We’re just one episode into Dimension 20’s steampunk adventure Cloudward, Ho! and I may have already found a new favorite Dimension 20 NPC: Wealwell Gotch (Brennan Lee Mulligan).

One of pugilist Maxwell Gotch’s (Brian Murphy) six older siblings — and yes, all their names conclude with “well” — Wealwell possesses both a comical name and a humorous voice. Sometimes that’s all it takes to bond with a character, something Game Master Mulligan fully understands when crafting NPCs spontaneously.

“If I had created Wealwell, [the cast] wouldn’t have embraced him as much,” Mulligan stated to Mashable during a Zoom interview. “The Intrepid Heroes can sense fear, and when a character boasts a silly name and an odd voice, they pick up on it immediately.”

Wealwell’s backstory kicks off with Murphy’s disclosure that Maxwell has six brothers, all of whom become characters Mulligan now needs to invent. At this point in the campaign, some are merely names on a list Mulligan recites in an early moment. That could have been Wealwell’s destiny as well, but you can’t simply mention a name like Wealwell and expect a troop of professional comedians not to seize on that opportunity. Observing the gears turning in the cast’s minds as they opt to spotlight Wealwell is a delightful reminder of Dimension 20’s foundation in improvisation, much like Mulligan’s swift choice to incorporate Wealwell into the narrative.

With that decision arises Wealwell’s voice, a flamboyant embellishment of Mulligan’s already rich (and heightened) Gotch family accents.

“When I began voicing Wealwell, I thought, ‘Oh no, this voice is a tad sillier than I anticipated,’ and the rest is history,” Mulligan remarked. “That’s what [the cast] latched onto, that’s what they adored, and that’s the direction we took.”

The remainder of the episode centers on Maxwell and Olethra MacLeod’s (Ally Beardsley) attempts to reunite the crew of the famed Zephyr airship, while simultaneously serving as a “get-to-know-me” for Wealwell, who seems poised to be part of the journey for the long haul.

As the cast embarks on this season’s primary quest, they also introduce more details about Wealwell. Murphy describes him as “fun” and “solid,” distinguishing him from Maxwell’s other obnoxious siblings. Beardsley asserts that Wealwell is incredibly attractive. And Mulligan includes a recurring joke that Wealwell is perpetually queasy — less than ideal for a character expected to spend significant time on an airship! (But fantastic for the audience, who gets to enjoy his posh discomfort in all its splendor.)

Each of these elements come together to forge an instantly unforgettable new NPC. Wealwell is the result of a remarkable convergence of Dimension 20’s spontaneity, with the cast transforming a one-time gag into something side-splitting. For Mulligan, that’s part of the charm — and sometimes, the risk — of playing alongside the Intrepid Heroes.

“What do they say? If you want it to rain, don’t carry your umbrella, as it will rain on the day you don’t have it. And if you do bring it, it won’t rain. For NPCs, if you possess a silly name and a quirky voice and nothing more, that will be [the players’] favorite NPC,” Mulligan clarified. “They will detect the half-bakedness, and they will ask, ‘What’s his name? What’s his personality? What’s his preferred dish?’ Because they’ll realize that you lack the details, and they want you to create it on the spot because they’re aiming to challenge you.”

Dimension 20: Cloudward, Ho! is currently available for streaming on Dropout, with a fresh episode airing every Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET.