Xandis

Captain Xandis
Fan art of Captain Xandis, by Kiera James.
Type	NPC
Actor	Matthew Mercer
Character Information
Pronouns	she/they
Titles	Captain
Creature type	Humanoid
Race	Tiefling
Languages	Common
Place	Issylra (former home)
Connections	Ariks Eshteross (employer)
Profession	Skyship captain
Status
Status	Alive
Appearances
First seen	"To The Skies" (3x23)
Last seen	"The Apogee Solstice" (3x51)
Stream	Campaign Three: Bells Hells (12 episodes)

Xandis is the captain of the skyship Silver Sun. As an NPC, Xandis is played by Matthew Mercer.

Description

Appearance

Fan art of Captain Xandis, by DaftHux.

Xandis is a fairly stout tiefling with grey-blue skin and no hair. Their horns curve straight backwards with a slight upwards flick at the end and they have dark facial tattoos on each cheek that resemble daggers. When they first met Bells Hells, they were wearing red and orange clothing that greatly contrasted their skin tone.

Personality

Xandis is easy-going and frequently makes jokes that are rather dark, including threatening to throw the party overboard if they disagree with them, and that they're allergic to ginger while eating gingerbread cookies. They were also completely unfazed when Orym fell overboard, immediately writing him off for dead until the party convinced them to turn the ship around.

Biography

Background

Xandis has worked as a skyship captain for 15-16 years. They do not typically travel directly to Bassuras, as the city lacks a skyport, instead mostly traveling to Ank'Harel, Vasselheim and most recently Whitestone.

"To The Skies" (3x23)

Fan art of Captain Xandis, by Wesley Griffith.

Xandis was hired by Eshteross to fly Bells Hells to Bassuras and happily welcomed them aboard their ship, the Silver Sun. They got their first mate Khalil Benes to show the party around the ship, as they were busy eating, then set sail. Xandis frequently manned the wheel while they were aboard the ship, and took shifts with Khalil so the ship was never left adrift. A few days into their voyage, the ship was attacked by skirath hunters. Xandis tried to evade them, but they kept pace with the ship, so Xandis turned the ship sharply to slam into one of them. When Orym was knocked overboard by one of the creatures, Xandis assumed he was done for, as most of the time when people fall off the ship there's no way to get them back up, but was happy to turn the ship around to collect him when the party insisted. They were relieved when everyone was okay and impressed by the party's skill at dealing with the creatures.

"Pyrrhic Return" (3x35)

Fan art of Xandis aboard the Silver Sun, by Nikki Dawes.

When the Silver Sun approached Bassuras to pick up Bells Hells at their request, three crawlers also headed out to meet it. The ship dropped rope ladders without stopping. The party grabbed them and they all climbed aboard and took off northward to the sound of rifle fire from the pursuing crawlers. Xandis welcomed them aboard and they began the multi-day voyage back to Jrusar. Along the way, they encountered a sandstorm during which all the party except Ashton Greymoore were swept overboard, but Xandis was easily convinced to wait in safety above the clouds until it dissipated enough to descend and pick them back up.

As the party departed the ship in Jrusar, Orym placed the telescope Fearne had pickpocketed from Xandis (and that he had in turn stolen from her) in an easily-noticeable spot in the cargo hold.

"The Momentum of Murder" (3x39)

The party, as the new owners of the skyship Silver Sun, were welcomed aboard by Captain Xandis, who was happy to see Laudna alive again. Xandis also enjoyed Laudna's appearance frightening a young port courier, since Xandis had told him there were ghosts on the docks. Xandis explained the distances, pluses and minuses of the various routes to Yios, but seemed ready to go with whatever the party decided.

"Compulsions" (3x40) and "The City of Flowing Light" (3x42)

Xandis took Bells Hells to the Gloomed Jungles and fetched them once they had finished their business there, taking them to Yios, where the adventurers paid for the Silver Sun to stay for a week. Xandis took their patrons to the Lakecap Lounge.

"An Exit Most Fraught" (3x48)

Less than a week later, after an interplanar mission, Imogen contacted Xandis again, informing them that Bells Hells were in the Taloned Highlands, and asking them to come fetch them; the next day, FCG contacted the tiefling asking for a report, and Xandis complied, imitating the fun way in which the cleric had spoken through his Sending spell.

