There have been several NPC’s introduced throughout our adventure thus far, but the more prominent of those are the members of the High Council.
The Council has always been a valuable asset to Grydain. It’s members have helped serve the city and its Jarl. However, with the passing of Jarl Wilhelm, the Council has now stepped in to lead the city until a new Jarl is chosen.
The Seven Members of the High Council hold prestigious titles within the city, each handling various areas of city/government business on their own. But, when it comes to business that effects the city as a whole, the members come together and decide the matters to a vote. Any matter voted on must have at least a 5 to 2 vote to succeed.
Here are the Members who make up the High Council:
General Landrorg Haldenhack- Dwarven Fighter
General of the Grydain Military. Landrorg has been a resident of Grydain for over 100 Years. Hailing from the Kingdom of Hammerstalk in the Mount of Glacia, Landrorg was an accomplished soldier when he first met Zelladawn Darkwood and through their companionship he came to Grydain. While they weren’t their for long, Landrorg took quite a liking to the refugee city. However, Landrorg and Zelladawn’s alliance came to a sudden end, and Landrorg was left feeling out of place in his homeland. It wasn’t only the loss of Zelladawn’s friendship; Landrorg was no stranger to loss. Landrorg lost his wife and child in an attempt to defend their city from an invading orc raid. He traveled to Grydain, where they were in desperate need of a military strategist, and he was happy to lend aid. Over the years, Landrorg has served almost every conceivable position one could in Grydain’s military, which made him the perfect candidate for General. Landrorg was forced to be pulled from the front-line of combat to help take care of matters for the city once the orcs began targeting the city more frequently, and after the Jarl’s passing, it looked as if that would have to continue. He, along with High Priest Grimm, often work directly with “The Party” and occasionally accompany them on “missions” for the city.
High Priest Tretaunamor “Grimm” Grimmwind- Dragonborn Cleric
Grimm is the High Priest of the Temple of Bahamut for the city of Grydain. Bahamut is the city’s primary deity, and the temple helps to serve the city in any way it can, primarily by healing soldiers both on and off the battlefield and tending to the less fortunate of the city. Grimm grew up within a monastery learning the ways of the clergy, but for a time was consumed with vengeance, which he at the time believed to be justice, and was determined to find the murderers of his family. However, after finding them and having the chance to deal out that “justice”, he was left with nothing but emptiness, and instead turned them over to the local authorities. He then spent a time soul-searching, and grew closer to Bahamut. He later found himself in Grydain began serving at the temple and growing in popularity with the locals. Before the former High Priest passed, he made Grimm the new High Priest. Grimm’s primary role on the council is both to lead the temple and deal with the people of the cit. He too misses adventure and longs for battle, but not too much.
Madame Mireal- High Elf Wizard
Mireal is the widow of Jarl Wilhelm, the mother of Greol and Anthrandia, and the Headmistress of Grydain’s School of Magic. Mirea was a High Elven princess of the Kingdom of Hylmanthian, in the elven city of Farmigara. Her family had arranged for her to marry a member of the royal family of Joelby, but after discovering just how far their racism truly extended, they broke off the marriage, thus leaving Mireal unwed, and free to choose a life of her own. Shortly afterward, she met Wilhelm and admired his passion for the freedom of all races. Her admiration soon become love, and the two wed before he took over the mantle of Jarl. A very accomplished wizard in Farmigara, she helped found the Tower of Magic where the school resides, and became the headmistress. Since her husband’s passing, she tries desperately to avoid the public and to attend solely to her children, but when the High Council meets, she attends and does her duties.
Ango Boyland- Half Elf Tavern Owner
Ango Boyland is one of the very first residents of the City of Grydain and owns the most successful establishments in the city and is relatively loved by all. That being said, no one seems to know much else about Ango. He puts on an eccentric and flamboyant persona and always spins lavish yarns. When he isn’t away on “business”, he’s often seeing buying rounds for everyone in his business, the Griffin’s Wings Tavern & Inn. Ango serves as the head of the Artisan’s Guild of Grydain and represents the the business owners of the city. The strangest thing about Ango, by far, is that rumor has it that he was only 20 years old when Grydain was founded, and yet, in every portrait of him since then, and even now, he looks like he hasn’t aged a bit.....
