THE ABBEY NPCs

[Guest]

The Abbey- General

A note on personal titles: Within the walls of the Abbey everyone is addressed as “Brother” or “Sister” except for the Stewards and the Abbot who are addressed as “Father”. Outside the Abbey walls, the correct form of address for a priest is Father; for the Abbot it is “Lord Abbot”. Most of the monks are rather laid back about titles and such.

A note on the robes: Members of each order (Hall) wear a specific colored robe. Laymen and servants where a dull brown robe regardless of where they live/work in the Abbey. Unplaced apprentices wear a light green robe.

Note: there is always at least one priest in attendance that is dedicated to the eternal goddess of death, even though the abbey focuses on the fertility, bounty, healing and other positive aspects of the mother.

Appropriate names of the monks are taken from both Dort and Hafne (thus german/dutch/latin names on one hand and english/gaelic sounding names on the other hand)

Please do not create too many monks. This is a small community.

[Guest]

The Hall of Oak (brown robe)
The Abbot (brown robe)
-grey hair and long grey beard

Brother John, “The Boar” (brown robe)
- a few wrinkles around his eyes and a shade of grey in his hair at his left temple. Judging by his appearance the man could have been a blacksmith weren't it for his robes.

Brother Alphan Strassoppel (brown robe)
-old, bald gatekeeper

[Guest]

Hall of Thorns (starched white robe)

Father Michael: Steward of the Hall of Thorns, scepter with a black rose
- business-like, accomplished healer, well-trained in martial arts, leads the chants.

Brother Argyl (dull brown robe)
- forgetful
- not a full priest, more of a lay servant

Brother Felix (white robe)
- expert scholar: magick, history and prophecies

Sonia, priestess of the Eternal Goddess
-An older woman dressed in a long black tunic with black leggings that appeared to be of leather. Her white hair was coiled in a tight bun and adorned with a comb made of thorny branches. A necklace of delicate bones hung about her neck and clanked lightly as she moved about. Despite her obvious age, her skin was smooth and flawless. She worked with precise, controlled movements to pluck the dead plants from the earth and gather them into a large sack. The other workers, two men of middling age, gave her a wide berth and actually averted their eyes when they did venture close to the woman in black.

[Guest]

Hall of Ivy (deep green robe)

Father Keldarick: Steward of the Hall of Ivy, large golden mug
- jolly man, friendly, chubby

Brother Armond


Brother Mar


Brother Bel

[Guest]

Hall of Rowan (red robe)

Father Eldric: Steward of the Hall of Rowan, Rowan staff
- accomplished mage, caretaker of magical artifacts and protections

Brother Balor (red robe)
- round, but strong, quick with a joke; blonde, thinning hair
- expert at meditation, magickal perception and shielding
- formidable wrestler

[Guest]

Hall of Willow (golden brown robe)

Father Kedderick: Steward of the Hall of Willow, small orb woven from tree roots
- youngest steward: middle years
- long blonde-brown hair tied back in a pony tail
- expert at gardening, herblore and magickal healing

Brother Richard (golden brown robe)
- master of potions, paultices, and purgative teas

Brother Esitol (golden brown robe)
- fluffy white hair

Brother Saros Guerin
-ancient looking healer

Percival Brightbanner
-Although he was only as tall as the northern maiden’s knees, he was quite a bit older than her. There was a basket in his left arm, it was full of short leafy stalks tipped with purple flowers. His other hand went to tip the odd leather cap he wore, revealing a full head of bushy straw-colored hair.
-Cousin to the Brightbanner metalsmiths at Citadel and the Brightbanners of Nipponar.”
- Wife: Rosie; children: Daisy, Clover, Briar and little Percy

[Maeve]

Northmarch; Stickor von-zu Norr-vanZinne (stycka ner = stab, vansinne = madness) Allignment: BADGUY

* Lord Northmarch: his region is influenced by the Abbey. Abbey does much good, but a noble being reigned by a 'mere church' would be annoyed - at least. I thought of making him pious and religious, but it seems more natural (and interesting) to make him loathe the Abbey and it's influence.
* He is a man torn between the local lore and stories - which seem like fairytales to him - and his own interests.
* I can see him as some kind of (mad) scientist/merchant. He believes in Gods and stuff as long as it suits him. For the rest he lives by the rule 'what I can't see, smell, touch or kill, just doesn't exist'.
* He is a man irked by the fact that he's 'recognized' but not respected...well, at least never respected enough by his peers. He always strives to show others how wealthy, sly and powerful he is. He's a schemer, a back alley warrior. His personal guard is the most impressive in the whole of Dort, except for the Duke's of course. Let's say he needs to make good on something. In our time he'd drive the biggest, most expensive car available.
* All these urges come with a price; high taxes, brutal reign - but hidden.
* Right about now he's looking for a new wife, as his latest (Malya vanZinne - mala = dye >) died under rather strange circumstances (perhaps a plotline?). Marrying daughters of wealthy merchants and run to ground nobles is for him a way to heighten his station. As his methods are becoming known, it does get harder to keep applying them, though. Still, there should be fathers that see beyond their children and focus only on the gain.

[Maeve]

Name: Jopp von-zu Isl-Pabbsen
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Religion: the Mother
Age: 41 yahren
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 178 lbs.
Occupation: Lord of Islmarch, Dort

Physical Description:
Skintone: weathered, tanned skin
Eyecolor: storm cloud blue
Haircolor: pepper brown, with streaks of grey
General physique: a worker's body, tall, wiry muscles, a tad bent by hard work.

