Sunderland

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Sunderland Starglim (桑德兰)
Alias(es)	Lady Sunderland; Lady Starglim; High Lady
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Mirabar; Glimmerstone Council; Lord Erastu Larim
Occupation/Role	High Magistrate of Mirabar; liaison and decree-issuer between Lord Erastu Larim and the Glimmerstone Council; archmage
First Appearance	28

Background / History

Sunderland inherited Mirabar’s magistrate position through family tradition, despite finding its mercantile politics incompatible with her temperament. The office carries limited direct authority: Lord Erastu Larim makes the city’s decisions, while the Glimmerstone Council administers them; Sunderland functions chiefly as their liaison, advisor, and public mouthpiece. She set aside her own arcane research to fulfill this role, though she remains deeply attached to Mirabar itself 44.

She secretly performs magical services for Lord Erastu, including using Suggestion to influence certain council resolutions. Her status as a mage was not publicly known in Mirabar, aside from the Marquis 47 38.

At Mirabar’s gate, Sunderland tested William’s caravan through provocation. Her signature Mass Suggestion went out of control and backlashed on her, leaving her vulnerable when William retaliated; his strength and fire magic convinced her that he might be a dragon in human form 29 37. She subsequently investigated William’s past with Sailu and constructed a theory that he was a Lawful Good dragon using the dead William’s identity 31.

Seeking to keep this supposed dragon in Mirabar, Sunderland offered William a residence, education for Mishaer, and access to the city’s smiths and materials 32. After recognizing Mishaer’s helmet as the legendary Horn of Kor, however, her interest became possessive. She attempted to claim the artifact under the pretext of settling the family’s housing debt, only for William and his companions to leave the house rather than surrender it 37 38.

Sunderland later joined William’s underground expeditions in adventuring gear, proving herself capable with spellcasting and magical equipment. She became a partner in the discovery and concealment of an adamantine-associated vein, using her contacts to secretly procure the flux needed for smelting 44 47 48.

Appearance

Sunderland is an elegant noblewoman with bright blue eyes and a composed public manner, though her expression and poise frequently collapse when frustrated by William or tempted by valuable artifacts 29 38 43.

• Fair complexion and a slender neck 29.
• Bright blue eyes 29 44.
• When adventuring, wears silver-white mithril chain shirt and soft leather trousers 44.
• Carries a decorated dagger on her calf and a rune-engraved magical hand crossbow on a leather belt 44.

Personality

Sunderland is erudite, shrewd, and capable in administration, able to negotiate firmly with powerful figures such as Bishop Vistark Orey. She is also manipulative when Mirabar’s interests are involved, using both political concessions and arcane influence to achieve her aims 31 47.

Her restrained official persona conceals a more adventurous, playful temperament. She dislikes the sedentary obligations of the magistracy and actively seeks excitement in dangerous expeditions; she even treats her hostile “resentful woman” dynamic with William as a source of amusement 44.

She has a pronounced greedy and obsessive streak. Her recognition of the Horn of Kor overrides her usual judgment, driving repeated attempts to obtain it, while the discovery of adamantine brings out an openly competitive side 37 38 46. Despite this, she grows protective of Mishaer and Aelf during the underground expedition 44.

Abilities & Skills

Arcane Spellcasting

Sunderland is an archmage who conceals her magical ability from most of Mirabar’s residents 47 38.

• Her signature spell is Mass Suggestion, though it was distorted and reflected by the Horn of Kor’s effects, causing a backlash against her 37.
• Casts Transmute Rock to Mud to excavate an iron-bearing wall, then uses Transmute Mud to Rock to reseal and conceal the kobold lair 47.
• Uses enhancement and utility spells including Bull’s Strength, Cat’s Grace, Owl’s Wisdom, Darkvision, and Light while searching for adamantine 47.
• Uses a scroll to summon an Otherworldly Tracking Mastiff, allowing the expedition to locate the kobold lair 44 45.
• Casts Wind Breath from a scroll to clear the polluted air inside the cave 45.

Political and Commercial Connections

Sunderland’s position and contacts allow her to obtain resources unavailable to ordinary adventurers.

• Knows the political rules surrounding powerful dragons and protected cities 33.
• Uses merchant-guild contacts and magical orders to acquire large quantities of flux without alerting Marquis Larim to the adamantine vein 48.
• Maintains a friendship with Nanfudo, a renowned northern gnome alchemist, and brings him into the adamantine-smelting effort 48.
• Negotiates a private division of the adamantine vein, allocating thirty percent each to herself, Singers, and Torg, with ten percent nominally reserved for the Glimmerstone Council 47.

Artifact Lore

Sunderland identified Mishaer’s helmet as the Horn of Kor after witnessing Bella’s spell distort and rebound 37.

• Learned of the artifact through an old Elvish notebook 37.
• Knows the legend that the Horn grants immunity to mental-affecting magic and can distort or reflect triggered magic nearby 37.
• Connects the artifact with Crenshinibon, regarding them as two of three famed relics associated with Chaotic Evil and True Neutral respectively 37.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Mithril chain shirt 44.
• Decorated dagger 44.
• Rune-engraved magical hand crossbow 44.
• Rapier and small buckler 44.
• Two-foot scepter 44.
• Ancient spellbook 47.
• Potions of healing and vitality, explosive potions, holy water, acid, alchemist’s fire, and antidotes 44.
• Wands and numerous magic scrolls 44.

Relationships

• William — Initially provokes and investigates him, becoming convinced that he is a dragon in disguise. She tries to bind him to Mirabar and later clashes with him over the Horn of Kor and monster spoils; their later cooperation around the adamantine vein develops into mutual respect 29 31 38 43 47.
• Mishaer — Covets the Horn of Kor worn by Mishaer, but becomes increasingly fond of and protective toward the child during the underground expedition 37 44.
• Aelf Star-Night — Shares Aelf’s interest in valuable magical items and briefly allies with her in demanding a portion of the adamantine. Sunderland later develops affection for her as part of William’s group 46 44.
• Torg Danzo Hammer-Striker — Works with him on underground security, exploration, and the adamantine venture; their interactions are marked by frequent arguments and teasing 44 45 47.
• Singers Macluff — Recruits the dwarf’s expertise for the adamantine project despite his objections to her decisions, particularly her inclusion of Nanfudo 44 48.
• Nanfudo — A personal friend and renowned alchemist whom Sunderland brings in to assist with alloy smelting 48.
• Lord Erastu Larim — Mirabar’s lord and Sunderland’s effective superior; she serves as his liaison and secretly provides magical assistance 44 47.
• Glimmerstone Council — The city’s administrative body, for which Sunderland issues decrees and conducts official coordination 44.
• Bishop Vistark Orey — A political adversary whose attempts to expand Tyr’s influence in Mirabar Sunderland resists through negotiation and compromise 31.

Trivia

• Sunderland’s failed Mass Suggestion was a major cause of the “William is a dragon” misunderstanding she later chose to maintain 37.
• She initially tried to keep outsiders away from William and arranged for him to meet the discarded blacksmith Singers, hoping to retain his perceived value for Mirabar 37.
• Although she covets the Horn of Kor, Mishaer repeatedly recognizes Sunderland’s hostile interest and hides behind William when the magistrate looks at the artifact 37 45.