Tribula Cochlea

> *"Jarlaxle's not the only reason you're alive. Mariss saved your life last night. You know that, right? But he's wrong. I'm not nice. I'm really not. If you make me hurt someone again, I'll hurt you."* (Mus C'aedus II, Session 11)
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**Tribula Cupcake Cochlea** (pronounced /tri-bu-lɑː kʌp-keɪk kɒtʃ-li-ɑː/ *TRI-bu-lah KUP-kayk KOCH-li-ah*), formerly known by the name **K'arus Avitas Mus C'aedus II** (pronounced /k-ɑː-rʌs ɑː-vi-tɑːs mus k-eɪ-dʌs/ *k-AH-ruhs AH-vee-tahs MUS k-AY-dus*), also addresed by "Tri", is a sea elven bloodhunter. They are a Waterdhavian ex-noble who got involved in the Awning Portal's affairs after meeting Noonan Lockheed, Reverence and Mariss D'Marothek in Durnan's Yawning Portal and signing the lease for the Awning Portal property.

## History

### Titles and Aliases

Moose (pseudonym)
Young Lord (by Tumbleworth, honorific)
Young Lord C'aedus
Tri (nickname)
Mus C'aedus II (former legal name)

## Relationships

### Friends

Reverence
Noonan Lockheed
Cupcake (familiar)
Mariss D'Marothek (roommate)
Izora de’Xvim
Volothamp Geddarm
Renear Neverember
Pidge the Poltergeist
Poltergeist of the Awning Portal
Krentz (roommate)
Pog Ger (roommate)
Krebbyg Masq'il'yr
Felrekt Lafeen (deceased)
Loreloth (roommate)
Mirt
Gras

### Family

Jane C'aedus (mother)
K'arus Avitas Mus C'aedus I (father)
Auxi C'aedus (sister)
Tumbleworth (family butler)

## **Description**

Tribula Cochlea is a sea elf that stands at 6 foot 5 inches (195 centimeters) tall and weighs 180 pounds (81.6 kilograms). They have a soft, yet angular face with light blue skin, and their ears sport blue fins. They also have light blue gills on their neck. Tri has sea-green hair that hangs loose, and ocean blue eyes, one of which being covered by a *knave's eye patch* given to them by Jarlaxle Baenre. They are lean and strong, and tower over most of the people they meet.

Tri typically wears a long black dress of fine make and thick leather boots that crawl up to their knees. They adopted this style of dress shortly after changing their name, desiring to reinvent themself and become someone that was not reminiscent of their family.

While still of House C'aedus, Tri typically wore Waterdhavian formal wear given to them by their family. This usually consisted of a long blue coat, thick leather boots, pressed white pants and a white dress shirt, a grey vest, and a necktie with a seashell accent in the middle. Their blue coat was embroidered and lined with golden patterns, and the whole outfit is of expert craftsmanship make. Additionally, their eyepatch was also embroidered with a seashell embedded with a pearl, a symbol of House C'aedus. However, despite the cost of their outfit, it was usually in ruins due to their adventures. Occasionally, Mariss would repair the outfit using *Mending;* these repairs did not last long, however, as the outfit typically got damaged again shortly after. Tri sold this outfit shortly after they changed their name, and gave the eyepatch to Jarlaxle Baenre.

## **Personality**

Tri, despite being the oldest of the party, is the most socially naive, to the point of hilarity. This social ineptitude has caused them to be tricked and deceived several times; notable examples are Tri not understanding that Cupcake, as an imp, had nothing but poor intentions initially, being tricked by Gras into being sold drugs and not understanding that those plants are drugs, being tricked by Mariss into believing carrots are a government conspiracy, and more. Despite this, this naivete is considered to be endearing by most, and allows Tri to befriend even the most hard and hostile of people; notable examples are Krentz, a hardened mercenary, and Cupcake, who was previously an imp from the Nine Hells.

Tri's foolishness has caused them to be looked down upon by Waterdeep's nobles; however, their kindness has still allowed them to be tolerated and even loved by those who they used to associate with. They are still allowed to enter and be served by the businesses of the Castle Ward, and they are still very close with their sister, Auxi, who purchased an extraordinarily large cake for their birthday. They do not understand the social rules of being a noble, however, and behavior such as bringing an imp into a high-class bakery has caused them to irritate and anger those of a high standing.

