Post by chrisnorcras on Apr 17, 2013 21:14:52 GMT -6
Ivalice
1.) Ondoria Atkascha III, King - Lawful Neutral
Class: Monarch
King Ondoria is the 18th king of Ivalice who ascended the throne after the death of his father, Denamda IV. He is married to Queen Louveria, the sister of Duke Larg of Gallione. Believed by many to be a weak-minded and soft-handed ruler.
1a.) Louveria Atkascha, Queen - Neutral Evil
Class: Monarch/Grey Eminence
Queen Louveria is the sister of Duke Larg of Gallione and one of his staunchest supporters. Queen Louveria is the real power behind the throne, co-ercing her weak-minded husband and playing the factions of the court against one another.
2.) Duke Bestrald Larg, Gallione - Lawful Evil
Class: Duke
Duke Larg, brother of Queen Louveria, is ruler of Duchy Gallione in western Ivalice. He seeks to hold the throne of Ivalice as regent of his nephew (Prince Orinus) and is willing to do anything to further his goal. He is protected by the Hokuten.
3.) Duke Druksmald Goltana, Limberry/Zeltannia
Class: Duke
Duke Goltanna is the ruler of Limberry and Zeltannie. Like his counterpart, Duke Larg, he also seeks to rule the countryu as the regent of Princess Ovelia. He is protected by the Nanten.
4.) Grand Duke Gerrith Barrington, Fovoham - Chaotic Evil
Class: Duke
Duke Barrington, also known as the "Forge King", is the ruler of Fovoham. In addition to an interest in firearms and combatants, Barrington retains the services of Khamja (a mysterious order of assassins from the East). In addition to Dukes Larg and Goltanna, Barrington also sought the throne.
5.) Cardinal Alphonse Delacroix, Lionel - Neutral Evil
Class: Cardinal
The ruler of Lionel and second in command of the church of Glabados.
Hokuten (Order of the Northern Sky) - COMPLETE
1.) Barbaneth Belouve - Lawful Evil
Class: Knight Herald
Leader of Hokuten and patriarch of House Belouve. Barbaneth Belouve is a stickler for protocol. He has raised both of his sons to be leaders, under his watchful eye. While on the outside he may seem honorable and chivalrous, this facade belies a willingness to stretch the law and do whatever is necessary to further his master's goals and his own ambitions.
2.) Dycedarg Belouve - Neutral Evil
Class: Rune Knight
The first son of Barbaneth Belouve, Dycedarg connives to take his father's place by whatever means necessary. While on the outside he seems to be demure and somewhat subservient, he conceals a deep-seated hatred for his father and younger brother (Zalbaag) - both of whom he sees as weak - and a cunning and dangerous mind.
3.) Zalbaag Belouve - Lawful Good
Class: Arcane Knight
The second son of Barbaneth Belouve, Zalbaag is k now as the conscientious objector of House Belouve. A deeply religious man who follows the teachings of the Church of Glabados, Zalbaag often argues with his father and brother over the moral implications of their actions. However, when push comes to shove he will follow his father's orders, leaving distasteful duties to his older sibling.
4.) Argest Grafton - Chaotic Evil
Class: Knight
Dycedarg's second-in-command, Argest has gained the moniker of "The Butcher" for his merciless tactics on, and off, the battlefield. He is completely loyal to Dycedarg. A twisted soul, Argest joys in killing, and the squires of House Belouve know that being assignes as his sparring partner is as good as a death sentence.
5.) Father Merek - Lawful Neutral
Class: Priest
Zalbaag's second in command, Merek was sent by the Church of Glabados to fulfill the clerical duties for House Belouve. Zalbaag took a liking to the man and put him in charge of not only the House Chapel and supplicants, but also made a leader of his troops. Merek could easily be described as zealous, evangelizing the church wherever he goes, be it by diplomacy or by the sword.
Nanten (Order of the Southern Sky)
1.) Count Cidolphus Orlandeau - Lawful Good
Class: Sword Saint
"Long ago, I was taught to strike form behind and keep my back to the wall" - Cidolphus Orlandeau
The general of the Order of the Southern Sky is known as one of the most chivalrous men in Ivalice. With a loyal streak that puts most to shame, Orlandeau lives to serve.
2.) Marquis Messam Elmdore de Limberry - Lawful Neutral
Class: Arcane Knight/Samurai
Marquis Elmdore, liege lord of Limberry, serves as a general under Duke Goltanna. His fearlessness in battle has earned him the respect of allies and enemies alike. Thanks to this aspect of his psyche as well as his flowing silver hair, he is know by his allies as the Silver Prince, and by his enemies as the Silver Ogre.
Marquis Elmdore is one of the few nobles of Ivalice who who is actually loved by his people. Thanks to his noble bearing, war record, and countless acts of charity to the people of Limberry, he is viewed as a benevolent ruler.
Little is know about the past of Messam Elmdore. As a young child, his father, Marquis Frederick Elmdore, sent him to begin his martial training at the Academy of Gariland. Messam excelled in his tutelage to the various weapons masters of Ivalice, but eventually chose to specialize in the training of Master Chiba Tsurugi, a swordsman from the far East. At the age of 20, Messam graduated from the Academy with high honors and returned to Limberry.
Several years later, Marquis Frederick was assassinated by unknown forces -although the blame was placed on every faction from Khamja to the Kingdom of Romanda- and Elmdore reluctantly took his father's place as liege lord of Limberry, promising to continue the work his father had started.
3.) Orran Durai - Lawful Good
Class: Astrologer
Stepson of Cidolphus Orlandeau.
4.) Leofrick - Lawful Neutral
Class: Dragoon
The dragoon known as Leofrick is an enigma. Tasked as the guardian of Orran Durai, not much is known about the imposing knight other than his prowess in battle and uswaying loyalty to Cidolphus and Orran.
5.) Favian Veillantif - Chaotic Good
Class: Bishop
A secret follower of Pharism, Favian seeks to passively enlighten his allies to the truths of the obscure religion's teachings. He seeks to follow his heart and conscious in whatever manner they may advise him with little to no thought of laws or regulations. He is often seen helping those in need and pursuing seemingly hopeless causes.
Touten (Order of the Eastern Sky) - "Ondoria's Goons"
1.) Goffard Gaffgarion - Chaotic Neutral
Class: Dark Knight
A division commander of the Touten, Gaffgarion is widely known for his brutal war tactics. An interesting thing to note is that he does not act out of malice or particular ill-will, but because "it's part of the job". When it comes down to it, Gaffgarion takes whatever action will benefit him the most, be it to the compliment or detriment of friends, subordinates, or even his superiors.
2.) Tobias Nielsen - Chaotic Neutral
Class: Time Mage
One of the few of his kind known to exist in Ivalice, Tobias is a time magi of reputable skill. Unfortunately, instead of using these skills to benefit those around him, he often uses them to their detriment. One particular rumour about the man stands out regarding how he used his skills to prolong the suffering of a suspect being interrogated by Gaffgarion. While they were able to obtain the information, the tales are enough to make the average man's skin crawl.
3.) Jarin Meldor - Lawful Good
Class: Knight
As a knight of the king, Jarin takes his job seriously. He follows the protocol of the court to the letter and tries to show himself above reproach, no matter the situation. Firecely loyal to his liege lord and a master with the sword, Jarin carves a wide swathe in battle and seems fearless in the face of danger.
4.) Doran Longford - Neutral Evil
Class: Black Mage
Although he may seem a young man, Doran's heart harbors a great amount of hate. While it is understood that black magic generally has nothing to do with the caster's personal beliefs/alignment, Doran pours his hatred and anger into his spells. Little is know about his past, but on can only surmise that something in it affects his moods and disposition.
Ordallia
1.) Emperor Devanne V (Serasker Dhibann) of Ordallia - Lawful Evil
Class: Serasker
The Emperor of Ordallia, and direct blood descendent of the Prophet-King of Dhalin al-Din, is a middle-aged man with the same olive complexion and raven hair as all pure-blooded Ordallians. Aside from his near-perpetual scowl and the graying hair at his temples, he looks rather young for his age; perhaps a man in his early thirties. Unlike his Romandan counterpart, Dhibann is a man who believes that his objectives regarding Ivalice are best resolved when Ivalice is either so weak that an invasion would be relatively inexpensive or, failing that, when peace exists between the two states.
The Emperor is also known to be an exceedingly patient man. "Men grow old and die," he wrote in his Bay'ah, "but the Religion persists when we have long since turned to dust. Many of our great battles are won not on the battlefields but in the minds of our subjects and the subjects of other lands. To that end, We shall endeavor to strive towards winning the battle for the minds of our subjects and the minds of foreign subjects insofar as is productive. Let Our anger be a patient thing, a creature we unchain when fire and steel must resolve questions that the quill cannot."
2.) Aq Sulaym ibn Himas Pasha, Voivode az-Zarakiyan - Lawful Neutral
Class: Emir
The Voivode of Zelamonia is a very social creature, throwing lavish balls and parties on a monthly basis. Relying upon a system of tariffs, he has managed to reduce taxes to some of the lowest they have ever been in Zelamonia. Despite this, he is almost universally loathed by native Zelamonians for his adoption of Zelamonian titles and custom. In the logic of the occupied, Aq Sulaym should act as an Ordallian, not as a Zelamonian. The Voivode is apparently unperturbed by the remarkably negative opinion he has cultivated.
3.) Suad ibn Daud Pasha, Miralai-i-Azam (Aghasi al-Dhalizun) - Lawful Evil
Class: Zealot
Colonel-General Suad is perhaps best known for the religious zeal that guides him. The Dhalizun's commanders have always been predisposed towards zealotry -- itself a small surprise, as the Dhalizun have been called the 'Sword of the Prophet-King' for centuries -- but Suad Pasha is himself remarkably zealous even by Dhalizun standards. He received command after the previous Colonel-General was martyred in battle against the Touten and, since that moment, has persecuted the war against Ivalice with a cunning that is matched only by his brutality.
Colonel-General Suad is almost universally despised for his tactics during the Siege of Sal Ghidos. He captured a hundred civilians, clapped them in irons, and paraded them before the city. He ordered the garrison commander to surrender; the commander refused. Suad then ordered every civilian, including a number of women and children, beheaded while the garrison watched. He repeated this process three times before the garrison commander surrendered. Suad accepted this surrender in his typically brutal fashion -- by sacking the city.
