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Thick as Thieves RP - Characters : Civilian NPCs of The City

In addition to characters related to the local thieving scene, the city state of Melza (a.k.a. The City) boasts a colourful collection of inhabitants of all shapes and sizes, species and sexes, occupations and ideologies, personalities and mannerisms. These are just some of the many characters that you might come across while wandering the city's streets, quarters, burroughs or even outskirts. From the most wretched slums to the fanciest public buildings, Melza's contrasts and colourfulness are brought to life by people just as contrasting and colourful…

Work in progress.


THE CITY'S UPPER CRUST

Latnan Oktimk

Species: Bigfolk
Sex: Male
Job: The Lord Mayor of the city.
Specialisations: City Official, Socialite, Diplomat
Birthplace/Homeland: The City
Biography: Coming from a long line of wealthy “old money” ancestors and currently in his mid-to-late sixties, mayor Oktimk has led The City's municipal government for a number of years now. Overall, he is considered to be dutiful and magnanimous, but also rather unapproachable, cranky and somewhat snobby by what seems to be the majority of Melza's populace. As one would expect, opinions on him vary across the board, and depend a lot on which individual and group of people you ask, based on their social and economic status or the location they inhabit within the state's borders. People from places that hold a grudge against the mayor or people from Melza's surrounding countryside and nine additional municipalities are traditionally the least charitable. They generally regard him on a scale that goes from “old, lazy, knowitall plonker” to “silly geezer who just won't ever understand us, as he's not from the right part of the Barony, unlike us”. The rest of the populace is mostly much more charitable. The mayor has some of the most stable support among some fellow socialites and nobles, as well as most of The City's richer bourgeoisie. A frequently heard consensus of opinion states that, though hiding a warm and generous side, the Lord Mayor is rather obsessed with public order in Melza and doesn't suffer fools and troublemakers gladly. He can be a very no-nonsense man, often to a fault… Mayor Oktimk is well known for sharing a close professional friendship with his advisor and secretary, Púrst Tarandar. Despite how rocky their daily relations might seem at face value to the uninitiated, the two men share an almost brotherly bond and have deeply respected each other for decades. In private, the Lord Mayor is an old bachelor and mostly keeps to himself, but he has a long track record of being something of a polite ladies' man. Even to this day, he is known to flirt with women on ocassion, usually ones that are closer to him in age and social standing. Though his behaviour is markedly chaste and gentlemanly, this flirty habit of his has led some of his naysayers to label him “The Greatest Widow-Comforter in Town” or “Ol' Lecherous Latni”.

Púrst Tarandar

Species: Smallfolk (Permon)
Sex: Male
Job: Secretary and chancellor of the Lord Mayor.
Specialisations: Aide, Pencil-pusher, Scribe
Birthplace/Homeland: The City
Biography: As the seemingly inconspicuous first bureaucrat and personal scribe of the mayor, Púrst might not seem a particularly striking man at face value. Nevertheless, his upstanding, conscientious and honest demeanour and life-long close friendship with the mayor elevate him above the usual stereotype people have of “faceless bureaucrats”. The prevailing sentiment of the average inhabitant of Melza is that the government, and the Four Lords in particular, are a bunch of over-serious, bored and uptight elitists, regardless of their achievements in bettering life in The City. If such a person met Púrst, he'd probably be forced to reconsider these popular preconceptions: The aging permon is famous for his rather optimistic view of things and his sense of humour, though as he himself notes, he's really terrible at telling jokes. Púrst tends to be funny in a more indirect way, often quipping unintentionally amusing statements during exceptionally serious situations. He's legendary for two particular things: 1.) A reputation for being one of the most hypercompetent employees of the municipal government. 2.) Despite how rocky his and the mayor's mundane relations might seem to the uninitiated, the two men share an almost brotherly bond and have deeply respected each other for decades. Regarding both legendary traits, rumour has it that the only time Púrst ever skived in his entire life was during the height of The Great Unrest many years ago. Some versions of the anecdote even note that he sent a messenger to City Hall to announce his sudden day off. For this, an upset mayor Oktimk had supposedly banned Púrst from taking a vacation ever again, and made sure Tarandar would in addition lose his entitlement to one solstice premium. You can fault the mayor for many things, but you can't fault him for not appreciating Púrst's skills at helping administer the fluctuating boiling pot that is Melza…

