Pale Gazetteer

Major NPCs of the Theocracy of the Pale

The Theocrat

Theoman Baslett, Theocrat of the Pale, has always projected an air of confident authority, even before becoming the current theocrat. His presence draws everyone's attention when he enters a room. Not classically handsome, he is nonetheless magnetic and attractive in his own way. He is a convincing and gifted orator. Fit but not overly athletic, at six feet tall and 185 pounds, even he is dwarfed by the more militant members of the Church hierarchy. He wields the Staff of the Sun as a symbol of office and a powerful weapon in its own right.

Well liked by most who meet him, Theoman Baslett is a generous and open man, though he keeps his own council in important matters. When others would seek to argue, Baslett remains silent, allowing others to exhaust themselves with yelling before he calmly states his own case.

The son of a commander in the Prelatal Army, Theoman grew up without the presence of the father figure he craved. To compensate, he often sought the company of any priest who would take the time to speak with him. An eager pupil, Theoman embarked on the path to his current position at an early age. He found the intellectual aspects of the church more to his liking than the militant, though he is well capable of holding his own in battle. At the age of 23, already rising quickly in the ranks of the Church, he married the daughter of the ambassador to Nyrond. Two years later, he was named Bishop of Landrigard, and his promotion to Prelate followed soon afterward. What began as a marriage of politics 25 years ago has long since become a love-match. With the couple's three sons well grown, his wife, Aliana, understands very well his duties to the Church, and he remains an attentive and loving husband. In his years as prelate of Landrigard, Theoman became a leading conservative voice on the Council of Nine.

An enemy of the Church is an enemy of Theoman Baslett. Well respected, even by most of his political rivals, Theoman led the Church's conservative faction for over a decade. He is now the leader of the entire Theocracy, taking the position of the Theocrat with the blessing of Ogon and the election of the Council. When he first became Theocrat, Theoman embraced a new spirit of openness, partly to honor his fallen friend and philosophical rival, Maximillian Thace, but the growing threats of chaos inside and outside the Pale have pushed him back to his previous outlook. The Pale will be strongest, he believes, only if all embrace the One True Path of Pholtus.

The Council of Nine (The Prelates)

Andon Kavelle, Prelate of Stradsett, Chief Diplomat of the Council of Nine, is a bespectacled scarecrow of a man, slender but with the grace and appearance of a much younger man. At 65, he is a debonair speaker, a skillful dancer, and a charmer of courtly ladies par excellence. Standing a mere 5 foot 9 inches tall, he is often mistaken for just another scholar in crowds, which he uses to his advantage to gain information when needed.

Always courteous, Prelate Kavelle swiftly intervenes when people are at odds around him. He is a peacemaker and hates to see people of good heart disagreeing, but sometimes exploits those tensions to further the interests of the Council or the Church.

He has started to develop an almost humorous absentmindedness, such as misplacing small items (especially his spectacles), and has come to depend more on his assistant Phillipe to keep track of the daily goings-on. His memory for names and faces is impeccable, however, and he has been known to recall extensive information on lands, nobles, and lineages at a moment's notice.

He is a keen negotiator and everyone knows it. Even those who have lost because of his skillful parlays continue to hold him in high regard and he is often called away to play mediator across the Pale or even abroad.

Somewhat alarming to other men is his natural appeal to women of good standing, for he believes them to be beings of great beauty, worthy of cherishing and admiration. An avid gardener, he looks to his small but exquisite collection of roses to calm his busy mind and provide him with a near-endless supply of blossoms with which to grace a woman's hair. Despite his many admirers, he remains unmarried and (to his knowledge) childless.

Andon was appointed Prelate of Stradsett in CY 578 for the sake of politics and his naturally charismatic nature. The third son of a wealthy merchant, Andon was recalled from his post as Stradsett's Bishop and named Prelate to secure needed goods at fair prices for his lands. But since his assumption of that office, he has proved his worth to the Theocrat many times over, not only for his skill in bringing opposing parties to discussion, but also for his help in negotiating difficult labor disputes in the mines.

Prelate Kavelle seldom takes sides, at least publicly, preferring to remain neutral for the sake of objectivity in negotiations. His greatest loyalty is to the church first, the ladies next, and his roses last, though none seem to suffer from the competition. He does tend to ally himself with more conservative members in the Council, out of business interests, and often found himself defending Theoman Baslett in Council meetings before Baslett became Theocrat.

Anonsis, Prelate of Landrigard, is the youngest person ever to hold the position of Prelate--and this is his second time holding the position. Slender and wiry in his mid-thirties, Anonsis is a man whose true physical strength is not readily apparent. His Flan blood is evident in his deep brown eyes and well-tanned skin. Strangers are often misled by his quiet nature and unassuming appearance. His shaven head and neatly trimmed black beard help to relieve the appearance of youth.

Anonsis is often the voice of moderation among his fellow prelates and few could find fault with him--until his uncharacteristic short-tempered behavior several years ago. Normally slow to anger, he never raises his voice, preferring quiet, thoughtful negotiations and logical reasoning. The guidance of his monk superiors firmly shaped his beliefs, replacing the family he lost when he was so young. Order and structure are everything to Anonsis. He does not turn away from new ideas, nor does he instantly embrace them, preferring to meditate on all of the potential consequences. Gentle of spirit, he has eschewed all weapons except his own body.

The Church has shaped Anonsis's entire way of life. Born to a Flan mother and an Oeridian father, Anonsis was orphaned at the age of three. When no family was willing to care for the child, the monastery in Rakervale became his home. The wise elder monk who supervised the monastery has been a father-figure for Anonsis. At the insistence of Abel Aardahl, Anonsis left the monastery for three years to explore the larger world, but he found even his fellow worshipers of Pholtus too unfocused for his comfort. Those three years, unpleasant though they may have been, were necessary in order to advance his career. Anonsis was promoted to Prelate of Rakervale in CY 586.

Anonsis's tenure as Prelate was short-lived, however. In a time of turmoil in CY 588, Anonsis was asked by Theocrat Ogon Tillit to head a diplomatic mission in the Phostwood. Anonsis was to beseech the elven tribal council for safe passage for Palish soldiers to battle the forces of Iuz in Tenh. Uncharacteristically, Anonsis argued with a Tenha ambassador and struck the man, the first such violent act to occur within the Court for hundreds of years. Though he was able to secure an agreement, relations between the Phostaldaron and the Pale were strained by Anonsis's act. For his imprudence, Anonsis was demoted to Bishop of Wintershiven, where he could be closer to the slighted elves and Tenha. The Theocrat also mandated Anonsis depart the Pale to serve the elves for three months each year, until his soul had evolved from his disgraceful actions.

With the ascension of his old ally Theoman Baslett to Theocrat, Anonsis’s star is once more rising. He has been elevated to Theoman's former position in Landrigard. While certainly glad to be able to serve the Church in such a high position, Anonsis seems to have learned something from the elves in the last few years. He is much wiser and slower to anger than of old. He is still conservative in his outlook, but perhaps less than before. He is troubled by the changes in the Pale, but is willing to follow the Theocrat in his decisions--for now.

Carindrell, Prelate of Hatherleigh, is a born Nyronder who filled the seat vacated by Filias Farsonol, now Prelate of Tenh. Before his arrival in the Pale, Carindrell was the co-founder (with Grishken) of the Valorous League of Blindness in Nyrond, and was the Commander of the Knights Valorous in the town of Arndulanth, just south of the Gamboge Forest. Although of medium build and height, Carindrell impresses an image of intimidation upon a viewer. He has dark brown hair, and the crow's-feet around his green eyes show his age, now 51 years (as of CY 596). His typical war gear includes chainmail, a broadsword, and a shield.

Carindrell is a very outspoken and charismatic leader who was recalled to the Pale during the war of succession in Nyrond. He used to be a vocal supporter of the annexation of northern Nyrond by the Theocracy of the Pale but has become quieter since his appointment as prelate. While not officially the mayor of Arndulanth, he quickly and repeatedly made decisions as though he had been, and he cleaned up the streets of Arndulanth with his forces from the Valorous League.

Carindrell was born in the town of Arndulanth and was a member of the Nyrond military for many years of his life. He suffered in many losing battles, due to an increase of ineffective commanders. Carindrell, however, had his faith to guide him, and at last he left the army to join the Valorous League.

Many years of faithful and colorful service to the Valorous League led to his joining of the elite forces of the Knights Valorous, and he quickly assumed command. He maintained a strong and ready force of Valorous League members to ward the city as well as the Gamboge and Flinty Hills from fiends and other truly horrifying foes. This protection has garnered him many converts to the One True Path, as well as to the doctrine of secession to the Pale.

Although the two men co-founded the Valorous League of Blindness, Carindrell and Grishken have never truly liked each other. Carindrell has never followed or understood the particular fanaticism of Grishken of Midmeadow. Avern (Supreme Commander of the Pholtan Knights Valorous) is a steadfast friend and supporter to Carindrell, though many other Pale officials regard the foreigner Carindrell with suspicion.

Elias Etrason, Prelate of Hawkburgh, is a tall, thin man in his mid-forties, with a bland face, sandy hair, and pale blue eyes. He normally dresses in the modest robes of a lesser cleric, but occasionally wears his arms and armor in public.

A quiet and unassuming man, Elias is nevertheless very strong in his faith. He is almost completely apolitical and has little patience for any of it. He can spend hours discussing matters of faith or the strengths and weaknesses of trolls, but the moment politics come up, his attention drifts to other topics.

Born in Hawkburgh, Elias was the sole survivor of a troll attack when his family was on a trip to Rakervale. As with many orphans, he was taken in by the Church until his majority, when he decided to take the priestly vows. He has risen quickly in the Church and has been recognized often for his strength of faith and his stalwart support for the Theocrat. When he was appointed to the prelacy of his hometown, he felt unworthy of the honor, but the people have accepted him as one of their own.

Elias is known widely for his complete faith in Pholtus and the clergy. He chooses to ignore most of the political warfare within the Church but is considered to be part of the conservative faction. Late on the field of political battle, Elias has yet to gain any adversaries or alliances, except for an unswerving loyalty to the Theocrat, whom he considers to be the gift of Pholtus to the land.

In recent times, Elias's temper has soured with the organized attack of trolls upon Rakervale. Convinced more assaults are yet to come, Elias has become more nervous and withdrawn. His worried assistants have heard him praying long into the night for the strength and courage to drive back the beasts, by himself if necessary.

