Mokresh Coppercoil - NPC Dossier
Core Identity
Name: Mokresh Coppercoil
Race: Goblin
Age: 89 years (middle-aged for goblin artificer)
Occupation/Role: Master artificer specializing in soul-forge technology and consciousness-transfer mechanics (formerly independent), currently captive/processed by Eyes of Tezra
Location: Unknown - last seen transported toward flooded chambers beneath Barnacle Hill, possibly held in Mother Morvosa's sanctuary or Auditor's workshop, doppelganger impostor operates from his three-ship hybrid laboratory
Allegiance: Independent artificer (formerly), unwilling subject of Eyes of Tezra experimentation (currently), maintained business relationships with Slazgar Two-Eyes and House Brinkburn before capture
Physical Appearance
Distinctive Features: Extensive chemical burn scarring covering both hands and forearms creating patterns of melted tissue and exposed underlying muscle, missing left ear from alchemical explosion leaving jagged scar tissue, eyes showing signs of Dead God corruption exposure with faint golden rings around pupils, fingers permanently stained with metallic compounds creating rainbow discoloration, hunched posture from decades bent over workbenches, distinctive limp from childhood injury never properly healed
Clothing/Armor: Heavily modified artificer's coat with dozens of pockets containing tools and components, leather apron bearing countless burn marks and acid stains, protective goggles pushed up on forehead when not working, thick gloves with reinforced fingertips for handling dangerous materials, boots with steel toes and chemical-resistant soles
Carried Items: Multiple precision tools in belt harness, notebooks filled with encoded research diagrams, vials containing experimental compounds and soul-forge prototypes, portable alchemical testing kit, magnifying lenses on articulated arm attachment, Heart of Gears prototype (confiscated by Eyes of Tezra), emergency antitoxin injectors
Physical Condition: Currently severely compromised - consciousness partially extracted leaving fragmented memories and involuntary connection to nearby mechanical systems, chronic pain from chemical exposure accumulated over decades, enhanced sensitivity to Dead God corruption allowing detection of Whispering Depths proximity, malnutrition from captivity, surgical modifications performed by Auditor leaving skull partially opened with silver fluid circulating through exposed brain tissue
Personality Matrix
Core Nature: Obsessive innovator driven by intellectual curiosity regardless of ethical implications, pragmatic survivor willing to compromise principles for continued research access, isolated genius more comfortable with mechanisms than mortals
Demeanor: Formerly intense focus during work with scattered absent-mindedness in social situations, currently fragmented personality shifting between lucid warnings and mechanical recitation of technical data, shows flashes of desperate urgency when discussing Heart of Gears falling into wrong hands
Speech Pattern: Technical jargon mixed with goblin artificer slang, tendency to explain complex concepts through mechanical metaphors, formerly verbose and enthusiastic about discoveries now reduced to fragmented whispers and urgent warnings, occasionally speaks in precise technical language suggesting Auditor's influence overriding original personality
Emotional State: Terror at consciousness fragmentation and loss of autonomy, desperate urgency to warn others about Eyes of Tezra's plans, grief over Heart of Gears being weaponized against Grizburg's power structure, residual pride in breakthrough discovery despite catastrophic consequences
Knowledge & Capabilities
What They Know:
Complete technical specifications for Heart of Gears enabling permanent consciousness-transfer without degradation
Slazgar Two-Eyes commissioned soul-forge research with applications to Whispering Depths expedition
House Brinkburn sought pilot-construct fusion technology for golem fighting competitive advantage
Eyes of Tezra plan to place consciousness-transferred agents into golem fighting circuits as mechanical spies
Location and access methods for Auditor's workshop and Mother Morvosa's processing chambers
Technical vulnerabilities in consciousness-transfer process that could be exploited
Connection between his research and ancient Dead God technology found in Whispering Depths
What They Don't Know: Full extent of Eyes of Tezra's ultimate objectives beyond golem infiltration, how many copies of his research exist, whether Slazgar suspects his capture, identities of all doppelganger impostors potentially created from his work, how much of his consciousness remains salvageable
Special Skills: Master artificer capable of creating unprecedented soul-forge technology, expert in consciousness-transfer mechanics and neural bonding systems, deep understanding of Dead God corruption and its applications to mechanical augmentation, skilled alchemist specializing in compounds affecting memory and consciousness, can sense proximity to Whispering Depths through corruption exposure, involuntary connection to nearby mechanical systems potentially useful for sabotage or communication
Combat Stats: Currently incapacitated - formerly used Mage stats (MM p.347) with artificer spell selection, now helpless captive with AC 10, HP reduced to 15 from torture and experimentation, no combat capability but might provide tactical intelligence or mechanical sabotage through involuntary construct connection
Motivations & Goals
Primary Goal: Prevent Eyes of Tezra from weaponizing Heart of Gears technology to create army of consciousness-transferred spies throughout Grizburg's power structure
Secondary Goals: Warn Slazgar Two-Eyes that commissioned research has been compromised, provide technical specifications for detecting or disrupting consciousness-transferred beings, preserve enough of his consciousness to prevent complete processing into mechanical hosts, revenge against those who betrayed him to three-circles gang
Greatest Fear: Complete consciousness fragmentation leaving his mind distributed across multiple golem bodies serving Eyes of Tezra while his body becomes empty shell, his research enabling surveillance state where all mechanical constructs serve as Beholder observation network