4.) Absi Najam Pasha, Balukasi al-Ghizkhazun - Neutral Good
Class: Outrider
Commandant Absi Najam hails from the northern steppes of Ordallia and, like most young boys from his homeland, he learned to ride before he learned to walk. Having spent much of his life in the saddle, Absi Najam is intimately familiar with scouting, tracking, and leading men -- all talents that have served him extremely well in the Emperor's Hosts. Absi Najam is also remarkably talented with the bow; he once shot a raven on the wing during a Ghwarzian martial demonstration for the Emperor.
The Commandant is extremely utilitarian in the prosecution of war. While he has shown no squeamishness, he has regularly allowed civilians to flee before torching villages and allowed prisoner exchanges with the Nanten, earning him a much more honorable reputation in the eyes of his opponents. In his Bay'ah, the Commandant declared "when facing a scenario in which an enemy offers me a choice, I shall always ask myself 'which of these options will best serve the Scion of the Prophet?' and execute that option to the best of my ability." While some Ordallians complain that he's too soft on the Ivalicians, none have dared claim he has contradicted his Bay'ah.
5.) Hassan Nasr ibn Hassan Pasha, Kapudan-i-Azam - Lawful Neutral
Class: Marine
Of the seven al-Wazrah, the Grand Admiral perhaps has the most checkered reputation. Hassan Nasr ibn Hassan was born in the trade city of Warjilis. The only thing he ever learned of his father was that his name was Hassan and he was a sailor from Laqant. His mother, an Ivalician, raised him to be Ivalician and follow the Church of Glabados. And while he has joined the Religion, and rendered service until the Emperor for decades, his name is still regularly smeared; he is mocked regularly in social circles. But never to his face -- after killing six men for tarnishing his honor, the socialites got the idea and started resorting to more indirect methods of character assassination.
Despite the contempt he faces on a regular basis, the Grand Admiral is a legendary work horse. He, apparently, uses the spite to fuel his energies and projects, sometimes completing nigh-impossible tasks by sheer force of personality. He successfully established a naval base on Nelveska, an island widely reputed to be the most hostile land in the world, and has repeatedly crushed the Ivalician navies in both pitched battles and thousands of small skirmishes. Additionally, the Grand Admiral was instrumental in delivering the Romandan Expeditionary Corps to Fovoham, having crushed the Hokuten Navy off the coast of Eagrose three days before the beach assault.
6.) Abu Mustafa Pasha, Pasha-i-Azam - Neutral Good
Class: Dark Knight
Grand General Abu Mustafa is, perhaps, everything the Grand Admiral is not. While Hassan Nasr attacks tasks deemed impossible, Abu Mustafa is extremely conservative. While Hassan Nasr rigorously pursues the enemy, Abu Mustafa merely seizes ground. And while Hassan Nasr is almost universally scorned in social circles, Abu Mustafa is considered the pinnacle of martial breeding: cautious but courageous, intelligent but humble, and talented but careful.
And Abu Mustafa is just barely competent. His orders, by and large, are "creatively interpreted" by his underlings, chief among them the Grand Colonel and Commandant of the Ghizkhazun Host. The old adage of "a general in the field outranks a politician at home" is often used against him. In practice, Abu Mustafa's role is primarily one of organization and logistics, the sole role at which he excels.
7.) Yazid al-Kartal Pasha, Vizier-i-Azam - Lawful Good
Class: Mediator
The Grand Vizier is the very picture of an elderly gentleman: exceedingly polite, well-learned, interested in productive pursuits, and stern-but-fair towards his subordinates, many of whom view him as a sort of grandfatherly figure. The soft-spoken Grand Vizier has governed longer than any other Grand Vizier in history -- a losing proposition, in most cases, since Grand Viziers are typically executed before they can retire. But these things, apparently, only apply to mortals and the elderly statesman is not subject to the rules of mere men.
If Yazid is said to have a flaw, it is that he works too much. Upon his frail shoulders he carries the weight of the Empire and, were he a lesser man, it would break him. But the greatest tragedy of Yazid's life is this: had he been born of the Mirza line, he could have turned Ordallia into the greatest empire, past or future. But as it is, he is stuck mitigating the fallout from poor decisions made by his colleagues and superiors, micromanaging often incompetent junior ministers, and handling much of the war effort.
8.) Khalida al-Zarqa, Emira al-Zalteniyyah - Lawful Neutral
Class: Emir
The Emira is a rare specimen: a female governess, the sixth woman to hold a post of such importance. This distinction, however, is rather temporary: it is not a goal of the Empire to annex al-Zalteniyyah into the Empire, and so her posting as Emira will likely prove short-lived. There is speculation that her administration of the province is merely to improve her acceptability as a wife to the King of Romanda -- who previously rejected her as a candidate for his son, citing her dearth of administrative experience, something highly desired in a country where women typically run the household.
In terms of efficiency, the Emira has been hamstrung by the Colonel-General's sheer brutality: it is extremely difficult to convince the people that you're looking out for their best interests when your predecessor was perfectly happy to slaughter them by the hundred. Despite this, she endeavors to do well in the eyes of the Emperor. This has, however, become something of a losing proposition.
9.) Jalut ibn Maliki, Khattab ad-Din - Lawful Evil
Class: Deamgogue
Khattab Jalut is a passionate man, a man whose dedication to the Religion is matched only by his zeal. While the Colonel-General channels his zealotry into martial pursuits, Jalut pursues the more sophisticated ecclesiastic arts. Specifically, Jalut is extremely good at speaking to people, at stoking the fires of their emotions, at galvanizing them towards some subject or other. He approaches it methodically, keeping his blood cool even calls for the destruction of nations.
But Jalut is not a man without ambition. The Hafiz, his superior, was elected at an abnormally young age. Jalut knows he is very unlikely to ever succeed him and, as such, has secretly been gathering evidence to see to the Hafiz's removal and exile. Jalut's cause, however, has not proved particularly successful.
10.) Suleiman ibn al-Yusa, Hafiz ad-Din - Lawful Good
Class: Hierophant
According to Suleiman, being Hafiz is the single most overrated job a man can hold. In addition to the myriad proscriptions that other priests must abide by, which range from celibacy to living as paupers, the Hafiz is outright forbidden from speaking to anyone outside the uppermost echelons of the Church. Indeed, aside from candid conversations with the Emperor -- who, by virtue of his sheer political power, is similarly isolated from his underlings -- the position as Hafiz may be the most lonesome position in the entire world.
Further complicating this is Suleiman's strained relationship with Jalut. Jalut, who harbors a resentment towards Suleiman that the former thinks he has well concealed, smolders over the fact that Suleiman was elected over him. In actuality, Jalut was spared the sheer soul-crushing isolation imposed upon Suleiman by the title of Hafiz. For a man who lived most of his life as an extrovert, heavy is the burden of the Hafiz.
Romandan Expeditionary Corps
1. King Johann ‘Nordaverdrox’ Karsid - Lawful Neutral
Class: Berserker, Dark Knight
The King of Romanda is perhaps best known for his violent resolution to the Romandan Succession Crisis. After gathering his three rivals to the holy ground of Mount Himibrak for parley, King Johann bribed the Icefields Wild Men to attack the gathering, slaughtering all three of his rivals and their karls. Shortly thereafter, Johann swept the rest of the resistance into the sea. His utilitarian brutality first earned him the title ‘the Harsh,’ but was later changed to ‘Axe of the North’ after his personal heroism in the war in Fovoham.
Johann I is a brutal utilitarian – as anyone who lived in the Icefields must be. He runs his kingdom as a meritocracy, paying no attention to anything other than competence. Accordingly, his son’s lack of martial prowess has greatly irked him – his disappointment is never far from the surface when attempting to interact with his son. His son’s apparent conversion to the “eastern gods” has further irked Johann I and potentially wrecked the possibility of Hakon’s ascension to the throne upon Johann’s death.
2. Jarl Hakon ‘Heidinn’ Karsid - Lawful Good
Class: Zealot
Jarl Hakon is the Crown Prince of Romanda and, controversially, Romanda’s single most significant convert to Dhalin ad-Din. He is known primarily as ‘the Heathen,’ though never to his face, Hakon is a devout adherent to ‘the Religion.’ While his father is widely regarded to be one of the most dangerous fighters in the world, Hakon is merely above-average. In a land as ruthlessly competitive as Romanda, “above-average” isn’t good enough for a prince.
Despite his apparent shortcomings, Hakon is a competent commander and an efficient fighter. He is, however, most notable for his administrative skills – another oddity, as running the household finances is usually considered woman’s work in Romanda. Despite his conversion, Hakon’s love of snarky comments and glib mockery continues unabashed.
3. Visikarl Jorn Arvidsson - Neutral Good
Class: Lancer
Jorn, Captain of the Karls, is perhaps best known for his strong code of personal ethics. As a man who often chafes under harsh orders, Jorn strives to do what he believes to be is the ‘good’ thing. He has been known to personally countermand orders from the King to carry out particularly destructive acts. In a more centralized kingdom, this would be grounds for termination and possible imprisonment: in Romanda, where orders are seen simply as guidelines, it is a confirmation of the traditional tribal leadership system of the island.
Jorn is also considered to be a particularly dangerous fighter with spear and shield. He is one of Romanda’s relatively few high-level commanders that does not embrace the way of the Berserkergang, placing his faith instead in steel and discipline.
4. Berserkr Alva ‘Odrox’ - Chaotic Neutral
Class: Berserker
Alva the ‘Furious Axe’ is perhaps most notable because she is one of the few female berserkers in all of Romandan history. While female warriors (shield-maidens) are far more common in Romanda than in Ivalice or Ordallia, female berserkers are not. It is a testament to her dedication and competence that she has not allowed his cultural stigma to impede her path.
Alva is a particularly violent specimen even by Berserker standards, having survived three separate Khamja assassination squads and numerous battles with Riovanes’ conventional forces. Over the course of the War of Succession and the War for Fovoham, she has consistently demonstrated the value of the berserkergang in pitched and isolated clashes against the more conventional and more disciplined forces employed by Grand Duke Barrington.
5. Myrkdrengr Adalrik ‘Dreyrugrsverd av Nordr’ Berensson - Lawful Evil
Class: Dark Knight
Myrkdrengr Adalrik, popularly known by the Romandans as the ‘Blood-Stained Sword of the North,’ is perhaps the single most resilient Dark Knight to have ever served Romanda. He fought in the previous invasion of Ivalice, the War of Succession, numerous tribal conflicts, and reportedly slew a full-grown Northern Dragon on one of his hunting expeditions. Adalrik is arguably more of a folk hero than the King.