Filias Farsonol, Prelate of Tenh, is a huge tree-trunk of a man, in excess of 6' 8" tall and over 300 pounds of muscle and gristle. His weather-beaten Flan features and immense callused hands show a man accustomed to huge amounts of physical labor. Like his looks, he is a forceful personality as well, easily prepared to plow a row of corn or take the head off an unbeliever. In times of war, he wields his flaming Scythe of Justice with amazing prowess. Not a man interested in diplomacy or the niceties of court, he believes he has a job to do and does it. A typical salt-of-the-earth-type, Filias may be a bit naïve, but is intelligent nonetheless.

Filias reached the position of prelate through sheer hard work and faith in the Blinding Light. Born to Flan farmers, he grew up expecting to run his family's farm and have children and grandchildren doing the same. But one day, a vision of Pholtus told him to go to Wintershiven, so he might lead the Flan to a stronger belief in Pholtus over their traditional deities. Filias went to Wintershiven straightaway and trained as a cleric of Pholtus. A decade later, he was Prelate of Hatherleigh. He gave up that position when the Pale liberated eastern Tenh in the ambitious campaign of 594, in order to be bishop of the new territory. In CY 595, Pale-held Tenh was named a full prelacy and Filias became its new Prelate, with his seat in Calbut at the former Temple of Pelor.

Unlike many of his compatriots, he recognizes the validity of other deities. Still, he believes Pholtus to be supreme and tries to convert all pagans to the One True Way. Since the downfall of Tenh, Filias has spent many hours with the refugees from that ravaged country to give spiritual leadership. His huge form is not uncommon in many of the new villages in eastern Tenh or even in the Tenha shantytowns in other parts of the Pale. Faithful Flan go out of their way to greet him and even those who do not follow the One True Path greet him with respect and friendship.

Through the years, Filias has maintained his affiliation with the conservative faction of the Church, feeling the One True Path does not vary.

Malvern Fenn, Prelate of Rakervale, makes an impressive though rugged figure, standing tall and lean with tanned skin and greying black hair. His polished manners and robes of office cannot hide the effects of weather or war on his countenance. Fifteen years of relative safety in the Church have not dulled the warrior's edge or his readiness to defend his faith or his people. He excels in mounted combat, with lance or sword. Only now is he beginning to show his fifty years as gray peppers his black hair. The loss of his right pinky still troubles him on occasion, but the children who run to him for stories or treats no longer recoil from his scars. His rough exterior hides a gentle heart, willing to listen to all who need his counsel.

Outspoken and blunt, Malvern Fenn speaks his opinions freely, though he remains sensitive to the feelings of those around him. He has little patience for the politics of the Council, preferring to confront problems head-on and resolve them quickly. Although he no longer seeks out combat for its own sake, he does enjoy training with young knights to keep fit and maintain his skills. Unmarried and childless, Malvern finds in the Church and its people the only family he needs.

Fascinated by the life of an adventurer, Malvern Fenn left home when he was only fifteen and lied about his age to join a private military force. After four years, he grew tired of the structured environment and became a mercenary, taking whichever job offered the most coin. For fifteen years he followed that life, answering to no one but himself. Then about fifteen years ago, while traveling through the Prelacy of Landrigard, he saw the result of a bandit raid on a small village. Among the slain bandits were men he had once called companions. In their quest for fortune, they had turned to cruelty, leaving not even children alive when the farmers would not submit. Such senseless slaughter forever changed Malvern's view of the world. Theoman Baslett found him in that village, digging graves with his bare hands. Through Theoman's counsel, Malvern found a new path and Pholtus touched his heart. The church offered a new focus, a structure the warrior had once rejected but which now became his anchor. He readily embraced this new faith with a fervor that surprised even Theoman.

Malvern's devotion to this new cause led to his rapid rise within the church. He was elevated to Bishop of Wintershiven in CY 583. The latest step in Malvern's meteoric rise to power was being promoted to Prelate of Rakervale in CY 588, after the demotion of Anonsis. Some wonder why Theocrat Ogon Tillit chose Malvern to hold the position, and it has been a challenging task for a relative newcomer in the teachings of Pholtus. However, Rakervale is a city in a very precarious position, flanked by the Troll Fens and the Rakers, so a Prelate skilled in war has proven beneficial to the populace. Malvern has earned the people's trust, and he has focused on honing his skills toward the defense of his adopted city.

It is said there is no greater champion for a faith than a convert. However, Malvern's origin as a nonbeliever has created distrust among conservatives in the Church. Even though Prelate Baslett was his mentor, Fenn chose to follow the progressive path.

Rakim Thundershard, Prelate of Holdworthy, is a large and strong man, seemingly almost as wide as he is tall. At 6 feet 5 inches tall and nearly 300 pounds, Rakim has been said to be able to break a man with his bare hands--and to have actually done so. The ruddy tan color of his skin and the red of his hair and beard make him look very much like a very large mountain dwarf, and his weapon of choice is indeed a dwarven waraxe. Fanciful tales say he has a few drops of dwarven blood in his veins. His pale blue eyes can look as cheerful as a child's or so chilly as to convert a nonbeliever faster than a hammerfall.

Imperiously sure his way is always right, Rakim charges through life like a bull. Few would dare to challenge his belief in the dictates of Pholtus, but (perhaps hypocritically) he believes the Church must evolve beyond its own inflexible condition. He hands down decisions and proclamations to the followers of Pholtus in Holdworthy, as expected of a prelate, but is much happier wandering the mines of his home and kinsmen.

From a family of miners and later mine-owners, Rakim began his career as a warrior in the Church Militant. His natural strength and ability with weapons helped him go far in the ranks. As he rose in prestige, his abilities were noted by a high-ranking member of the order and he was offered training in the Church itself. Rakim's intelligence and insight surprised many who saw only his physical strength. Rising high in his studies, Rakim was selected to become Prelate of Holdworthy upon the death of the previous prelate.

For a few years before 587 CY, he carefully funneled profits from his mines in the Rakers into a secret fund, which he hoped to use toward the expansion of the Pale. When rumors began to spread he was hoarding the funds for nefarious purposes, Rakim became incensed and planned to end the gossiping. However, fate stepped in and the forces of Iuz broke into the borders of the Pale that year. Helping the Pale to avoid a decisive defeat, Rakim revealed his gathered funds to support the Prelatal Army and Church Militant against the unexpected attack.

Though not a native of Holdworthy, Rakim feels a strong sense of loyalty to that city. He constantly works to strengthen both its defensive and political position, as it has always played second fiddle to the capital, Wintershiven. Rakim still uses his considerable wealth to promote and support his own personal goals.

Rakim's strongest alliance was with his long-time friend, Maximillian Thace. After Thace's passing, Rakim still keeps ties with the progressives, partly in honor of his friend and partly in alignment with his own goals. He does intend on following in Maximillian’s progressive footsteps, but his brusque, no-nonsense style is more suited to knocking heads than making friends.

He also has extensive alliances with the dwarven colonies beneath the Rakers, many of whom were associates and comrades of the Thundershards of old. Unlike humans and many other races, dwarves never forget their binding ties.

Rakim's major adversaries include the hobgoblins that threaten his mines and dwarven allies, and also Supreme Commander Avern of the Pholtan Knights Valorous, with whom he has butted heads ever since Rakim's years in the order.

Sarynn Reddick, Prelate of Wintershiven, is a striking figure no matter the occasion, looking younger than her 45 years and possessing an ethereal beauty. Her sculpted cheekbones hint at elven heritage on her mother's side. A warm smile greets friend and stranger alike, but dark blue eyes hide a rapier wit. No hint of grey mars her long, artfully braided ash-blonde hair. Slender and willowy, at 5' 8" she is nearly as tall as some men. Sarynn Reddick accepted her position in 580, following the unexpected death of her predecessor, Jareth Keil.

Balancing compassion and a strong sense of order, Sarynn is, if not liked, at least respected, even by her few critics. Stubborn, confident and fiercely independent, she stands on equal footing with her male contemporaries while remaining a mother figure to those she counsels. A shrewd judge of character, she makes assessments of others that are seldom wrong.

Sarynn was an only child, raised in Wintershiven and the nearby Phostwood. Her father, of Oeridian descent, was an ambassador to the elves there. Her mother was a half-elven beauty he met in the course of his duties. Young Sarynn often traveled with her father on less important missions, learning diplomacy as she learned to walk. Her compassion recently led her to establish a sect of the Hospitalers in the Pale, to see to the refugees of Tenh as well as the Pale's own poor. Sarynn aspires to become the first female Theocrat, but she contents herself to serve Pholtus in whatever manner he chooses for her. For now, it seems her place lies in fulfilling her duties as Prelate of Wintershiven and in caring for the many refugees crossing into the Pale’s borders.

Loyal to Pholtus above all else, years of diplomatic training have taught Sarynn the value of friendly enemies. She has few detractors, even though she is progressive in her philosophy. Those who do oppose her do so either out of contempt for her gender or her progressive leanings, except in the case of Prelate Zacktinerim. Few know why Zacktinerim despises Sarynn, but recent events are embroiling others in the feud as they compete over the recovery of certain holy relics for the Pale and the Church of the One True Path.

Sental Tekis, Prelate of Ogburg, is a statuesque yet comely woman of Oeridian descent with light brown hair and hazel eyes. Her skin is lightly tanned. Standing just under six feet tall, Sental towers over most men. She is commonly seen with a reserved or guarded smile on her face, but when dressed for war, she is truly formidable. The sight of her greatsword "Anathamor" instills awe in good folk and fear in evil.

Sental is well aware of the responsibility she has been given by the Council, but this is just the next in a series of weighty responsibilities. Her strong will to serve Pholtus and the Pale has influenced her entire personality. She is fierce in her defense of the theocracy, both verbally and physically.

Born in the city of Hatherleigh, Sental Tekis owes much of her outlook on life to her daily experiences there. She witnessed one of the last burnings of a Pale-born heretic in the commons of her city. The screaming of the burning man set an indelible mark on her soul. From that time, she has pledged to work to stop the burnings of her countrymen; she is pleased to know no Palite as been burned since. She had some direct responsibility for this, but simple timing also played a role.

As she was petitioning the Church to ban all further burnings, Sental was also training as a warrior and cleric of Pholtus. With the onset of the Greyhawk Wars, she was prepared to step forward and represent the Pale in the battle against Old Wicked, but to her disappointment the Pale did not mobilize. When the Theocrat finally called on the Prelatal Army to act, Sental joyously led an elite group of fighters into Tenh. Her leadership in Tenh brought her to the attention of the Theocrat, who appointed her to the Inquisition within a year after Old Wicked’s armies were defeated.

