Dah Danita Darius Dignus Discipulus Dolorus Durus
Sobellian slave, skilled in languages, whom the band purchased at the Viridian fairs.
Dah was born in the blessed isles of Sobel Ka, the only civilized land in the world, favored of the Four True Gods (who can be seen and heard by all, unlike the phantasms of the Pentad). Like half of Sobel Ka's population, he was a slave. But in Sobel Ka (the Pearl of the World, Unblemished Vessel of Divine Favor) even slaves enjoy rights and privileges. His mistress recognized his wit and intelligence and had him trained in a variety of languages. He served his House for forty years as a translator.
Alas, dark times fell on him as old age neared. When his last mistress took up her mother's mantle, she discovered that the House's debts had grown desperately. Worse was to come, for three of her ships were soon lost to pirates. As the creditors circled, the Illustrious Lady was forced to liquidate many of the House's belongings.
Including Dah. He was sold to Viridian slavers, for a handsome price. Dah never tires of telling people, however, that his mistress wept when she sold him. Sobellians loathe Viridian slavers, for it's well known that they sell their unwanted slaves to the necromancers of Insula Mollita. But this horrible fate would never befall Dah, his Glorious Mistress assured him. He was far too skilled, far too useful. Someone would buy him. Someone would care for him.
And she was right (praise her lofty and nigh-divine wisdom). He was purchased by Count Severus Surrexus. Light of the World, Puissant Lord of Foreign Lands whose great humility compels him to demand no more than the most abbreviated of honors. (Dah still cannot content himself with calling this Pillar of Righteousness simply 'your Grace'; it just feels wrong.) Once more Dah has a home, and a House to serve. And everything is right with the world.
At least until he has to ride a horse...
Description: Dah is a portly, middle-aged man. Round belly, soft hands, darkly browned by the sun. His long black hair is pulled back into a Sobellian braid, which hangs down the left side of his head. He radiates an aura of contentedness despite his servile status. And while he is painfully obsequious, he is far different than the slaves of Rostilla and Viridia. He does not seem to fear his masters at all; he might well die of shock if someone struck him. He may refer to himself as "a most humble and abject worm", yet he's clearly proud of his talents. Dah shows no interest in becoming free
Wife of Ferinus Molossus. Mother of Gaius. Aunt of Corvina, Titus, Severus, and Cassius.
Danita is the daughter of Sir Salvus of Molossus and Lady Tia of Molossus, though she was raised as a ward of Count Satus Molossus. Cool and distant, she is rumored to have elf's blood because of the odd circumstances surrounding her family.
Danita's mother Tia was the daughter of Sir Arbitus, a young and quite handsome Molossan knight,. One day, while hunting in the Dearthwood, he simply disappeared. The count's best hounds couldn't find him. The oddest part was that his trail disappeared in the middle of the forest, not near a stream that might have erased his scent. People say he vanished by "the Old Man", an ancient oak tree a few miles away from Molossus.
A year later, to the day, Arbitus walked back out of the forest wearing the same hunting greens he'd left in. He refused to talk about what happened, however -- which caused endless speculation. People noticed that he'd become dreamier, less focused. Quiet and withdrawn. He hunted less, spent more time simply wandering.
One night, six months after he returned, there was a feast at Molossus. Sir Arbitus got up in the middle of the festivities and walked out. When he returned a few minutes later, he held an infant swaddled in green linen. "This is my daughter," he announced to the startled guests. "I'm going to call her Tia."
Again, Arbitus refused to explain where the child came from or who her mother was. He hired a nurse and cared for her himself; he never married. Tia grew up into a very beautiful woman and, despite the oddities surrounding her birth, married well, to Sir Salvus of Molossus. The oddities may even have helped; the common rumor was that her mother "had" to have been an elf.
Danita was Salvus and Tia's only child, and she looks a lot like her mother. One winter when she was seven, her father Salvus and grandfather Arbitus sailed to Lunula (an island halfway between Rostilla and Dulsanius, which Molossus sometimes traded with). The boat sank on the way back, and both men drowned. Tia mourned for three weeks. Then she took her daughter to Count Satus Molossus and asked him to watch over her. Satus agreed, assuming she meant for a few minutes.
Instead, Tia walked into the Dearthwood and, like her father before her, vanished. The common folk always insisted that she went back to her mother's people, the elves. The knights, however, say she must have frozen to death, though her body was never recovered.
