Merrilda “Merri” Copperveil
Dwarven Mosaicist of the Royal Palace
Female dwarf (Hill Dwarf), Neutral Good
Occupation: Royal Mosaic Master — Overseer of floor and wall mosaics throughout the palace and sacred halls.
Appearance: Merri is short and sturdy, with copper-brown skin and warm hazel eyes framed by curls the color of terracotta. Her hands are perpetually stained with bits of grout and powdered stone. She wears a leather apron decorated with chips of colored glass like jewelry, and a pair of fine spectacles rests perpetually on her nose.
Personality: Warm-hearted, proud, and meticulous. Merri speaks slowly, as though shaping her words with the same care she uses for her tesserae. She has a dry sense of humor and calls everyone under forty “youngling.”
Mannerisms: Constantly rubs her thumb across her calloused fingertips, as if testing their smoothness. Hums old dwarven songs while she works.
Role in the Palace
Merrilda has overseen restoration of palace mosaics for over four decades, from the Hall of Blossoms to the Throne Corridor of Dawnlight. Her designs are legendary — flowing patterns of glass and gemstone that shimmer like living art when the morning sun strikes them. She considers her craft sacred, believing that “stone remembers beauty, long after flesh forgets.”
She’s also responsible for teaching apprentices, often found scolding them affectionately while they sweep tiles or grind pigments. Her perfectionism is infamous, but her results undeniable.
Personality Traits
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Ideal: “Art is the palace’s memory. We keep its soul intact.”
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Bond: “My husband sees the world in marble, I see it in color — together we make beauty last.”
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Flaw: Hates half-measures; will sabotage a rushed commission if it compromises her work.
Stat Summary (for reference)
Commoner (Master Artisan)
AC 12 (leather apron) | HP 18 (4d8) | Speed 25 ft.
STR 10, DEX 12, CON 14, INT 15, WIS 13, CHA 11
Skills: History +4, Insight +3, Perception +3, Tools (Mason’s, Glassworker’s) +6
Languages: Common, Dwarvish, Elvish