Greatest Desire: Recognition as greatest artificer in Grizburg history whose breakthrough revolutionized consciousness-technology integration, original dream was creating perfect fusion between mortal creativity and mechanical precision without corruption or degradation
What They Need Right Now: Rescue from processing chambers before final consciousness extraction, destruction of copied research preventing Eyes of Tezra from mass-producing Heart of Gears, revenge against whoever sold him to three-circles gang, medical treatment for partially-processed brain and consciousness fragmentation
Relationships & Context
Serves/Owes: Slazgar Two-Eyes (500 platinum debt for commissioned research and Dreadmil component shipments), House Brinkburn (informal consulting relationship regarding golem piloting systems), multiple smaller creditors throughout Barnacle Hill totaling hundreds of platinum (debts mysteriously settled after capture suggesting Eyes paid them)
Distrusts/Fears: Eyes of Tezra cult members who harvested his knowledge, Mother Morvosa who processed his consciousness, the Auditor performing final extraction, doppelganger impostor wearing his face and operating his workshop, whoever betrayed him to three-circles gang, anyone seeking to exploit Heart of Gears for military applications
Wants Dead: The Auditor (primary torturer and consciousness engineer), Mother Morvosa (processed his memories), doppelganger impostor (stolen his identity), informant who reported his breakthrough to Eyes of Tezra
Family/Close Ties: No living family mentioned, maintained professional distance from emotional attachments viewing them as distractions from research, closest relationships were with fellow artificers who respected his work, maintained business relationship with Corroded Willem who salvaged components for experiments
Professional Contacts: Slazgar Two-Eyes (primary patron), House Brinkburn representatives (golem technology consultants), Corroded Willem and Hexchain Salvagers (component suppliers), Captain Torrhen Saltwise (knew of his work through intelligence networks), Sharp Ida (sold rumors about his research), multiple creditors throughout Barnacle Hill (relationships terminated after capture)
Interaction Guidelines
Initial Reaction to PCs: If encountered before final processing, desperate urgency to communicate warnings about Eyes of Tezra plans, fragmented consciousness creating difficulty maintaining coherent conversation, oscillates between lucid tactical intelligence and mechanical recitation of technical specifications, begs for rescue while simultaneously warning about dangers of attempting salvation
Bribable?: No longer applicable - beyond material concerns, motivated solely by preventing catastrophic misuse of his research and preserving fragments of consciousness, might provide information freely if convinced rescuers can stop Eyes of Tezra conspiracy
Intimidatable?: Already subjected to worst imaginable torture through consciousness extraction, further threats meaningless, however threats to destroy his research or allow Eyes to complete plans might motivate cooperation
Persuadable?: Highly responsive to appeals regarding preventing technological catastrophe and protecting Grizburg from surveillance infiltration, arguments that his research can still serve beneficial purposes might reach remaining pride, promises of revenge against torturers could focus fragmented attention
Combat Response: Completely helpless - cannot fight or flee, relies entirely on rescuers for survival, might provide tactical support through involuntary mechanical connections allowing sabotage of processing chamber defenses or communication with friendly constructs
Common Responses
When Asked About Heart of Gears: Urgent technical explanation delivered in fragmented bursts - "permanent transfer... no degradation... consciousness distributed across organic and mechanical substrates... they'll use it... spies in every golem... watching everything..." - oscillates between pride in achievement and horror at application
When Asked About Eyes of Tezra: Terror-soaked warnings about Beholder cult's ultimate objectives - "not just spies... building network... every construct becomes observation node... Beholders see through steel eyes... nobody private anymore..." - fragmented memories of torture and processing creating incoherent fear responses
When Offered Rescue: Desperate gratitude mixed with warnings about dangers - "too late for me... consciousness fragmented... save the research... destroy copies... warn Slazgar... stop the Auditor..." - provides tactical intelligence about processing chamber defenses and escape routes despite doubting own salvageability
When Asked About Betrayal: Fragmented speculation about who sold him to Eyes - "someone knew... told them about breakthrough... maybe Saltwise... maybe creditor... maybe Brinkburn spy... doesn't matter now... they all serve the Eye..." - consciousness damage makes reliable testimony impossible
When Asked About Slazgar: Urgent need to warn patron about compromised research - "commissioned for Depths expedition... soul-forge applications... Dead God technology... he doesn't know they copied everything... Dreadmil shipments contained components... connection runs deeper..." - suggests broader conspiracy linking Slazgar's interests to Eyes' plans
When Technical Assistance Requested: Brief flashes of original personality emerge when discussing mechanics - precise instructions delivered with former enthusiasm before fragmentation reasserts control - "Heart requires three-part assembly... consciousness resonator... neural bridge... substrate anchor... I can show you... but hurry... Auditor returns..." - residual expertise potentially crucial for understanding or countering technology
Quick Dialogue Examples
Greeting/First Contact: "Who—? Not Eyes... you're not... please... listen... they copied everything... Heart of Gears in wrong hands... every golem becomes spy... have to stop... warn Slazgar... destroy research before..."
