Norzeiros Krane

Norzeiros, after the Mallus.

### Relatives

Erjeon Krane (deceased)Yellmia Krane (deceased) Numerous brothers and sisters (deceased)

### Allies

Philip "Trustworthy" FriedrinkRho-Zee

Paphia Undulata

Moses Snowcleaver

Garruk, Apex Carpenter

Darksky

## Physical description

### Eye color

Brown

> *"If anything was uglier than this island, it'd be my face!" - Norzeiros, upon arrival on Kranox.*
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**Norzeiros Krane** is an Elven Artificer and the current unofficial head of the wealthy and powerful Krane family. As a widely known traveler, Krane is famous for being extensively curious and innovative, near obsessed with notions of the greater good. Krane currently roams in Northern Congeria, where he has formed a group of fellow travelers to investigate suspicious activity in Rimerock.

Growing up rich yet neglected, Norzeiros developed a knack for invention and curiosity at a very young age. After being denied from many prestigious science schools across Uvonor, Krane became his family's resident theorist and head of pharmaceuticals, a position he loathed. Trying to distance himself from his father's despotic image and his family's grasp on his brilliant mind, Krane became a traveler and searched for exotic medicines and potions across the continent.

However, Krane returned to Krastis right when the Mallus struck, witnessing the deaths of his family and becoming severely injured by the powerful blast. Fortunately, Krane was rescued by the Sons of Rezyl, who adopted Norzeiros as a fellow brother. Bearing inoperable and dehabiliating scars, Krane developed a lifesuit that allows him to breathe and function as a normal being. Many say the blast inspired Krane to innovate even more than ever before, developing a notion much like his father's of being a savior for his kind.

In the current age, Krane still seeks his ultimate goal of healing the effects of the Mallus through whatever means necessary. But, his inclusion into a rag-tag group of misfits places him at odds with obtaining his near-impossible goal, questioning his sense of morality and truth in an age where none matters.

## Biography

Norzeiros is the son of Erjeon and Yellmia Krane, born in the Age of Pyrite, approximately sixty years before the Mallus. The Kranes dominated politics, economics, and culture in Krastis since it’s foundation, spreading their power to its neighboring regions as well. Norzeiros was the youngest in his family of nine brothers and six sisters, often neglected because of the wide age gap between him and his siblings. Norzeiros’s siblings and parents had brought the Krane family name to continental prominence over the hundreds of years before Norzeiros’s birth, raising questions on if Norzeiros was planned or a happy accident. Norzeiros found solace in the sciences, growing up with a limitless imagination and a deep curiosity that drove him to invent, innovate, and experiment. By the time he was mentally a teenager, he had successfully made numerous medicines and contraptions that were made widely available to the public. Norzeiros’s father Erjeon was very pleased at his young boy’s growth and intellect, promoting him to the family’s resident theorist and head of pharmaceuticals

However, tragedy struck when the Mallus, a global catastrophe spurred by a war between Gods and mortals, occurred. Krastis, the bustling home city of the Kranes, was situated miles away from where the bomb was ignited, but it still took no time until it’s impact set in. The Mallus’s impact was powerful and disastrous, killing the Gods and ripping dimensions apart one minute at a time. At the town square just outside of the Krane family home, an interdimensional rift appeared, sucking Krastis’s buildings and inhabitants inside the portal. Norzeiros, who had been out of town on an alchemy shopping spree, caught a glimpse of the rift obliterating the city. Norzeiros never forgot the sight of that day, witnessing the interdimensional rift explode and permanently scar him from it’s sheer magnitude. In his week long coma, Norzeiros fell into a dream state where the effects of the Mallus plagued his body. The raw energy created by the Mallus, known as Mus, manifested itself inside of Norzeiros’s body, causing abnormal fluctuations in emotion, feeling, and lifestyle as he gradually woke up. When the week passed by, Norzeiros was rescued by a special military battalion, known as the Sons of Rezyl, from nearby Tolmor who were sent to the remains of Krastis to investigate what had transpired. It was then that Norzeiros learned of what had happened, how his town was destroyed, and that his entire family was gone. Amplified by the effects of the Mus, Norzeiros shifted his grief and depression towards his life long hobby of innovation and creating new technologies.

Norzeiros soon became a traveler, tainted with the powers of the Mus. He found friends in the battalion that had rescued him, offering insight of anomalies beyond their explanations. They found Norzeiros to be their artificer, a wise and intellectual guide with the knack of helping whenever he can. Norzeiros continued to innovate and improve his workings along the way, developing a plague mask to help him breathe correctly and to hide his grotesque scars. However, his next invention was the most concerning of all. Upon stumbling another town obliterated by the Mallus’s effects, Norzeiros was inspired to create a device capable of harnessing the Mus so he could create new potions and treatments for those affected by it. His traveling mates were beyond terrified of Norzeiros’s thinking since he, himself, had untamed powers. When constructing the device, Norzeiros would humbly assure his mates of his innocence, unknowingly releasing his raw power one step at a time. Norzeiros began his work with the Mus he collected day by day, eventually sustaining a stable source in the medium of a staff. Along with the staff, Norzeiros created successful potions from the raw Mus that helped reverse the effects of the Mallus on local citizens.

