Haigen Topkick
Nomarch and sole council member for the Puddles district, captain of the Muckruckers and guildmaster of the Salvagers’ Guild, Haigen Topkick is a halfling of many titles, but they can be summed up by saying he rules over the Puddles as a king in all but name. At least, he used to. For years, so long as he never demanded funding to fix the district and was able to provide tax payments, the Grand Council was happy to let Haigen run the sinking district however he saw fit. Working every angle he could think of, and inventing more than a few new ones, Topkick was able to make the poorest district pay a profit for him and the Council, at considerable cost to anyone else living in the Puddles. The years in uncontested control were good to Haigen; no longer a young halfling, Topkick put down roots in his fiefdom, having married and settled into a once impressive manse that was only lightly flooded back when the most recent earthquake hit. Full of his children and other relatives now, the family seat is conveniently located near Stilt House, Haigen’s true nexus of power in the district.
But with the disappearance of Lord Gixx, Haigen has lost his best, and possibly only, political ally. The arrival of Zusgut and his goblins has left the ersatz king of the Puddles feeling more nervous than he has in years. Initial attempts at dislodging the goblins have met with little success, as Zusgut (and worse yet, the goblin’s ally, Watcher-Lord Ulthun II ) has proved a difficult target for Topkick to influence so far. To make matters worse, the Grand Council has cooled considerably to Haigen’s presence, despite a campaign of wheedling and bribing meant to solidify his place. With dwindling resources and few influential allies left, the situation is feeling more and more dire for Topkick.
Not to be underestimated, Haigen is a ruthless and quick-witted opportunist with an eye for all angles, and over the years he has placed his fingers in all manner of unsavory business around the seediest sides of Absalom. With markers he has yet to call in from the Bloody Barbers, the Gylou Sisters, and the Hands of the Muted God, Haigen is ready to fight dirty to keep his place on the top of the trash heap.
But with the disappearance of Lord Gixx, Haigen has lost his best, and possibly only, political ally. The arrival of Zusgut and his goblins has left the ersatz king of the Puddles feeling more nervous than he has in years. Initial attempts at dislodging the goblins have met with little success, as Zusgut (and worse yet, the goblin’s ally, Watcher-Lord Ulthun II ) has proved a difficult target for Topkick to influence so far. To make matters worse, the Grand Council has cooled considerably to Haigen’s presence, despite a campaign of wheedling and bribing meant to solidify his place. With dwindling resources and few influential allies left, the situation is feeling more and more dire for Topkick.
Not to be underestimated, Haigen is a ruthless and quick-witted opportunist with an eye for all angles, and over the years he has placed his fingers in all manner of unsavory business around the seediest sides of Absalom. With markers he has yet to call in from the Bloody Barbers, the Gylou Sisters, and the Hands of the Muted God, Haigen is ready to fight dirty to keep his place on the top of the trash heap.
Species
Children
Gender
Male
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
Ruled Locations
Comments