Category:North by Northwest

Storyline Dates

November 2022 - TBD

NPC Primer

This has been established to provide a quick reference for some notable NPC's that will play some role in the storyline North by Northwest. GM Kenstrom will update this page weekly during the storyline if there are any changes, or as new NPC's are introduced or new information is learned. It's also worth noting that over half of the NPCs listed are brand new or new-ish, so a player does not need to have knowledge of years of previous storylines in order to engage the NPC's and become involved.

Mayor Thadston Andrews

See NPC page here.

• From North Hendor, and once appointed by Earl Jovery to command the Imperial Outpost outside of Wehnimer's Landing.
• Has magical kroderine shards imbedded in his arms from when he used kroderine gauntlets to close a portal between Landing and the Bleaklands. The aftermath left him possessed for a time, and now with the ability to absorb/deflect magic with his arms.
• Was once a drunkard, but finally sobered up ages ago after his wife Saraphene and his son Disean left him. Saraphene was later murdered by the witch Raznel, and Disean was warped into an evil Blameless crusader, who now is in a magical stasis within a bane coffin in an unknown location.
• Current Relationship Status: It's Complicated - Had a recent romantic relationship with Casiphia, who later turned out to also be the third incarnation of the vigilante Rone, as well as the masked Mother, who leads the Brotherhood of Rooks.
• Mayor of Wehnimer's Landing.

Casiphia Malatina

See NPC page here.

• Cousin of the ex-mayor Chambeli Malatina, who was once kidnapped by Grishom Stone, and was murdered by the orc Thrayzar, while under an enthrallment from Grishom.
• From Mestanir, ran a weapons shop, before coming to Wehnimer's Landing where she eventually fell victim to Prelate Chaston Griffin's enchantments.
• Was once a member of the Wehnimer's Landia Militia and romantically involved with Thadston. Both spent over a year on the road hunting the witch Raznel.
• Was revealed to be the third incarnation of the masked vigilante Rone.
• Was revealed to be the masked leader of the Brotherhood of Rooks, who called herself Mother.
• With her secrets now revealed, Casiphia was pardoned by Mayor Thadston and is the proprietor of the Rusty Cutlass Tavern.

Amos

See NPC page here.

• Leader of the Darkstone Bay Consortium
• Originally from Highmount, came to Wehnimer's Landing with claims of bringing prosperity and opportunity to the town.
• Owns the mining operations for baystone, an exclusive gemstone recently discovered near Wehnimer's Landing.
• Was once Steward of the Guilds, but was thrown out by the Town Council in 5122.
• Owns the rights to the essence handpylons, and essence belts sold in Bloodriven.
• Has a trusted group of women operatives within his inner circle known as "The Fireflies."
• Is constructing the new Bazaar in Wehnimer's Landing which will house several new merchant shops.
• Rumored to be connected too, or is in fact, the Knave, a mastermind who waged war in Wehnimer's Landing to try to take control of the criminal factions in town. It was later discovered Stephos DeArchon was the Knave, but many claim he was framed.
• Has runic tattoos on his chest that impart him super strength when activated.
• He and Thadston have a history of violence and hatred between them.

Cordarius Hodges

See NPC page here.

• Regional Envoy of Wehnimer's Landing, tasked with representing the town to other places and overseeing political agreements.
• Magister of the Hall of Mages.
• Appointed by Earl Jovery in 5119 to join the Wehnimer's Landing Town Council as the envoy, to help bridge the communication gap between the protectorate of Wehnimer's Landing and the Turamzzyrian Empire.
• Helped oversee the government transition in Wehnimer's Landing that saw changes to both the mayor, town council, and steward roles. His regional envoy position became standalone, no longer part of the town council.
• Was instrumental in helping against Raznel's blight that plagued Wehnimer's Landing and its environs. He created the manafires that burn endlessly near town that help keep the Blight at bay.

Larsya Caulfield

See NPC page here.

