#assane

Assane, Farmer Iberlin, Tyrelle and Saevyon Koshanse

I've illustrated a couple of very lovely NPCs for @GamesUnbound's Rumor Broker's Ledger of Names!

Thank you for giving me such a wonderful opportunity to work alongside so many skillful creatives. :>

The Rumor Broker’s Ledger of Names is a collection of 50 non-player characters (NPCs) created with intricate backstory, personal motivations, and full rules for where they can be encountered as well as what they might do for the party if so inclined.

Check out the compendium here!

As the man flung himself to the side, I tackled the woman. The knife she was holding descending towards neck, trying to take care of me so she could move on to the real target. After reaching near my neck, she threw her weight forward, trying to stand up. Having been spared the wound by moving, I wrapped my arms around her. The blade descended again, the center of both of our focuses, the slim edge my life balanced on. The arms were pulling her up. An eerie animal-like scream finally reached my ears.

“Miss! Let go! she’s in custody!” A man shouted. I let go as I finally caught up to the present. The arms and voice belonged to a duo of guards, who were holding the livid attacker, and I was the one who was screaming. I sagged as I stopped. 

“Take her back to the room. We’re done here.” A hard voice came from the direction of the princess, was the princess. Another guard picked me up and led the way, her following closely. I was laid on the couch as soon as we got upstairs. Then we were alone.

“Assane! You’re bleeding” I looked down at her outburst. There was blood on my arm and neck. 

“Who? What?” I mumbled, trying to make sense of what had happened.She shook her head and cleaned off the blood. A doctor soon arrived, as the room lost some of it’s homeliness, he treated the deeper wounds on my cheek and arm. The princess was stiff and quiet as he bandaged them.

“She’ll need to rest now. Dinner should arrive soon, then you’re both to sleep. You’re in shock as well, Your Highness.” He stood. 

“And should she be able to help tomorrow?” came the answer.

“Neither of you are leaving this room tomorrow. The meeting was cancelled, the hotel security is searching for more threats. No argument” He left, and she relaxed.

“Was hoping they’d cancel it for our safety.” The warmth had returned to her voice. I tried to rise at a knock on the door, but I was pushed gently back down. Despite my protest, she opened the door. It was only dinner though, which relieved me. It was transferred to the table and the women withdrew. I gave Enotuvra a dirty look as I rose and she reappeared with two plates.

“So, what’s your family like?” I asked, sitting back down.

“Well, My parents were strict. They were uh... very overbearing. Controlling my days very carefully. My little brother Cienin idolizes me. My older sisters..don’t know me very much, well one visits. All three moved out when I was young. Ryrx is a jeweler and blacksmith. Kina is a wife. She’s currently immensely pregnant with a son.” Enotuvra wrinkled her nose at that. I guess she wasn’t overly fond of the second oldest princess. Princess Kina was said to be a large spender too. “Zeni’ra is a seamstress. She visits when she can, of course. What about you?” 

“Oh. It’s just me and my mothers. Mamri wanted more children at one point but multiple factors prevented it. Including supporting another person without..unpleasant work.” I fell quiet as I thought over the family she’d told me about. Zyrxia Qinu and Yrxi Riscan had died of unknown cause 6 months ago. The mourning period was coming to an end, meaning Enotuvra was to be crowned. 

“Did your mothers hope for a boy or a girl?” Her voice broke through my thoughts.

Omg. It's dumb as fuck. It's literally dumb in terms of storytelling , so weak, so full of clichés but I'm hooked. I want to KNOW.

Okay, so short answer anon? A bunch of characters I made. Long answer under the cut

She reached out to touch them. I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing. They were sensitive, and her feather light touch tickled. 

“You’re actually...not joking” a soft response.

“It’s not something I’d declare if I wasn’t serious” I pulled out my make-up to hide them again. “From what it’s become, I don’t share it lightly. But, I knew you’d find out, sooner or later. So I thought I’d tell you, before you found out and took it the wrong way.” I looked up and met her crystal blue eye. Her ear frills flared slightly as our gazes locked. I relaxed my eyes, so they fell into their normal, slightly wider state. For several seconds, the air crackled with electricity. I ducked my head when I realized what was going on, focusing on narrowing my eyes again. 

