Dhudus Laverath

Dhudus Laverath
Type	Non-Player Character
Player	Cody
Character Information
Name	Dhudus Kedis Yon-Zinthos Kien-Khavas Laverath
Pronouns	he/him
Race	Triton
Class	Fighter (Battle Master)
Age	23
Languages	Common, Primordial
Connections	• Arlyn Laverath (mother) • Khavas Laverath (father) • Viglis Laverath (brother) • Reides Laverath (brother) • Lotlyn Laverath (sister) • Daiven Laverath (ancestor)
Place of Origin	Aquos, Laverathia
Status	Alive

Dhudus Kedis Yon-Zinthos Kien-Khavas Laverath is third in line to the Laverathian throne and is Reides’ younger brother. He is a triton warrior who appears rather taciturn but loves a good fight.

Description

Appearance

Dhudus is a triton, so he has blue skin, webbed ears, black sclera surrounding his olive-coloured eyes, and gills. His dark green hair is always cut very short. He rarely brushes it, so it's usually quite messy, too. He has a muscular physique and often wears heavy armor. Dhudus tends to have difficulty with expressing himself, so he looks eternally deadpan and has heavy-lidded eyes.

Personality

• Strengths: Resolute, direct, robust
• Weaknesses: Uncommunicative, incautious, brusque

Dhudus is very blunt and to-the-point, but he can be difficult to understand as he is largely unexpressive. He’s not as enthused about the triton cause or Laverathian history so much as he likes fighting. He loves training and brawling and stuffing his face with food and drink. Though he lacks discipline, he trains a lot and is respected for his abilities. He has a bit of a cocky side but cares a lot for his family, even if he occasionally struggles with showing it.

Biography

Background

Born in 575, Dhudus is 23 years old. Not one to overthink anything, he doesn’t care much for his title and is very lacking in terms of social graces. He was quick to gain a reputation amidst the court of Laverathia for his brusque mannerisms, but his natural talent with weaponry offset most of their criticisms; he clearly had the makings of a magnificent Laverathian fighter. Due to his skills and enjoyment of the fighter lifestyle as a whole, he's on very good terms with most of the Laverathian warriors. In particular, he shares a strong comradeship with the Aquosian forces. He's a common sight at taverns in Aquos and aids with hunting efforts whenever he can.

Dhudus' older brother, Viglis, was the one who taught him his foundational swordplay skills. The two of them trained together frequently, much to Dhudus' enjoyment - but the older prince's hardworking nature tended to exhaust him with time, as did Viglis' tendency to lecture him. Furthermore, Dhudus never quite understood his other older brother, Reides, as Reides was very enthusiastic about reading and studying the surface world - activities which Dhudus deemed a total waste of time. Dhudus adored his younger sister, Lotlyn, from the very day she hatched, as he was happy to no longer be the youngest in the immediate royal family. The two of them were always close, as Lotlyn somehow never had trouble with understanding him.

The Heart of the Empire

Reides mentioned having two brothers while he was drinking with Jorah and Erak, but he did not reveal Dhudus' name.

The Fall of Port Valor

When Reides finally revealed his status as a member of Laverathia's royal family to his adventuring party, he brought up feeling very different from both of his brothers.

Later on, when Reides learnt the Sending spell in order to check on the state of Aquos, he decided against contacting Dhudus. He didn't want to burden his younger brother and, frankly, didn't know if Dhudus would even care about what he told him.

Entering the Exeter

Reides shared Dhudus' name with the party after Kilwin asked about his younger brother. He told him that they weren't very close, as they did not have much in common. Describing Dhudus as a 'meathead,' Reides said that Dhudus wasn't quite as smart or as invested in protecting Laverathia when compared to their older brother, but was quick to add that Dhudus wasn't nearly as bad as him.

Everspring Revelations

Ashara told Reides that she believed he could learn to ride a hippocampus back in Aquos, and Reides commented that she sounded like Viglis. Ashara asked him if that was his good brother or his bad brother, and Reides said that they were both kinda bad actually.

Into the Storm

The night before the Champions Valoris departed Atemcester for Aquos, Reides contacted Viglis via Sending to tell him that he was coming home. When Viglis replied, he sounded injured and weak as he told Reides that Laverathia as a whole was no longer safe; Aquos was attacked and had fallen. He confirmed that the royal family - Dhudus included - managed to flee, but told Reides that Lotlyn was abducted by some sort of beast. This exchange only emboldened Reides, who became even more determined to go to Laverathia and aid his family.

After traversing the storm that settled over the seas via the Desperado, the ship settled in the storm's eye so as to allow the Champions Valoris to disembark. Before entering the seas proper, Reides told the party more about his tumultuous family situation and expressed his fears that his father would lock him away again. The party reassured him, and Jorah suggested taking Viglis and Lotlyn up to the surface if the situation called for it. Reides told him that neither Viglis nor Dhudus would be willing to leave Laverathia, but admitted that Lotlyn was a bit of a wild card.

Reides' Homecoming

At the triton refugee camp on the outskirts of Aquos, the Champions received an update on the situation from Viglis. He told the party that Lotlyn managed to escape from her personal guard during the Stormbringing Festival, likely because she wished to enjoy it without their supervision. The monsters then launched their surprise attack on the city, and, next anyone heard, she was missing. Reides told Viglis that he talked to her with Sending, confirming that she was still alive, but Viglis figured that it meant that her captors wanted something in exchange for her - likely the Aquosian crest. Viglis also said that Dhudus was out on near-constant patrols looking for Lotlyn. Reides admitted that he was worried by his younger brother's absence, and Viglis said that Dhudus wouldn't have sat back even if he was commanded to do so.

