Kismet Dullistra

* Lvl 10
* Lvl 8
* Lvl 6
* Lvl 4

Level 10 portrait of Kismet

Level 8 portrait of Kismet

Level 6 portrait of Kismet

Level 4 portrait of Kismet

**This page contains major spoilers for the webcomic To Carry a Grave. Read ahead at your own risk!**

> I have achieved as much as I've needed to with these people.
>
>

**Kismet Dullistra** is a drow grave cleric of The Raven Queen and a member of the Red Thread. He first met the party disguised as a wood elf using a Ring of Disguise, and hid his identity from all but Valac Darlight for the first month of knowing them. He was introduced to the party after first meeting Arabella Altalune and Florian Rosenbaum at the Cobalt Soul in Rexxentrum.

Over the course of travelling with the Red Thread, he has revealed snippets of his past. To Valac, he has told everything. It took a while for him to trust the rest of the party enough to feel comfortable telling them of his past. The party is aware that he was imprisoned in Asarius for some time for treason, and that he broke out after several years of solitary confinement in a violent manner. Additionally, it is common knowledge that his sister, Zhuthra Merellath, killed him when he was 35, leading to his resurrection at the Raven Queen's behest.

His role as party healer is often put to the test. Kismet can be hot-headed and vengeful, and often chooses to damage enemies instead of saving his power for his allies. Over time, he has got better at this, staying out of the line of fire while saving his reserves to heal his companions.

## Description

### Appearance

Kismet is a diminutive drow, the shortest member of the party at 4'9. His disguise initially took on the appearance of a wood elf with blue eyes, fair skin, and auburn hair. His hair is slightly curly, and has grown out from shorn to a shag haircut. He has a number of tattoos including a 3/4 sleeve on his left arm, black crescent tattoos on the back of his hands, and a raven's skull surrounded by feathers on his back.

Across his chest is a long and rough scar, a remnant of the blade that took his life. Around his ankles are raised scars from wearing shackles for an extended time. When he took off his disguise, a number of smaller scars became apparent. Many are from the bereft, who struck out in anger to their last resort healer. He has acquired two star-shaped scars, one on each shoulder, from an assassination attempt by Rilvra.

### Personality

Having lived a long life, fraught with trials, Kismet's personality seems to be an accumulation of multiple traits gathered over his life. He tends to have an odd sense of humour, grim at its worst, groan-inducing at its best. He's protective and ambitious, and often displays father-like traits. When talking, he tends to ramble, though in a directed way. His vehemence that fate and destiny cannot be escaped ties neatly with his self-assuredness.

   Upon first meeting the party, Kismet displayed a manufactured personality. It is unknown why he felt the need to hide himself in this way, but it is in some way attributed to the disguise he wore upon meeting the party. Kind and fatherly, this visage was regularly broken in moments of tension. He would often make morbid, too-serious remarks, and constantly deflect questions about himself.

This visage gradually broke down the longer he spent with The Red Thread, particularly after a number of conversations with Valac. More contentious aspects of his personality came to light - he is vengeful, has a slight temper, and is incredibly driven and ambitious. This has caused some friction with other members of the party, as he often cannot hold himself back from making too-honest remarks.

Kismet remains in a state of flux, gathering the pieces of his personality back again. There is a general understanding that he has spent many decades alone, and readjusting to life surrounded by people has not been the easiest. As much as he tries, he can't seem to shake the paternal instinct to protect his fellow party members.

## Biography

### Background

Kismet was born in Rosohna to Den Merellath. Raised alongside his significantly older sister Zhuthra, he was often emotionally neglected in the family dynamic. This was primarily due to his sister being the golden child of the family, a member of the Aurora Watch.

### Death and deals

When he was 35, he discovered his sister was conspiring against the Dynasty, assisting consecuted children in their freedom from Xhorhas, and helping Empire spies. This rocked his understanding of her, and he followed her across the country to Asarius and the River Ifolon. Zhuthra struck him down with a special Merellath blade, and he bled out. He met the Raven Queen in death, and was offered another chance at life.

