The Swan
A tall, slender wild-shaping druid with a long neck, spindly fingers, black eyes, and white hair, never seen without his white duster. Smooth, resonant, and gracious, he is—like most of Aurelian's organization—absolutely true to his word, honoring every promise down to the letter. He built and runs the Soul Brokers' hidden archive beneath New Arcanum's canals, protected not by magic, which a city of mages would detect, but by ingenious hydraulic locks, musical doors, and puzzles ("The key to success is knowing your obstacles are nothing but a facade"). His muscle is a pair of thugs called the Ugly Ducklings. When cornered he transforms into a literal swan and escapes into the city's flocks of waterfowl—and he knows where the vault is.
Featured In Modules
This lore entry is featured in the following adventure modules:
- Ledger of SoulsWhen the delivery girl Kori crash-lands her flying gondola at the party's feet, her undeliverable brass cylinder—addressed to ring three, one-hundred-and-twenty degrees, "but there's nothing here"—proves to be the missing piece of the Soul Brokers' hidden archive. Following the swan Kori saw vanish into a canal culvert, the party plays her remembered melody (F-A-C-A-D-E) on a chained pan flute, defeats the water-jug scale guarding the inner door, and finds a brass clockwork counting machine binding the Ledger of Souls—the master tally of Aurelian's debtors, friends, and materiel. The Swan and his Ugly Ducklings bar the only way out, and a flying gondola chase through New Arcanum's canals follows, with Kori proudly at the tiller. The Ledger's first page names Aurelian's Spire as the seat of the whole operation.