Fenris Amarak

**Vercingetorix Detlef Morgenstern,** formerly known as **Fenris Amarak**, is a tiefling swordmage and a member of the Emerald Caravan. He was initially a druid until after his resurrection. After dying at the premiere of Season 3, his soul took on the form of a Specter, a spirit of Gehenna. In Season 3, Fenris returns as a swordmage with druid spells after the party restored him. He is played by Alex 'MrPuddins.'

## Vercingetorix Morgenstern

Official 2023 art of Vercingetorix, by Lucy.

### Type

* Humanoid
* Fiend (through heritage)
* Clairvoyant

## Character information

### Also known as

* Fenris Amarak (druidic name)
* Gabriel Moonshadow (birth name)
* Vercingetorix Ponyhosen Vvargenhelm (given name)
* Detlef Ponyhosen (alias)
* Verci (nickname)
* Vercingetorix Morgenstern (post-humous adoption)

### Class

* Druid
* Swordmage

### Places

* Gehenna
* Weidenhafen, Lowergoth (home)
* Shiverdelve

### Family

* Cerberus Dancingflame (birthfather)
* The Devil Muertos (uncle)
* Freya (adoptive/surrogate sister)
* Ionia Moonshadow Kavendell (birthmother)
* Maus Ponyhosen (adoptive parent)
* Petra Ponyhosen (adoptive mother)
* Julius Vvargenhelm (adoptive father)
* Lane Vvargenhelm (adoptive mother)
* Oleander (adoptive/surrogate sister)

### Connections

* Amaranth Willowbreeze (mentor)
* Celeste (ex-love interest)
* Constance (close friend; love interest)
* Emerald Caravan (member)
* Ezara (close friend)
* Franz (former friend; enemy)
* Moon Fury Enclave (member; sole survivor)
* Oprix Academy (employer)
* Soren (ally)
* Sylvia Wildfire (close friend; ex-love interest)
* Virwen (friend)

## Stats

### Backgrounds

* Lycanthropic Curse (4)
* Pariah Enclave (4)

## Description

### Appearance

When he first appears, Fenris is introduced as a young, tiefling man with dark blue-violet skin and crescent shaped horns. He has amber eyes and has a scruffy appearance. His heritage to the demon-lord, Lycus, means Fenris has some animal-like features such as ears and a tail ending in tufts of hair. He wears a quilted long coat with a green/darker green harlequin pattern. When taking on the form of another animal or a werewolf, Fenris retains his violet color and horns despite the species of animal. When using his fire magic, the colors of the flames are representative of Fenris' emotional state.

Fenris sometimes wears a gothic black coat with a hole in the chest where the heart would be, primarily during formal occasions.

After his death, Fenris takes on the haunted form of a specter: *" holding a strange sword behind his back. His crescent horns are curled into jagged antlers, and from behind his coat held forward are crimson and purple feathered wings, tipped with claws, in front of himself as if to shield your vision from the skeletal figure and ghastly face of Vercingetorix. A skeletal hand reaches out toward you, sorrow in his eyes as the specter looks toward you, the black coat whipping forward in the supernatural wind."*

-GM narration from S2E2 'Parting Gift'

Upon returning to the realm of the living in the events of Season 3, Vercingetorix's appearance had drastically changed, with his body appearing to have aged a decade since dying. His features retain their properties, but his hair is far longer, and he carries a haunted look in his gaze. He now wears a gothic style, long black coat with a collar of raven's feathers. He wears the jagged and menacing appearing blade known as Scorched Earth at his side.

### Personality

#### Seasons 1-2

Like other Kovithian characters, Fenris speaks with a Germanic accent. He displays as stoic, somber, and sometimes, angry; but deep down, he is kind and has a strong sense of justice, especially when he feels his friends are being mistreated. He is intelligent, introspective, and observant, but his curse often leads him to outbursts of anger and fury, making social interaction difficult for him. Despite this, Fenris is able to redirect his fury and anger to defend those he holds dear to him.

