Espex Gonth

**Espex Gonth** is an NPC on *Another Bad Side Quest*. He is an Orc, described as a tall, grey skinned orcish man, with graying black hair braided down his back, who wears a royal blue winter coat, wooden framed glasses and has ornate plate armor under his coat. He is the Vicar of the *Port Church* in *Krapjess*, which also is the largest temple to Vile.

**Ep. 17 - Krapjess**

Vicar Espex Gonth was first mentioned by Jesper the tailor who they saw to make cold weather clothes for them, when Seren asked what the local clergy wore, and mentioned that the Vicar he wore a nice royal blue winter coat.

The party soon met Espex in *Krapjess* when they arrived at the *Port Church*, while they waited for their winter coats to be made and altered. Tabernacle quickly enquired on the state of the former Vicar, and was told the he, being Espex's father, had died, and on realising who Tabernacle was brought up his father's warnings to not be like "that Grey boy".

Killian did not waste time with pleasantries before he demonstrated the *Shadow Twins* in hopes doing so would help help him understand what they did. After a second demonstration that made Killian bamf out of the Port Church, and his subsequent return to the Port Church, the conversation quickly spiralled from the explanation that the daggers were a gift from a devil's servant to then showing Espex the Ruin Moon marks on their palms, when Espex, on hearing the word devil, activated *Divine Sense* to identify them as *"Seven devils and a dead man"*. At the sight of the mark, Espex left the main room to go to his office to retrieve a book and told them about The Day of the Black Sun, when *Fortress Skorian* in *Rillasehje* was partially destroyed by a black orb that came out of nowhere a few hundred years ago, which led to the Empire banning and closely monitoring magic within its borders, and also showed an image the ruined moon within it. He also noted that mark only came up a couple more times, another being, in rumor, that it was seen before the Butchering of *Qahrizoq* a few years ago.

Espex was also of great help, when Seren pulled out the party's half of the book of demon summoning, asked for help locating more of them as well as destroying it and Espex revealed his paladin ability and activated *Divine Smite* to burn the book to ashes with his dagger. The party warned him that he might need to evacuate anyone in the church in case the trio were aware of what happened and their might, but noted that he had been part of the Holy Collective but he retired several years ago and took over watching the church, and subsequently created a field of blue light around him and challenged them to come to his home and suffer for it.

He was also able to tell them of places where he thinks there might be more books including past the *Ve'ji Outpost*, some near *Vaiyilcor*, down by *Sruss*, two previously excavated out of Pu'Han's territory in the south, as well as one in some ruins near *Kra'Kash* which he and they noted they were likely to have already been raided. He also demonstrated his own confidence to handle himself when the threat of their arrival may happen.

Tabernacle thanked Espex for his help and Espex in turn leaned into him, reprimanded him for having been gone for so long and told him to visit his wife's grave. In his verbal lashing, Espex revealed Tabernacle's wife, Grace, had died in childbirth, and left their daughter Abigail to be an orphan who ran around the city for 12 years, then three years after an incident where she showed obvious affinity for magic and while Espex was technically obligated to take her in, did not want to see her go through what he did as he felt neither she or anyone should deserved to, and encouraged her to leave the city, but had not idea where she went. After telling him to ask people on the street for clues where she went, he dismissively told him again to visit his wife.

After Tabernacle left the *Port Church* angrily, the party continued to question Espex and learned that he personally knew Esmeria and Jonathan Ilvwinter as they were all a part of the Holy Collective, but he had watched Esmeria and Jonathan die. Espex stated they had participated in the Butchering of *Qahrizoq* eight years ago, as a part of the Holy Collective had been originally sent there to kill only extremist worshippers of the Rahkind Forefathers, but several of the group sent were given the alternative mission, to burn down the city and send a message. Esmeria and Ilvwinter were killed by the surviving citizens who retaliated. When the party revealed they were both very much alive and in the service of devils, Espex found it hard to believe, especially when he revealed that he grew up with Jonathan as his adoptive brother. Jonathan had been an orphan taken in by Espex's father and was a devout follower Osgonan, willing to protect anyone who needed it. He also made it clear despite his feelings to see his now living brother, that if he was with the devils now, he wouldn't let him continue. The party then left Espex to think on all the things they had brought to him as they left the *Port Church* to find Tabernacle.

**Ep. 18 - The Drunken Lantern**

Espex was mentioned briefly, when the group conversed the task of bringing an end to the trio, Yashani mentioned up Espex's words how one of the trio was upstanding once, as reason to not kill them.

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

Espex was mentioned briefly when the remaining order encountered Ilvwinter in the Aetian ruins, and Quincy told him that Espex missed him, which seemed to give him pause as he replied he was glad Espex was alive and not in his position.

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

Espex was mentioned by Quincy, when on finding out the local priest was related to Kalistock Hygmire, that he and Ilvwinter were raised as siblings.

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

Espex was mentioned by Charles when he said he was close to him, and consequentially Ilvwinter as he was his brother and that, after those who died during the Butchering of *Qahrizoq*, he along with Charles and those who survived left without returning.

He was mentioned a little later when the group considered how to handle their questioning of Belnock Hygmire.