Malzuket Cobblebarn—a simple name by gnomish standards, but the humans loved to shorten it to “Mal”, “Malz”, and even, by one particularly annoying creature, “Zuke”. When he was a young man, his temper flared at the outrage.
Can’t they pronounce one simple name? How hard is it? MAL – ZU – KET!
Truth be told, a lot of things raised his ire back then when he still had passion in his life. He had traveled the world, chasing women, escaping danger, and reliving his moments again and again in the taverns of Golarion.
But over time, Malzuket’s fast-paced lifestyle lost its luster. His human companions grew old and settled down to die, and he found himself enjoying himself less and less. Eventually he followed suit, setting up shop in the small town of Kassen. Though he originally found himself studying alchemy for the excitement and unpredictability, in Kassen he was relegated to mostly hangover cures and the occasional tindertwig to ease the burden of building a fire for wealthier townsfolk.
After awhile, Malzuket became more and more tired. He felt himself dry out, as a desiccated tree in a drought. He recognized the signs of the Bleaching, but the worst effect it had on him was the apathy—he saw what was happening to him, but he didn’t care. The gnome resigned himself to his fate and the slow, monotony of his day-to-day life.
That is, until the mayor started talking about sending townspeople into the crypt, to light the flame for the town. Something long dormant stirred within Malzuket, and he resolved himself to light the everflame and, in so doing, rekindle the fire he once had for life, or die trying in the crypt.
