SPQT -- NPCs

Character:Senator Lucius Sempronious Alabraxus

Description:The Senator is the paterfamilias of one of the oldest and most powerful patrician families in the empire. Following the death of his wife and his son's ascention in the Senate, he retired from active politics and left those duties to his son. Now, he pursues the magical research he never had time for as a younger man. Still, he cannot completely escape his duties to the Empire or his old enemies.

Character:Senator Sergius Valerius Felix

Description:The Senator is one of Senator Alabraxus' oldest foes. They've been facing off, if the oldest family members tell it correctly, since they were boys studying magic at the Imperial Academy. Valerius was envious of Alabraxus' talent and sought to outstrip him by studying arts best left alone. This set the tone for their relationship. Even now, it seems, Senator Valerius is always searching for an edge that will give him the means to outshine Alabraxus, be it political, financial or magical.
The party has come into contact with him as they've run across schemes they believe to be his. First it was the kidnapping of Ludo, secret heir to the throne of Gwynned. Then it was a plot to drive the Senator away from lucrative magical artifacts on his own land. After that, there were a number of plots to gain influence in the financial arena and the underworld. Finally, the party uncovered a plot to sell slaves inflicted with lycanthropy to be used as undetectable smugglers. Unfortunatly, they've been unable to connect him directly to any of these things.

Character:Alissa

Description:Alissa is the Grand Druidess of the Grove of Gaia on Skopelos. The party made their aquaintance with her when exploring points of magical power on the island and coming to her grove in search of one. She proved to be a most gracious hostess, as did her extended family, and a most helpful ally.

Character:Brax

Description:Brax is an orc who was captured by the imperial army while raiding in the empire. He was enslaved sent to the gladiatorial arenas where he excelled, especially with the staff-like double sword. He was converted to the worship of Orus and eventually freed. In the process, he found a patron in Senator Alabraxus who set him up with his own tavern. He met the party when they were sent to follow up on some suspicious rabble rousers Brax thought were trying to spark a riot in the arena district where his tavern is located. He became an ally of the party and has proven useful on several occasions.

Character:Gaius

Description:Gaius is a young half-elven boy who first met the party as a street urchin selling rumors. He proved to be a bright boy and a valuable contact, though Sophia constantly fretted over the state of his soul and his physical well-being given the life of crime he led and his stated ambition to become a thug for Milo the gangster when he grew up. Eventually, Sister Sophia decided to rescue him from his life of poverty as the situation in the city deteriorated and they planned to take an extended absence. After an arrest by the vigiles in a sweep of the streets to try and quell a brewing riot, Sophia convinced a judge to release him into her custody. Thus, with little choice in the matter, Gaius entered her service as a page. He spends most of his time working at his usual tasks or attending various lessons the sister has arranged for him. He also accompanies her on many missions as a torch bearer. So far, he seems content with his new life, though its been anything but ordinary so far.

Character:Greta

Description:Greta is a young woman of Teutonic stock who moved south looking for a better life. She found herself in Gwynned living as a pampered mistress to Royalty. It was a fine life until the king and his heir died in battle and the kingdom fell into civil war. She fled for her life, but was captured by agents of an imperial senator who believed her son to be heir to the throne. This is when the party came to her rescue. Now she serves as a ladies maid and general handler of all things domestic for the lady Sophia. She is also engaged to Alfredus.

Character:Ludo

Description:Ludo is the seven year old son of Greta and the bastard son of the late king of Gwynned. He is the subject of a search by several factions who would love to have an heir at their disposal. As far as Ludo is concerned, he is a normal boy who doesn't know about all of that. He spends most of his time playing with the son of Sister Sophia's cook, being jealous of all the cool stuff Gaius gets to do, and idolizing his stepfather-to-be Alfredus.

Character:Milo

Description:Milo is a gangster in Brigantium. He held a firm control on the docks by a combination of ruthless suppression of competition, generosity toward the lower classes and not being worth the trouble for the upper classes to stop. He made sure things went smoothly and efficiently on the docks so most merchants felt his demands a small price to pay. He regularly did such things as supporting a dockman and his family while he got back on his feet after an accident or found him or his widow suitable work if he wouldn't work again. He supported old widows and his thugs kept crime down almost more efficiently than the vigiles given that they were not hampered by laws and courts. Thus, he was very popular with the lower classes. It was not unusual for people to give any vigile investigating him the cold shoulder or for young boys to aspire to be one of his thugs.
Milos future is uncertain at this point. He fell afoul of a powerful senator after trying to shut down his attacks on the party -- only Milo is allowed to order hits in Brigantium. At the same time, he was finding himself in competition with at least one rival organization that concerned itself with breaking his control on the city and which may have been supported by rival powers. Last he was heard from, he was arrested by the vigiles in a massive roundup aimed at preventing a riot in the city.

Character:Ambassador Takashi Moonflower

Description:Takashi Moonflower is an elven diplomat and warrior from the far east who was rescued from hobgoblin captivity by the party. By some strange coincidence, he has the same surname as Robyn, a fact both find intriguing. He has provided valuable intelligence about the Changese and their possible hostile intentions towards Tarantium. In another political coup for his family, Senator Alabraxus brought him to the Imperial court for introductions.

Character:The Sunshine Boys

Description:The Sunshine Boys is a collective nickname for the four bodyguards the senator hired to help protect the weaker members of the party. They have, thus far, proven to be trustworthy.