BRISTLEVALVE SANITATION
GnomesSanitation Systems Engineer
"Everyone wants to build the tower, design the machine, create the wonder. But someone has to deal with what comes out the other end. Someone has to keep the waste moving and the water clean. That's real engineering—keeping people alive when no one's watching.""
Identity
- Residence
- The Undercity, Gearhaven
- Civilization
- Gnomes
Appearance
• Clothing: He wears heavy rubberized clothing designed for sanitation work, heavy boots with steel toes and slip-resistant soles, and a vest with pockets for tools and testing equipment. His coat has special fastenings that won't catch on pipes. • Distinguishing Marks: A scar on his arm from a pipe burst, permanently stained hands, and a tattoo of the city's sewer system on his shoulder.
Relationships
- Family - A wife who appreciates his important work, children who are embarrassed by his profession, parents who don't understand why he doesn't seek "better" employment
- Allies - His sanitation crew (he considers them family), the few officials who understand his importance, fellow engineers who share his dedication
- Rivals - Budget officials who want to cut sanitation funding, contractors who do shoddy work
Personality
- Traits: Unsung hero who takes pride in invisible work, genuinely passionate about public health, frustrated by those who take sanitation for granted, surprisingly philosophical
- Mannerisms: Checks drains and pipes constantly even when off duty, speaks in terms of flow and pressure, knows the city's systems better than its streets
- Voice: Rough and direct, with occasional passionate defenses of his profession
Backstory
Bristlevalve started as a simple maintenance worker but discovered his true calling in sanitation engineering after a plague outbreak demonstrated the importance of proper waste management. He's helped design and maintain Gearhaven's complex sanitation systems, keeping the city healthy despite its size and density. He knows his work saves lives even though no one thinks about it.
Daily Life
His days are spent in the Undercity, inspecting systems, directing repair crews, and solving problems that surface-dwellers never know exist. He frequently works irregular hours when emergencies arise. His evenings are dedicated to maintaining his equipment and updating his extensive maps of the underground.
Secret
Bristlevalve has discovered evidence in the sewer system of something that shouldn't exist—a creature or organism that seems to thrive in the waste and may be affecting the city's health in ways no one has noticed. He's quietly investigating but fears what he might find.
Story Hooks
- 1 Bristlevalve needs help investigating the unusual organism he's discovered, offering his unique knowledge of the sewer system in exchange.
- 2 Something has begun causing problems in the sanitation system that his usual methods can't address; he needs help understanding and stopping it.
Narrative Value
Unsung hero and keeper of hidden knowledge. Provides access to underground systems, practical engineering knowledge, and connections to working-class networks. His discovery adds mystery and potential danger. ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════