"The Steps" as most of the crew call her, is a small, three mast sailing vessel. Technically referred to as a caravel, Llira's Steps is unusual for vessel of her type in that she possesses small fore and aft-castles. The ship is of an indeterminate age but its design shows hallmarks of elven ship-wrights, but also shares design traits in common with some pirate vessels.
Traditionally Llira's Steps has been a courier of small cargos which are either valuable or urgent. Her design makes her a fairly fast vessel, for a cargo ship. This same design means she requires a few more deck-hands than one might usually find on a ship her size. It is not unknown for high paying passengers to charter the ship for short voyages. Moderately urgent messages are also sometimes sent via this method, especially to and from those lands who do not trust such things to wizards. Magically the Llira's Steps has a slight quirk: Divination spells do not work on anything or anyone on its decks (or on its masts), nor do they work against "The Steps" itself
Human Male hailing from Sembia
Captain
As first mate Alexandros was in charge of dealing with the crew when the captain was busy or just didn't want to. Unfortunately since Alexandros' magical study and research occupies much of his time the crew was left to their own devices. Which suited most of them fine.
Acting as captain since Halston's disappearance, Alexandros has even more leeway to delegate any actual work. He is rarely seen on deck anymore.
Halfling Male from various areas
Lookout
Dierdol serves sometimes as a deckhand but more often as the look out. More
commonly called "Far-fetched" by the crew who give many of his exciting tales a very
disbelieving look. He has been on the ship on and off for a number of years. He takes periodic moon-long "leaves of absence" to the shore where he has these "fabulous adventures".
Human Male from Turmish
Deckhand and Cook
Kroisis is well regarded amongst the crew, both for his fine culinary skills and his
Turmish impartiality. He is trusted by most on board to make fair calls and ends up
playing judge on most of the crews bets. He is one of the few crew whom Halston
trusted enough to delegate the job of distributing the crew's share of the treasure to.
Human Male from Sembia
Quartermaster and Wizard
Argyros looks like a typical merchant - slightly fat and fairly well mannered. While
the ship is in sail Yulkryt does very little actual 'work' short of maintaining the ships
registers. He is ill-respected amongst the crew and taunted for his "cushy job", but he
is a very good bargainer.
Human Male hailing from Cormyr
Deckhand and 2nd cook
A better sailor than a cook. Barael served some time in the Cormyrian navy and is a
little militaristic at times. He like to think himself a gentleman (and eventually an
officer).
Dwarven Male originally from Turmish
Deckhand
A slightly deranged dwarf. Hogath is a little unsociable but fanatically loyal to "The Steps" and her crew. He is the longest serving member of the crew other than Halston.
Human Female from Cormyr
Secondary Quartermaster and Deckhand
Calla is clearly new to sailing and, in fact, gives the appearance of being new to most things, but she is a very quick learner. Argyros seems to have taken a liking to her and is helping her out with his own (admittedly limited) sailing experience.
She was sold into slavery (and we're not talking the salt mines here, folks) by Sierco while said bard was fantastically drunk. She seems to hold some sort of grudge against him now. Women! They can be so fickle!
Half-elven Male from parts unknown.
Deckhand
Desthvyn's dark skin and odd accent instantly mark him as a foreigner. He has an odd holy symbol on his bag and has displayed small amounts of divine power, probably related to a sun god of some sort.
Human Female from Sembia
Deckhand
A quiet (when sober) but physically 'competent' deckhand, not very much is known about this young woman other than that she has, on occasion, displayed impressive strength.
Human Male from Sembia
Deckhand
A jovial and entertaining fellow, Sierco has demonstrated that he is not one to back out of a battle of wits. He also knows how to say some terribly rude things in a great variety of tongues. Whether his linguistic talents extent into more formal areas is yet to be seen. "Accidently" sold Calla into slavery one drunken night. Apparently his bargaining skills remain quite sharp, even when he is in a state of extreme intoxication, since he got a pretty good price for her. He expressed moderate regret at his actions.
Human Male Priest of Waukeen from Westgate
Passenger
A nice trusting young man who is on a mission from god(dess) to deliver an item entrusted to his church by Thieryn Depthdreamer some 14 years ago.
Almeni is currently suffering from a hangover as a result of his self-prescribed cure for depression. Being intinately confined with Serlo's corpse may have caused this, but his friend and confidant Kordeth is the only one who knows for sure, and he's not telling. - Megan
Human Male from The Dragonisle
Deckhand
A young ex-farmhand, Carn is as green as the sack of lettuce that he brought onto the ship. He knows how to grow a good potato though.