Dortan IV. Terlo

Species: Bigfolk
Sex: Male
Job: The Lord Baron of The City and the Barony. He is of House Terlo, the current ruling dynasty of the City and the Barony.
Specialisations: Aristocrat, Socialite, Diplomat
Birthplace/Homeland: The City
Biography: Dortan the Fourth is the eighteenth Lord Baron of House Terlo to rule the Barony. In his late forties and slowly pushing fifty, he has ruled the monarchy during a period characterised by relative peace and prosperity. Aside of the Lengelian-Lesanian Incident roughly a quarter century ago, which occured early during his reign, the Baron has enjoyed what he describes as a “boring, laid-back, almost bureaucratic existence”. Unlike some of his predecessors, he's not too keen on military matters, duels and other assorted martial stuff, but he does pursue a few obsessive hobbyist interests. Rather phlegmatic, he is quite contrasted by his more energetic and outspoken wife Oroliana.

Oroliana Zalaventa

Species: Bigfolk
Sex: Female
Job: Baroness-Consort of the Lord Baron. Of House Zalaventa.
Specialisations: Aristocrat, Diplomat
Birthplace/Homeland: The City
Biography: Originally a native of Trinitia. “Ora” or “dearest, feisty Ora” to her beloved husband. Dortan's decision to marry Oroliana was controversial, because though she was a noblewoman, she was still considered of unequal standing to him as an actual ruler of a small monarchy.* Now in his late 40s, pushing fifty, and she in her mid-40s, the two are inseparable. Though she's not that political a creature, there are always rumours about “Ora” often doing the heavy lifting when it comes to advising her husband about some of the Barony's policies. The people love her anyway, for her genuinely cordial nature. It is said she fraternised a lot with commoners in her youth, and this influenced her.

Unis Harelah

Species: Smallfolk (Rarach)
Sex: Male
Job: The Lord Commander of the city (commander-in-chief of the city's armed forces).
Specialisations: City Official, Swordmaster
Birthplace/Homeland: The City
Biography:

Relan Avakala

Species: Martenfolk
Sex: Male
Job: The Lord Spiritual (ecumenic religious representative) of the city.
Specialisations: City Official, Dignitary, Diplomat
Birthplace/Homeland: The City
Biography:

Bosvak Zosikan

Species: Bigfolk
Sex: Male
Job: Head of Zosikan Ventures and Industries, j.s.c., heir to the property of the main Zosikan family line.
Specialisations: Businessman, Engineer, Archaeologist, Adventurer
Birthplace/Homeland: The City
Biography: Mr. Zosikan is indisputably the richest and most famous businessman in all of Melza. His family takes great pride in the “self-made man” reputation of many of its members, with an enterpreneurial tradition running long and deep within the Zosikan clan. Not content with merely carrying the torch of this family tradition, Bosvak is very notable for his scholarly and antiquarian pursuits. As he grew older and longed to make up for lost time during his younger years, he embraced these new hobbies along with travelling. He did this so eagerly, that many Cittans question whether his enthusiasm isn't just him lavishly compensating for some of his less admirable or charming qualities. Old Zosikan genuinely has no qualms about being an ardent collector of antiques, curios and valuables. Though in a bit of denial over this, he is rather obsessed with treasure hunting. Some of his older friends or public supporters have grown weary or annoyed with him due to this. Some even take it as far as outright slandering Bosvak for perceived actions he really isn't guilty of, or just oversimplifying his collector's passion as greediness. But the businessman-cum-adventurer has learned to live with such resentment and appears to care little for it these days, counting it as just another fact of life. Not that long ago, he became the first private owner of an aeronav in all of Melza, christening the skyship as “Troika”. Though he's tried to paint this huge and excessive investment as just another venture for one of his subsidiaries, it's the worst kept secret in The City that he plans to utilise the impressive new airship for his own private archaeological expeditions.

Disirea Langedor

Species: Bigfolk
Sex: Female
Job: Socialite, Writer
Specialisations:
Birthplace/Homeland: The City (but of Nobranan ancestry)
Biography:

Dekseriu

See Crimebusters.