When discussing plans to retake Aquos, Viglis shared Dhudus' idea with the Champions Valoris: A full frontal assault on the palace gates. Reides stated that it definitely sounded like something Dhudus would come up with. This plan was not the one which Viglis wished to go with, instead proposing an alteration where the attack on the gates was a diversion from a secret strike team sent into the palace to attack key points within it.

The following day, the Champions Valoris agreed to assist the Aquosian forces by locating an abandoned armory in an unknown location in the Crystalline Trench. This armory was supposedly full of pelagic armor and weapons. Prior to leaving, Reides asked Viglis if Dhudus returned to the camp yet, as he had yet to see him. He learnt that he returned a few hours ago, and Viglis described him as "boozing it up" with some of the soliders. Briar commented that Dhudus sounded like a man after his own heart. To Briar's concern, Viglis said he would only think that until he met him. The party eventually departed from the refugee camp and handled their assigned task, locating the armory and retrieving the supplies for the Aquosian army. The process proved to be very daunting, as it involved both combat against sahuagin patrollers as well as an encounter with one of the beasts responsible for Aquos' fall - Ryl'dhagt of the Abyss. The aboleth attempted to manipulate each of them, promising them to fulfill their greatest desire if they aligned themselves with it. Each of the Champions resisted this manipulation, though some had a harder time of it than others. After a heavy conversation back at the camp, Reides figured that they all deserved to indulge in some drinking, and recalled what Viglis said about Dhudus boozing it up. He wanted to find his younger brother and noted that it was almost like Dhudus had been avoiding him. Reides went on to dismiss this thought, as he doubted that Dhudus actually cared about him enough to go out of his way to avoid his attention.

Unable to find Dhudus, Reides opted to rest instead. While the party was resting, Jorah asked Reides how it felt to be back home. Reides admitted that it was nice even with the horrible circumstances surrounding them, as he expected it all to be much worse. It didn't change the fact that he was freaked out over Lotlyn's situation, though. He also expressed worry over Dhudus, as he wondered where "Dhudus the Deliquent" was. Jorah asked Reides if Dhudus was the brother with a "more-than-is-proper" enjoyment of alcohol. Reides defended Dhudus, saying that, while his younger brother enjoyed alcohol, food and fighting, he wouldn't call any of it improper. He then admitted that he might have a skewed opinion on what qualifies as "improper." Referring to the plans which Viglis shared with them earlier, Reides went on to say that Dhudus wasn't much of a tactician.

The day before the Aquosian forces sought to retake their city, Reides attempted to find Dhudus once more. Kilwin and Ashara accompanied him on his search. Reides assumed that if Dhudus wasn't on patrol, he would be drinking - and so he swam to the camp's large mess tent. Reides finally spotted Dhudus seated towards the middle area of the tent, drinking and watching some other soldiers talk. Describing the soliders as Dhudus' "meathead friends" to Ashara and Kilwin, Reides approached his younger brother and gently tapped him on the shoulder. Dhudus turned around and his eyes flashed with recognition upon seeing Reides, but he otherwise didn't react to his brother. Reides, however, pulled him into a big hug. This seemed to confuse Dhudus. Reides asked him why they hadn't met up until that point, as he had been in Aquos for quite some time, and Dhudus said that he didn't know that Reides was there. Reides asked if he was okay, and Dhudus nodded, saying that he got to fight a lot so he had no complaints. This exasperated Reides, but Dhudus ignored his comments and grabbed onto some of the mess hall's available fish. He stared at Reides as he ate the fish - chewing with his mouth open and burping, much to Ashara's disgust. Reides asked Dhudus to contain himself and properly introduced him to his friends. Kilwin was baffled as to how someone could look so much like Reides but seem so incredibly different.

Dhudus appeared largely unconcerned with the battle to retake the city. He told the Champions that he'd be on the frontlines with Viglis and said that it'd be fun. He then asked what Reides would be doing. Reides told him that the Champions would be on the strike team, attacking the kraken directly. Again, Dhudus said that it sounded fun. Exasperated all over again, Reides begged him to be careful, and Dhudus asked if he shouldn't be having fun. Reides didn't want to lecture him like Viglis would, but told him that he was worried for Dhudus as well as Lotlyn. Dhudus didn't say anything for a while and then admitted that he was worried about their younger sister, too. Reides told him about his correspondences with Lotlyn via Sending, and Dhudus crossed his arms, deemed hearing from her as "good," and grabbed some more food. Reides assured him that their family would be back home before they knew it and, in regards to the battle, suggested that Dhudus count all of the sea spawn that he killed for fun. Dhudus said that he'd try, and the group of them discussed the battle plans a bit more. Afterwards, Reides ruffled Dhudus' hair and stole some fish off his plate, much to Dhudus' alarm, and Kilwin scolded Ashara for saying that Dhudus only had one brain cell that was dedicated solely to eating. Dhudus said that Reides had mean friends. Ashara didn't object, and, when Reides explained that it was from a place of love with her, Dhudus said that it explained their father's behaviour. Changing the subject, Reides told Dhudus not to drink too much, as he didn't want him to be hung over for the battle, even with his high tolerance. Upon hearing that Dhudus had high tolerance, Ashara challenged him to a drinking contest. They began drinking, but Dhudus didn't seem to notice that there was a competition and Ashara ended up cutting herself off, as she felt herself getting warm. By the point that the Champions were ready to leave, Dhudus seemed to have forgotten that they were there. Reides ruffled his younger brother's hair regardless, and Kilwin said it was nice meeting him. Dhudus just said "yeah" in response. As they left the tent, Reides proudly pointed out that Dhudus didn't care that Ashara and Kilwin were surfacers at all. Ashara wasn't sure if he even noticed that they were surfacers, but Kilwin called it a nice change of pace, considering how riled up most of the other tritons became upon seeing them.

