Unique among the neighborhoods of Lüm—unless of course you count the University—Claystone Heights has its own mascot, a costumed character named Dareling that shows up to neighborhood events. Whenever the Claystone Council makes an announcement, Dareling is there cheering and trying to rile up the audience. When a local adventurer newly returned from an expedition tell the tale of their exploits, Dareling is there acting out the events they recount. Dareling is supposed to embody the "spirit of adventure" that forms the heart of the neighborhood, and has an elaborate fictional backstory about his own exploits.

Dareling had its genesis with homemade costume made by an inhabitant of Claystone Heights named Winnicker Fhane, who capered in his costume to show his support of adventurers—and who had a hat out for donations to support his lifestyle. The character became popular enough that the Claystone Council officially adopted and sponsored it, and now rather than subsist on donations from entertained onlookers Dareling's performer is paid by the Council. Fhane himself eventually moved on from the röle he originated, and now Dareling is played by several different performers depending on scheduling and availability, but the person most frequently in the mascot suit is a skinny blond young man named Martwick Haverlen.

Dareling is a bright red anthropomorphic kangaroo rat, effected by a plush costume covered in artificial fuf—though it's been remarked that one probably wouldn't immediately guess he was supposed to be a kangaroo rat if one didn't already know. There are actually at least two Dareling costumes, one for more everyday use and a more elaborate costume that has gizmos in the head to allow it to move and blink its eyes, open and close its mouth and slightly change its facial expression—these controls remotely operated by a second person positioned discreetly within eyesight but not too close. By tradition, Dareling never speaks or makes any vocal noise during his appearances, but engages in all manner of enthusiastic gesticulation and acrobatics.

(Does a costumed character, fictional even in-world, count as an NPC? Well, even if not, I suppose the guy playing him does...)