![[DALL·E 2025-02-22 15.48.24 - A cunning half-elf man with foxlike angular features, golden eyes that glimmer with intelligence, and shoulder-length dark hair styled impeccably. He .webp]] ### **Basic Information** - **Name:** Thalric Nightshade - **Race/Species:** Half-Elf - **Class/Profession:** Arcane Trickster & Spy - **Alignment/Morality:** Neutral - **Age:** 80 (appears in his mid-30s due to elven heritage) - **Gender & Pronouns:** Male (He/Him) - **Appearance:** Thalric has a sharp, foxlike appearance, with angular features, golden eyes, and shoulder-length dark hair that he keeps impeccably styled. His clothing is tailored yet practical, blending the elegance of nobility with the functionality of a covert operative. He often wears a long coat lined with hidden pockets, and his gloves are enchanted for subtle spellwork. A perpetual smirk plays on his lips, hinting at either amusement or deception. --- ### **Personality & Traits** - **Personality Summary:** Thalric is a man of secrets, a master of weaving truths and lies into something indistinguishable. He is charming, composed, and unnervingly perceptive, rarely letting his true thoughts slip. While he outwardly presents himself as a loyal family member and businessman, he is deeply embedded in the underworld, using the Nightshade name to conduct both legitimate and illicit business. He values control and information above all else, believing that power comes not from raw strength or magic, but from knowing the right things at the right time. - **Strengths & Skills:** - **Master Manipulator** – Expert at persuasion, deception, and social engineering. - **Spy Network Operator** – Manages a web of informants throughout Brevoy and the River Kingdoms. - **Arcane Trickster** – Combines magic with subterfuge, specializing in illusions and enchantments. - **Legitimate Merchant Front** – Uses business ventures as a cover for illicit activities. - **Weaknesses & Flaws:** - **Two-Faced Loyalties** – His true allegiances are often unclear, even to himself. - **Trust Issues** – Prefers to manipulate rather than rely on genuine relationships. - **Overconfidence** – Believes he is always the smartest person in the room, sometimes underestimating others. - **Mannerisms & Speech Patterns:** - Always seems amused, even in serious situations. - Speaks in riddles or layered meanings, rarely saying anything directly. - Makes a habit of casually adjusting his gloves while talking. - Subtly probes for weaknesses in conversation, testing what people know. --- ### **Background & Story Role** - **Backstory Summary:** Raised in the Nightshade family but never truly bound by its traditions, Thalric found his way into the world of shadows early. While his cousins pursued magical theory or trade, he realized that **information** was the most valuable commodity of all. Under the guise of a respectable diplomat and merchant, he built an intelligence network, leveraging secrets to amass power. He operates primarily in **Restov**, where he serves as an intermediary between noble houses, mercenaries, and criminal syndicates. Though his work benefits the Nightshade family, he ultimately serves himself first, ensuring that no single power—including his own kin—ever has too much control over him. - **Current Motivations:** - Expanding his influence into the **Stolen Lands**, possibly using Rivermarch as a foothold. - Investigating King **Irovetti's** activities to determine if his rule is secure—or vulnerable. - Ensuring the Nightshade family remains relevant in the ever-shifting political landscape. - Testing **[[Borion Nightshade]]** to see if he can be an ally or if he is a potential liability. - **Connections & Relationships:** - **[[Borion Nightshade]] (Cousin)** – Sees Borion as promising but untested, watching to see if he is a player or merely a piece on the board. - **[[Selvyn Nightshade]] (Cousin)** – Works with him in a professional capacity but finds his sense of honor limiting. - **[[Lysander Nightshade]] (Cousin)** – Considers him reckless but useful when plausible deniability is needed. - **House Surtova Contacts** – Maintains covert ties with agents of Brevoy’s ruling house, though the extent of his loyalty is uncertain. - **Pitaxian Underground** – Has dealings with underworld figures in Pitax, though he is careful not to get too involved in King Irovetti’s politics. - **Factions or Allegiances:** - **The Nightshade Family (Conditionally Loyal)** – Supports them as long as it serves his interests. - **The Veiled Exchange** – A shadowy syndicate specializing in blackmail, political maneuvering, and illicit trade. - **Restov Merchant Guild (Publicly Affiliated)** – Uses his merchant status as a cover for more discreet dealings. - **Notable Items or Equipment:** - **Whispercloak** – An enchanted cloak that muffles footsteps and alters its appearance slightly depending on the wearer’s intent. - **Silver Tongue Ring** – A minor magical trinket that subtly enhances persuasion and deception. - **The Ledger of Shadows** – A hidden book containing coded information on various nobles, criminals, and potential blackmail material. --- ### **Additional Notes** - **Recurring Themes:** - **Power through Information** – Believes knowledge is the only true weapon. - **The Double Life** – Balances the roles of respectable merchant and covert manipulator. - **Family vs. Self-Interest** – Will he remain loyal to the Nightshades, or does he have his own endgame? - **Player/GM Notes:** - Could be a key figure in espionage, providing intelligence to Rivermarch—or working against them. - Might test Borion by offering him difficult choices, determining if he is worthy of deeper trust. - If betrayed, he will disappear long before retribution can find him, only to return when least expected.