FE Quest: Silver Scales of the Past - Part 21 Summary

Chapter 21 Link: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/47139600/

Chapter 21 Summary (Dyrus - Eyes on the Desert)

 -The first leg of the thread was dedicated to the wacky social interactions and support-building of Dyrus and his allies, albeit after the start establishes that Chief Paisley, leader of the Vautou, carries Iote's Shield, a perfect counter for Denim's Excalibur tome, and that Felix and Laurise are clueless as to how he might counter it. To summarize the social interaction stuff that Dyrus did en route to the Vautou temple: console Nia when she expressed her sadness and confusion over her and Winona being ordered dead if ever found alive, learning through Laurise that Winona has carried a torch for him for years, singing out-of-place sea shanties with Via and annoying Doran.
 -Once Denim led Lady Hauteclere and the rest of the gang to Chief Paisley's doorstep and explained the situation to his fellow vautou, they agreed to house the resistance army for the night in their massive temple, Paisley gaining a respect for Denim when he challenged him to a duel for leadership. It seems as though, while Denim winning would certainly be more convenient for our heroic bunch, Paisley will cautiously consider cooperation with the human resistance. Dyrus and the tactical twosome of his sister and Felix again discussed the situation the night before the duel, coming to the conclusion that getting away with stealing Iote's Shield was impossible, and they would just need to have faith in Denim to succeed.
 -Denim was the first on the scene of the duel at the break of dawn, with only Hauteclere's family+Belle and Via getting up in time to watch the fight on the resistance side, and several unnamed Vautou doing so for their own group. Denim was able to initially turn the fight in his favor with a cleverly-hidden magical mine, but since there's "no rule against fighting dirty," as Paisley defended his opponent's actions mere moments before, a cleverly-concealed and expertly tossed knife turned the tide, disarming Denim and allowing Paisley to kill him. Paisley admitted to still not trusting humanity, but said that he would give them a chance for the sake of defeating their common foe: for the moment, that would be Director Cato.

BRIEF UPDATE ON EACH OF OUR HEROES' STORYLINES/CURRENT STATUS

Samson: Finally stepping up to the leadership role in his mother's absence, Samson and his ragtag bunch of prisoners and Holmstead resistance members must prepare to face both the Empire and the Dory trade company.

Dyrus: In order to cement Chief Paisley's alliance, the resistance has still been forced to take a detour to do what they were hoping to avoid: confront the mages of the desert region.

Rene: Sent into the heart of Garou Valley to challenge the nomads, her and her companions are warned of wolves in slightly less evil wolves' clothing...

WITH SAMSON
 Samson: Mage Fighter (+Refreshing), level 1(+20), +Luck/-Def. A singer, poet, and all-around rich boy who spent his life being educated in the arts to mild-moderate success. While at first he was a quite happy-go-lucky, almost lazy man concerned only with living comfortably on, he has come to reveal very philosophical and competitive sides since he was coerced into fighting for Holmstead. Much more awkward than his regal demeanor implies. Has a beloved cat by the name of Tiltyu who makes a habit out of bothering people for food or affection. Harbors mutual feelings for Millicent.
 Millicent/Millie: Dancer (+thief skills), level 15, +Spd/-HP. A dancer in the sense that she does so as her foremost hobby, Millicent was born among a less privileged crowd than her other artsy friends. Between dancing and associating with unsavory seafarers when boatwatching, she's amassed quite a set of odd talents, several of which she's a bit embarrassed to admit to, preferring to project the image of the pretty young rising star of the stage. While she can be vexed easily and hates being kept waiting, she has a good heart and is, by default, quite sweet. Romantically involved with Samson.
 Norman: Archer, level 17, +Skl/-Mag. The tall, bulky younger brother of Millicent and an aspiring hunter. Literal-minded and kind of dense, his skills with a bow are still among Holmstead's finest. Began to develop a bit of a laconic wit as he came to realize just how his quietness and oddity can get under people's skin.
 Lazare: Wind Mage, level 13, +Mag/-Skl. An absentminded scholar, philosopher, anthropologist and aristocrat of Holmstead who wishes to facilitate the end of poverty. In his absentmindedness, however, he harbors some unintentional condescension towards lower classes. Ultimately, he means well, however. The husband of Marion and father of Samson. Regrets having spent the last several decades of his marriage arguing with his late wife, partially blaming their inability to communicate for driving her to drink.
 Fabrice: Dark Mage, level 17, +Mag/-HP. An immaculate practitioner of the dark arts, a self-described "magician, beautician, and tactician." Disliking untidiness, he is nearly always attending to his appearance with a personal mirror or re-binding his books. Despite his cleanliness habits and willingness to fight for his home, actually quite laid-back and fond of teasing others with his... Observations, especially other men.
 Dinah: Sword Armor, level 19, +HP/-Res. A recent recruit to the forces of Noba, that's hardly to say Dinah is inexperienced with fighting. Prior to its becoming part of Noba, she was a member of the town of Alder's local guard, protecting it from bandits and rival city-states, before quitting for personal reasons. A realist by nature, she occasionally must forcefully mediate between Fabrice and Adam's very different demeanors.
 Adam: Pirate, level 16, +Skl/-Spd. A smuggler who formerly worked under Alfred. His company killed and leader captured at Holmstead, he was left with no choice but to retreat to save his own skin. Realizing the futility of a pirate's life, he wishes to make up for his perceived cowardice by driving the Gerxel back out of Holmstead and settling down there. Has a greedy streak, which is what got him into the business in the first place, but also a sense of righteousness.
 Edwyg: Gold Knight, level 1(+20), +Str/-Luck. Growing up in the islands' now-abolished arenas, Edwyg is living proof that not all took to liberation from a life of forced combat with flying colors. Scarred severely and disfiguringly by childhood in the pits, she wound up falling into much less legal careers in violence come late adolescence. Being connected to the demise of a high-ranking Empire agent's wife, which she never saw reason to challenge, led her to spend years of her life in Fort Dalshin. Nowadays, she's about as rough-and-tumble as one would expect someone in that situation to be, but all too happy to help Samson stick it to the region that she feels "saved" her and then screwed her over.
 Dough: Warrior, level 5(+20). A baker who took to thuggery alongside his deceased twin brother, Knut, when competition proved problematic to their business interests. They were busted on tax evasion and sent to Fort Dalshin, where the "deceased" part began to play its part in things for poor Knut in a prison riot orchestrated by Samson. While he blames his brother's demise on Samson's abandonment, he'll loyally cooperate with him for the sake of ruining the Empire. Likely cannon fodder.

