Level 1
#1 Axius
Axius emerged from a mysterious portal years ago, though none can say exactly when or where. Unlike other dimensional travelers who seek to interact or influence, Axius chose a different path - that of the eternal observer, watching the tapestry of Alastria's history unfold from the shadows.
Her otherworldly presence is occasionally glimpsed on distant hilltops or in the shadows of ancient ruins, a tall, cloaked figure taking meticulous notes in books that seem to materialize from thin air. Those who've caught rare glimpses of her face speak of eyes that hold infinite knowledge and an expression of perpetual fascination.
Why she observes and what she does with her gathered knowledge remains unknown. Some believe she reports to powers beyond their dimension, others think she's documenting everything for some future purpose. She never interferes directly in events, maintaining a strict code of non-intervention that's earned her both respect and suspicion.
The few who've heard her speak describe a voice that seems to echo from multiple places at once, as if speaking across dimensions. Her only known words to locals: "I am here to watch, not to change. The story must unfold as it will.
#2 Bob
Among Alastria's many taverns, there's no patron quite like Bob - the ghost who wears a simple white sheet with eyeholes and brings cheer wherever he floats. Unlike most spirits who haunt specific locations, Bob prefers to travel from tavern to tavern, spreading laughter and good spirits (both kinds) across the realm.
His signature entrance involves floating through the wall, sheet billowing dramatically, before cheerfully ordering an ale he can't drink. Bartenders play along, serving him empty mugs which he pretends to enjoy with exaggerated satisfaction. His attempts to appear "inconspicuous" in his sheet disguise have become a beloved running joke throughout Alastria's drinking establishments.
Despite being obviously deceased, Bob maintains a surprisingly active social life. He remembers everyone's names, listens to travelers' tales, and occasionally performs silly ghost tricks to entertain children (and tipsy adults). His presence is so welcome that many taverns keep a special stool "reserved for our spectral friend."
Even the roughest establishments soften when Bob floats in, his sheet swaying as he shares centuries-old jokes that somehow still get laughs. As he likes to say, "Death's no reason to stop living!"
#3 Baldur Graff
Baldur Graf isn't a warrior, a hunter, or even particularly brave - he's just the most unfortunately lucky person in Alastria when it comes to accidentally killing orcs. His total of twenty-three orc deaths has earned him an unwarranted reputation as an orc-slayer, much to his constant distress.
Each death was a complete accident: an accidentally dropped flower pot from his window, a poorly timed sneeze that caused a chain reaction ending in a chandelier fall, or that one time he tripped and somehow managed to knock an entire orc hunting party off a cliff while trying to catch his balance.
Now, orcs view him as some kind of tactical genius masquerading as a bumbling fool, while he spends his days trying desperately to avoid any situation involving orcs. He's even taken to carrying signs that read "NOT THE ORC KILLER" in multiple languages, though this has only added to his legend.
His unfortunate "talent" has made him simultaneously the most feared and least threatening person in any room. As he often protests to anyone who'll listen, "I swear, I'm not doing it on purpose! I just have really, really bad luck!"
#4 Baron Glaznik
In Alastria's high society, Baron Glaznik is as famous for his lavish parties as he is infamous for his death-defying hobby. While other nobles collect art or host hunts, the Baron spends his weekends fighting in brutal arena matches, wearing armor that could generously be described as "minimalist."
Armed with nothing but a spear and what appears to be decorative rather than functional armor, he throws himself into the bloodiest tournaments with the same enthusiasm others might show for a garden party. His battle cry of "Death or Glory, preferably both!" has become legendary in fighting circles.
Between matches, he can be found hosting the most sophisticated soirées, discussing art and philosophy while sporting fresh scars and bandages as if they were the latest fashion accessories. His servants have grown accustomed to scheduling social events around his tournament appearances and keeping healing potions stocked alongside the vintage wines.
The betting circles can never quite decide if he's suicidal or simply addicted to the thrill. As he often says while sipping champagne through a swollen jaw, "Anyone can die in bed at eighty - but how many can say they died spectacularly in front of a cheering crowd?
#5 Tasha
In a small village on the outskirts of Alastria, Tasha's life changed forever when she sneezed and accidentally turned her neighbor's chickens bright purple. As a simple barmaid with flame-red hair and a quick smile, she never expected to discover she was a sorceress - especially not at the age of twenty-three.
Now she struggles to control her newly awakened powers, which have an unfortunate tendency to manifest at the most inconvenient moments. Her emotions trigger unpredictable magical effects: happiness makes flowers sprout from unlikely places, anger causes small objects to orbit her head, and embarrassment results in spontaneous color changes to nearby objects.
Despite the challenges, Tasha approaches her newfound abilities with determination and humor, keeping a journal of her magical "accidents" as she learns to harness her powers. The local villagers have grown accustomed to her magical mishaps, though they now keep a respectful distance when she looks like she might sneeze.