However, Tri is not fragile or weak by any means. They understand when they need to be serious; this manifested most notably when Krebbyg shot them. Despite being forgiving of Krebbyg's actions, they warned Krebbyg that such actions would cause Tri to harm him in the future, and Tri said this with full intent to follow through. They also are very protective of their friends and loved ones and this can bring out a cold, hardened side of Tri that most are unfamiliar with, and that Tri will stop at nothing to eliminate anything that threatens those they love.

Tri struggles with their lycanthropy, and is terrified of the possibility of hurting those they care about because they are unable to fully control their abilities. They have hurt those they care about in the past due to this; Reverence being struck during the scuffle with Krebbyg is a notable example. This causes them to withdraw from those they care about and agonize over this possibility.

## **Abilities**

### Sea Elf Amphibiousness

Tri, as a sea elf, has the ability to function both underwater and on land. They can breathe water as they do air, thanks to their gills, and can swim and fight effectively underwater. They are also more proficient at simple communication with creatures that live underwater, and know their way around such weapons as tridents and nets.

### Martial Combat

Tri is proficient with a wide breadth of weaponry, many of which they utilize in battle. The most notable of these is a musket gifted to them by Jarlaxle, lovingly named the "*Mus*ket", which they recently acquired and took to like a duck on water.

### Were-Flail Snail Lycanthropy

Tri suffers from lycanthropy from the bite of their former pet Flail Snail, Clerfy, and can manifest this lycanthropy as a combat ability. They are able to sprout tentacles from their back, which they use as natural weapons. Unfortunately, they do not have full control of these abilities, and when in danger can slip into a state of bloodlust that can endanger those around them.

## **Possessions**

Tri has a musket, affectionately called the "*Mus*ket", which is their current go-to weapon. They recieved it from Jarlaxle Baenre as a reward from rescuing Renear Neverember from the Hand of Nessus, who kidnapped him.

Tri was given a magical pocketwatch from Auxi for their 300th birthday. At the current, nobody knows what its magical ability is.

Tri had a signet ring engraved with the crest of the C'aedus family. They used this ring to establish their status as a noble when they deem it necessary, such as when Noonan was arrested by the guard for obstruction of justice. Tri used their nobility status to remove any punishment that Noonan would have received. They lost this ring when they were disowned by House C'aedus.

Tri has a *Sending Stone*. The other paired stone is in the possession of Noonan.

Tri has an anti-lycan doll and potion, both items that they believe to ward off their own lycanthropy. These items have no effect, however.

Tri was given a *knave's eyepatch* and a *headband of intellect* by Jarlaxle Baenre, the former of which they traded their House C'aedus eyepatch in exchange for it.

## **History**

### Before the Present Day

Tribula Cochlea was born to K'arus Avitas Mus C'aedus I, a sea elf, and Jane C'aedus, a half-elf, in 1193, 300 years before the present as K'arus Avitas Mus C'aedus II. Tri was raised alongside their younger sister Auxi. When they were young, it was quite clear that Tri was a bit slower on the social uptake than Auxi, and the C'aedus's constantly attempted to hire tutors and nannies to correct Tri's behavior. Tri, however, did not learn their lesson, and continually got in trouble, particularly through Gras, who deceived them multiple times into buying illegal and illicit goods off of him, including mood-altering drugs, and things that were marked up way over their real price, as Tri would not understand that they were being scammed. Eventually, Tri bought a Flail Snail from Gras, not realizing that it was capable of passing on lycanthropy. It bit them, giving them the curse of lycanthropy. The C'aedus family got in contact with an order of lycanthropes, who taught Tri how to deal with lycanthropy, but Tri never fully learned how to control their curse. The lycanthropes gave up on Tri, and Tri got thrown out of the order.

This was damning to Tri's status as a noble. Tri, as a lycanthrope, was a disgrace to the C'aedus name, and to protect their status, K'arus I and Jane kicked Tri out of their home, leaving them on the streets. This decision was disliked by Auxi and Tumbleworth, the house butler, but there was nothing they could do to help. With the money that Mus was given, they bounced around from place to place, even relying on Gras. Eventually, they began to run out of money, and started to sink into squalor.

### Waterdeep, 1492

Tri met Mariss D’Marothek, Noonan Lockheed, Izora de’Xvim and Reverence in Durnan’s Yawning Portal in the summer of 1492. Tri and this new group were asked by Volothamp Geddarm to find Floon Blagmaar, who went missing alongside Renear Neverember. Tri and company rescued both Floon and Renear, destroying an entire sect of the Hand of Nessus on the way, and were rewarded with several hundred dragons and a piece of property, Trollskull Manor, which would then become the Awning Portal.