Fenris' stoic nature is due to his druidic training, which has only furthered his love of the natural world. If it were not for his curse, he would be subdued and observant at all times. Allowing his emotions to reach certain levels causes his curse to get out of control leading to unwanted transformations and potentially harming people. Fenris carries great guilt not only due to growing up in Kovith as a dreadborn, but also due to actions he was driven to in lycanthropic fury. Fenris' greatest fear is his curse continuing to cause harm to people he cares about, often leading him to self-sabotaging friendships out of a twisted selflessness. His curse and experience has also led him to have a low opinion of himself, seeing himself as a monster and his existence a curse.

Fenris appears to be a devout follower of Marflax, god of the hunt and determination, and it appears it is something he holds onto that makes him feel close to his pama. It is clear that he is quite sentimental as many of his personal effects are either heirlooms or a reminder of family. His sword is from his birth mother, his coat is from his birth father, and his bow is from Maus as well as the black coat he wears on occasion.

Although he focuses on fighting with his blade alit in occult flames, Fenris will use his pama's bow when casting certain ranged spells. Fenris tries to limit using his shapeshifting abilities as this means relying on his lycanthropy.

If assigned an alignment, Fenris would likely fall under "neutral good" or "chaotic good."

#### Seasons 3-onward

Vercingetorix's experience in Gehenna and returning to the realm of the living has left him drastically changed in some regards. He retains his caring nature and strong sense of justice, but he now seems to have mastered his lycanthropic curse, channeling it into Scorched Earth. Vercingetorix displays a sort of crisis of faith after enduring torture at the hands of Cersei, as made evident by his discussion with Fyla in Season 4 with now his primary motivations being found in his love for Constance and the brotherly bond he feels toward Oleander. Verci has become more self-actualized, forgoing many of his self-loathing aspects, but his experience has also left him more pragmatic and vengeful. He also wishes to end his self-imposed exile to return home, as family still remains greatly important to the tiefling.

## Biography

### Background

Fenris was originally born to an unknown set of parents in Cumbria and was told at a young age his mother, a Sojourner, had given him up. He was adopted by Maus Ponyhosen, the tiefling running the Baumer Haus Orphanage in Weidenhafen, Lesser Goth. With his alleged relationship to the Devil Muertos, it is quite possible his birth parents were involved in the Moonshadow Rebellion in Kovithian Iycodust in 2S 1829. He was given the name Vercingetorix, which is Sylvan for 'Victor of 100 Hunts.' When he describes his life back home, Fenris looks back on a primarily fondly on this time of his life. He was branded by Inquisitors. While living at the orphanage, he came to know Freya, and the two became a bonded pair. Fenris still sees her as his sister. Being raised at the Baumer House, Fenris came to know a young Oleander who was staying there for some time.

At some point in his early adulthood, Fenris' lycanthropic curse, due to his heritage with the demon lord Lycus, manifested, and he killed his lover at the time, Celeste. He fled his home, and under Maus' instruction, he found Amaranth Willowbreeze and the Pariah Enclave of Shiverdelve where he trained in a unique druidic enclave devoted to controlling his lycanthropic curse. He came to know Sylvia, the grandmaster of the Resolute Valkyries. The two shared a brief romance, but his unwillingness to open up to her led to them realizing their path in life was as good friends.

In S3, the Emerald Caravan discovers that Fenris is the biological bastard son of an affair between Queen Ionia Kavandell (ne Moonshadow) and Cerberus Dancingflame, a Cumbrian Royal Jester. He was given up for his safety and the stability of New Alfenheim, but before doing so, Ionia had given him a name in secret; a name that holds the secret to his salvation.

### Season 1: "Clairvoyance Converges"

Fenris is absent from the Emerald Caravan for most of Season 1 as Alex was GMing. It is assumed he was living out his self-imposed exile with the enclave for the past 5 years leading up to the campaign. Fenris makes comments that Emi as the Spirit-farer had come to him before the Caravan arrived in Shiverdelve to seek him out. Fenris officially met the Caravan in S1E19, and much to Oleander's surprise was a much older and scruffier Vercingetorix from the Baumer House Orphanage. This immediate trust proved integral to Fenris learning to trust the Emerald Caravan and seek their aid as well.

Fenris came to the aid of the Caravan when they were ambushed by Jepprey Zebro's oni mercenaries at the aether rig, telling them he needed their help. Sheriff Jenning's coalition was brought to insurrection and wiped out Fenris' druid enclave, except for him. With nowhere to go or left to call home, Fenris knew was requested by Stars of Emerald to guide and protect the Emerald Caravan, to which he accepted. After laying his former enclave to their final rest, he joined the Emerald Caravan on their quest.

