NPC Focus - Annette Traver

Annette Traver is an incredibly forward-thinking and enterprising woman whose ambitions took root far from where she ultimately found success. Raised in the northern town of Sarcelles, she grew up surrounded by modest means but expansive dreams. Even as a young girl, Annette envisioned a life beyond the quiet rhythms of her hometown - one filled with commerce, movement, and opportunity. Chief among her aspirations was the idea of establishing a shop in Ville des Marais, a bustling hub known for its steady flow of adventurers, traders, and fortune-seekers.

Now at forty-five, Annette has not only realized that dream but elevated it into something uniquely her own. As the proud proprietor of La Torche Brûlante - The Burning Torch - she has carved out a niche that sets her apart from every other merchant in the city. Her shop caters specifically to adventurers, stocking practical, durable, and often hard-to-find goods. But what truly distinguishes her enterprise is her willingness to bring those goods directly to her customers, eliminating the need for them to interrupt their preparations or expeditions.

To make this possible, Annette employs a small but highly reliable team consisting of two teamsters and six well-trained guards. For a nominal fee of a single gold piece, customers within Ville des Marais can have their purchases delivered to their doorstep within roughly an hour. This service has become especially popular among busy adventurers and city officials alike. For those located outside the city, Annette extends her reach up to ten miles beyond the gates, though such deliveries require a larger escort and come at a cost of five gold pieces per mile traveled, one way.

Annette’s commitment to her employees is as strong as her dedication to her customers. She pays her teamsters and guards generously, fostering a sense of loyalty that has proven invaluable. Despite several attempted bandit attacks on her deliveries, her guards have successfully defended every shipment without exception. Each teamster is equipped with a magical conch that allows for two-way communication with Annette, ensuring she is always informed of her caravans’ status and can respond quickly to any developing situation.

Further strengthening her operation is Annette’s strategic agreement with the town guard. In the event of trouble, a squad can be dispatched swiftly to assist her delivery teams. In return, every member of the guard receives a twenty-five percent discount at La Torche Brûlante - a benefit they are known to use frequently. Through careful planning, bold innovation, and a deep respect for both her employees and customers, Annette Traver has transformed a simple mercantile vision into one of the most dependable and admired businesses in Ville des Marais.

La Torche Brûlante

NPC Focus - Louis Lapointe

Louis Lapointe had always made his living in the margins - a quiet hand in a locked room, a shadow where there shouldn’t be one. He worked out of Ville des Marie, running with the Sneak’s Guild and keeping the kind of company that didn’t ask questions unless something went wrong. Guarin Félix counted him as a friend, which meant something in their world. Louis wasn’t reckless - but on the night everything fell apart, he got just unlucky enough.

The job itself looked ordinary. A house with no lights, no guards, no signs of trouble - the sort of place a careful thief could slip into and out of without leaving so much as a whisper behind. What Louis didn’t know - couldn’t have known - was that the place belonged to Papa Abélard Delacroix. Worse than that, it wasn’t just a home. It was part of something darker, one of the bokor’s quiet little designs.

He never even saw the mistake until it was too late. Delacroix’s people found him inside, and the punishment wasn’t quick or clean. Louis was killed - deliberately, methodically - and then brought back wrong. Not alive, not dead, but something in between. A puppet, meant to serve.

Only he didn’t.

Something held. Whether it was stubbornness, luck, or some deeper quirk of whatever magic stitched him back together, Louis came back with himself intact - his mind, his memories, his will. He slipped free before Delacroix could tighten the leash, vanishing into the bayou with nothing but instinct and a ring he’d once stolen - a small, enchanted thing that bent light and color just enough to let him disappear if he stood still. It kept him alive - if that word still applied.

Now he lingers in the swamps southwest of Ville des Marie, drifting between long stretches of stillness and the occasional quiet trip back into the city. The ring lets him pass when he needs supplies, or when the silence starts pressing in too hard. He’s patient - more patient than he ever was in life - but the thought never leaves him. Papa Delacroix made him into this. And sooner or later, Louis is going to decide how to return the favor.

Louis Lapointe's home in the bayou.