Medium, Cavern Elf, Rogue
Early Life in the Darklands
Machival was born into the harsh environment of the Darklands, where the Cavern Elves dwell in the subterranean cities and tunnels far beneath the surface. However, his life took a tragic turn when he was captured as a child and sold into slavery. His captors, goblins who thrived in the shadowy depths of the Darklands, purchased Machival and brought him into their tribe.
Life Among the Goblins
Though initially a prisoner, Machival adapted to life with the goblins, learning their ways and customs. Over time, he befriended a young goblin named Gox, who became like a brother to him. The two shared a bond forged in the fires of survival, and together they learned the skills of tracking, hunting, and thievery. Machival’s natural aptitude for stealth and his quick mind made him an exceptional tracker, and he began to see the goblins as his new family.
Despite the harsh conditions, Machival was resourceful. He began stealing from both enemies and allies alike, slowly accumulating enough wealth to buy his freedom. However, even after securing his release, Machival chose to remain with the goblins, living among them as one of their own. He honed his skills, becoming a formidable tracker and rogue, always with Gox by his side.
Machival’s life was irrevocably altered when, during a hunting expedition, a group of adventurers attacked the goblin tribe. When Machival returned, he found his home in ruins and his goblin family slaughtered, including Gox. The loss of his closest friend and the only family he had ever known filled Machival with grief and a simmering resentment toward the surface dwellers.
With no ties left to the Darklands, Machival left the ruins of his tribe behind and made his way to the surface, eventually arriving in Absalom, the City at the Center of the World.
Life as a Bounty Hunter in Absalom
In Absalom, Machival reinvented himself. His skills as a tracker and rogue made him a natural fit for the dangerous and lucrative work of a bounty hunter. He quickly established a reputation as a meticulous and cunning operator, known for his ability to track down even the most elusive targets. His past experiences made him cautious and thorough; he would spend weeks or even months gathering information on his targets before making a move.
Machival’s network of contacts grew as he built connections with the criminal underworld, the black market, and even some of the more corrupt elements of Absalom’s high society. He maintained a cold, calculated demeanour, always focused on the job at hand, but the pain of his past losses drove him to succeed where others might fail.
One of Machival’s wealthiest and most influential employers is a prominent Absalom politician. This politician, who remains unnamed but wields considerable power, is the father of the Seven Sisters. The tragic death of his daughter Miveyn during the Tournament of the Seven Sisters has left him vengeful. He hires Machival to find Glock, the man accused of Miveyn’s murder, and bring him back alive so that he can be publicly tried and executed.
For Machival, the job is just another assignment, but the politician’s personal vendetta and the promise of a substantial reward add an extra layer of complexity. Machival begins his investigation by gathering all available information on Glock, tracing his movements from Otari to Absalom, and eventually to Almas. However, the trail goes cold, and Machival returns to Otari, where he unexpectedly crosses paths with Glock.