This female elf is graceful and moves between the tables, without ever touching them or the customers, as if she had done this all of her life. Eliasha has long brown hair, often braided, easily revealing her elven heritage. Her eyes are like twin moons, strong blue and shine brightly with hope. Working in the Rowdy Goblin, she wears a simple and useful outfit, but her sensuous curves are easily sensed between the clothes.

Female elf bard 1 (CR 1)
NG Medium humanoid
Init +2; Senses low-light vision; Listen +5, Spot +4
Languages Crownspeak, Atolain, Afayim

Eliasha is no native elf of Crown, but instead grew up in the northern realm of Alar Damarr’i, daughter of a ranger and a sorceress. It was a life of hide and seek, always moving underground, but when her mother was killed fighting a Whitewing Scout, her father told Eliasha to journey south, to Crown. He gave her the food she would need, a single gemstone and the name of an old friend, Eltain Swordbearer. She was to seek out Eltain at a small tavern called the Rowdy Goblin and present him with the gemstone. If Eliasha could manage that, her future would be sealed and she would be given a good life within the protective walls of Crown. Of course, the young bard hated leaving her family behind, but had never before defied her father. She was followed on her way by a small group of elven rangers until the lands were safe enough for her to travel on her own.

In Crown, Eliasha found that she enjoyed civilized life, and even though she was forced to work hard for her father’s old friend, she would not trade it for anything. Being a Moondancer, she often performs at the tavern, inspiring the customers, who will often come back to see her. Eltain has taken her into his heart and will go far to protect her, even if it means drawing his old magical blade that loves the taste of blood.

Tactics
The silvered dagger that Eliasha carries, was a gift to her from Eltain. At the start of any battle, the bard draws her dagger as if her life depended on it. She is not very skilled in its use, but fights with great heart. If in company of friends, Eliasha will sometimes sing to inspire their courage, but not always.

In My Campaign...
In many ways, Eliasha started my first Crown campaign. She was introduced as Eltain's ward, and within a few hours, the Rowdy Goblin was overrun with wererats who all seemed to have only one thing on their mind...to capture Eliasha and drag her into the sewers. The PCs heard muffled wounds from out back, but before they had the chance to act, a few disguised wererats attacked them in the common room, hoping to distract them. I admit it, I had underestimated the PCs and within a few rounds, all of them charged into the back, chasing the remaining wererats away. Eltain was angry that he had not been there, but grateful for the PCs help. As long as he ruled the Rowdy Goblin, they could eat there free of charge...they would still have to pay for the drink, though!

Moondancer (Racial)
You have mastered the art of moondancing, revering the ancient Goddess of the Moon.
Requirements: Bard 1st, elf
Benefit: When the moon is full, you gain 3 additional uses of bardic music. However, you can only use these when dancing underneath the moon, bathed in its silverish light.

Loraedian is a beautiful man, yet has seen almost 180 summers. His hair is silverish and his skin a pale white. He is proud of his heritage and when found around the Hall of the Hopeful Road, he usually wears light brown robes, in accordance with family traditions. His cultist’s mark is a long cut across his right palm, which he usually covers with a glove. There are times when the cultist need to hide, and he does this very well, beneath gray robes and deep hoods.

Male lumilon rogue 4/cultist 3 (CR 7)
CN Medium humanoid
Init +2; Senses Listen +4, Spot +4
Languages Crownspeak, Afayim, Atolain, Oltreggish, Improved Telepathy

This young man has a compassionate face with strong blue eyes and blond hair. He has seen no more than twenty summers, but when he speaks, it becomes apparent that he is both a man of great intelligence and knowledgeable. Orem usually wears his simple scholar’s outfit, marking him as a member of the Queen’s loremasters.

Male human expert 2/wizard 3 (CR 4)
LN Medium humanoid
Init +0; Senses Listen +5, Spot +3
Languages Crownspeak, Afayim, Atolain, Draconic, H’raktha

Orem actually lives at Crownmeet Castle where he studies alongside the other loremasters. He is only a junior member, however, which means that he must sometimes run errands for the senior members. Orem does not mind this, as long as he never leaves the protective walls of the great castle. It is not that the young loremaster fear the streets of Crown, so mush as he fears that which he does not know. In that, Orem is nothing like his more adventurous twin, Derrick.

As a noble son, Orem enjoyed a very privileged and protective upbringing. He had the best teachers, and even in a young age, did he show a talent for research and languages. Before reaching adulthood, Orem spoke the languages of afayim and atolain, which did not impress the girls, however, it did impress his father and it was he who secured the young scholar an apprenticeship with one of the loremasters.

Tactics
As all loremasters, Orem too carries a silvered blade, a shortsword. He is not as capable of using it as his brother, but if forced, the scholar should be able to protect himself. His known spells have been reserved for more utility-minded spells, but Orem always carry at least a few simple scrolls to aid him in battle, such as scrolls of magic missiles or scrolls of shocking grasp.

