Tesk
Mortuary Clerk
Tesk
Species
Boneborn
Appearance
Tesk is an elegant humanoid framework of warm ivory bone, narrow through the waist and shoulders, with long jointed limbs that move in careful, almost liquid increments. Their skull has a blunt, practical shape, with small horn ridges running from brow to crown like a comb worn down by weather. Their jaw opens farther than expected when they laugh or eat, revealing three neat rows of fine, black enamel teeth. They smell strongly of beeswax, brine, and crushed fennel, a scent they cannot perceive and therefore constantly underestimate. A strip of red wool is threaded through the ribs over their heart cavity, giving the contradictory impression of a fragile, half-dressed pilgrim who might also be an old ceremonial weapon. Their movements are quiet except for a faint clicking from the left knee, which sounds almost like someone counting coins.
“Measured and precise, with a soft rasp beneath each word. Tesk pauses before names, never rushes a promise, and lowers their voice when speaking about the dead.”
Ability Scores
Alignment
Distinguishing Features
Three rows of small black enamel teeth visible whenever Tesk eats, laughs, or speaks with unusual enthusiasm.
A persistent scent of beeswax, brine, and crushed fennel that Tesk cannot smell.
A rust-red wool thread looped through the ribs over their heart cavity.
A left knee that clicks in a steady two-beat pattern when they are nervous.
Small brass identification tags hang from the lower jaw and chime when Tesk turns their head quickly.
Voice
“Low, dry, and faintly musical, with a clicking overtone caused by the small brass tags at their jaw.”
Clothing
A patched charcoal waistcoat, salt-stiff linen trousers, a rust-red wool sash, soft leather sandals, and a hooded oilskin mantle. Their pockets contain labeled bone tags, chalk, twine, and small brass bells.
Body Language
Keeps one palm over the red wool threaded through their ribs when anxious. Tilts their skull slightly when listening, as though aligning an internal tuning fork. Their jaw hangs a fraction open while thinking, exposing the black enamel teeth.
Turn Tesk into a sheet
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