Over the next few years, Sental rooted out heresies and paganism throughout the Pale. She led the Inquisition for nearly three years, when once again the Theocrat--this time Theoman Baslett--called for her to appear before the Council. The Council asked her to serve the Pale in a new way and when she agreed she became one of the nine most powerful people in the Theocracy.

As the newest and least experienced of the Prelates, Sental has taken a watch-and-see attitude. Her loyalty is to the Pale above all, not to political struggles. Although she has sided more often with the conservatives in the past than with the progressives, Sental is still is undecided.

Zacktinerim, Prelate of Eltison, is a small woman, even ordinary-looking, but with long lustrous black hair and very dark brown eyes. Her skin is sun-burnt from many hours of walking outdoors. At 5' 1" tall and a mere 110 pounds, Zacktinerim might look a trifle weak compared to the grand company of the other prelates, but her forceful personality makes her more than their match.

A regular multiple personality, Zacktinerim seems to be a rather congenial young woman, soft of voice and look, but for those who know her well or have been a target of her temper, she is a completely different person. Zacktinerim is an example of what a bad temper can do to you. Whenever wronged, she is liable to fly into a rage, and when she does, woe upon those she is mad at. One of these rages got her sent to Eltison.

Originally from Wintershiven, the richest diocese in the Pale, Zacktinerim got into one too many fights with her fellow priests and was sent to Eltison. Through a lucky series of coincidences, she moved smoothly into the position of prelate just before the Greyhawk Wars. Despite her disposition, she has done a very credible job of running the diocese. She has actually become quite famous for her competence in running the prisons. Her work with the prisons has given her knowledge on some of the more obscure organizations of the Pale. Zacktinerim has turned this knowledge to her advantage in her role as a Church Inquisitor, a position she took up shortly after her “exile” to Eltison began. Zacktinerim believes several people are plotting to overthrow the Church from within, and she even believes these people to be responsible for sending her to Eltison. She expends great energy and other resources in her drive to reveal these suspects.

Zacktinerim despises Sarynn Reddick, Prelate of Wintershiven, though Reddick does not display mutual feelings. Sarynn Reddick must have had something to do with her exile to Eltison, Zacktinerim believes, perhaps to keep Zacktinerim from becoming prelate of Wintershiven. Zacktinerim has allied herself with the conservatives, as she believes the progressive faction more prone to being infiltrated and she simply wishes to avoid any association with the progressive Sarynn Reddick.

Members of the Council of Nine

Maximillian Thace, former Prelate of Ogburg (deceased), died in CY 593. Showing very little of his elven background, Maximillian looked almost wholly Oeridian. Light skin set off by very dark hair and eyebrows gave him a cruel look. His very pale blue eyes, almost violet, were one of the few clues apparent of his mother's race. Slender but hardy, he was easily recognized by most of the people of the Pale.

Although his looks made him appear a bit cruel, he was anything but that; generous to a fault, he was one of the kindest prelates in the Pale and loved by all who had met him. Even his political enemies admitted he was a good man and well qualified for his position. Maximillian believed in the compassionate application of the law, and he expected the same of those who answered to him. Maximillian was an example of the new Pale, the movement towards a less rigid clergy.

Brought up in a rich Oeridian noble family, Max was headed for the clergy early, though it was remarked his demeanor might put off those who would come to him for guidance. Still, he put his imposing looks to good purpose. Whenever his fair treatment of others might get in his way politically, he would just scowl and his opponents would back off, believing him to be the perfect little self-righteous priest.

The Loyal Opposition considered him to be one of their most important supporters, for although he was never a member, he did support many of their goals. In his rise in the Church, he won the support of Prelates Thundershard and Reddick, and perhaps others. Maximillian espoused a progressive position in matters of faith, trying to work for a less fundamentalist approach to the One True Path. His adversaries were many and powerful; primary among these is of course Iuz, many of Old Wicked’s minions he destroyed on the battlefield and elsewhere. Politically, his greatest adversary was Theoman Baslett, but these rivals were reconciled in Thace's final moments of life.

Ogon Tillit, former Theocrat of the Pale (deceased), also died in CY 593. He was in his late fifties. He had neatly cut brown hair and no beard or mustache, but his hair had become mostly grey in his final few years. He had an angular, chiseled face and soul-piercing, hazel eyes. He was of thin build and stood just under six feet tall. He strove to walk with confidence and the distinguished air fitting his stature as the mortal representative of Pholtus on Oerth, but his sickness made this a challenge. At times, his frailty was painfully obvious. He was nearly always seen wearing the vestments and ceremonial garb of Pholtus.

Ogon Tillit was a master politician. In this role, he had mastered the full range of human emotion, and he used this mastery in his everyday dealings. He could be extremely warm, endearing, and friendly one moment, and then (if the situation required it) stern, cold, and commanding the next. He was calculating and meticulous when it came to the machinations of his office. He was neither cautious nor reckless, and he guided the country with a steady and wise hand. He earnestly believed it was best for the people to truly know Pholtus. Other religions and faiths only serve to confuse people and direct them away from the One True Path. Therefore, he said, all other religions--even supposedly good ones--should be harshly discouraged in the Pale.

Ogon Tillit was born in the small village of Dartford in the Holdworthy Archdiocese. His parents were middle-class merchants trading in the meager gems their region produced. However, when Ogon was four years old, a particularly bitter ice storm claimed the lives of both his parents and his only sibling, an older sister named Shalia, then age 8. His other relatives were too poor to take in young Ogon, so he was deposited into the care of Bishop Mondrell of Holdworthy.

It was at St. Ceril’s Cathedral that Ogon spent his youth. When it came to absorbing his studies, Ogon was a pretty average student, but he excelled above the others in his dedication and resolve. Long after other kids would set their homework aside, Ogon would be studying the scriptures. This is not to say, however, he was a lonely child. Ogon interacted widely with children and adults alike, developing the personal skills he would use throughout his life.

Ogon took on his first leadership role at age seventeen, when Bishop Mondrell placed him in charge of a scouting mission involving some local soldiers, Church Militant, and a dozen miners. They were to search the Rakers for potential new silver and gem mines. Ogon met this challenge with apprehension, and his nervousness was warranted. Deep in the cold mountains, the scouting party was ambushed by a large group of bugbears and orcs. Ogon quickly realized some would need to sacrifice and fall so others might live. He ordered a few of the Church Militant to stand by him and hold off the attacking humanoids to allow the others a chance to escape. He fought the enemy with determination, but his inexperience quickly led him to be felled by a well-aimed blow from a bugbear. Ogon weakly recited a prayer to Pholtus before losing consciousness, and awoke some time later to find himself alive and largely unharmed. Strangely, even though the dead bodies of the Church Militant had been looted and stripped, Ogon's gear was intact. Stranger yet, the wound he had sustained was completely healed. Ogon returned to Holdworthy amidst celebrations and accolades.

After that miraculous day, Ogon Tillit undertook many missions and trials for the greater glory of Pholtus. His successes allowed him to rise all the way to Theocrat. And through it all, he demonstrated a fierce determination, an unswerving loyalty to Pholtus and the Pale, and an ability to lead through wise, decisive action. As Theocrat, he was largely above the internal politics that occupy much of the Prelates' time. His adversaries came largely from abroad. All of the Pale's neighbors proved themselves to be enemies at times. First and foremost, Iuz was a source of much consternation.

Ogon sustained his greatest loss at the hand of a friend on the eve of victory. In CY 588, as Iuz's forces were defeated just outside of Atherstone, the Theocrat surveyed the battlefield and congratulated the noble warriors. As always, he was accompanied by Lazarus, the Theocrat's Champion and Master of the Eastern Sun. Suddenly, Lazarus revealed himself to be a demon in disguise, summoning two demons and slaying Ogon before the surprised Theocrat could even act. From the Theocrat, the demon took Tyrael's Chalice, a holy relic of great power, and disappeared to the Lower Planes.

Ogon was later raised, but since no Prelate could cast true resurrection, Ogon was reduced to 16th level — and thus no one in the Pale had access to 9th-level spells for some time. In addition, the wounds inflicted upon him by the Lazarus-demon never truly healed. The Theocrat suffered from a wasting disease, his health deteriorating constantly. Many did not expect him to live beyond CY 591, but he passed two years later.

Tristan Spencer (deceased), former Champion of Pholtus, died late in CY 595 at age 35, while questing in the Troll Fens. No one was quite certain what the title of Champion meant, but none disputed that Pholtus himself had sent Tristan to the Troll Fens for some great purpose.

At 6'4" and 220 pounds, Tristan was a bear of a man. White-blond hair and sharp Suel features added to a sinister appearance, but his soft brown eyes betrayed his kindly nature. His attentions had a calming influence, and those who knew him called him the gentle giant. His bonded warhorse, Caprice, was a dun-colored mare with bright eyes and an unusually friendly disposition. As an obvious half-Suel and also secretly a sorcerer, Tristan faced prejudice and scorn on two counts in the Pale. He worked hard to overcome this prejudice and promote tolerance in his fellow citizens. He did not reveal his sorcery unless a life-or-death situation forced him to do so.

Tristan was a holy warrior who always put the needs of others before his own. While not considered the holiest man in the Theocracy, he was clearly the most pure. He did not proselytize, but preferred to lead by example. He believed in the code of chivalry, but did not let it stand in the way of doing good.

Tristan was born into the established upper class of Ogburg. His father, William Spencer, had married first by arrangement, to an Oeridian woman of a prominent family. This expanded the influence and finances of his house considerably, but his father was unhappy with his jaded and aimless wife. She died giving birth to Tristan's older brother, Geoffrey. Tristan's father, newly widowed, avoided political entanglements for some time, but the pressure applied by the other houses forced him to remarry. In a surprising move, he married Salome, of a wealthy Suloise merchant house. The playful red-haired Salome possessed a beauty that could bewitch even the coldest male heart. Tristan was the son of this union.

It was hard on Tristan growing up in an Oeridian-dominated society. The villainy of the Suloise is infamous, and Tristan's pronounced Suloise features made his ancestry immediately clear. Other children -- and even his own brother -- teased Tristan relentlessly, but he developed a strong character and morals that made his mother proud. His father tried to treat both Tristan and Geoffrey equally, but it was clear Tristan was his favorite. Geoffrey developed decadent tastes and seemed doomed to become a fop.

Tristan's troubles became compounded in his adolescence when he found he had magical ability as a sorcerer. He confided in his parents, and the news cemented their decision to send him out of the Pale for formal education. They reluctantly enrolled him in a boarding school in Radigast City, in the County of Urnst, where he would not face the prejudice of the Pale. Tristan learned letters but preferred his training in arms, and all the while he strove to control his developing sorcery and to reconcile it with his faith in Pholtus. After his years of schooling, Tristan returned home to the Pale with many skills but no clear direction for his life.

