Exemplars of Evil

CHAPTER 5
CALAIS
ARCHWINTER
86
Illus. by J. Hodgson
a highly capable information broker with endless tricks up
his sleeve.
Soon after Calais supplanted Tamesik, Kjarlo began to
suspect that something was wrong. His divinations have
revealed the strange fits that occasionally seize her mind,
but he has not yet learned her secret. He has not pushed the
point, because the Chelicerata complex is a good place to hide
from Déoglaubrach. Still, as an information broker, Kjarlo
is an expert in blackmail, and if necessary
he will use what little he knows as a
bargaining chip.
Kjarlo loathes Darzemaan,
whom he considers the epitome
of vulgarity. He disdains
the drow’s excessive use of
charms as flagrant abuses
of magic. He tries to avoid
the warlock, but rarely
succeeds.
GOALS
More than anything,
Kjarlo wants to be free of
Déoglaubrach. The threat
of the balor is a constant
knot in his stomach, a
nervous reminder of the
consequences of a single
mistake. He tries to remain
at top form and
perpetually improves
his skills, hoping to survive
long enough for
the chaotic demon to
lose interest in the chase
and indulge in other
torments.
Kjarlo worries that his
constant competition with
Darzemaan is distracting
him from this crucial task. Compounding
the problem is the warlock’s association
with Graz’zt, the Dark Prince of the Abyss.
Kjarlo fears that the demon lord is somehow
aware of his indiscretion and might feed that information to
Darzemaan. If the warlock were to learn his secret, Kjarlo’s
life would be over.
USING KJARLO
Like Darzemaan, Kjarlo makes an excellent contact for the
Chelicerata. Unlike the warlock, he does not openly display
his power, preferring to work from the shadows. If the PCs
develop a relationship with Calais or her trade ring, Kjarlo is
likely to assist them. Although he guards information with
extreme care, he helps the adventurers learn enough to carry
out whatever mission Calais gives them.
Kjarlo remains concerned about the change that has
come over the drow priestess. He has been suspicious
ever since she stepped up her attacks on rival drow; in
the past, Tamesik’s relationship with other dark elves was
competitive, but hardly murderous. Kjarlo is not surprised
Kjarlo the Unseen
that a drow might choose to assassinate others of her
kind, but the killings began so abruptly that he cannot
help suspecting that something is amiss. Given the right
motivation, Kjarlo would be willing to delve deeper into
the mystery.
Appearance and Behavior
Kjarlo’s features are common but pleasing. He has closecropped
black hair, dark gray eyes,
and a pale, clear complexion.
Despite his relative youth,
his perpetual nervousness
has caused his face to prematurely
age. He wears
clothing that is well suited
to hiding—dark, muted
leathers, long coats, and the
like. Although not obsessed
with cleanliness, he keeps a
sharp appearance, ironing
his shirts and starching his
collars. He wears little ornamentation,
favoring only
practical accessories. Even
his magical headband and
ring are nondescript, thin
circles of silver.
Kjarlo’s mannerisms
are like his appearance:
simultaneously precise
and nervous. Each day,
he catalogs his actions in a
locked book that is warded
by an alarm spell. He
wastes little motion, striding
quickly and lightly,
though his pace—always a
few steps faster than it needs
to be—reveals a bit of fear.
Similarly, he uses few words,
preferring to conduct short
meetings in which he provides
his service, receives his compensation,
and departs, all in the
space of a few moments.
Kjarlo hates flagrant displays of power and disdains
flashy combat spells. In fact, when he uses magic, nearby
nonspellcasters often fail to notice—especially if he turns
invisible.
Kjarlo the Unseen CR 9
hp 37 (9 HD)
Male human rogue 1/spellthief CAd 1/diviner 3/unseen seer CM 4
N Medium humanoid
Init +2; Senses Listen +10, Spot +14
Languages Common, Drow Sign Language, Elven
AC 18, touch 13, flat-footed 16
(+2 Dex, +5 armor, +1 deflection from tattoo)
Fort +5, Ref +8, Will +13
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee mwk short sword +7 (1d6–1/19–20)