During this time, Tri and the party were introduced to Felrekt Lafeen and Krebbyg Masq'il'yr- both of which worked under "J.B. Nevercott" and were instructed to look after Renear Neverember- after the party investigated Renear's home and the latter shot and nearly killed Izora. Additionally, after trapping them in an iron pot, the party was introduced to an imp, who Mus named "Cupcake". Cupcake went on to be Tri's familiar, as Tri signed a contract with them promising to be their best friend.

After Renear was saved, the party was both rewarded by Nevercott, who provided the party with weaponry and gold, and Mirt, who took interest in the party's abilities and offered to take the party to an opera. Shortly before this opera, the party intended to intercept a discussion of Nevercott's at the dock ward, only to watch in horror as Felrekt was shot and killed, leaving behind a bloody message of warning against intervening in Nevercott's affairs. After the opera was crashed by Loreloth (who Mariss tied up and interrogated), Mirt offered to finance the Awning Portal in exchange for a return on profits. The group agreed to this deal, and Mirt's representative Jethro discussed building plans with the group during this time. Additionally, Loreloth revealed that Nevercott was Jarlaxle Baenre, leader of Bregan D'aerthe, the organization that Felrekt and Krebbyg were members of. The party agreed to keep Loreloth safe in the Awning Portal and allowed him to work there as a barhand for income.

The party then gets into legal trouble as Noonan and Izora talk casually about looting graves, and while Mariss runs off to do damage control, the group has a beach party. Izora also then reveals that she has plans to build a temple to Bane inside the Awning Portal. After following more leads and discussing poltergeist rights, the party returns to the Awning Portal, where Krebbyg appears and asks to talk to Tri in private. Krebbyg questions Tri about their role in Felrekt's death, which Tri admits witnessing and apologises to Krebbyg about the loss of his friend. Krebbyg shoots Tri in a misguided attempt to avenge the death of Felrekt, causing the rest of the party (excluding Noonan, who is discussing construction at the carpenter's guild at this time) to burst in and intervene. Rev and Tri are chased out of the room by a volatile Mariss, and leave Krebbyg to Mariss’s whims.

Tri flees and hides under their bed, and Rev discovers a very distraught Tri crying there. Rev comforts Tri while Izora guards the door, then goes down to inform Loreloth, Krentz and Pog of Krebbyg’s actions and presence. Arguments continue as the following morning has Noonan climbing up the wall of the building and eavesdropping through the window, which Krebbyg catches immediately. When Noonan leaves, Mariss pulls his Rope of Climbing through the window, holding it hostage, forcing Noonan to try to disguise himself as Tri and persuade Mariss to give it back. Mariss refuses, and the real Tri, Izora, Reverence and Noonan come upstairs, and Izora casts Zone of Truth on everyone in the room. Mariss resists the Zone of Truth, and Izora tells everyone.

Tri reveals to Krebbyg that they are innocent and did not kill Felrekt. Krebbyg, aware that it is a Zone of Truth, is forced to accept the truth that Jarlaxle deceived him and tried to blame the murder of his best friend on a completely innocent and uninvolved person. Mariss appeals to Krebbyg and claims that Jarlaxle's breach of trust, not only to the party but also to Krebbyg himself, warrants his assistance. Krebbyg concedes and gives three names; Soluun Xibrindas, Llorath Pharn and Tylan Ilueph, top recruits of Jarlaxle that need to be taken out before Jarlaxle is challenged. Krebbyg also hypothesizes that Soluun likely is Felrekt's real killer, as Soluun has had a history of killing non-drow elves for fun.

When Mariss leaves, Tri warns Krebbyg that he should not take Mariss’s kindness for granted, and says that if Krebbyg’s actions lead to Tri causing any more harm to people, Tri will hurt him. The arguments resolve into a rocky peace.

Mariss begins to make preparations for the opening of the Awning Portal, setting up for a grand opening party. He directs Tri to take invites to the Castle Ward; Tri takes 20 and stuffs them into mailboxes in the Castle Ward. Izora, Tri, Reverence and Noonan then have a slumber party, leaving Mariss alone at the Awning Portal.

