About Grelfexriplik Delvegribble
Lord Grelfexriplik Delvegribble is a merchant (and smuggler) who was granted minor Taldan nobility six years ago. He gained sponsorship officially in thanks for his important role in supplying the shipyards of Cassomir with a steady stream of lumber from Wispil (including more old growth hardwoods than the druids had technically approved)...and unofficially gained additional support through smuggling antiquities and other valuables to and for various nobles (helping them avoid attention and/or tariffs).
Lord Delvegribble is a brilliant strategist and excellent judge of character. He built the most successful lumber export business in Wispil, in part by working around the Druidic council’s timber quotas. In doing so he gained the favor of Senator Karthis, who’s military ambitions against Qadira depend on rapid strengthening of the Imperial Navy. In doing so he also earned enmity from The Decorated Laliren, Oparra’s High Priest of Shelyn...who is a customer of the other main lumber house in Wispil and suspects (correctly) that the reason the new temple he’s building received less-than-the-promised timber is because of Delvegribble’s shenanigans in support of the Navy.
He has variously lived in Wispil, Cassomir, and Oppara and has connections in each city, though since ascending to nobility he spends the vast majority of his time here in the capitol. Since ascending he’s also cooled his smuggling considerably, trying to keep mostly a legitimate (and still lucrative) lumber business thriving. He wants to minimize exposure now that he’s become obsessed with the Grand Game. Now when he takes on smuggling contracts they are more to build alliances with key lords and ladies...though he still takes a job or two purely for the joy and amusement of them.
Personality & motivations “Grel” (as those whose tongues are less gifted than gnomes’ sometimes say) lives for a worthy challenge. For many years, that was building a thriving lumber business, finding ways to circumvent the druidic council’s logging limits, and the adventurous joys of smuggling. While he hasn’t moved on 100% from any of those, he’s grasped onto a new and even more challenging pursuit: scaling the ranks of royalty.
Many of those who use the term “the Great Game” still take it all too seriously. Grel thirsts to win the game, but doesn’t fool himself to think it matters as anything more than a game. Deep down he shares the common gnomish amusement that humans get worked up about nationality and religion...but he’s thrown his hat fully into the Taldor’s ring and he will work to protect it, because otherwise he’s bound to lose. In particular, he knows that active preparation for war with Qadira (if perhaps not actual war) is very good for his position and he’s happy to align himself with the hawkish crowd, led by Senator Karthis.
When he’s relaxing, he can share the typical gnomish oddities and true randomness...but he’s Playing The Game more and more now, and while he does so each move is strategically calculated as best he’s able. Given that, many of his eccentricities are more carefully chosen than they might appear.
Most closely worships Niv Rhombodazzle but enjoyed the novelty of various religious practices. Different holy symbol/practice by day of week, or weather, out what not.
Role Grel is a consummate skill monkey in general and logician in particular. As an Empiricist & a Student of Philosophy, he is able to use his INT for diplomacy (both influence and gathering information), bluff, UMD, Perception, and Sense Motive. Those social skills--the ability to read and to influence people--have formed one foundation of his success as a smuggler (and honest businessman). The other foundation of his success at smuggling are his facility with stealth, slight of hand, and lock picking. He brews extracts on the side and uses them to help accomplish his tasks.
Servitor His sister (Tab Delvegribble), who is the primary person running both sides of his business, now that Grel has become a Lord and is more focused on intrigue.
Cohort His childhood friend (Icjukdukki Hollowheebub) has been beside him throughout his adventures. While he lacks Grel’s initiative and creative scheming he is thoroughly dedicated to his friend. Mechanically, will be more martial than Grel, possibly a PoW Mystic.
NPCs (sour relations)
- Yan Falleafbreezzel (gnome, female) the local representative of the Druidic council, who is pretty certain Grelfexriplik is gaming the council’s quotas, but hasn’t found hard evidence...yet
- The Decorated Laliren, Oparra’s High Priestess of Shelyn (elven, male) who is a customer of the other main lumber house in Wispil and suspects (correctly) that the reason the new temple she’s building received less-than-the-promised timber is because of Delvegribble’s shenanigans in support of the Navy.
- Constable Dara Moranus (human, female) who has heard from multiple sources that Grelfexriplik has smuggled in Qadiran silks and ancient bronzeworks (bypassing tarrifs and trade restrictions) but has failed so far to prove anything
NPCs (good relations)
- Senator Karthis (human, male) from Taldor Echoes of Glory “The leader of the opposition party in Oppara, Karthis hails from Zimar Prefecture and is the Senate’s largest supporter of heating up the cold war with Qadira.“ The Senator has heard various rumors about Lord Delvegribble--ranging from minor smuggling to outright river piracy. Frankly, he doesn’t care if they’re true or not so long as Delvegribble keeps up his critical support of the Royal Navy. (note, if Karthis is too important an NPC to know then please substitute a Lord who’s a retired Navel captain.)
- Captain Bella Butterhill (halfling, female) is the captain of another smuggling operation. She is also an on-and-off romance with Grel. They have a friendly competition going between them but both are on the lookout to protect the other, and Butterhill is tickled that her “Grelly” is a Taldan Lord now.
- Lord Runfufflegublip Greendunder (gnome, male). The Greendunders are one of the few gnomish families to have been Lords of Taldor for generations. Lord Greendunder isn’t terribly ambitious but has wealth and many friends. He’s deathly afraid of Bleaching and appreciates having a new lord about who enjoys his pranks and gags, and can tell him adventurous stories that Lord Greendunder can live vicariously through.
- Bonus: I like the idea of occasionally discretely procuring things for a relative of one of the PCs. Someone who’s encouraging Grel to continue smuggling more than he’d rather do for now…(Perhaps Lady Gabrielle d'Apcher's mother? To be settled on with the group, if selected.)
Estate will be split between Wispil (older) and Oppara (newer) and will include his lumber and smuggling operations.
Appearance Wears a mismatched set of finery, including a Garundi sash over a Taldan naval suit, topped off with the headdress of a priest of Aroden.