During the Siege of the Coralpeak Citadel, the Champions Valoris were surprised when their strike attack failed to take Kal'dazzum by surprise. They achieved a narrow victory over the monster, slaying it and proceeding to the Citadel's library, where they found Ryl'dhagt. Ashara asked what its plans were now that its "big friend" was dead, and Jorah said that its boss, the Burning Knight, must be awfully unhappy with how the situation in Aquos was unfolding. Ryl'dhagt asked the party if it had actually failed, and Reides demanded that it get to the point. Ryl'dhagt said that the party was awfully talkative in camp and that Reides' brother knew everything. Reides snapped that Viglis would never betray Aquos, but Kilwin reminded him that they told Dhudus about the plan. Enraged, Reides asked the aboleth what it did to his younger brother. Ryl'dhagt said that it simply convinced him that the tritons were the losing side. Immediately, Reides casted Sending and warned Viglis that Dhudus was working with the aboleth. Viglis replied, saying that he knew and that Dhudus already stabbed Dharsus - the captain of the Laverathian Kingsguard and a cherished family friend - and tried to slit Viglis' throat. Regretful, Reides wished that he reached out to Dhudus more. The party then readied themselves to face Ryl'dhagt of the Abyss.

The Champions Valoris emerged victorious, slaying the aboleth and the monsters under its command. Reides immediately casted Sending to Viglis once more, updating him on the situation and frantically asking if him and Dhudus were okay. Viglis told him that there were heavy Aquosian losses but the enemy had been routed. Dhudus was unconcious, and Viglis had sustained an injury but was okay. Lotlyn's whereabouts remained unknown. As soon as Viglis told Reides to meet him in the Citadel's entrance hall, Reides took off, swimming as fast as he could to his brother. The rest of the party scrambled to keep up. Upon reuniting with Viglis, he admitted that he didn't expect Dhudus to turn on them like that.

Shortly after the main Aquosian forced breached the Citadel's gates, Dhudus was overcome with the aboleth's influence. He stabbed Dharsus and did not pursue him when Rovnos, another member of the Laverathian Kingsguard, took his wounded captain away for healing. Instead, he turned his attentions to Viglis, commenting that the battle was everything he wished for. He then asked Viglis if people would one day read about them in the stories that they loved so much. The two brothers then began duelling, with Dhudus aiming to kill Viglis and Viglis struggling with how he should approach the situation. Dhudus was momentarily fended off as Viglis adopted a defensive fighting style, slamming into his brother with his shield - but his unwillingness to kill Dhudus made him hesitate. Spotting this gap in his focus, Dhudus managed to slash into Viglis' sword arm. Dhudus smiled at the sight of the wound that he inflicted, but it seemed to spur Viglis to action. He brought his fist down on his younger brother's head, knocking Dhudus out. Viglis did not share these details with the Champions Valoris, likely in an attempt to safeguard Dhudus from additional repercussions. He guarded Dhudus during the fight, fending off the monsters which tried to swarm the two of them, and delivered him safely to the healers after the fight.

Reides and the rest of the Champions Valoris soon found Lotlyn, locked away in the very tower that Reides was prior to his escape to the surface world. After a touching reunion, Lotlyn asked about the rest of their family. Reides answered honestly, telling her that everyone was okay but that Dhudus fell under the aboleth's control. This seemed to scare her, but she remained steadfast. Later on, Jorah admitted that he was reluctant to get involved in Reides' family affairs but said that he should talk to Khavas and Dhudus. With Kilwin and Briar, Reides reported to his parents on the status of Aquos. Khavas was sleeping peacefully when they arrived, but Reides told Arlyn about the Aquosian victory as well as about Dhudus. While she was worried for her son, Arlyn thought that if everyone supported Dhudus, they could help him. Reides said that, since he was under the aboleth's control, it wasn't actually his fault that he fell for its psychic manipulation. Arlyn hoped that Khavas would feel similarly.

When Dhudus came to conciousness, he was disgusted by his weakness in resisting the aboleth's temptations. No one knew the extent of the aboleth's influence on his psyche, so he willingly placed himself under house arrest and was locked away in his chambers. Guards were also instated both within and right outside of his bedroom. The day after the reclamation of Aquos, Reides, Jorah, Kilwin and Briar paid Dhudus a visit.

