NPCs#
Characters the party has encountered.
Armin Gainsbury#
- Role: Expeditionary supply merchant
- Location: Caravan Court, Emberwood Village
Log
- Session 1: Sold the party delerium handling guides and equipment (gloves, vials, picks).
Key Info
- Delerium handling safety (detailed in pamphlet)
- Monster harvesting techniques
- Sewers are dangerous but potentially rewarding
- Delerium can capture monster “animus” for crafting
Captain Ansem#
- Role: Commander of Hooded Lanterns detachment
- Location: Watchtower, Emberwood Village
- Description: Long hair, heavy cloak, ornate blade, Aragorn vibes
Log
- Session 1: Met the party at the Watchtower. Asked them to rescue his sister Lieutenant Petra Lang from the Rat’s Nest Tavern.
- Session 1: Heda Zlathrak used Lay on Hands to cure the contamination from his delerium wound.
Key Info
- Sister Petra was captured by ratlings at Rat’s Nest Tavern
- Ratlings use delerium-tipped weapons
- Worships the old gods, not the Sacred Flame
Donovan#
- Role: Eren Marlowe’s nephew
- Location: Missing in Drakkenheim
- Status: Missing (~1 week)
Log
Mentions
- Eren Marlowe: His nephew, went to Drakkenheim seeking fortune
- Emma Crowe: Used to give her candy at the Bark and Buzzard
Emma Crowe#
- Role: Tour guide, blacksmith’s daughter
- Location: Emberwood Village
- Description: ~10 years old, ginger hair, soot-covered, enthusiastic, saving up for a sword
Log
- Session 1: Gave the party a tour of Emberwood Village (1gp each). Margareta tipped an extra gold.
- Session 1: Heda Zlathrak asked her about “the Dragon’s Lair” — she didn’t know but offered to ask her dad.
Key Info
- Detailed tour of all establishments in Emberwood Village
- The haunted house has doors that open and close on their own
- Say hello to the skull at Skull and Sword or you’ll have bad luck
- Donovan used to hang out at Bark and Buzzard until about a week ago
- Her dad Tobias Crowe is the best blacksmith in 100 miles
Mentions
- Karen (Bark and Buzzard) mentioned by Emma during tour
Eren Marlowe#
- Role: Wagon driver, provisioner
- Location: Tonsburg → Emberwood Village
- Description: Lean, mid-forties, shoulder-length brown hair, leather cap, shabby wool jacket
Log
- Session 1: Hired the party as escorts for the journey to Emberwood Village. Charged 10gp for passage.
- Session 1: Shared stories about Drakkenheim during the trip. Offered 5gp bonus for arriving ahead of schedule (party earned it).
- Session 1: Party informed him that Emma saw Donovan at Bark and Buzzard until about a week ago.
Key Info
- Emberwood Village is the only safe settlement near Drakkenheim
- The Hooded Lanterns are who to talk to about restoring the throne
- His nephew Donovan went into Drakkenheim and hasn’t been heard from
Mentions
- Emma Crowe mentioned Donovan used to give her candy at the Bark and Buzzard
Flamekeeper Bella#
- Role: Priestess
- Location: Chapel of St. Ardenna, Emberwood Village
- Affiliation: Sacred Flame (neutral between factions)
Log
- Session 1: Heda Zlathrak visited and prayed. She recognized his old prayer style.
- Session 1: Explained the different Sacred Flame factions to the party.
Key Info
- The Falling Flame believe the meteor is the Sacred Flame made real
- The Silver Order believe the meteor is an arcane abomination
- High Flamekeeper Ophelia Reed (Silver Order) visits the chapel
- Nathaniel Flint (Falling Flame) can be found at Hendrix Farm
- Holy sites: St. Vitruvio’s Cathedral, St. Selena’s Monastery, Chapel of St. Brenna
Karen#
- Role: Innkeeper
- Location: Bark and Buzzard, Emberwood Village
Log
- Session 1: Party booked cottages (2gp/night each) and meals.
Key Info
- Recommended talking to Gainsbury before going into the city
- Emberwood Village is neutral ground — no crime issues
Kosta Stavros#
- Role: Hotel owner
- Location: Red Lion Hotel, Emberwood Village
Log
- Session 1: Party inquired about rooms (25gp/night). Margareta’s talk of jumping on beds concerned him.
Lieutenant Petra Lang#
- Role: Hooded Lanterns officer
- Location: Captured at Rat’s Nest Tavern
- Affiliation: Hooded Lanterns
- Status: Missing/Captured
Log
- Session 1: (Not met — mentioned by Captain Ansem as captured)
Mentions
- Captain Ansem: His sister, leading expedition when captured by ratlings
Ludwig von Graf#
- Role: Noble adventurer
- Location: Encountered on road, fleeing Drakkenheim
Log
- Session 1: Met party on the road. One of his companions was secretly mutating.
Key Info
- Sought family deed in inner city but couldn’t reach it
- Monsters ambushed them with delerium-tipped arrows
- Companion’s tongue fell out from contamination
Master River#
- Role: Amethyst Academy mage
- Location: Red Lion Hotel / Eckerman Mill
- Affiliation: Amethyst Academy
- Description: Blue tiefling
Log
- Session 1: Theobroma met her at the Red Lion Hotel. Initially dismissive, then apologized for rudeness.
- Session 1: Told Theobroma to meet at Eckerman Mill at sunrise for academy business.
Key Info
- Previous mages sent to Drakkenheim have not returned
- Academy business conducted at Eckerman Mill, not in the hotel (too many prying eyes)
Sibyl Crowe#
- Role: Emma Crowe’s sister
- Location: Emberwood Village
Log
- Session 1: (Not met — mentioned by Emma)
Mentions
- Emma Crowe: Her sister, leg was healed by Flamekeeper Bella
Tobias Crowe#
- Role: Blacksmith
- Location: Crowe and Sons Smithy, Emberwood Village
Log
- Session 1: Party sold him a hand crossbow and mace for 40gp.
Mentions
- Emma Crowe: Her father, “best blacksmith in 100 miles”