![[Pasted image 20251012175418.png|200]] ```toon character: identity_id: lysander_nightshade_v1 name: Lysander Nightshade species_or_type: Half-Elf apparent_age: 38 height: 178 cm build: "lean, agile, wiry musculature" skin_tone: "#cba58b" face: shape: angular with strong jawline brow: "slightly arched, expressive" eyes: color: "#3b8f4a" shape: narrow almond distance: average nose: straight with subtle hook at bridge mouth: crooked grin; defined upper lip distinctives[2]: faint scar along right jawline small mole under left eye hair: color: dark brown #3a2c23 length: short style: "tousled and uneven, layered fringe" part: right palette[5]: "#3a2c23" "#3b8f4a" "#cba58b" "#756b5f" "#b4a083" signature_items[3]: silver dagger with etched runes (False Oath Dagger) Whispering Coin on chain "Everchanging Mask (concealed, faint shimmer)" wardrobe_default: "tailored but travel-worn coat over layered vest and shirt, muted colors, dark trousers, utility belt with hidden pouches" allowed_variations: hair: length may vary slightly; color fixed makeup: none aging: ±2 years weight: stable do_not_change[4]: eye color scar position face proportions ear shape notes: Elven heritage visible in ear taper and youthful features; carries himself with roguish confidence. ``` ### **Basic Information** - **Name:** Lysander Nightshade - **Race/Species:** Half-Elf - **Class/Profession:** Swindler & Relic Hunter - **Alignment/Morality:** Chaotic Neutral - **Age:** 85 (appears in his late 30s due to elven heritage) - **Gender & Pronouns:** Male (He/Him) - **Appearance:** Lysander is lean and agile, with a roguish charm that makes him both likable and untrustworthy. His short, dark brown hair is always slightly tousled, and his sharp green eyes glint with mischief. A faint scar runs along his jawline, a reminder of past betrayals. He wears well-tailored, travel-worn clothes, blending high society fashion with a scavenger’s practicality. His belt is lined with hidden pouches, and a silver dagger rests at his hip. --- ### **Personality & Traits** - **Personality Summary:** Lysander is a smooth talker with a quick wit, always looking for the next big score. He thrives in deception and intrigue, effortlessly slipping between noble courts and criminal dens. While he enjoys the thrill of the con, he also has a deep appreciation for genuine historical artifacts, making him a paradox of a scholar and a thief. Despite his questionable morals, he has an odd sense of loyalty—he won’t sell out family, even if he’d gladly scam everyone else. - **Strengths & Skills:** - **Silver-Tongued Trickster** – Masters deception, persuasion, and misdirection. - **Skilled Relic Hunter** – Knows how to track down and appraise magical artifacts. - **Underworld Connections** – Has ties to black-market dealers and smugglers across the region. - **Accomplished Duelist** – Prefers finesse over brute force, relying on precision strikes and dirty tricks. - **Weaknesses & Flaws:** - **Unreliable Ally** – Difficult to trust, as he often prioritizes his own interests. - **Gambling Habit** – Has a weakness for high-stakes games, sometimes betting more than he can afford. - **Wanted in Multiple Cities** – Has left a trail of debts and grudges across Brevoy and beyond. - **Mannerisms & Speech Patterns:** - Always smirking, as if he’s in on a joke no one else knows. - Talks fast, often weaving in half-truths and charming exaggerations. - Flicks coins between his fingers absentmindedly. - Laughs off danger, even when it’s life-threatening. --- ### **Background & Story Role** - **Backstory Summary:** Born to [[Veyna Duskbane]] and [[Renvar Duskbane]], Lysander grew up surrounded by magic, books, and high expectations. But instead of embracing the family's scholarly traditions, he used his knowledge of history and magic to profit from illicit deals. Over the years, he honed his skills as a master thief, selling stolen relics and uncovering hidden artifacts—sometimes for their historical value, but often for personal gain. While he has been exiled from certain noble circles due to his questionable dealings, he remains a valuable asset to those in need of rare magical items, no matter how legally dubious their origins. He operates between Restov, the River Kingdoms, and Pitax, playing both sides for profit. - **Current Motivations:** - Searching for a fabled artifact tied to an ancient elven empire, rumored to be hidden within the Stolen Lands. - Expanding his network of contacts in Rivermarch, possibly seeking legitimacy—or just another score. - Dodging bounty hunters from a noble house in Brevoy after a particularly daring heist. - Testing Borion to see if his cousin has what it takes to navigate the darker side of magic and trade. - **Connections & Relationships:** - **[[Borion Nightshade]] (Cousin)** – Respects Borion’s intelligence but finds his moral compass restrictive. Occasionally offers him “business opportunities.” - **[[Veyna Duskbane]] (Mother)** – The only person whose disapproval genuinely affects him. He stays just far enough away to avoid her wrath. - **[[Renvar Duskbane]] (Father)** – An uneasy relationship; Lysander has borrowed and lost more than a few of his father’s magical creations. - **[[Selvyn Nightshade]] (Cousin)** – A business rival; Lysander’s loose ethics often clash with Selvyn’s more refined approach to trade. - **[[The Shadow Consortium]]** – A secretive syndicate of smugglers and illicit traders who frequently contract Lysander for dangerous heists. - **Factions or Allegiances:** - **The Nightshade Family (Reluctantly)** – While he bears the name, he doesn’t consider himself fully bound by their traditions. - **The Shadow Consortium** – A loose network of black-market dealers who handle rare magical goods. - **Pitaxian Underground** – Holds connections in the underworld of Pitax, though he avoids getting too involved in their politics. - **Notable Items or Equipment:** - **The False Oath Dagger** – A magical blade that exposes lies when blood is drawn. Lysander never confirms how he got it. - **Whispering Coin** – A silver coin that allows him to communicate short messages with his most trusted contacts. - **The Everchanging Mask** – A relic that subtly alters his facial features, allowing him to avoid recognition. --- ### **Additional Notes** - **Recurring Themes:** - **The Rogue Scholar** – Despite his outlaw status, he has a genuine love for history and magical discovery. - **Loyalty vs. Self-Preservation** – He walks the line between protecting his family and looking out for himself. - **Charming but Dangerous** – Plays the fool when it suits him but is far sharper than he lets on. - **Player/GM Notes:** - Could serve as an unpredictable ally or wildcard NPC, bringing both opportunity and trouble. - May have knowledge of hidden magical caches in the Stolen Lands. - If captured or confronted, will always have a backup plan—or a hidden blade.