As he grew older and his traveling mates began to die out, Norzeiros’s curiosity increased. The Mus had reached his brain, warping his mind into thinking he can save all of humanity through his power. Upon arriving at the isle of Kranox, Norzeiros began work on a theory in which the Mus he manifested could potentially heal the rifts of the original blast, something far larger and wider than the treatments he had done previously. His theory stated that by using the raw Mus in his staff and with a new device that would be capable of unleashing it worldwide, the interdimensional tears and plaguing creatures coming out of it would all cease to exist. In secret, Norzeiros began testing his theory with the staff on small animals like rabbits, mice, and captive goblins. During the tests, Norzeiros noticed that only a few of the animals he had tested survived without harm. The rest of them, however, mutated into Mures, zombie-like creatures deriving from interdimensional energy. Norzeiros was at another crossroads, choosing to pursue further research into his idea rather than scrapping it. As a result, Norzeiros began testing on his troop at night, observing that none of them had mutated into Mures. It was then that Norzeiros firmly believed in his Utilitarian theory, emphasizing the need for sacrifice to save the greater good as a whole. By catching wind of his radical idea and worried about his growing unstable relationship with the Mus inside him, the troop exiled Norzeiros to the isle of Congeria, cast out as a mad heretic capable of total destruction. Norzeiros, alone again, bartered with wizards and scholars to conduct further research in many towns, but to no avail.

## Meeting Philip "Trustworthy" Friedrink

While traveling upward from South Congeria, Norzeiros stopped in Golby County, a small bustling trade town in between the order of South Congeria and the lawlessness of the North. Norzeiros, having expended all of his magic potions and treatments, stopped at Paddy's Potions Shop to restock his satchel. After buying numerous potions and supplies, Norzeiros headed out of the shop and was stopped by a Dwarf named Philip Friedrink.

Philip began to sell some of his "magic" items to Norzeiros, who humbly rejected the offer. However, seeing the trust in Philip, Norzeiros continued a conversation with Philip until a Gnome and two Legionnaire guards approached the two. Philip, using his wit and charisma, talked one of the guards out of apprehending him for a crime that Norzeiros had no idea Philip had committed. The Gnome and the other guard, however, did not believe Philip's story and pursued him. Norzeiros, who was silently backing away from the encounter, began to walk Northward as Philip caught up and pulled his arm. The two then reluctantly headed north to Rimerock.

## Entry I: Arrival in Rimerock

*"I have finally arrived in the fabled Congerian city of Rimerock. The rich ores and presence of Matira has always made me long to visit this place. My grandfather always told me of how great and prosperous this city once was. Thousands of years of fighting and inter-dimensional rifts later, Rimerock is nothing like grandpa said. It's filthy, covered in grime and ash with air that's been clogging my breathing holes. For Matira's sake, the tavern was probably the most pleasant thing the city had to offer, besides the interesting people I've met up with.*

*In addition to conman Dwarf Philip, I've encountered Paphia Undalata, a spry Triton, Rho-Zee, a swashbuckling Lizardwoman, Garruk, the scariest creature I've ever seen, Darksky, an ash-skinned pious Goliath, and Moses Snowcleaver, the first Human paladin I've seen in a hundred years. They're unique, I have to say. But, I inquire to learn more about them and what they have seen in these isles. What kind of creatures and conjurations have they witnessed?"*

## Entry II: A Strange Encounter

*"DESTROY.*

*The hooded figure in the tavern was something I had never seen before. The eye that he possessed, blessed Matira. That eye is something I've only seen once. Ever. The druid-like figure resembled all of my fears of this world, all of my aspirations in a dark hole that blinked and vanished. It's something I wish to unsee, but, knowing myself, the only thing I must do is inquire and seek knowledge. Who is he? What is his purpose and what purple hell is spewing out of his eye?*

*It must be Mus. It has to. What else can it be? Anyways, the gaggle of people I previously mentioned are strange, especially Moses. He's so damn hostile and got us kicked out of the tavern. I was starting to dislike the tavern, mainly because of the hooded figure, but because I hate the drinking environment. It sucks me into more trouble than I can handle. Jolys, Gambit, Dazal, all of them perished from dumbfounded adventures from a tavern. These Rimerock townsfolk, however, are quite interesting.*

*Anyway, I've begun work on a new item to enhance my adventures. I'm thinking of a device capable of transmitting communication through some medium, perhaps magic. I hope to stray away from the magic though and rely heavily on just the mechanics of communication. Maybe some kind of talking stone of some sort."*

## Entry III: The Mines

*"The little band and I are headed into Rimerock's historic mines. My grandfather told me of the extraordinary amount of gold and silver that came out of these mines, but I have yet to see a vein or ore that tells me so. But, these mines are linked to the ethereal presence of the hooded man. The energy, the darkness, it all makes sense.*

