sammy stands just over seven foot tall and is built stocky and broad like a dwarf. His dark brown fur is textured with a veritable topographical map of scars and he is missing the little finger of his right paw; a take-away from one of his first fights in which his opponent bit it off.

"Polly", Mysterious Benefactor

Rumored to be a Female Human

One of the most subdued groups to come together on St Almar's streets is known as "The Assembly", a loose-knit collection of like-minded cast offs and hopeless denizens of the city with no other allies, no opportunities, and no hope. Funded by the mysterious and benevolent individual known only as "Polly", the organizers of The Assembly have spent the last five years providing aid where they can with what resources are made available. In addition to funding, Polly has also been pivotal in maintaining a vigil on guard activities and maintaining a collection of safe houses and hideaways for members of The Assembly seeking protection from the authorities. The organizers are very careful about over utilizing Polly's gifts since it is presumed that the more they rely on their mysterious benefactor, the more they put Polly at risk of being discovered.

While many have suggested that Polly is probably an elf with enormous wealth and means, those who have been in The Assembly the longest believe that she is a Human, more likely than not; the messages she sends seem to have a shorter time-frame on their world views, an her utilization of the Common Tongue and Common alphabet suggests it is a primary language rather than one which was carefully studied. Even so, most members of The Assembly have no real knowledge of who is helping them, only that she seems to be truly committed to the cause of the common folk and is not above sacrificing for the common good-- both are rare traits in St. Almar.