WITH DYRUS
 Dyrus: Lord (axes), level 16, +Spd/-HP. The son of noblewoman and revolutionary Hauteclere. Quick-thinking and quick-reacting, one would be hard-pressed to get the drop on him, but he can sometimes make bold or brash statements. Despite this, however, he is said to be typically courteous towards common folk, and is an enthusiastic hard worker. Twin brother to Laurise, older by seconds. Wields the Royal Axe, a gift from King Augustus, which is especially powerful against armored or mounted opponents. Took the story about his father's demise VERY personally after accepting it as fact.
 Darren: Warrior, level 3(+20), +base/-grow. Paternal grandfather of Dyrus and Laurise, Sir Darren has many facets. He's a stern combat instructor, a doting grandfather, and a reflective old man. As a retired Gerxel army guy and long-lived rich man, he has fostered many connections to pockets of dissent in the Gerxel Empire for his daughter-in-law to appeal to. When his son, also named Dyrus, was presumed devoured in Garou Valley, he grew to find the Empire's expansion pointlessly imperialistic.
 Via: Maid, level 12, +Mag/-Str. A caretaker in the employ of Darren, around his grandchildren's age if not a year or two older. Dutiful and kindhearted, but immensely dislikes rudeness. Hides several knives and staves on her person. Though she can express discomfort or discontent perfectly fine, at her most fearful she puts on a quiet smile, indistinguishable from her normal content one.
 Belle: Pegasus Knight, level 12, +Spd/-Def. A guard in the employ of Sir Darren who accompanied him to Noba. A somber young woman who prefers to be prepared for any situation and take pragmatic choices, such as fleeing from a powerful enemy at the cost of a civilian's life if it means her allies are safe. As a child, she ran away from her home and Central military family.
 Winona: Wyvern Rider, level 15, +HP/-Res. The middle sister of three Gerxel wyvern riders and a childhood friend of Dyrus and Laurice's, Winona is a headstrong, charge-first-ask-later type who will unhesitatingly fight for the sake of her siblings. When Nia was captured, she didn't hesitate to abandon her post to rush to her aid... And was promptly captured, though not before being convinced to lend her strength to her previous enemies by Dyrus. Insecurity about standing out compared to her decorated, responsible older brother and "prodigious" younger sister partially fuels her thoughts of heroism. Commands four more wyvern riders who aren't important enough to ever receive names, merely bolster the resistance's numbers on paper and in battles.
 Nia: Wyvern Rider, level 12, +Str/-Def. The youngest sister of three Gerxel wyvern riders and a childhood friend of Dyrus and Laurice's, Nia was deemed a prodigy in wyvern-riding, hence why she was able to secure a position as a scout under Director Belinda at such a young age. However, her inexperience led to her prompt capture, a situation which she remained stuck in until the actions of her sister Winona led to them both joining Hauteclere's rebellion. Though her inexperience and youth often inconvenience her (and led to a VERY easy interrogation), she does her best to be optimistic for her loved ones.
 Biff: Cavalier, level 16, +Spd/-Luck. Quick-tongued, red-clad, and boisterous, Biff is one half of a duo of traveling horsemen who came to be associated with King Augustus. Specializing in swords, Biff evokes very strong first impressions.
 Byron: Cavalier, level 16, +Str/-Res. Thoughtful, green-garbed, and collected, Byron and his best friend are wanderers who chose to lend their ability to King Augustus. A master of lances and spears, Byron is considered exceptionally dependable.
 Doran: Archer, level 13, +Skl/-Res. The foul-mouthed, nasally-voiced former navigator of the Muirgel, initially captured by the Marlo Pirates under Captain Sasha along with the surviving members of its non-pirate crew, he joined up with the resistance after agreeing to direct Sir Dyrus' group towards Marlo's island hideout. The son of an armorer in Port Orla who he doesn't appear to be all too terribly fond of.
 Fortune: Mercenary, level 18, +Luck/-Skl. The leader of the Lords of Chance mercenaries, a cocky and self-assured woman who has seen through many battles and personal trifles with only her immense luck. Brash and with an immense fondness for guts, gold, and glory, she never doubts that her immense luck will let her pull through. Her company's services, which are based in the Coastal city of Darton, are coveted by the Resistance. Having once went by the name Mallory, she changed it when, as a young girl, a Marion in her prime saved her nephew's life from former archipelago traffickers, then spending the next few weeks training her before granting her a Devil Sword, which has never once backfired on her. Sure, she boasts her own personal strength far higher than it actually is, but few foes who she faced were strong enough to call her out anyway.
 Felix: Light Mage, level 7, +Luck/-Str. The timid, tactically-minded nephew of Fortune (only five/six-years-younger, and the only family they mutually have), who was once kidnapped by traffickers as a child, then saved by Marion. These days, he is effectively the tactician, advisor, and finance manager of the Lords of Chance. Only ever really speaks to or through his aunt, which also creates the impression that she's much smarter than she is.
 Hauteclere: Wyvern Monarch (Axes+Staves), level 10(+20), +Res/-Spd. A woman of noble upbringing, mother to Dyrus and Laurise, a woman with quite a lot on her plate for her early 30s. The wielder of the Staff of Katri, a regalia gifted to her by the Ice Authority she spent the first quarter of the story speaking to offscreen, as well as the trainer of the currently-a-hatchling Khozen, a Silver Wyvern who will grow into an immortal companion to her descendants.
 Laurise: Tactician class, level 19, +Mag/-Skl. Younger twin daughter of Lady Hauteclere, she can at times be slightly petty, but much more easily puts on a well-behaved face by distinguished guests than her brother, and is better at assessing situations from afar. Due to this, she fancies herself a tactician in the making, perhaps not unfairly, but she still has quite a ways more to go than she realizes.