### Season 2: "The Domed City"

Guilt, cynicism, and fury caused Fenris to have friction with the Emerald Caravan early on. Oleander remained a confidant for Fenris, and fae aided in bringing Fenris into the fold. While in New Dunlan, during the fight with Reverend Holden Cross, the Reverend had took hold of Fenris' psyche, which caused him to take on the form of the Total Chimera and accidentally kill a villager. Guilty for this, his actions harming Celeste, and the fall of his enclave continue to haunt him as he felt unworthy of being the sole survivor of his Enclave. As he adventured with the Caravan, Fenris grew closer with the Emerald Caravan, and became a trusted ally.

While investigating the trouble in Briar, Fenris gave into Lycus' whispers so that he could keep up with a fleeing Moonlit King. After traveling to Hex, it appears Fenris' curse has advanced as heightened emotional states cause him to burst into flames as he takes on a berserker form. He was ambushed by a hunter wearing a silver mane who was specifically hunting him for the mantle of Lycus. After defeating the Collector, Fenris was tricked by an illusion of Celeste where he was ambushed by the silver-mane, Vilemaw and by his former friend, Franz. Shaken by this experience, Fenris further opened up to the Emerald Caravan about his struggles, revealing his true name to them.

After returning from Hex and the Emerald Caravan reuniting with Soren, Fenris quickly jumped to protect the Caravan, especially Oleander. During the events of the ball at Nature's Nectar, Fenris was given the opportunity to exact vengeance on Franz for attempting to kill him. He had admitted his feelings to Constance, that he was quite fond of her, but was also forthright with her, revealing what he had done that had sent him into exile and Franz after him in the first place. The two decided to remain where they were instead of moving their relationship forward. Escaping from the ball after the Inquisition, the Caravan was ambushed by the marrow, Fenris was quick to defend Constance and fought fiercely to save Oleander. After the intense evening, he agreed that returning to Wren's Run was the best course of action for the Caravan.

### Season 3: "Flight of the Damselfly"

Fenris expressed to Constance and Oleander a desire to seek out training with the Black Coats while the Caravan stops in Wren's Run. It was clear at this point, after adventuring with the Emerald Caravan that Fenris was finding himself feeling accepted amongst their ranks and this was having a positive effect on him. When the Caravan was ambushed in Wren's Run by the Devil Muertos, the fiend made comments to Fenris regarding the black coat he was wearing, the sword he wielded (claiming it was his in another life), and being horrified of seeing Marlfax's gift. In the heat of battle, Muertos called Fenris 'little Moonshadow.' Understanding the cycle due to his Sojourner heritage, Fenris understood Muertos would not stop coming until the price of a 'soul for a soul' was paid, and so, he selflessly offered up his life and soul in exchange for Oleander's, keeping his promise he made to fae. Before taking his life, Muertos called Fenris his "nephew."

After his death, breaking Fenris' soul free of Gehenna became the primary focus of the Emerald Caravan's goals. Fenris reveals his form as a specter when his soul is summoned by Oleander and he leaves behind Parting Gift for fae. Fenris' specter appears sporadically throughout Season 3 to every member of the Caravan at various points. He appears to Soren to warn him that Anastasia is also trapped in Gehenna. He appears to his beloved Constance. He comes to Oleander to and Ezara to ask them to help him be free of the torturous realm. Most notably, in the events of Episode 13 "Follow Me as a Ghost," Fenris appears during the Dream-quake to break Constance free from her trancelike state.

The party is able to make their way into Gehenna where they found Fenris' specter wandering the Tundra of the Damned. After reuniting with his caravan, they worked together to beat back Omega-X, Michael-7, and Talos-4; the Emerald Caravan brought Vercingetorix to the Wall of the Faithless, where he was able to kill a his former name and be resurrected. Upon returning to the realm of the living, Verci expressed a desire to return home and told Oleander he accepted her adoption. While battling the Banefire Dragon in the Golden Fields of Brisa, Vercingetorix remained at Nature's Nectar to aid in getting folk to safety. When the party made their final assault on the distillery and Ionia Moonshadow threatened Oleander, Vercingetorix killed his birthmother with Parting Gift.

