NPC Physical Description: Mensarius is a thin, wiry human in his early thirties who seems to vibrate with constant nervous energy. His mousy brown hair is perpetually disheveled from his habit of running his fingers through it when stressed—which is always. Pale from spending most of his time indoors counting coins by lamplight, he has the slightly hunched posture of someone who’s spent years bent over ledgers. His clothes are always immaculate despite his fidgeting: pressed vest, clean collar, and ink-stained fingers that he constantly wipes on a handkerchief kept in his breast pocket.
Behind wire-rimmed spectacles, his watery blue eyes dart constantly, as if calculating risks and counting exits. He’s thin to the point of looking underfed, though this stems more from anxiety affecting his appetite than actual poverty.
Personality & Mannerisms: Mensarius speaks in rapid, high-pitched bursts, often trailing off mid-sentence when he realizes he might be revealing too much information. He has an unfortunate tendency to squeak when startled, which happens frequently. His hands are never still—straightening papers, adjusting his spectacles, or drumming his fingers in complex mathematical patterns on any available surface.
He’s obsessively organized and becomes visibly distressed when things are out of place. During conversation, he’ll unconsciously arrange objects on his desk into neat rows while talking. He also has a nervous habit of muttering calculations under his breath, especially when stressed.
Background & Motivations: Mensarius inherited his position from his uncle, who died suddenly three years ago during the previous Festival of Therion. Since then, he’s lived in constant terror of making a mistake that would dishonor his family’s legacy or, worse, result in financial loss for the townspeople who trust him.
The festival represents his greatest annual challenge—managing the influx of foreign currency, ensuring proper exchange rates, and most critically, safeguarding the accumulated wealth that represents months of hard work for local farmers and merchants. He’s painfully aware that one mistake could ruin families.
Current Crisis: Mensarius discovered the potential threat through his meticulous record-keeping. Someone had been asking unusual questions about:
- When the vault receives its largest deposits
- Which routes merchants use to transport festival earnings
- How many guards escort money transfers
- The timing of when accumulated festival proceeds get moved to the regional treasury
What terrifies him most isn’t just the threat of robbery, but the possibility that his information might have inadvertently helped the bandits plan their attack.
Speech Patterns & Dialogue: Mensarius speaks in a high, reedy voice that cracks when he’s particularly nervous. He often starts sentences multiple times:
“Well, you see, the thing is—that is to say—what I mean to tell you is that someone, and I’m not entirely certain who, mind you, but someone has been asking questions. Pointed questions. About the vault. About our… our procedures.”
He frequently apologizes unnecessarily and tends to over-explain simple concepts:
“Oh! Forgive me, I should clarify—when I say ‘vault,’ I don’t mean just any storage space, you understand, but the reinforced stone chamber beneath the bank where we keep the town’s most valuable assets, including but not limited to…”
Key Information He Provides:
- The Suspicious Visitor: Three days ago, a man claiming to be a merchant from Vanguard asked detailed questions about security procedures. Had pine needles on his cloak and scratches on his hands.
- Timing Concerns: The visitor seemed particularly interested in when the vault would hold the most money (end of festival week, before transport to regional treasury).
- Unusual Knowledge: The stranger knew things about banking procedures that most merchants wouldn’t—suggesting either experience with financial systems or prior reconnaissance.
Interaction with the Party: Initially, Mensarius will be almost too nervous to speak coherently, especially if the party seems intimidating. He’ll respond better to gentle, patient questioning than aggressive interrogation. If treated kindly, he becomes eager to help, though his helpfulness sometimes manifests as overwhelming amounts of detail about banking procedures that may not be relevant.
He’s particularly responsive to anyone who acknowledges the importance of his work or shows understanding of financial responsibility.
Combat Capabilities: None whatsoever. If violence breaks out near him, Mensarius will likely faint, hide under his desk, or flee while making small distressed noises. However, his intimate knowledge of Greendale’s layout includes several hidden passages and escape routes that he could share if properly motivated.
Key Dialogue Samples:
“Oh dear, oh dear… Captain Aldric said you’d be coming, but I do hope—that is, I pray—that my information proves useful. I’ve been going over the records again and again, you see, checking my figures, because accuracy is so very important in matters of finance, and…”
“Pine needles! Yes, definitely pine needles on his cloak. I noticed because they don’t grow near the bank, you understand, and I have a keen eye for details—comes with the profession, really—and I thought it odd that a merchant from the northern kingdoms would have fresh pine on his clothing when…”
Potential Plot Hooks:
- He mentions that he had seen the suspect at the The Third Onion Tavern most nights, not that he himself is s regular there..
Mensarius serves as both an information source and a representation of the innocent townspeople the party is protecting—making the stakes feel personal and immediate.