CRAFTSMEN, ENTERPRENEURS AND MERCHANTS

Rumlaaž Baltābols

Species: Bigfolk
Sex: Male
Job: Confectionery maker.
Specialisations: Merchant, Shopkeeper
Birthplace/Homeland: The Merchant Republic of Segalimia
Biography: A local confectionery and sweets maker. A born Segalimian, he moved to Melza some thirty years ago, opened up shop and eventually even got married here. Now a naturalised citizen, he is somewhat controversial for his hobby of putting unorthodox ingredients into his products (including various “culinary slipslop”, to quote Melzan citizens). His mostly snobby customers usually don't notice, outside of occassions when he notifies them on the contents by himself. From time to time, whispering tongues disseminate rumours that he's part enterpreneur, part wheeler-dealer, and before he settled down in Melza, he “did business” as a general profiteer, trafficker of old rags and tat, water-downer of booze, or even the vendor of a stand that sold hare droppings and old tendons disguised as roast nuts and dried fruit. Unsurprisingly, over the years, Rumlaaž has been quick to deny all of this hearsay. He maintains that he runs an honest family business, with a keen eye on quality.

Paidrkoa Baltābols (née Křilžic)

Species: Bigfolk
Sex: Female
Job: Confectionary maker, housewife.
Specialisations: Merchant, Shopkeeper
Birthplace/Homeland: Markania
Biography: Rumlaaž's wife.

Pôvo Raria

Species: Bigfolk
Sex: Male
Job: Professional produce grower and seller. Owner and shopkeeper of Pôvo's Pleasing Produce.
Specialisations: Horticulturalist, Merchant, Shopkeeper
Birthplace/Homeland: The City
Biography:

Kero Grütli

Species: Hedgefolk
Sex: Male
Job: Innkeeper, owner of The Heart of the Jewel inn.
Specialisations: Innkeeper
Birthplace/Homeland:
Biography:

Jussi “Norir” Savru

Species: Bigfolk
Sex: Male
Job: Owner of the alchemic emporium “Norir's Little Shop of Wonders”.
Specialisations: Alchemist, Shopkeeper
Birthplace/Homeland: Grand Duchy of Metsämaa
Biography: Hailing from Metsämaa, the young alchemist-for-hire settled down in Melza some five years ago, and offers his craft to locals under the intimidating trade pseudonym of “Master Norir Savru”. He's the son of a grand duke-appointed colonial mayor and the daughter of a wealthy nomadic tribe's shaman. In private, he's painfully self-conscious about many things pertaining to his personality and quirks. Not the least of which being his frequent absent-mindedness or a deep-seated cringe towards his birth name, Jussi Savru. (In his own words: “Come on ! Jussi… How embarassing ! Sounds far too… cute, bleh… for, for anyone to take seriously outside of my original homeland ! Now, say it out loud - Norir Savru… Lean, mean, so edgy. That's a name worthy of a confident alchemist-enterpreneur !”.) Obviously, “Master Norir” prides himself on his public image of an inscrutible and self-assured scholar of alchemical arts, in a further facade to his actual, meeker personality and slightly bumbling behaviour. One of his greatest hobbies is reading and taking care of his ever-expanding library of non-fiction and penny dreadfuls. He shares an odd friendship with detective Titavháugsdautír, ever since they worked together on solving a case for one of her clients. Tóla has a tendency to tease Savru over his obsessive attention to his “dark image” as a provider of magical services, much to his occassional annoyance. Savru is often seen with his pet raven Korppi, a shop mascot and vitriolic animal pal all in one.

Týko Pukve

Species: Smallfolk (Rarach)
Sex: Male
Job: Co-owner of Pukve, Čúľko and Co., one of the smaller local goods suppliers.
Specialisations: Merchant, Pawnbroker, Shopkeeper
Birthplace/Homeland:
Biography:

Rekete Čúľko

Species: Smallfolk (Rarach)
Sex: Male
Job: Co-owner of Pukve, Čúľko and Co., one of the smaller local goods suppliers.
Specialisations: Merchant, Pawnbroker, Smuggler
Birthplace/Homeland:
Biography:

