Lionel Khapita

**Lionel Khapita** is a playable character in *Triangle Strategy*. He is a recruitable character available if the player has 400 Utility.

## Profile/Story

### Merchant of the Norzelia Consortium

*A merry and masterful merchant who provides an array of goods. He believes that a profitable end justifies the means in his line of work and dedicates himself wholeheartedly to filling his own coffers.*- In-game description

## Max Stats

### Movement

4

Lionel's base class is a Wordsmith, with abilities based around inflicting stat changes and status effects on his enemies. He wields a Whip at Weapon Rank 1, a Thorny Whip at Weapon Rank 2, and a Golden Whip at Weapon Rank 3. Lionel possesses the following classes and abilities:

## Character Stories

### A Shrewd Trader

*An Aesfrosti merchant attempts to charm the locals into buying his wares...*

* **Portly Merchant**: How fortunate this humble merchant is, to look upon such beauty!
* **Portly Merchant**: Nothing would do Lionel greater honor than to see his powders and perfumes adorn your divine visages.
* **Portly Merchant**: Such honor, in fact, that he is willing to part with them for...practically nothing at all!
* **Aesfrosti Citizen (F) A**: We haven't even coin for salt, let alone vanity!
* **Aesfrosti Citizen (F) B**: Minds on naught but your ledgers...you peddlers disgust me.
* **Portly Merchant**: Well met, brave protectors of the realm! Lionel has brought everything a hero needs and more!
* **Portly Merchant**: Every item has undergone meticulous testing to ensure that they will serve you well on the battlefield!
* **Aesfrosti Soldier**: Out of our way, junkmonger. We've important duties to attend to.
* **Portly Merchant**: How rude... Where are the smiles and open coinpurses the people used to greet Lionel with?
* **Portly Merchant**: Perhaps Lionel should take his goods elsewhere. War has made this place disagreeable... However...
* **Portly Merchant**: It *is* the perfect opportunity for the shrewd trader to amass his fortune. And Lionel is shrewd, if nothing else.
* **Wolffort Soldier**: My lord, that merchant who peddles his wares in our encampment has requested an audience.
* **Serenoa**: Ah, yes. Let him come forth.
* **Portly Merchant**: You do Lionel a great honor, my lord—a great honor!
* **Portly Merchant**: That he can count House Wolffort among his loyal patrons has ever been a source of pride.
* **Serenoa**: Yes, right. What brings you before me today?
* **Portly Merchant**: As my lord is doubtless already aware, war places a heavy burden on the treasury. A burden that only grows heavier as time drags on...
* **Portly Merchant**: However, a skilled negotiator can see his coffers even fuller at war's end than they were at its beginning.
* **Portly Merchant**: If he may be so bold, Lionel would offer his services in that very capacity.
* **Serenoa**: ......
* **Portly Merchant**: He understands your precarious position—trapped between two ravenous wolves.
* **Portly Merchant**: In such times, one can never have enough coin and resources to stave off what may come. Surely you agree?
* **Serenoa**: Your words have merit, and you have always been honest in your dealings with my house. I see no reason not to welcome you into our ranks.
* **Portly Merchant**: Splendid! You are as wise as they say. Wiser, even!
* **Portly Merchant**: Lionel shall not disappoint! Just the opposite, in fact!
* **Lionel**: From this day until his very last, he shall stake his honor on the prosperity of your house.
* **Lionel**: (CLOUD) And if his own coinpurse should grow fat in the process, who could blame him?

### On the Backs of Fools

*Lionel joins House Wolffort in a shameless bid to fill his coffers...*

* **Lionel**: Hail and well met, my good fellow! Lionel greets you most heartily.
* **Consortium Saltmonger**: Ah, Clarus spoke of you. Lionel, you say?
* **Lionel**: The very same, and in a position of privilege for which he is most grateful. A privilege that he would be most happy to share with the Consortium, that it might prove to our mutual benefit.
* **Consortium Saltmonger**: Oho! A fellow man with an eye for profit, I see! What privilege have you brought me today?
* **Lionel**: A worldly fellow such as yourself has doubtless heard rumors of Hyzante's clandestine research projects, yes?
* **Consortium Saltmonger**: Indeed I have. Developing weapons of devastating power, unlocking the secrets of eternal life...
* **Lionel**: What if Lionel were to tell you that Hyzante has, in fact, created an elixir that offers everlasting youth?
* **Consortium Saltmonger**: ...I would be intrigued. And then I'd ask you how you could possibly know such a thing.
* **Lionel**: It's a simple matter of logic. Think—why would Hyzante hide the existence of so wondrous a panacea?
* **Consortium Saltmonger**: Hmm...I suppose they'd want to keep such power to them and theirs.
* **Lionel**: Just so! The only thing kings and nobles covet more than salt is life itself! My lord is no exception...
* **Consortium Saltmonger**: What're you saying? That those you serve have procured this miracle drug?
* **Lionel**: Lionel has found himself welcome within nobility's most inner circles, he is proud to say. And privy to their secret conversations.
* **Lionel**: He also finds himself in possession of a certain medicine. A medicine he would be happy to part with a share of—for the right price...
* **Consortium Saltmonger**: A price I'd be more than willing to pay for such an incredible elixir. Do tell me—what exactly does it do?
* **Lionel**: What doesn't it do!? Its imbiber is blessed with unyielding vigor, unflagging stamina, and unmitigated vitality!
* **Lionel**: Demand has proven so overwhelming that Lionel cannot hope to deliver the goods all on his own. He would be willing to share his profits with the right partner, however.
* **Consortium Saltmonger**: If you've won the nobles' trust, then I see no reason to hesitate in helping you take some of their coin... Very well, let me see the goods.
* **Lionel**: Hah! That makes ten who put their lust for coin before their capacity for reason. This is almost too easy.
* **Lionel**: With a few rumors and a respected name at his disposal, Lionel could sell these gullible fools their own shoes! Ohoho...
* **Lionel**: They're welcome to help themselves to this purgative, and if one or two of them is remarkably long-lived, then all the better for Lionel.
* **Anna**: And are you content to make your fortune on the backs of fools?
* **Lionel**: Gah! You! How long have you been there?
* **Anna**: Since the morning, on Benedict's orders.
* **Lionel**: ...Hmph. Your overseer is too kind. However, you may return and inform him that Lionel needs no protection.
* **Lionel**: His work to bring fortune to House Wolffort requires the utmost concentration, and the presence of others can prove an unnecessary distraction.