WITH RENE
 Rene: Silver Knight, level 6(+20), +Skl/-Res. Abandoned by her birth family at infancy, inheriting nothing from them but her name and her blue hair, Rene grew up in a Gerxel Orphanage, which was often underfunded despite the best efforts of those who ran the place. In time, however, she was adopted by Waldrick, a Director of the Gerxel Empire, and grew up to be a very promising young official-to-be. While an inherently kindhearted person, she espouses the Gerxel belief that a warrior needs to set aside their morals for the greater good of the Empire. In a romantic relationship with Cicero. Carries an Iron Rune, a birthday gift from Omar.
 Veiz: Grim Shot (bows+dark magic), level 2(+20), +Mag/-Spd. The biological daughter of Director Waldrick, she feels as though she just sort of inherently deserves greatness. That's not to say that she would even consider not working hard at it, but she does have a hell of a competitive and jealous streak to her. She does, at the end of the day, have a caring heart for her friends and family, though some would be hard-pressed to get her to admit it. Her romantic tastes lean heavily towards roguish, edgy sorts. She has a natural predisposition towards magic, which she began studying in the Tower of Longevity.
 Cicero: Butler (+Locktouch), level 17, +Spd/-Def. Childhood orphanage-buddy to Rene, he was sponsored to undergo a very wide variety of types of training after saving the life of Waldrick and several other Coastal Gerxel officials by uncovering a mass assassination attempt. He now loyally serves as his old friend's bodyguard, to the extent that she even needs one, and more recently, lover. He has a talent for snooping out secrets and sniffing out criminals.
 Omar: Curate, level 12, +Res/-HP. A healer with the Empire who studied in the famously magically-inclined desert regions. A kind, mild-mannered young man who just wants to save lives. A surprising combination of playful and studious in his off time. Taking severe offense to the killing of civilians, he convinced Marduk to aid him in driving countless Vautou out of Hawk Oasis nonfatally, putting him on Rene's bad side.
 Alfred: Myrmidon, level 18, +Spd/-Res. A nimble swordsman with a reserved and impatient demeanor, open in speaking his mind when he does speak. Notable for always carrying around a parasol and wearing a set of dark glasses due to a distaste for sunlight (between that and the platinum-blond hair, he's very likely albino). Was a smuggler for King Augustus who fought in Holmstead after pulling off a Wyrmite heist. Captured by Veiz, he came to reconsider his life and serve directly under her. Feeling he can trust Veiz with his life, he is significantly happier now, but no less edgy in his demeanor.
 Marduk: Wyvern Lord, level 3(+20), +Def/Res. The eldest brother out of himself, Winona, and Nia, he took to raising his sisters when their parents passed away. His exceptional work ethic led to him quickly becoming an impressive enough warrior to earn Director Belinda's attention, especially since she has quite the weakness to those willing to suck up to her. Now a sad, self-critical man, he blames the younger riders' disappearances squarely on himself and, when led to assume the worst about their fates, seeks a hopeless battle to throw himself into. Despite this apathy towards his life, or perhaps because of it, he is more willing to defy Gerxel values to do the "right" thing. Has a very sensitive palate, being unable to handle spicy foods very well.
 Saye: Wolfseggner, level 3 (+20), +Str/-Def. A young woman and retainer of Director Chiffon. Oddly laid-back for her position, she gets motion-sick (teleportation-sick, really, given how much she leaps around) very easily and appears to be in some sort of relationship with a wyvern rider named Baker. Despite her airheadedness, she answers to Chiffon for a REASON, that reason that she is a ferocious prodigy of blood-spilling. She does, however, overexert herself in showing off and terrifying her foes, to the point where she doesn't even care she's wounded until she's passing out. However, she's only getting stronger with each fight.