When Tristan reached manhood, however, he received his life's calling. His father decided to buck tradition and make Tristan his primary heir; Geoffrey was incensed. To prevent the imminent destruction of his family, Tristan renounced his lands and title and sought refuge in Ogburg's temple to Pholtus. At the end of his second day of prayer, the cathedral was suddenly flooded with light. A feeling of peace and grace descended upon Tristan, and even Prelate Maximillian Thace, who had been observing Tristan's prayers, fell to his knees. A deva bearing the staff of Pholtus appeared, and although its lips did not move, a voice resounded: "You will bear the music to the blind, dispel the darkness, and bring forth light in his name. Your tests will be many and the journey hard, but through courage you will prevail. To the North, to the North!" Recognizing the urgency of this quest, Maximillian dubbed Tristan a holy knight of Pholtus and gave him the sacred sword Seneton, which had been secured in the treasury.

Tristan faced his first great trial soon after receiving the vision. A week's travel northward brought him to a hamlet ravaged by a recent ogre attack. Tristan could not stir the hopeless survivors to accompany him, so he attacked the ogres' camp alone. He slew four ogres, but six more wrestled him to the ground. Tristan saw a troll join the fray as he lost consciousness, thinking he had failed utterly. But he did not die. He later awoke in the troll's hut and believed the troll to be his jailer. It watched him constantly, brought food, and kept him from leaving. After several days, when Tristan had regained some strength, he escaped. Oddly to Tristan, the hut was not in the ogres' camp but deep in the Fens. When he caught sight of the troll, Tristan attacked, but the troll swiftly disarmed him of Seneton and dropped him with a kick to the stomach. It muttered softly and dropped a sack of food in front of Tristan. Tristan realized his folly. The troll had not waylaid and captured him; it had rescued him and nurtured him back to health. Tristan had repaid its kindness by trying to kill it.

Fortunately, Tristan had the chance to make amends. He pursued the troll through the fens, though the troll moved faster and knew the terrain better. On the third day, Tristan found his benefactor being ambushed by three other trolls. Together, Tristan and his benefactor killed the three, and Tristan fled with his wounded friend from the vengeance of many other trolls. Tristan learned his first word in Giant that day, "Thank you". In broken Common, the troll introduced himself as Bhugtru. A loner like Tristan, Bhugtru was alienated from other trolls by his distaste of plunder and by his unusual insight and questing for self-improvement. Tristan and Bhugtru became fast friends. Tristan taught Bhugtru about Pholtus, and the troll taught Tristan the Giant tongue and how to fight without weapons. They traveled together for some time hunting ogres, trolls, and other monsters of the Fens.

Tristan returned only briefly to the civilized lands of the Pale. He went back to Ogburg at Prelate Thace's request, and he took up arms in Tenh for Pholtus and the Theocracy. Additionally, because of Tristan's piety and skill at arms, Thace had nominated him for the provisional governorship, assuming the Theocracy’s forces would be victorious. The Theocracy was able to stop the forces of Iuz, and some territory was secured in the former duchy. Thace's hope, though, for Tristan to govern Tenh, did not come true. Tristan returned to his former life, and in recent years was questing with Bhugtru at his side. Dorjan Oldrich also joined Tristan on some hunts, and while few words passed between the two, both knew they shared a strong common bond.

When Tristan renounced his lands and titles, he lost all of his political and economic influence. Most nobles thought him a fool for doing so, but a few secretly respected him. His closest ally was Maximillian Thace, who believed Tristan to have a destiny of great import, though Thace did not fully comprehend it. Tristan was friendly with all of the human and humanoid peoples who eked out an existence in the Troll Fens.

Other Major NPCs of the Pale

Abel Aardahl, Grand Master of the Searing Flame, is the Spiritual Advisor to the Theocrat. Master Aardahl is of Flan heritage. He is very old; although he appears to be in his 60s, many say he is much older. He has copper-colored skin and oval-shaped, dark brown eyes. He stands 5'7" tall and has a slender build. He normally ties his long, white hair into a ponytail, and he wears his white beard in a long van dyke. He normally has a contemplative and quizzical look about him while he strolls around with his arms tucked into his sleeves.

The Pholtan Monks serve as spiritual advisors and confidants to other Pholtan clergy, including the Theocrat himself. Not all monks devoted to Pholtus are Pholtan Monks, but Pholtan Monks are the elite, who must spend years contemplating the nature of all things as they relate to Pholtus. Through demanding mental training, meditation, and dialogue, these monks are able to achieve levels of knowledge and understanding very few could ever hope to attain. It is for this reason other clergy often seek advice from Pholtan Monks. Pressured by the day-to-day tasks of maintaining the Church, other Pholtan clergy could never hope to devote the same amount of time towards introspection and philosophy as a Pholtan Monk does. Aardahl, in his role as Grand Master of the Searing Flame, guides this group of Pholtan Monks on a course in the best interests of Pholtus. Furthermore, Aardahl personally selects a Pholtan Monk advisor to be at the Theocrat's side at all times.

Abel Aardahl is first and foremost a thinker. He hates being surprised and rarely finds himself in a situation about which he has not already pondered. Yet despite this quality, he is far from aloof. In fact, he is quite friendly and engages anyone he comes across in spiritual or philosophical dialogue. He is a student of human nature and psychology.

Aardahl spent his youth on a Palish farm in the Prelacy of Landrigard. However, he never excelled in farming, as he was often found contemplating the nature of his surroundings. When he was sixteen, he made a pilgrimage to the Temple of the Searing Flame, an order of monks devoted to Pholtus. Since that time, he has remained devoted to the Searing Flame and to Pholtus.

In fact, Aardahl is largely responsible for shaping the Temple into what it is today. The Temple of the Searing Flame is an easily defended, monastic citadel set deep in the high, rocky crags of the Rakers. About one hundred monks reside in this temple. Their way of life is very rugged, and the monks try to remain fully self-reliant despite their inhospitable surroundings.

Aardahl does, on occasion, travel far and wide to study the world in which he lives. He has many stories from his journeys and always returns to the Temple to share his experiences with his fellow monks.

One such journey took him to a troubled and lawless land in the west, where a small band of brigands accosted him. Knowing he could easily defeat these poorly trained and equipped men, he nevertheless allowed himself to be captured. They took Aardahl to their leader, Dirk, who quickly decided he would have Aardahl killed in the morning. However, Aardahl engaged him in conversation, and Dirk began to think maybe the old man could at least entertain him. For the next six months, Aardahl sat in a cell and shared much dialogue with the bandit leader, on matters of religion, philosophy and politics. Aardahl would typically lead Dirk through a series of questions until Dirk would come to understand and share Aardahl's views. During this time, Dirk's outward look on life changed drastically (in fact, his alignment switched from Lawful Evil to Lawful Good). Dirk decided at last to free Aardahl, but Aardahl was not content, and he encouraged Dirk to try to improve the situation around him. With Aardahl's aid and the strong loyalty of his brigands, Dirk decided to overthrow the local despot and rule in his place. During this coup, Aardahl demonstrated his martial powers for the first time, to the amazement of his former captors. When Aardahl used his dimension door ability to circumvent the defenders' position and open a fortified gatehouse, Dirk realized Aardahl could have escaped at any time during his six months of imprisonment. Having overthrown the despot's rule, Dirk is now known as Baron Montfort, and rules the land in the name of goodly order.

Abel Aardahl is the unquestioned spiritual leader of all Pholtan Monks and subsequently has much influence. He is to the Pholtan Monks what the Theocrat is to the masses. He does not have specific adversaries, but many outsiders would like to see him dead for the disruptive effect this would have on the Pale.

Aino Joukahainen is the Assistant Librarian in the Library of Antigua at Wintershiven. Trained as a dancer and performer at an early age, Aino has an economy and elegance of movement that draws all eyes when she enters a room. Although she is not unattractive, a painting of her would not do justice to her compelling personality nor capture the fluid grace and sensuousness of her movement. Her elegance extends to her prowess with the rapier. Of average height and lithe build, Aino has the pale skin typical of a pureblood Suel, but has uncharacteristically dark hair. (Aino's natural hair color is actually a striking shade of red, but, for almost 25 years, she has been dyeing it a less conspicuous color. She found dancers with flaming red hair tend not to be listened to when they try to hold intellectual conversations.)

Aino is a bit quiet and bookish, and often behaves awkwardly in social situations, acting withdrawn and reserved unless she is comfortable with the people present. This lack of social grace continues until she is engaged in dialogue—at which point any reservations are forgotten and she becomes an interesting and witty conversationalist.

She is an accomplished dancer and musician, capable of playing the flute, clarinet, oboe, and drums. Aino rarely performs anymore, except for in the privacy of her own home, where she still maintains a room for practicing her childhood craft.

Aino's relationship with the church is a complicated one, for she does not actually worship Pholtus. She does venerate him and attends church at the prescribed holy days and ceremonies. But she does not attend confession or participate actively in the public holidays, preferring to keep her convictions to herself.

During her work, Aino has found an interest in matters arcane, often seeking out books on the subject in the library. With a bit of direction from Gorion, the head librarian, she has acquired moderate ability with the arcane arts. Her favorite spell is major image, which she uses in many and varied ways, adapting it to advantage in almost any situation. Due to her long devotion to the library and her long service to the church, her magical arts are not considered a threat to the Pale. In fact, she is often consulted as a minor authority on matters arcane.

Aino is not originally from the Theocracy, having grown up in Nyrond; a fact she does not share with casual acquaintances. Aino's parents were professional entertainers, living in the capital and performing at the royal court. Scandal when Aino was thirteen forced the family to flee Nyrond, moving to the Theocracy as political refugees. (It is unclear what the scandal is about, but those at the Nyrond court who remember might share rumors of unwanted advances toward Aino by someone highly placed at court.) Whether or not the rumors are true, Aino seems to bear Nyrond a large grudge, disparaging the country at any opportunity.

Aino's parents bought her the best education Wintershiven's private tutors had to offer, and after a short stint as a professional dancer (and rather uninspired, for her heart was never truly in public performance), Aino accepted a position in the Library of Antigua. She has performed admirably there for the last 27 years. Antigua is a secure library that contains many dangerous magics confiscated by the Church Militant over the years. Very few are allowed to examine these resources.

Aino is devoted to the head librarian, Gorion, whom she treats as almost a second father. She is mostly removed from the day-to-day maneuverings of those close to the theocrat and is thus somewhat naïve about the current state of internal politics. Aino has amazing knowledge about the contents of the libraries in the Pale (both those controlled by the Church, and those of the many semi-autonomous monasteries), so anyone seeking information would find her an invaluable ally.

