Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura/Characters

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Party Members

The Main Character

You were one of the passengers aboard the airship HSS Zephyr when it was shot down by Molochean Hand ogres. Amidst the wreckage, you encounter a dying gnome who gives you a strange ring and implores you to "find the boy". Not long after, you learn that you are in fact the reincarnation of the Panarii hero, Nasrudin. So begins a journey that will soon determine the fate of all Arcanum...

• Action Girl: If female.
• Badass Normal: If one hasn't made any investment in magic or the technological skills that opens up possibilities for making stuff.
• The Chosen One: Or so does the prophecy imply.
• Deadpan Snarker: Can be played as one.
• Guile Hero: With the Persuasion skill.
• Multiple Choice Past
• Science Hero: Possibly.

Virgil

A young initiate of the Panarii religion, and your first party member. He's the one who tells you about Nasrudin's prophecy and your role in it. Although kind and loyal, there may be more to his past then he's willing to tell...

• The Atoner
• Back From the Dead
• Badass Bookworm
• Combat Medic
• Dark and Troubled Past: He used to be a thief that ran up a huge debt to the local mafia, who eventually decided they'd forget about the debt...after they killed his brother.
• The Lancer
• Magic Knight

Sogg Mead Mug

A simple, but friendly half ogre that loves a good ale. He is encountered in Shrouded Hills' tavern, and can be convinced to join the player with a decent charisma. If he joins, he quickly becomes a great fighter and tank.

• The Alcoholic
• The Big Guy
• Drunken Master

Jayna Stiles

A young fledgling herbalist that lives in Dernholm. She is struggling to try and help the Dying Town, but feels she is too inexperienced to be of any use. If the player has a high enough technological aptitude, they can offer to let her join so that she can learn what she needs to to be of help.

• Action Girl
• Badass Bookworm
• Science Hero
• Squee: Try talking to her about the area while in Tarant.
• Sweet Tooth: She likes sweet cakes.

Dog (Worthless Mutt)

A literal dog who gets in trouble after stealing someone's dinner in Ashbury. Despite his name, he is definitely worth saving as he is one of the best fighters in a game especially after he becomes Master of Melee by himself.

• Charles Atlas Superpower: Dog can tear wooden chests, metal doors, stone golems and fire elementals to pieces in couple of bites.
• Cutscene Incompetence: When you first see this lightning fast killing machine, he has been kicked unconscious by a weak civilian with absolutely no combat skills. He was evidently very hungry, but if anything that should have made him more determined unless he was near-death.
• Glass Cannon: on low levels.
• Heroic Dog
• Lightning Bruiser: later on.
• Non Human Sidekick

Magnus Shale Fist

A (relatively) young dwarf from Caladon, bent on finding his lost clan. His quest leads him to one particular jewelry trader, where player can meet him and get him join.

• Awesome Moment of Crowning. His lost clan tuns to be legendary Iron Clan. He restores it and is proclaimed a chief. And later, if Loghaire doesn't return, even a king of all dwarves.
• Berserk Button: "NEVER ask a Dwarf the name of his Clan!" Because he doesn't actually know what it is. Shalefist is apparently just his last name made to sound dwarfy.
• The Blacksmith: Sort of, he can craft some (rather useful) weapons and gear for you.
• But I Read a Book About It: Magnus tries to behave as "true" dwarves do... well, at least as "Ron's Almanac About Dwarves" says they do.
• Do Not Call Me Paul: There are hints that Magnus' real name is Malcolm Schulefest, but he will rather cut his beard than admit it.
• Orphan's Plot Trinket

Gar

"The world's smartest orc", who lives in a museum, amusing people with his kindergarten-level intelligence. In fact, Garfield Thellonius Remington the Third, intelligent, educated, well-mannered pureblood human who was born with the appearance of pure orc due to some genetic quirk. If you are eloquent enough, you may pull him into a discussion about tea, thus uncovering him, and then he may join.

• Cultured Badass
• Guttural Growler
• Obfuscating Stupidity
• Spot of Tea

Loghaire Thunderstone

The King of all dwarves, who was forced to sentence the entire clan to banishment under the threat of a world war between dwarves and elves (whose woods are now being destroyed with dwarven technology, which was given to human by said clan). Soon after he begun to suspect that he was deceived ( he was indeed, by Dark Elves) and felt himself a traitor. The guilt finally broke him and drove him to exile. Howewer, PC can convince him that it wasn't a treason, while his exile is.

• The Atoner
• Authority Equals Asskicking
• Badass Grandpa: He's extremely old even by dwarven standards.
• The Exile
• Genius Bruiser: One of the largest and strongest dwarves, excellent fighter, wise, eloquent and experienced.
• Lightning Bruiser
• War Is Hell: He knows that better than anyone.

Raven

Elven princess, ruler of Quintarra, who helps you uncover Dark Elves' plot and later joins on to solve problems herself. During a course of events, she may fall in love with PC.