Captain Xandis came to Gelvaan with their skyship, amused by the amazement of the locals; when they saw that Bells Hells were acting like they were important people (to boost Imogen's morale) Xandis joined in and claimed to be a king, causing some hesitation in the adventurers for such an exaggeration. Once everyone was on board, Xandis theatrically said goodbye to the villagers and set sail with the Silver Sun.

Fan art of Captain Xandis' intense journey, by Kaw.

"The Aurora Grows" (3x49)

Captain Xandis took Bells Hells to the Hellcatch Valley and the Calloway Layaway, sharing their experience as captain with Fearne and Ashton, who were interested in learning. That section of the journey included storms, an harpoon shot at them from Bassuras, the presence of the Nightmare King in the skyship, arcane winds, an ember roc attack and several reparations. Such intensity made the tiefling think about writing down all the stories they were getting working for Bells Hells.

"Red Moon Rising" (3x50)

Chetney lied to Xandis, telling them that Bells Hells needed to scuttle the Silver Sun because they were acquiring a whole new fleet of skyships. Chetney gave Xandis the option to remain aboard during their "high adrenaline" operation, or not. Xandis was skeptical and worried about their crew as well as their own safety, but admitted that the ship belonged to Bells Hells and they could do what they wanted with it. They did not believe Fearne could fly the ship and when she did badly while practicing, Xandis chose to remain aboard after the rest of the crew was landed, staying with FCG, Fearne, and Ira Wendagoth as the rest of the party went into the Tishtan excavation site.

"The Apogee Solstice" (3x51)

Fearne and FCG joined the rest of Bells Hells after contacting Orym, leaving Xandis and Ira Wendagoth in charge of the plan involving the skyship. As a precaution, FCG gave the captain a Potion of Possibility (which they drank without hesitation), and the adventurers made sure the Nightmare King promised to save the tiefling if necessary. The two of them did as planned, flying the bomb-carrying Silver Sun directly into the Malleus Key. However, a Wall of Force cast by Ludinus Da'leth prevented it from doing any damage to the Key. Xandis and Ira were able to teleport to safety and were seen by the party escaping the excavation pit.

Notable items

• Ornate spyglass - Pickpocketed by Fearne as Bells Hells was leaving the Silver Sun. Stolen from Fearne by Orym, and placed by him in a visible location in the hold before the party departed the ship.

Appearances and mentions

• Campaign Three
  • "In Too Deep" (3x14), mentioned only
  • "Promise and Potential" (3x22), mentioned only
  • "To The Skies" (3x23) (first appearance)
  • "The Hellcatch Valley" (3x24)
  • "Hidden Truths" (3x26), mentioned only
  • "What Dreams May Come" (3x34), via Sending
  • "Pyrrhic Return" (3x35)
  • "A Dark Balance" (3x38), mentioned only
  • "The Momentum of Murder" (3x39)
  • "Compulsions" (3x40)
  • "Call of the Wild" (3x41), via Sending
  • "The City of Flowing Light" (3x42)
  • "An Exit Most Fraught" (3x48)
  • "The Aurora Grows" (3x49)
  • "Red Moon Rising" (3x50)
  • "The Apogee Solstice" (3x51)
  • "Bloody Flowers" (3x67), mentioned only
  • "The Promise and the Price" (3x77), mentioned only

Quotations

• Orym: Do you prefer "Captain", or "Captain Xandis", or...
  Xandis: "Captain" works for me, could say "Cap", could say "Cool Person". You could call me "Leader". You can call me "Most Gorgeous Thing You Ever Seen Before". You can call me "Savior". I'll get you a list tomorrow.
• Chetney: Do you know who we're chasing?
  Xandis: I have no idea. I don't want to know, because plausible deniability is what I do.
• Xandis: If you have any problems, any questions, any concerns, tell somebody else. I don't care. They'll tell me. If it's important, I'll come talk to you.
• Xandis: Goodbye, bumpkins! Have a good day!

Trivia

• Xandis's accent and demeanor is loosely based off Tommy Wiseau.

References

Art: