Bahram ibn-Zubair
Sluicewright and Aquifer Surveyor
Bahram ibn-Zubair
Species
Human
Appearance
Bahram is a narrow, weathered man whose skin has the dry, fine texture of old parchment except across his palms, where years of oil and mineral grit have darkened the creases permanently. He moves with a surveyor's measured economy, pausing before doorways as if waiting for the walls to finish speaking. His face is long and severe, but his smile is unexpectedly tender and boyish. One side of his beard is neatly braided with copper thread, while the other has been singed short by a ritual pressure flare. He leaves an impression of quiet competence, like a lamp burning in a flooded room.
“Low, dry, and deliberate, with frequent pauses to listen to the surrounding stone. His voice becomes almost musical when reciting measurements or maintenance sequences, but turns painfully soft when discussing the dead.”
Ability Scores
Alignment
Distinguishing Features
A ring of twelve labeled brass keys hangs from his belt, and each key bears a tiny engraved symbol for a gate, pump, or regulator.
His left ear is ridged with pale scar tissue from a pressure blast, making him partially deaf to ordinary speech but exceptionally sensitive to low vibrations.
A blue ceramic surveyor's stake is embedded beneath the skin of his right forearm, visible as a hard ridge when he flexes.
The end of his beard is permanently blackened and curled from a leyline flare.
He smells faintly of wet stone, lamp oil, and crushed mint.
Voice
“A tired baritone with a faint rasp, like water passing through a narrow brass pipe”
Clothing
A layered indigo work coat stiffened with wax, a sleeveless sand-colored surveyor's vest, stained linen trousers, waterproof boots, and a faded red scarf wrapped around his neck. His coat is pinned with ceramic water markers and reinforced at the elbows with hammered brass plates.
Body Language
Bahram tilts his head toward distant noises, taps his thumb against the ring of brass keys, and keeps one hand near the nearest wall. When lying, he becomes unnaturally still. When genuinely frightened, he smiles and begins counting under his breath.
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