Dunstan¶
"Yes, I killed BEREK … but I did it for all of you. As a GIFT to you." — Dunstan, to the crew bosses of the Stone Syndicate (S038)
Dunstan was a crew boss of the Stone Syndicate in the Warrens of Proturas who turned against Berek Beetleslayer with the backing of the White Hand. He claimed Berek's death, won the election to succeed him, and fled when Berek returned. He died with his ally Luca at a fortified manor outside the city (S038, S040, S041). He fought with a pair of daggers (S061).
Rival to Berek¶
Dunstan was arrogant and contemptuous of Berek's judgement: "It confuses me why Berek brought on a bunch of beggars who can barely hold a weapon" (S064). Gossip among the Syndicate in S062 already had him "saying it's about time someone replaces him." The White Hand, which "has actually infiltrated both other gang's and has them fighting each other", stood behind him; the cultists of Teneb'Urat "assume they are taking control with DUNSTAN" (S061, S039). The Stone Syndicate had fought his gang before and nearly killed one of his men (S028). Dunstan's people kept a captured displacer beast caged in the White Hand's headquarters (S065, S038). When he was injured, he told Berek that his attackers were in league with the White Hand, "and plans not to show himself again until Berek is dead"; the White Hand's leader Lamystra knew where he was hiding (S038).
The election¶
When the Crimson Watch killed Berek's simulacrum, "Widely spread that Dunstan killed him", and Dunstan took the credit (S038). He stood against the loyalist Adros before the crew bosses with a promise to sell the Pale Pit: "Did you know he had an offer to buy the PIT for 20,000g? … I tell you here and now that I will restore the Syndicate to wealth and prestige, I WILL sell the pit and split the proceeds evenly amongst all the crews. We WILL see the White Hand destroyed" (S038). Adros answered that Dunstan had probably hired the assassins with White Hand coin. Dunstan "is elected by a slim majority. 7 out of 13 present voted for him" (S038, S040).
The voting tokens had been marked by Isador "to plant a scrying signal on everyone that voted for DUNSTAN", and the new Berek she built "kills all but DUNSTAN and LUCA" of the traitors (S039). The warlock Valtor helped Dunstan escape (S039).
Death¶
Dunstan and Luca went to ground "at an estate manor in the Country", the house of a retired thief who had worked in Proturas, with four of his crew, a low warlock and three servants (S039). Valtor visited and left his apprentice there, who was set to helping Dunstan reach the Wardstone beneath the Pale Pit; the Cutters' sub-boss Pellik was also there (S040). In the fight at the manor "DUNSTAN, LUCA died. PELLIK captured", and two others escaped (S041). The cast list marks Dunstan "(Dead)" (S068).
How the party came to fight him is told in the Proturan Campaign.
Gap
Dunstan's people, age, origins and the size of his crew before the gang war are not recorded.
His crew¶
The cast list names six members of "Dunstan's crew" (S068), five of them dead by the time it was written.
Bill¶
A warrior, armed with a stone club (S061, S068). Dead (S068).
Cuthgar¶
A rogue with a dagger (S061, S068). In S062 he passes on the talk among Dunstan's men that "'ol Berek's stone has finally cracked". Dead (S068).
Darwin¶
A warrior with a stone club (S061, S068). The Stone Syndicate nearly killed him in an earlier clash (S028); he "seems extremely pleased about something" before his crew's betrayal (S064) and was later killed (S065, S068). He was not a player character.
Eadwig¶
A rogue with a dagger (S061, S068). Dead (S068).
Pulwia¶
A woman, a rogue with a stone club (S061, S068). Dead (S068).
Sesca¶
A woman, an archer with a shortbow (S061, S068). She was "REALLY nervous" before the betrayal (S064). She and Dunstan kept the caged beast in the White Hand's headquarters (S065, S038). After Dunstan's fall Berek's lieutenant Turek ordered her brought to the Pit "to face justice"; she "fought in the pit and survived" (S039, S041). She is the only one of the crew not marked dead.
Also called: Secsca (S065, S038).