• Commander of the Imperial Outpost outside of Wehnimer's Landing
• Sister of Breshon Caulfield, the newly crowned Baron of Bourth in 5122.
• Has a golden-brown wolf named Dawn for an animal companion.
• Was once cursed by a poisoned arrow from Raznel's minion, and thrown into a aging spell that almost ended her life. The heroes of Wehnimer's eventually saved her, and broke her curse, returning her back to her youthful age.
• Likes to pretend she's a pirate named the Dread Black Pirate.
• Can speak with the spirits of the Wyrdeep.
• Likes to tease people with a suction-cup bow.

Elidal Dhenin

See NPC page here.

• Born in the Barony of Riverwood.
• Old friend of Baron Breshon and Larsya Caulfield.
• Selected by Earl Jovery to become the new ruler of the Barony of Darkstone.
• Has a council of trusted advisers who have traveled with him; Enisius, Iliyaas, Sablo and Aronia.

Lady Aronia

See NPC page here.

• Born in the Barony of Talador, before its fall.
• Old friend of Baron Breshon and Elidal Dhenin.
• Member of the Green Sisters, an organization dedicated to Imaera.

Enisius Dhenin

See NPC page here.

• Born in the Barony of Riverwood.
• Brother of Elidal Dhenin.
• Magister of the Hall of Mages.
• Created an application for magic users to apply for his Research Team into learning more and experimenting with Darkstone Castle and Melgorehn's Reach.
• Is a master of illusions but socially awkward.

Iliyaas

• Mysterious sylvan woman who is claimed to be a seer and can receive glimpses of the future.
• Brought to the area by Elidal, who originally met her in Riverwood.
• Stays to the forests, will not enter camp or town.

Sablo

See NPC page here.

• Once a member of Mensyl's Maurauders in Northern Hendor.
• Nicknamed "Monster" for his brutality and savage tactics when fighting orcs, ogres and giants of the north.
• 2nd choice of Earl Jovery to become the new Commander of the Darkstonian Army.
• Rough around the edges.

Juramis Du'Lasfeur

See NPC page here.

• A merchant from Brisker's Cove
• Once worked with Grishom Stone, but later helped the Heroes of Wehnimer's against both Grishom and Barnom Slim.
• Had his business destroyed by Lord Eldurn Winter in 5112.
• Returned to Wehnimer's Landing in 5122, almost a decade later, with his business growing and now associated with Amos and the Darkstone Bay Consortium.

Ardenale

• Displaced Madam of the Honey Mine Brothel in Talador before its fall.

Captain Bodohal

See NPC page here.

• Member of the Bluewater Brigade
• Captain of the Shiver
• Currently positioned near Wehnimer's Landing in the Darkstone Bay.
• Searching for a member of his crew who fled service by the name of Tolmis.
• Rumored to have a Magister of the Hall of Mages imprisoned upon his ship.

Octaven

See NPC page here.

• Grand Magister of the Hall of Mages.
• Once waged battle against Wehnimer's Landing, only to aid them years later against the Knave and his forces.
• Has in her possession the Talon, an ancient artifact that was corrupted during the creation of the Wizardwaste.
• Resides within the Hendoran Outpost south of Wehnimer's Landing, where she setup shop after the death of Dennet Kestrel.
• Has a sleek white falcon familiar.

Rodnay

See NPC page here.

• Was an orphan of the Wellington home in Wehnimer's Landing.
• Abducted by the Ithzir in 5116, along with other orphans, and placed in magical cocoons. He was the only survivor.
• Now appears as a hybrid creation of Human and Ithzir, has demonstrated powerful mental abilities, and aided the people of Wehnimer's Landing on several occassions.
• Was experimented on by the Hall of Mages, but last seen entering a green cocoon within a cavern of Melgorehn's Reach to begin the next step of his evolution.

Gnul

See NPC page here.

• Self-proclaimed "King" of Thanatoph.
• United the Mountain Alliance, where creatures of Wehntoph, Sentoph, Thanatoph and Glatoph have rallied under his command to fight the imperials and heroes of Wehnimer's Landing.

Tolmis

• Ex-member of the Bluewater Brigade.
• Fled from Captain Bodohal and has been spotted within Wehnimer's Landing.

