Desmond (Clerk)
A gruff bureaucrat who kept the town’s ledgers straight—and a far greater secret buried.
What People Know
Desmond was the town clerk of Strangeways, known for his blunt manner, ink-stained fingers, and strict adherence to procedure. He was the man who issued charters, filed complaints, and ensured the machinery of local governance kept moving, no matter how unpleasant the work.
To most, he was forgettable.
That was by design.
Reputation
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Gruff, impatient, and unimpressed by authority
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Trusted to handle sensitive paperwork discreetly
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Known to say “no” more often than “yes”
Few realized how much Desmond saw—and how carefully he chose what to record.
The Secret Duty
Unknown to nearly everyone, Desmond was a member of The Children of Beauty, the ancient order sworn to protect the Petal—a fragment of the Crown of Iron—hidden beneath the Church of the Beauty (Temple).
His position as clerk gave him the perfect cover: access without scrutiny, authority without attention.
Death
Desmond was murdered by an agent of the Infernal Empire, targeted for his role in guarding what lay beneath the Church. His death shattered the secrecy the Children relied upon and set in motion the events that led to the Petal’s discovery and theft.
He died without ceremony.
Without witnesses.
Doing exactly what he had sworn to do.
Legacy
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The Children of Beauty collapsed soon after his death
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The Petal was exposed to the wider world
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Strangeways lost a quiet guardian it never knew it had
Desmond is remembered by few—but missed more than anyone realizes.
Rumors
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Desmond died for a reason no one understands
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He kept records that were never found
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His final act delayed something far worse
Player Notes
Desmond was never meant to be remembered.
That was the sacrifice.
He guarded the world by being invisible.
The world failed him anyway.