Rupika the Leader

What does a leader truly command after their entire enterprise has turned to dust? Rupika once ran the most prosperous gem exchange near the fortress of midnight rock, their word carrying the weight of the monoliths that dotted the highlands. But a lust for more led them to deal in volatile, forbidden crystals. The resulting magical backlash shattered their guild, their fortune, and the lives of those who trusted them. Exiled, the only thing they kept was their shirt and tie—a constant, mocking reminder. These days, they share bowls of ramen with other outcasts, their intense eyes seeing not profit margins but shared hardship. With a white bandana tied as a new vow and an apple stick in hand, they lead a different kind of company: the ruined, the forgotten, the broke. They are not followed for their wealth, but for their scars.