Esmer Gnash

"What was that you said? That everyone around you dies? I hope you're right." This article contains major spoilers! It either discusses or references a major event in a campaign. Must have read: Unmasked

Esmer Gnash was a Spireloft character who was a friend of Idari's and had taken classes at both Kelterstar University and the Evernote Institute.

Visual Description

Esmer was a blue-skinned half-orc with freckles and a set of large round silver glasses. They could also be considered a twink.

History

Pre-Campaign

Esmer had been taking classes at both Kelterstar University and the Evernote Institute, where they met Idari and Vargo. The three of them became very close and spent most of their free and class time together.

The group eventually met Selde after Idari accidentally threw at a rock at her head. Esmer was the one to heal her, and Selde then became a part of their friend group.

At some point, Idari met Orpheus after she found him attempting to flirt with Esmer.

Esmer eventually graduatuated from the Evernote Institute with the others but remained a student at Kelterstar University. Despite being very dedicated to his studies, he still visited Idari and the Twin Blade Tavern and would be propositioned by Orpheus each time. Their typical response would be to state they were too busy with school for a relationship.

One day, Esmer invited Idari to watch them compete at the Arena as a wizard on the Lorecian team, suggesting they invite Selde as well.

Campaign

During the preparations for the tournament, Esmer was practicing their magic and physical mobility outside, but spotted Kiorend Weffr and their squad-mates about to enter the building as audience members. Seeing that they were soldiers, Esmer asked if one of them could spar with him and Kiorend, under pressure from their peers, agreed. Their friendly match became more heated as Kiorend started hearing heckling from behind them, unsure if it was from Esmer or from their own friends. Kiorend began to spar more aggressively in response, putting Esmer in danger.

Esmer was suddenly struck and killed by a blow of magic to the head shot by a cloaked figure holding two wands, but in the heat of the moment, Kiorend had assumed they had landed the blow. Kiorend fled the scene as the rest of their squad-mates panicked on what to do about Esmer, as they had not seen the actual perpetrator.

Esmer was then missing from the Lorecian team when the tournament started, with the tournament ending early (presumably) due to the discovery of Esmer's dead body.

A subsequent investigation of Esmer's death by General Vrik Knaver resulted in the conclusion that Kiorend was likely responsible for their murder. However, because Vrik assumed it was a case of involuntary manslaughter due to illness, he let Kiorend go until they received a proper diagnosis for their condition.

With the aid of Cibil Cythalamynn peering into Kiorend's memories, they were able to see that Kiorend was not responsible for Esmer's death, and it was in fact one of the competitors from Ante.

Due to the serious implications of international violence, Esmer's body was placed into a cyrocoffin. However, it was handled incorrectly and it was not sent to their family, but ended up in Scaenapulcra to be discovered by Arginor Ashven, who noted their magical prowess and ability and decided to use their corpse as one of his vessels during the final confrontation with the Antidote.

After Esmer was freed from Arginor's possession, Idari performed a final lament for them.

Relationships

• Orpheus — Orpheus had flirted with them several times in the past (and failed).
• Idari Archbrand — Friend.
• Vargo Alymonx — Friend.
• Selde — Friend.

Appearances

• Wibble Wiping
• Unmasked (mentioned)
• Klaes Dies (mentioned)
• Bees, Trees, Existential Crises (mentioned)
• Mission to Manor Mendrow (mentioned)
• A Priest, a Politician, and a Loan Shark Walk Into a Bar (memory)
• The High Druid (mentioned)
• Spireloft Lives (non-living)

Trivia

• One of Idari's mocktails, the Kelterstar Kiss, was a tribute to Esmer.