# #### **Basic Information** - **Name:** Raston Selline (known formally as "His Honor, Mayor Selline") - **Race/Species:** Human - **Class/Profession:** Politician/Administrator (Former Merchant) - **Alignment/Morality:** Lawful Neutral - **Age:** Late 50s - **Gender & Pronouns:** Male (He/Him) - **Appearance:** A stout man of average height with thinning gray hair and a meticulously groomed goatee. He dresses in fine but practical clothing, favoring dark blues and browns with subtle gold embroidery. Always wears the mayoral chain of office during public appearances and carries a polished walking stick with a silver handle shaped like a merchant's scale. #### **Personality & Traits** - **Personality Summary:** Raston is a pragmatic administrator who believes in order, structure, and the power of commerce. He governs with a firm but fair hand, showing little patience for disruptions to the city's routine. While not particularly warm or charismatic, he is respected for his competence and predictability. He tends to approach problems methodically, often consulting advisors before making decisions. - **Strengths & Skills:** - **Administrative Expertise** – Skilled at managing a city's complex bureaucracy - **Economic Acumen** – Deep understanding of trade, taxation, and municipal finance - **Diplomatic Finesse** – Able to navigate political tensions without creating unnecessary enemies - **Detail-Oriented** – Rarely misses important information or overlooks significant concerns - **Weaknesses & Flaws:** - **Overly Cautious** – Sometimes hesitates when decisive action is needed - **Rigid Thinking** – Struggles to adapt to unconventional solutions or ideas - **Susceptible to Flattery** – Can be manipulated by those who appeal to his sense of importance - **Slightly Corrupt** – Not above accepting "gifts" for favorable treatment, though he has lines he won't cross - **Mannerisms & Speech Patterns:** - Speaks deliberately with precise diction and a hint of an old Taldan accent - Often begins sentences with "In my considered opinion..." or "According to protocol..." - Habitually straightens his mayoral chain when uncomfortable or uncertain - Tends to refer to himself in the first-person plural during official functions #### **Background & Story Role** - **Backstory Summary:** Raston began his career as a moderately successful merchant specializing in textile imports. His meticulous record-keeping and talent for organization caught the attention of the previous administration, who appointed him to the city's commerce board. From there, he worked his way up through various administrative positions, developing a reputation for competence rather than charisma. When the previous mayor died unexpectedly, Raston was selected as a compromise candidate who wouldn't upset the delicate balance of power among the city's influential factions. - **Current Motivations:** - Maintaining stability and order within the city - Expanding trade relationships while avoiding political entanglements - Securing his legacy as a mayor who brought prosperity and growth - Quietly amassing enough wealth to ensure a comfortable retirement - **Connections & Relationships:** - **[[Yaisa Melili]]**: His chief advisor whom he relies on heavily, perhaps too heavily - **[[Character Cards/Humans/Marcela Vassari]]**: A merchant council member who has significant influence over him - **[[Sarrona Lebeda]]**: Maintains a cautious but respectful relationship with House Lebeda - **[[Brinn Whitewood]]**: Interested in developing stronger ties with Rivermarch for trade purposes - **City Guard Captain Dorian Falks**: His direct subordinate who handles security matters - **[[Varrin Dulcova]]**: Representative of the Merchants' Consortium who regularly lobbies for favorable policies - **Factions or Allegiances:** - **City Administration**: His primary loyalty is to the office he holds - **[[Restov's Merchant Guilds]]**: Maintains strong ties with the merchant community - **[[Merchants' Consortium]]**: Favorable relationship but careful to maintain independence - **House Lebeda**: Cautious political alignment without direct subordination - **Notable Items or Equipment:** - **The Mayoral Chain**: Symbol of office that contains minor enchantments for truth detection - **The City Seal**: Used for official documents and has magical properties to prevent forgery - **Ledger of Accounts**: A carefully guarded book containing records of both official and unofficial transactions - **Signet Ring**: Passed down through generations of mayors, rumored to have protective properties #### **Additional Notes** - **Recurring Themes:** - The tension between proper procedure and necessary expediency - Balancing personal gain against public service - The burden of responsibility and the loneliness of leadership - Pragmatism versus idealism in governance - **Player/GM Notes:** - Useful as a quest-giver for city-based missions - Can serve as an obstacle when bureaucracy impedes the party's goals - Potential ally for legally-minded characters but may frustrate more chaotic ones - Neither hero nor villain—just a man trying to keep a city running while looking out for himself