In the first round of combat, Orem will always try to cast sleep on a victim that seem weak enough to get affected. This might not be an enemy that directly threaten him, but his safety comes second to that of his group. He might try to levitate, to avoid direct battle, but if threatened directly, will draw his blade and defend himself.

In My Campaign...
I actually played Orem's twin, Derrick Telenn, as an NPC in the group. He often talked fondly of his family, and in particular about his scholarly twin, whom he love above anything in this world. During the campaign, the party found a strange gate in Tal Vorglath. This gate had been created by an order of paladins who at one point quested through the endless labyrinth in search of the Lost Gods. One of the PCs, a female paladin, was willingly bound to the gate and swore an oath to protect it with her life, in return, this oath gave her the power to control the gate. When the party emerged from Tal Vorglath, Derrick told them that his brother, one of the loremasters, would be able to help them discover more of this gate, and possibly...of the chaos acolytes. They found him at Crownmeet Castle, and Orem, just like Derrick had said he would, agreed to help them.

The good thing about Orem is that he doesn't actually know everything. He is clever both and resourceful, but in order to help the PCs properly, he must study the subject, using the books and scrolls found at Crownmeet. PCs should not have everything handed to them, and with that aspect in mind, Orem will be the perfect contact among the loremasters.

The dwarf is massively muscled even for his race. He appears even more powerful and menacing in his armor of mail and leather. A helm of sharp angles and spikes covers a bald pate and blunt face, crisscrossed with hard won scars from the pits. Piercing blue eyes glare out challengingly from beneath bushy reddish brows, a braided beard and long mustaches cover a scowling, thin mouth. Rooted like a squat oak upon a floor of sawdust and black blood he stands triumphant once more. In his right fist he holds aloft the grinning, severed head of a demon, the pinwheel triple F tattoo on his bulging, bare shoulder is obscured by infernal bile. In his left is raised his weapon, the gladius Demon Bane. The blood hungry crowd curse or chant his name depending on how they wagered. This is Farulazar Fiend Fighter and he has sent another spawn back to the nether depths.

Male Dwarf fighter 8(CR 8)
LN Medium Humanoid
Init +7; Senses Listen +3, Spot +2(+4 vs mind affecting spells and effects)
Languages Crownspeak, H’raktha, Abyssal

Before the events depicted in Skein of Shadows, Farulazar, Fiend Fighter, or "Triple F" as pit fans know him, lives in a sparse apartment in Crown. The dwarf earns his coin for the next drink working for a halfling named Alfem in the fighting pits, slaying summoned and captured fiends for the pleasure of the betting crowd. He is a performer, like all gladiators, he is there to put on a show as well as kill his opponent. Farulazar is an outcast from his homeland; his only profession is killing in the ring. But he is good at putting on a show as well as staying alive to enjoy the gold he earns. He is popular and charismatic in the pit which puts money in the pockets of the nefarious halfling Alfem.

Farulazar feels that he has no real purpose any longer, save to kill and hear his name chanted. He spends his money on drink and food at The Lord's Court a low end groggery, or any number of local taverns. On fight night he can be found at The Broken Valor, a bar built over the fighting pits. His profession is not one that the dwarven people look upon as honorable, but to the indifferent dwarf it is a living. Those that might peak his interest or touch the buried honor within him may find the Fiend Fighter emerging from some dark alley to help them when a fight seems to be going against them.

Tactics
Farulazar is powerful and brutal in battle, but he is also agile and cunning. The Fiend Fighter will not simply just plow into his enemies. Rather, from his experience in the pit, the crafty warrior will size up his opponent, adapting to the situation as he needs to. He is more likely to avoid a blow than to take the hit if it can be helped.

With his vast experience fighting in the demon pits Farulazar has come to know the creatures that are repeatedly summoned. He knows the weaknesses of many demonic creatures and can anticipate what their next attack will be. When fighting in the pit for the cheers and gold of the crowd Farulazar will put on a show, toying with lesser opponents, giving a splendid showing against those that are actually a challenge. In real battle he will end his foe as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Campaign Use
Farulazar may be encountered during one of the underground shows that the heroes take in. The Fiend Fighter has fought countless demons in the past eight score of years and may be sought out to pass on his wisdom about a certain demon that the adventurers are to battle against. Convincing the taciturn dwarf to aid the party could be an adventure to itself.

When encountered Farulazar is dour and rarely speaks. A quirked eyebrow or subtle sneer is all the dwarf usually needs. When he does speak it is direct and to the point without many of the social niceties. He listens very carefully though it may seem that he is ignoring the speaker, he misses little, and offers little of what is happening behind his cold, blue eyes.