Iobbard- Ibixian Necromancer
Iobard is an ibixian who hails from Mt. Cainon, the mountain bordering Grydain. He was apart of a tribe in the mountains and was taught the ways of magic to become his tribes next shaman. Ibixians are neutral by nature, but also extremely territorial. When Iobard became of age, he was given the first task of his trial of becoming a shaman by accompanying a scouting party to clear out a cave on the mountain. The cave supposedly belonged to a blood beast. The night before departing, a strange hooded figure came to Iobard and gave him a book that contained what his tribe called death magic. Iobard was adament that he would never use death magic, but the stranger left the book anyways, and the next morning Iobard felt compelled to bring the book. The party searched for the cave, and when they found it Iobard was instructed to stay at the entrance and was to under no circumstances come in and to instead run back to the tribe. As soon as Iobard was alone, the book began calling to him and he felt a strange wave of longing pour over him. He then heard screams from the cave. Iobard opened the book and began walking into the cave. What happened next was so horrific that Ioabard rarely ever talks about it, but it caused him to be forsaken and abandoned by his tribe. Left alone in that very cave with only death and time, Iobard studied and eventually mastered this new dark magic. Centuries of solitude led Iobard eventually leave the mountain and he roam the lands of Nyldaria. He eventually came to Grydain where he met Jarl Wilhelm and Madame Mireal. Mireal immediately recalled hearing of “The Death Goat of the Mountain” and wanted nothing to do with his dark magics, but Wilhelm believed that if Grydain was to truly be a city of refuge and second chances, then that should be extended to all, even to the likes of Ioabard. Wilhelm put Iobard over the archives, records, and history of Grydain and the neighboring areas in Nyldaria. He eventually felt close enough to Iobard to bring him onto the High Council, and Iobard obliged. He prefers to still keep his solitude, and his methods and practices are extremely unethical, but for the time being, “The Death Goat of the Mountain” is considered a friend to Grydain.
Orly- Tabaxian Bard
Iobard is currently the oldest living resident of Grydain. Orly is a close second. Orly serves as the treasurer and head of the bank of Grydain and keeps all of the financial records of the city. Orly grew up in the city of Belraback for the first three centuries of his life and was actually known throughout the lands of Nyldaria as a “party animal”. Legends were told of this “cool cats” antics that would make most blush. Orly was known throughout the lands and was constantly invited by royalty to be there guests of honor at balls to hear the “tail” of the Outrageous Orly. As the years passed by, however, customs continued to change as they do in all societies, and Orly began to feel irrelevant. Orly would tell the same stories over and over again, and eventually everyone had heard them. By the time he realized it, it was too late; poor Orly just couldn’t keep up with the times. No one wanted spend any time with Orly anymore, and eventually he left Belraback and society all together. Orly felt unwanted and unloved. One day Orly received a letter from Jarl Wilhelm inviting him to a dinner. At first Orly didn’t believe it, but he attended anyways, and for the first time in over a century, Orly got to tell his stories and felt heard and appreciated. The Jarl invited him to reside in the city and make it his home, and Orly agreed. He felt that Jarl Wilhelm genuinely cared for him and made him feel relevant again. When it came time for Wilhelm to appoint a new treasurer Orly happily accepted.
Geeman- Gnome Sorcerer
No one can quite remember when Geeman arrived in Grydain, and even less knows exactly what he does, of how he ended up on the High Council. The best way to describe Geeman is a traveling, fast talking drug dealer. Geeman could sell a sweater to a lava bear and could charm the horns off of an angry Minotaur. His base of operations is located on the main street of Grydain and has a large sign with flashing lights, and despite it being so obvious and out in the open, not a single person in the city, or on the council for that matter, could tell you what goes on inside. He really doesn’t serve a purpose on the High Council, and half of the time he doesn’t attend the meetings. The times Geeman does grace his fellow council members with his presence, he usually tries to convince the council to approve of his business expanding and other strange requests, which almost always gets passed. The only person that could ever see through Geeman was the Jarl, but Wilhelm would only confront Geeman if he felt what he was doing was threatening the city. When Geeman isn’t attempting to scheme the High Council, he’s usually in his “store”, or going overseas on “business”. However you feel about Geeman, everyone has to admit: the guy can sell.