Public opinion aside, Adalrik lives by a very strict personal code, one that requires him to regularly pit his strength against some of the most dangerous people and monsters in the known world. Adalrik has also managed to unite the oft-quarrelsome Dark Knights of Romanda together in service of the Crown, an act that would have been entirely implausible a mere generation ago. By sheer strength of will, Adalrik has carved his name into the runestones alongside the heroes of old.
6. Jarl Jorid Johannsdattir - Lawful Neutral
Class: Princess
Jarl Jorid is, perhaps, more Johann’s heir than her half-brother Hakon is. While Hakon was busy twitting away his time and energies, Jorid was busy educating herself and learning all she possibly could about the kingdom and the wider world. While her father is off away campaigning in Ivalice proper, it has fallen to Jorid to administrate the kingdom in his absence – to mediate petty disputes, collect taxes, and send men and materiel to the mainland.
But Jorid is not blind: she understands that, under Northern law, she cannot inherit the throne. By default, this means that the throne will fall to Hakon – which, in turn, means there will almost certainly be another War of Succession upon her father’s death. But Jorid is nothing if not ambitious and she aims to build up enough influence and support to ignore tradition and take the throne for herself, simultaneously nudging aside her incompetent brother and protecting the realm from civil war.
Khamja
1.) Mash’ewayad Khalid ibn Amad ibn Rashid al-Riddaya - Lawful Good
Class: Warlock
Khalid, son of Averro the Apostate, was the chief force behind the Khamja Schism and the subsequent demise of the Kham-Qayyah. Although now in his elder years, Khalid remains one of the most dangerous men in the known world. Despite his advancing years, which have led to some whispers in the Grand Duke Barrington's court that Khalid was losing his edge, the Mash'ewayad orchestrated the strike that killed Gustav III of Romanda and his only heir. In some ways, the world-weary assassin was single-handedly responsible for knocking Romanda out of the war for over a decade.
In the intervening years, however, Khalid has become more and more of a recluse. While he still leads the Khamja, he has increasingly delegated authority and increasingly encouraged initiative in his underlings, two things that were completely unheard of in the Kham-Qayyah. The old warlock is more interested in writing treatises on Averrianism than he is on signing death warrants.
2.) Walid Sind al-Zibayr Zal - Chaotic Good
Class: Assassin
Walid Sind, known more simply simply as 'Walid Zal' (Walid the Shadow), is the last of the old guard of the Kham-Qayyah. While he technically did not follow Khalid as part of the Khamja Schism, he did abandon Ordallia roughly a decade later when the Kham-Qayyah was formally disbanded after its dismal failure in attempting to assassinate Denamda II of Ivalice. Despite being a relatively late-comer to the Khamja, he nonetheless earned his place in the group and, by virtue of simply being younger, managed to outlive most of the old hands.
Walid Zal is perhaps best known in Ivalice as being something of a loose cannon by assassin standards. While Khalid spent most of his life micro-managing his assassins, Walid Zal somehow always managed to find a way to obey orders while simultaneously doing his own thing. In most cases, 'doing his own thing' meant wandering the countryside, cutting throats of people he deemed to be evil: bandits, corrupt guards, abusive husbands, and the sort. Interestingly, his willingness to avoid wholesale slaughter when eliminating targets of importance has been criticized by those in the Grand Duke's court, who view his desire to avoid unnecessary killing as squeamishness. Of course, they never say as much to his face.
3.) Matar ibn Kasim al-Rimal Wikar - Neutral
Class: Assassin
Matar, son of Kasim, is more commonly known simply as 'al-Rimal Wikar' ('The Sand Walker'). His allegiance to the Khamja is perhaps something of a surprise; he is best known as the first Ordallian to travel all the lands between Rozzaria and Romanda, writing his now famous 'Travel Records of a Freedman: the Journeys of Matar ibn Kasim.' And yet, in one of Khalid's most conniving maneuvers, the great cartographer and explorer of Ordallia is in actuality a Khamja assassin.
Matar, for his part, has been a less active assassin than most of his counterparts. He has, however, been accumulating a wealth of information on his trips, almost all of which has gone to the Khamja. Much of the information that has remained has been carefully edited to influence the Ordallian court, primarily with the intent of encouraging Ordallia to commit to long, bloody wars with Ivalice instead of pursuing wars against the vastly weaker states in the far east.
4.) Mash’ewayad Rashid ibn Khalid al-Riddaya al-Djinn Matsul - Neutral Good
Class: Thaumaturgist
Rashid, son of Khalid, is the heir apparent of the Khamja warlord. But unlike his father, Rashid is not a warlock in the traditional sense. Rather, Rashid is a 'Djinn Matsul,' a Djinn-Caller, a magi of sufficient enough power to bend the great Djinni to his will. While the Khamja typically prefer to eliminate their targets quietly and from the shadows, Rashid ibn Khalid simply prefers overwhelming displays of power.
Rashid is perhaps best known for his unusual penchant for being involved in pitched battles. The Khamja typically shy away from large-scale conflicts, but Rashid has regularly led cadre of summoners and magi in battle against the Romandans. This is regarded as reckless by the old guard, but the younger assassins turn a blind eye.[/u]
5.) Mudrik Jidr ibn Hamdin - Neutral
Class: Ninja
Mudrik Jidr is one of two ninja apprenticed to Walid Zal. While not yet a full assassin, Mudrik Jidr has demonstrated his competence at striking from the shadows in numerous missions alongside Walid Zal. He has been deemed not quite ready for a final test, but has nonetheless earned the respect of his superiors for his fierce dedication and unassuming manner.
Mudrik Jidr has not allowed his long apprenticeship to dull his spirits. According to Kham-Qayyah logs, it was quite common for aspiring assassins to spend upwards of a decade in service to their superiors before earning an opportunity to complete the Rite -- which many of them failed and, of those who survived failure, would go on to spend several more years as an apprentice.
6.) Larisa Malenkov az-Zarakiyus - Chaotic Good
Class: Ninja
Larisa, known amongst the Khamja simply as 'az-Zarakiyus' ('The Zelamonian'), was originally a refugee from Zelamonia who sought safe haven in Zeltennia. During one mission, Larisa saw Walid Zal murder a particularly corrupt Ivalician guard captain. Apparently seeing some value in her, Walid Zal offered her an opportunity to escape the city's notoriously anti-Zelamonian policies. A year later, Larisa became the first ethnic Zelamonian to join the Khamja.
Despite being the proverbial 'new girl' to the Khamja, which has traditionally been a men's club, Larisa's apprenticeship to the legendary Walid Zal has earned her some respect -- and resentment -- from other apprentices. She only sporadically accompanies Walid Zal on missions, she has nonetheless proven herself to be a talented fighter and is expected to complete her apprenticeship not long after Mudrik Jidr completes his.
The Corpse Brigade
1.) Commandant Wiegraf Folles - Chaotic Good
Class: Holy Knight
Wiegraf is the kind of man that, when alone, is extremely dangerous. But put him at the head of a revolution hell-bent on destroying the Ivalician aristocracy and he transcends mere labels such as 'dangerous.' Ordallia and Romanda merely threaten Ivalice's political borders -- Wiegraf threatens the very social order of the kingdom, threatening to destroy a feudal system that dates back to the demise of the Holy Yudoran Empire centuries ago.
Despite his outward appearance as a demagogue, Wiegraf is in actuality a shrewd and cold leader, one who isn't afraid to compromise on ideology when necessary. In many respects, he embodies the attributes of the honorable noble knight -- he is an intellectual, concerned with the lot of the poor, and highly motivated to serve and protect the people. It is precisely because this model is not followed by any of the so-called 'nobles' that Wiegraf has revolted. Despite the rhetoric, it's not about pay and it's not about destroying the aristocracy -- it's about cutting out the rot and putting the corrupt to the sword.
2.) Captain Gustav Margueriff - Chaotic Neutral
Class: Hero
Gustav Margueriff has the distinction of being Wiegraf's second-in-command and, for all intents and purposes, the leader of an entirely separate Corpse Brigade. While Wiegraf's forces push for upending the established social order primarily on the grounds of ideology, Gustav realizes that you cannot feed a starving babe with ideas. Accordingly, Gustav has taken to less-than-savory practices to earn gil, ranging from legitimate business enterprises to protection rackets.
Gustav's methods have caused him to clash regularly with Wiegraf, who believes they should be leading by example, not extorting the commonfolk. Gustav would argue that pay is vital, seeing as how the revolt started because the Corpse Brigade wasn't paid, and that ensuring a reliable salary for 'the troops' is the best way to ensure loyalty and to increase the recruitment pool. But despite these limited disagreements, both men firmly agree that what they are doing is right and, indeed, necessary for the peasants of Ivalice.
3.) Lieutenant Milleuda Folles - Chaotic Neutral
Class: Spellsword
If Wiegraf has any single problem, it's that he's not passionate enough. Milleuda, however, does not have that problem. Even amongst the Corpse Brigade, which is largely filled with highly motivated -- and highly disenfranchised -- young warriors, Milleuda stands out as a veritable maelstrom of commitment and drive. While Wiegraf originally orchestrated the revolt to get what was due his men -- back pay and pensions, primarily -- it was Milleuda who influenced him to focus instead on directly threatening to overthrow the aristocracy.
While Gragoroth is busy raiding caravans and Gustav is busy extorting peasants, Milleuda has begun organizing audacious raids on Hokuten scouting parties and small groups of knights. He raids in the Mandalian Plains, which once came within bowshot of Eagrose Castle, have earned her a great deal of infamy -- and a very large bounty on her head.
4.) Lieutenant Gragoroth Levigne - Chaotic Evil
Class: Knight
Gragoroth is not like his subordinates; he is not some unlettered peasant playing at war. Rather, he is the son of a minor noble and hails from the far-away city of Sal Ghidos. He enlisted in the Grand Duke Barrington's forces shortly after an influx of refugees brought the plague to his fair city. It was after a rather catastrophic defeat at hands of the Axe of the North that Gragoroth, along with the rest of his unit, was refused pay. Irate at having risked his life and earned a three broken bones for a man who wouldn't even pay him, Gragoroth and his small squad joined Wiegraf's rebellion.
