Desmond Otham

Desmond Otham was the carriage driver for the Briarwoods until he was captured and imprisoned by Vox Machina. When the de Rolos restored their rule in Whitestone, Percy granted him the position of a messenger between Whitestone and Emon. As an NPC in campaign one, Desmond was played by Matthew Mercer. In The Legend of Vox Machina he is voiced by Max Mittelman.

Appearance
In confrontation with Percy, Desmond lost a large part of the upper part of his right hand and most of his fingers (index, middle and ring). After Pike healed him with her divine magic, the wound closed entirely, and the thumb and pinky grew complete and functional.

Background
His father was a messenger during the de Rolos rule. He vanished the night of their fall. His mother was taken by madness and passed away in 810 PD. Since Desmond possessed a decent knowledge of the roads between Whitestone and Emon, he was hired as a coachman for Count Tylieri, who misused the power and titles that the Briarwoods gifted unto him by abusing his staff and many citizens of Whitestone, including a teenaged Desmond. After seeing the harm Tyler had wrought, Sylas Briarwood took the boy under his wing, hiring him as a coach for him and his wife.

Seriously hurt, the Briarwoods attempted to escape via the carriage, which Desmond Otham was driving. The party toppled the carriage, but the Briarwoods managed to teleport away. In anger, Percy severed Desmond's hand and knocked him unconscious to further interrogate him at Greyskull Keep.

When Vox Machina returned to the keep, the carriage driver was kept in the prison cell down in the basement. The group released his bonds and began to question the man, who introduced himself as Desmond Otham, about the Briarwoods activity in Whitestone. He spoke of murders and destruction committed in the city, noble families left from the past regime were slaughtered, and the new took their place. At the end of the story, Vox Machina offered him freedom, but Desmond declined, fearing for his life and deciding to stay in the safety of the metal bared cell.

One day passed, Greyskull Keep was attacked by the pair of invisible stalkers. Briarwoods sent them to silence Desmond before he let important information slip. Toward the end of the battle, they render him unconscious, but Keyleth immediately healed Desmond, bringing him on his feet. In the end, the victory was for Vox Machina.

After Vox Machina defeated the Briarwoods, they brought Desmond with them to speak with Sovereign Uriel Tal'Dorei, where testified against the family activities in the Whitestone. For his misfortune, and at Scanlan's persuasion, Uriel rewarded Desmond with 1,000 gold. Percy, feeling guilty for maiming Desmond's hand, appointed him the official letter carrier between Whitestone and the Kingdom of Tal'Dorei. Percy also offered to ensure that whatever trade Desmond wished to pursue in Whitestone would be granted to him.