Lif the Poltergeist

> *"You see that something invisible has made you breakfast."* (Holly, narrating Lif providing a bemused Mariss breakfast in the Awning Portal)
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**Lif** (pronounced /lɪf/ *LIHF*) is a poltergeist who is physically bound to the Awning Portal. Previously a half-elf and the first owner of the building, known then as Trollskull Manor, Lif passed away due to unknown circumstances and became undead to see his one dream of the property becoming a beloved tavern come to pass.

## **Description**

Typically, Lif prefers to stay invisible. However, he can become corporeal; when he does, he takes the form that he had in life, that of a younger half-elven man with wild, streaked hair and thick eyebrows. He wears the clothes that he wore when he died, those being white woolen nightclothes that hang loosely around his body. His corporeal form only appears in a monochromatic blue hue, so the original color of his body and clothes has been lost. His eyes glow with a strange light that makes them almost impossible to see.

## **Personality**

Lif cannot talk, but his personality shows in other ways. The most important thing to Lif is the tavern, which he is eager to help around with and contribute towards. This can be shown by the poltergeist making food, serving customers and cleaning up, and also by him preparing meals for the inhabitants in the mornings. While most of his actions are influenced by his work and the tavern around him, he also tends to react to things around him. He didn't like the presence of Tylan Ilueph and Lorath Pharn in the tavern, and he made their presence noticeable to everyone else by creating a racket when he discovered them there. He typically tends not to instigate scenarios, however.

Lif doesn't like being asked questions. He will answer begrudgingly towards those who he has good will towards (such as those who help with the tavern), but he dislikes communicating with strangers and will only really "talk" (in the ways that he can) with those who he's established to have allied themselves with the tavern.

## **Abilities**

Lif is a poltergeist, but this does not stop him from interacting with the world around him. The main ability Lif possesses is the ability to interact with solid objects near and around him. This manifests in minor ways, such as Lif cooking and cleaning, and in major ways, such as Lif throwing Lorath across the first floor of the Awning Portal with ease when the drow attacked.

Lif can also, as typical of most poltergeists, turn himself invisible. He prefers being invisible to being visible and spends most of his time unable to be seen.

## **Possessions**

Previously, while alive, Lif was the owner of the Trollskull Manor property. He, however, no longer owns this property due to him being dead.

## **History**

While alive, Lif was a half-elven man who owned the property now known as the Awning Portal Tavern. While it was still his, it was known as Trollskull Manor. He passed away in his sleep at some point, and rose again as a poltergeist, his wish of the tavern becoming successful tethering his spirit to this plane.

In 1491, Volothamp Geddarm purchased Trollskull Manor, hoping to research creatures possibly inside. He discovered Lif, but Lif scared him off, and Volo never returned to the site. Lif remained in solitude in the empty tavern until July of 1492, when Volo gifted the property to Mariss D'Marothek, Tribula Cochlea, Reverence, Izora de'Xvim and Noonan Lockheed. The five adventurers entered the tavern to investigate the property they were gifted, and discovered Lif, who was initially hostile towards them. After a brief confrontation (during which Izora addressed Lif as a "Wine Ghost",) Lif hid in the depths of the tavern.

Eventually, the adventurers, namely Mariss and Tri, moved into the Awning Portal to build a business and live there. With the help of Mirt and his solicitor Jethro, Mariss, Tri, Rev, Izora and Noonan began rebuilding the building. The week saw a shift of inhabitants, too; Krentz, Pog Ger, Loreloth and Krebbyg Masq'il'yr moved in while Izora was sentenced to life in prison and left, never to return again. Lif slowly began warming up to the tiny group, cooking meals for them as a show of goodwill. Eventually, on July 26th, Mariss hosted an opening party for the new business, and Lif was one of the people working the bar that night.

After the festivities concluded, however, Lif discovered two Bregan D'aerthe lieutenants, Tylan Ilueph and Lorath Pharn, hiding in the tavern, hoping to steal Krebbyg away during all of the chaos. He screamed, alerting the rest of the group to their presence. He helped the inhabitants kill Tylan and Lorath that night by tossing the two drow around the room.

Lif has been working as a barhand in the Awning Portal ever since it opened.

## **Relationships**

### Tribula Cochlea

Out of the entire group, Tri has been the most helpful in trying to communicate with Lif. The sea elf purchased a ouija board from a local "Poltergeists Anonymous" to communicate with Lif, paving the way for better communication between Lif and the party.

### Noonan Lockheed, Reverence and the inhabitants of the Awning Portal

Lif considers himself to be "acquaintances" with the people who mingle in and work with the Awning Portal. He has no ill will towards them and appreciates their help with the business, but does not know them very well at all.

### Mariss D'Marothek

Lif's interactions with Mariss have been prickly and complex. Mariss, unlike his friends, did not easily warm up to Lif and felt a great amount of distrust towards Lif and his interactions inside the building, which put a wrench in their relationship to begin with; however, Mariss is the one doing the brunt of the executive work revolving around the new business, going out of his way to put in orders for food, hold a grand opening party, set hours and act as the administrative force behind the tavern and its business. Lif respects Mariss for that but still does not like him much as a person.

### Izora de'Xvim

Lif had two bones to pick with Izora while she was still with the group, the "wine ghost" comments and her mutterings about building a temple to Bane in the building's second floor. She never respected Lif like her friends did, and he didn't forget that.