Tydina Wiley

Talmaris

Torcadall Bhodhsa

Map

Here are the proposed borders of the new Barony of Darkstone, land now claimed by the Turamzzyrian Empire.

Player Contest - Darkstone Crest

On 12/19/22, a new Player Contest to design the crest of the new Barony of Darkstone was announced! The heraldic crest would need to fit the overall theme of the other imperial crests. Links for examples are below. The crest may include objects, animals or designs, but must also use at least two colors.

Contest Rules

• Contest runs from 12/19/22 to 1/15/23.
• There will be 4 semi-finalists selected. Those designs will go on to have a Grand Prize finalist announced.
• Players may only submit one design.
• Winners will be announced early Feb.
• Entry will be "words/description" not artwork.

Contest Prizes

• All 4 semi-finalists will receive 2 General Alterations by GM Kenstrom.
• The Grand Prize winner will receive the 2 General Alterations, in addition to a T4 Unlocked Handpylon and the custom ancillary title of "Imperial Herald."

The Application

• Submit your design to GS4-Kenstrom@play.net.
• Subject title of "Darkstone Crest Contest - CHARACTER NAME"

Link to Examples

https://gswiki.play.net/Crests_of_the_Turamzzyrian_Empire

North by Northwest: Chapter 2 Prologue

Aronia

She was a ghost.

Not in the true sense of the word, she knew, but she felt a wraith nonetheless as she toured the forest, her bare feet kissing the still hard-packed ground. The snow crunched beneath her feet. The air was quiet, the trees were now free from heavy ice but still bare and their branches more resembling shrunken bones. The earth had not spoken to her in weeks. It was the truth in her sudden cancellation of the ritual.

It was as if the very world around her had collectively held its breath, waiting to see what great destruction was born from the bowels of the Thanatoph. But the powerful behemoth had been stopped. His giant form rendered undone, leaving behind only a huge boulder in its wake. A reminder perhaps, of a time when all blades, all bolts, and all voices rose as one.

She knew it would not last.

But that was not her arena. That was not her monster.

Aronia had known many monsters in her life. The birth of the Bleaklands awakened not only devastation, but all manners of wicked creatures from its belly. She had seen glimpses of the horrors beyond the Tears, where no true life remained. That land was dead and silent too, which is what worried her most of all. A new land, he had promised her. A new hope, he had said. It would not be another Talador, he swore to her. She touched a finger to the sand-filled vial that brushed the skin of her chest. But not all was wrong with Talador. Her parents had been there. Her farm had been there. But it was all gone now, and she would not get it back.

But she still reflected on his pledge. She adored his optimism, even now, but she knew peace and growth would not come easy and not without sacrifice. She wanted to believe as he did. She wanted his eyes, if even for a moment, to watch the world in brighter shades. She had left behind a land of ruin, but even her arrival to the new frontier was saddled with death and tragedy. No shattering of Gnul would bring back the other members of her Order, no great stone head trophy would breathe life back into those who felt the sting of fire before the end.

She frowned at the swathes of land still burned and blackened from the scorching fires of Gnul’s eyes. She was ready to be done with his mark once and for all. The trees nearby, their old modwir branches, drooped as if burdened by more than snow and cold.

Even the forest was sad.

She picked at the ring upon her finger. It brought her a smile.

Her Goddess was not one to accept senseless devastation. All of life came in seasons. Winter was breaking, and she was reminded of her duty and her purpose in the first place. No amount of mourning would resurrect Talador. But the land around here was at war, beyond that of just men and metal. Her eyes turned to the northwest.

They fell upon that black castle in the hills.

Sickness rolled out from it, perverting the skies, spoiling the land. Most had come to accept it, but she sensed it the first moment she had arrived months before. If there was to truly be a future as he had promised, then no blemish could remain. No festering wound could be allowed to persist. It would be a daunting task, and she wondered if even herself would be up to the challenge ahead.

That is when she felt the tickle upon her foot.

She stopped suddenly, frozen in place.

She looked to the ground and rooting up from the snow and dirt was a single blade of grass, as verdant as her eyes.

She knelt closer, touching it ever so softly with her thumb.

Her eyes teared as the earth sang.