The significant NPCs in the campaign are as follows:
Fakir Abdul al-Azif, The Royal Vizier: A calculating man whom has given the players the comission of finding and returning Abu Bakr-Jan to the Lion of Semphar. Abdul is an honest man, but finds it difficult to openly confide in people after so many years in the political intrigue of the Caliphate.
As well as heading the Offices of the Caliphate, Abdul is the High Priest of the Mujhari, the state religion of Semphar. He commands the Caliph's warrior priests, and has access to almost all of the palace's treasuries and stores, making him a powerful ally (or antagonist).
Rolf (the Wolf): Rolf first entered the player's world when Vaclav met him in a seedy gaming house early in the morning. The two began to talk, and soon they were on their way to the Caliphate to try and win the comission to find Bakr-Jan.
Vaclav (the half-orc) first meets Rolf:
From out of corner of the room, the man whom you noticed when you entered speaks to you in the orcish tongue. "Your kind are not welcome here. You chance much to venture to civilised lands in these times. Are you a fool, or are you unlearned?" He says all of this without looking up from his drink. Vaclav studied the stranger more closely. Dressed in robes typical of desert travellers he did not look any different to a typical Semphari. The stranger had a large animal hide draped over his shoulders, with the animal's head, a dire wolf, covering most of his head. The stranger slowly but deliberately placed a well-worn axe on the table before him.
Vaclav stared at the man for a few seconds, gathering his thoughts. After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Vaclav spoke to the stranger in common. "Whether I die on the sands or in one of these filthy alleyways is of little consequence to me. Fate." Unbuckling his sword belt, Vaclav places his heavy scimitar cautiously on the seat next to him. "I would not be in the city if I didn't feel confident in my ability to survive. As to whether or not I'm a fool?" I chuckly softly. "I am hardly the man to make that judgment. I am alive, and I am free; that is all that matters." Vaclav paused, and then lowering the volume of his voice, he continued in orcish. "You risk much speaking this tongue here. In Dhantazar, it is the tongue of spies and traitors." Vaclav's gaze hardened, staring at the stranger. "Which one are you?"
The man in the corner picked up his tankard, and took a long draught. He looked up, revealling bloodshot pink eyes, wolf-like ears and small tusks. "A traitor".
The party has learned that 'Rolf", or rather Segra Ulmus, was once a man of considerable influence in the Caliph's Army, but has for some reason been banished from Dhantazar. Vaclav's contacts in the army have told him that Rolf was a vetran of the same guerilla force as Vaclav many years earlier, and a commander of some reknown in the Caliphate, but was disgraced after accusing a priest of corruption. The party has found out that the priest he accused was none other than Abdul al-Azif (the Vizier). More will come out in time...
van Yusef is the leader of the Mercantile Guild in Darabjind, a small, walled city on the Goldenflow River and the Silk Road. The players tried to coax some information from him to help with their mission, by Meara and Jebat masquerading as traders attacked on the Silk Road. Unfortunately (for the party), van Yusef quickly saw through their ruse, and has sent an envoy with the party to both aid them in their mission, and to find out exactly who the characters are.
van Yusef is not out to harm the characters, but does not like to be deceived, and his contacts along the Silk Road are keeping an eye out for him...
Teschen is the envoy that van Yusef sent to accompany the characters in their quest. Teschen is a small, wiry fighter, a descendant of Tuigan nomad stock. He is a proficient horseman, archer, and with his Semphari education, a capable diplomat. van Yusef thinks that this made him the perfect spy for the guild.
Dengar is the captian of the river boat that took the characters up the Goldenflow to the disappearance site. Imagine the most foul-mouthed, unwashed, toothless beer-swilling sea-dog ever to board a ship, and you'll have come pretty close to Dengar. However, Dengar's exterior is a well-crafted facade, hiding a loyal and honest soul. He keeps a wife and family in each city he regularly visits, and none want for a thing. Never the less, his appearance has helped him put many a merchant at a disadvantage when they assume that he is a dullard.
Reghar Ankram is the shaman of the Severed Tongue, the most powerful orc tribe east of Mulhorand. He is an old orc, who looks as though he should be dead. Reghar and Rolf (Segra) do not get along so well, though the party is not aware of why.
Ki'an Phan, the Usurper, is an ogre magi that has usurped Ankram's post in the tribe. He (?) has asumed the form of the shaman, beguiled the cheiftain, and taken command of the tribe. The Usurper thinks that Reghar is long dead, and plans to use the Severed Tongue to revenge himself on former enemies.
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