Dr. Pompeus Stil — The truth in blood

Dr. Pompeus Stil Pompeus Stil looks and behaves like a wise grandfather. His image is always that of a calm and knowledgeable mentor. Whatever crazy or inhuman things he does, he keeps his perfect parental mentor tone. He is bald, his remaining hair is white as snow, with a neatly trimmed beard. Pompeus Stil was once a revered professor at Luceria Royal Academy, now known as a heretic and betrayer of all intelligent life. Sixteen years ago, Dr. Stil was a professor of mathematics and engineering at Luceria Royal Academy. He became seduced by the ancient knowledge of a new sect blooming in Luceria's underground intellectual circles — the "Seekers of Quintessence". The sect leader claimed to hold ancient knowledge about an unspoken fifth Afela. Two years later, the sect was uncovered and almost exterminated by the officials. Pompeus Stil's brilliant mind reached a single conclusion: to find traces of the fifth Afela, he needed to look in the blood. In the years since, the professor of mathematics became the infamous "Doctor Stil." And obviously, without any medical knowledge, he had to start with basics. But that wasn't his path. Pompeus Stil started with mixing elf and human blood inside a dwarf. The experiments were quite painful and lethal for the subjects and pointless for science. His first draft theory was refuted, but it didn't stop him. Dr. Stil's main approach is to define a theory and prove it with experiments. Over the years he has built a system surpassing Luceria medical science. He and his team proved the existence of hormones, explored the effects of different forms of magic and poisons, and found treatments for several diseases considered untreatable. After some time, Doctor was contacted by a lodge of nobles wanting to reestablish the cult. Now he's sponsored by the lodge, which uses him as a scarecrow, sending him their enemies and 'discarded goods.' Quotations: "Human life — or any other sentient existence, should one delve deeply enough — is but a set of intricate equations, and I have devoted myself to solving them." "Elves, especially dark ones, have a very particular reaction to human blood injected in vitro. It's not yet clear if this is a fundamental flaw of their creation or an effect of the Afelas." "Mathematics is the cornerstone of all science. My fresh perspective and mathematical approach to biology allow me to uncover facts previously considered forgotten or even forbidden knowledge." "Over years of research, I've come to the conclusion that the fifth Afela not only exists but is unmistakably the only true creator of all we call sentient 'races'." "Resurrection of the fifth Afela only sounds impossible, but all mechanics of the entire existence demand it. It's not foresight, just pure calculus." Health: Pompeus's age brings familiar companions: joints that ache and swell, particularly in his hands and feet, making delicate work at times uncomfortable. His heart occasionally skips or races, leaving him briefly breathless. His lower back carries a persistent dull ache, and his legs swell after long hours standing. He takes breaks when needed, accepts the limitations without complaint, and continues his work as if these pains were merely background variables in the greater equation of his research. Lab location: Dr. Stil's laboratory occupies the abandoned eastern half of Kragh-Dur, a former mining town at the Tathor border. When the eastern shafts collapsed fifty years ago, the town split - western half survives as a trade post, eastern half decayed until Dr. Stil arrived with Community backing to "establish border medical facilities." The abandoned mining infrastructure became his laboratory - smelter to surgical theater, barracks to subject housing, assay office to private quarters. The active western trade settlement provides cover for supplies and noble visitors, while collapsed mine shafts offer hidden entrances. Perfect isolation for secrecy, perfect connection for a hundred-person operation disguised as legitimate medical research serving the border region. Work publishing: Officially, all his works, publications must be burnt in place. Sometimes together with the publication holder. Practically, medical science of all countries made a huge step forward. Spies all interested parties steal his discoveries. Luceria Academy alone presented dozens of works and inventions of Dr. Stil's lab as their own. Dr. Stil doesn't care. Science is science. Popularizing his work those countries are bringing discovery of the fifth Afela closer. ## Eurisla Eurisla is a dark elf of royal posture, ebony skin and soft curves. Her sky-blue hair hides her mutilated ears. Her ice-blue eyes look at you reading more than your words tell. Once the high-born with a very different name of the Xynian Empire, now Dr. Stil's right hand, a double spy for Community and Doctor, and a branded exile. Stripped of her family name, she now has to use the substitute "Eurisla". Her ears are no longer pointy, cut to a humiliating dull shape by her own family. Her speech flows like a thick honey, slow and heavy with layers of meanings heavy to deduct if you weren't born in Xynian empire. She picked up several terms from doctor, finding them unsettling for the listeners (like calling everyone variables). Eurisla is no scientist. She handles paperwork, delegates tasks to her underlings, and takes care of Doctor's health, assuming his survival is the main factor for her own. Secretary, nanny and scribe who serves two masters (and Dr. Stil is fully aware of it). She is a typical dark elf in atypical conditions. ## Trogrim Trogrim bears a name typical of his kin, but little else about him conforms to dwarven expectations. A former medic who grew weary of being looked down upon by his own people, he fled to the surface seeking a better life. He fell first into slavery, then became one of Dr. Stil's subjects. The Doctor recognized his steady hands and deep anatomical knowledge, promoted him to assistant, and now relies on his skill when his own joints prove too painful for delicate work. Trogrim's behavior contrasts with what you expect from a dwarf. He looks up at the Doctor, trying to copy his speech, but sometimes he gets carried away and throws it in the faces of those imbeciles. He's very impulsive at his core. He doesn't have issues experimenting with living or deceased subjects, having no empathy for subjects and believing Dr. Stil's work is worth casualties. ## Community of the Fifth Afela From the private journals of Pompeus Stil, recovered from his hidden laboratory In my professor days, I was drawn to a movement known only as the Seekers of Quintessence — common folk and starry-eyed students who whispered of a Fifth Creator, murdered by its jealous brethren. They spoke of unity where others saw division, of balance where the world knew only strife." Their creed was simple yet profound: that where races touch, there lies the echo of the lost Afela. They believed the blood of all sentient beings — elves, humans, dwarves, orcs, giants, even demons and celestials — held fragments of the divine whole, waiting to be reunited through understanding rather than dogma. Alas, such dreams are dangerous in Luceria. The Seekers were purged — hunted as heretics by those who fear truth more than falsehood. I alone escaped their fate, carrying but a single secret passed by a dying elder: "The Fifth lies where others touch." Now, what remains is but a shadow — a Community of nobles who play at secret societies. They fund my work, providing both gold and... subjects. They speak of resurrection, yet most care only for the fashion of conspiracy. They use my research as proof of their convictions while using my laboratory as disposal for their enemies. A convenient arrangement, for truth cares not from whose hands it receives sustenance. Perhaps they believe themselves masters of this game, these lords and ladies of the Community. But they forget: mathematics cares not for fashion, and equations yield only to truth, not to noble whims.