Naeris Vel'Aquor

  Naeris Vel'Aquor, Ambassador of the Mirrored Sea
  Humanoid (Triton) Bard 7 / Noble 3 / Court Diplomat 5 Alignment: Lawful Neutral Apparent Age: 132 (triton maturity) Origin: House Vel'Aquor, Mirath'cor Current Location: Mirrored Sea Tower, eastern coast of Sarleris Role: Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Geld and Sarleris; coordinator of cultural missions and covert contacts with anti-Phan rebel factions.
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History

  Naeris Vel'Aquor was born in the white coral halls of House Vel'Aquor, one of the oldest mercantile dynasties in the Kingdom of the Tritons. The family owned trade routes that crossed the reefs of Mirath'cor and extended to the distant eastern currents. From a young age, Naeris demonstrated an innate curiosity for surface cultures. While her peers learned the art of the spear or sacred chant, she spent her days in her father's sunken library, reading human philosophy and treatises on the mercantile wars of Geld.
  When she was just fifty—a youth for her race—she was sent as an apprentice to the service of the Eastern Triumvirate, under the tutelage of Selina ShadowCoral, the refined Triumvirate of Trade. Selina saw in her not only a brilliant mind but also a natural talent for measured words, the kind that can bend the will of others without ever raising her voice.
  During the Abyssal-Margin War, Naeris was employed as a mediator between the rebel colonies and the city of Nerevath: her ability to maintain lines of communication and negotiate temporary truces earned her the title "Messenger of the Currents." It was during this time that she first encountered a group of human explorers from Sarleris, trapped in underwater trenches after a storm. She led them safely to the coast, laying the foundation for a future alliance between the two peoples.
  After the signing of the Tidal Sphere Treaty, the Triumvirate decided to send an official representative to the surface world: Naeris was the natural choice. Her elegance, her mastery of surface languages, and her loyalty to the tritonid cause made her ideal. In the capital of Geld, she quickly earned a reputation as a tireless negotiator: in five years, she sealed twenty-seven trade and cultural agreements, established a mixed translator corps, and opened the first Academy of the Currents, where humans and merfolk could study marine magic together.
  Her second assignment, in Sarleris, proved far more dangerous. The city, torn by civil wars and Phan infiltration, greeted her with suspicion. There, Naeris founded the Mirrored Sea Tower, an amphibious outpost built of living stone and liquid crystals, capable of hosting both land and sea emissaries. Today, from that tower, she conducts a complex diplomatic game: she supports the Sarlerian rebel forces, thwarts Imperial influence, and sends secret messages to the Senate of the Deep.
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Character and Personality

  Naeris is a woman of discipline and restraint. Every gesture, every word is considered; Not because she fears error, but because she knows the value of silence. Those who observe her for the first time mistake her for cold, perhaps distant; but behind that pearly gaze lies a lively mind, capable of profound emotions that she rarely shares with others.
  She believes in the power of the "harmonic current": like waves that merge without destroying each other, peoples must learn to flow together. However, she is not deluded. She has seen too much cruelty to believe that dialogue is always enough. "The waves," she often says, "don't collide: they bend, but only as far as the shore allows."
  Beneath her calm ambassador lives a strategist skilled at reading people: her specialty is identifying the emotional breaking point of her interlocutors, the word that forces them to listen. When she must, she knows how to lie gracefully, and when necessary, she can threaten with the same elegance with which she serves tea at court.
  For her, faith in marine spirits is not simply religion, but a moral discipline. Every decision, every treaty, is preceded by a silent ritual: Naeris immerses the ring of Currents in seawater and listens to the sound of the surf for a heartbeat. She says that this is how the currents speak to her, and that the sea, if questioned with respect, never lies.
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Relationships and Conflicts

 

Selina ShadowCoral: Teacher and friend. The two women share a common vision of the power of trade as a political lever. Selina considers her her "reflected pearl," but is wary of her growing ties to the Sarlerian rebels.

