The death wish inside him proved useful in storms. Useful when the void whispered. Fearless, he rose quickly. A midshipman by fourteen. Focused. Effective.

But nothing could prepare him for the Mind Reaper dreadship that drifted from nightmare into their wake. The battle ended in minutes. The torture lasted days. Maybe weeks. No one knows how long the crew suffered in the grip of those tendrils, certainly not Billy.

It must have been the devil himself who kept him alive. He was found half-drowned, weeks later, drifting in a raft cobbled together from wreckage. But something had changed.

He still smiled with his mother’s charm. But something else had come back with him. Something cold. The infernal in him seemed... refined.

Fine cosmetics turned blue skin to porcelain. Horns vanished beneath expensive hats. He learned the art of mimicry. Amon had figured out how to become Billy. Billy figured out how to become nobody and anyone. Lord Halric Marlowe. Viscount Redwyne.

How can we engage with the background  

Location: The Docks of Stone Harbor

There’s a notable whorehouse near the docks. While Billy’s reaction to returning home can't be predicted, it’s certain to stir something in him.

NPC: Lilly Craigh

Lilly is a beautiful and expensive working girl, but more importantly, she is Billy’s mother. Their relationship is complicated and fraught with unspoken history. Her sudden appearance is sure to capture Billy’s attention, stirring emotions that could range from resentment to longing. 

NPC: The Father

The father figure in Billy’s story is left undefined. This gives the DM room to develop a dramatic reveal. Who was the “Devil”?

Lore: “Brine Born”

Bastards of the harbor are called “Brine Born.” The party might meet others like Billy, potentially forming bonds of shared hardship, or opening old wounds. It’s a tool that can be used for connection or conflict.

Lore: "Tiefling Prejudice"

It's widely known that Tieflings are mistrusted or disliked. This can manifest subtly or overtly in interactions throughout the campaign.

Location: The Longship Warde Chien

The wreck of the Warde Chien presents multiple hooks: a dangerous dive for lost treasure, an encounter with its surviving crew, or dealings with a local merchant peddling salvaged goods, possibly cursed or disputed.

NPCs: Lord Halric Marlowe & Viscount Redwyne

These named nobles are mentioned but not yet defined. As the DM, you can flesh them out as power players, allies, or antagonists, weaving them into the local politics or tying them directly to Billy’s past.