Kǂalvis - Characters

Kǂalvis is a Merfolk living on the outer edges of the Drowned Quarter, in Cynosure, where he operates an underwater forge built around hydrothermal vents, called "Chained Reaction", in Sylvan.

'Chained Reaction' is situated within a ruin that seems rather Elven to Jirel, though it lacks some of the expected stately refinement. She doesn't know whether this is due to the fact that it sunk into the depths and was eroded by them, or because it is an inspired copy of the style – or a prototype for it.

Regardless, the structure is perched atop a narrow outcrop that hangs precariously above the dark abyss, clinging to the jagged cliffside. Most of the ruin appears to have been crushed by all the rock around and above it, but its defiant façade remains, and leads deeper into the earth. Clanging echoes and sizzling hisses reach her from within.

The rest of the surroundings is marked by the warm bloom of an occasional lava flow, which are slow to cool even in water. Two more kinds of glow accompany them – swarms of fire jellyfish, dispersed everywhere around; and specimens of bioluminescent wildlife, which must be thriving in proximity of the nourishing hydrothermal vents and fissures.

The last detail of note is the multitude of algae-covered chains, connected to rusted anchors, which are in turn firmly embedded into the rock. Jirel gets the impression that someone is trying to secure the ruin-bearing plateau to the rest of the cliff, as if it is threatening to snap off at any moment.

Passing over the threshold, she enters the workshop. It is a rather tight space, since the cave-ins buried a lot of it. Tools of various kinds are hanging from the ceiling, attached to it by smaller chains. As expected, there is no open flame in sight, but it is still incredibly warm, especially when compared to the cold depths she just had to swim through.

- Viktor

The swarm of fire jellyfish that lives around "Chained Reaction" is kept as pets by Kǂalvis.

The "Kǂ" part of his name is somewhere between a palatal click and a click of a dolphin.

His build is strong and muscular, and he is bioluminescent, producing orange and red hues indicative of his Ifrit heritage. The source of this glow is the anglerfish lure growing out of his forehead, as well as a multidude of intricately patterned markings all over his partially translucent skin. Steam and bubbles simmer around him, caused by the heat of his body.

As a Runesmith, he can etch all sorts of runes, and as a general blacksmith, he can forge other items. His craft is peculiar, as it often doesn't require open flame (almost impossible to achieve in the depths of the sea), but mostly relies on the bubbling heat of his hydrothermal vents. He does, however, have access to a cave where a magma flow provides him with a steady source of fire.

He occasionally supplies Lord Asculith's 'Banyan Surfer' and its crew with weaponry and armour, or repairs their equipment when it gets damaged. Jirel Flyr was sent to meet him on Sciuro Shadowtail's recommendation.

Kǂalvis employs a local gaggle of sea urchin street urchins, who make deliveries, run minor errands, and bring him gossip and the news. They are actually the sentient, yet-undeveloped young of Avareks, an aquatic kind of Fey.

According to his account, they are "paying for the folly of their parents", and have no family aside from each other. He feeds them sometimes, and supports them by giving them the aforementioned odd jobs.

Naturally, these street gangs have their own leaders, whom Kǂalvis equips with artifical, armour-like bodies, animated by their willpower and runic magic. One of them was tasked with delivering Jirel's bow back to her.

Kǂalvis' Shop

Cynosure

Special Metals

Prices depend on the item. Only standard grade of these metals is available.