“Assane.” I looked up in surprise, she’d never used my name before. “You are my sister. Or, I want to become like sisters. I’m glad you shared your secret with me.” She moved beside me. For a few minutes, we were just two teenagers. There was a knock on the door, and we became the Princess and her Translator again.

“Come in.” I called in both languages, at a nod from Princess Enotuvra. The man from before entered. He nodded in my direction before conferring privately with the princess. I busied myself with exploring the suite. Bathroom, her room, dining room, this place had everything except a kitchen. I pushed open the last door, expecting to find a kitchen. Inside was a bedroom bigger then our apartment, with MY stuff in it.

“Do you like it?” The princess’s voice sound from behind me.

“I love it. The view is breathtaking” I responded. She smiled before returning to the conversation. I climbed onto the largest windowsill. The glittering bay lay beyond the city. I knew from Mamri’s stories that further out lay the capital where the princess came from. Having never been more then a day’s ride away from Krina, I knew very little even of the land I was supposed to be wholly of. 

“Sister?” A quiet voice interrupted my thoughts. 

“Come in.” I clicked, Enotuvra entered and climbed up beside me.

“It’s just us. I thought we should talk, get used to each other. Figure some stuff out”

“Shouldn’t we, I dunno, maintain a professional relationship?” 

“In public, sure at first. But in private we can be close if you don’t mind” I shrugged. She followed my gaze out the window.  

“Owlfish. It’s...what my mom’s call me.” I broke in quickly. Her gaze snapped back to me.

“Owlfish, huh? It suits you little sister.” She said as she shifted to wrap her arms around me. Until just before dinner, we stayed like that. Two sisters enjoying the view. 

She climbed down first, going to get dressed. A few moments later, some maids entered my room.

“Excuse us, Miss Translator? You need to get dressed” The taller of the two said. I climbed down hesitantly. 

“But I’m just-”

“The translator must look nice as she is beside the princess all night” The other said, thrusting a soft purple dress at me. Before I could protest, They were getting me ready. Undressing, redressing, and adjusting. Then came my hair. 

“There. That frames your beautiful hazel eyes.” The first said. My soft brown hair cascaded down my back in a series of braids and fishtails keeping it out of my face.

“Thank you!” I gasped as I saw myself in the mirror. My slender frame was highlighted by the dress, bringing out my subtle curves. They bowed and left as I reapplied the foundation on my neck. Once I was satisfied, I met the princess in the main room. She was regal in a light blue full length dress. Her pale hair was braided around a crown before sweeping up into a regal bun.

“My lady, lead the way.” I bowed to her. She smiled as she waved for me to straighten. Pushing open the door and walking to the elevator, she informed me completely business-like:

“We will be here until a few days before I get crowned. You are to stay by my side whenever we leave the room.” I dipped my head respectfully. We were lowered to a dining hall once we stepped into the elevator. The doors opened and the work began.

“My lady, you look stunning!” One Aquarisnian called

“Warm my bed!” A drunk teen called, to laughing and cat calling from his friends. I, wisely didn’t translate. Enotuvra was poised through every greeting, never loosing her cool. Finally, we were led away by an older man I recognized as the mayor. He attempted to speak directly to the princess, with some success. I helped filling in the few gaps. Then he was replaced with an official looking Aquarisni. 

“Are you sure you want to use this girl? She’s so young and loyalties could be..elsewhere. Questionable, but yet you insist.” He spoke like one used to giving orders and being obeyed. “I have many capable-”

“She’s proven herself worthy, Uncle” Enotuvra interrupted. He moved off after discussing a few more matters. “My father’s brother. One of my advisers, not entirely by choice.” She spoke quietly into the break in people wishing to speak with her. The next few people were a blur. I was ignored, even when I had to relate the message to the soon-to-be queen. But she was always attentive, when I spoke to her. They seemed to hate my constant presence.