Everard (NE):[] Clanhead of the Mered Clan in Loban, Everard is a middle aged Villein in service to Lord Kathel. His farm just outside of town has several hounds, and he owns almost all his own tools. When the third child disappeared, he led the population by writing (himself!) a document demanding that Lord Kathel do something about the disappearances, and declaring that the undersigned Villeins and Serfs would refuse to harvest the crop until they were protected by their lawful lord. Every Villein and Serf in Loban signed or made his mark to the document. When presented to Lord Kathel, he exploded in fury, and had Everard locked up in the dungeon. He has been there ever since. While visited daily by his wife or daughter with fresh food and clean clothes, his health has taken a turn for the worse. Through it all, he has remained adamant and refuses to recant the document, a fact that the mere mention of sends Lord Kathel into a tirade.(Back to Top)

Darin (E):[** ** **] A wiry muscular young looking man with grey blue eyes, tanned skin and an easy smile. He has short cropped light brown hair with the exception of a 8 inch braided tail of around a quarter inch in diameter which runs from the back of his neck down inside his armour. His youthful face is marred by the presence of a long ragged scar down his left chee from just under his eye to just under his ear - a scar he sometimes runs a finger along unconsciously when considering a dangerous situation to ward himself from foolishness. His clothing is of good quality and is well cared for, as are his weapons. When time presents itself he can often be found deep in thought, puffing slowly on his pipe - an image that seems strangly both incongruous and expected at the same time. (Back to Top)

Galley (NE):[] Guardsman assigned to Gwythain's group, Galley is obviously very well thought of by his commander. His odd accent suggests a nautical background and an origin far from Loban. (Back to Top)

Gwythain, Squire to Lord Kathel (E):[** ** **] Armored in a worn chain shirt, this brown, longhaired man is quite handsome if grim. He was very eager when first entering Lord Kathel's service, but since the botched raid last year, has grown silent and serious. While patrolling to the north, as is his wont, he stumbled across and captured the three Taelda prisoners. He vocally disputed Lord Kathel's acessment that they were responsible for the disappearances, but has since said nothing about it. His dealings with the Mercenary band at the Miner's camp have been cold, though he does seem to have a tenuous relationship with the Mercenary Lieutenant Seryph. Formerly a favorite of Lord Kathel when he went out on his boar hunts, since the raid he has excused himself from all social occasions with the Baron.(Back to Top)

Hald Hamsson (E):[*] An older man in his late 50s, Hald can usually be found at Mrs. Whitney's Pie shoppe or at the miner's camp plying his trade -- Astrology. With very little information about his clients, he claims to be able to see their futures. He does this with the aid of a small age-worn book in his possession filled with complex charts, tables and graphs, most of it written in a runic text.(Back to Top)

Lord Kathel, Lord of Loban and Baron of LobanKeep (E):[** ** *] A giant of a man, 6' 8" tall, and incredibly strong, Lord Kathel also carries his families sword with him, "Sundering", won in the Crestfall campaign by his Grandfather, the namesake of Loban. It is a huge, heavy bastard sword, encrusted with precious gems, and is _never_ far from its master. Kathel has thick, black hair, and a short beard that could use a trim. He is also seldom far from a tankard of brandy, and his breath usually shows it. Raised much of his life at the Keep of Lord Ternal in Wythian being trained as a knight, he moved to Loban at the death of his father. He is expert at tournament jousting and is very fond of wild boar hunts. His temper is explosive, and his hatred of the savage Taelda he blames for the death of both his grandfather and his father knows no bounds.(Back to Top)

Martin the Hermit (NE):[] Rumored to be able to heal animals, it is said Martin has a hut north-west of Loban in the deeply forested hills between Loban and the Taeldean village. On his infrequent visits to Loban, he is usually approached by farmers who have ill animals. While many laugh behind their hands at the silent hermit, all respect his knowledge on animal husbandry. According to Thorvald, Martin is a man of few words, he seemed to refresh Thorvald's two very tired mules. This both helped and harmed them -- Thorvald thought they were much more rested and pushed them a bit too hard to get as far from Loban as he could.(Back to Top)

Maud, wife of Valdaen (E):[** ** **] Middle aged women, still pretty in a healthy robust way in her own right, she was born and raised in Loban. She is an experienced cook, does the books for Valdaen, and knows everyone in town. No nonsense and to the point, she wishes there was more trade with Orbaal that would increase the traffic on the Fur Road. Terrified of the savage Taelda, she still does not believe them responsible for the missing children.(Back to Top)

Rialla (N):[** ** **] Tall, buxom girl with a slight accent, Rialla came with a caravan from Orbaal six years ago and stayed. Long brown hair cascades down her shoulders, giving her a wanton appearance. With a good bath and some help she would be very pretty, but renting a back room from the innkeeper, she works hard to earn her keep in all that needs done at the Inn. While willful looking, she seems quite intelligent and friendly, if a bit distant from too much coarse handling by the ever-eager miners that visit the Inn to drink and complain.(Back to Top)

