Melki
Melki
Melki is an enigmatic dragonfolk with black and red scales. He embodies a fascinating blend of mischief and wisdom, and his charismatic presence never fails to leave a lasting impression. Standing at an imposing height with the sleek, imposing physique of a mighty dragonfolk, Melki's iridescent scales shimmer with a stunning gradient of deep obsidian and fiery crimson. His sharp, elongated tail tapers off into a whip-like point, and his wings bear intricate patterns reminiscent of ancient runes.
But it is not only Melki’s striking appearance that sets him apart. He possesses an innate affinity for primal magic, which he expertly wields to bring about concentrated bursts of deliberate chaos in the world. This chaos is not born of malice, but rather a genuine desire to inspire better outcomes for Bridgemoor and impart valuable lessons upon those whom Melki thinks might be teachable. Melki’s escapades often involve clever illusions and playful pranks, designed to teach people to embrace the unexpected and find solutions in unconventional places.
Melki’s capacity to channel magic is an open secret among the legislative body of Bridgemoor, of whom Melki is a Meritocrat. But even the other Meritocrats are unaware of Melki’s greatest asset: his talent for transformation. With a wave of his clawed hand, he can use his primal magic to assume the guise of a black-haired, red-eyed star elf with porcelain-white skin, completely changing his appearance and demeanor. While Melki can assume other guises, none are so perfect as his elf form. Not only is his elf form an effective disguise, but it is also a second identity. In his early adulthood, Melki spent years posing as this elf - named Lekim - in the Kendarian city of Silverbranch. Having become a known and trusted member of the community, “Lekim” was chosen to serve as an international diplomat to Bridgemoor, overseeing the interests of Silverbranch and Kendaria in Bridgemoor’s eastern marketplaces.
Melki regularly assumes the guise of Lekim to keep an eye on Bridgemoor from the average merchant’s perspective, while he keeps an eye on the big picture by serving in the Meritocracy.
However questionable his practices, Melki’s intentions are always guided by a deeper sense of purpose. He believes that chaos, when harnessed with the right intent, can be a powerful catalyst for growth, creativity, and insight. He often sets up elaborate puzzles, mysterious riddles, and enchanting illusions that nudge those who encounter them toward a greater understanding of the world around them.
Melki is a masterful storyteller, using his transformations and illusions to weave tales that capture the imagination and leave audiences in fits of laughter or deep contemplation.
Melki’s Practical Goals
Unlike some diplomats, Melki isn’t exactly looking for power. As charismatic as he is, he enjoys staying in the shadows, watching politics like a fly on the wall. He feels like he doesn’t need to be the one in charge to make a change. Instead, he aims to become indispensable to those he works with and for, exerting some influence on political decisions that way. If he does ever get relieved of his position however, then he’ll at least have gathered enough sensitive information to sow some chaos. Either way, Melki enjoys being in the loop on things and having some influence to make changes that’ll be in his favor.
Melki’s Double Life
Melki has gotten used to the double life he’s living. Some people know and love him as Melki, others only know him as Lekim, and if he were honest, both personas make him whole. In becoming Lekim alongside the person he was born as, he has found pieces of himself that were previously missing. Regardless, it does mean that he has to keep track of what each of the personas say and know. The last thing he wants is for one persona to reveal information the other persona learned. So when Melki returns to Silverbranch, he goes as one persona or the other. Either he’s Lekim, returning to his town to catch up with his friends and make mercantile arrangements, or he's Melki, traveling to Silverbranch to discuss political affairs with the nobles. Melki and Lekim are never seen in the same place nor at the same time, and he likes to keep it that way.
| Melki | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monster Level: 6 | |||||
| Medium. Humanoid (Dragonfolk) | |||||
| STR | DEX | END | AWR | INT | CHA |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Ref: 10 | Fort: 10 | Ant: 13 | Log: 15 | Will: 14 | |
| Armor Rating 10 (command robes) | |||||
| Hit Points 10 | |||||
| Speed 30 ft | Traits Steel Mind | ||||
| Skills (AWR) Eavesdropping +10, Intuiting +8, Investigating +10; (INT) Appraising +4, Arcana +2, Disguising +2, Economics +10, Evading +10, Forging +4, History +8, Law +8, Politics (of Bridgemoor) +12; (CHA) Gossiping +4, Savoir Faire +12 | |||||
| Features | |||||
| Shapechange (2/Day). Melki can magically change his appearance to that of another Medium-sized humanoid. His preferred guise is “Lekim,” a gaunt, light-skinned star elf. He stays in his new form until he uses this feature again.
Student of the Arcane. Using INT, Melki can cast the following arcane cantrips and spells. He has 50 SP/Rest.
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| Actions | |||||
| Melki can take THREE of the following actions, or take the same action three times. | |||||
| Move. Melki can move up to his speed.
Knife. Thrown (20 ft) Natural Weapon. +3 vs AR or ANT. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) sharp. Cantrip. Melki can cast one of his cantrips. | |||||
| OR Melki can take ONE of the following actions... | |||||
| Move. Melki can move up to his speed.
Knife. Melki can make a Knife attack. Cantrip. Melki can cast one of his cantrips. | |||||
| ...AND take ONE of the following actions. | |||||
| Spell. Melki can cast one of his spells, provided that he has the SP.
Fire Breath (2/Recoup). 15 ft Cone Natural Weapon. +0 vs FORT of each creature in the cone. Hit: 7 (2d6) fire. Miss: ½ damage. | |||||
| Reactions | |||||
| Reactive Spell (1/Round). Melki can cast one reactive spell, provided that he has the SP for it. | |||||