Human Male from The Dragonisle
Deckhand
Essrel has recently been forced to early retirement from the thuggery business on the Dragonisle and thought that sailing might provide him with the opportunities he seeks - namely the opportunity to leave the people who dispatched his former employer far, far behind.
Human Male from The Dragonisle
Deckhand
Leof is Essrel's right-hand man now. He gives the impression of being none-too-bright. It is a very good impression.
Human Male from The Dragonisle
Deckhand
Gerrin is the youngest of the refugees from the Dragonisle and the most friendly. He seems the least bothered by the change of position.
Lizard-folk Male from The Dragonisle
Deckhand
The lizard man's motives and opinions are hard to gauge, although a pronounced dislike for Therain is quickly evident. He seems happy to do his work and not talk to many.
Elven Male from who-knows-where
Ex-Captain
As a captain Thieryn was universally respected. An elf of commanding presence and infectious good-will, he kept the crew happy through lax discipline (compared with many other sailing ships) and high payments. Thieryn, although undeniably clever, was also slightly "different of mind". His joy was literally unfailing and he was never, ever seen to be in a bad temper.
Rumours among the crew tell this to be a blessing or perhaps a curse from Llira herself. Others suspected he may have been driven mad by his constant denial of the elven homing instinct, "The Call".
Thieryn left one night under mysterious circumstances, taking all the elven and half-elven crew members with him.
Human Male from unknown parts
Ex-Captain
A man of mysterious background and few words Halston prefered to let the first mate, Alexandros deal with the crew. He reportedly inheritted the postion of captain from Thieryn, who told the large man to 'look after' his ship while he was away.
Halston's whereabouts is currently unknown since he was 'accompanied into custody' by Sembian dock officials.
Human* Male from Somewhere. Possibly Rashemen
Ex-Deckhand
Abel was a decent enough sailor who got on well with some of the crew. His strange refusal to take night shift was somewhat explained when he turned out to be a were-tiger one evening and killed 6 blond, magic-using women. The reason for his strange dislike of women, particularly blond magic-using ones, has yet to be satisfactorily uncovered.
Abel's body was removed from the Westgate morgue, along with two others. Therain's scrying has only uncovered the fact that Abel is not as dead as people had previously given him credit for.
- I must note that it was I, First Mate Roglanar the Pirate King who risked life and limb in a brave and cunning plan to lure out the beast. -Roglanar
Human Female from Westgate
Ex-deckhand
Mierbyl was the last minute replacement for Abel, hired shortly before the Llira's steps left Westgate. It turned out that last minute hiring policies tend result in a lower standard of crew when it was revealed that "he" was a cross-dressing thief on the run from the Westgate authorities with a powerful magical artefact.
One large fight and several statues-who-used-to-be-crew-members later Mierbyl (real name unknown) was apprehended posthumously by the Westgate authorities.
Oddly these events have left the crew of the Llira's Steps a little reluctant to hire a replacement just yet.
- Yes, Poor Mierbyl. Tis sad such a fine sailor turned to the path of the dark gods. It was most unfortunetly that is was I First Mate Roglanar the Pirate King who dispatched the evil Mierbyl and ended the his/her rein of stone crewed rule over the 'steps. -Roglanar
????? ????? in Saerloon
A figure in Saerloon's underground notable (so to speak) for 'his' lack of any real description.
????? Male Wizard in Westgate
A potent wizard (one assumes), Llareth was the mage who repaired the Stormrings of Saerloon.
Human Male High Priest of Helm in Westgate
After a rather "shaken" Roglanar made a sizeable donation to the church of helm for some help
Reverend Brother Tolbin became fairly well disposed towards him.
He dispensed two of his watchers to help the gallant sailor.
Human Female Watcher of Helm in Westgate
A walking suite of full plate that is rumoured to have an efficient young woman inside it. Most embarrassingly Ember and her partner Trux were out manoeuvred by a quartet of thieves who almost made of with Almeni's secret parcel. And Almeni.
The watchers were very apologetic.
Human Male Watcher of Helm in Westgate
Another plate mail clad Helmite assigned to guard Roglanar and the 'Steps'. Ember's partner in religion. Once again they are both _very_ sorry about that whole "letting the thieves slip past them" incident.
Female Human Wizard from Westgate
One of Llareth's apprentices and one of Abel Greatwing's victims, questioning showed that Derani wasn't very well liked anyway.