She's particularly frustrated that she can't seem to control which spells she casts - as she often says, "I was trying to light a candle, but instead I made it rain butterflies... again.
#6 Beatrix The Messenger
In Alastria's criminal underworld, Beatrix operates as a peculiar blend of messenger and mercenary, running with a notorious gang that includes the infamous Cassidy. She's made her reputation handling what she calls "small errands" - delivering both messages and death with equal efficiency.
Unlike assassins who charge premium rates for high-profile targets, Beatrix works the lower end of the market. She'll end a life for pocket change, seeing murder as just another delivery service. Her victims are usually fellow lowlifes - debt-dodgers, small-time criminals, or anyone else whose death won't attract too much attention.
She's known for her casual approach to killing, treating it with the same nonchalance as delivering a letter. Her preferred method is quick and simple: a knife in the dark, a poisoned drink, or what she calls "unfortunate accidents." She keeps her prices low and her standards lower, earning her the disdain of more "professional" killers.
The criminal underground views her as useful but disposable - someone to hire for dirty work that's not worth the attention of more expensive assassins. As she often says, "Death's cheap these days. I'm just making it affordable.
#7 Belinda
Behind the bar of The Whistling Wyvern, Belinda serves drinks with a smile and collects secrets like others collect coins. Her unassuming presence and sympathetic ear have made her the unwitting confessor to half of Alastria's population, from common folk to nobility.
She possesses that rare gift all great barmaids have - the ability to seem completely forgettable while remembering everything. Her mind is a vault of whispered confessions, drunken admissions, and desperate confidences. She knows which nobles are broke, which merchants are crooked, and which heroes aren't as heroic as they seem.
Yet what makes Belinda truly remarkable is her discretion. In a world where secrets are currency, she never trades in them. The information she holds could topple kingdoms or make her wealthy, but she maintains her role as silent keeper of countless confidences.
Regular patrons know that anything told to Belinda stays with Belinda, though they can't quite remember when or why they trusted her with their deepest secrets. As she often says while polishing glasses, "Everyone needs someone to talk to, and sometimes a stranger behind a bar is the safest person in the world.
#8 Bella Note
Once heralded as Alastria's most promising young blade, Bella Note now haunts middle-tier tournaments and tavern duels, a living reminder that not all prodigies fulfill their destiny. Her technique remains flawless, her form perfect, yet something crucial is missing - that spark that transforms skill into greatness.
At twenty-five, she's already passed what many consider her prime. The same critics who once proclaimed her the future of swordsmanship now speak in whispers about wasted potential. Her movements, while technically perfect, lack the innovation and daring that marks true masters of the blade.
She knows it too. Each victory in small-time competitions feels hollow, each perfect parry a reminder of the championships she'll never win. Yet she continues to fight, haunted by glimpses of the greatness that seems forever just beyond her reach.
In taverns, younger fighters still seek her out for lessons, drawn by the legend of what she could have been. She teaches them with a bitter smile, hoping they'll achieve what she couldn't. As she often says while demonstrating yet another perfect but passionless sequence, "Technical excellence isn't everything - sometimes the sword needs a soul."
#9 Schrute
In the snowy regions of Alastria lives a peculiar yeti known as Schrute, whose fearsome reputation extends exclusively to the fish population. Standing eight feet tall with frost-white fur and massive feet, he cuts an imposing figure - until you notice him delicately picking berries or waving cheerfully to passing villagers.
Local fishermen often spot him by rivers, his enormous form hunched over the water as he attempts to catch fish with his massive hands. The fish flee in terror, though Schrute's gentle nature means he rarely catches any. He's become such a common sight that villagers leave fish out for him, taking pity on his unsuccessful fishing attempts.
Children particularly adore him, often using his broad footprints as sledding ramps in winter. He's known to carefully clear paths to villages during heavy snowstorms and has been spotted building snowmen with local kids, though his tend to be comically large.
Despite his classification as an "abominable" snowman, the only abominable thing about Schrute is his fishing technique. As villagers often say, "The only things that fear Schrute are the fish, and they're not very good judges of character.
#10 Cassidy
In Alastria's criminal underworld, Cassidy's name carries weight that belies their modest appearance. As the strategic mind behind a notorious gang of mercenaries and cutthroats, they've built a network of killers-for-hire that operates in the shadows of society's lowest rungs.
Unlike flashier crime lords, Cassidy prefers efficiency over theatrics, running their operation like a business. They recruit desperate souls like Beatrix The Messenger, giving them structure and purpose while maintaining strict control through a combination of loyalty and fear. Their gang specializes in "affordable" killings - nothing high-profile enough to attract serious attention, but numerous enough to be profitable.
What makes Cassidy particularly dangerous is their methodical approach to crime. Every murder is logged, every payment tracked, and every loose end eventually tied up. They treat death as a commodity, pricing it according to risk and difficulty rather than moral weight.