In the time since, Gragoroth has changed dramatically. Once a young man who wrote (bad) poetry and who enjoyed life under the civil authorities of the kingdom, Gragoroth has turned into a sour, cynical man -- and a rebel of the worst kind. While the Folles siblings strive to defend the commoner, Gragoroth simply does not care; if peasant blood gets him what he wants, then he will water the earth with it. He has recently taken to raiding, waylaying caravans from Lesalia to Riovanes.
5. Boco the Vengeful - Chaotic Neutral
Class: Badass Chocobo
Some would call Boco weak. They may be right. Some would call Boco stupid. And they, too, may be right. But Boco, wisely or not, doesn't take shit from anyone. Amongst the Corpse Brigade he has earned a reputation for his ferocious temper, his proclivity to peck wildly at anyone who so much as darkens his proverbial door, and to fly into a berserk rage at the drop of a hat.
It is not immediately clear how Wiegraf has tamed this tempest masquerading as a chocobo. What is clear, however, is that Boco would brave the wild forests, go toe-to-toe with entire goblin tribes, and fight to his very last feathery hurrah on behalf of his master.
Besrudio's Braves
1.) Besrudio Bunansa - Neutral Good
Class: Machinist
Besrudio Bunansa, current patriarch of the storied Bunansa Clan, has always been a man who likes discovering how things work. In that respect, digging through the wreckage of the Clockwork City and piecing together artifacts from an era before the quakes and floods was one of his most beloved past times -- even if the lack of a steady income did create some tension with Mrs. Bunansa.
Besrudio has spent most of his life trying to figure out how things work and, when possible, using these things to benefit the people of the Clockwork City. The string of windmills that dot the bluffs overlooking the Burgoss Ocean are, at least in part, derived from his own tinkering; Besrudio figured out how to improve the efficiency of the mill stones in low-wind weather, a process that involved the use of high-tension springs and the creative application of ground chocobo horn. And when he isn't digging in the ancient wreckage of the Clockwork City, he's spelunking, searching for lost artifacts.
2.) Mustadio Bunansa - Chaotic Good
Class: Machinist
Mustadio is, in many ways, the diametric opposite of his father. While Besrudio enjoys digging through the city's past, Mustadio prefers digging through caves halfway across Lionel. While Besrudio prefers civil engineering, Mustadio prefers making things that go 'boom.' Mustadio has even traveled as far afield as Romanda, lending his knowledge of machinery to the construction of Romanda's aerodrome. And then he felt like a jerk after Romanda resumed the war a year later.
But when he's not crushing on shield maidens, digging through ancient caves, or fiddling with high explosives, Mustadio's very much like his dad: he enjoys a social gathering and lots of alcohol. His hard-won status as the city's boy genius is only rivaled by his reputation as the city's chief Romeo.
3.) Barich Fendsor - Lawful Evil
Class: CYBORG!
Barich Fendsor is a man who resents his colleagues. To him, the Bunansa clan is overly obsessed with the peasants and far, far too prone to frivolities. Moreover, Barich is constantly frustrated by the willingness of the two to focus on entirely pedestrian work, such as copying down cave paintings or repairing broken wagon axles. Barich maintains that knowledge is power and that under no circumstances should his knowledge be bartered away for good will. A man cannot eat good will.
Barich has always pushed the envelope. When Mustadio developed the Clockwork Rifle, capable of reliably hitting targets out to a hundred yards, Barich's first question was "how can we adapt this design for greater efficiency?" In his pursuit of ever-increasing potency, Barich has taken to wearing what he calls "robotic prosthetics," pneumatically-powered robot limbs that allow him to lift more weight and run faster. And, when he thinks no one is watching, he tinkers with the design in his workshop, adding weapons salvaged from the Clockwork City's slums and stolen from Besrudio's warehouse.
4.) Yorathai the Wanderer - Neutral
Class: Samurai
Yorathai is a traveler from the distant Orient who was shipwrecked in the nearby swamps by a rogue storm. It was mostly by luck that she was found by Mustadio, whose 'rifle' intrigued her so much she decided to stay and discover what other "wonders" the Bunansa clan had discovered. Despite having seen much of it in action multiple times, she still approaches the machinery with a sense of wonder and regularly posits her theory that the machines are animated by the dead.
Despite the fact that she is in many ways a simple person, she is not quite the simpleton that Barich claims. She was sent to Ivalice to evaluate the possibility of an alliance between her home and Ivalice against Ordallian aggression, but has thus far been unable to reach the capital or obtain an audience with a particularly important individual. Instead, she's resolved to somehow smuggle samples of this technology back to her people in the hopes that firearms would allow them to more effectively resist the Ordallians.
Baert Trading Company
1.) Viscount Ludovich Baert - Neutral Evil
Class: Merchant Prince
Viscount Baert, despite his title, is a thug with no real sense of propriety. If he is in a position of power, he's not above reneging on a deal to further his own ends. Baert is, above all else, out for Baert; the rest of the world can burn for all he cares, so long as, at the settling of accounts, Baert comes out ahead of where he was. Accordingly, he runs the city of Goug like his own personal kingdom.
When he's not busy orchestrating betrayals of business partners, murdering competitors, or orchestrating the downfall of rival shipping companies through the selective use of "privateers," Baert does work for the Church. His relationship with Cardinal Delacroix, while strained at times, has proven exceptionally lucrative.
2.) Pietro Farro the Red - Chaotic Evil
Class: Spellsword
Pietro Farro, known as 'Pietro the Red' for his remarkable skill with red magic, is Viscount Baert's chief enforcer. He is a man with even fewer scruples than his nominal master. He has been known to burn entire ships and clap entire crews in irons solely so he could sail to Laqant and offload them at the single largest slaver city in the known world. Pietro Farro's warship, The Screaming Maiden, was previously a warship in the Ordallian Southern Fleet. At least until he brazenly attacked a ship twice the size of his and with three times the crew, only to somehow emerge victorious.
According to popular legend, Pietro the Red has been hanged twice, shot six times, drowned, burned, struck by lightning, and has been involved in four shipwrecks. The people of Lionel widely believe that he is simply immortal and, if given the choice, would much rather simply run away than encounter him. He is currently the most wanted man in Ivalice and relishes the attention.
3.) Fabrizio Natale the Mercer - Neutral Evil
Class: Alchemist
Fabrizio Natale is perhaps the best known purveyor of clothing in Lionel. Indeed, his designs influence fashion as far away as Gallione, where young men and ladies consider wearing "the Mercer's finest" to be a symbol of status. This success, combined with a mutually beneficial relationship with the Viscount, has led Fabrizio Natale to almost preposterous levels of wealth.
When he's not enjoying his solid gold furniture, Fabrizio can be found in his basement lab, twisting the laws of physics and creating monstrosities to unleash upon Viscount Baert's rivals. According to rumor, the Tiamat strain was developed in his lab. Unfortunately for the civil authorities, they've thus far been unable to link Fabrizio's lab to anything more than a few foul-smelling adhesives used in the production of his nigh-legendary clothing line.
4.) Jayyah Zubaidah al-Ghwazhari Natale - Neutral
Class: Surgeon
Zubaidah al-Ghwazhari, a former slave captured in one of Pietro the Red's innumerable raids, was born the only daughter of a soldier-turned-deserter and a surgeon. After her father's ignominious desertion in Vaseria, she and her mother were both enslaved by the vindictive Suad ibn Daud. They were to be shipped to Romanda as a good faith gesture to the new king there, but along the way were waylaid by Pietro the Red, who apparently had enough audacity to attack, capture, and take for his own a double-deck Ordallian warship.
Pietro promptly sold the girl and her ailing mother to Fabrizio Natale, who claimed he needed a lab assistant. Zubaidah took the title Jayyah, 'Surgeon,' some time later. In the intervening years, sometime after the death of Zubaidah's mother, the two married. This caused no small amount of alarm in Ivalice, which had been at war with Ordallia since before either of the two had been born. But after Zubaidah's nominal conversion to the Church of Glabados and the subsequent blessing of Cardinal Delacroix, who appeared at the ceremony with a magnificent new regalia, the union was begrudgingly accepted. When Zubaidah's not busy setting bones and mending cuts of Ludovich Baert's more dubious employees, she's joining her husband in his less-than-orthodox experiments on the nature of monsters and men.
5.) Radic Santic the Butcher - Neutral
Class: Civilian
In all of Ludovich Baert's wide network of agents and thugs, Radic Santic of Zelamonia is perhaps the most eccentric. Known throughout the entire city of Goug as the best butcher in town, he has parlayed his skill with knife and cleaver to earn handsome amounts of money on the side. Whenever the Viscount needs someone flayed alive, or a body dismembered and 'disappeared,' he calls Radic, known in the seedy underworld as 'The Cadaver Cleaner.' Which is in itself odd, as it's doubtful many of the Viscount's underlings can even spell "cadaver."
Radic, for his part, doesn't ask any questions or make any waves. To him, disposing of a corpse really isn't all that different from disposing of a chocobo or what-have-you. As always, it's simply a matter of cleaning the bones, destroying the more distinct ones such as the skull, and devising a method with which to sell the meat. As everyone in the business knows, one does not buy 'Butcher's Choice' from Radic. Ever.
Church of Glabados
1.) High Confessor Marcel Funebris - Chaotic Neutral
Class: High Confessor
High Confessor Marcel Funebris is the leader of the Church of Glabados and overseer of the Knights Templar. While he is viewed by the general populace as an ostentatious and pious cleric, he is willing to go to whatever ends it requires to spread the influence and power of the church.
Knights Templar
2.) Commander Folmarv Tengille - Neutral Evil
Class: Divine Knight
Command Folmarv Tengille is the leader of the Knightly Order of Glabados, also known as the Knights Templar. Secretly, he is the host of the Lucavi demon Hashmal and while the demon cannot yet show his true form, he influences Folmarv via whisperings and visions in his mind.
3.) Bishop Simon Penn-Lachish - Lawful Good
Class: Pagan Examiner
Bishop Simon belongs to the Church of Glabados' Examination Hereticum, wherein he holds the office of Pagan Examiner. While one would instantly associate his office with that of a hardened interrogator, Bishop Simon is actually a tender-hearted man and should one happen to walk by an "examination" one could hear him pleading with the accused to repent.
4.) Captain Loffrey Wodring - Neutral Evil
Class: Divine Knight
Loffrey, who serves as a second of Folmarv Tengille, is a soft-spoken but hard-actioned member of the Knights Templar.
5.) Cletienne Duroi - Neutral Evil
Class: Sorceror
While Cletienne may not look the part, due to his age, he is a masterful sorceror. He serves as the left-hand man of Folmarv Tengille and is completely loyal.