Avern, Supreme Commander of the Pholtan Knights Valorous, is a physically impressive and intimidating man. He stands over 6'2" tall, with a stout muscular build, and is usually seen in full armor with a longsword at his belt. His short-cropped black hair and steel-gray eyes add to his stern appearance. He walks with a cold confidence stemming from years of experience. He is in his mid-forties, and while his body appears to be that of a 30-year-old, his face shows the scars and experience of someone who is much older. His most noticeable scar runs from just above his left eye, down through his eye socket, and ending near his chin. His left eye is a cloudy white color.

Avern is a very devout and stern man. He is a man of few words, yet his past brave actions and heroic deeds speak volumes. He is unrelenting once he undertakes a task, yet has the wisdom to retreat in the face of overwhelming odds. His faith to Pholtus and to the Theocrat is unquestioned. He is a man of action and prefers to lead by example.

Avern was born in the shadows of the Rakers in the cold, unforgiving land encompassed by the Prelacy of Rakervale. He was born to humble, devout parents of Oeridian stock. When he was eight years old, he became resolved to join the church. He learned the tenets of his faith while being moved from temple to temple and monastery to monastery.

In his early twenties, his parents were killed in a hobgoblin raid. Having no remaining family left, he gave himself completely to Pholtus and the Pale. It was at this time he joined the Pholtan Knights Valorous and began campaigning against the enemies of the Pale. He has been involved in countless skirmishes and large-scale battles with forces of Iuz, demons, and evil cults and humanoids.

As a result of his total devotion to Pholtus and his impressive battle prowess, he rose through the ranks of the Knights Valorous, when at age 35 he was granted the highest position within the order, Supreme Commander. He has been in that position for seven years, often undertaking missions of the utmost importance to the Pale.

Recently, for several years, Avern spent most of his time in the northern reaches of Nyrond. Many believed his reason for being there was to seek converts and to enable the northern regions of Nyrond to secede. However, others suggest his mission there was a subtler one. In any case, the war in Tenh has demanded his presence since CY 594.

Avern has a strong allegiance to the Throne of the Sun. He is a soldier and commander fighting against the enemies of the Pale. He distances himself from church politics and blindly follows the orders of the Theocrat. However, even though he has tried to remain out of personal rivalries, during his work in Nyrond, a rivalry has developed between Grishken and him.

Bhugtru is an unusual troll that has converted to Pholtus and studied the way of the monk. He was a staunch friend to the late Tristan Spencer but has not been seen since the middle of CY 595. More information on both Bhugtru and Tristan can be seen under Tristan’s entry.

Dorjan Oldrich, "Doombringer", is the greatest troll-hunter ever known around the Troll Fens. Unlike most dwarves, his skin is tanned and hardened by many years of exposure to the harsh winter sun and the howling winds of the northern mountains. His beard is kept cropped just below neck length: short for a dwarf, but practical for one who often has to wear layers of fur and wool to protect himself from the elements. Now approaching what passes for middle age for a dwarf, Dorjan sees the first few grey hairs showing in his red-blond beard and is secretly considering shaving his head to hide the gradual thinning of his hair. Dorjan is never seen in public without his armor, a well-worn set of leather armor covered with small metal spikes and plates. His battleaxe, "Birrvenin", is legendary in his hands; it has been a part of his life for over 50 years, ever since he retrieved it from a cairn in the Troll Fens.

In the past, Dorjan has served as an independent scout for both the Prelatal Army and the Church Militant, though he holds no formal position with either. Dorjan is known to be on very good terms with several of the Brilliant Castle commanders. He is well-known in the part of the Pale near the Troll Fens, and his work fighting the omnipresent trolls has earned him a great deal of respect.

Dorjan takes the stereotype of the gruff dwarf and puts it to shame. His normal communication mode is to fit all his thoughts into a single sentence, and after that he considers the subject finished. Grunts and the occasional shrug or sniff make up the rest of his conversational repertoire. When speaking with other dwarves, Dorjan is merely taciturn, rather than all but uncommunicative.

Dorjan strongly believes in action over discussion and will often simply act rather than wait for the issue to be discussed. His vast experience (more than 75 years) along the Pale's northern borders means his decisions, although reached without consultation, are usually right. This explains his lack of communication; for Dorjan the solution seems obvious, and any discussion is simply a waste of time.

Dorjan is as close to a living legend as the Troll Fens have. Known to the trolls as "Doombringer", Dorjan has devoted his entire adult life to exterminating trolls from the Flanaess; a task he does not consider to be beyond him. The reasons for Dorjan's unceasing hatred of trolls are unknown to all but himself. Usually traveling the northern reaches of the Pale unaccompanied, he uses his skills to hunt the trolls he hates. Dorjan's stamina and tenacity are legendary (though his magical boots certainly help). Stories say when Dorjan sets his eye on a goal, no obstacle of man or nature can deter him.

Dorjan enjoys the respect of the commanders of the Brilliant Castles as well as of other military leaders who have served in the region. Even members of the military who have not met him personally will afford him a measure of respect and courtesy, as they will at least have heard of him by reputation.

Eagle Eye and Raven, identical twins, are the personal guards to His Holiness, Theocrat Theoman Baslett. Striking young Stoneholders with red hair and freckles, Eagle Eye and Raven seem identical even down to specific freckles. (People who know them well recognize Raven as the stronger and Eagle Eye as the one with the keener mind.) Their distinctive barbarian heritage stands out among the folk of the Pale, but their loyalty to the Theocrat is known throughout the land. They share a deep hatred of anyone who has been touched by Old Wicked. Stoic and rigid, Eagle Eye and Raven react to most people very coldly, remaining completely taciturn except with each other. The twins almost seem to have a method of communication that borders on the supernatural. They fight in tandem, wielding glaives with amazing deadliness, and both are crack shots with the composite longbow.

Taken as prisoners early in the Tenh campaign, Eagle Eye and Raven joined the Faithful Flan and were discovered early by the Theocrat during an examination of the troops. Out of curiosity and a desire to keep potential threats close to him, he had Eagle Eye and Raven added to his retinue. The twins were later instrumental in averting possible injury to the Theocrat during an action.

The sisters were actually slain by the Theocrat's champion-turned-traitor, Lazarus, in 588 CY. They were raised from the dead and continued to serve Ogon Tillit, but the Theocrat was much more paranoid about his personal safety since his betrayal. He came to depend on a guard of three high-level Church Militant officers instead of the two Stoneholder women. This shamed the two women, so they endeavored to increase their abilities and found a veteran bodyguard to teach them the skills of a Devoted Defender.

Upon the death of Ogon and the investiture of Theoman, the two women have once more become the Theocrat's private bodyguards.

Grishken was co-founder (with Carindrell) of the Valorous League of Blindness in Nyrond, but was recalled to the Pale in CY 595 in an agreement between the Pale and Nyrond. He has not been seen in public since then. Given that Carindrell was offerred the position of Prelate of Hatherleigh, Grishken probably took on some new role in the Pale’s Church, but whatever it is keeps him out of the public eye. The following descriptions were current as of CY 595.

Grishken's devotion to Pholtus is absolute. A stern and humorless man, Grishken has been known to smile only twice, and both occasions have become renowned. Six and a half decades have clearly left their mark on him. Once-black hair is now a steely grey, but his pale blue eyes still burn with the fire of devotion. Standing 6' 2", with a wiry frame of 168 lbs, he usually appears as little more than a road-weary wandering priest, but his weapons (including the quarterstaff "Defender") and armor are formidable. Also at odds with the gaunt and weathered figure is the impression of tireless energy.

With his fellow Nyrondese citizen Carindrell, Grishken founded the Valorous League of Blindness. A typical impassioned statement from these Pholtan fundamentalists is as follows [adapted from The Marklands by Carl Sargent]:

"There is now only one hope of salvation: Pholtus of the Blinding Light. Only those blinded to iniquity and its lures can hope to prevail in these terrible times. Look at how the rich live while you travail to pay their taxes! Is this right? Certainly not, but this is how Nyrond is. Nyrond must be changed, and we are the men to do it, just as we are the men to root out the corruption within these lands, which matches the evils of Iuz and the Great Kingdom outside."

Like many in the League, Grishken supported a policy known as the Lesser Nyrond Doctrine, calling for northern Nyrond to secede from the Kingdom and join the Theocracy of the Pale. To further the Doctrine, Grishken served the Church of the One True Path and acts as the Theocrat's eyes and ears in Nyrond. Grishken worked to convert the populace of Woodverge and Midmeadow to the One True Path, to identify the activity of any fiends, and to report further information to the Theocrat.

Grishken furthered the goals of the Valorous League and won the affections of the common people. He has been a spiritual guide, stern yet guiding father, guardian protector, father confessor, and willing ear to the people of Woodverge-Midmeadow. The high regard the commoners hold for him has protected him against Nyrond's nobles for his efforts to foment insurrection.

Utterly devoted to Pholtus and the Theocrat, Grishken calls few men "friend". He is suspicious of nearly everyone and believes anyone who disagrees with him is actively consorting with fiends. Grishken is at odds even with Carindrell and the rest of the Valorous League of Blindness.

Jaramai Twist, “Rose of the Phostwood”, controls a powerful mercantile interest in the Pale. While her human heritage dominates a lithe athletic physique, her high cheekbones and warm amber eyes indicate the elven half of her ancestry. She matches her exotic looks with the latest in Flanaess fashion; indeed, her style often sets trends that cascade through the courts of the Pale, Nyrond, and (until recently) Tenh. Very tall for a half-elf, and even tall for a human woman, Jaramai stands 5'10"; she often accentuates her height by wearing fashionable boots with high heels.

Jaramai exudes confidence, a characteristic that would make her quite intimidating if she were not so sincerely engaging with her caring expressions. Instead, her warmth and alluring pedigree make friends and foes alike prone to share their best kept secrets - and to be glad they did, if only to make a better impression on this most charming of women.

Jaramai's gentle reputation among the common people belies a cunning for political intrigue that is the equal of any of her contemporaries. Behind her easy manner lies an acute understanding of the impact she has on those about her. She is unafraid to use her charm, her looks, or her intellect to get what she wants, whether in commerce, politics, or affairs with the Church. Nonetheless, the Rose of the Phostwood is a well-meaning soul, intent on bettering society. She is genuine in her goodness and a determined foe to any that would threaten either the Pale or the Phostwood. She is most comfortable at the center of events, where she leverages peoples' exuberant interest in her toward charitable ends.