### Imprisonment and treason

Some time after his death and resurrection, Kismet followed in the footsteps of his sister. He was not as successful, eventually being caught in Asarius and imprisoned. He was kept in solitary confinement for near five years, and retains scars around his ankles from the shackles he was kept in. During this time, he slipped into madness, hallucinating old friends visiting to set him free.

### Escape

Kismet revealed to the party after an attempt on his life by ex-Shadowhand Xuton that the attack may have partially been brought on by his past transgressions. He explained that during his lowest point in solitary confinement, after his parents visited only to take his signet ring from him, he opened himself fully to the Raven Queen. The power given was enough to sneak away, but he opted to leave in bloodshed. He was given the moniker *The Butcher of Asarius* after this event.

### On the run

Kismet fled the Dynasty near a century ago, and made his way to Bysaes Tyl. He had been looking for his sister, and it is unknown why he decided to settle down in the elvish city. It is assumed he had the ability to disguise himself there, as he worked as an Undertaker. Some months after joining The Red Thread, he revealed his true name, Arathill Merellath. Upon hearing this, Agatha Weber and Keldrym Beltune remarked that his name was on the Lens' most wanted list. He was to be returned, dead or alive, to the Dynasty. This produced some confusion, as all Kismet has revealed of his treason is that he embezzled from Den Merellath gold and sold weapons.

### Bysaes Tyl

When he first met the party, Kismet would regularly refer to the Elven city as his home. He let the others think that this is where he was born, and never clarified. Beyond that, he mentioned he had travelled through some of the Empire. The nature of his work in Bysaes Tyl has been discussed at length, as it was the only part of his life he felt comfortable discussing for some time. Working primarily as an Undertaker, he would often be approached by townsfolk as a last resort miracle worker. They avoided him due to his ties with the Raven Queen, except for when it convenienced them.

### Apprentice

It was revealed after the party reached Rosohna that Kismet had struck up a friendship with an orphan from Bysaes Tyl. Convinced he could not be the father the child needed, he held back from committing to the child. Blitz took great issue with the way Kismet spoke of his time with Nym, seeing him as a foolish man for not seeing what was clearly a sign from fate. When Nym was fourteen, they disappeared from Bysaes Tyl, and is presumed dead. Kismet retains the moon pendant they wore.

### The Red Thread

Kismet first met the other members of The Red Thread in Rexxentrum. Tasked with retrieving a stolen book by Sarven Cauchemar, Kismet acted as the party healer. He kept his Dynasty ties hidden until a night watch conversation with Agatha Weber prompted him to hint at these ties when she mentioned dreams of another life. However, upon learning the name of her past life, Kismet cut the conversation short. Realising old memories of his own life may surface through Agatha herself, he retreated even further into his Empire persona.

## Relationships

### Valac Darlight

→ Main article: Relationship between Kismet and Valac

Kismet and Valac are clearly very close, and though they avoid most questions from the other party members about the nature of the relationship, anyone can see they care for each other a large amount. Valac was the first person that Kismet revealed his drow appearance to, and he holds an enormous amount of trust in the tiefling. They are often caught communicating silently through Valac's telepathic connection, and are constantly teased for it.

> I'd never take that back. Each memory. Even this one, where I've a self-made wall of brambles. We reach through, and the thorns pierce our skin, but it's worth it, for the apples on the other side.
>
>

Valac had playfully teased and flirted with Kismet since they met, tending to revel in Kismet's reactions. While in Nicodranas, Kismet asked Valac for a waltz, yet took the moment no further, essentially rejecting him. On arriving in Port Damali, Kismet asked Valac to go on a late night walk to clear his head after an eventful day. It is not known to the party what occurred on this walk, but the pair have been inseparable since.

In Port Damali, Kismet spent some time weaving a scarf for Valac. Teal with gold flecks, he wove through eight red threads that formed an intertwining pattern. Along the border he embroidered frogs. Although apprehensive to give a gift that he saw as something that could hardly describe his feelings, Valac accepted the scarf wholeheartedly and now considers it his most prized possession.

During the coup of the Dwendalian Crown, there was a very tough fight in which both Kismet and Valac fell unconscious. Kismet was revived first, and quickly healed Valac. As soon as he came to, Valac told Kismet that he loves him. Crying, Kismet returned the sentiment - he had already made his feelings clear and was overjoyed to hear the same.