*Upon entry, we were attacked by Kobolds, bastard and grotesque creatures they are. One of them got the best of me when my alchemical acid performed no effect on the creatures. My spur-of-the-moment stupidity cost me that one. But, in my unconsciousness, I saw something.*

*I saw the hooded man once more. He wasn't methodical nor brooding, but rather welcoming. I heard faint echoes of 'destroy' in the back of my head, but I listened to him. He told me to unmask too, which I physically just cannot do. But, he meant to unmask in a different way, perhaps spiritually or mentally. He unmasked and so did I and all I saw was that gleaming purple eye of his. I need that eye. I need to further my research and perhaps, in these mines, I can find him and yank it out from his socket.*

*It could become the means to the end of the Mallus. No matter the cost."*

## Entry IV: The Gem Guardian

*"Well, another close brush with death. For Matira's sake, I have seen too much in these mines. I've seen sickly, deformed Kobolds, disgusting Stirges, a bonfire sacrifice of some sort, and a ginormous stone golem, powered by glowing purple gems. That same golem incapacitated everyone, most notably Darksky who was bleeding from all holes in his body. I was the only one there for a moment, the last man standing.*

*I used my last ounce of curiosity to save Darksky by plunging one of the purple gems that had powered the golem into his chest. I can't get the sound out of my head of my staff and the gem colliding. It's a miracle I saved him, truly. But, now, I am utterly disturbed.*

*I do not care for these people yet. But, there was something about the sight of me standing amongst a pile of corpses, well, rather unconscious heroes. No, not heroes, more like adventurers. Yes, that's it. To take my mind away from the sight, I've continued my research into those communication devices, ignoring my watch duties to study and innovate.*

*I'm nearly done with them. I've decided to call them Sending Stones, a figure of speech. I like to make myself laugh sometimes, especially when there's truly nothing to laugh at. Everything I've seen in the past few days in this town and in these mines, well, it has definitely changed me. I've seen some 'shit' before, pardon my language, but this is something else.*

*Hopefully, these gems that I have collected can help me on this tedious journey."*

## Entry V: Out of the Blue

*"As we walked out of the mines, the lingering, ashy, mildew-like smell of Mus stuck to my clothing and I just can't seem to escape it. As much as I want to study the Mallus and all that has transpired after, the Mus is something I just can't be around. It's peculiar nature frustrates me and it's hidden potential outright terrifies me.*

*It's been two long days in those mines, but after the humanoid crater in the stalagmite cavern, I've been on a curiosity kick. The long term study has received numerous artifacts and gems crucial to it's completion, along with the tainted blood of the many Kobolds we killed.*

*Now, L'Na, the high elf library girl, needs help with her father's mysterious disappearance. I fear it's linked to the mines and the man from the Drunken Lady, but if it is to fulfill my goals, I must attend to it. In addition, those Sending Stones are finally complete, giving me some further tool expertise in the process.*

*Whatever our rag-tag group is, hopefully it helps me rather than kill me."*

## Personality

*"My gift is punishment, my struggle is pride."*

Norzeiros is a friendly Elf, willing to make contact with anyone he deems comfortable. Norzeiros is always thinking, which means he comes off as self-centered and ambitious when he truly means the opposite. Sometimes, his demeanor is hampered by his mask too, slurring words and becoming incoherent. Norzeiros counters this by opening a hole at the bottom of his mask that allows him to eat, drink, and talk more fluidly. Nonetheless, Norzeiros is able to fluently speak four languages: Common, Elvish, Sylvan, and Draconic.

Norzeiros is of supreme intellect with proficiencies in Arcana, History, Medicine, Perception, Persuasion, and Sleight of Hand. Of course, all of these proficiencies coincide with Norzeiros's knack for creativity and innovation. Norzeiros is also extremely swift, maneuvering up and around trees and mountains with ease. His great speed makes up for the feeble appearance he gained after the Mallus.

## Description

Norzeiros is an Elf with pointy ears and a slender build. However, Norzeiros is notably thinner than the average elf, attributed mainly to the effects of the Mallus. Norzeiros is draped in black robes, studded leather, and a dark plague mask almost at all times. His famous plague mask has made Norzeiros a celebrity around Elf-dominated Kranox and Raynea, known to them either as "Krane" or "the Crow". Norzeiros is also known for carrying around many potions and vials, handaxes, a crossbow and quiver, and his Mus staff.

Before the Mallus, Norzeiros had black hair with bright brown eyes, uncharacteristic of his family's silver haired and purple eyed appearance. When the Mallus occurred, Norzeiros physically looked like an Elvish teenager, bearing a deeper voice and a handsome face. The Mallus has since changed all of this.

Norzeiros was known to be a ladies man in Krastis. According to his own account and folk lore, Norzeiros had slept with over 100 women of all different races. Human locals referred to him as "the beauty and brains of Krastis", while Elves passed him on as just another Krane "not worth their time". Norzeiros was always humble about his high status, always choosing to work on new ideas before finding a new beau.