Despite her impressive social mien, Jaramai is a lonely person. Her intermediate longevity as a half-elf leaves her excised from intimate relations with either human or elven men. She stubbornly clings to the hope that someday the gods will deliver her soulmate, a companion with similarly altruistic motives, who similarly knows the solemn solitude of a life bastardized between two very different cultures. Until then, she relies on her busy activity developing political and economic interests to mask the ache of loneliness.

The legacy of a political scandal tested relations between the elves of the Phostwood and the Theocracy of the Pale, Jaramai has never felt reprieve for her lineage. Her father, the human Bendray Twist, led the original Pholtan delegation to the Phostwood elves, where he founded the Pale's first successful diplomatic station with an external empire. Long were the years Bendray developed relations with Queen Laurelyn and her famous summer court. In time, he learned an affinity for the sylvan crafts, until his austere Pholtan upbringing clashed against a budding appreciation for elven ways. Rather than return to his homeland, Bendray clung to his changing viewpoints, which led him to court the queen's distant cousin Ambrulia, whose beauty was far more sincere and incontrovertibly apparent than any woman's he had previously engaged. Thus did the mature ambassador begin a tryst forbidden by both the Theocracy and proper convention. His love won her heart; in time, as the elfmaid's belly swelled, the lovers revealed their secret affair. Faced with an intolerant response from his political peers, Bendray resigned his post and retreated with Ambrulia to his family estate on the border between the Pale and its elven neighbor. Ambrulia bore Jaramai later that year. Together, she and her human husband spent the next decade rearing their young daughter. Then, just as young Jaramai grew into her precocious teen years, Ambrulia succumbed to a brutal fever, which destroyed her beauty and eventually claimed her life.

Young Jaramai and her father spent many seasons in deep depression, neglecting the business of their family estates, until an envoy from the elves visited and restored them. Looking after the aged Bendray and his forlorn daughter, the graceful elven minstrel put their sorrow into song and helped them cope with their loss. He spent several months fostering the two humans, sharing memories of his own lost elven sister and teaching Jaramai the rudiments of elven lore. Bendray responded with fresh resolve, reborn even in his late years. He returned his attention to the political world and, using longtime alliances forged through his work with the elves, hatched an economic partnership that stretched from Nyrond along the Phostwood into the Duchy of Tenh.

Jaramai thus inherited her financial empire from her father. She consolidated her holdings south of the Pale, as Sevvord Redbeard and Iuz inexorably advanced through Tenh. Today, she controls human trade along the Yol River, and has developed partnerships with the luminaries of the powerful trading houses of Nyrond. During the battles against Iuz in 587-588 CY, funding from the Twist coffers was instrumental in supporting the war effort. However, some of her silver mines were captured and are believed to have been destroyed by the evil army. Nevertheless, next to the Church and its leaders, she stands as the wealthiest merchant native to the Pale. She is also a symbol of the burgeoning relations between the Phostwood elves and the Theocracy.

Although her trading company now extends through four kingdoms, Jaramai stands steadfastly devoted to the people of the Pale. She continues to grow her father's empire as tribute to his vision. Only her passion for elven myth and interest in developing an outright alliance with the Phostwood stand before her leadership of the Twist Trading Company.

Unfortunately, Jaramai's wealth has bred a host of jealous contemporaries, especially among the more rigorous traditionalists of the powerful Pholtan Church. Even they, however, concede her value as an economic booster in the recent war against Iuz and his minions.

Jarret Beak, Prophet of Law and Light, is the High Seer of the Pale and Arcane Advisor to the Throne of the Sun, but his position is in danger. Jarret appears to be a short, plump, middle-aged man, who would blend harmlessly into any town were it not for his coldly intelligent demeanor and keen grey eyes. He has a balding pate crowned by a receding patchwork of greying brown hair. His large crooked nose never set straight after he broke it in his third attempt to escape Wintershiven some years ago. The Prophet's most dominating physical aspect is his rotund belly, which he proudly points out makes him as massive as any of the Pale's famously large knights and warpriests. His clumsy manner is similarly obvious, yielding a combination of traits that paint him the most ridiculed fellow in Wintershiven.

Jarret's common reputation is of a sniveling coward; a man who hides behind his drinks and the doughty churches of the Pale. This characterization is not far from the truth, for as the years wax on and Jarret's understanding of divinatory magics grows, he learns more about the forces aligned against his land. This knowledge depresses him into deeply disturbed bouts of drinking. In the last year, especially, his visions have become less dependable and less helpful to the Pale; there has been a growing movement among the populace of the Pale to denounce Beak‘s role as High Seer and even his faith in Pholtus (see below).

He nonetheless wields surprising personal charisma, a quality that makes him dangerously persuasive to the untrained ear. Some wonder if this is what has led to his angering a few key people in the Pale who might seek out vengeance against him. Thus, the Theocrat carefully protects him from all but a select crowd, only occasionally letting him travel away from his quarters in Wintershiven, and always with an honorific escort.

The Pale's most notorious prognosticator is a brilliant man lost to his own imagination and misunderstood range of insights. He once was bound to the lawful tenets underlying the Pale but has grown more elastic in his outlook as he grows older and wiser. He resents his years in selected captivity and often falls prey to insurgent discussions with the planar agencies he counsels using contact other plane. He nonetheless remains loyal to the Theocracy, remembering well how former theocrat Ogon Tillit saved him from persecution in his youth.

Jarret was the second son of Andoric Beak, a wealthy wheat merchant native to northern Nyrond but loyal to the Pale. Andoric sent Jarret northward to be reared by the Church of the One True Path, in the Prelacy of Hawkburgh. Jarret quickly marked himself a gifted young man with obvious aptitude for theology and all academic subjects. His passion for learning and earnest interest in the histories of Oerth inspired trust among the monks and priests that taught him, and as he grew, so did his exposure to increasingly arcane subjects. Jarret capitalized on the tremendous scope of lore found among the Theocracy's old monasteries. In his teens, he traveled among these monasteries, to learn the roots of Pholtan rites and glean esoteric tidbits about wizardry and witchcraft.

As he experimented with the rudiments of wizardly magic, he began to see events before they happened, and was nearly lynched for his strange premonitions. The first major such instance occurred when he anticipated a great fire sweeping a hamlet south of Holdworthy. Jarret warned the clergy there of the looming tragedy and was all but ignored until flames razed the town farmsteads. In the aftermath of the disaster, the local populace wanted to scapegoat him as a warlock heretic behind the inferno. They would have ended his life there, had not a young Ogon Tillit intervened on his behalf. Ogon had just met the young Prophet and knew his heart to be good and his erudition valuable. He made arrangements for Jarret to come to Wintershiven and work more closely on his academic research under the guidance of the most enlightened members of the church. Thus did young Beak's learning prosper for many years, and he developed into one of the premier sages of all Oerth.

Jarret's successes earned him a rare opportunity among the society of the Pale, to study magic, albeit under the tight supervision of his peers. As the years passed and his fame grew, the church became more protective of their protëgë, leading to increased measures of security that eventually resembled outright measures of captivity. Now, the Prophet lives in a sequestered tower in central Wintershiven, where he cannot even see the lands he serves.

In recent years, Jarret's use of arcane magic has led him away from the religious learning underlying his education. He likewise has slowly shifted from Lawful Good to True Neutral. Three years ago, this change in his outlook had been firmly resolved, and he woke one night bathed in sweat, shocked that Pholtus no longer granted him divine spells. Herein lies his most guarded secret - one that, if revealed, would surely spell his downfall in every aspect of life. But rumors have already begun to spread.

His next most guarded secret was his slow conversion to Boccob and the learning of the ways of the Mystic Theurge. Until the coming of the new theocrat, Theoman Baslett, Jarret was sure this part of his life had remained a secret.

One of Theoman's first official actions was to release Milamber from his position as Arcane Advisor to the Throne of the Sun, and to appoint Jarret Beak to that position. This decision confounded many, for Theoman had shared several prelates' harsh criticism of the Prophet during the tenure of Ogon Tillit. Still, most people are deferring to the wisdom of the new Theocrat. This change in his life changed many things for Jarret. In their first interview, Jarret was frightened to discover the new Theocrat was aware of Jarret’s loss of faith in Pholtus and conversion to Boccob. After a long discussion, the new Arcane Advisor walked from the Theocrat’s chambers to his new chambers. Many in the Basilica remarked on an unidentifiable change in his demeanor, but none understood it. Jarret Beak's loyalty to the Theocracy and to the new Theocrat is obvious, and he continually works to find the best path for the Pale in these dangerous times, but some say that his tenure as High Seer is coming to an end.

Colonel Kiana Gunnhild is a beautiful and vivacious woman, who presents a confident and outgoing personality to those who meet her. Kiana is a half-elf and has the green eyes of her elven parentage. She has straight golden blonde hair that falls nearly to her waist, which she normally wears in a single braid tucked up under her helmet. She is 5' 2" tall and weighs 115 pounds. At 41 years of age, Kiana is in the prime of life for a half-elf. Those who meet her are immediately struck by the obvious joy she takes in simply being alive.

Kiana has held a variety of positions in the military and religious leadership of the Theocracy of the Pale. She is the former headmistress of the Hall of Initiates in Wintershiven, and a former ambassador to the elves of the Phostwood. Kiana was instrumental in negotiating the agreement with the Phostwood that allows free passage of Pale troops through the forest. She rose to the position of Priest-Captain in the Church Militant before leaving this organization to join the Prelatal Army. She now holds the rank of Colonel and commands all of the Prelatal Army troops stationed near the Phostwood.

Kiana is good-looking - and knows it - but does not let her looks interfere with her duties. This has earned her a reputation as a tomboy, and she is often seen with dust on her face, mud on her armor, or other signs of an active life. Kiana has an irrepressible sense of humor and often seems irrationally light-hearted to those around her. No matter what the situation, nothing stems her cheerful demeanor for more than a few minutes. This zest for life puts her at odds with some in the church hierarchy, as they mistake her levity for a lack of devotion to Pholtus. But her cheerful exterior hides an iron resolve to carry the banner of Pholtus to those who need it - providing help and aid to the unfortunate of the world. Kiana is perhaps the only paladin of Pholtus to actually enjoy practical jokes. After all, humility is a virtue that some people need help cultivating.

Kiana was born of a human mother in a small village on the border of the Phostwood. Her father, a ranger who served in the Phostwood, died in combat when Kiana was fifteen. Kiana did not initially take his death well and ran away form home shortly thereafter, spending the next five years travelling through the Pale, Phostwood, and northern Nyrond.

