NPC Lore and Info

Galarda comes from a royal lineage deep within the oceans depths. Her regal presence is further emphasized by her ornate armor with intricately engraved metal accessories, enhancing her commanding aura and high-ranking authority. These elaborately crafted suits of armor are considered symbols of nobility within the Gilled Domain, representing the pride of belonging to the Gilled Subspecies, their noble nature and enduring strength.

Although Galarda appears to have no eyes, she moves through the waters with graceful precision and effortless control. Every movement is calm, confident and perfectly in tune with her surroundings, as if she can sense the ocean in a way beyond sight. She likely knows the Gilled domain and kingdom better than any other Gilled or aquatic creature. 

Her constant companions are her two shrimp, Tidal and Zunami, who are always seen by her side. As they swim through the ocean, they move in perfect harmony with her. They usually mimic the queen’s expression, almost as if they were connected both in spirit and emotion. Those shrimps derive from an ancient kind of Caridina, a rare breed exclusively found within the royal family. They have long been tied to the linage and are treated with the utmost care and respect. It is said that harming even a single leg of one of these shrimp is strictly forbidden - those who dare to do so may face terrifying consequences.

Despite her formal and at times seemingly cold and distant demeanor, Queen Galarda rules her people with great care and devotion. Her kingdom means a great deal to her and she bears the weight of her responsibilities with quiet strength.

When she is not occupied with royal duties, she enjoys swimming through her kingdom to persue her secret hobby. She loves collecting small figurines, although she feels somewhat embarrassed about it and tries to keep this information hidden from others. In general however, she is a strong and passionate patron of the arts and metalworking. She deeply values skilled artisans and supports the creation of finely crafted works, seeing them as an important expression of culture within her kingdom.

While she remains cautious around outsiders, she is generally open to visitors - especially those who show genuine interest and respect to the Gilled Domain. Galarda will get very excited as soon as she realizes that her visitors are truly interested in learning about the Gilleds’ way of life. 

However, once she forms a friendship with someone, she places great trust in them and deeply values these relationships with others. One of her closest friends is Thyme. While many Pacas are afraid of Thyme and avoid her (and especially the Gilled folk in particular has little to no contact with Monsters), Galarda recognized Thyme's gentle nature, and the two have formed a strong bond on a deep intellectual and emotional level. Unfortunately, due to their very different living conditions, they rarely get to see each other. Instead, Thyme often sends carefully arranged flower compositions to the palace as a thoughtful gesture of their friendship.

Unlike many other Gilleds, Galarda loves the thrill of spicy food. She particularly enjoys the intense heat and bold flavors of various spicy dishes that are imported specifically for her from distant regions across Chrysalopolis into the Gilled kingdom. 

However, one thing she truly dislikes is sports and any kind of athletic events. Whenever Mach decides to host another sports competition near her domain, she always comes up with a countless number of excuses or "important appointments" to explain why she is unfortunately unable to attend. She always promises to join the next event, while in reality, she avoids those occasions and prefers to spend her time in a different way than observing or, even worse, participating in sporting activities.

Despite being involved a lot with the Gilled folk, the royal family maintains a notably reserved and private nature. While they are present and attentive to their people, they keep much of their personal lives carefully protected. There is an ancient mystery the royal family kept hidden for generations. It is rumored that Queen Galarda possesses a unique immunity to the Hollo disease. The reason for this immunity, however, remains a closely guarded secret known only to the crown...

Carb comes from a humble background, with a deep love for collecting treasures. Ever since he was a young Shelled, he would spend his days scouring the beaches for anything he could find, gradually building up his own little collection. Not all of his finds were particularly valuable, but as he grew more experienced, he developed a keen eye for what truly made a treasure special.

As time passed on, Carb ventured beyond his familiar beaches in search of rarer and more valuable treasures. These adventures often led him into dangerous situations, and although most of his journeys were successful, he did not always return unscathed - more than once he came back with new scars. But he feels proud of every scar he bears and the stories they tell, since they remind him of the risks he took and the treasures he earned.

Eventually, Carb realized that other adventurers were also returning from their journeys with interesting treasures they found. Seeing an opportunity, he opened a small shop called "Carb's Treasures 'n' Trinkets" where treasures could be traded or sold to him. He takes great pride in being a salesman and the business he has built all by himself. He has also framed his first earned Leaflet and Golden Berry at home, which mean a great deal to him.

One of Carb's most precious possessions is an iridescent shimmering pearl, which is now firmly embedded in his shell. He found it during a deep dive in a more dangerous part of the ocean, which nearly became his last adventure. The pearl, however, was not the only find that was very special to him, but also the lifelong companion he gained. During that dive, Carb spotted a small Urcheeb that was stuck in a sand hole, unable to free itself alone. After he helped the little Urcheeb escaping its misery, the Urcheeb returned the favor by helping Carb bring the pearl to the surface. This shared experience forged a strong bond between the Urcheeb Hyde and Carb, who would now proudly carry the pearl in his shell for the rest of his life. In addition, the shimmering pearl also serves as an ideal eye-catcher, drawing the attention of curious customers and attracting them to visit his shop.

Another of Carb's passions is blacksmithing. Using the treasures along with other valueable materials and raw resources he finds, he particularly enjoys crafting armor, intricate emblems or unique collectible items. To express his deep fondness for Urcheebs, he also forges special coins from gold-shimmering metals engraved with Urcheeb designs. Every time an adventurer purchases one of these Urcheeb coins, Carb can barely contain his excitement and with his enthusiastic, almost overwhelming personality, he eagerly shares everything there was to know about Urcheebs.

Although Carb may look a bit gruff at first and comes across as rough around the edges, he has a kind heart and is always willing to listen to any adventurer who stops by his shop. Most visitors not only leave with a new purchase but also with a free (and often lengthy) lesson about Urcheebs.

Carb learned the art of blacksmithing in the Gilled Domain, a vast region rich in the finest and most valuable materials. One day, while he was working on mastering this craft, he caught sight of an incredible suit of armor that left a lasting impression on him. Adorned in finely crafted, ornate armor with intricately engraved metal accessories, he saw the most beautiful Paca he had ever laid eyes on. With elegance and grace, her head held high, she swam through the deep ocean waters, and from that moment on, Carb was completely captivated by the Gilled Queen Galarda. 

Not a day goes by without him thinking about her incredibly stunning armor and her unmatched beauty. The first time he saw her gorgeous armor up close, he almost fainted, and ever since, he finds every excuse to spend time in the Gilled Domain, just for a chance to see her again and fawn over his impossible love.

Tragically, the queen does not return the feelings of the devoted blacksmith and salesman, but Carb refuses to give up hope. He dreams of becoming the greatest blacksmith in all of Chrysalopolis, so that one day he can forge the most beautiful, valuable and masterfully crafted armor, jewelry and treasure for the queen. He truly believes that one day he will be able to win her heart.