1.) Ondoria Atkascha III, King - Lawful Neutral
Class: Monarch
King Ondoria is the 18th king of Ivalice who ascended the throne after the death of his father, Denamda IV. He is married to Queen Louveria, the sister of Duke Larg of Gallione. Believed by many to be a weak-minded and soft-handed ruler.
1a.) Louveria Atkascha, Queen - Neutral Evil
Class: Monarch/Grey Eminence
Queen Louveria is the sister of Duke Larg of Gallione and one of his staunchest supporters. Queen Louveria is the real power behind the throne, co-ercing her weak-minded husband and playing the factions of the court against one another.
2.) Duke Bestrald Larg, Gallione - Lawful Evil
Class: Duke
Duke Larg, brother of Queen Louveria, is ruler of Duchy Gallione in western Ivalice. He seeks to hold the throne of Ivalice as regent of his nephew (Prince Orinus) and is willing to do anything to further his goal. He is protected by the Hokuten.
3.) Duke Druksmald Goltana, Limberry/Zeltannia
Class: Duke
Duke Goltanna is the ruler of Limberry and Zeltannie. Like his counterpart, Duke Larg, he also seeks to rule the countryu as the regent of Princess Ovelia. He is protected by the Nanten.
4.) Grand Duke Gerrith Barrington, Fovoham - Chaotic Evil
Class: Duke
Duke Barrington, also known as the "Forge King", is the ruler of Fovoham. In addition to an interest in firearms and combatants, Barrington retains the services of Khamja (a mysterious order of assassins from the East). In addition to Dukes Larg and Goltanna, Barrington also sought the throne.
5.) Cardinal Alphonse Delacroix, Lionel - Neutral Evil
Class: Cardinal
The ruler of Lionel and second in command of the church of Glabados.
Hokuten (Order of the Northern Sky) - COMPLETE
1.) Barbaneth Belouve - Lawful Evil
Class: Knight Herald
Leader of Hokuten and patriarch of House Belouve. Barbaneth Belouve is a stickler for protocol. He has raised both of his sons to be leaders, under his watchful eye. While on the outside he may seem honorable and chivalrous, this facade belies a willingness to stretch the law and do whatever is necessary to further his master's goals and his own ambitions.
2.) Dycedarg Belouve - Neutral Evil
Class: Rune Knight
The first son of Barbaneth Belouve, Dycedarg connives to take his father's place by whatever means necessary. While on the outside he seems to be demure and somewhat subservient, he conceals a deep-seated hatred for his father and younger brother (Zalbaag) - both of whom he sees as weak - and a cunning and dangerous mind.
3.) Zalbaag Belouve - Lawful Good
Class: Arcane Knight
The second son of Barbaneth Belouve, Zalbaag is k now as the conscientious objector of House Belouve. A deeply religious man who follows the teachings of the Church of Glabados, Zalbaag often argues with his father and brother over the moral implications of their actions. However, when push comes to shove he will follow his father's orders, leaving distasteful duties to his older sibling.
4.) Argest Grafton - Chaotic Evil
Class: Knight
Dycedarg's second-in-command, Argest has gained the moniker of "The Butcher" for his merciless tactics on, and off, the battlefield. He is completely loyal to Dycedarg. A twisted soul, Argest joys in killing, and the squires of House Belouve know that being assignes as his sparring partner is as good as a death sentence.
5.) Father Merek - Lawful Neutral
Class: Priest
Zalbaag's second in command, Merek was sent by the Church of Glabados to fulfill the clerical duties for House Belouve. Zalbaag took a liking to the man and put him in charge of not only the House Chapel and supplicants, but also made a leader of his troops. Merek could easily be described as zealous, evangelizing the church wherever he goes, be it by diplomacy or by the sword.
Nanten (Order of the Southern Sky)
1.) Count Cidolphus Orlandeau - Lawful Good
Class: Sword Saint
"Long ago, I was taught to strike form behind and keep my back to the wall" - Cidolphus Orlandeau
The general of the Order of the Southern Sky is known as one of the most chivalrous men in Ivalice. With a loyal streak that puts most to shame, Orlandeau lives to serve.
2.) Marquis Messam Elmdore de Limberry - Lawful Neutral
Class: Arcane Knight/Samurai
Marquis Elmdore, liege lord of Limberry, serves as a general under Duke Goltanna. His fearlessness in battle has earned him the respect of allies and enemies alike. Thanks to this aspect of his psyche as well as his flowing silver hair, he is know by his allies as the Silver Prince, and by his enemies as the Silver Ogre.
Marquis Elmdore is one of the few nobles of Ivalice who who is actually loved by his people. Thanks to his noble bearing, war record, and countless acts of charity to the people of Limberry, he is viewed as a benevolent ruler.
Little is know about the past of Messam Elmdore. As a young child, his father, Marquis Frederick Elmdore, sent him to begin his martial training at the Academy of Gariland. Messam excelled in his tutelage to the various weapons masters of Ivalice, but eventually chose to specialize in the training of Master Chiba Tsurugi, a swordsman from the far East. At the age of 20, Messam graduated from the Academy with high honors and returned to Limberry.
Several years later, Marquis Frederick was assassinated by unknown forces -although the blame was placed on every faction from Khamja to the Kingdom of Romanda- and Elmdore reluctantly took his father's place as liege lord of Limberry, promising to continue the work his father had started.
3.) Orran Durai - Lawful Good
Class: Astrologer
Stepson of Cidolphus Orlandeau.
4.) Leofrick - Lawful Neutral
Class: Dragoon
The dragoon known as Leofrick is an enigma. Tasked as the guardian of Orran Durai, not much is known about the imposing knight other than his prowess in battle and uswaying loyalty to Cidolphus and Orran.
5.) Favian Veillantif - Chaotic Good
Class: Bishop
A secret follower of Pharism, Favian seeks to passively enlighten his allies to the truths of the obscure religion's teachings. He seeks to follow his heart and conscious in whatever manner they may advise him with little to no thought of laws or regulations. He is often seen helping those in need and pursuing seemingly hopeless causes.
Touten (Order of the Eastern Sky) - "Ondoria's Goons"
1.) Goffard Gaffgarion - Chaotic Neutral
Class: Dark Knight
A division commander of the Touten, Gaffgarion is widely known for his brutal war tactics. An interesting thing to note is that he does not act out of malice or particular ill-will, but because "it's part of the job". When it comes down to it, Gaffgarion takes whatever action will benefit him the most, be it to the compliment or detriment of friends, subordinates, or even his superiors.
2.) Tobias Nielsen - Chaotic Neutral
Class: Time Mage
One of the few of his kind known to exist in Ivalice, Tobias is a time magi of reputable skill. Unfortunately, instead of using these skills to benefit those around him, he often uses them to their detriment. One particular rumour about the man stands out regarding how he used his skills to prolong the suffering of a suspect being interrogated by Gaffgarion. While they were able to obtain the information, the tales are enough to make the average man's skin crawl.
3.) Jarin Meldor - Lawful Good
Class: Knight
As a knight of the king, Jarin takes his job seriously. He follows the protocol of the court to the letter and tries to show himself above reproach, no matter the situation. Firecely loyal to his liege lord and a master with the sword, Jarin carves a wide swathe in battle and seems fearless in the face of danger.
4.) Doran Longford - Neutral Evil
Class: Black Mage
Although he may seem a young man, Doran's heart harbors a great amount of hate. While it is understood that black magic generally has nothing to do with the caster's personal beliefs/alignment, Doran pours his hatred and anger into his spells. Little is know about his past, but on can only surmise that something in it affects his moods and disposition.
Ordallia
1.) Emperor Devanne V (Serasker Dhibann) of Ordallia - Lawful Evil
Class: Serasker
The Emperor of Ordallia, and direct blood descendent of the Prophet-King of Dhalin al-Din, is a middle-aged man with the same olive complexion and raven hair as all pure-blooded Ordallians. Aside from his near-perpetual scowl and the graying hair at his temples, he looks rather young for his age; perhaps a man in his early thirties. Unlike his Romandan counterpart, Dhibann is a man who believes that his objectives regarding Ivalice are best resolved when Ivalice is either so weak that an invasion would be relatively inexpensive or, failing that, when peace exists between the two states.
The Emperor is also known to be an exceedingly patient man. "Men grow old and die," he wrote in his Bay'ah, "but the Religion persists when we have long since turned to dust. Many of our great battles are won not on the battlefields but in the minds of our subjects and the subjects of other lands. To that end, We shall endeavor to strive towards winning the battle for the minds of our subjects and the minds of foreign subjects insofar as is productive. Let Our anger be a patient thing, a creature we unchain when fire and steel must resolve questions that the quill cannot."
2.) Aq Sulaym ibn Himas Pasha, Voivode az-Zarakiyan - Lawful Neutral
Class: Emir
The Voivode of Zelamonia is a very social creature, throwing lavish balls and parties on a monthly basis. Relying upon a system of tariffs, he has managed to reduce taxes to some of the lowest they have ever been in Zelamonia. Despite this, he is almost universally loathed by native Zelamonians for his adoption of Zelamonian titles and custom. In the logic of the occupied, Aq Sulaym should act as an Ordallian, not as a Zelamonian. The Voivode is apparently unperturbed by the remarkably negative opinion he has cultivated.
3.) Suad ibn Daud Pasha, Miralai-i-Azam (Aghasi al-Dhalizun) - Lawful Evil
Class: Zealot
Colonel-General Suad is perhaps best known for the religious zeal that guides him. The Dhalizun's commanders have always been predisposed towards zealotry -- itself a small surprise, as the Dhalizun have been called the 'Sword of the Prophet-King' for centuries -- but Suad Pasha is himself remarkably zealous even by Dhalizun standards. He received command after the previous Colonel-General was martyred in battle against the Touten and, since that moment, has persecuted the war against Ivalice with a cunning that is matched only by his brutality.
Colonel-General Suad is almost universally despised for his tactics during the Siege of Sal Ghidos. He captured a hundred civilians, clapped them in irons, and paraded them before the city. He ordered the garrison commander to surrender; the commander refused. Suad then ordered every civilian, including a number of women and children, beheaded while the garrison watched. He repeated this process three times before the garrison commander surrendered. Suad accepted this surrender in his typically brutal fashion -- by sacking the city.
