Triumvir Mariale Vir'Thal

 

Triumvir Mariale Vir'Thal

 

Triumvir of the North – House Vir'Thal

  Honorary Titles: Lord of the Raging Waves, Admiral of the Northern Fleets, Champion of the Freedmen
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Race: Triton (pure Vir'Thal blood)
Class: Fighter 10 / Paladin of the Deep 5 / Lord of the Storm 4 (Marine Tritonite Prestige Class)
Level of Influence: Triumvir of the North, commander of the fleet and defender of the Kingdom's sea borders
Personal Symbol: A trident emerging from a wave in Storm.  

History

  Mariale Vir'Thal was born in 1115 NE, in a small village in the northern cliffs. His father, a blacksmith and armorer, forged tridents for Triton patrols, while his mother was one of the strongest Mistsingers of all the North shore. Mariale grew up surrounded by stories of slavery, shame, and struggle. From a young age, he distinguished herself for his physical strength and almost reckless courage.   When the Phan Empire attempted to attack again the new undersea kingdom, Mariale joined the army under the banner of the Vir'Thal, a minor but determined family. In the battles of Thal'Korr and Nerida Trench, he demonstrated leadership skills and indomitable ferocity, earning the nickname "Red Storm" for his crimson coral-encrusted armor and the waters stained with the blood of his enemies.   At the end of the war, after the retreat of the Imperial attackers, Mariale sought not power, but justice. He returned to the North, where the Aj'Snaga—sea raiders and slave traders—had established outposts along the coasts. For twenty years, he led a continuous guerrilla war against them, freeing hundreds of slaves and cementing House Vir'Thal's reputation as a bastion of Tritonid freedom.   His election as Triumvir of the North was unchallenged: no one could deny his fame and his role in building the Tritonid fleet. However, his aggressive and militaristic outlook often puts him at odds with the other members of the Triumvirate. For Mariale, peace is merely a necessary respite between battles.   Today, he commands the Tritonid largest naval force, and his ships, recognizable by their black Viridian sails and trident-shaped prows, are feared by pirates, Phan, and Aj'Snaga. Legend has it that the sea itself answers his call.  

Character and Personality

  Mariale is the storm personified: he is impetuous, fiery, and charismatic.
He believes in freedom as an absolute value, superior even to life. For him, every merman still in chains represents a personal wound, and every Aj'Snaga or Phan is a sworn enemy.   His temperament often brings him into conflict with the more cautious diplomats and senators. He is known for walking out of a session of the Tritonid Senate after a Moderate proposed "negotiating" with the Aj'Snaga raiders. The next day, Mariale led a punitive raid against one of their fortresses, completely destroying it.   Despite his apparent brutality, Mariale is no fanatic. He is a sincere patriot, fighting for his people, not for personal power. His code of honor is simple but unwavering:  

"No one commands the tides. No one chains a Triton."

  He is a commander who fights on the front lines, alongside his soldiers. His scars—deep cuts along his face and shoulders—are symbols of pride, which he refuses to hide.   He loves stormy waters, naval battles, and long nights of drinking with sailors. He has a rough but genuine sense of humor, and those who earn his trust find in him a loyal ally until death. However, his impulsiveness and distrust of compromise make him a difficult leader to control.  

Relationships and Conflicts

With Calior of the Silent Tides

Mariale considers Calior a failed brother-in-arms. He admires his wisdom, but doesn't understand his prudence. "The sea isn't calmed by praying," he often says, "you master it by swimming in it." While respecting Calior's ecological vision, Mariale believes that the natural balance should be defended with the sword, not with treaties. There is mutual respect between the two, but also a constant ideological tension.  

With Selina ShadowCoral

The relationship with Selina is more complex. Mariale finds his fascinating but is wary of his methods. Diplomacy, he says, is "the thinnest chain of power." However, he recognizes the importance of his contacts and often relies on his trade routes to supply his fleet. A strange chemistry exists between the two, one of mutual distrust and curiosity.  