Danita grew up in the Count's household and, when she came of age, married one of his younger sons, Ferinus. They had one child, Gaius. Danita was never a normal mother, even for the very relaxed Molossus household. She spent much of her time wandering the woods, collecting herbs and flowers from which she distilled a variety of simples. The Count once asked her who'd taught her to make these things, since he knew she had no training. Danita replied that the plants told her their powers -- a statement which only added to the rumors of elf-blood.
Danita's husband Ferinus was killed by "bandits" in May. A month later, Sir Pelius and soldiers from Tillaford murdered Brennus Surrexus and his cousins Vesanus and Ranorus Molossus. After driving off the Tillaford men, Ranorus' father Sir Valens realized that he could no longer stay in the county. He returned briefly to Molossus to bid farewell to Count Satus. When he did, Danita appeared in court (dressed in an unseemly set of pants, the servants whispered). She knew someplace safe, she said, someplace he and his men could hide in safety. Valens and the Molossus soldiers followed her into the Dearthwood. And, keeping to family tradition, vanished without a trace. Danita disappeared with them, though she left a message for her son, telling him not to worry about her.
Paladin of the Order of St. Cavallius. Knight of both Titus and Balthasar of Talamanthus. Brother of Count Dignus Harrans and Matina. Uncle of Marius.
Count of Harrans. Uncle of Marius. Brother of Matina and Darius Harrans.
Discipulus ("little student", "disciple")
Person mentioned in the letters from the Temple of Lil.
What you know: 1) His name is masculine. 2) He can cast delay poison, but not neutralize poison. 3) He healed a child who was bitten by an asp. 4) He has a guard who "was able to cure the..." 5) Vermis was watching him and was composing a letter to Amicus about his progress (or lack thereof). 6) He's probably in Tillaford at the moment, as Vermis' letter was unfinished.
Vicar of Surrexus.
Father Dolorus is the vicar of the town of Surrexus. His family has served the counts of Surrexus for generations. Despite his name (which means "sad"), Father Dolorus is a complacent, happy man. He is given to long, rambling, and slightly incoherant lectures on goodness, piety, and the proper behavior of children. Dolorus has a wife and five boys, one of whom is now in Rostilla at the Temple of Askelius, learning to be a healer.
Description: Plain, balding, middle-aged man. Has a bit of a beer-belly, which he hides with lose clothing. Dolorus hates "gadding about," and any sort of fuss. He tends to freeze up in the middle of combats (which is why Count Arius never took him out on patrols). However he is a competant cleric, if a poor preacher.
Count of Invictus.
Durus' early life is unknown, even to his nearest neighbors. His black hair and olive complexion imply that he's Altanian, but no one knows more than that.
A few years back, King Errans of Rostilla had difficulty finding anyone to name as the Count of Invictus. The previous count had been killed by a black dragon. Errans needed an extraordinary warrior to protect Rostilla's southern boundaries, and none of the nobility appeared to suit. Durus appeared at court one day, introduced by Count Corresanti. He was an adventurer -- a good one, and a wealthy one. He wanted a title, wanted a chance to settle down. He also had a group of skilled companions, including his sister Tia (a skilled archer) and her husband Silvestrius (a former paladin who left the Order when he decided to marry Tia). Errans was impressed with his skills, and elevated him to the county.
Since then, Durus has avoided Court and politics. Not that he'd be welcome, anyways. Many courtiers are disdainful of his common breeding. They see him as a usurper, a foreigner who stole a county that rightfully should have gone to a good, Rostillan noble. (Everyone seems to have forgotten that King Errans couldn't give Invictus away...)
All of Durus' energy has been tied up with protecting Rostilla and Invictus. The only count he was close to was Count Arius of Surrexus, who frequently helped him in his battles against monsters that wandered north through Queen's Gate.
Description: Average height, average build (for a warrior). Durus has long black hair, tied back in a pony-tail. He wears a large gold earring in his right ear and is said to have tatoos on his back (another sign that he's an Altanian). He's blunt and honest, with a harsh, unlovely voice. Despite his years in Rostilla, he still speaks with a heavy accent. He's reknowned for his fearlessness in battle, and his men are staunchly loyal. Durus' wife Lannett is a Bendigrothi, and they have three young daughters.