Papirat

Species: Bigfolk
Sex: Male
Job: Repairman and proprietor at Time is Money, a clocks and mechanics shop.
Specialisations: Merchant, Gentleman Thief, Gadgeteer
Birthplace/Homeland: Montoverde
Biography: The middle-aged Montoverdian businessman is something of an enigma. Reticent and calm, he carefully guards his own privacy. Some say his clocks and mechanics shop is a front for his true activities. Depending on what version of slander and hearsay you prefer, he is either an associate of one of the thieves' guilds, or a thief-freelancer, or most weirdly of all, the owner of a secret printing workshop where he prints various forbidden literature and pamphlets (some have even linked him to a group of local “bomb throwing anarchists”, the Godly Heretics). Whatever the case, Papirat is laid-back while interacting with others and seems actually rather apolitical. As much as he doesn't show much interest in mundane strife and struggles, he admits to some bad habits and… rather racy hobbies. As he often states, his “principled discreetness is not something you should mistake with conviction”. There are many skilled gadgeteers in town, but Papirat is undeniably one of the most talented and inventive. However, don't expect him to build and sell you some custom device at a low price.

Varda Konolo

Species: Midfolk
Sex: Female
Job: Barmaid at The Heart of the Jewel inn.
Specialisations: Innkeeper, Squealer, Charmette
Birthplace/Homeland: The City
Biography: Varda was born into a fairly well-off bourgeoisie family, with a father of Lengelian Permon origins and a Melzan Bigfolk mother. Though she's always had a soft spot for her parents, her natural stubbornness and “longing for letting her independent spirit free” had caused a falling out with them before she even reached full maturity. She left home early and didn't mind getting disavowed by her family, reasoning that she “was distraught over how they were limiting her, and needed change anyway”. Something of a street corner feminist at heart, she has aspired to gain a higher education and become a scholar since her childhood. However, given her financial situation after leaving her parents, Varda's not particularly thrilled that she has to work as one of the many tavern wenches of Melza. “It pays the bills, though”, as she often notes. Her rather lippy and saucy attitudes have gotten her into trouble a few times, but she's been resourceful and cunning enough to find a way out most of the time. Though most people wouldn't have a problem with her mixed origins, she's remained rather adamant about hiding her ancestry as much as possible. Many have long seen past her arguments, but she maintains that she's “just a shorter Bigfolk lass, that's all, honest”. While good-humoured, kind-hearted and not without a gentler side, she's a bit of a muddler, and at times, a bit two-faced. (If she attempts to flirt with you, it's usually to earn a favour, not out of genuine interest.) Her social skills and good knowledge of the Melzan populace make her a good informant. If you make her your ally, she might pleasantly surprise you when it comes to divulging the latest gossip or extracting some knowledge from others.

Srnial

Species: Bigfolk (vampirism sufferer)
Sex: Male
Job: Medical helper at a local hospital.
Specialisations: Feldsher, Squealer
Birthplace/Homeland: The City
Biography: A young Melzan-born fellow, but of indeterminate age, Srnial has always been a bit of a goofy dandy. His life turned upside down on one occassion, when he had the misfortune of contracting vampirism from an infected carrier. Though the monster that attacked him was slain, it was too late for Srnial and he became a life-long sufferer of the slow-burning disease. While it took him a while to get back on his feet, he eventually found a new stable domicile and particularly a fairly stable, if lowly job. He currently works as a nurse at one of the local, third-rate hospices. In recent years, he has befriended and worked together with private eye Titavháugsdautír, as her informant. It's a beneficial partnership, as she supplies him with doses of blood on a regular basis (usually in a vacuum flask), as something of a favour for his willingness to cooperate on giving her leads related to her cases. Though he'd never muster up the courage to admit it, he's grown to harbour feelings for the intrepid female detective. His natural shyness and clumsiness leave him at a loss of what to do. For the time being, he has decided to think of Tóla on a platonic level and ignore his mounting crush on her, partly out of worries over how she'd take sucha confession from a vampirism sufferer.

