Esmeria Swornguard

**Esmeria** was an NPC on *Another Bad Side Quest*. She was a Half-Elf and Changeling, described as a drow-looking woman, with skin lighter than a typical drow would have, with short white hair and green eyes, who wore lightly plated, leather armor that is very ornate, well taken care of and engraved with runes and carries two daggers and a pistol named *Puncture*. She also had the Ruin Moon mark on her left hand, colored the same yellow as Tabernacle and RX. She was a part of a destructive group of people who had been antagonistic forces against the party, called the Order of Ruin.

**Ep. 9 - Deliberations**

The majority of the party, minus Seren and Alaerith, first encountered Esmeria, when she entered the *Church of Demigods*, seemingly having the ability to see past Tabernacle's *Invisibility* as he left the church, and she entered, running into the rest of the party in the main area of the church, before being seen by Kilick, addressed her by her name, and ushered into the back to talk.

**Ep. 10 - The Spider Dragon**

Later that day, while Quincy, Tabernacle and Killian were celebrating slaying the Spider Dragon at the *Miner's Guild*, Quincy seeing Esmeria approached her in an attempt to pull her in to a game of cards with herself and the others. Esmeria noted that she was only interested in what she was paid to do and getting closer to her, stated she liked to watch people bleed. When Killian, Tabernacle and Quincy tried to follow Esmeria out of the tavern, they were all stabbed in the neck for major damage and left *Poisoned*. Esmeria caught Quincy as she started to fall and told her,

*"Told you I liked to watch them bleed...and bring everything to ruin"*

before she dropped her and laughed manically as she left.

**Ep. 11 - The Order of Ruin**

Esmeria caught Quincy who was on her as she tried find the others, and proceeded to torture Quincy by killing her and bringing her back from death twice. Tabernacle and Killian arrived to try and help, but she still easily took down Killian and Quincy, leaving only Tabernacle conscious to see Esmeria stopped by two others, an unnamed half-orc man and a very large human in plate armor, who Esmeria addressed as Ilvwinter. The three seem to be on a mission in *Quarry Hold* and Ilvwinter told Esmeria "she" would not be pleased with Esmeria blowing their cover, and as they left mentioned they had to return to the surface to burn *Kra'Kash*.

She showed up for a few more small seconds, the first being when Killian saw her outside Masq's shop, who through the use of his *Divine Sense*, found that she was classified as a devil, and again by Seren who noticed her when he tried to get Killian and RX back into the store.

When the group headed to the *Church of Demigods* to see find Kilick's body, they soon had enough reason to believe Esmeria was the one who killed him. During the fight with Ilvwinter, she was first heard from out of the room. When she appeared in the main hallway revealed a long rifle when she responded to the attempts by Quincy, Killian and Seren as play. She soon disappeared from the room, but when the group were reunited outside, she reappeared as she stated the chase was on.

**Ep. 12 - Forewarned & Forgotten**

Esmeria chased the party through *Quarry Hold* as they attempted to run for the safety of Masq's shop. During this chase it was learned that Esmeria could turn invisible when she disappeared in a wash of sand, but could also teleport in a cloud of smoke. Quincy also saw Esmeria reveal herself from looking like a plain elven woman, and it is was assumed she was at least part changeling, considering she was known to be half drow. Thanks to the chase, the party was now being looked for alongside Esmeria and Ilvwinter, but the party was the main focus as there was less knowledge on her.

Esmeria's history was discussed with Chuluu and Masq, where Chuluu revealed that Esmeria was Kilick's granddaughter. Kilick once resided on the surface and had children while he was there that did not return to *The Underdark* with him, but Esmeria used to visit him when she was younger. She was part of the Holy Enclave like Kilick was, and was said to be one of the Holy Collective, one of the eleven Inquisitors that did the "dirty work" of the Aj'Snaga Holy Enclave. She stopped coming around for a long time, before returning about five years ago, but seemed different and said she had left her position with the Holy Collective. With some more discussion, the party figured that Esmeria left the Holy Collective, and soon after gained the powers she has as a gift from an Archdevil that it would seem she now seeks to release with the book Kilick had hidden.

