### **Baroness Pavetta Drelev** *"A weak man’s throne is a clever woman’s chessboard."* --- ![[DALL·E 2025-02-23 16.56.31 - A striking and elegant noblewoman with raven-black hair, sharp cheekbones, and piercing green eyes stands in a grand yet dimly lit chamber. She wears .webp]] ### **Basic Information** - **Name:** Baroness Pavetta Drelev - **Race/Species:** Human - **Class/Profession:** Noble, Political Schemer, Manipulator (Aristocrat/Rogue) - **Alignment/Morality:** Lawful Evil (Seeks power and control above all else, with no patience for incompetence.) - **Age:** Mid-to-late 30s - **Gender & Pronouns:** Female (she/her) - **Appearance:** An elegant and striking woman with **raven-black hair**, sharp cheekbones, and piercing green eyes that reflect both intelligence and cruelty. Always immaculately dressed in the latest noble fashions, favoring **deep purples and golds**, with subtle embroidery representing the **Drelev and Surtova crests**. Her jewelry is both extravagant and practical—many pieces contain **hidden poisons, magical defenses, or symbols of political allegiance**. --- ### **Personality & Traits** - **Personality Summary:** While **Baron Hannis Drelev** struggles to hold onto power, it is **Pavetta** who truly controls **Fort Drelev**. Born of **House Surtova**, she was raised among the most ruthless political operators in Brevoy. She tolerates her husband’s failures only so long as he remains a useful figurehead. She **despises weakness** and ensures that all who oppose her either fall in line, disappear, or die regretting their defiance. - **Strengths & Skills:** - **Master Manipulator:** She controls Fort Drelev’s nobility, playing them against one another to maintain her dominance. - **Political Survivalist:** She has ensured **her family’s continued favor with House Surtova**, protecting them (for now) from Brevoy’s worst repercussions. - **Secret Patronage:** Pavetta has cultivated **alliances among ambitious nobles, mercenaries, and even spies within Pitax**. - **Sharp-Witted & Perceptive:** Can read a room and **twist situations to her advantage** before others realize what has happened. - **Weaknesses & Flaws:** - **Utterly Merciless:** While effective, her **lack of empathy isolates her**, leaving few truly loyal to her. - **Overconfidence:** Believes she is untouchable, even as **Fort Drelev crumbles beneath her**. - **Marriage of Convenience:** Sees Hannis Drelev as a means to an end and **will not hesitate to dispose of him if necessary**. - **Mistrusted by Rivals:** Even those who work with her do so out of necessity, **not respect or loyalty**. - **Mannerisms & Speech Patterns:** - Speaks with a **calm, measured voice**, often forcing others to lean in to listen. - Always **smiles before making a veiled threat**. - Rarely raises her voice—**a quiet order from her is more terrifying than a shouted command**. - Prefers using **flattery laced with menace** to keep people off balance. --- ### **Background & Story Role** - **Backstory Summary:** Born into **House Surtova**, Pavetta was **trained in court intrigue from childhood**, mastering the arts of deception, influence, and **political assassination by proxy**. Her marriage to Hannis Drelev was a calculated move—House Surtova wanted **a loyal family ruling Fort Drelev**, and she was the perfect choice to **"guide"** her husband. When **King [[Castruccio Irovetti]]** of Pitax extended his "protection" to Fort Drelev, Hannis bent the knee. Pavetta, however, **saw the truth**—**Irovetti was not an ally, but a conqueror in disguise**. While her husband continued to **make weak concessions**, Pavetta has been secretly maneuvering to **reclaim control** of the city before Pitax takes everything. - **Current Motivations:** - **Preserve & Expand Her Power:** She knows that **Fort Drelev will fall unless she makes a decisive move**. - **Manipulate King [[Castruccio Irovetti]]:** She seeks to **outplay** the Pitaxian ruler, keeping his support **while quietly subverting his control**. - **Eliminate Rivals:** **Anyone threatening her influence must be destroyed—politically or permanently.** - **Prepare for a Coup:** If her husband proves useless, **she may arrange for his "tragic accident."** - **Connections & Relationships:** - **Allies:** - **[[House Surtova]]** – While not as close as she would like, she **still holds influence within her family**. - **Pitaxian Courtiers** – Some within **King [[Castruccio Irovetti]]’s** court have grown **sympathetic to her cause**. - **Fort Drelev’s Spymasters & Advisors** – Many of **Hannis’s key advisors** **secretly answer to her instead**. - **Enemies/Rivals:** - **King [[Castruccio Irovetti]]** – While she pretends **loyalty**, she **despises being forced into submission**. - **[[Hannis Drelev]] (Her Husband)** – If he cannot hold power, she **will take it from him**. - **Rivermarch’s Leaders** – She watches them **closely**, unsure if they are **potential pawns or threats**. - **Neutral/Uncertain:** - **Dame [[Sarrona Lebeda]]** – Another powerful woman playing the game—**ally or rival, it depends on the deal.** - **[[Maegar Varn]]** – A wildcard; **she keeps tabs on him but has not yet acted.** - **Factions or Allegiances:** - **House Surtova:** She remains a **political ally**, though some within the family distrust her. - **The Drelev Nobility:** She maintains control **through fear and calculated generosity**. - **Pitaxian Political Intrigue:** She plays a **dangerous game**, working with and against **King [[Castruccio Irovetti]]** simultaneously. - **Notable Items or Equipment:** - **Surtova-Drelev Crest Pendant:** Worn **as a reminder of her true power**. - **Poison Ring:** A hidden compartment holds a fast-acting toxin for **emergencies**. - **Encrypted Correspondence:** Secret letters detailing **her plots, spy reports, and contingency plans**. --- ### **Additional Notes** - **Recurring Themes:** - **"The throne is not won by might alone—it is taken with a whisper and a knife."** - **The dangers of ambition—how long can she balance deception before it collapses?** - **Who will betray whom first—her husband, Pitax, or the nobles of Drelev?** - **Player/GM Notes:** - **Pavetta could become an unexpected ally**—if **Rivermarch** presents an **opportunity for her to seize power**. - She may **offer Hannis Drelev up as a scapegoat** if she sees a way to emerge stronger. - **She may contact Rivermarch discreetly**, offering secrets on Pitax in exchange for support. - If she feels **cornered**, expect her to **resort to assassination, manipulation, or even defecting to a greater power.** --- ### **Possible Story Hooks for Rivermarch:** 1. **A Secret Proposal:** Pavetta **sends an envoy to Rivermarch**, offering a **mutual agreement**—help her overthrow Hannis and **gain a valuable ally against Pitax**. 2. **The Baron’s Fall:** If Hannis Drelev **becomes more of a liability**, **Pavetta may arrange for his downfall**—but who replaces him? 3. **The Pitax Gambit:** She may **offer intelligence on King [[Castruccio Irovetti]]**, warning of **a greater threat** in exchange for future **political favors**. 4. **A Sudden Coup:** Fort Drelev **erupts into internal conflict**—does Rivermarch **intervene**, or **watch from the sidelines**?