 

Mariale Vir'Thal: A respectful distrust exists between the two. Mariale considers her excessively cautious; she considers him a dangerous romantic. However, during the war against the Aj'Snaga, Naeris provided Mariale with nautical charts and logistical information that saved hundreds of lives.

 

Lyraen, the Great Singer: Lyraen is the spiritual guide Naeris consults most often. The two share a desire to purify the Phan legacy and believe that true freedom comes from awareness, not revenge.

 

Xalorin, the MechanoLich: Naeris sees him not only as a political threat, but as a metaphysical horror. She has long studied the reports on his machines and fears that the SeaThralls may one day be sold to human powers. Rumor has it, he maintains a personal informant within Xalorin's network.

 

Captain Kaelor "The Scarlet Wave": An ambiguous relationship, made up of temporary alliances and verbal skirmishes. Kaelor admires her, but considers her too bound by the rules. She, in turn, recognizes his charisma but fears that his anarchy might destroy what he builds.

 

Her Guardian of Sarleris: A human knight named Sir Darren Merrit, chosen for his unwavering loyalty. A bond of respect and unspoken tension has developed between the two; many suspect that the ambassador has feelings for him, but she always denies it with a polite smile.

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Abilities and Powers

  | Category | Details | | ------------------------------------| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Armor Class (base) | 20 (10 + 4 mage armor + 4 Dex + 2 natural) | | Hit Points | 88 (15 HD) | | Saving Throws | Fortitude +7, Reflex +9, Will +11 | | Speed | 30 ft. (land), 40 ft. (swim) | | Relevant Feats | Epic Persuasion, Silvery Voice, Swift Negotiate, Cast Without Gestures, Mastery of Languages, Water Control Spells | | Spells (Bard 15) | Maximum level 6, CL 15; knows charm, communication, and control water spells | | Example Spells Known | -Charm Person, Silence, Glyph of Calm, Persuasive Word, Control Water, Empathic Link- | | Skills | Diplomacy +25, Bluff +22, Sense Motive +18, Knowledge (politics) +17, Linguistics +15, Perform (Oratory) +16, Knowledge (marine nature) +12, Spellcraft +10 |
 

Voice of the Currents (Su)

  Naeris can cast -Message- or -Send- through water or fog, reaching any point on the sea within 100 miles. The message arrives as a tidal sound, audible only to the recipient.
 

Echo of the Mirrored Sea (Su)

  Once/day, she can summon a translucent barrier of suspended water (functions as -Wall of Force-, but reflects spells of ≤ 5th level). Humans believe this to be an illusory effect; in reality, it is a defense blessed by the spirits of the sea.
 

Aura of Serenity (Ex)

  Within 30 feet, all creatures gain a +2 bonus on Will saves against fear and compulsions. Hostile attacks against Naeris take a –2 penalty until she reacts violently.
 

Clear Current Ritual (Ex)

  During negotiations, Naeris can sacrifice 10 HP to infuse her blood into the water in a vessel: for 1 hour, all participants in the dialogue must succeed on a DC 18 Will save to knowingly lie.
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Possessed Items

 

Ring of Deep Currents

  A tritonide artifact, a gift from Lyraen.
 

Allows -Communicate with Marine Animals- and -Communicate Over Distance- (as -Send-) 3/day.

Can "read" the direction of magical currents 1/day, revealing active spells in a 1 km area.

The water around Naeris shimmers faintly when she lies.

 

Robe of the Mirrored Sea

  Enchanted liquid silk robe.
 

Grants AC +4, +5 competence bonus to Diplomacy, and allows the wearer to breathe air or water.

When submerged, the robe renders her nearly invisible (-Disguise Self-, underwater only).

 

Seal of Sarleris

  Medallion of silver and coral, symbolizing the agreement between the two peoples.
 

The wearer is recognized as an official emissary of Sarleris.

Allows the wearer to cast -Zone of Truth- 1/day.

 

Book of Silent Waves

  Enchanted personal journal.
 