The names of Esmeria's allys, being Jonathan Ilvwinter and Kalistock Hgyhmire, were revealed when Seren cast *Speak with Dead* to communicate with Kilick's corpse, as well as their desires for the nine tomes of devil summoning.

While the party waited for Yashani's obsidian wraps to be completed, Chuluu searched around and when he returned, revealed that Esmeria and the others were no longer able to be found and were presumed to have left *The Underdark*.

**Ep. 13 - No Rest For The Wicked**

Esmeria was mentioned by *Ob*, when he told the group that she and Ilvwinter had stopped by *The Burrow* for a drink. Ob noted to the party in her description that she was half drow and half changeling, and thanks to discussions of champions of Gods, the party came to the assumption that Esmeria and her group were likely champions of devils.

Though not mentioned by name again, she was referenced through Killian's checks for her and the trio through his activated *Divine Sense* a few times, when he checked with the barkeep at the *Broken Mast* bar for people matching her, and the others descriptions, and when Quincy kept an eye out for other elves knowing that Esmeria had the ability to shapeshift into elvish beings.

**Ep. 14 - Magical Markings & A Misty Moon**

Killian met Esmeria while he kept an eye out for the devil trio at *The Embassy*, when he locked himself in Representative Myra's office with her and they spoke, where she brought up their run in with Kalistock, and while Killian retorted that he ran away. Esmeria held up her left palm to reveal the same Ruin Moon mark that they had, noting the same shared yellowish color that Tabernacle and RX and stated that he didn't run, he connected the party to them. Esmeria went on to say the trio needed their help. When Killian asked why they would help them, Esmeria stated they didn't have a choice and were going to, then explained that they needed more than just the 3 of them, willing or not. She then said

*"Let's see what happens when we leave you to Wrath."*

before she stabbed Killian with two shadowy blades, the *Shadow Twins*, which caused him to phase from existence, tumble through darkness as he felt shock after shock, before he reappeared and knocked Tabernacle, Seren, Alaerith and Yashani to the floor. Killian later mentioned seeing Esmeria and how they wanted their help.

**Ep. 16 - Tales from a Dead Man**

Esmeria, along with the other members of the trio, were referenced not by name, when Quincy and the party told Kylan, Damen and Kerrack of what had happened to them since Quincy had been parted with them, how they were aligned with devils and the Ruined Moon marks they now held because of them. They were also brought up when Seren suggested the idea of going to *Vayilcor* to see the magical records there, if any information could be found on the trio members.

**Ep. 17 - Krapjess**

When the party met Vicar Espex Gonth in the *Port Church* in their first day in *Krapjess*, they learned from the vicar that he served in the Holy Enclave, that he he knew Esmeria and that she had died, specifically that he watched her be impaled to the ground. Espex also noted that he and Esmeria took part in the Butchering of *Qahrizoq* to take down extremist worshippers of the Rahkind Forefathers, and how other Enclave members had been given different orders, to burn down the city and send a message. When asked of the others of the trio, he also revealed that he knew Johnathan Ilvwinter and that he participated as well and had also died that day.

**Ep. 18 - The Drunken Lantern**

Esmeria, along with the other members of the trio, were referenced not by name, when the group spoke with Jelly Bean after convincing to let him know who was the one who burned *Kra'Kash* down and was part of the group that was the target of his revenge. They were mentioned again when Tabernacle rallied the party that they would bring an end to the trio.

**Ep. 19 - Bar Brawls & Singing Sirens**

Esmeria was mentioned briefly by Killian when he wandered to a forested area in *Krapjess.* Once there he shouted aloud to her that if she was watching he had questions and that if she really needed their help it would be in her best interest to answer him. Though he wasn't able to detect any presence of her, Killian did feel the Ruined Moon mark on his hand started to tingle, but saw nothing. Killian soon announced he was leaving and told Esmeria to come out if she wanted to talk, but nothing seemed to appear as Killian left.