• The Archer
• Badass Princess
• Bi the Way: Whether the PC can seduce her is entirely unrelated to their gender.
• The Chick
• Making a Splash
• Princesses Rule: Justified as her mother retired due to her incredible age, preparing to Ascend to A Higher Plane of Existence and becoming kind of an oracle. It is Raven who now must do everydays work.
• Rain of Arrows: Just give her a certain magic bow and certain magic gloves and boots, and she will fire 60 arrows per turn (or 15-20 per second)

Franklin Payne

A world-wide known adventurer, explorer and hunter, who always seeks for some trouble and will follow you gladly to the island of Thanatos - just to shoot a hundred more of a lethally dangerous beasts.

• Adventurer Archaeologist
• BFG: His trusty "Old Mary"
• Cultured Badass
• Gentleman Adventurer
• Great White Hunter
• Large Ham
• Weak but Skilled: Though game describes him as quite a powerful man, gameplay-wise he is too weak to use his BFG properly... but then he proves surprisingly effective with it.

Torian Kel

An ancient warrior from Kree, who lived somewhen at the Age of Legends, but was raised from the dead a millenium later as part of Derian-Ka's Gray Legions to fight The Molochean Hand who rebelled against the order after learning about the horrible deeds of Kerghan, its founder. After their defeat, Torian was among a few survivng Legionaires who returned to the temple of Dearian-Ka. They stayed there for centuries, and eventually their flesh rotted away, reducing them to crumpling skeletons and later to dust...

• And I Must Scream: Subverted since Torian himself was lucky enough to escape this fate. His fellow Legionaries whose bodies decayed to dust weren't.
• Back From the Dead
• Guttural Growler
• Fish Out of Temporal Water: Twice, first when he was raised as Gray Legionaire a millenium after his death, second when he was revived by PC another millenium later.
• Immortality: A mix between Type II, V and VI.
• The Undead
• Well Intentioned Extremist: At the end, he will join Kerghan regardless of PC's choice, as only Kerghan can "free" his undead friends.

Z'an Al'urin

An Elven girl who, despite being a Dark Elf, is prone to question the philosophy and the path of Dark Elves. She joins evil/master of persuade Living One to search for answers all around the world and finally concludes that the best she can do is kill Arronax. She is also a powerful mage and a seer, and will tell about visions she has in every city if asked.

• Dark Elf Is Not Necessary Evil
• Dishing Out Dirt
• Heel Face Turn, though only technically, as she really isn't as evil as her character sheet can tell. She must have had it before meeting the PC.
• Minion With an F In Evil
• Mystical Waif
• Time Master
• Waif Prophet

Sebastian

A mysterious man, perhaps a mercenary, who is sent by Willoughsby to "clean" the Boil, the criminal part of Tarant (this means "to kill leaders of both main gangs"). He will appreciate every help and joins if you manage to remove one of the leaders.

• Badass Bookworm
• Science Hero
• Throw Down the Bomblet: well, he knows how to make bombs and how to throw them.
• Professional Killer: hired to kill leaders of The Boil's gangs.
• Stealth Expert: eventually.
• Master of Unlocking: eventually.

Vollinger

A gnome that may join your party in Dernholm and who actually is an agent of the Molochean Hand.

• The Mole:eventually he will try to assassinate you if didn't became friendly with Molochean Hand.
• Professional Killer
• Science Hero: knows gunsmithing and chemistry.
• Stealth Expert: eventually.
• The Gunslinger: though he knows melee too.
• Death Glare: his avatar is portrayed this way.
• Badass in A Nice Suit: and a top hat!

Major NP Cs

Brother Joachim

A high ranking member of the Panarii religion, and Virgil's mentor. Seeking him out is the first leg of the player's journey.

• Badass Grandpa: He manages to take out two Molochean Hand assassins by himself. If you fight him, you'll see why: the man can both summon and become a Fire Elemental. At the same time.
• The Mentor: To Virgil

Gilbert Bates

A genius inventor of steam engine, the primary cause of Arcanum's industrial revolution, one of the world richest men. Actually, he used dwarven technology, a deed which he deeply regrets and which almost costed Arcanum it's existence. He is the mysterious "boy" whom you were instructed to find.

• The Atoner
• Big Good: The go-to quest-giver for most of the game.
• Does This Remind You of Anything: Gil Bates, an eccentric millionaire, inventor of revolytionary technology. Oh, and his rival is called Appleby.
• Gadgeteer Genius
• Lonely Rich Kid: As a young man.
• Orphan's Plot Trinket: His ring.
• Self Made Man: Actually not so much, as his invention was an improvement on an already-existing dwarven engine, though most people don't know that. He feels a bit guilty about this. Also, he capitalized the invention with his inheritance from his father.
• Uncle Pennybags: Unless you mention labor unions to him.

Nasrudin

A legendary elvish hero who fought and banished Arronax the Destroyer long ago. He is revered by the Panarii religion, and the player character is believed to be his reincarnation. However, it eventually turns out that Nasrudin is in fact alive and well, albeit living in seclusion, disillusioned with the things he had done.

• Big Good: In the final stretch of the game.
• Luke, I Am Arronax's Father
• My Greatest Failure: after Arronax's banishment, he became extremely disillusioned with his deeds and resigned from any further public activity.

