Varkas the Shard-Lord

Varkas the Shard-Lord
Title: Master of Aetheric Futures
Role: Varkas is a gaunt, nervous man whose skin has taken on a faint violet glow from prolonged exposure to Void-Shards. He is the town’s primary shard-broker, buying raw shards from scavengers and selling them to the highest bidder in Kigum or Steamfort. He is a man of immense wealth and zero scruples.
Secret Motivation: Varkas is "addicted" to the energy of the Void-Shards. He has been secretly consuming small amounts of crushed shards, which has given him limited telepathic abilities but is slowly eating away at his sanity. He believes that the "Void-Gods" are speaking to him, and he is preparing a "Grand Offering" (a massive explosion of Void-energy) to welcome them to Aethervale.
Adventure Hook: Varkas’s "Vault of Shards" is breached, and several highly unstable shards are stolen. He hires the party to recover them before they "detonate" and take the whole town with them.