Magician in the New Maze

 

Characters

Hale Bopp
An illustration of Hale Bopp in a painted, pixelated style

The quixotic and haughty leader of the alpinists.
Hale Bopp was sent to university to achieve greatness and rescue their family from a mire of generational debt. Over their lifetime, they have crafted an arresting and cultivated persona served with a thick air of condescension. As the university clock ticks, Hale Bopp struggles to bring their studies to fruition and the specter of failure threatens to ruin both the façade they have so carefully maintained and their family. When a longshot chance presents itself, Hale Bopp thrusts headlong into adventure for their shot at success.

Finlay
An illustration of Finlay in a painted, pixelated style

The alpinists's fragile-hearted silversmith financier.
Finlay born into a financial powerhouse of a family, traded away their chance at university to their longterm friend, Hale Bopp. Apprenticed as a silversmith, their heart lies not with the manual arts but with strategy, games and debate. Despite the threats to their compromised constitution, their unvoiced affection and commitment to the success of Hale Bopp's studies has grudgingly pulled them into a dubious quest.

Lovejoy
An illustration of Lovejoy in a painted, pixelated style

Curious wanderer who is eager to please.
Lovejoy works a demanding and low-paying job at a printing press, but complains little as it affords them much time to sneak away and sit in, unnoticed, at the lectures held in the local university. Eager to learn and seek out the like minded, Lovejoy is entranced by graceful and charismatic Hale Bopp. Simultaneously, Lovejoy's auditing attracts the attention of a professor who admires their curiosity and offers them the opportunity of a lifetime to enroll in order to replace a flagging student. When Lovejoy floats a rumor of an abandoned province with great historical interest, Hale Bopp eagerly sweeps them away on a exciting escapade.