On her twentieth birthday, while working as a caravan guard near the Troll Fens, Kiana was caught in a sudden snowstorm and separated from the rest of the caravan. Lost and near death, she stumbled into the camp of the paladin Ceril Kemp, who took her in and saved her life. During the first night, lying half-frozen, Kiana had a vision of Pholtus, who told her she must not die, must not waste the strong life left in her. Whether this vision was a true visitation, or merely the hallucinations of one near death, none can say. However, to Kiana, it was a call to duty. Ceril successfully returned Kiana to health, and she accompanied him on his mission to Wintershiven, where he presented her to the Hall of Initiates. Her new devotion to Pholtus was unquestionable, and she was accepted into the Church as an initiate. Here she stayed for the next four years until she was judged ready to venture forth as an emissary of the church.

Kiana has already had a varied career in the church. From the Hall of Initiates, Kiana spent fourteen years serving in the Church Militant, eventually reaching the position of Priest-Captain. Usually she worked through the Church Militant's chain of command, but she was sometimes released for duty directly to the church. Her longest period away from the Church Militant was when she served as ambassador to the Phostwood. Her most recent post with the Church Militant was as headmistress of the Hall of Initiates, thus returning her to the hall seventeen years after she first arrived.

In 587 CY, given her experience in the Phostwood, Kiana was called on to aid the battles against Iuz by becoming a provisional commander and leading a division of the Prelatal Army through the Phostwood to outflank the enemy. Although losses were heavy, the battle was won and Iuz's army of evil was prevented from capturing Wintershiven. Soon after the battle, Kiana relinquished her position in the Church Militant and took on her official role as a Colonel in the Prelatal Army. She continues to command the troops stationed near the Phostwood.

Kiana is a natural at politics. Her good looks and good humor put others at ease, and her deep religious convictions help her project a feeling of trust and honesty. She has earned the respect both of the elves of the Phostwood and of most people in the nearby human villages. While not known as an academic, she has impressed her elders in the church with her natural wisdom and intelligence.

Louis Phillip Gastón II is the Provisional Governor of Tenh and a Captain of the Pholtan Knights Valorous. He is a bit short for a powerful warrior, but possesses quick feet and a quick wit. He often appears cheery, yet always contemplative. His face seems flushed from a bit too much sun, but in reality he picked up a habit for sherry in the years spent in his father's kitchens. His bonded warhorse, Noir, is a magnificent black beast, almost 20 hands tall.

Louis's temperament has matured in his years as governor of Pale-occupied Tenh. Once a spoiled and self-centered fellow, Louis has come to face the realities war-ravaged Tenh presents. He clings to some rituals, still keeping his arms and his warhorse in top condition, and he treasures fine food and fine company, but he has learned to accept some of what he cannot change. He maintains an elitist attitude when it comes to food and women, though occupied Tenh does not always satisfy his tastes on either count. Nevertheless, as always, he enjoys exercise and stays in top health.

The Gastón family rose to power on the heels of Ogon Tillit. The "no-nonsense" dogma of Pholtus leaves little room for sensory pleasures, with one notable exception: gastronomic excellence. Jean-Pierre Phillip Gastón, Louis's father, struggled to keep his formal restaurant in business under the old regime. Jean-Pierre, who never brooks any nonsense from anyone, was well known for running the most orderly establishment in the entire Pale for quite some time. Impressed by the rigid atmosphere and fine fare, the Wintershiven restaurant quickly became the favorite of Ogon himself. The rest, as we say, is history. Louis's family moved from upper-middle class to wealth and privilege almost overnight. In the ensuing years the restaurant expanded and began serving increasingly more exotic foods. Today it is almost unanimously regarded as the best restaurant in the Pale, and many people cannot think of an equal for it in Nyrond.

Louis began life as an apprentice chef for his father. He has always admired his father's ability to control the chaos of the kitchens and soon found he had quite an aptitude for it himself. As he grew older his father began sending him out to hunt fresh meat for the menu as well as scrounge truffles with Wilbur, his truffle-hunting pig. While Louis still has a penchant for the finest food, he soon began to feel restless working at the restaurant. Seeing Louis's displeasure, and afraid of the chaotic elements it might introduce into his kitchens, his father invited several famous knights of the city to dinner and arranged a meeting. Louis immediately hit it off with Sirs Rolf and Bedivir, Pholtan Knights Valorous of the Order of the Sun. They explained to him his restlessness was due to the "the calling". Some people were born to bring law to the lawless, and these people naturally gravitate to chaotic environments where they are most needed. By ignoring this calling, Louis had been introducing stress into his life, and it was the source of his restlessness. Sirs Rolf and Sir Bedivir agreed to train and sponsor him as a Justicar.

It was not long before Louis's commitment to Pholtus and his prowess at arms brought him to Ogon Tillit's personal attention. Sitting at the table next to the theocrat in his father's restaurant didn't hurt either. With Ogon's help, Louis was able to convince the Council of Nine he was the best candidate for the position of provisional governor in the newly annexed province of the Tenh. In CY 588, Louis was selected for that position and since then has spent more time away from Wintershiven than within.

Louis is well connected to most of the powerful individuals in the Theocracy, and was on a first-name basis with most such people in Wintershiven. After six years in Tenh, Louis has lost touch with some of his contacts in the capital, but he still enjoys tremendous influence, thanks to his father. If Louis happened to show up unannounced at the residence of any important personage, he could expect to be received courteously and promptly. While a few officials dislike Louis's "holier than thou" attitude, none dare cross him openly. Many of the most important political decisions in the Theocracy are made at his father's restaurant, where the intelligentsia of the city gathers daily. Ostracism from this establishment would be political suicide, so those that do not cherish Louis at least tolerate him.

Milamber was Theocrat Ogon Tillit's trusted advisor, but is now merely an arcane spellcaster at large. He has the dark skin typical of the Flan, but unusual blue eyes and fair hair, which he wears long and normally tied back into a ponytail. He has a handsome face that the ladies of Wintershiven would die for. He is of medium height and medium weight and is around thirty years old. Milamber is the name he chose for himself; he has abandoned the name his parents gave him.

Apparently friendly and completely without guile, Milamber is well-versed in the machinations of the Church and has used them for the better of the Pale. Though he was completely loyal to Ogon, Milamber left his official position with the Church. He maintains complete loyalty to the Pale and is capable of destroying anyone who might interfere with his homeland. Though utterly honest, Milamber will use every resource he has to help the Pale and the Theocracy.

Born to a poor family, the youth who would become Milamber spent a frustrating early stint as a wizard's apprentice. He had expected nothing from life except hard work as a horse handler or farmer, but a local wizard discovered a strong sense of magic about the teenager and decided to make the boy his apprentice. The apprenticeship did not go well, for even the easiest cantrips were difficult for him to master. He struggled for three years, until one night at age nineteen, he had a vision he was not intended to be a wizard; his calling was as a sorcerer.

When he finally realized his talent lay in sorcery rather than wizardry, things fell into place. His vision had told him to go to Wintershiven for help. He thanked the old wizard and reluctantly took his leave. When he first arrived in the Pale's capital, he felt quite lost, but a boy in clerical robes found him and brought him to the Great Basilica. He received training from both the priests and his mysterious friend, who he eventually realized must be an agent of Pholtus--and even the priests agreed.

Taking a new name--Milamber--he climbed quickly in both ability and in the church's hierarchy, until he became one of the most trusted of the Theocrat's advisors. Few are as fervent in their worship of Pholtus of the Blinding Light as Milamber is.

Many of the less loyal or chaotic elements in the Pale considered Milamber to be one of the most dangerous people in the government. Now that Milamber has moved out of government office, they are even more worried about him as a threat. Many enemies of the Pale have been brought low by Milamber's resourcefulness.

Phillipe is the personal assistant and secretary to Andon Kavelle, the Prelate of Stradsett. At age 31, Phillipe stands 5' 8" and weighs 159 lbs. He has dark blond hair and green eyes. His fair skin reveals him as one who spends much of his time indoors.

Phillipe is a plain yet pleasant fellow. Phillipe is seldom remembered in detail by those who meet him, as most focus their attention on the man he serves, the unforgettable Prelate Andon Kavelle. Most overlook how much the Prelate depends upon Phillipe. He speaks quietly but deliberately, and skillfully listens to others' points of views. When dealing with Phillipe directly, people are impressed not by him but rather by his quiet force of presence, the result of an amulet he is never without. Because of his strong but unassuming nature, people quickly develop an implicit trust in Phillipe and speak their minds freely in his presence.

Phillipe has been in the service of Andon Kavelle for many years, hired to aid the Prelate in 581 CY. Phillipe deftly supports the duties of Andon's office, and few realize just how much the Prelate depends upon Phillipe. Andon, in private, is clearly very appreciative of his assistant's efforts.

Before serving the Prelate, Phillipe had served in various mercantile interests throughout the Flanaess. He discovered he had a knack for negotiation and consultation, and resolutely devoted himself to developing his abilities to those ends. His experiences and training have prepared him to be the ideal person for his current position.

Phillipe is quiet, studious, and unfailingly efficient while managing to be friendly to everyone. He maintains few true friends outside his duties and has no known enemies. He refuses to get involved in the politics of the Council of Nine. Anyone asking him to influence Andon is firmly told to remember he only serves the Prelate himself, not the motivations of others.

Cardinal-Commander Reifus, "the Paganhammer", commands the Church Militant. He stands nearly 6 feet tall, with an athletic build, sandy blond hair, and sky-blue eyes. He is of Oeridian stock. He carries himself with extreme confidence. He wears a breastplate with chain greaves and wields a magnificent warhammer etched with the sun and moons.

Reifus (REE-fuss) believes the only person on Oerth who is closer to Pholtus is his Worshipful Mercy, the Theocrat. Therefore, he strongly upholds he (and therefore the Church Militant as a whole) does not answer to anyone but Pholtus and the Throne of the Sun. He speaks in a raspy voice dripping with sarcasm, contempt and distrust, except when he is speaking to the Theocrat or a trusted high-ranking member of the Church Militant. He believes members of the Church Militant are the most true and faithful followers of Pholtus. The Church Militant's demanding physical and mental requirements, routine sacrifices for the state, tough code of honor and elite status has instilled within Reifus (and many Church Militant) a certain level of arrogance towards the general public. The Church Militant is a rigid, highly unified brotherhood responsible for looking after and protecting the masses. Reifus does care for the people, but he believes they are inferior and prone to deviating from the One True Path. Much as it is the Sheepherder's job to bring in stray sheep, so it is his organization's role to tend to the flocks of humanity.

