Devon

Devon, short for Devonius, is a scarred Quegian mercenary and card-player in Betrayal at Krondor. He can first be encountered in Chapter 1.

Background[]

While working for Dauphiness Cassandra of Queg, Devon boarded a Keshian vessel and discovered a stowaway, Abuk. After forcing Abuk to "help" pick the locks of a few choice chests of merchandise, he chained him in the belly of the ship, planning to present him to Cassandra as a gift. However, the skilled lockpick was gone when they docked in Palanque, leaving a note saying that he would be in Silden if they needed him.

Devon also worked for the Dauphiness of Palanque. Unfortunately, during a tavern game of lin-lan with an old sea dog, Devon was unable to match a bet and rashly accepted a dare to put up the purse he was carrying for the Dauphiness, losing the entire sum. The Dauphiness was angry and Devon worked as a bodyguard for two years to pay off his debt.

He renounced his Quegian ties three years ago, when he and a friend seized Cassandra's private war galley, the Storm's Master, and sunk King Lebeus's flagship with all hands aboard. He burned his Writs of Passage that day and has had nothing to do with the Dauphiness or "her bastard father-in-law" since.

At some time he had played pokiir with Isaac and his moredhel friends, whom Devon took for elves. In contrast to Isaac's account of the game, Devon felt that Isaac's playing style was almost that of a mind-reader, and recalled that each time he folded, he smiled to his friends.

Chapter 1-3[]

Arriving in Eggley to find it deserted, the party meets Devan at The Stranger. He explains that he had been in Eggley for several weeks, and one day noticed a a visitor to the town's tavern who had ordered the same meal as he had (beef, bread and ale). After eating, the man, and everyone else in Eggley, inexplicably departed from the town. Devon learned later that his visit to Eggley had coincided with the Festival of the Stranger, but that when the Festival's rituals were disrupted by the visitor's death, the displaced farmers took it as a bad omen from Killian and refused to come back. With their permission, Devon took over as Eggley's tavern-keeper, welcoming and entertaining Rake and anyone else who passed by.

Talk[]

The Festival: Devon explains that the Festival of Strangers is dedicated to Silban and relates some of her importance to the local farmers. Asked about a local temple, he tells the party where to find the Temple of Silban, which "smells like a whore's bedchamber."
Mercenaries (after talking to Brother Marc): Questioned about the local increase in Quegian mercenary activity, Devon relates how and why he burned his Writs of Passage and cut contact with Queg. He posits that whoever is paying the mercenaries must possess a fortune in Rubies, since Kingdom sovereigns are useless on Queg and the network of personal vendettas on the small island usually prevents mercenaries from collaborating without a significant financial incentive.
Spitzer (after Mercenaries): Devon recounts that Spitzer now avoids other Quegians in fear of the king's wrath regarding the Storm's Master incident, but would probably be happy to talk to the party. He was last known to be in Tanneurs.
Buildings: Asked about abandoned buildings, Devon says that he refuses to break into the town's empty houses since he doesn't know if the townsfolk will return. With lockpicking on his mind, he recounts his adventure with Abuk.
Pokiir (if the party has discussed Mind Readers with Isaac): Describes his game with Isaac, mentioning that one of Isaac's "elven" friends wore the clothes of Delekhan's moss-troopers.
A Game (after Pokiir): The party leader may play pokiir with Devon, betting for 50, 75, 100 or 200. If they decline the game, Devon tells the story of his lin-lan loss in Palanque, but they can return to the dialog and accept later if they wish.
Self Defense (if they decline the game): Devon offers to teach combat tricks for 80 sovereigns. If the party accepts, he retrieves his Salamanca from under the counter and takes the team to the nearby graveyard for a lesson, increasing their Defense.

After the other locals return to Eggley, Devon welcomes the party to a celebration at the tavern, relating that since no one knows what became of the previous innkeeper, he is serving in that capacity for the time being.

Chapter 2-3[]

Moredhel: Devon confirms that he has recently seen large numbers of heavily armed moredhel heading south toward Tanneurs in groups of twos and threes, finding it odd that they marched through the area without trying to provoke anyone.

Chapter 6[]

News: Devon describes Eggley's newest full-time resident, who, "as mad as old King Rodric," has been digging up graves barehanded. Discovering him clawing up a grave with nothing inside the coffin, Devon cleaned him up and put him to bed in the last house on the right at the north end of town.
The Fever: Devon advises keeping off the main roads, since sufferers of Quegian Fever run around in a panic imagining everyone around them to be a threat.

Trivia[]

The party recognizes "Devon" as a shortened form of "Devonius," a distinctly Quegian name.
Devon's pokiir game and Defense lesson can only be accessed if the party discusses Mind-Reading with Isaac, which can only be done before their encounter with Nago.
Devon's pokiir game can be played even if the party has already Barded at the inn.