**Ep. 21 - Departure**

Esmeria, along with the other members of the Order of Ruin, were referenced not by name, when the group were thinking of a name for themselves to give to Admiral Moxius Nilex, for getting rid of the sirens, and suggested a group in opposition to the *ruiners* naming themselves as *restorers.*

**Ep. 22 - A Lesson in History**

Esmeria, along with the members of the Order of Ruin, were referenced not by name, when Ob informed them of the history of the Ruined Moon mark, and the entity, known as Lunala, was the one that the group worked for.

**Ep. 29 - Deeper Into The Cold**

Esmeria showed up in the ruins near Nij'a when the party had just recovered one of the books she was, first alerting the remaining group by voice before showing up in person. After mocking that the remaining party had lost Killian and introduced herself fully to Sterling as *Esmeria Elevera Swornguard*, she demanded the book they found noting that she wouldn't have come if she didn't know it was there. When the party started to make their way to run, she immediately called out for *"Robert"* who was revealed to be the name of the Reaper.

**Ep. 30 - Mirror Tricks & Magic Books**

Esmeria threatened the party into giving her the book they had collected, eventually being passed the book by Sterling. Once she recieved the book she was content to leave the party and Sterling be, and left the ruins with Robert.

**Ep. 31 - The Moth Witch**

Esmeria was mentioned by Lunala when she met the party, who noted they weren't as intimidating as she claimed and that she only liked to play with things that posed a challenge to her.

She was referenced by Sterling when he warned Ember to be wary of "a dark elf" and some of the other members of the order.

**Ep. 37 - "Why Didn't You Lead With That?"**

Esmeria was refenced by Jask Helkcrow, after his memory had been restored, who revealed that the sapphire Sterling's mother Lysandra was trapped in was given to a half-drow woman, identified as Esmeria by Sterling afterwards.

She was mentioned again, when on finding out the local priest was related to Kalistock Hygmire, the group noted there were a few of them who had a strong connection to the churches in their pasts.

**Ep. 38 - Putting Pieces Into Place**

Esmeria was mentioned by Charles who noted that he knew her, along with Jonathan and Robert, as fellow members of the Holy Collective, and also revealed that her death, during the "Butchering of *Qahrizoq"*, was at the hands of Kalistock. Esmeria was also revealed to have aged since then with *Disguise Self* used to show her current self. Yashani noted that she, along with the other members, were killed less then a year after the Vintorvas's family had changed and replaced by Lunala and the current "Baron".

**Ep. 40 - On The Meta**

Esmeria was mentioned when Tollanessa theorized the devil book they had Esmeria's contract with Mammon, of the third circle of Hell Minauros due to their shared similar traits and suggested holding onto the book as leverage to see how she reacted on seeing it.

**Ep. 44 - A Friend in the Darkness**

Esmeria was referenced by Seren, when the group reunited with him and he alluded to what he had been doing so, but noted it was her when Sterling informed that he was aware of her. Seren asked if she or Kalistock had been giving them any trouble and noted he needed a conversation with her.

Sterling later informed Seren of their encounter with her in the Aetian Ruins of *Nij'a* and their theory of what her book actually was. Seren in turn told them that he was in a fight with her that ended with him grabbed and stabbed by her before he found himself there and was curious why she sent him to those who he loved the most.

**Ep. 45 - House of Ash and Ruin**

Esmeria was mentioned when Robert revealed to Seren that the Formless he searched for was in her hands and that their homebase, the *Dusterburyan Lighthouse,* broke her and the other members before they signed their contracts to Lunala. Robert also revealed the contract they held belonged to Ilvwinter, in spite of Tollanessa's belief it was hers,

**Ep. 49 - A Couple of Mistakes**

Esmeria partially appeared in an ice wall, grabbed Seren and in spite of Bo's attempt to stop her managed to disappear with him in the ice wall.