FACTION: INDEPENDENT CITY-STATE OF HOLMSTEAD
 (A port city-state famous for its fishermen and magical academy, under the boundaries of which also fall bountiful forests full of very delicious game. While the land has maintained its neutrality and independence even in the face of expansion from two neighboring forces, only time will tell how long this will last. Currently under the thumb of the Coastal region.)
 Lord Gaspen: Civilian Class. The most recent in a long line of familial leaders of the bountiful city-state. Has no intent of simply giving up his land to just anyone. Status unknown ever since the Battle of Holmstead.
 Jack: Soldier, level 10, +Spd/-Mag. A Holmstead soldier who was wounded in the eponymous battle, then fell in with Noba's border guard in the hopes of helping fend off the Gerxel from extending into the last territory they have yet to claim. Easily irritated and a self-professed nonintellectual, but not incapable of friendliness. Engaged to Riley.
 Riley: Myrmidon, level 10, +Res/-Skl. A Holmstead soldier who was wounded in the eponymous battle, then fell in with Noba's border guard so she could avenge her humiliating loss and retreat. A fan of the finer things in life, such as song, dance, and remotely edible food, she has not been taking the border job's awful kitchens well. Engaged to Jack.
 Aligned Deceased: Raleigh, Marion
 Aligned Party Members: Samson, Millicent, Norman, Lazare

FACTION: GERXEL EMPIRE
 (A ruthlessly-powerful empire run by, well, an Emperor, directly beneath which is a set of regional "Directors," who have control over a full region of the ever-expanding empire. Infamous for their shows of brute strength in combat, their oftentimes-draconian justice system, and their pleasantly thorough social services and infrastructure. Very, VERY large leaps in the progress of their conquests were made through the power of an exceptionally bloodthirsty monster of magical origin, whom the current emperor has had sealed away in an attempt to take steps towards reform. Their capital city lies in the mountains, just North of Garou Valley.)
 Emperor Ximeno Gerxel: Silver Knight, level 16(+20). The Emperor. An avid hunter who misses his days as a prince, when he could properly lead a battle from the front, but recognizes the importance of the head of state not ending up beheaded in some random skirmish after his elder brother, Xerxes, died in a similarly random manner when both were young men. Seeing quite a bit of himself in Rene, he personally instructed her in his way of mounted combat.
 Xouide: ????, level ??. An ancient and powerful monster whose power was able to be harnessed only by birthright of the firstborns of the Gerxel Empire, a lineage believed to have been destroyed with Xerxes' lack of known heirs (odd considering his hobby of acting as a debauchery-loving drifter, but at the very least he has no KNOWN offspring). While Ximeno can SORT OF command Xouide, he cannot do so consistently, and so he's sealed it away.
 Methodius: Necromancer, level 2(+20). Retainer and court necromancer to Emperor Ximeno. A charming old man with little mind for tactics and a soft spot for students of magic, but also with a reputation in the capital for often disappearing for long periods of time for ominous magical experiments. A mentor to Cato, but not one she respects very much these days, he has since taken to training Veiz. A grandfather.
 Deadlords: A group of up to 12 warlords who can be summoned by Necromancers who have read the proper spellbooks, these warriors are raised from the deceased by Methodius. Currently known to be in action are Bovis (identity unconfirmed), Anguilla (Marion), and Ovis (Raleigh), though more very likely already exist.
 Aligned Deceased: Dyrus, Sr.

SUB-FACTION: COASTAL GERXEL
 (Led by Director Hera, and formerly the late Director Waldrick, this encompasses the Southern coastline of Teege, as well as the archipelago to its South. Naturally, this place is a vital hub for trade and naval-related actions among the Gerxel Empire, as well as its comparatively large amount of Berserkers)
 Hera: Berserker, level 9(+20), +Str/-Res. Native to the Southern Archipelago, Hera grew up forced to fight and kill for amusement in combat arenas that Director Waldrick immediately abolished upon the islands' introduction to the Gerxel Empire. Regardless, he figured, it was a poor decision to let their best fighter go to waste, so he offered Hera a genuinely paying position as his personal right-hand/bodyguard, which she initially accepted purely due to the gold and being out of her old livelihood. In time, however, she grew to view herself as part of Waldrick's own family. Always up for a good scrap, either fond of showing off her impressive arm muscles or just REALLY not fond of sleeves (perhaps both), and tending to lug an axe around, she's a fearsome enemy to have. Currently supervising Holmstead during its annexation into Coastal Gerxel, she is officially Director of her home region with her old friend's untimely death at the hands of the resistance.
 Aligned Deceased: Sabas, Waldrick, Helen
 Aligned Party Members: Rene, Veiz, Omar (having doubts)