Those who've met Cassidy describe someone unnervingly ordinary, with a bookkeeper's attention to detail and a merchant's head for profit. As they often tell new recruits, "We're not in the business of making history - we're in the business of making bodies disappear."
#11 Loxille Ranx
In Alastria's high society, Loxille Ranx reigns supreme with a sharp tongue and sharper political instincts. Her two prized dogs - purebred Alastrian hounds - are better treated than most nobles, dining from silver bowls while she orchestrates social destructions over tea.
Known for hosting the most exclusive soirées in the realm, Loxille wields invitations like weapons, knowing that being excluded from her gatherings can end political careers or destroy social standings. Her perfectly manicured hands hold more real power than many military commanders, as she can ruin reputations with a single well-placed whisper.
Her dogs, Malice and Spite (named with characteristic humor), accompany her everywhere, wearing jeweled collars worth more than most families earn in a year. The pets serve as extensions of their mistress's influence - being acknowledged by them is considered an honor, being growled at a sure sign of impending social doom.
Despite her reputation for cruelty in social circles, Loxille maintains her position through a careful balance of fear and necessity. As she often says while stroking her perfectly groomed hounds, "Darling, it's not personal - it's just power.
#12 Aiyana
Deep in the forbidden laboratories of Blackcrag, something changed Aiyana forever. Her once-normal skin now shimmers with an otherworldly blue hue - a constant reminder of experiments she either can't or won't discuss. The color shifts slightly with her moods, darkening to midnight during moments of stress or brightening to azure when calm.
Nobody knows exactly what happened in those dark chambers. Some say she volunteered for the experiments, others claim she was an unwilling subject. Aiyana herself offers no explanations, deflecting questions with a knowing smile that suggests the blue skin might be the least of her transformations.
Strange occurrences follow in her wake - water freezes unexpectedly in her presence, shadows seem to bend away from her touch, and some claim to hear whispers in unknown languages when she sleeps. Yet the full extent of her changes remains a mystery, possibly even to herself.
The scholars of Blackcrag maintain detailed records of all their experiments, but the pages describing Aiyana's transformation are conspicuously missing. As she often says when caught studying her reflection, "The color was just the beginning of what they made me.
#13 Centivile
After a hundred battles and thousand scars, Centivile feels death approaching like an old friend. The veteran centurion has survived longer than most warriors dare dream, but he knows his final battle draws near - he can feel it in his bones and the weight of his sword.
His armor, worn smooth by decades of service, bears the marks of countless conflicts. Young soldiers still seek his counsel, drawn by tales of his exploits and the quiet wisdom in his weathered face. He trains them with patience, knowing each lesson might be his last gift to the next generation of warriors.
Unlike many old soldiers who fear their ending, Centivile faces his approaching fate with the same steady resolve that carried him through countless campaigns. He maintains his weapons with ritualistic care, ensures his affairs are in order, and continues his daily training routines, albeit slower than in his prime.
When asked why he doesn't simply retire, he responds with a warrior's wisdom: "A soldier chooses not when to sheathe his sword for the last time. The battlefield calls when it calls, and we answer with honor."
#14 Vanth
In the dank basement of The Crooked Barrel tavern dwells Vanth, a peculiar figure who's become something between a resident pest and unofficial mascot. Living rent-free thanks to knowing too many of the owner's secrets, Vanth has turned the cellar into a bizarre personal kingdom among the wine barrels and beer kegs.
Patrons describe Vanth as "aggressively eccentric" - someone who emerges from the basement at odd hours to share unwanted conspiracy theories or trade questionable information for drinks. The basement walls are covered in strange drawings and notes that only make sense to their author, connecting seemingly random events into elaborate patterns.
Despite being a self-proclaimed parasite on society, Vanth provides an oddly valuable service - being the keeper of everyone's embarrassing stories and dirty laundry. Need to know who was seen sneaking out of whose window? Vanth knows. Want to hear about the secret tunnel under the marketplace? Vanth's got theories.
As the basement dweller often declares while emerging for another free drink, "I'm not a leech, I'm a collector of social debris. Everyone needs someone to be worse than them - I provide that service for free!
#15 Marita Koss
Once the bright hope of Alastria's political scene, Martia Koss entered politics with dreams of reform and justice. Her campaign speeches rang with promises of change, her eyes bright with determination to fight corruption. That was five years ago. Now she's become everything she once swore to destroy.
The transformation was subtle - a small favor here, a overlooked transgression there. Each compromise came with perfect justification: "This is how things get done," or "Sometimes you need to bend to achieve greater good." But the bending never stopped, and the greater good never came.
Now she sits in chambers she once promised to reform, accepting bribes with the same hands that once pounded podiums demanding transparency. Her eloquent speeches now defend the very practices she once condemned, and her former supporters can barely recognize the idealist they once championed.
In rare moments of clarity, usually late at night with a glass of expensive wine, she stares at her reflection and remembers the fiery reformer she used to be. As she often mutters to herself, "You either die a hero or live long enough to become part of the problem.
