DECEASED
a.k.a. Nix, Montgomew Aelfwaard-Underburrow, “Monty,” Stanhope Erich Nixon III
SWASHBUCKLER (Guiding Blade) 10
Named in Chapter 39 by Cesadia Wrentz as one of Rony’s former associates in Thrushmoor. Reportedly a “fucking coward.”
In Chapter 46, he was referenced in Rony’s letter (as “Nix”) to Grip as someone Grip could “gut” once Rony was gone.
In Chapter 60, it was learned that he was a former militiaman who had held many jobs during his days in Thrushmoor. The party encountered him working as the Fish Market night watchman (standing guard under the light of Glowing Jill), before he fled from them in terror.
Nix reappeared in Chapter 86, revealing himself to Dabwick after hiding out in Fort Hailcourse for days (avoiding Grip and Vik). He asked Dabwick for their magical hat to change his appearance; but Dabs ended up locking him in a room for Grip to deal with later.
In Chapter 87, he promised Grip he was going to leave Thrushmoor, but Grip felt him to be not entirely trustworthy.
In Chapter 90, Nixon resurfaced, this time in disguise as “Montgomew Aelfwaard-Underburrow,” the new swabbie aboard the Sellen Starling. Using Dabwick’s magical hat, he presented as a muscular young adult gnome male, around 100 years old. Shockingly white hair but for dark black sideburns, worn in an unkempt bouffant. Hollow eye sockets, piercing pink eyes, extremely long pointy ears. Always quiet and depressed, carried himself like a soldier. Likely trying to combat the Bleaching.
The story he told Skywin was that he had been part of the crew of gnomes that brought the hardwood down to Thrushmoor to be loaded onto the Sellen Starling, and he let slip rumors of some hanky-panky involving Osgood’s wife. Skywin took pity on him and gave him a job cleaning the ship overnight while everyone else slept.
In Chapter 93, Dora caught him staring at her in the hold of the ship while she was researching.
In Chapter 94, he was present (swabbing the decks overnight) when Grip “invented” meditation.
In Chapter 112, he was practicing his own twist on Grip’s meditation (though using the exercise to explore an imagined dominance over his perceived enemies rather than to find a state of mental peace) when the extraplanar Alhool attacked. Forced to join in the fight, Dabwick’s hat slipped from his head and his identity was revealed. During the action, he clobbered Nheb, confusing the Witch’s aid for aggression.
In Chapter 115, Stanhope revealed that he had spent months as a “cat’s-paw” bandied between Rony and Riptusk in the days before the start of the campaign. Riptusk had threatened him in the name of a Demon Lord he didn't recognize, and both men promised to kill him AND stop the other from killing him. It was all very traumatic.
Following his reveal during the Alhool battle, Stanhope was sent to Katsin for discipline. The quartermaster instructed him to begin a practice of detailed journalling, and commanded him to present a new limerick to the crew every night at dinner.
His first limerick debuted in Chapter 116, introduced with an explanation that Stanhope would “write what he knows:”
A old man with hair in his ears
Had gotten himself in arrears;
But they made him pay,
No matter the way:
They chopped off his fingers with shears.
In Chapter 120, the sight of Vadrack in his fully exposed form drove him mad with what would develop as a Phobia to the supernaturally aberrant.
Stanhope presented two limericks in Chapter 122:
From dream, they come to destroy the Sellen.
The fate of all hands aboard, there’s no tellin’.
But we made them drown,
One by one, all cut down,
For Vadrack and crew needed killin’.
and
A young boy, much too young to shave,
Was playing at being too brave.
Got into a pickle,
That axe gave a tickle,
Well, the constable showed that poor knave.
He presented one in Chapter 123:
There was a young girl name of Maeve,
Who was smart and decidedly brave.
She gave me some food,
And a magic hat toboot,
I’m grateful that she misbehaved.
He presented one in Chapter 124:
There once was a hole named The Stain,
Where alcohol poured like the rain,
And every night
They started a fight;
I’m sure we’ll go back there again.
He presented one in Chapter 133:
In the caves was a witch, name of Jane,
Who sold off her poisons for gain.
She grew mushrooms galore,
And we all wanted more;
Just a taste might drive you insane.
He presented one in Chapter 135:
The first was a girl with blue eyes
And a chest of voluminous size,
But their drinks that she spilled
Triangle ’tweren’t thrilled;
At night I can still hear her cries.