Can store up to 50 pages of text or audio messages.

Opens only when completely submerged in seawater.

 

Ceremonial Dagger "Pact Blade"

  Not intended for combat, but for sealing oaths. Anyone who severs the palm during a pact takes 1 point of damage and gains a +2 morale bonus on rolls to keep their word (Will save DC 17 to break the pact).
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Role and Influence

  Naeris Vel'Aquor represents the visible face of tritonid diplomacy. In the courts of Geld, she is considered a living legend: the "Lady of the Tides," capable of signing a treaty with a smile and a measured pause. The rebels of Sarleris revere her as a protector, while the Phan call her "the silver serpent of the deep."
  Her power comes not only from words, but from the network she has built: spies, scholars, merchants, and minor priests. Beneath the surface of her official role, she coordinates secret missions for the Sea Senate, providing logistical support to rebel ships and thwarting Phan corruption.
  Many Triumvirs fear her: not because of her martial power, but because her influence grows silently, like a tide. If she ever decides to take a stand openly, the fragile political balance of the Kingdom could change forever.
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Quote

  > “The waves do not collide; they merge and flow. This must be diplomacy.”
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Campaign Use

 

Key Ally: She can provide diplomatic missions, introduce the PCs to the surface world, or guarantee resources and legal protections.

Secret Mandate: She may use the heroes as agents in her negotiations, posing as merchants, scholars, or guards.

Moral Antagonist: If the PCs are hardcore rebels or pirates like Kaelor, Naeris can become the face of the order that seeks to limit them “for the greater good.”

Intrigue: His journal or the Ring of Currents may contain crucial secrets to stopping Xalorin or discovering the true origins of the Deep Pearls.

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Campaign Role

 

Political Alliance: He may provide the PCs with official documents or access to forbidden locations.

Mentor or Sponsor: He assigns missions of mediation, retrieval of relics, or rescue of emissaries.

Moral Conflict: His political compromises may conflict with the PCs' ideals.

Subplot: His -Ring of Currents- is the key to locating one of the four parts of Xalorin's phylactery.

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Quote

  > “The waves do not collide; they merge and flow. This must be diplomacy.”
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Naeris Vel'Aquor

  Merfolk Bard 7 / Noble 3 / Court Diplomat 5 CR: 15 Alignment: Lawful Neutral Deity: Spirits of the Currents (merfolk pantheon) Size: Medium Type: Humanoid (Aquatic) Gender: Female Age: 132 Languages: Common, Merfolk, Aquan, Elven, Sarl, Geldic, Ancient Phan
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Base Abilities

  | Ability | Value | Modifier | | --------------| ------| ------------| | Strength | 10 | +0 | | Dexterity | 18 | +4 | | Constitution | 14 | +2 | | Intelligence | 16 | +3 | | Wisdom | 13 | +1 | | Charisma | 22 | +6 |
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General Statistics

 

AC: 24 (10 base + 4 Dex + 4 mage armor + 2 natural + 4 dodge via “Dance of the Currents”)

HP: 108 (15 HD; average 7 + Con modifier)

Initiative: +6

Speed: 30 ft. (land), 40 ft. (swim)

BAT/Grapple: +10/+10

Attack: - “Pact Blade” ceremonial dagger - +11/+6 (1d4, crit. 19–20/x2)

Save: Fortitude +7, Reflex +11, Will +12

Space/Range: 5 ft. / 5 ft.

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Special Abilities

 

Voice of the Currents (Su)

  As -message- or -send-, 3/day, but only through water or fog. Range 150 km.
 

Echo of the Mirrored Sea (Su)

  1/day, -Wall of Force- (DC 19, CL 15) with spell reflection ≤ 5th level.
 

Aura of Serenity (Ex)

  Within 30 ft., +2 morale bonus on Will saves against fear and compulsions.
 

