#gambithq

HARCOURT VALE

They called him The Demon Of Diregate, and they were right to. It seemed like all wrongdoing within the city walls could be traced bacy to that man, with savage eyes and a smile made for war. He seemed like an all knowing, all powerful God. He seemed vengeful, he seemed like the one man on earth you wouldn’t want to cross. And for a while, Cassian had been smart. For a while, Cassian had been a loyal dog at his masters feet. When Harcourt Vale said to jump, Cassian asked how high? He would have done anything for that man, for a taste of power, for someone to look at him and tell him he had done a good job. Sometimes he got what he wanted, if he was good enough. A smile, a pat on his shoulder, a glass of whiskey by the fire next to a man who could be a God to him. He had a strange obsession with gaining these things, though in his mind he knew they didn’t really make him special. 

Of course, this is Cassian we’re talking about. And he can never behave forever. Everything went wrong with a shipment of something very small and very expensive, very valuble. Into the ports at Diregate and the safe in the manor home of one Harcourt Vale. And then, in the dead of night, out of the safe and into the pockets of Cassian Penvenan, who boarded the next ship out of the city and toward Haelion. 

It might have been the one stupid thing he ever did. Believing he got away free and clear. Believing he had made some kind of fool of that Demon made flesh. Him and his men are the ones who got to Cassian in the end, with a curse that would leave him forever changed, counting his days left in exietence. 

yuan-ti: would you say you’re cold or warm-blooded?

“colder, by most calculations.”

changeling: share a childhood memory.

What do you find to be your most unique characteristic?

“My beauty, of course. I’ve been told it has no equal in all the Fade. Of course, that was by a man trying to trick me out of money. But I think the it still stands. He made some valid points.” 

Where would you build your dream home?

“To allow myself...one small moment of true honesty. I think once you experience a life in Valmyar, it’s hard to imagine settling anywhere else. But –– Well. I’m not in Valmyar anymore. So. Maybe I would settle down wherever I can see the stars the clearest.” 

Talk about a time you indulged your curiosity.

“When we were first on our own, wandering Lolander, we found a herd of deer. We were curious, still lacking a full understanding of ourself, and we wanted to know if it was possible to become animal. Unfortunately, animals don’t possess the same mental capacities as we do. We were stuck as a deer unable to change for weeks, until a hunter hit us with a silver tipped arrow, and we became ourself again. The injury was worth it.”

What is the best or worst first impression you’ve ever made?

“It’s hard not to think fondly of how welcomed we were arriving in Velergard as our dear mentor, Auberon. They command a certain sort of attention, adoration. The people were enthralled. It was the first time we had a soul with such powerful magic, so we may have overdone our entrance. Flowers blooming around us where they shouldn’t, secrets offered to show our wisdom. It worked wonders; Henryk adored us from the moment we met eyes.”

Share a childhood memory.

“We used to sneak down to the market when the Temple Mothers weren’t watching us carefully enough. Me and Tya –– we didn’t bring the others, they wouldn’t have wanted to come with us. I was too strong, too different. He was too weak. He used to steal me something sweet from the stand this old lady ran. I think she knew he was taking things, but she thought we were cute. People are always softer about poor little orphan children, raised by their God.”

How well do you communicate with others?

“I communicate perfectly fine, as far as I’m concerned. It’s up to everyone else if they don’t like what I have to say, or the way I say it.” 

CALLIOPE THE FIRST 

Mother dearest, namesake, a charmer, beguiler of men, mischievious, and a noble woman of the feywilds. Kind of a stone cold bitch who takes no prisoners, judgemental. Always the center of attention, never quick to trust those around her. He learned it all from watching her. 

BARNABAS “BAZ” BRAKEBRIDGE 

A CONMAN, based in Farthorpe. Once upon a time he traveled with the Gambit, but the life of the travelling adventurer wasn’t really for him. Still –– Baz is the man you go to when you want the most accurate information on what’s going on in that part of the Fade, or if you want to set up some kind of deal around Farthorpe.