Almer

Look at this dude

**Almer** was a minor ally in the twelfth arc of SOTE, Spider-King Island. He was a halfling native of Aranae who guided the Sovereign Slayers in their quest to eliminate the Spider-King after the slayers were suddenly betrayed. He was the owner of one of the three map pieces needed for the Spider-King to access the Silk City and participate in the Five Spiderborn Trials.

## **Biography**

### *Denizen of Aranae*

Life on the Spider-King's Island was rather simple for Almer at first. It was day in and day out of eating, working, sleeping, and taking care of a family once he met his wife. Not soon after, kids were on the way and he needed to continue his routine to make sure they were fed and happy. Though, with giant reptilian predators stalking the Island, that could certainly make things difficult. That's why he decided to tame one. A tyrannosaurus rex, to be exact. With a dinosaur ally to aid on hunts and to protect his family, Almer felt like his life was coming to fruition. To top it all off, he stumbled upon an astonishing relic. One of the three map pieces leading to location of the Silk City.

Then, some strangers appeared on the island. He heard of them only through whispers. A collaboration with the elusive Spider-King? Royalty from a far away land? It didn't really matter to him. Until... chaos began to break loose everywhere. His neighbors were slaughtered by revolting spider-mutants. Tremors quaked throughout his home, swallowing his family up into the ocean through a crack on the island. His pet dinosaur, Bessie, was now his only companion in this anarchy. Suspecting something about the map piece's involvement in this disaster, Almer could do nothing but hide and protect it with his life.

### *Spider-King Island*

Sneaking around Aranae after the spider-mutant infestation, his suspicions turned out to be true. The map piece was a vital part of the Spider-King's plan and if he got his hands on it, that would spell disaster for the island. However, on one of his excursions, he spotted what he assumed to be the two strangers. They looked extremely different from anyone else he'd seen before. Their wounds were grievous, but it was apparent they were no friends of the Spider-King. At least, not anymore. Almer decided to knock them unconscious and bring them back to his secretive new hut to tend their injuries.

After the strangers rested up and awoke from their slumber, Almer was almost attacked by the anxious duo, Krako and Patterson. But, it was cleared up, and they began conversing about their circumstances. He enlightened them on the three map pieces and pointed them in the direction of the Spider-King's laboratory. His theory was that the Spider-King had the other two map pieces and was ravaging the island for the third. He journeyed with them to the nearby sewers of the HQ, battling Ulysses along with the Osprey and the Spider. While the Slayers ventured into the lab to obtain the rest of the Silk City map, Almer waited outside with Bessie eagerly awaiting their return.

When the party returned empty-handed, Almer didn't lose hope. He could tell they were defeated in spirit, so he tried his best to keep a positive attitude. The optimistic halfling advised that his two new friends get some rest and be prepared to brainstorm a new plan the following day. Unfortunately for Almer, Ulysses and a pack of spider-mutants followed Bessie's tracks. They arrived when Krako and Patterson were still sleeping. Almer tried shouting to wake up his pals. His efforts were fruitless. He took a blade to the chest, losing blood at a whirlwind pace. The Slayers woke up and Patterson tried to stabilize him, but it was too late. Almer left his final words to motivate the Slayers and the life faded from his eyes.

In his honor, Krako began to learn to play the flute after he saw a well-worn flute Almer had in his hut.

## **Description**

### *Appearance*

Almer had the simple appearance of a hermit living as best as he could with the items provided to him. His clothes were dusty, ragged, and dirty. His beard was unkempt and not properly cleaned. His hat was ripped-up and moth eaten. But, he never looked threatening or deranged in his grime filled ways. It fit him oddly well, perhaps because of the natural perception that halflings have a deeper connection to nature than most. Whatever the reason, his image allowed him to befriend people quickly. An unusual but oddly rewarding trait, considering his predicament.

### *Personality*

Somewhat matching with his appearance, Almer's personality was that of a simple man trying to complete a simple dream. He wasn't extremely strong, extremely smart, or extremely quick. All he used was grit and determination to work towards his goals. That being said, Almer was quite the perceptive fellow. He deduced the goal of the Spider-King with limited information and figured out the possible location of the map pieces not in his possession. However, in his old age, he did have bouts of forgetfulness.

He also loves to drink green tea, as he believes it calms his nerves and hones the mind.

## **Relationships**

### *His Family*

A very family oriented man at first, Almer did everything he could to provide his wife and children with comfort and splendor on their relatively dangerous island. They lived happily, although they didn't have much but each other. Sadly, some strain likely began to form after Almer devoted a large chunk of his time to studying the map piece and its attributes. Before the strain became too great, Almer's family succumbed to the tragedy launched by the Spider-King. His final memories of his family were surely ones of regret, ones he wished he could go back and do over again.

### *Bessie*

Taming a dinosaur is already hard, but when you're a middle aged halfling with not much combat experience, that task becomes almost impossible. Almer went through with anyway, subjugating a T. Rex and naming it Bessie. As the strain with his family increased, Bessie still remained by his side. After their untimely deaths, Bessie still remained by his side. Through the infestation of spider-mutants, Bessie still remained by his side. In the end, it seems a creature destined to be his enemy turned out to be the greatest friend he could ever have.

### *Sovereign Slayers*

The interactions between the Slayers and Almer were mostly comedic and lighthearted, but in their short time together as traveling companions, they formed a strong platonic bond over their situation. There was no distrust or hard feelings between the three. Only pure kindliness and hospitality. Even if the duo didn't like his green tea, he wouldn't hold it against them.

### *Spider-King*

Unlike many of the inhabitants of Alymere, Almer didn't feel a need for vengeance after being wronged by the Spider-King. In his wisdom, he understood that the Spider-King needed to fall purely because of what his ascension in power would mean for the rest of the world. He valued justice over revenge, and that's why he was never rash in his planning to destroy his enemy. He needed an unemotional, sound mind for their proposition to work. Alas, fate did not favor the life of the astute halfling but his efforts were not in vain.

## **Trivia**

* Almer's insistence on giving people green tea exponentially increases depending on how much Krako and Patterson DON'T want green tea.
* According to the Historian, Almer's death was a part of the worst possible outcome that could have happened after the raid on the Spider-King's base. If the Slayers had gotten the other two map pieces from Ulysses during their incursion, Almer would have survived.