Dhudus was at the far end of his room, away from his many beloved weapons which adorned the walls. He had his hair styled in an attempt to hide a sizeable bruise on his forehead. He was looking out a window and likely heard the guards warn the Champions not to go too close to him, even if he seemed docile right now. Dhudus was surprised when Reides disregarded these guards' warnings, instead swimming up to him and pulling him into a big hug. Reides punched Dhudus lightly on the shoulder and told him that he was worried. Dhudus asked him what he was worried about, and Reides incredulously clarified that he was worried about Dhudus. Dhudus didn't know how he was supposed to know that, and Reides apologized, but, again, Dhudus wasn't sure why. Reides told Dhudus that he blamed himself for leaking the battle plans to the kraken and aboleth, as, by that point, he was aware of the aboleth's manipulative psychic powers and should have figured that it would've reached out to someone in the camp. Dhudus said that it wasn't Reides' fault, and Jorah told Reides to give his brother some space. Reides let go of Dhudus, but still remained close by to him.

Jorah pulled up a chair to Dhudus and said that he had a plan for what he was going to say to him, but didn't expect him to look so dejected. He then admitted that he'd probably be the same way, were he in Dhudus' position. He introduced himself, as they had not met prior to the battle, and Dhudus agreed that he would've probably remembered Jorah's name since he's a surfacer. Given its purpose as a sort of jail, Jorah asked if alcohol was allowed in the room. Reides said that it was fine, and Jorah began drinking, offering Dhudus some rip currant wine. Claiming that he wasn't a big fan of rip currant wine due to its sweetness, Dhudus turned the pouch of it down. Acknowledging his status as an outsider, Jorah told Dhudus that he encountered the aboleth too and wanted to know what it offered Dhudus. Dhudus said that he heard a voice offering him glorious battles that felt "just right," that he could fight in every day. He crossed his arms, saying that it sounded nice, but then looked to Reides and said it wasn't something he'd trade any of them for. He looked back out the window and said that he told the aboleth that, but it still managed to take control of him.

Jorah deemed the situation as "fucked." He then asked Dhudus what it felt like to be under its control. Dhudus told him that it was like being locked in a room and that he was watching himself be controlled. He admitted that the aboleth was very good at pretending to be him, then said that he wasn't the only one who fell under its command. His entire patrol was taken over by the creature, and those who surrounded them either weren't as merciful as Viglis or didn't have the skills necessary to knock them unconcious rather than kill them outright. Noticing the bruise on Dhudus' forehead, Kilwin offered to heal him - but Dhudus refused, saying that he didn't want healing.

Reides told Dhudus that if it wasn't his fault, it wasn't Dhudus', either. He was being controlled. Dhudus didn't accept this absolution, saying that it was partially his fault as he took on extra patrols out of a desire to fight. He saw his lust for battle as the reason why his patrol crossed paths with the aboleth in the first place. Furthermore, he was the one who fell under its spell and got controlled in the first place. Jorah noted that the aboleth must have had a lot of confidence in Dhudus' abilities, as it just let the Champions go after we turned down its offers. Reides vouched for Dhudus' capabilities on the battlefield and said that, if he wasn't, they wouldn't even be here having this conversation. Reides was glad that the aboleth was slain and tried to comfort Dhudus by pointing out that the beast tries to tell you exactly what you want to hear; that it could look inside people and know things. He shared that the aboleth tried to manipulate him, too, and told Dhudus what it said - namely, that Reides was siding with the father who betrayed him. He said that he'd fight to keep Dhudus safe now and acknowledged that he hadn't been the best older brother in the past. He used to blame his absence in Dhudus' life on their different personalities, but he admitted that he actually had a lot more in common with Dhudus than he first thought. Dhudus thanked him, and Reides apologized for stealing Dhudus' fish during their time in the mess tent. He said he'd get Dhudus a new one, as the fish was very tasty, and Dhudus snorted in response. Dhudus said he'd accept some fish, though, and so Reides sent word to have food brought in.

A servant soon brought the group of them a platter of fish and aquatic vegetables. Not even looking at the vegetables, Dhudus immediately began tearing into the fish. With his spirits a bit higher, he asked what Reides was planning next. Reides told him that he'd need to talk to their father and Viglis, but confirmed that he wasn't going to stay in Aquos for a very long time just yet, as he still had business on the surface. He also told Dhudus that the stuff that he needed to deal with on the surface was connected to what happened in Aquos. Still, he wasn't planning on leaving the Citadel immediately. Dhudus asked Reides to stop by before he left, and Reides said that he was planning on it, but that it was nice to be invited. He then said that Dhudus was becoming so polite and tried to ruffle his hair, but Dhudus managed to shove his arm away before he could. On the subject of becoming more polite, he stated that if you threw enough stuff at a wall, something would stick eventually. Reides agreed, and Dhudus said that he must have messy walls. He looked down at the floor, and Reides repeated his promise to defend Dhudus as much as he could. Jorah chimed in, saying that he'd spar with Dhudus if he managed to get free before they left Aquos. He told him to keep his nose clean so that they could fight. Dhudus smiles and said that he'd like that, then promised to see if he could get out of house arrest before then. Jorah then said that he'd stop darkening the room for now and that he'd go rest to try to become less of a giant bruise. Not knowing that Dhudus' punishment was self-inflicted, Reides hoped that their family could stop locking people away. While he didn't tell Reides that he was under house arrest by choice, Dhudus defended it, saying that it was reasonable in this case. As the Champions left, Kilwin said that it was nice to finally meet him - the real him. Dhudus acknowledged this before going back to staring out the window.

