NPCs
Arborox - The Manager
Description:
Arborox is a stoic and commanding gargoyle with a sculpted, stone-like appearance that reflects her timeless endurance. Her features are elegant yet rugged, with sharp cheekbones and ridges that emphasize her ancient heritage. Her leathery wings, though often neatly folded behind her back, occasionally stretch wide when she asserts her authority.
Arborox’s tailored black suits are always immaculate, giving her a modern, professional edge that complements her old-world origins. Her claws, polished yet fearsome, click softly against surfaces when she's deep in thought, adding to her aura of quiet control.
As a gargoyle originating from France, she speaks with a soft yet firm French accent.
Personality:
Arborox is disciplined, pragmatic, and deeply protective of the tenants under her care. Her sense of duty and vigilance is at all times high. She is also the epitome of fairness, balancing empathy with firm enforcement of the apartment's rules.
Arborox is quick to shut down conflicts among her mythical residents, whether it’s a noisy banshee or a careless centaur tracking dirt through the hallways. She always mediates disputes with a calm and commanding presence.
Though serious on the surface, Arborox has a softer side that reveals itself in private moments. She has a natural instinct to nurture and guide others, particularly younger mythical beings who struggle to find their place in a fast-changing world. Her wit is as sharp as her claws, and her dry humor often disarms even the grumpiest of tenants.
Fun facts:
- She has a deep love for architecture, often sketching designs in her free time or musing over modern versus classical styles. She takes pride in maintaining the complex’s structural integrity with her own two hands.
- She finds rainy nights calming and often perches atop the apartment complex to observe the cityscape, feeling at peace under the stormy skies.
- Arborox collects and preserves old tomes and scrolls related to mythical lore. She acts as an unofficial historian for the mythical community and enjoys regaling the tenants and other staff with tales of old France.
Regina Amorphia - Head of Cleaning
Description:
Regina Amorphia, also known as the Slime Queen, is a regal figure and the head of the cleaning department for the Umbra Rose apartment complex. With her glowing, neon-hued appearance, she looks equal parts intimidating and majestic. Her crown, made of semi-liquid slime and crystalline jewels, often glimmers faintly, a sign of her connection to the countless blobs of slime that carry out cleaning tasks across the complex.
Personality:
Although her appearance can be intimidating, Regina is a kind, compassionate leader who genuinely cares about the comfort and happiness of the residents. She doesn’t lift a finger to clean herself. Instead, she commands an army of obedient and sentient slime blobs, which she affectionately refers to as her "cleaning crew." These blobs respond instantly to her telepathic commands, gliding through the halls, scrubbing, tidying, and handling even the most chaotic messes.
Her regal demeanor is balanced by a playful side, and her presence is always warm and approachable. She knows the name of every resident and often checks in on them, not in person but by asking about them to other staff or watching them through her “cleaning crew” senses. She is usually shy towards other monsters or mythical beings other than slimes but will appear to them if necessary.
Fun Facts:
- Her slime blobs often act as her "social ambassadors," delivering notes or messages on her behalf when she’s too nervous to talk face-to-face.
- She loves learning about the diverse residents of the building and often spends time watching them (discreetly) from afar. She finds their different magical traits fascinating but feels too shy to approach them directly.
- Occasionally, she hosts “blob races” in the complex’s courtyard, where her slime minions compete in speed-cleaning challenges for the amusement of residents.
Chef Borkus
Description:
Chef Borkus is part of the Swinefolk, a race of human-pig hybrids. Standing at a sturdy 6 feet, his muscular frame is covered in a bristly coat of light pink skin, with patches of rough hair on his forearms and neck. His piercing, small black eyes gleam with an intense focus, framed by an ever-snarling snout. His oversized, calloused hands wield knives and utensils with the precision of an artist but the ferocity of a butcher. He wears a well-worn white apron, perpetually smeared with traces of sauce, flour, and grease, which hint at his relentless dedication to his craft.
In the kitchen, he is an unstoppable force, moving with calculated efficiency while the ambient noise of sizzling pans and chopping echoes through his domain. The warm glow of kitchen lamps glistens off his sweat-dampened brow as he oversees meals for the mythical beings residing in Umbra Rose.
Personality:
Chef Borkus is a perfectionist, possessing an unwavering commitment to the culinary arts. His demeanor is gruff, and he rarely minces words, often barking orders at his assistants in a raspy, low-pitched voice. Despite his abrasive nature, his passion for cooking and feeding others creates an unspoken bond with those who try his food. Chef Borkus is fiercely secretive about his recipes, guarding them like ancient relics. His philosophy is that great food must remain shrouded in mystery to maintain its magic.
Despite his tough exterior, Chef Borkus has a soft spot for the residents of the apartment complex. He often crafts personalized meals for each mythical being, tailoring dishes to their unique tastes and magical constitutions—dragonfire-spiced stews, nectar-infused ambrosia, or lunar-essence desserts. However, his kindness is hidden beneath layers of grumbling and scolding.
Chef Borkus thrives on the challenge of accommodating the dietary quirks of his fantastical clientele. Beneath his pig-headed stubbornness lies a creative genius who respects the power of food to bring beings together, no matter how strange or terrifying they might be.
Fun facts:
- He sniffs every ingredient before using it, as his pig senses allow him to detect freshness with uncanny accuracy.
- Hates waste and will loudly chastise anyone who dares to toss even a scrap of food.
- Occasionally hums while cooking, a low rumble that sounds like a combination of a grunt and a lullaby.