Mathalay is a member of the powerful House of Meravanchi in Sasserine, the younger brother of Zebulon, and the uncle of Avner.
Unlike other members of his family, Mathalay is the strong and silent type. He looks down on the wild, debaucherous parties thrown by his brother and the foppish behavior of his nephew and instead spends his time quietly scheming for his own advancement.
Several years ago, when Lord Zebulon invested with Larissa Vanderboren to establish the Farshore colony on the Isle of Dread, he sent Mathalay on the expedition to protect his family's interests there.
Mathalay looked upon this assignment as a great opportunity. Unlike his older brother and nephew, Mathalay is a man of honor. When he left, he took his faithful servant, Ulvar Kabbanja with him on the journey.