When the Champions were fully out of the room, Jorah hoped Dhudus was telling the truth. Reides said that he thought he was, but admitted that he's not known for not being naive. Regardless, he wasn't mad at Dhudus at all and truly hoped that everything would work out. He also hoped that Dharsus would pull through despite the severity of the wound that Dhudus inflicted on him while possessed. He didn't want Dhudus to carry the burden of that and wanted Dharry to be safe, as all of the Laveraths had a strong personal bond with the captain of the kingsguard.

During the Champions' audience with Khavas, Reides was formally declared as Laverathia's ambassador to the surface world. After business was handled, Reides asked his father about Dhudus. Khavas noted that Dhudus was experiencing genuine remorse for his actions but also admitted that no one was sure if he was completely free of the aboleth's influence. As such, he would be under house arrest until everyone was certain that the danger had passed. As fair as it was, Reides still felt bad and asked Khavas if he knew anything about aboleths. Khavas told him that legends were the only resource they had pertaining to aboleths in Laverathia. He also revealed that Dhudus recommended his own confinement. Upon learning this, Reides respected his choice and said that he was happy once his younger brother wasn't ostracized for what the aboleth made him do. He reminded his father that they both had first-hand experiences with the aboleth's manipulative powers and pointed out that the beast's goal was to tear their family apart. He then admitted that, as much as he respected Dhudus' decision, he didn't think that locking himself away and beating himself up about what happened would constitute as healing. Khavas noted Reides' words, and then brought up that people were still worried about Dharsus, as he was still in a critical state. Reides was glad that Dhudus wasn't cut down by Viglis in a panicked response to witnessing that attack, and Khavas stated that Viglis had a soft heart and couldn't have possibly gone through with that. This angered Reides, who defended his older brother and said that he was considerate and merciful, as he should be. Once the Champions' business in Aquos was all wrapped up and Reides was in possession of its crest - granted to him by Khavas as thanks for his role in saving their home seas - Reides looked for Dhudus so that he could let him know that he was going back up to the surface.

Dhudus was lounging in bed when Reides was let into his room. He lazily greeted Reides and said that there wasn't much for him to do while under house arrest. Reides asked how he was holding up while confined, and Dhudus said that not everyone was as lucky as he was - after all, he was locked up in his own bedroom. Recalling his time locked in one of the Citadel's towers, Reides wished he was locked up in his room instead but quickly realized that such a thing would've eventually driven him crazy, too. Dhudus attempted to reassure him, telling him that he'd be okay. Reides asked him about the imprisonment being self-inflicted, and Dhudus confirmed that it was true. He was worried about the chance that he could ever do something like that again. Reides promised to research aboleths on the surface, as he wanted to help Dhudus in learning how he should proceed. Again, he reminded Dhudus not to blame himself, as the aboleth was a horrible creature and everyone in Aquos knew that. He warned Dhudus that if he ever contacted him via Sending, it'd sound like a voice in his head. Recalling his experience with the aboleth, Dhudus didn't like the sound of that, but Reides told him that it would be okay because it was just him. Dhudus then said that he was sad that he wouldn't get a chance to spar with Jorah. Reides pointed out that Dhudus could always take a trip to the surface someday, which made Dhudus laugh. Reides asked if he was opposed to it, and Dhudus said that he wasn't; he should have expected Reides to suggest such an outlandish thing. Reides then told Dhudus that he was "technically the Laverathian ambassador, officially." Dhudus asked if that meant he was technically or officially the ambassador, and Reides confirmed that it was official. After congratulating him, Dhudus shared some important advice with the new ambassador: That, as far as he could tell, nobles really hate when you eat with your hands. Reides immediately said that those nobles could go fuck themselves, as food tasted better that way. Dhudus agreed, and Reides told him to keep the nobles on their toes, as someone had to make things fun in the Coralpeak Citadel. Dhudus said that they had Lotlyn for that, so he'd just relax. Reides tried to mess up his hair again and Dhudus attempted to push him away - but Reides deflected the push and went in for a hug. He told his younger brother to take care, and Dhudus told him bye-bye.

When Reides was making amends with Viglis and thanking him for all that he did for him, he said that Viglis would go on to become the best emperor that Laverathia ever had, as he was already its best prince. He said that Dhudus would agree with him, too, and Viglis said that those were quite the words to hear.

While Reides was wishing his family well, Kilwin sought out the healers' tent, as he wanted to find Dharsus. Kilwin found him lying in a cot towards the back of the tent, being tended to by Kannen. Kilwin offered his help, which Kannen welcomed. Kilwin examined the wound which Dhudus inflicted on the guard captain. It was a deep one on his chest, angled so that it punctured a lung. The sorcerers had run low on their magical reserves, so they were relying on basic, mundane knowledge to try to keep Dharsus stabilized. Kilwin understood the feeling, then casted Beacon of Hope on the wounded tritons all around him. He then reached towards Dharsus with both hands. Light began to erupt from the wound, and it began to stitch itself together. Dharsus was left with a scar, but there was no indication that he had been wounded recently. With Dharsus saved, Kilwin continued to help the rest of the wounded tritons. Grateful for his help, many sorcerers bowed towards him, and Kannen told Kilwin to go with Persana's currents. Kilwin thanked him for the blessing and made his way back to the Coralpeak Citadel. When the Champions reconvened to depart from Aquos, Kilwin told Reides about his time in the healer's tent and confirmed that Dharsus was going to be okay. Reides thanked him profusely and Kilwin said it was nothing, but Reides said that it was everything. Not only was their cherished family friend saved; Dhudus would be able to breathe far easier.

Return to Falas

Back in Falas, Reides immediately got to work on the promise that he made to Dhudus. He paid a visit to the city's library, where he sought out information about aboleths and their mind-controlling abilities. Even with the aid of one of the clerks, he was unable to find anything about aboleths. Reides soon realised that he would have to be his own aboleth expert, as most people had never even heard of the monster. The clerk suggested that Reides conduct his research in the mind control section of the library. Reides thought this was a great idea, and the clerk redirected them to a more secluded area. There, he was able to provide Reides with a copy of The Mind: Unraveled by Haldev Fortisen.

Reides decided to study the whole book, as it had information pertaining to Control Via Magic and Control Via Creatures, and he wasn't sure what the aboleth used in order to control Dhudus. He learnt about various spells in the first section, such as Friends, Charm Person, and Geis. The book explained that the majority of these spells could be broken if the controlled person took damage, or if they were given a request that was likely to kill them. In the second section, he learnt that some creatures could control minds through various means. He learnt about intellect devourers, who took over bodies by devouring their victims' brains while leaving them alive. Less intelligent people were more susceptible to this type of control. Other creatures had abilities that resembled the spells that he read about, but some of them lacked the restriction on suicidal commands. However, damage could still usually disrupt those effects.

Reides wondered if Viglis managed to sever Dhudus' link to the aboleth by hitting him. He kept reading and saw that the death of the controlling creature, as well as physical distance, could also break mind control. Since the Champions killed Ryl'dhagt, this was a good sign for Dhudus. Later on in the day, he casted Sending to Viglis, as he recalled Dhudus being disturbed over the thought of receiving Sending messages in his current state. Moreover, he figured that people would more easily trust Viglis' word for it, as the guards may have regarded any claims from Dhudus as suspicious. He told Viglis that, due to the damage that Dhudus sustained as well as the death of the aboleth, Dhudus should be free. Viglis replied saying that he'd tell Dhudus and see him free.

Slumberjack's Homecoming

While hanging out with Jorah on the Viridian Comet, the two discussed the party's time in Aquos. Reides said that he was still recovering from everything that happened in his home seas and Jorah agreed that, even for someone without a personal connection to the city, it was an absolutely insane time. He said that it was weird to be underwater; Reides related to this, as he once thought it was very weird to be on the surface. Jorah pointed out that Reides didn't get thrown into dealing with an invasion the moment he arrived on the surface, though, and Reides could definitely see how such a thing would impede the acclimation process. Still, he vouched for Aquos' beauty during times of peace and told Jorah that he should pay it a visit again when everything was rebuilt - especially because he still owed Dhudus a sparring match.

Vicious Eyes and Vicious Hearts

Prior to attending Emperor Karseidon's remembrance ceremony, Reides decided to visit Aquos again in order to ask for permission to use the Laverath name during engagements on the surface. He also sought out advice or information about the Falassian court from his parents, who he knew had dealings with them in the past despite Laverathia's isolationistic nature. He invited the party to come along with him, though he said they were under no obligation to do so - except for Jorah, who owed Dhudus a sparring match.

In the Coralpeak Citadel, Reides learnt that Viglis was helming the rebuilding efforts, and that Dhudus had immediately begun helping him as soon as he was released from captivity. The group found Dhudus out on the training grounds, stabbing at a dummy with a trident. Reides hugged him and messed up his hair, and Dhudus wrapped one arm around him. When Reides told him that he was happy to see him out and about, Dhudus agreed that it was nice to be training again. Reides reminded him about the sparring match against Jorah, and Dhudus immediately asked if Jorah was ready. Providing him with a pelagic longsword, the two of them attempted to settle on the rules of the sparring match. Jorah suggested that the person who landed the first solid hit would win, while Dhudus preferred to fight until one of them yielded. Jorah pointed out that the two would be there all day if that were the case, but he agreed to the revised suggestion of first to yield or get knocked out. Reides was immediately worried, as he thought that neither of them would ever yield. Kilwin agreed to help heal them if anything went badly, but asked them not to stab each other for real. He told them that when he used to spar with Eleanor, they used wooden sticks rather than actual weapons. Dhudus said that if they were using wooden sticks instead of real weapons up on the surface, surfacers must not be getting good training. He then entered the arena with Jorah.