Reunited with his friends, Vercingetorix was officially adventuring with the Emerald Caravan and ready for Soren's war against the Queen of Maywood.

## Relationships

### Constance

Although their relationship had a rocky start, Vercingetorix and Constance blossomed from close friends into lovers with the tiefling initially drawn to Constance for her kindness and wonder for the world. Those close with Vercingetorix instantly know Constance is his partner by seeing that he has given her his harlequin green coat, which she has embroidered. He has admitted to admiring Constance for her loyalty, honesty, and altruism. Vercingetorix cares deeply for Constance, going as far as to challenge every deity should they dare trifle with her. He can be protective of her, but Vercingetorix also understands that Constance is capable handling herself, especially in a fight. She is one of the few people he can open up to about his feelings and struggles with, but when it comes to displaying his romantic affections for her, he often struggles and stumbles on his words. He calls her 'Connie' and uses other affectionate names for her. She is one of the few people who is allowed to call Vercingetorix *Verci.* The two often 'team up' to look after the others

### Ezara

Ezara and Fenris have formed a bond over suffering similar traumas, and both find it easy to talk with each other over their struggles and a mutual hatred for the same moon despite initially butting heads. He considers the half-elf a close friend and someone he places a lot of trust in, having told her he feels more of a kinship with her than he did with any of his former fellow lycanthrope druids. Vercingetorix admires Ezara for her determination and loyalty while also seeing many qualities of his younger and more hopeful self in her. He respects her opinion, seeing in her great wisdom and a conscience that serves as a guiding light for the Caravan. He places great amounts of trust in her, seeing her as one of his closest friends and has expressed that he respects her judgement regarding what to do with the moon known as Lycus. The two have had to learn to navigate their mutual stubbornness when disagreeing with each other; the point of contention often surrounds Constance with both caring deeply for her. Although getting Verci to admit it would be difficult, Ezara was integral in helping him see past his own cursed nature, and he only wishes to help her in a similar way.

### Freya Vvargenhelm

Vercingetorix first came to know the winter spiritborn who would become his sister in the early days of the Baumer Haus orphanage when she was a very young child. The two quickly became a bonded pair and were inseparable for most their time at the orphanage, with Vercingetorix becoming something of a protective big brother to Freya. As the two got older, the roles reversed with Freya looking after her tiefling brother, especially as she pursued her dreams of being a warrior. The two were so bonded that Maus refused to adopt one without the other. After his crimes against Celeste, Freya was extremely hurt by her brother's flight and took it upon herself to hunt him down. The two met once while he was on the run, but he was able to evade her, and now as Fenris grows closer to Oleander, who Freya was jealous of, his bond with Freya continues to be tested.

She was devastated to hear of Fenris' death, realizing too late that she missed her brother and was angered by his seeming abandonment of her. Freya admitted to Oleander that she felt guilty for how she fought and wanted to harm her brother because she was so hurt he left without saying goodbye. A major part of Vercingetorix's homesickness is having not seen Freya for years. He does not worry about her safety often, knowing she is more than capable of handling herself, but rather, wants to be there to support her as a sibling.

### Maus Ponyhosen

Vercingetorix always refers to his pama fondly, and the profound impact they had on him is evidenced by his kindhearted nature and his faith in Marlfax. Maus adopted the baby Vercingetorix, giving him his name, and loved him so much that they eventually came to call him their son with Vercingetorix always seeing Maus and Petra as his first parents; he was their second chance in a sense. Maus taught Vercingetorix archery, how to manage his occult pyromancy as a child, and how to survive Imperial Kovith as a tiefling. It was Maus who Vercingetorix went to the night he fled Weidenhafen, and he continues to write to them while in exile. Since returning from the dead, Vercingetorix has expressed a strong desire to see his parent again.