When Valac was taken by Xuton and replaced by the changeling Rilvra Mirimm, Kismet noticed small things being just slightly off, but attributed it to a dream Valac had that morning. After Rilvra revealed herself, Kismet flew into a blind rage, and after the fight, had to grapple with the knowledge that Valac was being tortured while Kismet did not recognise that someone else was wearing his skin. After finding Valac broken and battered, and still unsure if it was him, it took their telepathic connection starting again to realise it was Valac. They kissed after the fight in front of the party, uncaring of who knew about their relationship. Kismet still holds immense guilt over not being able to tell immediately that Valac was Rilvra in disguise.

### Nym

Kismet has only spoken of the young wood elf to Valac and Blitz. It is unknown how much he has revealed to Valac, but to Blitz he confessed the guilt he felt for not caring for Nym in the way he should have. Kismet admitted to never making a permanent room for them in his house, or agreeing to adopt them.

### The Raven Queen

The Matron of Ravens is Kismet's deity, and he considers himself a devout follower of her tenets. He first learned of her during his death, where she gave him the choice to return to the living to serve her. He agreed, but initially did not believe the event actually took place. Over time he learned more about her, but did not fully devote himself as he said he would for some time.

During his time with The Red Thread, he has had multiple visions from the Raven Queen. These coupled with his burgeoning arcane strength has reinforced his understanding that he is on the correct path to fulfil whatever destiny the Matron has laid out for him. His magic coalesces as void, shadows, and feathers, often distasteful to others. Since many have an aversion to death and to what the Raven Queen represents, he has become used to his magic being off-putting.

In (1x40) Murder Town :), Kismet died at the hand of an assassin. In the limbo between life and death, he faced the Raven Queen once more. She told him he must become stronger before they can meet again. It wasn't his time. In (1x41) GET THE DUDE! Kismet attempted to commune with the Raven Queen in order to obtain solid information about Xuton Mirimm. Instead of her presence, he was faced with an empty feeling. His connection to her was somewhat severed after his second death - though he retained his magical abilities, he cannot reach her directly.

### Zhuthra Merellath

His elder sister by 80 years, he had not seen her since she left him for dead at the river Ifolon. Growing up together, they were relatively distant. When the Red Thread ran into her on an island in the Lucidian ocean while on a job, more of their dynamic was revealed. Zhuthra is domineering, cold, and ambitious, and was not afraid to put Kismet in his place despite being surrounded on all sides. Since parting, Kismet has been known to contact her, and it is unclear why he continues to do so despite her treatment of him.

### Agatha Weber

Of all the Red Thread, Kismet's friendship with Agatha has seen the most ups and downs. Opening up to each other early on, then Kismet immediately closing himself off, led to tension between the two. Over time, Agatha made clear her intention to protect and help Kismet with his own identity issues. They developed a playfully insulting friendship, akin to siblings. When Agatha announced her intention to stay behind in Nogvurot, Kismet reacted quietly, yet poorly. Agatha was the first he cared for that left for a relatively small reason, compared with others in his past. He is still coming to terms with her slipping away from destiny and his perception that they are entwined by fate.

> You might consider going home. Out of all of us, at least physically it's the most feasible for you. But you know it, and I know it - the world has fundamentally changed you. Your memories, your past life. You could go home, but you might find the chairs don't feel the same. The doors you pass through smaller than you remember.
>
>

When Kismet contacted her in desperation when Valac was taken, and she replied saying that she would find a way to them, he heard the care for Valac in her voice, and that's all that mattered to him in that moment. When Agatha returned with Arabella in Essek's tower, he went into shock. He didn't believe she'd actually return. Seeing her reunite with Valac meant more than he could ever hope to convey. After that resolution, he expected his own feelings to make themselves clear, but he is still conflicted.

### Maynard Callus

Kismet has a complicated understanding of Maynard. Early on, Kismet touched his shoulder, leading to a reflexive punch. This event triggered the first display of anger that Kismet had allowed himself to show. He avoided Maynard for the most part, but carried guilt that he had provoked such a reaction. Later on, he found Maynard sick in an alleyway. After offering medicine, Maynard's mental state declined, and Kismet was chased off.