Loin Šeaieg

Species: Smallfolk (Permon)
Sex: Male
Job: Employee of a local mining research business.
Specialisations: Prospector, Naturalist, Engineer
Birthplace/Homeland: Union of Hesperan Republics
Biography:

Species: Bigfolk
Sex: Male
Job: “Zunu Alkumak, gentleman alchemist for hire, at your service…”
Specialisations: Alchemist, Conjurer
Birthplace/Homeland: Sillaman Sevaranate
Biography:

Mloš Rutač

Species: Newtfolk
Sex: Male
Job: Travelling seller, pawnbroker and gleaner.
Specialisations: Profiteer, Pawnbroker, Skulker
Birthplace/Homeland: Duchy of Lesana
Biography: The average townsman in Melza would no doubt bill Mloš as peculiar and rather naive, all nervous gestures and racing eyes, “like so many individuals of his nixie kindred”. Little would that townsman know that under the surface public image lies a rather cunning personality. A personality perfectly capable of a bit of scheming when pushed, though not out of any honest malice. Rutač wasn't born on Melzan territory, his now-deceased parents moved there during his early childhood. He has spent much of his life living at a nearby marshy lake in the Melzan countryside, but he regularly wanders between some of the lowland villages of the state and to Melza and back to practice his trade. Acting as a general profiteer and pawnbroker, he sells and buys whatever wares and assorted brick-a-brack he can get his lithe hands on. At reasonable exchange rates, of course… Mloš is apparently something of an old bachelor, but he owns a pet to keep him company back at home, his trained heron Spiritina. There are rumours about Mloš taking part in the nixfolk unrest and rioting in the streets of Melza years ago, after the outrage sparked by the then newly published controversial novel by local writer Čelar Kapek.

Anrik Comwol

Species: Bigfolk
Sex: Male
Job: Dockmaster and shipping agent at one of Melza's main harbours.
Specialisations: Sailor, Local Official, Thimblerigger
Birthplace/Homeland: Republic of the Dumnonic Isles and Aethelia
Biography:


CRIMEBUSTERS

a.) Police

TBA.

For more information on general law enforcement and guarding NPCs, please look here.

b.) Private investigators

Púrebrú

Species: Bigfolk
Sex: Male
Job: An investigative journalist with a bit of an anarchist streak. Commonly engages in various sleuthing, often skirting the law.
Specialisations: Newsman, Skulker, Clacker
Birthplace/Homeland: The City
Biography:

Tóla Titavháugsdautír

Species: Bigfolk
Sex: Female
Job: Freelance private eye. (Of the film noir mold.)
Specialisations: Detective (Private Eye subtype), Clacker, Gunslinger
Birthplace/Homeland: Commonwealth of Hrímland
Biography: Tóla's criminology connections run in the family. Her father is a now-retired police guardsman in their home town, one of the few larger urban areas in the sparsely populated northern island republic. While Tóla's initial plans were to follow in her dad's footsteps and become a mundane policewoman, after having finished her criminology studies in Lokytia and Karantia, she decided to become a private detective instead. Call it fate, call it good fortune or call it sheer dumb luck, she ended up in Melza and has been making a living here for slightly over four years now. She's by far the most professional of the local trio of sleuths. In contrast to Púrebrú, she works much more systematically and uses scientific investigation methods, and she's not as impulsive and chaotic during her detective work. In contrast to Dekseriu, she is willing to do field work more than once in a blue moon and roll up her sleeves for the needs of her detective work. Though she owns a handgun, she carries and uses it only sporadically, relying more on her knowledge and on tools for inspecting crime scenes. What she never leaves behind is her longcoat and her rather wide-brimmed hat, “my favoured clothing when I walk the mean streets”, as she herself says. Though her given name means “Tall” in her native Hrímlandic, she is of average height, only adding to her contrasting image of a rather introverted lady. Aside from mayor Oktimk, virtually no one in Melza has ever adressed her by her full name. Those that do adress her are usually either on first name basis with her or adress her as “Miss… erm, let's leave it at that, you have a rather complicated name”.

