### **Dame Sarrona Lebeda** *A formidable merchant-lady with sharp instincts and sharper ambition.* --- ![[DALL·E 2025-02-23 17.01.16 - A striking noblewoman in her mid-to-late 40s stands in a grand chamber adorned with rich tapestries and trade maps of Brevoy. She has dark auburn hair.webp]] ### **Basic Information** - **Name:** Dame Sarrona Lebeda - **Race/Species:** Human - **Class/Profession:** Aristocrat, Merchant, Diplomat - **Alignment/Morality:** Lawful Neutral (Driven by profit, but values family honor and trade ethics) - **Age:** Mid-to-late 40s - **Gender & Pronouns:** Female (she/her) - **Appearance:** A striking woman with a commanding presence. She has dark auburn hair, usually tied in a neat braid, and piercing gray eyes that miss nothing. Her clothing is opulent yet practical—fine silks and brocades tailored for mobility. She wears a sapphire-studded signet ring of House Lebeda and carries a silvered dagger, more for symbolism than combat. --- ### **Personality & Traits** - **Personality Summary:** Dame Sarrona is a shrewd negotiator, skilled in both commerce and courtly maneuvering. While she values diplomacy, she is ruthless in securing profitable trade agreements and expanding House Lebeda’s influence. She is ambitious but not reckless, knowing that power is best maintained through control, not overt force. - **Strengths & Skills:** - **Master of Trade:** A brilliant financier and economic strategist. - **Silver-Tongued Diplomat:** Adept at negotiations, persuasion, and securing trade alliances. - **Keen Strategist:** Balances the needs of House Lebeda with shifting political tides. - **Courtly Presence:** Commands respect in noble circles through both charm and calculated force. - **Weaknesses & Flaws:** - **Pragmatic to a Fault:** Often prioritizes profits and influence over morality. - **Untrusting:** Believes alliances are fleeting, making her slow to fully commit to partnerships. - **Lebeda's Isolation:** House Lebeda straddles a precarious position between the River Kingdoms and Brevoy, meaning she must tread carefully in political dealings. - **Mannerisms & Speech Patterns:** - Speaks with an air of authority, her words measured and deliberate. - Prefers veiled threats and indirect power plays over outright confrontation. - Has a habit of appraising people like she would a business deal—assessing their worth before engaging. --- ### **Background & Story Role** - **Backstory Summary:** As a daughter of House Lebeda, Sarrona grew up amidst Brevoy’s merchant elite, learning the intricacies of trade, diplomacy, and noble etiquette from a young age. When her father died, leaving a power vacuum, she seized control of the family's economic empire, outmaneuvering more traditional-minded relatives. Under her leadership, House Lebeda has flourished, expanding trade routes and securing lucrative contracts. - **Current Motivations:** - **Expand House Lebeda’s Trade Influence:** Strengthen ties with emerging powers like [[Rivermarch]] while outmaneuvering rival merchants. - **Secure Political Standing:** Avoid becoming a pawn in the power struggles between [[House Surtova]], [[House Orlovsky]], and the Aldori Swordlords. - **Maintain Control Over New Stolen Lands Trade Routes:** Sees [[Rivermarch]] and [[Varnhold]] as potential trade partners or rivals. - **Connections & Relationships:** - **Allies:** - **[[House Lebeda]]** – Her family’s influence is tied to her success. - **Restov’s Merchant Guilds** – She has allies within Brevoy’s trade networks. - **Rivermarch’s Leadership** – Interested in forming trade agreements. - **Enemies/Rivals:** - **[[House Surtova]]** – Distrusts their hold over Brevoy’s economy and political affairs. - **Unscrupulous River Lords** – Rivals in the merchant trade, especially smugglers who bypass tariffs. - **Neutral/Uncertain:** - **[[Maegar Varn]]** – She is interested in Varnhold’s trade potential but is unsure of his long-term ambitions. - **Factions or Allegiances:** - **House Lebeda:** Protecting and expanding her family's trade empire. - **Brevic Mercantile Circles:** Maintains strong influence in economic policy. - **Potential Future Allies:** Open to supporting whoever strengthens her trade power. - **Notable Items or Equipment:** - **House Lebeda Signet Ring:** A mark of authority among Brevoy’s merchant elite. - **Personal Ledger:** Holds details of debts, deals, and favors owed. - **Silvered Dagger:** More a symbol of power than a weapon, but still quite sharp. --- ### **Additional Notes** - **Recurring Themes:** - The tension between wealth and political power. - The cost of ambition—securing influence without making too many enemies. - Navigating shifting alliances in Brevoy and beyond. - **Player/GM Notes:** - Sarrona can serve as a patron, offering financial backing or trade incentives to Rivermarch. - She may also be a challenge, seeking to exploit economic opportunities at the kingdom’s expense. - If Rivermarch becomes a major trade hub, she will either ally with or attempt to control its commerce.