FACTION: DORY TRADE COMPANY
 (Quite transparently a business of smuggling and piracy (to the point where its founder even outright admits to it!), the Dory Trade Company's founder, Oswald Dory, has built up a small fleet of "traders" to do his bidding, starting up a dynasty of sorts. They're hoping to take advantage of the decline of the Gerxel Empire to seize power in the again-destabilizing archipelago.)
 Oswald Dory: Civilian class. A short, balding, bespectacled "trader" who was quite comfortably contained in Fort Dalshin, nonetheless able to get things smuggled in to his whims, though he claims Director Hera's appearance prevented him from using his connections to aid in the prison riot that set him free. After his offer to take all this nasty "revolution" business off of the Holmstead crew's hands was refused, he set off on his own to conquer it all with his fleet anyway, graciously neither slaughtering nor marooning anyone who wouldn't ally with him.

SUB-FACTION: CENTRAL GERXEL
 (Led by Director Belinda, this encompasses, as the name implies, the central section of the continent, from the borders of Tordo and Noba to the massive desert just East of it, and the coastline to the South.
 Belinda: Wyvern Lord, level 10(+20), +Str/-Skl. The fearsome, ill-tempered Director of Central Gerxel, she controls its population-and more strategically, its wyvern population-with an iron fist. Unsympathetic towards failure and easily-angered, she is nonetheless respected by some for rewarding successful operatives quite generously and her extremely strict criminal policies, even by the standards of the empire. Not above lying or fearmongering to push her own agendas or those of her Empire, to the point where she might outright be hiding knowledge of Winona and Nia's continued living for the sake of being able to reliably boss Marduk around, and is confirmed for having outright ordered that they be assumed traitors if they ever resurface. Very passionate about the bonds between a wyvern and their rider. Styles her hair in a purple bob.
 Aligned Deceased: Baker
 Aligned Party Members: Marduk (a job's a job)

SUB-FACTION: DESERT REGION
 (This is easily the oddball of the various Gerxel-controlled regions. Controlling a vast network of oases across the desert, the land is entirely recognized as Gerxel Territory, but entire swaths of it lie under the control of winged desert dwellers referred to as Vultures. Territories are near-constantly trading hands as Vautou raids Gerxel, or Gerxel raids Vautou territory, with neither group willing to cooperate with the other, the Vautou too accustomed to the deserts to be completely conquered. Conquest isn't exactly in Director Cato's cards either, with the mages under Cato's command being primarily interested in... well, magical studies. The short version of this situation's effect on things is that many prefer to just avoid the hassle of desert travel outright by circumventing the region, unless one specifically requires magical supply.)
 Cato: Sorceress, level 10(+20), +Mag/-Str. Easily the most distant Director of the Gerxel, Cato strongly prefers her books to her obligations as an agent of the empire. Thus, she is easily the least aggressive of the Gerxel's Directors, concerned only with the territories she already controls and attempting to devise a means to better protect them from Vautou, or reclaim territories that they "stole" (AN: The Gerxel most likely stole them first, though there were a few human civilizations in the desert before the Gerxel). However, orders are still orders, so if told she must aggress certain somebodies, hey, what can you do? The creator and owner of an artifact that allows its user and others to warp long distances, the Witch Pendant. Hates the taste of Belhara fruits. Totally down with perpetuating birdman genocide.

FACTION: VAUTOU TRIBES
 (A type of winged humanoid species native to the deserts of Teege, their relations with humans and Wolfskin alike have been marked by aggression. Though once upon a time calling themselves simply Vultures, borrowing the term for the Wolfskin society's favored species, the Garou, gave them the official term of Vautou. Their motives are quite clear in nature: recapture all of the territory in the desert in the name of themselves, and knock down any who would stand against their efforts. To go into their history of war with humanity would be a  complex, repetitive tale predating the progenitors of the Gerxel Empire, though their aggression was certainly exacerbated when the neighbors started stepping on toes much harder.)
 Paisley: Vautou Chief, level 24, +Str/-Mag. Public enemy number one for desert-dwelling Gerxel, the modern-day hero to the Vautou who also call the place home. Having instilled a policy of aggression towards any human or Wolfskin not accompanied by a Vulture, he holds hopes of recapturing the entire region in the name of the birds and hopefully driving out quite literally all humans. Carries Iote's Shield, protecting him from anti-air dangers' supereffectiveness. Touched by Denim's willingness to risk death at his hand, he has decided to give the humans of the anti-Gerxel resistance a chance with his alliance.
 Aligned Deceased: Angora, Corduroy, Denim (redeemed in death)

