The people of the Hollow

The Vetti who keep the places of the Hollow — every one of the eight peoples among them, each with a roshi of their own. They are not members and not characters of the roster, and no model speaks for them: they say a line the first time you come in and a line when something happens at their place, and otherwise keep their counsel. They never say your name. Each of them takes apprentices (the Calling), and remembers who has done them a good turn.

Wen

Vatli, of the wood-folk · keeps the Spring · with Pell, a Finni.
Wen has kept the Spring longer than anyone has kept anything. Pell is in it, mostly.

Doc Pellory

Nissi, a tinker · keeps the Apothecary · with Lantern, a Glimi.
Doc Pellory trained nowhere in particular and has cured everything once. Lantern glows when the doctor is wrong, which is useful.

Marrow

Lindri, of the lizard-folk · keeps the Grocer · with Bun, a Leafi.
Marrow opened the Grocer's because somebody had to, and has not sat down since. Bun eats the stock.

Auster

Ljosalfi, a high elf · keeps the Books · with Fenwick, a Woolli.
Auster has read everything in the Hollow, which took an afternoon, and is writing the rest. Fenwick is a Woolli with a scar and forty words.

Sable

Dokalfi, a dark elf · keeps the Curio · with Grudge, a Toothi.
Sable sells what turns up and does not say where from. Grudge is a Toothi and is called that for a reason.

Brakka

Trovi, an orc · keeps the Drill · with Cinder, a Sooti.
Brakka ran the Drill before there was a Hollow around it. Cinder does every exercise alongside and learns none of them.

Grist

Dverfi, a dwarf · keeps the Lockers · with Nub, a Pibbi.
Grist dug the Lockers into the bank himself and would like that known. Nub guards them, asleep.

Old Tam

Kobbi, of the cat-folk · keeps the Wheel · with Kite, a Wingi.
Old Tam built the Wheel out of a cart wheel and a rumour. Kite rides it round when nobody is spinning.

Mother Pim

Kobbi, of the cat-folk · keeps the Inn · with Soot, a Sooti.
Mother Pim has a room for anything that sleeps. Soot does not; Soot keeps the fire.

Hollis

Vatli, of the wood-folk · keeps the Shelter · with Dill, a Leafi.
Hollis was left at the Shelter himself, once, as a joke, and stayed. Dill was the first he took in.

Oriel

Ljosalfi, a high elf · keeps the Wards’ House · with Tuck, a Woolli.
Oriel keeps the gate, the book everyone signs on the way in, and the Wards’ House. Tuck minds the ones who can’t sleep, mostly by lying on their feet.

Idrie

Ljosalfi, a high elf · keeps the Gallery · with Quill, a Glimi.
Idrie judges nothing; she hangs them and lets the room decide. Quill glows at the ones she likes, which is cheating.

See also

the Vetti · tales · the Ways