Arronax the Destroyer

A frighteningly powerful Dark Elf sorcerer that once tried to plunge the world into chaos, but was defeated and sealed in the Void by Nasrudin. His plots to escape drive the plot of the game, or so the party thinks...

• The Atoner
• Big Bad: Subverted! You're led to think he is for most of the game, but he's actually still stuck in the Void, and Kerghan's the one you've been tracking down the entire time.
• Cutscene Power to The Max: His power in the Backstory and the ending is far, far greater than his power in the game proper.

Kerghan the Terrible

A mysterious necromancer that was killed in a war between his order and the Molochean Hand long ago. He, not Arronax, is the true villain of the game.

• Anti Villain
• Big Bad
• Hannibal Lecture
• Omnicidal Maniac
• Woobie Destroyer of Worlds

The Molochean Hand

An ancient, enigmatic assassin's guild that has agents throughout the world. For reasons unknown, they are determined to prevent you from finding the mysterious boy.

• Always Chaotic Evil: Not. Most are actually fairly decent folk.
• Even Evil Has Standards: They fought against and defeated Kerghan and his necromancer order when they learned of his plans. You can cause them to repeat this when everything breaks loose a second time.
• Murder Inc

Other NP Cs

Bane of Kree

A powerful Barbarian warrior who gathered an immense army and rampaged over Arcanum till he was banished.

• The Brute
• Evil Weapon: The Bangellian Scourge.
• What the Hell Hero: If you return Bane from the Void, he will grab Infinity Plus One Sword and go on rampage again. You are the one to blame.

Doc Roberts

A respected gunfighting doctor from Shrouded Hills, Doc is the only town's real law enforcer , as the official sheriff is a coward. Doc will eventually become a new and much more competent sheriff.

• Badass Bookworm
• Combat Medic
• No Celebrities Were Harmed: Doc Roberts' character is based on Wyatt Earp (whose portrait he shares) and Doc Holiday.
• The Sheriff: Unofficial and later official.

Hieronimus Maxim

A factory owner in Caladon, the inventor of a zeppelin, an airplane, and a machine gun. Unfortunately, his factory was robbed and trashed, planes were stolen (and crashed after being used to shoot down the zeppelin), and the worst, he's going to have his funding cut unless he finds a proof that his heavier-than-air-machines actually flew.

• Disproportionate Reward: Downplayed: From Maxim's point, it's even too little help to give a healer robot to the one who saved the work of his life, assemble him a powerful gun and teach him Mastery. From the Living One's point, it's slightly disproportionate because PC only has to keep that broken camera from crash site with him.
• Gadgeteer Genius
• Mr. Fixit: He's the Master of Repair after all.
• Shout Out / Expy: the real-life inventor of machine gun was Hiram Maxim.
• They Called Me Mad

Kraka-Tur

Once he was a cowardly man, but one day an ancient scroll containing powerful spell of transformation fell in his hands. The man killed the last Arcanum's dragon with a poisoned cow, took his blood and used it with the spell to transform into a monster. He took the name Kraka-Tur and "avenged" the world for his fears for ten years, but finally was caught by Elven Council and banished.

• Comic Relief. His hamminess is just plain funny.
• Dirty Coward
• From Nobody to Nightmare
• Half Human Hybrid: And half dragon.
• Large Ham
• Miles Gloriosus

Stringy Pete

The most cruel, ruthless and Ax Crazy pirate of all times, feared all over Arcanum. He died more than two centuries ago, but rumors are that his spirit still sails the seas, punishing anyone who plays with his name...

• Arson Murder and Jaywalking: Pete's most horrible sins are: sadistic murder of an innocent for his silver bootstrap buckles, breaking a pirate oath by slaughtering his fellow pirates under control of an Evil Weapon, and peeing on the altar stone. It was the altar of a Greater God, however.
• The Atoner
• Ax Crazy
• Badass Abnormal: Arguably the toughest character in the game.
• Bonus Boss: Himself and his crew.
• Death Equals Redemption: Literally, since he is already dead for 200 years.
• Even Evil Has Standards: Bangellian Scourge is too evil even for Pete, and he found the will to throw it and run away after he killed all his crew when controlled by the blade
• Flying Dutchman
• For the Evulz: Why he defiled Halcyon's altar.

"Sir" Garrick Stout

The captain of the guard of Dernholm, a close confidant of the king of Cumbria, and the mastery trainer for the Melee skill. On the surface, he is an arrogant, elitist snob, but he does his job of keeping the peace well. In reality, however, he's a depraved psychopath who uses his position to stalk a noblewoman and remove her fiancee from the equation...by any means necessary.

• Arrogant Kung Fu Guy: Well, he's certainly got the attitude.
• Karmic Death: He ruined the planned marriage between the woman he's stalking and her fiancee (who happens to be the Dodge master) by using a special poison to destroy the fiancee's eyesight. The good-aligned ending for the Melee Mastery quest has you defeating him by using poison. Poison made by the vengeful woman, in fact.
• Jerkass
• Stalker With a Crush