SUB-FACTION: WOLFSKIN SOCIETY
 (A massive valley, due South of the capital of the Gerxel Empire, is known as Garou Valley due to the dominant species there, a type of wolf-shapeshifter known as a Garou, who also exercise authority over valleys just East and South of it, though less strongly due to the mountain ranges between them. Willingly acting as enforcers of the Gerxel Empire, Wolfskin Society, as the Garou culture is called, is infamous for its systemic mistreatment of the humans equally-native to the land, the Tarvosian Nomads, though rumors about the sheer EXTENT of their abuse of humans are oft exaggerated. Regardless, there is a disturbing sub-sub-faction of unknown size among them that revels in the outright consumption of human flesh, which even the Wolfskin Director is attempting to flush out as immediately as possible.)
 Chiffon: Wolfssegner, level 7(+20), +Str/-Res. The Director of the Wolfskin regions of the Gerxel Empire, and thus the leader-by-default of the feared wolfskin enforcers. Preferring to lead this "pack" personally, he is far more competent as a fighter than a leader, even further contributing to his people's brutish reputations. Does not approve of those among his kind who would partake in human flesh, and would in fact like to find whoever is responsible.
 Cashmere: Wolfssegner, level 8(+20), +Skl/-Mag. The somewhat inattentive, voluptuous, voracious personal secretary to Director Chiffon, who often ends up falling asleep at inopportune moments. Due to her airheaded demeanor, her continued holding of such an important position brings about much gossip about her personal ties to the Director, though he would insist that she makes up for all he lacks as a leader, having a knack for organization. Turns out her quirks were at the very least worsened by a spell she volunteered to have Methodius use on her, fusing her with a beaststone to amplify her strength, allow her to transform without aid... And be exhausted very easily.
 Aligned Party Members: Saye

FACTION: TARVOSIAN NOMADS
 (Living in Garou valley, these humans practice the art of horse-mounted archery. Despite this very important skill, however, the infamously powerful Wolfskin that control the entire region instill a policy of subjugation over the humans in their realm, while their policies still treat outsiders fine on paper. Sometimes Tarvosians are stolen away or devoured, even though the consumption of human flesh is prohibited by Director Chiffon. Their culture has evolved into one of constantly traveling the valley, split into smaller groups that still communicate regularly. The resistance expects them to be a very vital ally once they reach the Wolfskin region, given even the slightest edge to rally against their oppressors.)
 Tien: Nomad Trooper, level 11(+20), +Spd/-Mag. The overall chief of the Tarvosians, openly contemptuous of the Garou as a whole. He has thwarted nearly a dozen assassination attempts in his time, as well as boasting the highest amount of slain Wolfseggner of any man alive to tell the tale. While the Empire generally keeps its eyes closed to the undeclared civil war within the Wolfskin region due to it, overall, being a controversial battle that the Wolfskin totally have handled, he is starting to concern even dear old Ximeno, hence why Rene's group was sent to locate him.
 Nahuel: Nomad, level 16(+20), +Spd/-Skl. The sole survivor of a party of Tarvosian warriors. A slightly scatterbrained but otherwise dedicated soul with a habit of repeating words three times for emphasis, emphasis, emphasis. Jaded to any possibility of the Empire actually remedying any of his people's grievances with the Wolfskin.
 Aligned Deceased: Tense

FACTION: HAUTECLERE'S REBELLION
 (While the Gerxel Empire isn't a complete cardboard cutout of the word "EVIL," their history of human rights violations, harsh treatment of those who fail to submit, and countless loopholes in Gerxel law that, by design, give each Regional Director the ability to basically do whatever they damn well please-and there've been some real bastards in some parts of the empire-are just the start of an abridged list of things that have created dissent in the empire. A noblewoman of said empire, a woman by the name of Hauteclere, has thus taken to rallying and unifying these dissenters, as well as seeking outside help from the Kingdom of Noba and Ice Authority, to cut this empire down to size.)
 Taniel: General, level 10(+20) +Str/-Mag. A resistance General who Hauteclere has left in charge of overseeing the Central forces as she and the rest headed East.
 Aligned Party Members: Dyrus, Darren, Winona, Fortune, Hauteclere, Laurise.

FACTION: KINGDOM OF NOBA
 (The Southwesternmost chunk of Teege was, for many years, the only place not united under any one banner. There was a large number of independent city-states, certainly, but the Gerxel had yet to envelop it. Then, one day a few years ago, a man by the name of Augustus Noba appeared seemingly out of nowhere, earning the title "the Matchmaker" for his talent in uniting these places under powerful political marriages, rapidly climbing the ranks to become an exceptionally charismatic king of the second-largest civiliazation in Teege. Still, though, he has plenty of reason to fear the Gerxel Empire's reaction to this sudden unification and expansion, especially when it's hard enough keeping his own country's shit together.)
 Jovan: Paladin, level 5(+20), +Spd/-Luck. About as experienced as a knight of Noba can get, having served the country since its birth a few years ago when his home territory was among the first to be united into Noba, and the man who led the "elite force" of knights that used Wyrmite to repel Director Belinda. Current de facto military leader of Noba at large, he has no desire to lead on a permanent basis. His youthful, freckled appearance and valor have earned him a lot of affection.
 Aligned Deceased: Augustus
 Aligned Party Members: Biff, Byron, Dinah, Fabrice, Adam

STATUS UNKNOWN
 Hal: Thunder Mage, level 20, +Def/-Spd. A student of Holmstead's magical academy who entered some sort of now-defunct exchange program with the Tower of Longevity, completely missing any and all news of the ongoing war as a result. A bit of an easily-confused oaf with no sense of direction, who nonetheless has the foresight to wear heavy armor underneath his robes, on top of legitimate skill in thunder magic. A wildcard in terms of the ongoing war, albeit not a very important one.