Jopp Pabbsen is a man who knows how to roll up his sleeves and get on with what has to be done. His body testifies to this healthy mindset, as it shows clear signs of wear and tear along the seams. Lean and tall, Islmarch's Lord has wiry muscles that stretch his long frame. He can dress up and resemble a proud ruler, but usually in every day life he dresses much like the rest of his population. Practical, sturdy outfits dominate his wardrobe.

Jopp's dark blue, storm cloud eyes stand out in his leathery, creased face. They can look up at the clouds and predict the weather, or in someone's eyes and foresee one's actions. A rather large, beak nose prods out from beneath those eyes, somehow resembling the beak of the many seagulls soaring around Islmarch's castle tower. A broad, thin lipped mouth sits beneath the nostrils, perfectly at ease. Wide as it is, it is prone to broaden even more, as Lord Pabbsen is prone to smiling. He enjoys family, nature and life in general. Sadly not all the wrinkles on his forehead are caused by good humor; worries plague his mind. After all his county is the poorest part of Dort and it causes sadness and frustrations for the valiant, hard working ruler.

On top of this weathered head is a rag of hair, unruly and fickle. Pepper colored, streaks had to make room for slivers of grey hair. At 41 that isn't too surprising, it even tends to give the labourer a more distinguished appearance.

Personality & Quirks:
Before all else Jopp is a family man. In a part of Tazlure where it is hard to wrestle a living from the bare rock that isn't a major shock. After all in harsh surroundings the greatest good is a healthy family. In Islmarch an extended family is the ultimate sign of wealth. Usually the Lord of the Eastern region seems placid and calm like the salt water pools along his rocky coast. Tranquil and calm he takes any troubles in his stride. But the weather can change in a split second. Usually after a certain period of bottling up emotions and frustrations, Jopp can erupt in a sudden thunderstorm. His eyes darken to an almost black color and the broad mouth stops smiling and starts spitting harsh curses and creative swearwords. This totted up rage most of the time is aimed at people. Pabbsen can be somewhat impatient with men and their petty ambitions. Perhaps the toil of his subjects causes this.

Jopp von-zu Isl-Pabbsen is always trying to improve the yield of his entrusted responsibility. Not for his own benefit - much to some of his offspring's chagrin - but for the advancement of his people. He's so obsessed with this, that he can seen scribbling ideas, designs on pieces of paper, tabletops and such everywhere. When he's brainstorming like that, he tends to talk to himself. The members of his household are long used to it, but to a newcomer it might seem a tad strange.

Background:

Goals:
Improvement of his domain. primarily focused on the lives of his subjects.

[Maeve]

Name: Stickor von-zu Norr-VanZinne
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Religion: himself
Age: 35 yahren
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 191 lbs.
Occupation: Lord of Northmarch, Dort

Physical Description:
Skintone: healthy, caramel skin
Eyecolor: striking, green
Haircolor: honey blonde
General physique: a fencer's frame, quick, long limbed, muscular.

Stickor is a very handsome man. He takes care to come out in public fumed, groomed and dressed to impress. His tall, long limbed frame usually is clad in the finest of clothing and weighted down by the most expensive jewelry. To stay in shape he exercises regularly and that can be seen easily. Fit and muscular, he looks more like a war hero, than the backstabber he truly is. When he strolls along VanZinne takes care to look as elegant as he possibly can. One could call him a dandy, if one's mind was set on it. But a thankful dagger in the dark would be the most polite response.

With his 35 yahren Northmarch's Lord has a rather unnatural youthful expression. Rumors allot this to magic, witchcraft some say even demon'ry. With a face of a stereotypical hero, and the long blond locks to with it, Stickor has women all over Dort drooling over him. Perfect nose, inviting lips and stunning green eyes bewitch any and all females around him.

Personality & Quirks:
It is too bad that the heavenly exterior of the man hides an extremely ugly interior. VanZinne is a schemer, a madman. Recognized as the Lord of his region, he feels he's never honored as such. The Abbey and it's great influence irks him to no end. His county is known for housing the Abbey, not for much of anything else. This loathing for the religious order on his lands and the - by the way well founded - feelings of inferiority, have turned him into a selfish, brutish, power hungry tyrant. He's not too obvious about it of course as the Abbey would probably try to force him to change - or worse to leave - if it found out.

Always looking for ways to better his station Stickor boasts the largest and most richly clad personal guard on the Island - except for the Duke's of course. Huge amounts of money from his coffers are used to extend his already over-embellished estate. That Northmarch has the highest tax rates of Dort is of no importance to it's Lord. That it's citizens are poor and unhappy, to the point that people are leaving every day, doesn't matter. He needs that pad on the chest, that testimony to his wealth and power. His peers will acknowledge him and give him the honours that are long overdue, no matter what.

Another way to raise his worth is by marrying into title, land and money. His third wife passed away - under rather suspicious circumstances - last winter. After a very short sickbed, she slipped away in the night. Malya VanZinne was the daughter of a wealthy Dortese merchant. She was delighted with her handsome 'catch', until of course the madman showed his true colors. Her father, thrilled to gain nobility, gifted the newlyweds with a rather large chunk of his considerable fortune. As this was the third time that a Lady von-zu Norr-VanZinne died rather abruptly, rumors are starting to surface, muddying Stickor's fishing grounds. Although there still are young ladies who faint when they see him and parents who focus on the yields instead of their child's well being.

Background:

Goals:
Improving his station, getting rid of the Abbey; or taking it over.