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An elderly mage, Rudyom was a powerful mage whose research had led him into a great variety of spells. As the years passed, the magical ether within Britannia became distorted, and as a result, Rudyom and the other mages of the realm became insane. When the Avatar, under the advice of Lord British, arrived in Cove, Rudyom greeted the Champion of Virtue insanely, and when asked about his job, offered the Avatar a great range of spells from all Eight of the Circles of Magic, as well as maintained a stock of reagents needed to make them work. When the Avatar asked about the mysterious mineral known as blackrock, Rudyom confessed that he had been researching it as a way to restabilize the Moongates, but had grown frustrated when his Transmuting Wand had failed to work properly, and recommended the Avatar read his notebook to learn more.
As they spoke, Rudyom also told the Avatar about his flying carpet, which had been borrowed by a group of adventurers who had lost it near the vicinity of the Lost River, near the Serpent's Spine mountains. Following the destruction of the Guardian's Tetrahedron Generator within the Dungeon Deceit, Rudyom's mind cleared as the ether once again began to flow smoothly. During his quest, the Avatar had learned from the Time Lord, that the Transmuting Wand was the only weapon capable of destroying the Guardian's Black Gate, and when asked about it, Rudyom gave it to the Avatar with his blessings. As the Avatar continued his quest to save Britannia, Rudyom remained in Cove, continuing his research. |
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A regal gentleman, Lord Heather was the mayor of Cove, home of the Shrine of Compassion, an ancient relic from the time of the First Age of Enlightenment, that was tended by Nastassia. When the Avatar arrived in Cove, Lord Heather greeted the Champion of Virtue, and told the Avatar about how easily everyone in Cove fell in love: Zinaida, the owner of the Emerald, who had an interest in De Maria, the bard; Rayburt, the trainer, who was courting Pamela, the innkeeper; and of course himself, who was in love with Jaana the healer in Cove. The exception to this happiness was Nastassia, who suffered from melancholy, and Lord Heather recommended the Avatar speak with De Maria about her sad tale.
During his travels to Britain, the Avatar had met with Miranda and Inwisloklem, members of the Great Council, who were drafting a bill which would make illegal any distribution of waste products in Lock Lake, which had become putrid from the mining waste dumped there by the Britannian Mining Company of Minoc. When the Avatar asked him to sign the bill, Lord Heather remarked that it was time the government had taken action, and signed the bill happily, urging the Avatar to return it to Miranda and the Great Council post haste. As the Avatar continued his quest, Lord Heather remained in Cove, watching over the city of Passion. |
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A beautiful young woman, Nastassia was the caretaker for the Shrine of Compassion, an ancient relic from the time of the First Age of Enlightenment, continuing the family tradition handed down from her great-great-grandmother Ariana. When the Avatar arrived in Cove, Nastassia greeted the Champion of Virtue sadly, and explained that while many of the ancient shrines had fallen into disuse and had become overgrown to the point of being lost, she found great comfort in clinging to the old ways. When the Avatar asked her about her reasons, Nastassia confessed that her mother Nadia had killed herself horribly at the Shrine, and that Nastassia hoped to one day provide her the means to rest in peace.
As they spoke, Nastassia explained that her father Julius had died in the Deep Forest of Yew, killed by a wild animal or some other danger, and asked the Avatar to learn the truth about Julius' death if he traveled to Yew. After traveling to Yew, and speaking with Trellek the Emp, the Avatar returned to Nastassia with news of her father's fate, and as a great weight seemed to lift from her shoulders, Nastassia called into the sky, telling her mother that Julius had died a hero while trying to provide for his family, not as a vagabond. Recovering from her grief, Nastassia kissed the Avatar gently, and told him that when he became weary of adventuring, he was welcome to live and share his life with her. As the Avatar continued his quest, Nastassia remained in Cove, waiting for his return. |
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A friendly woman, Pamela was the innkeeper for the Out'n'Inn in Cove. When the Avatar arrived in Cove, Pamela greeted the Champion of Virtue warmly, and warned him that in the City of Love and Passion, he was likely to fall in love. Pamela also offered the Avatar a room for 8 gold pieces per person a night. As they spoke, Pamela confessed that she was in love with Rayburt, the local trainer, finding him handsome, intense and serious, as well as liking his dog Regal. As the Avatar continued his quest, Pamela remained in Cove, running her establishment. |
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A beautiful, earthy woman, Zinaida was the owner and manager of the Emerald in Cove. When the Avatar arrived in Cove, Zinaida greeted the Champion of Virtue warmly, and offered to serve the Avatar fine wine and ale, and recommended he try their finest dish, Silverleaf, made from the root of the exotic tree, often considered an aphrodisiac. When asked about water, Zinaida explained that she could not recommend the water pulled from Lock Lake, as the Britannian Mining Company had poured their sewage into the fine lake, the stench causing the water to taste terrible. As they spoke, Zinaida confessed that she considered De Maria, the local bard, to be the light of her life. As the Avatar continued his quest, Zinaida remained in Cove, running her tavern. |
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A fighter who seemed lost in thought, Rayburt was a trainer in Cove, specializing in the skills of Strength, Dexterity and Combat through concentration and meditation. When the Avatar arrived in Cove, Rayburt greeted the Champion of Virtue absently, and introduced the Avatar to his dog Regal, an exceptionally smart animal who understood the meditative way of life, and who Rayburt thought was cute. When asked, Rayburt offered to train the Avatar for 60 gold pieces per session. As they spoke, Rayburt remarked that he and Pamela, the innkeeper, were one person in love. As the Avatar continued his quest, Rayburt remained in Cove, training those in need. |
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A flamboyant man, De Maria was the bard for Cove. When the Avatar arrived in Cove, De Maria welcomed the Champion of Virtue warmly, and offered to tell the Avatar the sad tale of Nastassia, the caretaker for the Shrine of Compassion, an ancient relic from the time of the First Age of Enlightenment. Her great-great-grandmother Ariana had held the Shrine of Compassion dear, and had asked that her offspring continue her tasks year after year. Her son Mikhail became mayor, and established the city's reputation as the City of Love and Passion. His oldest daughter, Magda, built Lovers' Walk, a beautiful park where the lovers of Cove could court each other. But the clouds of misfortune hung over Magda's daughter, Nadia. Nadia married a not-so-wealthy man named Julius, who left his wife and unborn child to travel the lands of Britannia, before being killed in the Deep Forest of Yew.
When her child came early in a difficult birth, Nadia ran to the Shrine of Compassion with a dagger in one hand, and Nastassia in her other, where she killed herself with a thrust into her breast. Nastassia grew up as an orphan, unloved and unwanted, and had lived her life under a cloak of solitude. As they spoke, De Maria sang of his love for Zinaida, the tavern owner. As the Avatar continued his quest, De Maria remained in Cove, singing his songs. |
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