A mid-sized port city, founded and controlled by the Maveren
Supporting Cast
Addiana Asmodea (stage name)
Tiefling, she/her. Intense, hard-working, sardonic, short-tempered. She's a sorcerer dedicated to an ancient form of storytelling performance, but it doesn't pay very well (partly because her obvious fiendish heritage is not a box office draw), so she's paying the bills by working as the opera company's entire set design and special effects department. She and Savonne are close friends.
Brea Steward
Human, she/her. An elderly thrall in Erling House. She has been the committur/steward of the House in the past; now she holds the informal position of the one person in Erling that everybody else in the House genuinely likes. A bit frail these days.
Dech-la
An orcish poet from the Forges, currently doing the traditional orcish poet's wanderjahr; while he's in Malfa he's supporting himself as backing musician for the opera company. Dech-la is cocky and snarky. At 6' and 250lbs, he's essentially an orcish twink
Alltafri Esthris
The only dragonborn Maver; born on a small island far to the west, brought onto a Maveren ship and impressed everybody. Now they're the seniormost member of Alltafri House in Malfa, and wishes they weren't because they have no head for politics. They'd be keen to get their whole House out of politics, but how?
Fettucine (nickname)
Mountain dwarf, he/him. A genial bruiser, at loose ends in Malfa and hired to be bouncer and stagehand for the opera company. Thinks he has considerably more street-smarts, or even any smarts, than he really does.
Hatter, Batter, Cinder, and Tam
Four human brothers, too similar in appearance to be anything but quadruplets, but they are not. Their family singing/tumbling act didn't work out so they now do all the male parts in the opera's productions. Despite their similarity, the brothers consist of two tenors, a baritone, and a bass. It's hard to keep track of who sings which.
Sjolfri Heron
Genial, hearty, means well, not too bright. Possibly the best-liked Maveren in Malfa, not that that's saying much
Hildred Palovero
Human, she/her. The opera company's second soprano. Good singer, stiff actor; claims to be envious of Savonne, but doesn't seem to believe it herself.
Hye
Goblin, she/her. A young burglar, and den mother of the local goblin urchins, including her three younger siblings. Billy is her youngest brother. No-nonsense, protective.
Erling Jasper
Mixed sea-elf/human, he/him. A Maveren elder of Erling House: arrogant, querulous, and permanently disapproving. Jasper has taken it upon himself to keep an eye on Saturday.
Junah Wade
Human, she/her, mid-20s. Erling Sattr's personal thrall, not formally attached to Erling House. She is blunt and confident to the point of rudeness; physically, she's short and thick enough to be mistaken for part-dwarf, which she is not.
Madhu
Oska's bodyguard/aide de camp/thrall-like person, but oddly disrespectful for a subordinate. Cranky and rude, but seems good-hearted. He and Oska are obviously close.
Erling Sattr
The black sheep of Erling House! Charming, fun to be around, and up to something.
Savonne la Fantasticata (stage name)
Human, she/her, the first soprano of the opera company. She is cheerful, naturally talented, and strangely unambitious; she could probably make a go of it in a real opera company in Vacena if she put the work in, which she has no interest in doing. On the other hand she loves her work and enjoys being the centre of attention in a small regional company. Savonne and Addiana are close friends.
Tillie Gilky
A halfling, the head of the travelling opera company that's hoping to settle in Malfa. She also sings contralto, and does supporting roles and comic-relief bits.