> You and I can see well enough in the dark, but it's all shades of grey. If someone is there to light the way, you may as well look about and watch the colours shift.
>
>

After reaching the coast, Kismet spoke to Maynard more regularly. At some point, the paternal instinct he carries began applying to Maynard, and he grew protective of him. Despite not knowing everything of what had happened to Maynard, he refused to treat him as a piece of furniture in the room. Twice he has told made up stories to Maynard, as it seems to calm him.

After Maynard left the group for a week on a mission, Kismet held an uncertain hope that he would eventually return. During their heist to steal a beacon from the Vergesson Sanatorium, Kismet messaged Maynard, who immediately headed for the Red Thread. After returning with him to Rosohna, Maynard pulled Kismet aside to apologise for being short with him a few days prior in the response to his message. Kismet, being in an unstable state of mind since Valac was taken, lost his temper at the aasimar. This shamed Maynard, his loyalties called into question.

While he tries hard to truly reach Maynard, he doesn't believe it's in his capability to do so. All he has been able to offer are stories and his abilities as a cleric, and while he has no intention of giving up on May, he fundamentally believes he is too harsh of a person, too blunt, to meet him where he needs to be.

### Arabella Altalune

Arabella, along with Florian, was the first of who would become the Red Thread that he met. Kismet has always liked Arabella from the day they met, curious about her different demeanor in the forest compared with the city. She has openly voiced her disdain for deception, something which Kismet was taking part in every day. He knew when he revealed that he was disguising himself, this could cause tension between them. He was not wrong, Arabella escaping into the jungle when he removed his disguise.

This hurt him far more than anyone elses' reactions, knowing that he betrayed her trust after providing comfort and advice, along with friendship to her. When Arabella returned, he hesitantly reintroduced himself, terrified she would not forgive him. It went better than he could have hoped, Arabella willing to learn who he is all over again.

When she left with Agatha, he accepted it somewhat. He knew she did not fully trust him anymore, and he was happy that she had found some peace staying with Agatha. When the pair returned to the party, Arabella pulled him aside and said that she had learned that the fog in her mind may be cleared with a powerful cleric spell. Essek offered to help, but she was adamant that Kismet be the one to do it. This touched Kismet, as he had thought their trust broken.

Kismet remains deeply appreciative of Arabella, and shares a love of bugs with her. He is endlessly thankful of the kinship she has found with Valac, and how close they seem to be, as their bond seems to ease some of Valac's worries.

### Bhaythas "Blitz" Vrakwyrm

Having met Blitz later on his personal journey, Kismet was more open to sharing details of his life to the dragonborn. After Blitz took special interest in Kismet's open worship of the Raven Queen, they spoke together, and Kismet learned that Blitz's stance on life was very similar to his own. This in itself, and the direct way in which Blitz speaks, endeared them to Kismet. This bond has gradually grown stronger as Blitz spoke of their son and saw through Kismet's difficulty in presenting an honest front. The two find a natural rapport, whether it's their age or worldview.

> It's...easy. To let people see what they expect, to see the best or worst in you, and not correct them. It's easy because if they ever try and hurt you, or make an observation, it's based on some...manufactured self. It doesn't matter. To these people, I'm a healer. I take care of them. I give advice. I'm...I've been, for some time, a mirror to some missing part that each of them needed.
>
>

After a conversation in which Kismet finally broke his silence on Nym outside of Valac's confidence, Bhaythas reacted in a way Kismet did not expect. The dragonborn was disappointed, and Kismet believes some previously held trust has been irreversibly broken.

After being called away to their home, The Abbey of Equilibrium, Kismet had a number of conversations with Blitz. He grew to know their son, Tilian, and their partner, Corey. Blitz gave him advice and reassurance, and let him know that whatever sins he had committed in the past, they were in the past. Atonement is not the answer. Since their parting, Kismet considers Blitz to be an interesting and worthwhile friend, being one of the few people in his life to have looked upon most of his past actions with no judgement.

