DKMortals/OnceDeadNPCs
In the Once Dead
Officers
Commander
Rethys, ("Steelhand") - the overall commander of the Once Dead, Rethys is usually out of sight, haggling with the Haslanti Government over resources for his struggling group of special forces. Few but the talonlords have much regular contact with him, although the new recruits to the Once Dead always see him when they take the oath. Rethys is a tall man in his forties, with an iron gray beard and mustache, a well-muscled frame, and a serious attitude. He is missing his left hand, bitten off by an iceberg-eater in his youth while he served with the ice fleet.
Talonlords
Athela Ironheart - the older, hard-bitten woman who commands the Right Talon of the Once Dead. A solid and reliable commander, she was once friends with Thunder Wisdom, and served under esteemed Once Dead officer Hundred Knife Jackal.
Ralloshan - for a man in his thirties, Ralloshan displays uncommon maturity, but there are still many who say he should not command the Left Talon. A big man with long blond hair, he is given to impetuousness, daring, sudden attack and taking risks. The men and women he commands wouldn't have it any other way, and Rethys respects his strength and bravado, but he isn't the most stable person to have in command.
Scalelords
Laughing Jelial ("Jelly") - Third Scale. A large, bald-headed man in his forties, Jelial is as given to good humor as his name suggests. Although he keeps discipline well in his scale, he rules more by love than fear, a fact that many think will eventually doom him. He is much liked by his troops, and much maligned by other scalelords for being too soft. It's not unheard of for troops in the other scales to complain about Jelly's babies.
Mithra - Fifth Scale. A woman of about thirty years of age and a surly disposition, Mithra is respected by her troops and her superiors as being a good taskmaster and a steady hand, but few expect tactical brilliance from her. Her short, severe dark hair, many scars, and missing left eye attest to a hard-earned position, and her stony character demands it.
Soldas ("Trembleshanks") - Fourth Scale. Recently appointed, and from a prominent Haslanti family, his inexperience could prove deadly, and suggests corruption within the Once Dead. A tall, thin, dark-haired man with haunted eyes and a nervous demeanor. He tends to be viewed poorly in comparison to his predecessor, Esteemed Owl, who was killed battling bandits.
Soldiers
Third Scale
Leaping Stag - also known as "Blondie." A fair headed, wiry, and sarcastic man who is nevertheless far more gentle than Rashalla. Red Rashalla - tall, raw-boned, red-haired woman. Abrasive and rather dull-witted.
Shy Fox - young woman, known for being soft-spoken and skittish.
Stitches - the doctor of the Third Scale.
Fourth Scale
Chokes on Mirth ("Carrion Crow") - A tribeswoman of the Tear Eaters, captured during a raid, she was recommended for the Once Dead after viciously wounding three handlers during her transport to the silverlode in the Southwestern mountains. Her dark skin, dark hair, and most of all the Tear Eater tribal tattoos on her face make her seem suspicious to many. Her demeanor, harsh and terse, does not ingratiate her, and few call her by her real name, instead dubbing her "Carrion Crow." An expert with a greatsword, she is noted for her impressive strength.
Fancy Simon - something of a dandy, Fancy Simon enjoys hitting on most things that breathe, using fine perfumes imported from the South, and hearing himself talk. Still, he's quite friendly and well-liked, and his personality is far less abrasive than other jokesters in the scale. Fancy Simon was messily crushed by the closing doorway during the Trout Queen investigation.
Fervent John - A former Immaculate, Fervent John was kicked out of the order for some slight which varies each time he tells it (usually involving ever greater numbers of women and/or sex acts). He still keeps his head shaven in the Immaculate style, though nothing else in his manner, bearing, or activity suggests he was ever a holy man. He is known for being even tempered and having a good sense of humor, and for truly loathing the cold. Fervent John was slain by the River Gang of Sunset Greenfield
Jonah the Lad - a man of about twenty who seems younger, with blond hair, soft, boyish features, and a slim figure. His high voice further accents his appearance of youth, and perhaps in retaliation he is given to bragging about various sexual conquests and the number of women he has bedded.
Laughing Jek- a tall, wiry, dark haired man with a good humored nature. Often cracks jokes, and insists that he joined the Once Dead "for a laugh." Though still alive, Jek is not exactly in one piece - an encounter with Magdala has left him ritually mutilated and missing a hand.
Leopard - a Djala, well known for his skills at stealth and his sharp tongue. He likes to fleece others in games of cards, and fights with a short sword. He is a former circus performer (a tumbler, in fact), and is heavily spotted even for a Djala. Leopard was killed by the monster menacing the Tanstaad Emerald.
Little Adder -a wiry young man with dark hair and a ferretlike face. A former Lieutenant of the Black Boar gang, he was captured by the Once Dead and pressed into military service. He remains as cowardly, sarcastic, and backstabbing as ever. Little Adder was claimed by a Hekatonchire during a journey through the Underworld
Morta - a pale woman of ghost blooded descent, with brittle hair the consistency of straw and deep shadows under her eyes. Morta is known for being very direct and rather morbid.