### Oleander

Having known Oleander since childhood, Fenris sees fae as a sister, and finds himself seeing fae as more of a sister than Freya has been in the past 5 years. Fenris and Oleander rely greatly on each other, and he is the only member of the Emerald Caravan she has trusted to aid her with mobility. Oleander has come to see Fenris as a brother. He has told fae he would lay his life down for faer and admitted when she had left the orphanage when they were children that he was devastated and locked himself away for almost a fortnight in sorrow. He kept this promise when the Devil Muertos came to collect, offering up his life in exchange. Oleander was shattered by his loss and felt she realized too late that he was a true brother to her. After Oleander had posthumously adopted him, Vercingetorix reassured her after returning to life that he does want to be her brother and adopted the surname of Morgenstern. He readily accepts the responsibilities of nobility, especially the difficulty of having to reestablish an excommunicated house, and although he may feel overwhelmed, Vercingetorix sees it as his familial duty to protect Oleander and help her obtain her goals. Vercigentorix often asks Oleander for advice and even when the two do not see eye to eye, they do not have conflict.

### Soren

The tiefling did not forget Soren initially insulting his home, and now he holds Soren in contempt for ordering Oleander's death before the campaign. Most of his interactions with Soren are what caused a lot of the friction with the Emerald Caravan, but after Soren's favor of providing Franz and after learning more about the Watcher, Fenris' views toward him have softened. After dying, Fenris came to learn more of Soren's true nature and past, and came to find empathy for him, offering to help him guide Anastasia's specter out from Gehenna. Vercingetorix has grown a deep respect for Soren with his new worldview being far more forgiving and the tiefling having a true understanding of the Watcher's circumstances, but what he truly appreciated was Soren looking after the Caravan in a manner similar to how Verci feels he does. Vercingetorix with the knowledge he obtained as a specter agrees with Soren that Queen Skyheart is far too dangerous to be left unchallenged, offering to aid the bard's cause however he can.

### Sylvia Wildfire

Sylvia had known Fenris for several years when the Emerald Caravan met them both. The two are close friends, having found a bond of kinship in their self-imposed exiles, and over time, the two formed a friendship with a deep level of trust between the tow; so much that Fenris asked Sylvia to kill him should his curse get the best of him. The two shared a brief romance together before calling things off believing they were better as friends as Fenris did not wish to share everything about himself with Sylvia. Despite this, the two still have a close bond as friends, which was recently tested in the Lycus 25th uprising in Shiverdelve.

### Tryss

Although the two have yet to spend more time together, Vercingetorix has expressed a genuine appreciation for Tryss helping the Emerald Caravan despite what ulterior motives one may have. He can feel empathy for having one's nature both physical and metaphysical altered. In a private conversation with Constance, Vercingetorix agreed with her that he finds Tryss to be 'cool' with the way one dresses and the way the commander carries oneself.

### Virwen

Despite the strange looks and culture shock from Virwen, Fenris understands she does not mean ill of him. Despite this, it still has caused some difficulty in him approaching her. Perhaps once Virwen comes to view his appearance as less shocking, the two can form a deeper connection.

## Character Information

### Quests

Fenris was on a personal quest to treat his lycanthropy and to atone for what he sees as his sins. He hopes he can keep the spirit of his Enclave alive by continuing Amaranth's mission. He has also taken it upon himself to safeguard and protect the Emerald Caravan who have become his friends. After experiencing Gehenna, he has felt he has atoned for his sins and has appeared to better control his transformations, now channeling his curse into a cursed sword. He currently is driven primarily by his love of Constance and brotherly feelings for Oleander along with a strict sense of justice to right what he sees is wrong with the divine hierarchy and order.

### Notable Items

* Scorched Earth
* Marlfax's Gift
* Moonshadow Exile's Mask

### Abilities

In seasons 1 and 2, Fenris, as a druid, drew his primary abilities from shapeshifting and elemental spellcasting. His primal animal forms allowed him to take on the role in the frontline as a combatant with his magic allowing him to apply support if the situation called for it. When he is encountered in Season 3, after acquiring Scorched Earth and having mastered his cursed lineage, Vercingetorix returns as a sword mage instead with a homebrewed talent that allows him to cast some druid spells as well. As a sword mage, Vercingetorix takes on the role of a combatant who utilizes magic to control the battlefield.

#### Tiefling Abilities

* **Curse of Chaos**: Due to his demonic lineage, Vercingetorix is able to place a curse on an enemy once per combat.

#### Character Boon Abilities

* **Moon Fury**: Vercingetorix is able to use his lycanthropic abilities to take on a fury form similar to the one his soul had taken on in the afterlife. He gains fire resistance, bonus defense, a bonus to hit on attacks, and the ability to fly while in this form.