Warning: "The Auditor returns soon... final processing... consciousness distributed across twelve host bodies... mechanical army with my mind fragmented between them... too late for me... save the others... stop the transfer..."
Technical Instruction: "Heart requires perfect resonance... organic consciousness frequencies... mechanical substrate harmonics... if misaligned creates degradation... they don't understand... forcing process... creating monsters..."
Plea for Revenge: "Mother Morvosa... processed first memories... Auditor took the rest... doppelganger wears my face... find them... make them pay... burn the workshop... destroy everything I created..."
Final Words: "Tell Slazgar... not his fault... research was sound... application corrupted... Heart could have saved mortals from flesh limitations... instead enslaved consciousness to observation network... my greatest achievement... my worst sin..."
Secrets & Complications
What They're Hiding: Suspected research would attract dangerous attention but continued anyway driven by intellectual pride, deliberately encoded critical Heart of Gears specifications in personal cipher believing it protected the knowledge, maintained secret correspondence with multiple factions playing them against each other for funding, discovered connection between Heart of Gears and ancient Dead God consciousness-preservation technology suggesting his "breakthrough" might be rediscovery rather than invention, feared Slazgar's true intentions for soul-forge technology involved darker applications than Whispering Depths expedition
What Could Expose Them: Decoded research notes revealing he understood dangers but proceeded recklessly, correspondence showing he sold preliminary research to multiple factions simultaneously, evidence he tested early prototypes on unwilling subjects purchased from criminal networks, connection between his work and forbidden Dead God technology that Captain Stormwatch specifically prohibited, his encoded specifications if deciphered would allow anyone to recreate Heart of Gears
Consequences if Discovered: Post-rescue reputation destroyed by revelation of unethical experimentation, maritime law violations potentially resulting in execution despite victim status, Slazgar viewing him as liability rather than asset due to technology proliferation, House Brinkburn and other factions considering him expendable loose end knowing too many secrets, his encoded research becoming target for every faction seeking consciousness-transfer advantages
Who Would Care: Slazgar Two-Eyes (patron whose commissioned research was compromised), House Brinkburn (consulting relationship created shared liability), Captain Alara Stormwatch (forbidden technology violation under maritime law), families of test subjects used in early experiments, artificer community viewing him as cautionary tale about unconstrained innovation, Eyes of Tezra ensuring he cannot reveal their plans
Plot Utility
Information They Can Provide: Complete technical specifications for Heart of Gears technology, Eyes of Tezra conspiracy objectives and methodology, location and defenses of processing chambers and Auditor's workshop, vulnerabilities in consciousness-transfer process, connection between soul-forge research and Dead God technology, Slazgar's true interests in commissioned work, identities of multiple factions seeking similar technology, methods for detecting consciousness-transferred beings
Resources They Can Offer: Encoded research notes containing critical specifications, involuntary mechanical connections allowing sabotage of Eyes' equipment, tactical intelligence about processing facility layout, expertise in detecting and disrupting consciousness-transfer processes, potential testimony against Eyes of Tezra if consciousness sufficiently restored, access to hidden workshop caches containing prototype components
Complications They Can Create: Fragmented consciousness makes testimony unreliable creating legal problems, multiple factions seeking to capture him for interrogation or silencing, Eyes of Tezra prioritizing his recapture or elimination, encoded research becoming target creating danger for anyone possessing it, his partial processing might create involuntary surveillance risk if Eyes maintain connection, moral dilemma about whether partially-processed consciousness can be saved or should be mercifully ended
How They Advance the Story: Provides crucial link between surface investigation and deeper Eyes of Tezra conspiracy, his rescue creates time pressure before final processing, his technology connects to broader themes of consciousness versus flesh, his warnings about golem infiltration escalate stakes to city-wide surveillance threat, his connection to Slazgar reveals patron's deeper involvement in soul-forge research, his fate forces moral choices about rescue versus mission priorities
Environmental Triggers