Dhudus stabbed at Jorah with his trident the very moment that he entered Dhudus' range. Jorah placed a Hunter's Mark on him, striking him. In retaliation, Dhudus stabbed at Jorah's leg, then pulled it to the side. Catching Jorah off-guard, Dhudus flipped him onto his back. Now wielding his trident with both of his hands, he tried to stab at Jorah three more times - but only managed to hit him twice. This onslaught caused Jorah's Hunter's Mark to fall off him, and Dhudus swam back. Jorah tried to swing at him but missed, and Dhudus beckoned him to come in closer. Deciding against that, Jorah swam further away from him and took out his heavy crossbow. Placing Hunter's Mark on Dhudus once more, Jorah managed to shoot a bolt into Dhudus. Getting a second wind, Dhudus recovered from most of what Jorah managed to inflict and swam to the side of the arena, where he took cover. Jorah went after him - and, as soon as he entered Dhudus' range, a trident came at him. Jorah attacked, and Dhudus swam out from behind cover and retaliated. He flipped Jorah over again and drove his trident down at him, while Jorah kept up his onslaught with another attack. Dhudus managed to parry part of the blow, and both Kilwin and Reides suggested that the two call it there with the sparring. Dhudus attempted his leg hook again, but Jorah was ready for it this time and he remained upright. Jorah's following strike connected onto Dhudus, and Dhudus reared back and dropped his fighting stance. Conceding, he could tell that Jorah was holding back - but remarked that he was still tough. Jorah promised him that he wasn't holding back all that much, and that he thought he was going to bite it for real and that Kilwin would have needed to waste diamonds on a Revivify spell for him. Dhudus and Jorah then shook hands.

As Jorah continued to insist that he wasn't holding back, just playing fair, Dhudus pointed out that no one plays fair on a real battlefield. Reides examined Dhudus' wounds and saw that they were all superficial, as were Jorah's. He remarked that Dhudus had gotten a lot stronger than when Reides last saw him in action and asked where he learnt all of his skills. Dhudus told him that he had been doing a lot of training with Dharsus and Viglis, though the leg sweep maneuver was his own. Reides commented that Dharsus and Viglis would take the Jorah approach to fighting, and Jorah protested, saying that there was a difference between tripping your opponent and unleashing the power of the Nameless God on them. Dhudus offered to teach Jorah the tripping maneuver, but Jorah denied the offer, saying that he was already too busy with dance lessons. Dhudus then learnt about the remembrance ceremony. Dhudus said that most nobles who ever tried to dance with him during royal engagements usually learn their lesson the first time, and Reides confirmed that they'd get whacked repeatedly. Dhudus disagreed and said that, if that were the case, he'd actually enjoy dancing. He was then healed up by Kilwin as Reides commented that he wanted to see Jorah spar with Viglis.

Dhudus asked why the Champions were even in Laverathia, and Reides explained that he was attenting an audience with their father and that everyone else tagged along - save for Jorah, who was getting dragged along for the sparring match no matter what. Dhudus said that it was a good fight, and that training would have been boring otherwise, since Viglis was out in the city with Lotlyn. He figured that the Champions had a lot to do, and that he had more dummies to whack. Reides complimented the driftwood armor that the dummies had been adorned with, and Dhudus said that he adorned the dummies with it himself. Reides was glad to see Dhudus doing okay, and Dhudus thanked him for checking in. Reides then wanted to go see Arlyn for remembrance ceremony advice, and Dhudus thought it was a good idea. He recalled when a lesser noble family was desperately trying to set him up with their daughter even though he didn't want to be involved with her. Arlyn talked to them and they backed off immediately. Reides asked Dhudus if he knew where their mother was, and Dhudus thought very hard on the matter before admitting that he simply did not know. Reides patted him on the back regardless and thanked him for trying. Dhudus then returned to stabbing viciously at one of the dummies, already looking vaguely bored once more. The Champions eventually managed to track down Arlyn, and Reides told her that Jorah beat up Dhudus. Jorah swore that it was a very close sparring match. Arlyn said that it was very impressive and said that they'd need to keep their eye on Jorah.

When the Champions were gearing up to leave Aquos, Reides showed Jorah a sea-sponge and told him that he once covered Dhudus in jelly, and that they had to use sponges to clean him up. As Reides drew the teleportation circle, Kilwin asked for more details on the Dhudus-covered-with-jelly situation. Reides told him that, when Dhudus was one year old, Reides covered him in jelly for fun. Dhudus loved it, but Reides got a lot of trouble. Dharsus did not think it was funny, but Reides was sure that Viglis secretly thought it was funny. He then said that he'd do it again if he could get Dhudus to cooperate. Kilwin said that he could, and Reides wondered if he'd need to change the jelly type, since Dhudus claimed not to like sweet things as much anymore.

Back in Falas, the Champions attended a fancy dinner with Kain as a means of practicing formal etiquette. Falassian and Aquosian dining etiquette ended up being very different, and, at one point, Kain had to stop Reides from opening the oysters that he ordered with his hands. Alarmed, Reides recalled Dhudus' warning about nobles hating it when people ate with their hands.

After the remembrance ceremony, Reides paid a quick visit to Aquos with Aske and asked his mother about his siblings. While Lotlyn was out on the town, Viglis and Dhudus were attending a training camp together.

Knightfall

Reides taught the Champions Valoris an Aquosian truth-telling game. He played the game very often with Lotlyn, though it wasn't designed for two people, so they occasionally peer pressured Viglis or Dhudus into joining them. During the truth-telling game, Jorah asked Reides what he would do if he was made the heir of the Laverathian Empire. Horrified, Reides said that he would worry terribly over Viglis and that he'd rather check in with his older brother. When Jorah clarified that it was a hypothetical scenario wherein Khavas simply chose him over Viglis, Reides said that he liked where he currently fit into his empire's politics. He'd never abandon Laverathia but would likely seek to abdicate to someone else, such as Arlyn, Dhudus or Lotyln. The following day, Reides brought the Champions with him to Aquos for an audience with his father. He asked about Dhudus' whereabouts and learnt that his younger brother was out in the city with Lotlyn.