### Florian Rosenbaum

Kismet has always been protective of Florian, his sharp eye spotting their injuries and offering to help. Though he has the best intentions, Kismet's approach when he helps Florian is not always the best. More often than not, his too-honest observations cause Florian to have breakdowns over a lack of control of the situation. Despite this, and despite Kismet's new aspects of his personality causing friction more often than not, their bond has remained steady. Florian teases Kismet incessantly about Valac, which flusters Kismet to no end.

### Keldrym Beltune

Kismet was wary of both twins early on, primarily due to his status as a wanted criminal of the Dynasty. The last thing he wanted was for the twins to discover who he was. Conversations with Keldrym seemed to upset his understanding of the Lens - the other drow had a friendly nature and enjoyed stories and collected blankets. It took some time for Kismet to come to terms with this, but soon after Kismet revealed himself as a drow, he grew to understand Keldrym better. One thing that swayed him was Keldrym's vehemence that he would kill anyone who turned on his brother. This honesty and worldview resonated with Kismet, and soon after they grew to become friends. While they often have different understandings of the world, Kismet readily offers advice in his way, as Keldrym seems one of the few who is able to understand his intent.

On their journey to track down Xuton and get vengeance for all the man had done to Keldrym, the pair grew closer. After Keldrym killed Xuton and broke down, Kismet comforted him. He told him his choices were his own now, he was free to live his life. Though Kismet grieves that another friend has to leave, he has come to accept that it is not the end of their connection. Keldrym is one of the few people that Kismet uses a nickname for, 'Kel'.

### Kaulmyn Beltune

Like Keldrym, Kismet was very wary of Kaulmyn when they first met. His desperation to find his brother and their reliance and trust in each other shook Kismet, as his own relationship with his sister couldn't be more different. While this brewed as a kind of resentment initially, very soon Kismet learned of Kaulmyn's grief for his late partner, Ilianaro Hythenos. Kismet, an Undertaker and disciple of The Raven Queen, is intimately familiar with grief. This put his understanding of Kaulmyn into a new light, and they have a jovial rapport.

### Kalypso

Kismet is very astute at recognising when one is putting on a mask, and discovered that almost immediately with Kalypso. The changeling delights in teasing Kismet, and though it exasperates him, he takes it. In (1x31) The Chasm of Eternity, Kismet and Valac slip out of Kalypso's grasp. Her mask falls for a moment, and Kismet sees it before he falls into the void. After this, he has been more tolerant of her ribbing, going so far as to dance with them and talk about how she feels everything comes at a price or in favours.

## Character Information

### Quests

Kismet initially set out from the Dynasty to track down his sister. It is unknown why he could not find her, or why he decided to forgo looking for her to settle down in Bysaes Tyl. Eventually he left the elven city, again for unknown reasons, and arrived in Rexxentrum, following rumours. Looking to surround himself with Empire folk for protection yet unwilling to even mention his sister, this quest stalled until fate led them to Zhuthra.

Kismet now travels with The Red Thread, having made a promise to Agatha Weber that he will look after the others as long as he is with them, and will see the twins safely home. He still awaits the call of his Matron.

### Notable items

* Periapt of Wound Closure
* Amulet of the Devout (uncommon)
* Boots of Elvenkind
* Ring of Disguise
* Mossy hat
* Seastone necklace from Valac
* Rapier gifted by Florian
* Star pendant gifted by Melesigenes

### Abilities

While Kismet is primarily a caster, he shows proficiency with a rapier. This is mainly due to his upbringing, having trained with the weapon from a young age alongside his sister. After leaving the Dynasty he went out of practice, but has since picked up training again with Keldrym.

#### Class features

* Circle of Mortality
* Eyes of the Grave
* Channel Divinity: Path to the Grave
* Destroy Undead
* Sentinel at Death’s Door
* Divine Intervention

## Trivia

* Kismet is fond of telling stories, though he had refrained from doing so for some time upon meeting the party
* He loves bugs and insects of all kinds
* He doesn't eat the crusts of his bread, and tends to be picky about certain foods
* For some reason he does not like cheese
* At times, Kismet has been known to sing lullabies
* Kismet has a collection of small, shiny objects. If asked, he says they are from the crows. When visiting an orphanage in Hupperdook, he let the children pick one of each of these trinkets
* He collects small bones