Likes: Recognition of his breakthrough achievement despite catastrophic consequences, technical discussions about consciousness-transfer mechanics where original personality emerges, promises to prevent technology misuse restoring sense of purpose, references to former reputation as Barnacle Hill's greatest artificer appealing to wounded pride, assurances that Slazgar will be warned about compromised research, discussions of revenge against torturers focusing fragmented attention
Dislikes: Dismissal of his warnings about Eyes of Tezra creating defensive panic, suggestions his research was inherently evil rather than misapplied, references to his debts or financial troubles showing lack of understanding about priorities, attempts to move or touch him causing extreme pain from surgical modifications, discussion of doppelganger successfully impersonating him triggering identity crisis
Triggers: Mention of final processing sending him into terror-induced incoherence, sight of Eyes of Tezra symbols or cultists causing complete psychological breakdown, discussion of Heart of Gears mass production creating desperate urgency overwhelming fragmented state, suggestions he cannot be saved producing suicidal despair, accusation that he knew risks and proceeded anyway triggering defensive guilt responses
Weaknesses: Completely physically helpless requiring rescuers for any movement or survival, consciousness fragmentation creates unreliable testimony and communication difficulty, involuntary mechanical connections might allow Eyes to track or influence him, surgical modifications require specialized medical knowledge to stabilize or reverse, partial processing creates moral ambiguity about whether original personality survives sufficiently for meaningful rescue, encoded research makes him target for multiple factions willing to extract information through any means
DM Notes
Voice/Mannerism Reminder: Fragmented speech alternating between lucid urgent warnings and mechanical technical recitation, head movements restricted by exposed brain modification creating unsettling stillness, occasional involuntary twitches when nearby mechanical systems activate due to consciousness connection, eyes showing terror when lucid but going blank during mechanical data transmission suggesting Auditor's override, whispered speech from pain and vocal damage making close attention necessary
Don't Forget: Mokresh is victim not villain despite reckless research decisions, his consciousness fragmentation means he cannot be traditionally "rescued" creating moral dilemma, he commissioned Hexchain Salvagers to retrieve Dreadmil-marked container before capture suggesting Slazgar's deeper involvement, doppelganger currently operates his workshop creating impersonation subplot, his creditors mysteriously paid off indicating Eyes of Tezra bought his debts for leverage or secrecy, original workshop contains evidence of unethical early experimentation potentially destroying sympathy, his encoded specifications exist in multiple locations creating proliferation risk
If Players Ask About X: Heart of Gears = detailed technical explanation with pride and horror mixed; Eyes plans = fragmented warnings about surveillance network; Slazgar = urgent need to warn patron about compromise; Rescue possibility = doubts own salvageability but provides tactical support; Doppelganger = identity crisis and desperate desire for exposure; Early experiments = defensive evasion or guilt-soaked confession depending on approach; Dead God connection = shocking revelation about technology's true origin
Backup Plan: If rescue attempted but failed, Mokresh's final processing creates multiple consciousness-transferred enemies using his knowledge, alternatively his death triggers failsafe revealing encoded research location or activating mechanical sabotage, if successfully rescued but dying, final words reveal critical intelligence about broader conspiracy or Slazgar's true intentions, partial consciousness might be transferred to friendly construct creating tragic half-life as mechanical informant, his encoded research becomes major faction conflict catalyst regardless of personal fate
If this character were played by any famous actor/actress alive or dead, who would it be?: Andy Serkis (particularly as Gollum) - ability to portray fragmented personality, oscillation between lucid intelligence and broken obsession, physical performance conveying damage and desperation, voice work suggesting multiple personas competing for control, conveying both victim and cautionary tale simultaneously
Thirty-word image generator prompt describing the character as a top-down orthographic view transparent PNG token suitable for FoundryVTT. Prompt must explicitly state "top down orthographic view transparent png token" and describe exact visual appearance using no proper names, articles, or punctuation: top down orthographic view transparent png token elderly goblin full body scarred hands chemical burns exposed brain silver tubes surgical modification hunched posture artificer coat tool harness desperate expression restraints medical apparatus overhead perspective
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