Muriel is  a fearsome outsider who owes an onerous debt. He is a gentle giant, who would rather avoid people but cares about the Apprentice and Asra too much to withdraw entirely. His design based on Central Asian Steppe peoples. Muriel is a large, mysterious hunk of a man. His presence brings with it the sound of chains clanking. He is noted by the Apprentice to smell like Myrrh. He worries a lot - for Asra, for the apprentice, for all of Vesuvia under some looming threat. He is very shy, his time playing a villain in gladiator combat only making him want to be alone more. He lives in the woods with many chickens, and a wolf named Inanna who takes care of him. 

He grew up with his family in his earliest years. As winter approached one year, 'people from the woods', most likely those of the same tribe as Lucio came through his home and took everything. With no food left, his family was forced to send him away. Whether or not this was done to save him, or to save the rest of the family, is unknown. As a result, he was left an orphan on the streets of Vesuvia. He later meets Asra after a brief confrontation with a freshly named Count Lucio. From there, their friendship grows. He doesn't enjoy recounting the past on the streets, preferring not to talk about it. He was once a gladiator in the local coliseum for a time. He portrayed the Heel character in the arena. His hair was much longer then. 

Eventually, he left and moved to a cottage in the woods, in Vesuvia's outskirts, and owns many chickens. During an undefined time before the game's start, Muriel was given a "reward from a friend" that makes people forget they ever met him once he leaves. This is the reason why the Apprentice doesn't remember seeing him on the streets or in their dreams despite having met multiple times.

Voice: Shy, rough, deep, gruff, slightly airy, distant

Examples: https://shortcut-test2.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/audition/file_path/614835/MurielAudition.mp3 / https://shortcut-test2.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/audition/file_path/614835/MurielAudition.mp3