Zhellin
Innkeeper, Smuggler, and Opportunist
Overview
- Race: Dwarf
- Alias: Zhelik the Sly
- Occupation: Innkeeper / Smuggler (exposed)
- Affiliation: Former associate of The Krakens
- Region: Osweg
- Reputation: Helpful—until it mattered
Zhellin was, for a time, the most welcoming face The Golden Circlet Colony had to offer outsiders. He provided food, drink, and information freely, presenting himself as a pragmatic local dwarf trying to survive in a hard land.
This was not untrue.
It was simply incomplete.
Description
Zhellin is a broad, heavyset dwarf with a thick beard worn loose and unadorned. His clothing is practical and worn, favoring dark colors that hide stains well. His hands are scarred, not from forge work, but from rope, stone, and long travel.
His eyes are alert and constantly moving, missing very little. When he smiles, it appears practiced—easy to offer, easy to withdraw.
He carries himself like someone accustomed to weighing risks.
Public Persona
To visitors, Zhellin appeared as:
- A local innkeeper
- A source of regional knowledge
- A cautious but friendly guide
- Someone who “knew how things really worked” in Osweg
He spoke openly about dangers, bandits, and lawlessness—carefully positioning himself as a neutral survivor rather than a participant.
Many believed him.
The Truth
Zhellin was not merely adjacent to criminal activity.
He was part of it.
Evidence uncovered by the Sea Spray Survivors revealed that Zhellin was tied directly to The Krakens, using his inn and local knowledge to:
- Monitor travelers
- Facilitate smuggling
- Conceal dragonglass caches
- Redirect suspicion away from bandit operations
His cooperation was motivated by profit and self-preservation rather than loyalty.
Dragonglass Involvement
Zhellin played a direct role in:
- Guiding the survivors toward the waterspout caverns
- Downplaying the dangers of stored dragonglass
- Misrepresenting the purpose of the cache
Whether he expected the survivors to die—or simply did not care—remains unclear.
When exposed, Zhellin fled.
Personality
Zhellin is:
- Intelligent
- Self-interested
- Adaptable
- Fundamentally untrustworthy
He does not revel in cruelty, but he does not resist it if it benefits him. He believes survival justifies compromise—and that ideals are luxuries for those with protection.
Current Status
Zhellin’s whereabouts are unknown.
Reports place him:
- Along smuggling routes inland
- Near other Osweg settlements
- Disguised under different names
None are confirmed.
What is certain is that he will not forget those who ruined his arrangement.
Themes
Zhellin represents:
- Complicity disguised as pragmatism
- The danger of half-truths
- Neutrality that enables harm
- Trust extended too easily