#### Weapon Damage

Fenris is able to utilize his magic and his beast aspects to deal an assortment of damage.

* Fire (Flameblade, Fire Spear, Fire Elemental aspect, Firefox aspect)
* Psychic (Blight Horror aspect)

#### Sword Mage Abilities

* **Blade Magic**: Sword mages use arcane magic that they fuse into their fighting style allowing them to use melee weapons as implements. They can cast spells with their weapon and their weapon damage is based off of their spellcasting stat instead of STR or DEX.
* **Mage Armor**: Sword mages gain a +5 bonus to their base armor.
* **Sigils**: Sigils are the primary defensive tool of the Sword Mage that they place on enemies with a spell. Marked enemies that attack an ally allow the sword mage to trigger the sigil.
* **Access to ~~Wizardry~~ Druidism**: Normally, a sword mage gains access to Wizardry spells, but some class talents allow them to learn spells from other classes instead. With his Warden talent, Vercingetorix gains access to druid spells and can use Wisdom as his casting stat.

##### Class Talents

* **Enhanced Reflexes**: If not surprised, a sword mage may use a quick action at the start of a battle before initiative is resolved.
	+ *Adventurer Feat:* Once per battle, the sword mage may take an additional interrupt action above the limit of 1 between turns.
	+ *Champion Feat:* +1 bonus to PD.
* **Sigil Mastery**: The sword mage learns an additional sigil.
	+ *Adventurer Feat:* The sword mage gains the adventurer feat of *any* sigil they cast.
* **Warden**: A homebrewed talent that allows the sword mage to use Wisdom instead of Intelligence as their primary sword mage stat. Instead of Wizardry spells, the sword mage pursues druid spells and gains a free one without the penalty
	+ *Adventurer Feat:* The sword mage may take an additional druid spell at level without penalty.

##### Shifter Abilities

* Beast Form
* Scout Form

###### 1st Level Spells

* *Barrier Strike*
* Flying Blade
* Whiteflame Blade

###### 3rd Level spells

* *Ghost Strike*
* Lingering Shield

###### 5th Level Spells

* *Burning Sigil*
* *Counter-Force Shield*
* *Shimmering Ward*

##### Druid Spells

###### 1st Level Spells

* *Earth Strength*
* *Faerie Fire*

## Quotations

* "Tell the gods, if they dare interfere with Constance, I will rip across hell and all the planes to exact my vengeance." -a threat made to Fyla.
* "Marlfax, stay thy bow." -often uttered by Fenris when taken aback, awed, or bewildered.
* "In Briar, I told you I did not want to come back. Now... I have every reason to comeback."

## Trivia

* Only those very close with Fenris may call him *Verci* (short for his full name), including Maus, Freya, Oleander, and Constance.
* Fenris took his name when he became a druid of the Pariah Enclave. He only goes by Vercingetorix in private with those who know him by that name. Only certain people are allowed to call him ' Verci.'
* Fenris does not rely on his sight as much as other people like him would, often utilizing other senses such as hearing or smell. This is due to his curse altering his senses.
* Although he would be identified as a Kovithian, Fenris adheres to a Sojourner cultural tradition to maintain some link to his birth mother.
* Despite joining the Emerald Caravan late in Season 1, Puddins had already decided on Fenris' concept and had created him and his backstory before the campaign began.
* As an adopted child of Maus Ponyhosen, Fenris' character is linked to the Star-touched of *SteamSpell*
* Fenris utilized the druid's *shifter* talent to mechanically express his lycanthropy. Cast member Alex has said that the versatility of the *13th Age* system aided his efforts to play a lycanthrope as a player character.
* Cast member Alex mentions part of the reason for the class switch between Seasons 2 and 3 was due to the complexity of the druid class in *13th Age* as well as the mechanical needs of the party.
* Cast member Alex has mentioned that part of his inspiration for playing Fenris is to play as someone who would normally be casted as a monster in RPGs.
* Fenris' name is derived from the legendary wolf from Norse mythology 'Fenrir.'
* Alex, a historian by trade, took the name Vercingetorix from the famed Gaulish king who challenged Julius Caeser's conquest of Gaul. His adoptive father's name, Julius, is a bit of a joke as in antiquity, Caeser famously executed Vercingetorix.