DECEASED CHARACTERS
 -Prince Xerxes Gerxel. (died pre-quest) The rightful inheritor to the Gerxel Empire's throne, and thus the one who could control its mightiest asset: Xouide, a terrible monster. He was fond of disguising himself as a common drifter and seeing the sights of his nation, doing debaucherous things in anonymity and learning what the people know. However, this practice came to bite him back hard when a random guy murdered him in a pointless barfight.
 -Dyrus, Sr. (died pre-quest) Father of Dyrus and Laurise, husband to Hauteclere, son to Sir Darren. He was an internal affairs investigator for the Gerxel Empire, looking into the pretty-well-founded rumors of unidentified Wolfskin-region officials outright perpetuating the consumption of human flesh. He soon vanished, and the bones of a person of his general build and stature were anonymously dropped off at the Tarvosian Nomads' metaphorical front door. The assumed conclusion seems obvious. He was a well-liked individual among the Gerxel higher-ups, even being friendly with Director Waldrick.
 -Tyarm Bandits (eradicated thread 4) A gang of axe-swingers who saw fit to wreak havoc on a forest near Alder in Noba, striking down any people of Holmstead who passed through and claiming their valuables. The families of Samson and Millicent were unlucky enough to be such targets, but also lucky enough to have run afoul of them right as King Augustus was passing through. The few who weren't picked off on the way to get his attention thus met a swift and well-deserved end.
 -Augustus: Great Knight, level 1(+20), +Skl/-Res (killed thread 5). The Matchmaker-king of modern legend. Unable to seize control of Holmstead with charisma and guile alone, he very strongly considered conquering it outright, a decision which both meeting with Raleigh and learning of the Empire's own invasion plans for the city-state caused him to modify into a more benevolent, aid-granting one. A very tired man who micromanages his young kingdom, he nonetheless encourages his rule to be questioned, making time for commoners lesser nobles might deem "unworthy" of their time to discourse with. Harboring an adversarial respect for Director Waldrick, he also has some personal reason to like the guy, calling him "perhaps one of two people I respect more than anyone else in that damned Empire combined." He opted to lead the forces of Noba to Holmstead to face off against the old director. Turns out that he is, in fact, August, Rene's "big brother" from when she was in the orphanage. This wasn't enough to save him when they met in the battle of Holmstead, however, being fatally struck by her and Veiz before being finished off by Hera.
 -Sabas: Cavalier, level 12 (killed thread 5). A subordinate of Lady Hera and proud cavalier of the Empire. Killed when he and his squad proved to be hideously unprepared to chase down and capture Dyrus' group.
 -Raleigh: Bard (tomes), level 10, +Def/-Luck (killed after thread 8). A playwright and humanitarian in his own time, Raleigh is something of a local celebrity, the kind of guy who'll call anyone his friend, but probably isn't too close to any of them. Has had the privilege of meeting with King Augustus up North in Noba, and even taken enough of an interest in him to write a play about his life, but his heart beats and bleeds for his homeland, Holmstead. Has very high expectations for others and their growth, and though it comes from a good-natured place, it makes him hard to get truly close to. After nearly killing Rene right at the start of the invasion with his Elfire tome, he was captured by Waldrick, whose intent was openly stated to be making him suffer, and then handed over to Methodius to be killed and turned into the Deadlord Ovis.
 -Sasha: Berserker, level 1 (killed thread 9). The singing second-in-command and self-styled "leader" of the Marlo Pirates, who forces her crew to participate in musical numbers as they pirate about. Being in charge of keeping the coast in check for the group, her and her crew led the town of Port Orla to dire economic straits in their coercion and "protection." Killed by Biff and Byron when she and the last of her crew made one last mad dash to the town when stopped at its pier.
 -Angora: Vautou Archer, level 18 (killed thread 10). A Vautou raider who was in charge of the attempted capture of Fort Amid and former friend of Denim's. When he was the last survivor of his group, he personally confronted the winged mage and immediately found himself struck down.
 -Marlo (Impostor): Pirate, level 10 (killed thread 11). A giant of a man, boisterous, pirate-talking, and a self-admitted huge fan of Captain Sasha's music. Wielding a hammer menacingly, Dyrus and Via had to outwit him in order for the latter to cut his throat and shove him to the briny depths. It turned out that he was not the true captain Marlo, the real one being an elderly sage who posed as a prisoner.
 -Gerard: Soldier, level 9, +Str/-Spd (killed thread 11). A guard in the employ of Sir Darren who accompanied him to Noba. An excitable young man with a lot of excitement about new experiences. During the battle against the Marlo Pirates, he and Dyrus encountered the real Captain Marlo incognito. Fooled by his elderly and defenseless front, Gerard took to escorting him to the ship they had earlier seized... And was struck fatally by his thunder magic before this mistake was realized.
