NPC Writeups

Zanne Machel
Race: Human
Class: Warlord
Age: 30
Family:
- Aran Machel (Husband, 28)
- Sarra Machel (Daughter, 3)
- Eliss Machel (Mother, 60)
- Kessin Machel (Father, 56)
- Lorel Machel (Sister, 33)
- Gent Machel (Brother, 25)

Background:
Zanne spent her early childhood in Ahkas; her mother was an officer with the Machel 7th Infantry while her father served as a diplomatic attache. The family moved back to Highmark after the official withdrawal of Nerathi troops in 992, Eliss and Kessin settling into governmental appointments in the national government. Zanne grew up training to follow her mother’s example, receiving military training as soon as she could hold a blade. The manifestation of her dragonmark at fourteen cemented her goal and she joined her mother’s old unit at sixteen. After proving herself against bandits and pirates for five years, Zanne was originally excited at the prospect of an actual mobilization in 1003 for the Northern Campaign. Five years of attempting to pacify guerilla groups north of Grimfar and Issenvik soured Zanne on the military somewhat; she was disturbed by the treatment of both goblin prisoners and her own NPC troops at the hands of noble officers. She resigned quickly after the end of the campaign, taking a post with the Machel Home Guards. With her noble birth and military record, Zanne became an investigating judge in hopes of providing some legal impartiality towards those she considers oppressed by the system.

Current Events:
Since the Highmark Disaster, Zanne has increasingly found herself dealing with higher politics and the machinations of the great Houses, something she considers beyond herself. Nonetheless, she recognizes her position’s ability to provide protection for those outside such seats of power. She scrupulously avoids showing bias in her work, but moves in social circles advocating such political goals as extended franchise, goblinoid citizenship and warforged rights.

Personality:
Zanne is straightforward, intelligent and precise. Her life has conditioned her to maintain personal routines and work within guidelines, though she’s very much capable of taking her own initiative. Her job has had her expanding what she considers proper procedure, especially when dealing with the rest of her House. Her time in the military and in her current position have made her much more willing than many of her station to evaluate individuals on their personal merits as opposed to pedigree.


Relationships:
Zanne’s was an arranged marriage, though she and Aran have come to love each other deeply, if not especially passionately. Aran (nee Seress) Machel is a parliamentary aid and shares much of Zanne’s zeal for reform, though his is more tempered by his position.
Zanne is acquainted with Vedran, Brenn, Alia, Cael, Beryl, and Thruik from the Highmark high society social scene. She finds Brenn exasperating and somewhat frivolous, with a similar opinion of Alia. She’s fond of, but not especially close to, Vedran and Beryl, and even less familiar with Cael and Thruik. Zanne was introduced to the group by Agyness, with whom Zanne served during the Northern Campaign. Though their schedules preclude large amounts of social time, the two soldiers maintain a reasonably close relationship.

Alia Auselom
Race: Human
Class: Sorcerer
Age: 25
Family:
- Ariann Auselom (Mother, 51)
- Jathem Auselom (Father, 48)
- Jathem Auselom Jr. (Brother, 22)
- Seren Auselom (Brother, 18)
- Anson Auselom (Brother, 15)

Background:
Alia grew up in Highmark and Mythragal due to her father’s position on the Parliament of Dragons. Fascinated by magic from an early age, her parents encouraged her interest with lessons from private tutors. Nonetheless, it was expected she would parlay such education into a future position in the Mythragali church of Ioun, an idea Alia found unpalatable. Her relationship with her father, never great to begin with, deteriorated as Alia continually showed no interest in politics and the church. Alia chose to attend a center for magical study in Highmark to avoid her parents, eventually meeting Cael Scrye, whose mother taught at the school. The two became fast friends despite wild differences in personality, a relationship that remains particularly close. Her father’s position and her mother’s family connections gained her entry into Highmark high society, which she viewed alternately as an amusing distraction and an annoying obligation. Eschewing the attempt to find a spouse, Alia did manage to create a close circle of friends, dragging Cael with her. Among that circle was Beryl Odanet, a dwarven druid Alia found particularly intriguing. The two dated for years before Beryl finally broke off the relationship, unwilling to challenge her family on plans for her marriage. With the breakup occurring as she finished studies at the academy, Alia decided to try putting her magical education to use as an adventurer.

Current Events:
Alia has had some luck as an adventurer, though not to the extent of the Thuderbolts. She jumped at the chance to accompany Thruik and Cael on their attempt, and remains horrified at the result. She recognizes that Cael is still deeply troubled by his experience of resurrection, though she’s only gotten him to talk about it a few times. Since then, she’s acted as a ‘free agent’ for the Union, accompanying several different groups. Unfortunately, this intensified feelings of outsider status, for which she compensated by throwing herself into increasingly more dangerous social scenes. A few months ago, however, Beryl actively returned to her life, and Cael and Thruik broached the subject of a shared living arrangement. Alia was skeptical of both at first, but she has since moved in with Cael and Thruik. Alia remains reticent of getting attached to Beryl again, particularly as she has made no mention of plans of ending her arranged engagement. Nonethelless, the two have been spending more time together lately, and Alia knows she’s falling in love again. Whether that’s a good thing remains to be seen.

Personality:
Alia is stridently independent, often sarcastic, and inappropriately upfront. She’s well aware that she’s considered attractive by most and is perfectly happy to use that to her advantage. Despite what many of her friends think, however, physical appearance is not a quality she considers particularly important. Alia revels in the exercise of her skills, both magical and otherwise, priding herself on demonstrative prowess. As such, she can be unconsciously (and sometimes consciously) competitive. Though she often presents an image of nonchalance and indolence, Alia is dedicated to self-improvement and works hard at anything she does. She has problems forming intimate relationships, at least mentally, but is rabid in defending those people she considers friends.

Relationships:
Alia’s family relationships are strained; she and her father are barely on speaking terms and she corresponds with her mother very rarely. She gets along slightly better with her brothers, but doesn’t see them often.
Cael is Alia’s closest friend, treating him as more of a brother than her actual siblings. She has a similar relationship with Thruik, though it has a bit less history behind it. The three share several similar interests, and they often speak in a shorthand that can be somewhat incomprehensible to outsiders.
Alia and Brenn have a somewhat strange relationship. They complement each other very well in social situations and get along wonderfully, yet the combination of Brenn’s past actual feelings and pressure from Alia’s family to pursue a relationship has caused awkwardness on occasion. They tend to be the ringleaders of group social outings, though such things have become rarer as they each have become more absorbed in their careers.