Reifus was actually not born in the Pale, but rather in Nyrond near the Gamboge Forest. He was raised in a large logging family consisting of his parents, three brothers (one older and two younger), and two sisters (both younger). His family was very devout in their worship of Pholtus, and Reifus grew up with the scriptures of the One True Path. However, the dominant religion in this area was that of Beory. This caused his family much grief as lumbering operations would often blacklist his family, and they would often go months without work. The government did not take any measures to eliminate this prejudice. In fact, at times the local magistrates encouraged this anti-Pholtan sentiment, perhaps in an attempt to bias the people against the Pale (which was trying to make inroads into Nyrond). Whatever the Nyrondese magistrates' goals were, their apathetic stance had a disastrous effect on Reifus's family.

By the time Reifus was fourteen, his family had been reduced to destitution. The community and government turned a blind eye to their suffering. One of his younger sisters, Sashia, died of a fever she was unable to fight off as a result of her weakened condition. Reifus had been closer to Sashia than to any of his other siblings, so this loss deeply affected him. Even to this day, Reifus often exclaims in battle, "In Sashia's name, I smite thee!"

Sashia's death was the last straw for Reifus's father, Jochen, who fled north from Nyrond with his family and their meager possessions. Jochen did not know what to expect upon his arrival into the Pale. He and his family were starving, so he begged for aid at the first monastery he found. The abbot in charge stated, with a warm smile, that it was his duty and privilege to help. With but a simple wave of his hand and a divine prayer, the abbot created a bounty of food for the starving immigrants. Reifus looked on in amazement, and that day decided to give himself over in entirety to Pholtus.

Reifus has allies and enemies. First among his enemies are those who would go against Pholtus, the Pale, or the laws of the land. Reifus's ring of x-ray vision and ethereal cloak give him an ability which strikes fear in the hearts of any who would oppose his wishes. Criminals, heretics, and traitors can never be certain Reifus is not watching them. Because of his elitist views, Reifus has also earned the dislike of nearly every prelate and archbishop. Political machinations in the Basilica often involve power struggles between the higher-ranking members of the clergy and those of the Church Militant. However, outnumbering even his adversaries are his allies, not the least of which is the Theocrat himself. The Theocrat recognizes Reifus's devout resolve to the Pale and appreciates the unique capabilities he provides. Also among his allies is nearly every member of the Church Militant. Most of them would give their lives for Reifus. He has earned their respect, admiration, and loyalty. Finally, he has the support of many high-ranking members of the Prelatal Army and City Watch, some of whom were once in the Church Militant.

Secadia is Archdruid of the Pale protectorate within the hierarchy of the Old Faith. She arrested her aging at 31 years of age, so she looks much younger than her 47 years. When seen in her true form--which is seldom--her Flan background is obvious. Her long black hair and brown face couple with a wisdom not normally seen in the face of a 30-year-old. Though typically residing in the woods, she is never seen (or, more to the point, recognized), since she prefers to wear the forms of animals common to her current location. This is even true when she prowls the cities and towns of the Pale; if you see a feral cat on the street of Wintershiven, it might not be just a cat.

Secadia is part of the Flanaess-wide druidic order of the Old Faith, one of three archdruids in the lands of Old Aerdy [basically the same regions as in the Nyrond And Her Environs metaregion, excluding Ratik -- Pale Triad]. She holds the Church of the One True Path in disdain, and especially takes umbrage at the new order of Pholtan Druids, but she respects certain individual priests.

All who treat the woods and its denizens with respect can consider Secadia an ally, but those who treat nature with thoughtlessness or with malice will find she is an implacable enemy.

Celestial General Sloan Burgos, Marshall-Protector of Tenh, commands the Prelatal Army. General Burgos is a mountain of a man. He stands 6'4" tall and weighs 220 pounds, with a stocky, muscular build. He shaves his head and wears no facial hair. On the back of his head is a tattoo of a radiant sun. In battle, he wears magnificently ornate full plate armor with many etchings of the sun engraved upon its silvery surface. Attached to each shoulder plate is an array of spikes arranged in a manner to depict the rays of the sun. He wields a large, two-handed falchion.

Sloan Burgos exudes personal magnetism. He is a leader of men. He sternly gives orders and expects his subordinates to carry them out without hesitation. He fiercely believes in a strict regimen of duty, training and preparedness. Due to his force of personality, men who may have been problem soldiers in other outfits, nearly always become model soldiers when serving Burgos.

Sloan was born into a military family in Wintershiven. His father, Reedus Burgos, was a high ranking commander in the Prelatal Army. His mother raised their three sons in Wintershiven. Sloan is the oldest of three brothers and a sister.

When Sloan was a young lad, he disliked the army. His father was never around, and Sloan blamed his father's absence on the Pale and its military. In his early teens, Sloan began to become rebellious and drew the attention of Bishop Raval Ward of Wintershiven. Bishop Ward began to council Sloan, and soon Sloan began to realize how important his father's role was. By the time Sloan was 16, he gave himself fully to the cause and joined the New Light, a branch of the Prelatal Army devoted to grooming young men and women into elite soldiers. He began demonstrating his leadership abilities in the New Light. As a result of his encouragement, his two brothers, Sartain and Hayden, and his sister, Haven, also joined the New Light. All four of the Burgos siblings are now in the military.

Reedus, Sloan's father, died in an engagement with some trolls in the Troll Fens when Sloan was 19. Since that time, Sloan has steadily risen in the ranks. Sloan's exceptional leadership abilities have enabled his meteoric rise to become the highest-ranking leader of the best-trained fighting force in all of Oerth.

Sloan Burgos has extensive allies and contacts throughout the Prelatal Army and Church Militant. His family is held in very high esteem by empowered people. The Burgos family's resolve and devotion to the Pale are unquestioned. Sloan is an excellent friend with the Prelate of Wintershiven.

Major NPCs of the Frigdrasil Clan (Fruztii, or Frost Barbarians)

Falder, son of Bjorn, son of Sigurd, is one of the subchiefs of the Frigdrasil and a frequent visitor to the Pale. He often travels in a group with six of his most trusted men. He stands over six feet tall and is heavily muscled. Like all pure Suel, he has pale skin, which almost perfectly matches his snow-white hair. His icy blue gaze is constantly stern, as if he were always speaking of serious matters; even when he laughs, his eyes do not seem to share in the mirth. Falder is often more serious than he should be at his relatively young age (twenty-six). He enjoys a good tankard of ale as much as any Fruztii, but rarely drinks to excess. His voice is normally loud and booming, and when he speaks Common it comes out harsh to most people’s ears due to his heavy accent. He is a nimble warrior, especially skilled in the use of battleaxe and spear. He is loyal to his clan and the Fruztii code of honor, but does not like the prominence to which the shamans have recently been elevated within his clan. He trusts only the magic of the Fruztii deities.

Sources: PAL4-08 Winters Past, PAL5-07 Troll Winter.

Chief Fjorgens Iceblood is the towering leader of the clan. Fjorgens has long golden-yellow hair and green eyes. He is a massive man, standing almost 7 ft. tall. He speaks Common almost fluently but still has a slight accent. He wears a heavy cloak of what appears to be sable with many other furs augmenting his heavy leather clothing. The furs all but cover an ice-blue tinted breastplate. He wears a necklace made up of many large claws and teeth from unknown creatures. His heavy beard hides the lower half of a scar, which leads from beneath his hair across the left side of his face. His crown is made up of a great white bear’s upper head with sapphires in place of its eyes. Son of Hruthgar, son of Mjilnder, the chief takes obvious pride in his ancestry and works for the good of his clan. He led them from their former home in the lands of the Frost Barbarians to a new home in the Rakers, northeast of the Pale.

Source: PAL4-08 Winters Past.

Thurgen Sigurdson, Frigdrasil shaman, is a small, wiry man of great cunning. He has dirty blond hair with hazel eyes. He carries himself with an air of confidence at all times. He does not know Common and has no desire to sully himself learning the language; his tongues spell lets him talk with (or threaten) outlanders well enough. Thurgen wears a cloak made of the skin of a white tiger. His blue satin tunic seems somehow out of place on a man who lives in such a frigid locale. His belt appears to be made of silver scales. From his staff hang the skulls of many creatures, one of which appears unsettlingly humanoid. Thurgen and the other shamans of the Frigdrasil advised the chief to undertake to move into the mountains and to open contacts with the Pale.

Source: PAL4-08 Winters Past.

Major NPCs of the Phostaldaron (Phostwood Elves)

Calion, a grugach (wild) elf, is the great war-leader of the elves of the Phostwood but a reluctant hero-figure. A legend in his own time, Calion united the remaining five Phost tribes about a hundred years ago in the wake of savage attacks by ogres, orcs, and trolls. Under his leadership, the elves have all but annihilated the orcs and trolls from the Phostwood and fought the ogres to numbers even with their own. Many of the Phostaldaron have asked Calion to be their king, but he refuses, knowing his strength lies in warcraft, not government. Nevertheless, he attends and offers military advice at the annual Great Council, where the gathered elders of the five tribes convene to protect the way of life of the Phostaldaron.

Source: "Phostaldaron - The Elves of the Phostwood" by Jason Singleton (available online).

Curu'nolë is the most respected elder of the Istari tribe of sylvan elves. Tremendously knowledgeable on many topics, he is also an excellent judge of character. He is entrenched in the elven way of life and has deep concern for the rough times in which the younger elves must live. Curu'nolë believes Calion is the savior of the Phostaldaron, and often mentions him in conversation. He also enjoys trying to give people a new way of looking at things by exploring their beliefs.

Source: PAL1-05 Alliance Reborn.

Quarion is the expert in military strategy for the Istari tribe. He is saddened by the fact he must often leave the tribe for months at a time to serve the best interests of the Phostaldaron, by battling at Calion's side. When Quarion goes, he usually rallies most of the young elves, both male and female.

Source: PAL1-05 Alliance Reborn.

Silaqui is the daughter of Curu'nolë and a transmuter of no small skill. Rare among sylvan elves, Silaqui is a natural when it comes to the arcane arts, able to grasp many of the fine subtleties of magic. She loves her father immensely. Although she understands that it is important to the survival of the Phostaldaron that many join Calion on his campaigns, she refuses to leave the tribe. She feels it is her duty to stay behind and protect the Istari while so many of its warriors are in the field. Silaqui is delightful in conversation, and many elves seek her guidance in relationships and love. She enjoys talking about art, specifically tapestries and paintings.

Source: PAL1-05 Alliance Reborn.

Tharion is an elven druid of the old way. He has recently taken to spending most of his time in the city of Ogburg. (See further information about him among the NPCs of that city.)

Source: PAL1-05 Alliance Reborn, PAL3-04 Full Circle.