In Chapter 136, Stanhope shared his love of the festival day known as the Grand Day of Exaltation.
He presented another limerick in Chapter 139:
There once was a pair who weren’t nice,
They’d do anything for the right price;
But the doctor’s bill had to be paid,
Even with so many games to be played,
So they got rid of him in a trice.
He presented another limerick in Chapter 142:
Back in the day, we did crimes,
Though mine were committed ‘gainst rhymes;
But those bodies all over the deck
Piled right up to my neck,
Made me feel just like old times.
In Chapter 151, Chester shared with Dabwick an overview of all that had happened since the party had last enacted the Dreamlands Excursion ritual. In brief: Stanhope had set sail with Stazi (and Dora’s violin with the mysterious note) on 30 Abadius for Absalom, apparently following the trail of Lowls and Mun.
In Chapter 153, Dabwick attempted to scry on Stanhope to learn his (and Stazi’s) location, but their spell failed both times, indicating to the party that he was either dead or currently warded from divination spells.
In Chapter 159, the party learned (via a psychometry vision) that Stanhope (along with Stazi and Tharivol) had been Seeded with Xhamen-Dor when they investigated the scuttled Aurora in Abadius.
In Chapter 173, Sister Thyrr informed the party that Stanhope entered the Mysterium in pursuit of Lowls and Mun on 23 Pharast, 4719 with Elder Lythiin, a dozen Stewards, Stazi, Tharivol, and Nheb, and as of the 28th, had not re-emerged.
In Act IV, Interlude Part 1, it was learned that Stanhope’s full name was Stanhope Erich Nixon III, and that his mother was a resident of Cassomir, apparently a woman of wealth and influence. Stanhope seemed to have fled Cassomir over the prospect of an arranged marriage with some woman, but after the events in Thrushmoor, Stanhope had decided to return and live the settled life his mother wished for him. However, upon being Seeded, Stanhope joined Stazi and Tharivol on a sea voyage that ultimately led him to Katheer. The chronicle of his travels during the first half of Act IV is recorded here.
Stanhope was savaged (and nearly slain) by a terrible haunt on the University Level of the Mysterium and then driven mad at the sight of a Dread Wraith on the second floor. His madness manifested as a belief that only children’s nursery rhymes and warding gestures could protect him from the creature.
In Act IV Interlude Part 6, Stanhope was slain by a Proto-Shoggoth, but managed to avoid being transformed into one.
Pandora was connected to Stanhope’s soul as he died through the psychometry vision she witnessed during the Act IV Interlude, but was unable to definitively determine whether or not his soul would be willing to return from the afterlife.
The party found his corpse on the Arcana level of the Mysterium in Chapter 177, lying on the floor near the Library of Blasphemous Texts.
In Chapter 187, Tharivol cast Speak with Dead upon Stanhope’s body to learn whether or not he wished to be returned to life. Stanhope’s soul chose to have his fate decided by the flip of a coin, the result of which was that he would move on to the afterlife.
Stanhope’s soul then awoke in the Garden Anima, the court of Mrtyu, where he was tasked with creating one final limerick, to be judged by the psychopomps in attendance. Stanhope spoke:
There was a young man, name of Nixon,
And life got all of their kicks in.
Stanhope made art
Straight from his heart.
Ooh, boy, they both need some fixin’.
Three judges responded as follows:
- The meter was tight, the rhyme true.
- His confession was deemed unworthy, that he hid and feared the light.
- His passion was deemed sufficient.
Stanhope was offered the opportunity to rest and recover in Mrtyu’s court, before moving on to his final judgment at Pharasma‘s throne, and he decided to stay and dance for a time.
First Reference: Chapter 39
Other Notable References: Chapter 46, Chapter 60, Chapter 86, Chapter 87, Chapter 90, Chapter 93, Chapter 94, Chapter 112, Chapter 115, Chapter 116, Chapter 120, Chapter 122, Chapter 123, Chapter 124, Chapter 133, Chapter 135, Chapter 136, Chapter 139, Chapter 142, Chapter 151, Chapter 153, Chapter 159, Chapter 173, Act IV Interlude Part 1, Act IV Interlude Part 2, Act IV Interlude Part 3, Act IV Interlude Part 4, Act IV Interlude Part 5, Act IV Interlude Part 6, Chapter 174, Chapter 177, Chapter 183, Chapter 187