# #### **Basic Information** - **Name:** Kalas Montclair - **Race/Species:** Human - **Class/Profession:** Steward/Administrator - **Alignment/Morality:** Lawful Good - **Age:** 62 - **Gender & Pronouns:** Male (He/Him) - **Appearance:** A distinguished figure who embodies administrative competence, standing five feet eight inches with a solid, well-maintained build that speaks to his belief in personal discipline despite his primarily administrative role. His face features the weathered complexion of someone who began life in more humble circumstances—strong jaw, prominent nose, and thoughtful eyes that convey both intelligence and practicality. His eyes are a deep brown that assess everything with the careful evaluation of someone accustomed to managing complex household affairs, noting details others might overlook. His hair, once dark but now completely silver, is kept in a neat, conservative style that prioritizes professionalism over fashion. He dresses in well-made but understated clothing that reflects his position as steward rather than noble—quality materials in House Lebeda's colors of blue and gold, but designed to indicate service rather than command attention. Unlike the nobles he serves, he wears minimal jewelry beyond a signet ring marking his position and a pocket watch that helps him maintain the precise scheduling for which he is known. His hands show the subtle calluses of someone who rose from practical service to administration, and he moves with the efficient purpose of a man who values productivity above all. A distinctive scar on his left hand from an old injury serves as a reminder of his early years in more physical service to House Lebeda. #### **Personality & Traits** - **Personality Summary:** Kalas embodies the ideal of the dedicated steward—an administrator who views service not as subservience but as a calling requiring its own form of excellence. He approaches household management and domestic governance with methodical thoroughness, weighing immediate needs against long-term sustainability and the reputation of House Lebeda. To the house staff, he represents firm but fair leadership, maintaining high standards while recognizing individual circumstances and contributions. To the nobles he serves, he presents a carefully calibrated blend of deference and practical counsel that earns respect without overstepping boundaries. His administrative background manifests in his attention to detail, his talent for anticipating needs before they become problems, and his belief that proper management creates the foundation for all other achievements. Though capable of warmth in personal relationships, he maintains professional distance in his official capacity, believing that consistency and fairness require a certain detachment. Beneath his efficient exterior lies a man of principle who views his role as preserving House Lebeda's domestic stability and prosperity—a perspective that occasionally requires him to deliver unwelcome but necessary truths to his noble employers. - **Strengths & Skills:** - **Organizational Mastery** – Exceptional ability to coordinate complex household operations and administrative systems - **Personnel Management** – Remarkable talent for identifying individual strengths and placing staff accordingly - **Financial Acumen** – Highly developed skill at budget management and resource allocation - **Institutional Memory** – Comprehensive knowledge of House Lebeda's properties, traditions, and domestic affairs - **Crisis Management** – Ability to maintain operational stability during political upheavals or natural disasters - **Weaknesses & Flaws:** - **Excessive Formality** – Tendency toward rigidity in protocols that can impede flexibility when needed - **Overwork** – Habit of taking on too many responsibilities rather than delegating appropriately - **Class Consciousness** – Occasional discomfort navigating his position between nobility and common staff - **Risk Aversion** – Preference for proven methods over potentially beneficial innovations - **Perfectionism** – Unrealistically high standards that can create unnecessary stress for himself and subordinates - **Mannerisms & Speech Patterns:** - Speaks in precise, formal sentences that convey respect while maintaining professional distance - Maintains appropriate eye contact during conversations, neither deferential nor challenging - Uses minimal gestures when speaking, a habit developed to project calm efficiency - Habitually checks his pocket watch during discussions, a practice that began as time management but has become unconscious - Employs administrative terminology even in personal contexts, viewing the world through the lens of systems and management #### **Background & Story Role** - **Backstory Summary:** Born to a family of skilled craftspeople in a town under House Lebeda's protection, Kalas's early years were marked by the practical education of a household destined for trade rather than nobility. His natural aptitude for organization and mathematics became apparent early, as did his exceptional memory for details that others considered insignificant. His connection to House Lebeda began when a visiting noble recognized his potential during a tour of the local guild school and arranged for him to receive training in household administration. What began as an opportunity for education gradually evolved into a career of increasing responsibility as he demonstrated both competence and unwavering loyalty to the house. Over the decades since, he has systematically risen through the administrative ranks, from junior accountant to assistant steward to his current position as House Lebeda's chief domestic administrator. His particular expertise lies in creating systems that function smoothly regardless of who operates them, ensuring continuity of operations even during periods of transition or crisis. His professional relationship with Lander Lebeda developed gradually over years of service, evolving from the formal distance between noble and administrator to a partnership based on complementary skills and mutual respect. Where Lander excels at external diplomacy and relationship building, Kalas ensures that the domestic foundation supporting those efforts remains solid and reliable. His greatest achievement has been maintaining House Lebeda's internal stability and prosperity during the political upheaval following the Vanishing, when many noble houses suffered significant domestic disruption. Through careful management of resources and personnel, he ensured that House Lebeda's operations continued smoothly despite the external chaos, providing the secure base from which Lander could conduct his diplomatic initiatives. - **Current Role:** - Oversees all domestic operations for House Lebeda's primary estates and properties - Manages household staff numbering in the hundreds across multiple locations - Administers the house's internal finances and resource allocation - Coordinates security for family members and properties - Serves as Lander's primary advisor on domestic matters - **Connections & Relationships:** - **[[House Lebeda]]** – The noble family he has served with unwavering loyalty for most of his life - **[[Lander Lebeda]]** – His primary employer and partner in maintaining House Lebeda's prosperity - **[[Nerissa Fairwind]]** – Lander's niece whom he has helped mentor in domestic governance - **[[The Household Staff]]** – The extensive personnel network he manages with firm but fair leadership - **[[The Stewards' Guild]]** – Professional association where he is respected for his expertise - **Factions or Allegiances:** - **House Lebeda** – His primary loyalty and professional identity - **The Administrative Council** – Internal body that coordinates House Lebeda's various departments - **The Southern Stewards' Association** – Network of administrators serving Brevoy's southern houses - **The Craftsmen's Guild of his hometown** – Connection to his roots that he maintains despite his elevation - **Notable Items or Equipment:** - **The Steward's Signet** – Ring marking his official position and authority - **House Ledgers** – Comprehensive records of House Lebeda's domestic affairs - **Master Keys** – Symbol of the trust placed in him to access all areas of Lebeda properties - **Pocket Watch** – Gift from Lander marking his twentieth year of service - **Personal Journal** – Detailed observations and notes beyond the official records #### **Additional Notes** - **Recurring Themes:** - The dignity and importance of service as a calling - The tension between tradition and necessary adaptation - The balance between professional distance and personal connection - The power of systems and organization to create stability - **Player/GM Notes:** - Can serve as a valuable source of information about House Lebeda's internal affairs - Might provide quests related to household management or domestic investigations - Could become an ally for characters who demonstrate reliability and respect for proper procedures - His extensive knowledge of House Lebeda makes him an excellent exposition vehicle for family history - Despite his non-combatant nature, controls significant resources and personnel that could assist characters