4.) Absi Najam Pasha, Balukasi al-Ghizkhazun - Neutral Good
Class: Outrider
Commandant Absi Najam hails from the northern steppes of Ordallia and, like most young boys from his homeland, he learned to ride before he learned to walk. Having spent much of his life in the saddle, Absi Najam is intimately familiar with scouting, tracking, and leading men -- all talents that have served him extremely well in the Emperor's Hosts. Absi Najam is also remarkably talented with the bow; he once shot a raven on the wing during a Ghwarzian martial demonstration for the Emperor.
The Commandant is extremely utilitarian in the prosecution of war. While he has shown no squeamishness, he has regularly allowed civilians to flee before torching villages and allowed prisoner exchanges with the Nanten, earning him a much more honorable reputation in the eyes of his opponents. In his Bay'ah, the Commandant declared "when facing a scenario in which an enemy offers me a choice, I shall always ask myself 'which of these options will best serve the Scion of the Prophet?' and execute that option to the best of my ability." While some Ordallians complain that he's too soft on the Ivalicians, none have dared claim he has contradicted his Bay'ah.
5.) Hassan Nasr ibn Hassan Pasha, Kapudan-i-Azam - Lawful Neutral
Class: Marine
Of the seven al-Wazrah, the Grand Admiral perhaps has the most checkered reputation. Hassan Nasr ibn Hassan was born in the trade city of Warjilis. The only thing he ever learned of his father was that his name was Hassan and he was a sailor from Laqant. His mother, an Ivalician, raised him to be Ivalician and follow the Church of Glabados. And while he has joined the Religion, and rendered service until the Emperor for decades, his name is still regularly smeared; he is mocked regularly in social circles. But never to his face -- after killing six men for tarnishing his honor, the socialites got the idea and started resorting to more indirect methods of character assassination.
Despite the contempt he faces on a regular basis, the Grand Admiral is a legendary work horse. He, apparently, uses the spite to fuel his energies and projects, sometimes completing nigh-impossible tasks by sheer force of personality. He successfully established a naval base on Nelveska, an island widely reputed to be the most hostile land in the world, and has repeatedly crushed the Ivalician navies in both pitched battles and thousands of small skirmishes. Additionally, the Grand Admiral was instrumental in delivering the Romandan Expeditionary Corps to Fovoham, having crushed the Hokuten Navy off the coast of Eagrose three days before the beach assault.
6.) Abu Mustafa Pasha, Pasha-i-Azam - Neutral Good
Class: Dark Knight
Grand General Abu Mustafa is, perhaps, everything the Grand Admiral is not. While Hassan Nasr attacks tasks deemed impossible, Abu Mustafa is extremely conservative. While Hassan Nasr rigorously pursues the enemy, Abu Mustafa merely seizes ground. And while Hassan Nasr is almost universally scorned in social circles, Abu Mustafa is considered the pinnacle of martial breeding: cautious but courageous, intelligent but humble, and talented but careful.
And Abu Mustafa is just barely competent. His orders, by and large, are "creatively interpreted" by his underlings, chief among them the Grand Colonel and Commandant of the Ghizkhazun Host. The old adage of "a general in the field outranks a politician at home" is often used against him. In practice, Abu Mustafa's role is primarily one of organization and logistics, the sole role at which he excels.
7.) Yazid al-Kartal Pasha, Vizier-i-Azam - Lawful Good
Class: Mediator
The Grand Vizier is the very picture of an elderly gentleman: exceedingly polite, well-learned, interested in productive pursuits, and stern-but-fair towards his subordinates, many of whom view him as a sort of grandfatherly figure. The soft-spoken Grand Vizier has governed longer than any other Grand Vizier in history -- a losing proposition, in most cases, since Grand Viziers are typically executed before they can retire. But these things, apparently, only apply to mortals and the elderly statesman is not subject to the rules of mere men.
If Yazid is said to have a flaw, it is that he works too much. Upon his frail shoulders he carries the weight of the Empire and, were he a lesser man, it would break him. But the greatest tragedy of Yazid's life is this: had he been born of the Mirza line, he could have turned Ordallia into the greatest empire, past or future. But as it is, he is stuck mitigating the fallout from poor decisions made by his colleagues and superiors, micromanaging often incompetent junior ministers, and handling much of the war effort.
8.) Khalida al-Zarqa, Emira al-Zalteniyyah - Lawful Neutral
Class: Emir
The Emira is a rare specimen: a female governess, the sixth woman to hold a post of such importance. This distinction, however, is rather temporary: it is not a goal of the Empire to annex al-Zalteniyyah into the Empire, and so her posting as Emira will likely prove short-lived. There is speculation that her administration of the province is merely to improve her acceptability as a wife to the King of Romanda -- who previously rejected her as a candidate for his son, citing her dearth of administrative experience, something highly desired in a country where women typically run the household.
In terms of efficiency, the Emira has been hamstrung by the Colonel-General's sheer brutality: it is extremely difficult to convince the people that you're looking out for their best interests when your predecessor was perfectly happy to slaughter them by the hundred. Despite this, she endeavors to do well in the eyes of the Emperor. This has, however, become something of a losing proposition.
9.) Jalut ibn Maliki, Khattab ad-Din - Lawful Evil
Class: Deamgogue
Khattab Jalut is a passionate man, a man whose dedication to the Religion is matched only by his zeal. While the Colonel-General channels his zealotry into martial pursuits, Jalut pursues the more sophisticated ecclesiastic arts. Specifically, Jalut is extremely good at speaking to people, at stoking the fires of their emotions, at galvanizing them towards some subject or other. He approaches it methodically, keeping his blood cool even calls for the destruction of nations.
But Jalut is not a man without ambition. The Hafiz, his superior, was elected at an abnormally young age. Jalut knows he is very unlikely to ever succeed him and, as such, has secretly been gathering evidence to see to the Hafiz's removal and exile. Jalut's cause, however, has not proved particularly successful.
10.) Suleiman ibn al-Yusa, Hafiz ad-Din - Lawful Good
Class: Hierophant
According to Suleiman, being Hafiz is the single most overrated job a man can hold. In addition to the myriad proscriptions that other priests must abide by, which range from celibacy to living as paupers, the Hafiz is outright forbidden from speaking to anyone outside the uppermost echelons of the Church. Indeed, aside from candid conversations with the Emperor -- who, by virtue of his sheer political power, is similarly isolated from his underlings -- the position as Hafiz may be the most lonesome position in the entire world.
Further complicating this is Suleiman's strained relationship with Jalut. Jalut, who harbors a resentment towards Suleiman that the former thinks he has well concealed, smolders over the fact that Suleiman was elected over him. In actuality, Jalut was spared the sheer soul-crushing isolation imposed upon Suleiman by the title of Hafiz. For a man who lived most of his life as an extrovert, heavy is the burden of the Hafiz.
Romandan Expeditionary Corps
1. King Johann ‘Nordaverdrox’ Karsid - Lawful Neutral
Class: Berserker, Dark Knight
The King of Romanda is perhaps best known for his violent resolution to the Romandan Succession Crisis. After gathering his three rivals to the holy ground of Mount Himibrak for parley, King Johann bribed the Icefields Wild Men to attack the gathering, slaughtering all three of his rivals and their karls. Shortly thereafter, Johann swept the rest of the resistance into the sea. His utilitarian brutality first earned him the title ‘the Harsh,’ but was later changed to ‘Axe of the North’ after his personal heroism in the war in Fovoham.
Johann I is a brutal utilitarian – as anyone who lived in the Icefields must be. He runs his kingdom as a meritocracy, paying no attention to anything other than competence. Accordingly, his son’s lack of martial prowess has greatly irked him – his disappointment is never far from the surface when attempting to interact with his son. His son’s apparent conversion to the “eastern gods” has further irked Johann I and potentially wrecked the possibility of Hakon’s ascension to the throne upon Johann’s death.
2. Jarl Hakon ‘Heidinn’ Karsid - Lawful Good
Class: Zealot
Jarl Hakon is the Crown Prince of Romanda and, controversially, Romanda’s single most significant convert to Dhalin ad-Din. He is known primarily as ‘the Heathen,’ though never to his face, Hakon is a devout adherent to ‘the Religion.’ While his father is widely regarded to be one of the most dangerous fighters in the world, Hakon is merely above-average. In a land as ruthlessly competitive as Romanda, “above-average” isn’t good enough for a prince.
Despite his apparent shortcomings, Hakon is a competent commander and an efficient fighter. He is, however, most notable for his administrative skills – another oddity, as running the household finances is usually considered woman’s work in Romanda. Despite his conversion, Hakon’s love of snarky comments and glib mockery continues unabashed.
3. Visikarl Jorn Arvidsson - Neutral Good
Class: Lancer
Jorn, Captain of the Karls, is perhaps best known for his strong code of personal ethics. As a man who often chafes under harsh orders, Jorn strives to do what he believes to be is the ‘good’ thing. He has been known to personally countermand orders from the King to carry out particularly destructive acts. In a more centralized kingdom, this would be grounds for termination and possible imprisonment: in Romanda, where orders are seen simply as guidelines, it is a confirmation of the traditional tribal leadership system of the island.
Jorn is also considered to be a particularly dangerous fighter with spear and shield. He is one of Romanda’s relatively few high-level commanders that does not embrace the way of the Berserkergang, placing his faith instead in steel and discipline.
4. Berserkr Alva ‘Odrox’ - Chaotic Neutral
Class: Berserker
Alva the ‘Furious Axe’ is perhaps most notable because she is one of the few female berserkers in all of Romandan history. While female warriors (shield-maidens) are far more common in Romanda than in Ivalice or Ordallia, female berserkers are not. It is a testament to her dedication and competence that she has not allowed his cultural stigma to impede her path.
Alva is a particularly violent specimen even by Berserker standards, having survived three separate Khamja assassination squads and numerous battles with Riovanes’ conventional forces. Over the course of the War of Succession and the War for Fovoham, she has consistently demonstrated the value of the berserkergang in pitched and isolated clashes against the more conventional and more disciplined forces employed by Grand Duke Barrington.
5. Myrkdrengr Adalrik ‘Dreyrugrsverd av Nordr’ Berensson - Lawful Evil
Class: Dark Knight
Myrkdrengr Adalrik, popularly known by the Romandans as the ‘Blood-Stained Sword of the North,’ is perhaps the single most resilient Dark Knight to have ever served Romanda. He fought in the previous invasion of Ivalice, the War of Succession, numerous tribal conflicts, and reportedly slew a full-grown Northern Dragon on one of his hunting expeditions. Adalrik is arguably more of a folk hero than the King.