### A Merchant's Joy

*Lionel uses the Wolffort name to sell his dubious goods, but will he get away with it?*

* **Consortium Saltmonger**: You! Just what was in that swill you sold me!?
* **Lionel**: Ah, my good ser! Don't you look to be in a fit of pique. But what does it have to do with Lionel?
* **Consortium Saltmonger**: Don't play coy with me! That was no secret elixir you sold me!
* **Consortium Saltmonger**: An elderly nobleman bought the entire batch, and all he got for his troubles was a whole day atop his chamber pot!
* **Lionel**: Ah, perhaps the tonic's invigorating effects were too potent for a man of such venerable age.
* **Lionel**: While Lionel is sure his digestive system has been duly cleansed, methinks a smaller dosage should suffice next time.
* **Consortium Saltmonger**: Digestive system? Dosage? You said that medicine granted eternal life!
* **Lionel**: Lionel recalls saying nothing of the sort. We did converse⁠ about rumors of such an elixir existing prior to the transaction, but that was all.
* **Lionel**: If you harbor any doubts, pray consult the bill of sale. Rest assured that any misunderstanding stems from your own negligence.
* **Consortium Saltmonger**: For all the good it'll do me now, I might as well wipe my ass with it!
* **Lionel**: My friend, a merchant's seal is his word. Consider this a lesson to read the fine print more carefully in the future.
* **Consortium Saltmonger**: You two-faced charlatan! You'll pay for this!
* **Lionel**: Two-faced? Has your own coinpurse not grown mysteriously fat despite the heavy taxes on salt?
* **Lionel**: I daresay more so than market prices would conceivably allow. One wonders...what is the punishment in Hyzante for those who do business outside the purview of the state?
* **Consortium Saltmonger**: You...you can't threaten me! I'll gut you like a fish!
* **Lionel**: Uwaaah!
* **Consortium Saltmonger**: Ungah!
* **Anna**: Seems you needed protection after all.
* **Lionel**: Sh-shut up! Lionel had the matter well under control. Did...did you kill him?
* **Anna**: He's just unconscious. Killing him would only attract unwanted attention.
* **Lionel**: Nevertheless, he gave Lionel quite a fright. That knock on his head couldn't have been good for the fool's health.
* **Anna**: The only fool here is you.
* **Anna**: Using the name of House Wolffort to swindle others—how long did you think this charade would last?
* **Anna**: I'll give you one chance to stop, or else you'll end up next to him in the dirt.
* **Lionel**: Lionel will have you know he has friends in high places. Yes, *very* high places!
* **Lionel**: So high, in fact, that—yes! Lionel now sees the error of his ways! His thinking so far has been...positively unambitious!
* **Lionel**: It is Lionel who holds the purse strings of House Wolffort, and it is he who must see to it that said purse is overflowing with riches!
* **Lionel**: He *has* been a fool! Only a fool would squander his talents with such petty deceits!
* **Lionel**: But Lionel does not lose heart easily! No, he shall redouble his efforts!
* **Lionel**: For such is his burden—the burden of a loyal servant tasked with guiding his house to boundless fortune!
* **Lionel**: Bwahaha! Let us begin our new work posthaste!
* **Anna**: That...took a turn for the unexpected. What am I supposed to do with him?
* **Anna**: Knock him senseless and drag him back to the castle? It may come to that...

## Mid-Battle Conversations

### Final Chapter: Blessed Freedom

#### vs. Idore

* **Lionel**: When Lionel threw in his lot with Wolffort, he never wagered he'd end up in a battle against Minister Idore...
* **Idore**: Such a shame. If it was profit you were after, merchant, all you had to do was work hard at your trade and the Goddess would have smiled upon you.

### Final Chapter: For Norzelia

#### vs. Idore

* **Lionel**: Hmm...The Aelfric crystals are sure to fetch a high price. In the name of mercantile progress, Lionel shall strike you down!
* **Idore**: Another fool, driven by greed. You would repackage people's misery and sell it back to them with a smile.

## Trivia

* Lionel's surname, Khapita, is possibly a pun on "capital", or the supplies needed to run a business, alluding to his mercantile background.