Pixie - a girl that couldn't be older than eighteen or nineteen, Pixie is the youngest member of the scale. Her short blonde hair and blue eyes are attractive, and her upturned nose has yet to be broken. Despite her rather bubbly and annoying demeanour, she displays remarkable skill. Pixie was killed after succumbing to KVO during the Trout Queen investigation
Ragged Red - a woman, tall and dangerous. She wears leathers from head to toe. They were probably once painted red, but they have now faded to a dull brown. Her body is rangy, bony, her eyes hungry and alight with some inner fire, her hair and lips a somehow vicious shade of red. She is sharp faced, but would be attractive enough if not for the sense of menace that hangs around her. Ragged Red was the leader of a bandit group that included Iscal the Coward. She would have been executed, but her skills were undeniable. Red feels neither pain nor much pleasure - a mild, undetectable Wyld Mutation makes her immune to such annoyances. A ritual mutilation by Magdala left her missing an eye.
Relic - the oldest member of the scale, a man in his fifties with a whipcord frame and a rapidly balding head. The only color left in his face is provided by his gray beard. Given to spitting, coughing, and complaining, but very good at his job. Relic was killed by the essence defenses of the Sunlight during the Trout Queen investigation.
Savage Bear-Daughter - If she is the daughter of a bear, she is the runt of the litter. The woman is not five feet tall, with narrow shoulders and long, dark hair that almost touches the ground. Young and tough, Savage Bear-Daugther almost never speaks - she was punished frequently and harshly for doing so as a child among the Frost Bear Tribe. She is iminently practical, and enjoys the simplest pleasures and the most complex in life equally. A ritual mutilation by Magdala has left her without a tongue.
Slow Ember - A southlander, with dark skin and a bright white smile. Known for being upbeat aside from his complaints about the cold, he fights with a firewand. Slow Ember was killed during his Last Rite.
Selza Twice-Sorrow - Following the events at Tanstaad, Avir recruited Selza into the once dead. She emerged from the experience changed, but hardened. Selza is a young woman with a fair face, fine blonde hair, and bright blue eyes. Black tattoos curl up the left side of her face, marking her eternal state of mourning. She is serious, stern, and nursing severe heartbreak, but is known for being reliable. A ritual mutilation by Magdala has left her missing her left ear. Selza fell in the Battle of Shaha's Defile.
Seven-Fingered Sally - a middle aged woman with short blond hair and deep-set eyes. She supposedly lost three of her fingers due to punishment for theft, and joined the Once Dead as a Prince. Given to bragging and bravado - it's said that if a tenth of the stories about her were true, she'd own all of Creation. Sally was killed by the collision between the Stalwart and the Razor during the Trout Queen investigation.
Snow Peacock - with her pale skin, blond hair and gray eyes, Snow Peacock looks like her namesake. One of the most attractive women in the unit, her beauty is balanced by a good skill with a blade, and marred by a rather abrasive and flippant character. She speaks little of her past. Snow Peacock was killed by being swept away into the contaminated waters of the Deepwell.
Softhands - a thaumaturge who looks more like a smith. Softhands has huge fingers and a dark, graying beard. A pair of round glasses that don't at all seem like they belong perch on his massive nose. His name is accurate. Softhands specializes in alchemy - rumors say he was born in the outwall as a shaman's son, but rejected traditional methods to study as a savant in Icehome. Like any rumor, it could mean everything or nothing. Softhands was torn apart by an Ice Hag while investigating the Trout Queen.
Springing Elk - a young stalker in the unit, with a serious face and short, dark hair. He is an excellent woodsman and tracker, and a skilled knife user, but sometimes falters in pitched battle, or when given authority. Looks up to Miruna.
Startled Rabbit - a woman of about thirty, whose blond ringlets and determined blue eyes are her best features. She favors the young and inexperienced type when it comes to romantic partners. She is very tolerant of the cold, and talks a big game, but true to her name is always one of the first to retreat from a dangerous situation. Fights with javelins. A ritual mutilation by Magdala left her with only one eye, and she was horribly scarred soon after.
Two-Bits - a woman of about twenty. The left half of her face is hideously scarred and burned, with exposed gums and a blank, scabrous socket. The right is well... not gorgeous or beautiful, but certainly very attractive, especially for someone in this line of work, with a piercing green eye and flaxen blond hair. Two-Bits died of an infection suffered during the mission to Tanstaad.
Vulgar Oda - a dark-haired and ill groomed man with a laugh like a donkey and hygiene far worse.
Fifth Scale
Bright Eyes - a well-liked member of the Fifth Scale who was recently killed during an Icewalker raid.
Gentle Sparrow- a member of the Rabbit Tribe and the daughter of a great warrior-chieftain. Very strongly disliked by her unit. A recent deserter.
Jondar - an Easterner and a eunuch, called "Mother" by his unit. Known for having a gentle disposition and no small amount of skill.
Stalwart Oak - a quiet, severe man with dark hair, eyes, and a thin mustache. Given to serious contemplation and bouts of guilt.
Walleye - a small and wiry man, with a tangle of unruly brown hair and a milky, staring left eye. Rather neurotic and slow-witted.