In another visit to Aquos - this one taking place after the Champions Valoris vanquished the demonic threat against Alethustria - Viglis and Jorah sparred. After the match, Viglis told Jorah that it was the best fight that he'd get all day, unless Dhudus came around. When Reides told his father and Viglis about his relationship with Aske, he asked that Viglis not make fun of him with Dhudus and Lotlyn too much. Viglis made no such promise.

A Respite

Dhudus attended the family dinner which Arlyn and Reides arranged in order to introduce Aske to the family. He was there on-time for it, largely due to Viglis' influence. He requested that kraken eggs be served at the dinner, as he thought it was a funny option, and helped Khavas and Viglis with slaying the shell shark that was prepared for the meal's main course. He was annoyed that he didn't get the final blow on it, as he was distracted by the sahuagin warrior that was controlling it, and swore that he'd get it next time. While tales of life on the surface alarmed him somewhat, he got along well with Aske and was impressed when he learnt that he knew how to dual wield swords. Along with Viglis, he wanted to spar with him someday.

When the Champions Valoris reconvened for the Aquosian memorial service for those lost during the events of the Stormbringing Festival and the subsequent Siege of the Coralpeak Citadel, Dhudus greeted them alongside Viglis. Viglis wanted to spar with Jorah sometime again, and Dhudus also wanted a rematch. After the service itself, Reides was keeping an eye on Dhudus, as he worried that the service would bring back horrible memories for him. Dhudus was largely unreadable, but Reides saw him floating behind the stage, looking up at the lanternlight jellyfish and blowing bubbles.

Character Information

Goals

After the fall of Aquos in 598, Dhudus took on a large number of patrols with the goal of keeping the triton refugee camp safe. Given his love of battle, however, it can also be assumed that combat helped him deal with the trauma surrounding the crisis. It was during one of these many patrols that he fell under the influence of Ryl'dhagt of the Abyss, who promised him good, evenly-matched battles that felt just right, but only if he served it as a thrall and ensured its victory against Laverathia. Dhudus tried to resist its manipulation but ultimately fell under its influence.

Upon becoming possessed by Ryl'dhagt, Dhudus later claimed that he felt like he was watching his own body do things without his control. His goals shifted away from saving Aquos and towards serving the aboleth. Prior to the Siege of the Coralpeak Citadel, Reides shared the battle strategy with Dhudus - not knowing that his brother was possessed. Since Ryl'dhagt had full insight into Dhudus' mind, this foiled the Champions Valoris' sneak attack against Kal'dazzum. During the Siege itself, a still-possessed Dhudus overtly betrayed the Aquosian forces, stabbing Dharsus in a near-fatal attack and almost cutting Viglis' throat open. Viglis managed to knock Dhudus out, halting his rampage against his fellow Aquosians. When Dhudus woke up after the battle, he appeared to be back to his normal self.

Dhudus regrets his actions and blames himself for getting possessed, though Reides insisted that it was beyond his control and that he shouldn't beat himself up over it. He has placed himself under house arrest and seems to be focused on ensuring that he won't lose control of himself again. After Reides conducted research on aboleths on the surface, he learnt that Dhudus was no longer the aboleth's thrall, as its control over Dhudus fully broke when the Champions killed it. He reported back to Aquos, and Dhudus left his bedroom and resumed his princely duties - though he was still focused on his training and gaining the mental fortitude to resist anything akin to what happened in the future.

Abilities

Dhudus is a very powerful fighter. He has experience with a large range of weaponry but favours the sword above all.

He takes a straightforward approach to battle rather than a tactical one and can be somewhat reckless, but he believes that this makes the experience more enjoyable. Many people in the Laverathian empire compare the raw power of his fighting style to that of his father's, as the two of them tend to get quite expressive in battle.

Relationships

Dhudus and Reides

:)

Dhudus and Jorah

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Dhudus and Kilwin

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Dhudus and Viglis

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Dhudus and Lotlyn

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Dhudus and Khavas

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Dhudus and Arlyn

:)

Quotes

• "Oh... yeah."
• (About Ryl'dhagt possessing him) "I heard a voice. It offered me battles. Good battles. Battles that felt just right... That I could fight in, every day. It sounded nice. But it wasn't something I'd trade any of you for."
• "If you throw enough stuff at a wall, something will stick eventually."
• "I've got some advice for you. As far as I can tell... Nobles really hate it when you eat with your hands."

Trivia

• Dhudus is really bad at riding hippocampi.
• He can hold his drink to an actually alarming degree.
• After the Siege of the Coralpeak Citadel, Dhudus claimed that he doesn't care for rip currant wine, as its flavour profile is too sweet. However, it should be noted that, when he said this, he was newly liberated from being an aboleth's thrall and did not know if he was fully in control of himself once more. Unwilling to worry Reides and the rest of the Champions Valoris, he may have denied the rip currant wine offered to him because he wished to remain as sober as possible.
• Dhudus actually enjoying sweet flavours is supported by a story from Reides' childhood, wherein he covered Dhudus with sweet sea sponge jelly when he was one year old. Reides did this because Dhudus "loved it," and Dhudus greatly enjoyed eating the jelly that his older brother put all over him. With that said, Dhudus may have also simply grown out of enjoying sweets, as he met the Champions Valoris 22 years later.

External Links

• Dhudus' Spotify playlist.