The Blades of Strangeways
The Blades of Strangeways are an officially chartered adventuring company operating under the authority of the town of Strangeways, now known well beyond its borders.
They began as a probationary group investigating a single murdered farmhand.
They are now entangled in a war of scholars, necromancers, inquisitors, guildmasters, and empires—fighting over fragments of an ancient artifact known as the Crown of Iron.
They did not seek importance.
It found them anyway.
Origins
The Blades were formed in Strangeways after receiving a temporary charter from Desmond (Clerk), following rumors of violence at the Grogan Farm.
Their first expedition led them beneath the countryside into the Tomb of Golun Thun, an ancient Elvish site corrupted by goblins, undead, and something far older. There, they uncovered proof that Strangeways was built atop forgotten history—and that disturbing it carried consequences.
From that moment on, the Blades were no longer just problem-solvers.
They were witnesses.
The Party
Current Members
Corwin Thorne
A professional investigator, lockpick, and reluctant leader.
Son of Garrick Thorne (Constable), Corwin walks the line between law and ingenuity with dangerous ease. His sharp mind, sharper tongue, and talent for uncovering secrets have repeatedly put the Blades in both danger and advantage.
Corwin has personally drawn the attention—and ire—of the Thieves Guild of Valinport, the Blacktower, and the The Scholas Magick of Nokan.
Zel Cunningham
A disciplined arcanist whose magic is precise, potent, and increasingly difficult to hide.
Zel’s intellect and composure mask the pressure she carries—from the The Bookworms, from inquisitors, and from knowledge she was never meant to share. Her early discussion of the Crown of Iron inadvertently exposed the Blades to forces far beyond Valin.
She is now a known interest of both noble and imperial powers.
Leda Gebhart
Druid, shapeshifter, and unwilling political asset.
Daughter of Ophelia Gebhart (Mayor), Leda is caught between the wilds she loves and the expectations of power pressing in from every side. Her connection to nature—and to ancient Elvish magic—has proven vital beneath Strangeways, Skade, and the Church of the Beauty.
She is now publicly entangled with Calen Veylin, a development she did not choose. But its over right. Right?!
Mol Potts
Alchemist, healer, and walking ethical dilemma.
Son of Kelvin Potts (Alchemist), Mol’s curiosity has saved lives and endangered souls in equal measure. His mastery of alchemy, poisons, and healing makes him indispensable—especially when things go catastrophically wrong.
Mol has earned the quiet favor of Mayor Renfield Willowbee and the quiet concern of nearly everyone else.
Torvold Alric
Veteran soldier and shield-bearer.
Once Gideon’s superior, Torvold stepped into the Blades’ ranks after tragedy left a void no one else could fill. Disciplined, deliberate, and deeply loyal, he brings military experience and grim realism to a party increasingly targeted by organized powers.
Torvold does not replace Gideon.
He honors him.
Former Member
Gideon Kael †
Founding member. Shield of the Blades.
A farmer’s son turned constable’s enforcer, Gideon was the moral and physical backbone of the party in its earliest days. He stood the line in tombs, markets, and streets alike—often at terrible cost.
Gideon died during an expedition to the The Watery Grave, defending his companions when escape was the only option left.
His death changed the Blades permanently.
They still measure themselves against the standard he set.
Major Recurring NPCs
Political & Noble Powers
- Lady Serina Kael — Noble strategist, patron, and quiet power broker
- Lady Merissa Veylin — Cold, controlled, and observant
- High Seeker Oliver Veylin — Inquisitor with reach into crown and tower
- Ophelia Gebhart (Mayor) — Mayor of Strangeways, Leda’s mother
Religious & Inquisitorial Forces
- High Priest Tomor — Voice of loyalty and doctrine
- Nazyn the Mage Hunter — Hunter of arcane threats
- Sister Allison (Dead) — Murdered keeper of secrets
- Sister Margaret — Reluctant gatekeeper
Criminal & Shadow Networks
- Geoffrey Chandler — Guildmaster, traitor, and agent of empire
- Charlie the Flute Player — Thieves’ Guild operative
- Reef Marnel — Survivor, liability, and loose end
- Mayor Renfield Willowbee — “Mayor” of the undercity
Arcane & Imperial Threats
- The Scholas Magick of Nokan — Imperial magical order
- The Infernal Empire — Watching, waiting, intervening
- Baphomet — Demon whose influence stains the deep places
Where Things Stand
- One shard of the Crown of Iron has been stolen
- Another is confirmed in motion
- The Blacktower has been breached
- The Scholas Magick of Nokan has revealed itself
- War is no longer theoretical
The Blades of Strangeways are no longer local adventurers.
They are actors on a board much larger than Valin.
And the next road ahead leads through hostile lands, ancient observatories, and powers that prefer their enemies quiet—or erased.
“We didn’t choose this fight.”
“But it knows our names now.”