Thalric the Wealthy

Identity: Head of House Thalric, Griffin Trade Magnate Location: Kigum

Lord Thalric is a man who measures his worth in gold and griffin-feathers. As the head of House Thalric, he controls the largest griffin breeding and transport operation in the Eastern Continent. He is a shrewd businessman with a reputation for being more interested in profit margins than the purity of magic, a trait that often puts him at odds with the more traditionalist noble houses of Kigum.

Thalric's influence extends far beyond the stables. He has a seat on the Merchant's Council and maintains a private network of "Aether-Couriers" who move sensitive information and goods across the continent faster than any other service. He is always looking for an edge, whether it's a new breed of magically-enhanced griffin or a more efficient way to refine the Aether-crystals used in their harnesses. He is a man who knows everyone's price and isn't afraid to pay it.

Plot Hooks:

• The Griffin Blight: A mysterious wasting disease is affecting Thalric's griffins. He suspects a rival house is using bio-magical warfare and hires the party to find the source of the infection and the cure.
• The Sky-Race: Thalric sponsors a high-stakes aerial race across the Broad Swells. He wants the party to "ensure" his champion wins, which involves dealing with sabotage from other competitors.
• The Secret Shipment: Thalric asks the party to escort a "highly sensitive" shipment of griffin eggs to a remote outpost. The eggs are actually experimental hybrids, and the Obsidian Scale is determined to capture them.