Clear Current Ritual (Ex)

  10 HP can be sacrificed to create an aura of truth (as Zone of Truth, DC 18).
 

Blessing of the Tides (Su)

  Can grant yourself and one ally a +2 bonus to Diplomacy and Bluff for 10 minutes (3/day).
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Skills

  (Triton: +8 racial bonus to Swim; all Charisma-based skills increased by the Bard)
  | Skills | Ranks | Mod | Total | | ---------------------------------| -----| ------------| -------| | Diplomacy | 18 | +6 | +32 | | Bluff | 15 | +6 | +27 | | Sense Motive | 12 | +1 | +16 | | Perform (Oratory) | 18 | +6 | +28 | | Knowledge (nobility and royalty) | 10 | +3 | +16 | | Knowledge (local) | 10 | +3 | +16 | | Linguistics (Decipher Script) | 8 | +3 | +14 | | Knowledge (marine nature) | 8 | +3 | +14 | | Spellcraft | 10 | +3 | +16 | | Swim | 8 | +0 (+8 races) | +16 | | Gather Information | 10 | +6 | +22 |
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Bardic Spells (CL 15)

  Spell DC: 16 + spell level Spells per Day: 6/6/6/5/3/2 Spells Known (typical selection):
  | Level | Spells | | -------| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 0 | - Light, Prestidigitation, Message, Ghost Sound, Detect Magic, Minor Restoration- | | 1st | - Charm Person, Comprehend Languages, Remove Fear, Cure Light Wounds- | | 2nd | - Spiderweb, Minor Suggestion, Silence, Surge of Emotions- | | 3rd | - Speak with Animals, Circle of Calm, Remove Curse, Greater Invisibility- | | 4th | - Dominate Person, Control Water, Shout, Detect Greater Thought- | | 5th | - Ocean's Voice (new merfolk spell)-, - Tranquility Song- | | 6th | - Empathic Link, Reflecting Mist (new merfolk spell)- |
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Feats

  1. Mastery of Languages 2. Epic Persuasion (-Eberron CS-) 3. Enchantment Without Gestures 4. Skill Focus (Diplomacy) 5. Silvery Voice (-Perfect Adventurer-) 6. Aquatic Spellcaster (-Stormwrack-) 7. Swift Negotiate 8. Duration Extension
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Magic Items

 

Ring of Deep Currents

 

-Communicate with Marine Animals- and -Send- 3/day.

1/day: -Detect Greater Magic- (for aquatic flows only).

The water around Naeris vibrates slightly if it detects falsehoods (aesthetic effect).

 

Robe of the Mirrored Sea

 

Grants +4 armor, +5 Diplomacy, -Water Breathing- constant.

1/day: -Disguise Self- (underwater only).

 

Seal of Sarleris

 

Official Symbol: -Zone of Truth- 1/day, DC 17.

 

Pact Blade (Ceremonial Dagger)

 

+1 magic touch, causes "binding oath": the wielder who cuts off the hand gains a +2 morale bonus on saving throws to keep their word.

 

Book of Silent Waves

 

Journal that stores words, sounds, and visual illusions.

Opens only when immersed in salt water.

 

Cloak of Living Mist

 

3/day -Occulting Mist- that follows the wearer as if she had -Item Bond-.

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Skills and Equipment

 

Simple weapons, light crossbows, short swords, whips, and tritonid weapons.

Light armor and light shields.

She wears a family silver diadem (value 500 gp), a symbol of diplomatic prestige.

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Physical Description

  Naeris has skin as pale as the moon reflected on water, mother-of-pearl hair, and transparent green eyes. Her thin, ornamental side fins fan like silver fans behind her ears. Her movements are fluid and controlled, almost dancing. Her voice, when she speaks, has a distant echo of tides and depths.
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Personality at Play

 

Always calm and collected, she avoids direct conflict.

In public, she maintains impeccable courtesy, but in private, she can become severe and cutting.

She rarely lies, but often "chooses the truths that serve."

The sea is a temple for her: every action must reflect its harmony.

 
 
 
  Quote:
 

"The waves do not collide: they merge and flow. Such must be diplomacy."