Rufio (E):[** ** **] Young lad of eight years, Rufio is usually totally silent. He has taken a liking to Valdaen, and for the past few months has been helping out at the Inn. His favorite thing to do is to play upon his small tin whistle, a small flute-like instrument. (Back to Top)

Seryph, Mercenary leader (E):[** ** **] Having long blond hair, tightly tied into three braids, Seryph has a brownleather eye patch covering her right eye. Tall and strong looking, she is armored in ringmail and carries the usual broadsword of the Fireblades, the mercenary company she is presently a member of. She has little patience with farmers, and a nasty temper when questioned or by any man. She obviously greatly respects Gwythain, though why is unknown. (Back to Top)

Sharn, Goblin Captain (E):[*] A thickset Hobgoblin with incredible strength, his piercing eyes and excellent common revealed how intelligent he was. He ordered the search halted once the flatface was captured and interrogated it. Deciding to push on with the main body, he dispatched one of his lieutenants -- Sreshnerack, to take their new prisoner with them to their assigned destination.(Back to Top)

Sreshnerack, Goblin Lieutenant (E):[*] A tall, thin Hobgoblin, Sreshnerack did not seem particularly intelligent, but his inhuman strength rivaled that of his Captain and his vindictive cruelty was a constant torment for his human captive. (Back to Top)

Taeldaen girl (NE):[] Estimated at about 13-15 years old, the pretty young girl is dressed in leather skins, with furry pelts tied to her shoulders, her waist and her ankles. Light leather boots complete her outfit. Her tussled black hair is cut short to about ear length, sitting on her head like a mop top. Her dark green eyes are very big and round, but there is a calm seriousness about her that belies her young years. She does not appear to speak common.(Back to Top)

Tallow (E):[** ** **] A young lad of 17 years, Tallow is rather gawky, his voice constantly changing pitch. Prone to stutter, he is rather strong, and helps Valdaen with the stables and repairs at the Inn. Very shy, he obviously has a colossal crush on Rialla, who studiously ignores the smitten boy. (Back to Top)

Thorvald, Orbaalese merchant (E):[** ** *] Blond and middle-aged, Thorvald is dressed in a travel stained T-tunic and breeches of an Orbaalese merchant. A blue braided rope belt and a large silver brooch pinning his red cloak show his station to be above the norm, as does the silver handled knife at his belt. His wagon is painted bright yellow, with hooks every few inches from which hang every imaginable household good - pan, pots of all sizes, lanterns, rope, baskets and barrels. Thorvald only recently passed through Loban on his way to Wythian, his main stop. Not even stopping for the night, he pushed on, meeting the party the next day. A Friendly, jovial man, he had very intelligent eyes that seemed riveted upon the beautiful Hanna.(Back to Top)

Valdaen, Innkeeper of the Ambarian Inn (E):[** ** **] Native to Loban, Valdaen runs the Ambarian Inn, paying a monthly rent and annual 'stipend' to Lord Kathel, its owner. Rather portly, he is very friendly and given to passing out unwanted advice to all. While he yells constantly at Tallow, he has come to genuinely like the hard-working boy. Affectionate to his wife, Maud, they are childless and seem to enjoy their work caring for the Inn and its residents. While traffic on the Fur Road has dropped off, the Miners are a constant source of income added on to by the infrequent traveler. Filled with energy, Valdaen seems to be the first one up in the morning and the last one to bed.(Back to Top)

Richard, Squire to Lord Kathel (E):[** ** **] Youngest son of a landed family, William spent much of his youth in the capital city of Tashal. Obviously a bit disappointed with his posting out on the Kingdom's frontier, he sees the exodus of the Taelda has a wonderful portent for the expansion north that could make Loban into a major trading city. Well trained as a knight, he is rather disdainful of the "peasants" and of merchant folk, the "money-grubbers" who wear clothes above their station. While he looks down on the miners, he strongly advocated hiring the Fireblades, a traveling mercenary band to protect them when the "troubles" started. William helped led the raid last year on the Taelda village, and views the Taelda as pests to be exterminated.(Back to Top)

Mrs. Whitney (E):[*] Operator of a small pie shop in Loban, off the road a bit, near the Ambarian river, Mrs. Whitney is a middle aged widow, with quite a bit of spunk. Her family has been in Loban from its founding and is well respected in town, even by Lord Kathel. Her husband was killed in a rare goblin raid 12 years ago, and her son was killed in an accident on the river 8 years ago. Without batting an eye, the strong willed Mrs. Whitney opened up a pie shop that supplies the Ambarian Inn and the keep with bread, sweet meats and desserts. She also has a sister in Wythian who travels once a year to Loban and helps her out. But Mrs. Whitney's 'bread and butter' is her unofficial grog bar in the back. When she's open, Mrs. Whitney hangs a sheaf of rye on the lintel of her door, and the locals come calling for her fresh brewed quickbeer and meade. Even in the better days, when there was more traffic up the Fur Road, her place was always a 'locals' hangout. In these dark days of terror and dispute, it is even more so.(Back to Top)