Characters

A quiet scholar of the occult whose discoveries have led him into the world on adventures to heal wounded spirits. Doctor Baer's deep compassion and curiosity drives him to uncover the darkest mystical secrets in service to the Primordial Magics, personified by the Wisps in his Nesting Staff.

Wisps: When the stone guardian is broken, the weird wisps of elemental magic that lived within it take refuge in a mystical staff that is part of Doctor Baer’s collection. They assist him in his adventures by lending him their magics.

The Green Wisp, gentle and kind, brings health and wisdom magic The Blue Wisp, gloomy and aloof, accesses time and darkness magic The Violet Wisp, intelligent and sassy, is a conduit for speed and cleverness magic The Orange Wisp, brash and happy, lends heat and strength magic

An irascible old sea captain and his joyful cook whom Doctor Baer met on one of his first adventures in Daemon's Deep (See The Inscrutable Doctor Baer and the Case of the Two-Faced Statue).

While Cap'n Lao is generous with his complaints, he cares deeply for his cook and despises bullies. So he's a fierce adversary to villains.

Maggie moves through the world with an almost breathless wonder. She admires Cap'n Lao's skill and experience, and is always on the lookout for ingredients to make a meal that will bring a smile to the old sea captain's face.

Pickles: “How hard can it be?” is Pickles’ motto. Bottomlessly cheerful and enthusiastic, the rookie adventurer is confident she will make her mark on the world. She's not a details person and sometimes needs to learn how to take a more measured approach to adventuring.

Taft: If cheerful Pickles is a balloon, Taft is the one that keeps her down to earth instead of drifting into open sky. He’s moody, anxious, and on the lookout for trouble, which helps keep Pickles out of too much danger. Though he would never admit it, adventuring appeals to him–he likes taking his anxiety out on villains.

Traumatized by her villainous former employer (see The Inscrutable Doctor Baer and the Case of the Two-Faced Statue), this barbarian horse now channels her pain into a fierce protection of the powerless. She enjoys trading verbal barbs with Taft. But underneath her ferocity is a tender soul who craves friendship.

A theatrical lancetfish obsessed with raising the dead. To Fishravin the living are complicated, messy, and ambiguous. This is why he foregoes using traditional magics and relies on technology to meet his ends--machines, like the undead, are unthinking creatures just waiting for his command.

Three nasty thugs-for-hire who hassle the meek on behalf of the wealthy. Their motto is, "Duplicity, Venality."

Shenandoah, the mighty barbarian cat, is rumored to be the former princess of a nomadic tribe who frequent the flatlands around the volcanic region known as the Devil's Stewpot.

Little is known about the background of Rick, the sardonic gizmoteer. But he and his sentient laser pistol Angel have been making trouble for honest citizens for years.

The two-headed monstrosity called Kobros is a venomous menace who thrills in wrecking things up. Despite having two heads, he's not very bright.