Alanik Ray

An elf noble born in Neblus, Alanik Ray is known as the so-called Great Detective for the many cases he has solved. His assistant and companion, Dr. Arthur Sedgewick is also his biographer and has scribed many of the Great Detective's exploits in several books. Alanik Ray carries a magical dagger, Goldenfang. He also owns a Hookah of Truth.

Alanik has resided in several places, including his hometown Neblus and Mordentshire. In 747 BC he became Chief Constable (Martira Bay) of Martira Bay. However, he was driven out by an assassination attempt by the Kargat. He moved to Port-a-Lucine, where he operates as a freelance detective once more.

As of late, the Brain has become of interest to Alanik. Alanik's knowledge of or opinion on Dominic D'Honaire and his Obedients remain unclear.

History

Alanik was born in the upper class crime-filled city of Neblus, his father Ardal Ray by all accounts a skilled merchant and businessman. Though young Alanik partook of the benefits of the upper class, he observed that not all was right with his hometown and venture beyond his father's manor to see the crime, corruption, and inequality happening elsewhere in Neblus.

Alanik's world came crashing down when accusations were brought against Ardal Ray of illegal trade on the black market and drug distribution. Alanik Ray came to Ardal with these accusations, and Ardal in response disinherited him. The Baron of Neblus indicted Ardal for tax evasion and drug dealing, though Alanik Ray did not become more trusting due to word on the street that the Baron had been involved in Ardal's illicit schemes. Nonetheless, Alanik Ray allied with some of the local guard in rooting out many of the crimes of the city. In the year following his disinheritance, he learned who was trustworthy and became Neblus' greatest enemy of the criminal element. After Alanik Ray made sure Arden's criminal empire had been dissolved and matters of the Ray estate had been resolved, Alanik Ray left Neblus, eager to move on from the unpleasantness of the past.

Ray moved to Mordentshire, where he befriended Arthur Sedgewick and grew both wealthy and famous solving cases as a consulting detective for hire.

In 747 BC, Baroness Karimana Reldkasen of Martira Bay came to power as mayor in that city after exposing her husband's crimes. She recruited Alanik Ray as Chief Constable, bringing Alanik Ray back to Darkon for a time. However, Alanik's activities eroded the grip of the Kargat upon Martira Bay's constabulatory and nearly revealed the underbelly of the Kargat on multiple occasions, thereby earning that organization's undying wrath. Following the Requiem, they dispatched agents to kill him. Among the agents Tavelia sent, she dispatched Lady Kazandra to destroy Alanik Ray once and for all. Alanik Ray escaped the harrowing encounter and left Martira Bay.

Alanik Ray's departure from Martira Bay saw his relocation to Port-a-Lucine, where he has resumed work as a consulting detective with Arthur Sedgewick once again at his side.

Cases of Alanik Ray

The cases of Alanik Ray are collected in The Casebook of Alanik Ray and The Life of Alanik Ray both authored by Dr. Arthur Sedgewick. He is known to have tracked down and revealed the Hag of Chateaufaux, a vile serial killer of prostitutes.

Relationships

Arthur Sedgewick

Alanik Ray finds Arthur Sedgewick to be a good friend and valuable ally when solving crimes, both going back to their time in Mordentshire and more recently in Port-a-Lucine. Several times Arthur's medical expertise delivered Alanik Ray from the jaws of death. One thing they seem to differ on is the enjoyment of high society social events. While Alanik Ray seems at ease in such posh galas, Arthur Sedgewick is more out of his comfort zone.

Ratik Ubel

Alanik Ray has been hired by Ratik Ubel to ferret out information that would lead to the revenant's murderer. As part of this exchange, Ubel provided Ray with a narration on the Restless Dead that comprised most of the chapter in Van Richten's Guide to the Walking Dead (Item). However, Alanik Ray's failure to provide Ubel with satisfactory information to Ray caused the revenant to break off relations with Alanik Ray and even threaten the life of Dr. Arthur Sedgewick.

Dr. Rudolph van Richten

Alanik Ray and Dr. van Richten were friends, and both showed curiosity to each other's investigations. Alanik Ray's case files are excerpted several times in the various Van Richten's Guides. Ray last encountered Dr. van Richten in Martira Bay some time prior the latter's disappearance. Dr. van Richten's disappearance is or was a matter of chief importance and interest to Alanik Ray.

Statistics

• 2nd Edition: Male elf rogue 10(investigator); Lawful Neutral

• 3rd Edition: Male elf, Detective 6 / Rogue 4, Lawful Neutral

TSR Collector Card

Alanik Ray's TSR 1992 Collector Card # is 199.

Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue

		Champions of the Mists Bleak House
		Champions of the Mists - p2
		Champions of the Mists - pp57-58 Bleak House:Heroes, Monsters, and Settings - p30
		Ravenloft Third Edition - pp63,118 Champions of the Mists - pp57-58 Van Richten's Guide to Ghosts - p27, p31, p33, p36, p39, p43, p59, and p78 Bleak House:Heroes, Monsters, and Settings - p30 Heroes of Light - pp51,61