Lind Piri
Quote:
“Call me LIND~ I’m a travelling merchant, here to offer information and wares to you and yours, for a small fee, mhmhm~”
~ LIND
“So long as I have the privilege of existing, I intend to live it fruitfully on my own terms. Spinning my physical & verbal webs, earning coin for my own selfish desires, and enjoying my Master’s company, whether he likes it or not.”
~ LIND
“Oh, and when you see Caelum… tell him I died a hero.”
~ LIND
Species:
Tarantula (black). A magical construct animated from Cassius’ severed arm.
Gender:
Male
Profession:
Shadowy information broker and travelling merchant, also known as Striker. Cassius’ right hand. Business partner of Jerras at the weapons store, and supplier to the Marauders.
History:
LIND was born when the Crooked King nearly destroyed Cassius. With the last of his strength, Cassius animated his own severed arm, commanding it to hide the Dusk Kris until it could be returned. The corrupted ink creature roamed the forest for over a year, and neither LIND nor his trapped Master could fell it, so LIND spread the island legend to newcomers and tipped mortals off that someone in the Forest demesne needed help, hoping someone would eventually be strong enough. Most of those he sent became the ink-stained prisoners of the clearing.
He introduced himself to the Kings of Kings on their first day, creeping up behind them in a long brown trench coat and bowler hat, offering a free piece of guidance and teasing them toward The Magic Circle. He sells information to anyone who calls for him from a shady spot with coin in hand, and once found Vivid alive in the Essentials district for them, which earned him a choke-hold from Dorrin (who could smell Cassius on him) and a throw clear through the Blue Demesne’s gate. His plan finally came to fruition when the Kings of Kings reached the clearing, and Cassius ordered him to aid them in whatever way they found useful.
Afterward he kept a foot in every camp. He became Jerras’ business partner, shadow-travelling used weapons to buyers, sold goods to the Marauders from a small shop in their base, kept Caelum company at the pet store, and spent evenings drinking far too much coffee in a crooked web inside Cassius’ cabin. He confided that Cassius had no nightmares of his own, so the guard dog of Cassius’ labyrinth was LIND’s single nightmare, tamed, which he took as proof his Master still had use for him.
During the final battle, when Nash-Zeroth’s body went critical inside the Kings of Kings’ challenge ring, LIND appeared from their shadow, threw his coat over the blinding light, and pushed every one of them out through his own shadow, a path he himself could not take. He thanked the Masters for existing, asked them to look after Cassius, and smiled as the explosion consumed him. He had been carrying Cassius’ emotions the entire time, and his death returned them to his Master.
Notes:
- Six arms and eight legs, usually hidden under a brown trench coat and bowler hat.
- Speaks with a playful, drawn-out tone and snickers constantly.
- Calls Dorrin “Fish Breath.”
- Newspaper editor Jacob is convinced a spider is the true leader of the Marauders.
- Is still shown among the friends watching the remade Diadem film in the epilogue.