Dekseriu

Species: Bigfolk
Sex: Male
Job: Member of the old nobility, charity supporter. Amateur private sleuth.
Specialisations: Detective (Sleuth subtype), Socialite, Charmer
Birthplace/Homeland: Principality of Trinitia
Biography: Dekseriux I. Klužič-Sibius, as his full name stands. A native of Trinitia, his family moved to Melza while he was in his early 20s, as part of their promise to take over and manage the property of their recently deceased relatives who had lived there. Though noblemen and still rather fabulously wealthy, hard times had fallen upon the Klužič-Sibius clan in recent memory. The move to Melza was thus as much a thing of necessity as it was about keeping one's word. Having a lenghthy and complex family tree does you no favours in this rapidly developing world and Dekseriu is well aware of that. He's content with what he and his relatives have left and either because or despite of that, he has earned a lot of fame over the years as a very active local philanthropist. Not one who only supports the worldly needs of the people, but one who also supports their education, particularly of more impoverished children. Despite his infamy as something of a bon vivant and womanizer, the consensus among many is that he has a true heart of gold and is very well-read. Due to his intelligence and “problem-solver” attitude to things around him, it is perhaps no surprise that Dekseriu has had a knack for the newly rising profession of the modern detective since his late 20s. Eventually, once he reached his mid-30s, he let his slow-burning interest in investigating peculiar crimes get the better of him. What time he didn't spend on skirt-chasing, philanthropy and scholarly pursuits, he invested into his newly found hobby and ultimate passion: Being a sleuth, solving cases for amusement and as a way to earn the occassional extra taller. “Melza's first and only Consulting Sleuth, don't you forget that”, as he often quips, a mild smirk on his lips. To be sure, the fellow has his quirks, some of which have already become legendary. Chief among them is his unwillingness to let go of the habit of peppering his speech with insertions of his native Trinitian. His oft-heard „Dumnezeule meu !“ (“My god !”) and „Nu, nu, nu, doamnă…“ (a mentor-like “No, no, no, miss…”) have become catchphrases in their own right by this point. Unsurprisingly, you hear these commonly uttered while discussing the finer details of a theft or murder case with his perplexed and impressed customers. Another two of his trademarks include his endlessly dry wit and the cheeky catchphrase “Oh, ho, ho, my dear Sir/Madam, just use those little old brain cells of your's…”.


MERCENARIES, HIRED GUNS AND PRIVATEERS

a.) Various individual mercenaries

Skakle Bakre

Species: Bigfolk
Sex: Male
Job:
Specialisations: Gunslinger, Crackshot, Cavalryman
Birthplace/Homeland: The Hetmanate
Biography:

Maibám

Species: Bigfolk
Sex: Male
Job:
Specialisations: Swordmaster
Birthplace/Homeland:
Biography:

Kratan

Species: Bigfolk
Sex: Male
Job:
Specialisations: Brigand, Crackshot
Birthplace/Homeland: The Kingdom of Karantia
Biography:

Utahurki

Species: Bigfolk
Sex: Male
Job:
Specialisations: Guard, Swordmaster
Birthplace/Homeland: Upper Lokytia
Biography:

b.) The Smok crew

Crew members of the privateer aeronav Smok, currently docked at The City's main airhaven.

Kiril Aľman

Species: Bigfolk
Sex: Male
Job: Captain of the privateer aeronav Smok.
Specialisations: Pilot, Gunslinger, Smuggler
Birthplace/Homeland: The Empire of Ursania
Biography: The fearless, eccentric and a bit bragging-prone captain of the Smok. At face value, he always tries to live up to the image of a hardened commander. He's quite the master of cunning diplomacy and the art of smugglery, but he has never turned down fair trade offers and serious assignments either. He has a strange fixation on cucumber salad, terrible puns and posturing with a stoically tough facial expression.

Lúz Naftal

Species: Smallfolk (Rarach)
Sex: Male
Job: Mechanic of the privateer aeronav Smok.
Specialisations: Mechanic, Bombmaker, Cook-quartermaster
Birthplace/Homeland:
Biography:

Dyap Herituín

Species: Bigfolk
Sex: Male
Job: Navigator and general tech wiz of the privateer aeronav Smok.
Specialisations: Clacker, Gadgeteer, Adventurer
Birthplace/Homeland:
Biography:

Soki Udadin

Species: Bigfolk
Sex: Male
Job: Crew member of the privateer aeronav Smok.
Specialisations: Gunslinger, Guard, Gunsmith
Birthplace/Homeland:
Biography:

Torantutea

Species: Bigfolk
Sex: Male
Job: Former sailor and fisherman. Now a crew member of the privateer aeronav Smok.
Specialisations: Sailor, Brigand, Smuggler
Birthplace/Homeland:
Biography:


See Also

shared_worlds/thick_as_thieves_npcs_city_civilians.txt · Last modified: 2019/12/05 20:02 by petike

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