Delilah Dachtner

> ...and even though you've told that joke a million times before, on the other side of the call you hear Delilah laugh
>
> —Arc 6

## General Information

### Age

36 (chronological), 23 (start of campaign)

## Associations

### Relatives

Saga Maslandla (wife)Lionel Dachtner-Maslandla (son)

### Occupation

Mayor of Newport City (current) Director of Ports (formerly)

### Connections

Eve Nightshade (personal attorney)Vanessa Roman (sworn enemy)

**Delilah Dachtner** is the human mayor of Newport City and a recurring character in The Runaways campaign. She is the wife of Saga Maslandla and mother of Lionel Dachtner-Maslandla.

## Description

### Personality

Delilah has a reputation among those who know her and across Newport City as being ambitious, intelligent, and determined. She is incredibly calculating in both her business endeavors and her personal relationships, a trait only shown to be upended by her relationship with Saga Maslandla and their son, Lionel Dachtner-Maslandla, about both of which she sheds this cold exterior for.

### Appearance

Delilah has pale skin, burnt orange hair, and blue eyes. Beginning in Arc 6, she has a scar across her left cheek from Saga's sword-hands. She is almost always depicted in her signature red skirt-suit or pantsuit, with a white collared undershirt and a black tie. However, at formal events she is usually depicted in a dress.

## Biography

### Background

Delilah was born to a pair of homesteaders in a rural area on the Western continent. When a plague swept through the land, they traveled to Newport City with Delilah to seek medical care. However, they soon perished of the disease, leaving eight year old Delilah an orphan within the unfamiliar city.

Delilah quickly learned how to survive in the rough city, working odd jobs and stealing by learning to pick locks with expert skill. The connections she made through her work allowed her to secure the coveted job of Director of Ports, a role that was frequently bribed by pirate crews for access into the city. She also worked part-time as a bartender at a local tavern.

When Delilah was 20, she met Saga Maslandla, a pirate whose ship was docking in the city for a few months. The two quickly hit it off, beginning a year-long romance. The affair concluded when Saga disappeared from the city without a trace. Delilah, left without explanation, initially assumed that something terrible had happened to Saga. However, as the months passed by, she began to suspect that Saga had left the city, a fear that was eventually confirmed pirate captain Antoinette (albeit missing several details). In retaliation and anger, Delilah worked hard to be elected mayor of Newport City, the youngest in its history. Her first act in this new role was the complete and total criminalization of piracy. The measure was met with widespread support by many citizens who were tired of being threatened and harassed by pirates, but popularity polls were not enough. Delilah continued to round up, imprison, and jail pirates until Newport became known as a pirate deathtrap. Specifically for Saga, she placed an enormous bounty, and had fliers dispersed throughout the city. In the wake of the mayor's stunning victories, the sadness eating away at Delilah went unnoticed.

### Arc 3: The Water Sage

Delilah's first introduction into the campaign comes in Arc 3, Episode 1. The Runaways arrive in Newport City and stop in a tavern for directions. Soon afterward a brawl breaks out, forcing them and other citizens into the street. It appears that a mob is about to ensue, and the road becomes chaotic until a path is carved by the city guard (Frey also casts a spell to clam the crowd). At their command is Delilah, who scans the faces in the street but does not recognize Saga as she is under a disguise spell.

When Saga returns to Newport in Episode 3 of the Arc, Delilah confronts her in the jail. She asks Saga where she has been the past two years, to which Saga replies with a literal list of towns and ports she has been too. Delilah cuts her off, frustrated, with "You *left* me, Saga!" Saga, still believing Delilah's life is in danger, doesn't answer her. Only when Delilah goes to leave does she say, "Del, I'm sorry."

J and Saga realize they still have their sending stones, and use them to contact Gummy and Frey, who decide to break the other out of jail when their battle is finished. Gummy and Frey arrive at the jail and blast through an exterior door right as a guard walks into the room. Upon seeing the guard, they fire magic missile on sight, scoring a critical hit. The guard is knocked into the far wall, and her cap falls off to reveal that the guard was actually Delilah in disguise. Saga, once freed, blocks Delilah from any further attacks and argues that they should bring Delilah with them, as she still believes Delilah is in danger. The rest of the group eventually relents, and they summon Vince to create a portal back to the Citadel.

    When they return and Delilah recovers, it is revealed that the threat to hers and Saga's life is no longer existent. Delilah explains that all the pirates of Newport City have either fled, been jailed, or been killed. None of the pirates who threatened their lives have any power over them anymore. Delilah spends the next few days recovering and catching up with Saga, but as soon as she is well she insists on returning to Newport City, as the other officials have no idea where she has been.

### Arc 6

Delilah does not appear again until Arc 6, when Saga received her phone number from Delilah's personal attorney, Evelyn Nightshade. When Saga is attempting to get through the Mayoral office security line, it is revealed that Delilah's emergency line passcode is 7247, which spells out SAGA. The two catch up on what has happened over the previous months, and Saga asks in a veiled way whether Delilah would wish for her to reset the world if possible. Delilah responds no, that history is altered and cannot be changed, and that instead they should both look to the future and what it might hold. However, she implies an intent to meet up with Saga in the near future.

### Arc 7

Having not heard from Delilah in weeks, Saga begins to think she has been ghosted, which would be fair. However, it turns out that Delilah has been possessed by Vanessa Roman, which is revealed during the suit of armor battle. Delilah is revealed to be the pilot of the red suit of armor, which is attacked by Saga. After Saga breaks the suit and reveals Delilah, she catches her as she falls to the ground. They discover that Delilah accidentally signed a contract with Vanessa during her regular course of business, a careless slip that nearly cost Delilah her life. After the battle, her work suit is ruined with oil and grime from the armor so she, much to her dissatisfaction, borrows Saga's "I Did The Hedge Mage" shirt from Arc 5.

Before the final battle, Saga proposes to Delilah. The two decide that they will fight Vanessa side by side.

### Bonus Episode

When Saga and J are kidnapped and forced to play Jeopardy, Delilah and Tory team up to save their spouses.

## Trivia

* Delilah is named after the Florence + The Machine song *Delilah*
* However, the name for Newport City was inspired by *Hey There Delilah* by The Plain White Tees
* When I pestered her as to whether Delilah and Eve ever had a thing, Maggie said "I'm not discounting it"

## Gallery

Official art of DelilahDelilah by IcebergCabbageSaga and Delilah by @peonyonSaga and Delilah by @neorhythmDelilah by @ursidaes