Public opinion aside, Adalrik lives by a very strict personal code, one that requires him to regularly pit his strength against some of the most dangerous people and monsters in the known world. Adalrik has also managed to unite the oft-quarrelsome Dark Knights of Romanda together in service of the Crown, an act that would have been entirely implausible a mere generation ago. By sheer strength of will, Adalrik has carved his name into the runestones alongside the heroes of old.
6. Jarl Jorid Johannsdattir - Lawful Neutral
Class: Princess
Jarl Jorid is, perhaps, more Johann’s heir than her half-brother Hakon is. While Hakon was busy twitting away his time and energies, Jorid was busy educating herself and learning all she possibly could about the kingdom and the wider world. While her father is off away campaigning in Ivalice proper, it has fallen to Jorid to administrate the kingdom in his absence – to mediate petty disputes, collect taxes, and send men and materiel to the mainland.
But Jorid is not blind: she understands that, under Northern law, she cannot inherit the throne. By default, this means that the throne will fall to Hakon – which, in turn, means there will almost certainly be another War of Succession upon her father’s death. But Jorid is nothing if not ambitious and she aims to build up enough influence and support to ignore tradition and take the throne for herself, simultaneously nudging aside her incompetent brother and protecting the realm from civil war.
Khamja
1.) Mash’ewayad Khalid ibn Amad ibn Rashid al-Riddaya - Lawful Good
Class: Warlock
Khalid, son of Averro the Apostate, was the chief force behind the Khamja Schism and the subsequent demise of the Kham-Qayyah. Although now in his elder years, Khalid remains one of the most dangerous men in the known world. Despite his advancing years, which have led to some whispers in the Grand Duke Barrington's court that Khalid was losing his edge, the Mash'ewayad orchestrated the strike that killed Gustav III of Romanda and his only heir. In some ways, the world-weary assassin was single-handedly responsible for knocking Romanda out of the war for over a decade.
In the intervening years, however, Khalid has become more and more of a recluse. While he still leads the Khamja, he has increasingly delegated authority and increasingly encouraged initiative in his underlings, two things that were completely unheard of in the Kham-Qayyah. The old warlock is more interested in writing treatises on Averrianism than he is on signing death warrants.
2.) Walid Sind al-Zibayr Zal - Chaotic Good
Class: Assassin
Walid Sind, known more simply simply as 'Walid Zal' (Walid the Shadow), is the last of the old guard of the Kham-Qayyah. While he technically did not follow Khalid as part of the Khamja Schism, he did abandon Ordallia roughly a decade later when the Kham-Qayyah was formally disbanded after its dismal failure in attempting to assassinate Denamda II of Ivalice. Despite being a relatively late-comer to the Khamja, he nonetheless earned his place in the group and, by virtue of simply being younger, managed to outlive most of the old hands.
Walid Zal is perhaps best known in Ivalice as being something of a loose cannon by assassin standards. While Khalid spent most of his life micro-managing his assassins, Walid Zal somehow always managed to find a way to obey orders while simultaneously doing his own thing. In most cases, 'doing his own thing' meant wandering the countryside, cutting throats of people he deemed to be evil: bandits, corrupt guards, abusive husbands, and the sort. Interestingly, his willingness to avoid wholesale slaughter when eliminating targets of importance has been criticized by those in the Grand Duke's court, who view his desire to avoid unnecessary killing as squeamishness. Of course, they never say as much to his face.
3.) Matar ibn Kasim al-Rimal Wikar - Neutral
Class: Assassin
Matar, son of Kasim, is more commonly known simply as 'al-Rimal Wikar' ('The Sand Walker'). His allegiance to the Khamja is perhaps something of a surprise; he is best known as the first Ordallian to travel all the lands between Rozzaria and Romanda, writing his now famous 'Travel Records of a Freedman: the Journeys of Matar ibn Kasim.' And yet, in one of Khalid's most conniving maneuvers, the great cartographer and explorer of Ordallia is in actuality a Khamja assassin.
Matar, for his part, has been a less active assassin than most of his counterparts. He has, however, been accumulating a wealth of information on his trips, almost all of which has gone to the Khamja. Much of the information that has remained has been carefully edited to influence the Ordallian court, primarily with the intent of encouraging Ordallia to commit to long, bloody wars with Ivalice instead of pursuing wars against the vastly weaker states in the far east.
4.) Mash’ewayad Rashid ibn Khalid al-Riddaya al-Djinn Matsul - Neutral Good
Class: Thaumaturgist
Rashid, son of Khalid, is the heir apparent of the Khamja warlord. But unlike his father, Rashid is not a warlock in the traditional sense. Rather, Rashid is a 'Djinn Matsul,' a Djinn-Caller, a magi of sufficient enough power to bend the great Djinni to his will. While the Khamja typically prefer to eliminate their targets quietly and from the shadows, Rashid ibn Khalid simply prefers overwhelming displays of power.
Rashid is perhaps best known for his unusual penchant for being involved in pitched battles. The Khamja typically shy away from large-scale conflicts, but Rashid has regularly led cadre of summoners and magi in battle against the Romandans. This is regarded as reckless by the old guard, but the younger assassins turn a blind eye.[/u]
5.) Mudrik Jidr ibn Hamdin - Neutral
Class: Ninja
Mudrik Jidr is one of two ninja apprenticed to Walid Zal. While not yet a full assassin, Mudrik Jidr has demonstrated his competence at striking from the shadows in numerous missions alongside Walid Zal. He has been deemed not quite ready for a final test, but has nonetheless earned the respect of his superiors for his fierce dedication and unassuming manner.
Mudrik Jidr has not allowed his long apprenticeship to dull his spirits. According to Kham-Qayyah logs, it was quite common for aspiring assassins to spend upwards of a decade in service to their superiors before earning an opportunity to complete the Rite -- which many of them failed and, of those who survived failure, would go on to spend several more years as an apprentice.
6.) Larisa Malenkov az-Zarakiyus - Chaotic Good
Class: Ninja
Larisa, known amongst the Khamja simply as 'az-Zarakiyus' ('The Zelamonian'), was originally a refugee from Zelamonia who sought safe haven in Zeltennia. During one mission, Larisa saw Walid Zal murder a particularly corrupt Ivalician guard captain. Apparently seeing some value in her, Walid Zal offered her an opportunity to escape the city's notoriously anti-Zelamonian policies. A year later, Larisa became the first ethnic Zelamonian to join the Khamja.
Despite being the proverbial 'new girl' to the Khamja, which has traditionally been a men's club, Larisa's apprenticeship to the legendary Walid Zal has earned her some respect -- and resentment -- from other apprentices. She only sporadically accompanies Walid Zal on missions, she has nonetheless proven herself to be a talented fighter and is expected to complete her apprenticeship not long after Mudrik Jidr completes his.
The Corpse Brigade
1.) Commandant Wiegraf Folles - Chaotic Good
Class: Holy Knight
Wiegraf is the kind of man that, when alone, is extremely dangerous. But put him at the head of a revolution hell-bent on destroying the Ivalician aristocracy and he transcends mere labels such as 'dangerous.' Ordallia and Romanda merely threaten Ivalice's political borders -- Wiegraf threatens the very social order of the kingdom, threatening to destroy a feudal system that dates back to the demise of the Holy Yudoran Empire centuries ago.
Despite his outward appearance as a demagogue, Wiegraf is in actuality a shrewd and cold leader, one who isn't afraid to compromise on ideology when necessary. In many respects, he embodies the attributes of the honorable noble knight -- he is an intellectual, concerned with the lot of the poor, and highly motivated to serve and protect the people. It is precisely because this model is not followed by any of the so-called 'nobles' that Wiegraf has revolted. Despite the rhetoric, it's not about pay and it's not about destroying the aristocracy -- it's about cutting out the rot and putting the corrupt to the sword.
2.) Captain Gustav Margueriff - Chaotic Neutral
Class: Hero
Gustav Margueriff has the distinction of being Wiegraf's second-in-command and, for all intents and purposes, the leader of an entirely separate Corpse Brigade. While Wiegraf's forces push for upending the established social order primarily on the grounds of ideology, Gustav realizes that you cannot feed a starving babe with ideas. Accordingly, Gustav has taken to less-than-savory practices to earn gil, ranging from legitimate business enterprises to protection rackets.
Gustav's methods have caused him to clash regularly with Wiegraf, who believes they should be leading by example, not extorting the commonfolk. Gustav would argue that pay is vital, seeing as how the revolt started because the Corpse Brigade wasn't paid, and that ensuring a reliable salary for 'the troops' is the best way to ensure loyalty and to increase the recruitment pool. But despite these limited disagreements, both men firmly agree that what they are doing is right and, indeed, necessary for the peasants of Ivalice.
3.) Lieutenant Milleuda Folles - Chaotic Neutral
Class: Spellsword
If Wiegraf has any single problem, it's that he's not passionate enough. Milleuda, however, does not have that problem. Even amongst the Corpse Brigade, which is largely filled with highly motivated -- and highly disenfranchised -- young warriors, Milleuda stands out as a veritable maelstrom of commitment and drive. While Wiegraf originally orchestrated the revolt to get what was due his men -- back pay and pensions, primarily -- it was Milleuda who influenced him to focus instead on directly threatening to overthrow the aristocracy.
While Gragoroth is busy raiding caravans and Gustav is busy extorting peasants, Milleuda has begun organizing audacious raids on Hokuten scouting parties and small groups of knights. He raids in the Mandalian Plains, which once came within bowshot of Eagrose Castle, have earned her a great deal of infamy -- and a very large bounty on her head.
4.) Lieutenant Gragoroth Levigne - Chaotic Evil
Class: Knight
Gragoroth is not like his subordinates; he is not some unlettered peasant playing at war. Rather, he is the son of a minor noble and hails from the far-away city of Sal Ghidos. He enlisted in the Grand Duke Barrington's forces shortly after an influx of refugees brought the plague to his fair city. It was after a rather catastrophic defeat at hands of the Axe of the North that Gragoroth, along with the rest of his unit, was refused pay. Irate at having risked his life and earned a three broken bones for a man who wouldn't even pay him, Gragoroth and his small squad joined Wiegraf's rebellion.
In the time since, Gragoroth has changed dramatically. Once a young man who wrote (bad) poetry and who enjoyed life under the civil authorities of the kingdom, Gragoroth has turned into a sour, cynical man -- and a rebel of the worst kind. While the Folles siblings strive to defend the commoner, Gragoroth simply does not care; if peasant blood gets him what he wants, then he will water the earth with it. He has recently taken to raiding, waylaying caravans from Lesalia to Riovanes.