During this slumber party, guardsmen arrive at the house, seeking Izora. Noonan lies to the guardsmen and claim Izora is not present, while Izora makes a mad dash for the window. However, Izora is spotted and the guard quickly realizes Noonan has lied about Izora’s whereabouts. Noonan is quickly arrested for obstructing justice, and Izora leaps out the window, killing a guard upon landing. She takes off, and the rest of the guard goes after her, leaving a confused Rev and Tri behind. The pair follow the incarcerated Noonan to the station, and Tri manages to get Noonan acquitted. Izora remains on the run. They later discover Izora has been arrested for the murder of a guard, as she resisted arrest and killed a guard by jumping down on him from the roof wearing full plate armor. Thanks to Tri’s intervention, she is not executed, but will spend the rest of her life in jail.

The next two days, just before the party, see the celebration of Mus's 300th birthday. Their sister, Auxi, supplies Rev and the C'aedus family's butler, Tumbleworth, with the task of lugging a 200-lb cake several blocks to the Awning Portal, taking them over an hour. The cake, being several feet wide and tall, could barely fit through the door, and even though the Awning Portal housed 8 people, they could not eat it all. However, they happily celebrate Tri’s birthday, even with all of the leftovers, which Mariss takes care of.

## **Relationships**

### Cupcake the Pixie

Despite being far less socially adept than Cupcake, Cupcake has agreed to become Tri's familiar. Tri signed a contract with Cupcake despite it being in their best interest not to, and was bound by contract to be Cupcake's best friend in exchange for Cupcake's companionship and presence on the Prime Material. Tri earnestly believes Cupcake is Tri's best friend, and Cupcake is very pleased by this arrangement. They are close and their budding friendship is founded on good faith. This friendship culminated in Cupcake's alignment changing, and their form changing to that of a pixie, the ultimate proof of Cupcake's good will towards Tri.

### Noonan Lockheed and Reverence

Tri truly trusts Noonan and Rev and considers them to be their close friends. Noonan and Rev are trustworthy and provide Tri with the honest companionship that they lacked for a long period of their life. Noonan, Reverence and Tri are a stable and close trio that often act in tandem and easily banter and socialize with one another.

### Mariss D'Marothek

Tri has defended Mariss's honor in the past, most notably when Krebbyg shot them and Tri stood up for Mariss's attempt to save him. However, Mariss finds Tri to be an easy target for his pent-up rage, and Tri dislikes it, and dislikes Mariss seeing them as stupid. Mariss has also verbally attacked their sister, which they dislike. The two have butt heads in the past, and Mus has lashed out against Mariss before. However, Tri and Mariss do work together from time to time.

### Gras

Gras has known Tri for quite a long time, and Tri is his most frequent (and only) customer. He frequently and easily deceives Tri and convinces the sea elf to purchase illicit goods from him. Tri blindly trusts him and believes him to be their friend; Gras frequently denies any such friendship exists.

### Auxi C'aedus

Despite Tri's alienation from their family, Tri and Auxi remain close. Auxi cares for her sibling, and Tri cares for her in return. They easily defend her against Mariss's antagonism despite her being quite rude to the rest of the party for their supposed poverty. Auxi went out of her way behind their parents' back to provide a nice birthday celebration for Tri, which Tri very much appreciates.

### Krentz and Pog

Krentz and Pog are in the Awning Portal solely because of the kindness, acceptance and mercy of Tri, who intervened when the party was wholly ready to kill him. Tri's actions led to the party saving Krentz and Pog's lives, and sheltering them in the Awning Portal, where they would be safe from the Xanathar's Guild that they defected from. Tri considers Krentz to be their friend, as Tri considers everyone to be their friend, but their actions and kindess saved Krentz's life, making that friendship all the more real.

### Lif, the Poltergeist

Tri's open-mindedness towards the presence of Lif in the Awning Portal caused Lif to begin warming up to the residents of the tavern. The poltergeist has attempted to provide meals to both Mariss and Tri and has helped around the tavern because of Tri's kindness.

### Krebbyg Masq'il'yr

Krebbyg shot Tri on the lie that Tri was the killer of Felrekt Lafeen. Despite this, Tri has no objections to Krebbyg's continued presence in the Awning Portal at Mariss's behest. However, Tri has warned Krebbyg that if his actions cause Tri to harm anyone else, they will do harm unto Krebbyg in return.

### Izora de'Xvim

Despite Izora's crimes, Tri considered Izora to be a friend. When Izora was arrested, they used their status as a noble to make sure Izora was not executed for her crimes. They were, however, unable to stop Izora from facing life in prison, and were just as distraught as Rev and Noonan about the loss of their friend.