Aelfinsilver (uniquely-forged Dawnsilver)
- Extra Note: Mithral items forged in 'Chained Reaction' use a long-forgotten Elven technique of the New World, now guarded jealously by Kǂalvis, who rediscovered it. When wielded or worn by an Elf or an Aiuvarin, these items form an inseparable bond with their owner. It is incredibly challenging to reverse-engineer, and adds an optional 10% price increase. The mystical bond grants you a +1 item bonus to any saves, checks, or DCs related to remaining in possession of your Dawnsilver item, such as against someone Stealing it from you or Disarming you. You don't need to be aware of these actions happening.
Luminary Warpglass
- Quirk: This variety of the substance, harvested from the chips of the Tower of Glass, brilliantly reflects even the dimmest of lights. When it is exposed to any source of illumination for at least one round, it sheds bright light in a 5-foot aura until the end of the next round.
Djezet, also called Quickiron, or Tiger Iron
Pale Inubrix
Pale-green Noqual
Siccatite, both cold and hot varieties
Varieties of Dragonhide
- Characteristics and appearance of this material depend on the type of Dragon whose scales were used to create it:
- Arcane (Force): Blue, Sea, Underworld
- Divine (Spirit): Sky, Pixiu
- Occult (Mental): Sovereign
- Primal (Poison): Forest, Imugi, Dragon Turtle

Runic Items

Runescribed Disk 100gp
Dragon Rune Bracelet 1400gp
- Blue, Sea, Forest, Underworld, Sky, Pixiu, Sovereign, Imugi, Dragon Turtle

Extra

Rune Trap (Ritual 3)
Lead for the Runescarred Archetype
- Kǂalvis can teach his customers how to inscribe runes upon their very flesh, a process developed and refined by two lost civilisations that previously inhabited the lands of the New World.

Weapon Runes

Most Common Runes
Serrating 1000gp
- Quirk: The jagged teeth of the weapon are reminiscent of the rostrum of a sawfish, exaggerated in proportion and sharpness.
Crushing 50 / 650gp
Hooked 140gp
- Quirk: With this rune, the weapon gains a harpoon-like tip.
Ashen 700gp
Energising 250gp
Prismatic (coming soon!)
Hauling 225 / 1300gp
Anchoring 900gp
- Quirk: Ghostly chains attached to anchors manifest around the target.
Hopeful 1200gp

Armour and Shield Runes

Dragon's Breath 100 – 2000gp
- Blue, Sea, Underworld, Sky, Sovereign, Forest Dragon
Dread 225 / 1800gp
Bitter 135gp
Positively Deathless 425gp
- Extra Note: The light of Cynosure is infused into this rune, depicted as a stylised sun perched atop the rest of the symbol. As a part of its activation, the wearer gains 5 temporary HP, which last for 1 minute.
Stanching 120 / 600 / 2500gp
Implacable 1200gp
Immovable 1800gp
Presentable 50 / 900gp

Other Runes

Wind-catcher 350gp
Soft-landing 60gp
Called 60gp
- Quirk: Distant whalesong accompanies the arrival of the item.

Temporary Runes

Being a master Runesmith, Kǂalvis is also able to apply temporary runes. These are not items, and they may quickly fade away after use.

Esvadir
- A serrated Whetstone Rune, which ensures that the blade never dulls.
Pluuna
- A simple Luminous Rune, which brings light to the darkest of places.
Ichelsu
- A ringed, dotted Observation Rune, which opens one's eyes to behold the world fully.
Kojastri
- A thick Insulating Rune, which shelters against harmful energy.
Trolistri
- A beautiful Rune of Forlorn Sorrow, which discourages approach, for Elven sorrow is best admired from a distance.
Diacritic Ur-
- Bolder lines, to grant greater weight to existing runic power.
Diacritic En-
- A wreath of outward-facing arrows, to magnify and direct.

December 17th, 2024

GM Notes

Cynosure

- The ruin that Kǂalvis converted into his forge was originally an Achaean structure. Later, when Elves settled in the region, they were pleased by its aesthetic (which seemed like a prototype of their own), and repaired the building, adding their own flair. Thus, today it looks like a mixture of the two styles, but time took its toll once again, eroding it even further.

Sea Urchin Street Urchins

- An Avarek clan moved into the Harbour at some point in the past, aiming to harass all the vessels there. Naturally, Cynosites were not happy with this, and squashed most of the tribe.

- The survivors either dispersed, or died off, leaving the clan's children to fend for themselves. They joined the other street urchins of the Drowned Quarter.

Trivia

- Named after Kalvis, a Baltic smith god.

December 5th, 2024 December 17th, 2024