 -Marlo ("Rimes"): Sage, level 1(+20) (killed thread 11). The elusive captain of the Marlo Pirates. Posing as a feeble old man and a prisoner, Captain Marlo incited a prison escape shortly before the heroes arrived, every single one who went along with him dying in the process, until he alone "escaped" Fort DePlume by the side of Dyrus and Gerard. Dyrus went on inside, leaving him to kill Gerard with his powerful thunder magic and attempt to sail away, but Biff and Byron stopped him from escaping long enough for the rest of our heroes to arrive, Belle finishing him off after a long battle.
 -Corduroy: Vautou Lancer, level 20 (killed thread 13). The leader of a group of Vautou raiders who captured the fort-city of Hawk Oasis in the wake of an unrelated pirate attack, slaughtering all but a few escapees before quickly overseeing Vautou moving into the town as a more straightforward settlement. Hypocritically, he was absolutely disgusted with the human retaliation being similarly kill-em-all, soldierness be damned, though he consciously allowed humans to escape the city instead of them needing to flee from under his nose. Killed by Denim when his group confronted him.
 -Waldrick: Lance General, level 9(+20), +Def/-Spd (killed thread 14). A philanthropist holding the second-highest rank in the Gerxel Empire: Director, specifically in control of Coastal Gerxel, the name of the sections of the Empire along the Southern Coast+the archipelago below. A proud, doting father of two who nonetheless pushes his children to do great things. To his enemies and subordinates (besides Hera), he deliberately projects the image of a stern, terrifying, no-nonsense general. Friends and family, however, see him as a big softie, albeit one who is not easily pushed around. Nursing a magic-wound from Raleigh. He called the forces of the Coastal region to Darton in the hopes of putting the resistance down there, only to be killed early in the siege himself when Dyrus and his allies took advantage of his injury.
 -Baker: Wyvern Rider, level 18, +Skl/-Lck (killed thread 17). A man with neatly-combed brown hair and friend of Marduk's, filling in for him as Belinda's second-in-command while his duties must be taken elsewhere. In a romantic relationship with Saye and overall a rather normal, personable guy, if sometimes a little boring. However, his normalcy proved to be his undoing as he failed to have a particularly empathetic reaction to Marduk's sisters' aliveness, leading to his refusing to back down from a losing battle in order to follow his director's orders.
 -Marion: Mage Fighter, level 4(+20), +Mag/-Str (killed thread 18). A woman born and raised in Holmstead. Just over a decade ago, she was a mercenary of unrivaled skill and some repute, often traveling the continent, but severe injuries to tendons in her dominant arm when traveling with a young man named August, limiting her ability to properly wield a sword, prompted her retirement, and shortly after a combination of depression at being stuck in her home and painkilling turned her towards alcohol, and she fell out of practice. An encounter with bandits has restored the fire in her heart as she opted to train her son, Samson, in proper spell-slinging, as well as lead a small group in the attempt to reclaim Holmstead from the Empire. When their group wound up on the island prison Fort Dalshin, she was called down to its second sublevel, where she was fatally wounded by the Deadlord Bovis, demanding Samson put her down when she realized that escape and recovery were not possibilities in this setting, though she was still turned into Anguilla.
 -Helen: Hero, level 4(+20), +Def/-Res (killed thread 18). The overseer of Fort Dalshin and a fellow former arena rat like Hera and Edwyg. She has a cheery, awkward disposition which hides a sadistic streak, shown as she gleefully allows Methodius free rein over her more powerful prisoners' lives in his magic experiments. Her sadistic allowance of something so comparable to what she lived through disgusted Veiz so thoroughly on a visit that she swore to deliver a report to Director Hera about this, which led to an even stupider attempt at "silencing" her and near-immediate death.
 -Tense: Nomad Trooper, level 1(+20) (killed thread 19). The leader of a particular group of Tarvosian Nomads whose warriors attempted to attack the village of Ahua. Loathes nonhumans with a passion due to the wolfskin's mistreatment of his people. Was ripped to shreds by Cashmere almost immediately upon the battle's start.
 -Denim: Dark Flier (self-propelled!), level 4(+20) (killed thread 21), +Mag/-Res. The second-in-command to Director Cato, a Vautou who considers himself more enlightened than the society which birthed him. Ostracized for his insistence that the birdmen ought to make peace with humanity instead of continue this war with them, he found himself rising through the ranks of Cato's court after spending a few years touring the continent to learn of life beyond his home. Though he's a reasonably contentious figure in his homeland, he maintains a stoic and responsible persona. Ultimately, one massacre too many led him to abandon his position to join the rebellion in their attempts to get his people's alliance, so he might foster a less toxic relationship with humanity. However, the only way he could get Chief Paisley to listen to reason was a duel to the death for his position of authority.