With the Freedmen's Party

Mariale is the symbolic hero of the Freedmen's Party. His military exploits are sung by bards, and many young mermen consider him a model of courage. However, older senators fear that his popularity could destabilize the political balance of the Triumvirate.   His personal motto—"Better a life in war than an eternity in chains"—has become the rallying cry of the most radical Freedmen.  

Skills and Powers

Mariale is an elite fighter, he is trained in both underwater warfare and surface battle.
His abilities come from a mix of martial discipline and powers granted to him by the war deity, Sardar, that the Tritonid also see as the patron spirit of turbulent waters.  

Command of the Tides (Su): He can, 3 times per day, summon a moderately strong sea current within 60 feet (effect as *Control Water*).

Blessing of the Depths (Su): His allies within 30 feet gain +2 AC and saving throws when fighting in water.

Wrath of the Waves (Su): CAR bonus times per day, he hurls a trident strike infused with electrical and marine energy (6d8 electrical damage + 2d8 bludgeoning, SR 18).

Storm Breath (Su): Can breathe air and water, immune to mists, gases, and liquid poisons.

Aura of Command: Underlings within 30 meters gain a +2 bonus to morale rolls and a +1 bonus to attack rolls.

Expert Navigator: Does not suffer any visibility or orientation penalties during storms or strong currents.

As a Paladin of the Deep, he is immune to fear and charm, and his primary weapon—Twinwave Fury—is devoted to open water.  

Possessed Items

Twinwave Fury (Legendary Trident):

Weapon +3, capable of unleashing a “North Sea Storm” (as Lightning Storm 1/day). Deals +2d6 points of electrical damage against air-breathing creatures.
Aura: moderate conjuration;
CL: 12th;
Price: 26,000 gp.  

Crimson Coral Armor:

Full plate +2; Partial immunity to rust and electrical resistance 10. Its scales slowly regenerate, granting fast healing 1.  

Cloak of the Fury Tide:

Grants Swim +10 and the ability to use *Fair Wind* and *Walk on Water* 3/day.  

Ring of "War Currents":

Allows you to communicate with all friendly ships within 1 km via sonic water currents.  

Helm of Abyssal Thunder:

Increases the DC of sonic spells and powers (such as *Thunderclap*) by +2 and grants immunity to deafness.  

Amulet of the Tide Captain:

+4 Charisma, +4 Command; Allows 1/day *Naval Command Word* (functions as *Imperious Order*).  

Legacy and Vision

  Mariale Vir'Thal is considered a living hero and a political threat.
His victories have brought glory to the Kingdom of Tritons, but his tendency to act without consulting the Senate worries many.
He dreams of a triton fleet that dominates all the waters of Valenor, free from slavery and corruption, and vows to destroy the Phan Empire by the end of his term.   To many, he is the hammer of the sea—strength and determination incarnate. To others, he is the storm that may one day engulf even his own people.  

Campaign Role

Military Ally: May provide fleets or support in naval campaigns, but requires absolute loyalty to the Freedmen's Party.

Political Adversary: Opposes the PCs if they support diplomatic means or limit tritonid expansion.

Heroic Mentor: For warrior or marine paladin PCs, may serve as a mentor or commander.

Personal Enemy: For characters affiliated with the Phan, Aj'Snaga, or the Moderate Party.

The Northern Fleet

  Official Name: *The Tideblades*
Size: Approximately 40 tritonid warships (mostly water-powered underwater vessels and sea-based battleships).
Flagship: *Glory of the Currents*, a 50-meter-long air/water hybrid tritonid galleon armored with leviathan scales and equipped with living coral cannons.
Trusted Captain: Commander Sarn Vir'Thal, grandson of Mariale, Paladin 8 / Fighter 4.
 

Famous Quotes

 

“The tides do not obey codes. They obey the storm.”

“Better a broken chain than a golden throne.”

“Peace is the silence before the thunder. And I am the thunder.”