Human Male Watcher of Helm in Westgate
The Watcher partially in charge of the city watch of Westgate.
Human Male Wizard in Westgate
Another of Llareth's apprentices, Hedrin was the wizard that informed the PC's that Derani wasn't really very well liked.
Human Male Basket-weaver in Westgate
The last person to see Derani alive (unless you count Abel, who technically wasn't a person at the time).
Human Female Hedge Wizard from Westgate
Another unfortunate victim of Abel Greatwing.
Human Male Reverend Brother of Helm in Westgate
A Helmite scholar who assisted some unfortunate souls (Roglanar and Kordeth) who had been bitten by a were-tiger. Fortunately Reverend Brother Ioulf had some belladonna in the garden in the temple. Unfortunately he did not realise that afflicted lycanthropes do not infect others. Roglanar consumed 4 doses of belladonna before collapsing into a drooling coma.
- You forgot to add this important piece of information my good lad, I First Mate Roglanar the Pirate King did consume 4 doses of the life saving elixer. And Kordeth the possible servant of Dark gods only consumed 2, I am not one to point the finger of accusation but perhaps it was a Dark god who spared Kordeth from cetain lycanthopy. -Roglanar
Human Male Corpses in Westgate
What these two poor people did is lost in the annals of un-importance. They are the two bodies who were stolen along with Abel's from the Westgate morgue.
Human Male Wizard and 'retired' naval officer in Saerloon
Supposedly retired Aeros is the suspected culprit behind Halston's disappearance
Human Male Guard Sergeant in Saeloon
A slightly sarcastic guard who has earned Therain's undying enmity for some reason or other. I forget. Probably just for doing his job. It isn't easy being a guard.
Elven Male Druid from parts unknown
A mysterious and powerful elf who seems intent on having the crew of the Llira's Steps lose or destroy the Stormrings of Saerloon. So far they have acquiesced to his 'suggestions'.
Although not necessarily in the most expedient of manners.
According to the Harpers "not immediately dangerous".
The Stromrings are no longer a problem. - Megan.
Aboleth currently residing under the Isle of Prespur
The name of this entity is unknown but its confounding illusions confounded the crew of the steps for some time. After a bit of a conflict a deal was struck with the creature who, in return for the Stormrings of Saerloon, would return Kordeth, disguise the 'Steps with its illusions and also pay off its crew. Exactly how this deal was struck is a secret shared between only the Aboleth and Roglanar.
The crew of the 'Steps fully intend to go back on the deal as soon as they are able too.
Indeed, the rings are long gone from the aboleth [1], and unless it suddenly learns how to survive in lava... I think we'd better go back and deal with this creature. - Megan.
Male Human 'businessman' from The Dragonisle.
The owner of the last available pier in Immurk's Bay on the Dragonisle. Greskin used his monopoly to great effect charging the crew of the Llira's Steps a substantial sum to dock there. Initially it was an outrageous sum but with Argyros' intervention a reasonable deal was struck.
Ravenmane's bargining tactics did little to assist. ("Listen up, muttonhead. Either you give us that dock or we'll burn this entire village to the ground. To. The. Ground!")
Unfortunately Greskin ran afoul of a group of individuals calling themselves "The Grey Fleet". All his dock are belong to them.
Male ????? from The Dragonisle
An employer of slightly unco-operative men who specialize in keeping an eye on potentially unco-operative crews.
After Greskin's demise Essrel and his friends found themselves 'surplus to requirement' on The Dragonisle. They have moved on to bigger and better things.
Male ????? from the Dragonisle
The owner of another pier in Immurk's Bay. Also does a good business in ship repair.
Male Half-human from "The Bleak Brine"
A bestial but reasonabley cordial thing of indeterminate parentage. Crug is obviously high up in the ranks of "The Bleak Brine" but still answers to the Tall Woman.
Male human drunkard from "The Bleak Brine"
A heavy drinker and general troublemaker. Greatly enjoys calling Therain a woman.
Female Human from "The Bleak Brine"
This strikingly tall woman seems to hold a position of some authority onboard "The Brine". If experience is anything to go by she has little to no patience for negotiation.
Male Human from the crew of "The Bleak Brine" This poor unfortunate soul was captured by the crew of the Llira's Steps and questioned. Then he was mafde to sing the praises of Roglanar until he lost his voice. Then he was blinded. He currently resides in manacles in the pantry of the 'Steps, still blinded.