# #### **Basic Information** - **Name:** Darren (no known surname) - **Race/Species:** Halfling - **Class/Profession:** Courier/Information Broker - **Alignment/Morality:** Neutral - **Age:** 42 - **Gender & Pronouns:** Male (He/Him) - **Appearance:** A quintessential example of halfling adaptability in human-dominated society, standing just over three feet tall with the compact, nimble build typical of his kind. His face features the rounded features characteristic of halflings—bright eyes, prominent cheeks, and an expressive mouth—weathered by years of travel in all conditions. His eyes are a keen hazel that seem to notice everything without appearing to stare, constantly scanning his surroundings with practiced casualness. His hair is light brown with significant gray at the temples, typically kept short and practical for his constant travels. He dresses in well-worn but meticulously maintained traveling clothes in muted browns and greens, designed for durability and comfort rather than style, though always clean and presentable enough to access establishments of varying social tiers. His most distinctive feature is a network of thin, pale scars across his hands and forearms—souvenirs from various misadventures on the road that he's happy to explain with wildly different stories depending on his audience. He moves with the quick, efficient gait of someone accustomed to covering long distances, and despite his small stature, can maintain a surprising pace when necessary. A well-worn messenger satchel is his constant companion, its contents secured with multiple locks of varying sophistication. #### **Personality & Traits** - **Personality Summary:** Darren embodies the pragmatic adaptability necessary for a halfling making his way in the human-dominated River Kingdoms—a courier who has transformed his natural talents for observation and discretion into a successful information brokerage. He approaches both his official duties and unofficial side business with careful attention to risk and reward, weighing each job and information exchange against potential consequences. To his regular clients, he represents reliability and discretion, delivering both physical packages and valuable information with equal professionalism. To casual acquaintances, he presents a carefully crafted persona of the simple, good-natured courier—friendly but forgettable, precisely as he intends. His halfling heritage manifests in his appreciation for comfort when available, his talent for blending into the background despite his distinctive appearance, and his pragmatic approach to survival in a world built for taller folk. Though capable of genuine warmth with those few he truly trusts, most of his affable behavior is a calculated professional tool rather than authentic connection. Beneath his unassuming exterior lies a shrewd businessman who has built a modest but secure position in the complex information economy of the region. - **Strengths & Skills:** - **Information Assessment** – Exceptional ability to determine the value and reliability of information - **Network Management** – Remarkable skill at maintaining a web of contacts across social boundaries - **Memory** – Near-perfect recall of conversations, faces, and details relevant to his business - **Situational Awareness** – Highly developed sense for potential danger or opportunity - **Discretion** – Professional commitment to client confidentiality regardless of personal interest - **Weaknesses & Flaws:** - **Risk Aversion** – Sometimes misses opportunities due to excessive caution - **Mercenary Outlook** – Tendency to evaluate relationships primarily by their practical value - **Conflict Avoidance** – Preference for evasion over confrontation even when standing firm would be beneficial - **Trust Issues** – Difficulty forming genuine connections due to professional paranoia - **Overextension** – Occasionally takes on too many commitments to maintain his information network - **Mannerisms & Speech Patterns:** - Speaks in a friendly, conversational manner that encourages others to share information - Maintains appropriate eye contact without staring, a technique developed to appear trustworthy - Uses his hands expressively when speaking to draw attention away from his observant eyes - Habitually positions himself near exits and with good sightlines in any room - Employs different speech patterns and vocabulary depending on his audience #### **Background & Story Role** - **Backstory Summary:** Born to a halfling family in a small settlement near Mivon, Darren's early years were marked by the constant adaptation required of halflings in human society. His natural quickness, good memory, and ability to go unnoticed made him an ideal candidate for courier work, which he began in his teens running messages between local farms and villages. His entry into the information trade came gradually, as he realized that the gossip, observations, and overheard conversations he collected during his travels had value to the right buyers. What began as occasional tips sold to supplement his income evolved into a systematic approach to gathering and selling information, with his courier duties providing perfect cover and access. Over the years, he expanded his route to include most of the eastern River Kingdoms, including regular stops in Rivermarch, Mivon, and several smaller settlements. His reputation for reliability and discretion in both his official and unofficial businesses grew steadily, earning him a modest but secure position in the regional information economy. His defining professional achievement was successfully navigating the political upheaval following the establishment of Rivermarch, positioning himself as a valuable neutral channel of information between various factions without becoming entangled in their conflicts. This delicate balancing act cemented his reputation and expanded his client base to include several influential figures in the new power structure. In recent years, he has focused on consolidating his position rather than expanding further, recognizing that becoming too prominent in the information trade would undermine the anonymity that is one of his greatest assets. He maintains a careful balance between his public identity as a simple courier and his private role as a broker of valuable information. - **Current Motivations:** - Maintaining his carefully established network of informants and clients - Securing enough wealth to eventually retire comfortably away from political centers - Preserving his reputation for reliability and neutrality amid shifting regional politics - Protecting himself from those who might view his knowledge as a threat - Personally satisfying his natural curiosity about the world and its workings - **Connections & Relationships:** - **[[Courier's Guild]]** – Professional organization that provides his official employment - **[[Mayor Raston Selline]]** – Regular client for both official correspondence and unofficial information - **[[Character Cards/Gnomes/Marcela Vassari]]** – Merchant who uses his services and occasionally provides valuable trade information - **[[The Whispering Blades]]** – Criminal organization he carefully avoids antagonizing while maintaining limited contact - **[[Whiskerwick “Whiskey” Thistlefoot]]** – Fellow information broker with whom he maintains a cautious professional relationship - **Factions or Allegiances:** - **Courier's Guild** – His primary legitimate employment and professional identity - **The Information Exchange** – Loose network of brokers and informants with whom he trades - **Halfling Community** – Maintains connections with fellow halflings throughout the region - **Various Merchant Houses** – Serves multiple trading organizations with careful neutrality - **Notable Items or Equipment:** - **Courier's Satchel** – Specially designed bag with hidden compartments and multiple locks - **Official Credentials** – Documentation proving his status as a licensed courier - **Cipher Book** – Personal code system for recording sensitive information - **Collection of Maps** – Detailed regional charts including lesser-known routes - **Emergency Kit** – Supplies and tools for surviving common road hazards #### **Additional Notes** - **Recurring Themes:** - The value of information in a politically volatile region - Balancing professional neutrality with personal safety - The advantages of being underestimated due to size and appearance - Finding security through knowledge rather than strength - **Player/GM Notes:** - Can serve as a valuable source of regional information and rumors - Might provide quests related to message delivery or information gathering - Could become an ally for characters who respect his neutrality and discretion - His extensive network makes him an excellent connection to various factions - Despite his non-combatant nature, has developed numerous contingency plans for dangerous situations