**Ep. 50 - Witches and Bitches**

Esmeria appeared out of nowhere, running from an angered Seren, to the location of the hags, as well as the kidnapped Kaz. She appeared shortly after determined to end things with Seren, equipped with her electrified sickle *Storm Sickle*, a dripping red dagger and several *Galeforce Daggers* and though the fight against her was treacherous, made much harder with the presence of the hags, she was eventually brought to the point she could no longer fight back by RX. She murmured her final words that her body and soul had grown cold before Quincy brought an end to her with her pistol *Puncture* and with her demise also brought the fated end to Boreal as he faded away.

**Ep. 51 - At Unexpected Corners**

Esmeria's body was dragged away by Quincy and Kaz to the furnace before the cold room and, after searching her body taking her money and a dagger, disposed of her in the furnace as her.

Esmeria was mentioned briefly when, on the topic of the sapphire with Lysandra in it, revealed it was not on her person.

**Ep. 52 - Behind the Waterfall**

Esmeria was referenced briefly when Kaz explained that she found her while they were in *Vayilcor*.

Quincy, believing she saw her in the hallway, screamed, but when Kaz checked for her presence found only an empty hallway.

Esmeria was referenced when Braile, one of the monks and librarian of the library of Sanguis, spoke about how she was the one who greeted the last visitor to the door 40 years ago, who she described as a Half-Elf with short hair, and when Alaerith cast *Disguise Self* to take her form noted she was very close to that appearance. Braile explained that she came in a panic, that something was coming for her and was being hunted and wished to be let inside, but Braile didn't allow her to as it was against their code to do so.

Esmeria was mentioned briefly again when the group discussed the members they had seen in the *Dusterburyan Lighthouse.*

**Ep. 53 - So. What Now?**

Esmeria was mentioned briefly when Yashani brought Robert's words, that the Order of Ruin was still recruiting and were likely more desperate after losing her.

**Ep. 54 - We Have To Kill Alaerith!?**

Esmeria was mentioned briefly when Alaerith, speaking about his past and worries, blamed himself for what she did to Quincy and Killian.

**Ep. 56 - The River's Port**

Esmeria was mentioned briefly when the group discussed finances and Quincy reminded them they had what was taken from her.

**Ep. 60 - A Fair Warning & A Curse**

Esmeria was mentioned when Quincy revealed they had nightmares about her, even seeing hallucinations of her, and Sterling revealed that her former pistol *Puncture* was cursed.

**Ep. 61 - The Plane of Fire**

Esmeria was mentioned when Quincy told Kaz they thought they saw her following her in the smoke and even aware she wasn't there had Kaz confirm that she wasn't.

**Ep. 63 - Help Me, Help You**

Esmeria was mentioned when Ilvwinter, who revealed Darie and he were not happy with their current scenario, that Esmeria never complained, though her gun also made her crazy.

**Ep. 64 - The Death Dealer**

Esmeria was mentioned when Ilvwinter revealed that she , along with Kalistock, were not unhappy with their contracts or situation. Ilvwinter also revealed *Puncture* gave her hallucinations, that it drove her insane as she was more emotional when she was alive and getting rid of the gun only made it worse. Ilvwinter also noted that Esmeria was gone for good as the means they took to burn her body also destroyed her soul coin.

**Ep. 69 - It's Always Like This**

Esmeria was mentioned when Kaz, reflected on Sterling's disappearance, and thought it was likely they had him.

**Ep. 70 - Vayilcor & The Clockwork Castle**

Esmeria was mentioned briefly when, during the party search for information in the *Clockwork Castle,* found a relation sharing her last name Swornguard related to the ruined moon and day of the black sun. She also was revealed to have a family history related to *Belroadine*.

1. ↑ Noted as a secretive group who's identities often remain unknown even while everyone in the Empire would know of the work they did. Chuluu said Esmeria told him she was a part of it and cited the fact that she was crazy when asked why she would give up such a secret