5. Boco the Vengeful - Chaotic Neutral
Class: Badass Chocobo
Some would call Boco weak. They may be right. Some would call Boco stupid. And they, too, may be right. But Boco, wisely or not, doesn't take shit from anyone. Amongst the Corpse Brigade he has earned a reputation for his ferocious temper, his proclivity to peck wildly at anyone who so much as darkens his proverbial door, and to fly into a berserk rage at the drop of a hat.
It is not immediately clear how Wiegraf has tamed this tempest masquerading as a chocobo. What is clear, however, is that Boco would brave the wild forests, go toe-to-toe with entire goblin tribes, and fight to his very last feathery hurrah on behalf of his master.
Besrudio's Braves
1.) Besrudio Bunansa - Neutral Good
Class: Machinist
Besrudio Bunansa, current patriarch of the storied Bunansa Clan, has always been a man who likes discovering how things work. In that respect, digging through the wreckage of the Clockwork City and piecing together artifacts from an era before the quakes and floods was one of his most beloved past times -- even if the lack of a steady income did create some tension with Mrs. Bunansa.
Besrudio has spent most of his life trying to figure out how things work and, when possible, using these things to benefit the people of the Clockwork City. The string of windmills that dot the bluffs overlooking the Burgoss Ocean are, at least in part, derived from his own tinkering; Besrudio figured out how to improve the efficiency of the mill stones in low-wind weather, a process that involved the use of high-tension springs and the creative application of ground chocobo horn. And when he isn't digging in the ancient wreckage of the Clockwork City, he's spelunking, searching for lost artifacts.
2.) Mustadio Bunansa - Chaotic Good
Class: Machinist
Mustadio is, in many ways, the diametric opposite of his father. While Besrudio enjoys digging through the city's past, Mustadio prefers digging through caves halfway across Lionel. While Besrudio prefers civil engineering, Mustadio prefers making things that go 'boom.' Mustadio has even traveled as far afield as Romanda, lending his knowledge of machinery to the construction of Romanda's aerodrome. And then he felt like a jerk after Romanda resumed the war a year later.
But when he's not crushing on shield maidens, digging through ancient caves, or fiddling with high explosives, Mustadio's very much like his dad: he enjoys a social gathering and lots of alcohol. His hard-won status as the city's boy genius is only rivaled by his reputation as the city's chief Romeo.
3.) Barich Fendsor - Lawful Evil
Class: CYBORG!
Barich Fendsor is a man who resents his colleagues. To him, the Bunansa clan is overly obsessed with the peasants and far, far too prone to frivolities. Moreover, Barich is constantly frustrated by the willingness of the two to focus on entirely pedestrian work, such as copying down cave paintings or repairing broken wagon axles. Barich maintains that knowledge is power and that under no circumstances should his knowledge be bartered away for good will. A man cannot eat good will.
Barich has always pushed the envelope. When Mustadio developed the Clockwork Rifle, capable of reliably hitting targets out to a hundred yards, Barich's first question was "how can we adapt this design for greater efficiency?" In his pursuit of ever-increasing potency, Barich has taken to wearing what he calls "robotic prosthetics," pneumatically-powered robot limbs that allow him to lift more weight and run faster. And, when he thinks no one is watching, he tinkers with the design in his workshop, adding weapons salvaged from the Clockwork City's slums and stolen from Besrudio's warehouse.
4.) Yorathai the Wanderer - Neutral
Class: Samurai
Yorathai is a traveler from the distant Orient who was shipwrecked in the nearby swamps by a rogue storm. It was mostly by luck that she was found by Mustadio, whose 'rifle' intrigued her so much she decided to stay and discover what other "wonders" the Bunansa clan had discovered. Despite having seen much of it in action multiple times, she still approaches the machinery with a sense of wonder and regularly posits her theory that the machines are animated by the dead.
Despite the fact that she is in many ways a simple person, she is not quite the simpleton that Barich claims. She was sent to Ivalice to evaluate the possibility of an alliance between her home and Ivalice against Ordallian aggression, but has thus far been unable to reach the capital or obtain an audience with a particularly important individual. Instead, she's resolved to somehow smuggle samples of this technology back to her people in the hopes that firearms would allow them to more effectively resist the Ordallians.
Baert Trading Company
1.) Viscount Ludovich Baert - Neutral Evil
Class: Merchant Prince
Viscount Baert, despite his title, is a thug with no real sense of propriety. If he is in a position of power, he's not above reneging on a deal to further his own ends. Baert is, above all else, out for Baert; the rest of the world can burn for all he cares, so long as, at the settling of accounts, Baert comes out ahead of where he was. Accordingly, he runs the city of Goug like his own personal kingdom.
When he's not busy orchestrating betrayals of business partners, murdering competitors, or orchestrating the downfall of rival shipping companies through the selective use of "privateers," Baert does work for the Church. His relationship with Cardinal Delacroix, while strained at times, has proven exceptionally lucrative.
2.) Pietro Farro the Red - Chaotic Evil
Class: Spellsword
Pietro Farro, known as 'Pietro the Red' for his remarkable skill with red magic, is Viscount Baert's chief enforcer. He is a man with even fewer scruples than his nominal master. He has been known to burn entire ships and clap entire crews in irons solely so he could sail to Laqant and offload them at the single largest slaver city in the known world. Pietro Farro's warship, The Screaming Maiden, was previously a warship in the Ordallian Southern Fleet. At least until he brazenly attacked a ship twice the size of his and with three times the crew, only to somehow emerge victorious.
According to popular legend, Pietro the Red has been hanged twice, shot six times, drowned, burned, struck by lightning, and has been involved in four shipwrecks. The people of Lionel widely believe that he is simply immortal and, if given the choice, would much rather simply run away than encounter him. He is currently the most wanted man in Ivalice and relishes the attention.
3.) Fabrizio Natale the Mercer - Neutral Evil
Class: Alchemist
Fabrizio Natale is perhaps the best known purveyor of clothing in Lionel. Indeed, his designs influence fashion as far away as Gallione, where young men and ladies consider wearing "the Mercer's finest" to be a symbol of status. This success, combined with a mutually beneficial relationship with the Viscount, has led Fabrizio Natale to almost preposterous levels of wealth.
When he's not enjoying his solid gold furniture, Fabrizio can be found in his basement lab, twisting the laws of physics and creating monstrosities to unleash upon Viscount Baert's rivals. According to rumor, the Tiamat strain was developed in his lab. Unfortunately for the civil authorities, they've thus far been unable to link Fabrizio's lab to anything more than a few foul-smelling adhesives used in the production of his nigh-legendary clothing line.
4.) Jayyah Zubaidah al-Ghwazhari Natale - Neutral
Class: Surgeon
Zubaidah al-Ghwazhari, a former slave captured in one of Pietro the Red's innumerable raids, was born the only daughter of a soldier-turned-deserter and a surgeon. After her father's ignominious desertion in Vaseria, she and her mother were both enslaved by the vindictive Suad ibn Daud. They were to be shipped to Romanda as a good faith gesture to the new king there, but along the way were waylaid by Pietro the Red, who apparently had enough audacity to attack, capture, and take for his own a double-deck Ordallian warship.
Pietro promptly sold the girl and her ailing mother to Fabrizio Natale, who claimed he needed a lab assistant. Zubaidah took the title Jayyah, 'Surgeon,' some time later. In the intervening years, sometime after the death of Zubaidah's mother, the two married. This caused no small amount of alarm in Ivalice, which had been at war with Ordallia since before either of the two had been born. But after Zubaidah's nominal conversion to the Church of Glabados and the subsequent blessing of Cardinal Delacroix, who appeared at the ceremony with a magnificent new regalia, the union was begrudgingly accepted. When Zubaidah's not busy setting bones and mending cuts of Ludovich Baert's more dubious employees, she's joining her husband in his less-than-orthodox experiments on the nature of monsters and men.
5.) Radic Santic the Butcher - Neutral
Class: Civilian
In all of Ludovich Baert's wide network of agents and thugs, Radic Santic of Zelamonia is perhaps the most eccentric. Known throughout the entire city of Goug as the best butcher in town, he has parlayed his skill with knife and cleaver to earn handsome amounts of money on the side. Whenever the Viscount needs someone flayed alive, or a body dismembered and 'disappeared,' he calls Radic, known in the seedy underworld as 'The Cadaver Cleaner.' Which is in itself odd, as it's doubtful many of the Viscount's underlings can even spell "cadaver."
Radic, for his part, doesn't ask any questions or make any waves. To him, disposing of a corpse really isn't all that different from disposing of a chocobo or what-have-you. As always, it's simply a matter of cleaning the bones, destroying the more distinct ones such as the skull, and devising a method with which to sell the meat. As everyone in the business knows, one does not buy 'Butcher's Choice' from Radic. Ever.
Church of Glabados
1.) High Confessor Marcel Funebris - Chaotic Neutral
Class: High Confessor
High Confessor Marcel Funebris is the leader of the Church of Glabados and overseer of the Knights Templar. While he is viewed by the general populace as an ostentatious and pious cleric, he is willing to go to whatever ends it requires to spread the influence and power of the church.
Knights Templar
2.) Commander Folmarv Tengille - Neutral Evil
Class: Divine Knight
Command Folmarv Tengille is the leader of the Knightly Order of Glabados, also known as the Knights Templar. Secretly, he is the host of the Lucavi demon Hashmal and while the demon cannot yet show his true form, he influences Folmarv via whisperings and visions in his mind.
3.) Bishop Simon Penn-Lachish - Lawful Good
Class: Pagan Examiner
Bishop Simon belongs to the Church of Glabados' Examination Hereticum, wherein he holds the office of Pagan Examiner. While one would instantly associate his office with that of a hardened interrogator, Bishop Simon is actually a tender-hearted man and should one happen to walk by an "examination" one could hear him pleading with the accused to repent.
4.) Captain Loffrey Wodring - Neutral Evil
Class: Divine Knight
Loffrey, who serves as a second of Folmarv Tengille, is a soft-spoken but hard-actioned member of the Knights Templar.
5.) Cletienne Duroi - Neutral Evil
Class: Sorceror
While Cletienne may not look the part, due to his age, he is a masterful sorceror. He serves as the left-hand man of Folmarv Tengille and is completely loyal.
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