### **Tybalt Rattigan – The Whisper of Rivermarch** --- ![[DALL·E 2025-02-22 22.34.35 - A detailed digital painting of Tybalt Rattigan, a ratfolk (Ysoki) investigator and diplomat from the Pathfinder universe. He is a golden-furred Ysoki .webp]] #### **Basic Information** - **Name:** Tybalt Rattigan - **Race/Species:** Ratfolk (Ysoki) - **Class/Profession:** Investigator, Emissary of Rivermarch - **Alignment/Morality:** Neutral Good (Pragmatic, values knowledge and community) - **Age:** Late 20s to early 30s (mature by Ysoki standards) - **Gender & Pronouns:** He/Him - **Appearance:** - **Short and stout, with a chubby, well-fed build,** a stark contrast to the usual wiry Ysoki frame. - **Golden-furred, well-groomed, and polished,** but with the practicality of someone who values function over vanity. - **Sharp amber eyes**, intelligent and always calculating, scanning every situation with keen awareness. - Dressed in a **well-tailored tan suit**, layered with **a waistcoat, gold chain, and reinforced leather accessories**, exuding an air of refinement. - Wears a **sturdy wide-brimmed hat** and round, brass-framed spectacles, giving him an air of a seasoned investigator. - His **belt and coat are lined with pouches and vials**, filled with investigative tools, alchemical brews, and lockpicks. - Often seen **smoking a well-crafted wooden pipe**, a signature piece of his contemplative nature. - A **small rat familiar** frequently perches on his shoulder, serving as both a companion and an extra set of eyes. --- #### **Personality & Traits** - **Personality Summary:** Tybalt is a **pragmatic schemer**, a man who thrives in the **gray spaces between diplomacy and subterfuge**. He **rarely acts without a plan**, but that doesn’t mean he won’t **take risks**—he just makes sure they’re calculated. Though **witty and sharp-tongued**, he knows when to **hold his tongue and when to let his words cut deep**. - **Strengths & Skills:** - **Master Investigator:** Quick-witted and perceptive, with an uncanny ability to **glean information from people and objects** without them even realizing. - **Silver-Tongued Negotiator:** A diplomat who can navigate the most treacherous **political and criminal landscapes** with ease. - **Resourceful and Well-Connected:** Has cultivated **a network of informants, spies, and underground contacts** throughout the River Kingdoms. - **Alchemical Expertise:** Keeps a collection of **elixirs, poisons, and investigative tools** within his belt’s pouches. - **Tactician and Planner:** Can **see five steps ahead**, ensuring that Rivermarch’s position in the Stolen Lands is never left to chance. - **Weaknesses & Flaws:** - **Trust Issues:** Always **assumes there’s another layer to every conversation**, making it difficult for him to fully trust others, even his allies. - **Cynical Pragmatism:** Will do what **needs** to be done, but it often comes at a cost—his methods can sometimes be seen as ruthless or underhanded. - **Not a Frontline Fighter:** Prefers to **control the board** rather than take center stage in combat. While he can handle himself, he’s **far deadlier with words and information than a blade.** - **Haunted by Secrets:** **Knows more than he lets on,** but some of those secrets might come back to bite him. - **Mannerisms & Speech Patterns:** - **Speaks in smooth, measured tones**, always maintaining an air of confidence. - Tends to **adjust his spectacles or flick his tail** when deep in thought. - **Uses humor and sarcasm** to defuse tension, though his jabs often carry **hidden barbs**. - **Never rushes his words**—everything he says is **deliberate**, even when it sounds casual. --- #### **Background & Story Role** - **Backstory Summary:** Born into a **nomadic Ysoki merchant clan**, Tybalt learned from an early age that **survival meant being useful, being unseen, and always knowing more than the other guy**. His family’s **trade connections, information networks, and occasional smuggling** put them in good standing with **Restov, Mivon, and the Aldori Swordlords**, but it also meant they made enemies. Tybalt’s talents in **investigation, deception, and diplomacy** ensured his place as the clan’s key emissary, handling **deals, negotiations, and subtle manipulations**. When he joined **the Rivermarch expedition**, he didn’t just see it as a mission—he saw an **opportunity**. An unclaimed land, a new frontier, a place where his people could **thrive** rather than just **exist on the fringes**. Now, as Rivermarch’s **official emissary**, he’s the one **managing alliances, trade, and information flow**, ensuring that their kingdom doesn’t just survive, but **becomes a force to be reckoned with.** - **Current Motivations:** - **Ensure Rivermarch’s survival** through trade, diplomacy, and **subtle influence** over its politics. - **Build a true home for the Ysoki**—one where they are **not just tolerated but integral** to the kingdom. - **Keep King Irovetti, Kressle, and the other power players of the River Kingdoms at bay** through strategic alliances and deception. - **Unravel the hidden plots at work**—both within Rivermarch and beyond. There’s always something lurking in the shadows. - **Notable Items & Equipment:** - **Rapier – "Mercutio’s Fang"** – A **family heirloom**, crafted for speed and precision. - **Pipe of Reflection** – A finely made pipe, which he smokes when deep in thought. - **Messenger Missive from Kressle** – A **single-use magical message** that could change everything… if he dares to use it. - **A network of informants (Ysoki & Rats alike).** - **Numerous concealed daggers, lockpicks, and hidden documents.** - **His coat—lined with concealed pockets, compartments, and a few surprises.** --- Tybalt **is not a ruler, but he ensures Rivermarch is ruled wisely.** He does not **fight wars**—he ensures they never need to be fought. And if war does come, it will be **fought on his terms.** --- ### **Connections & Relationships:** - **[[Brinn Whitewood]]** – *The "official" leader of Rivermarch, but…* Tybalt ensures the kingdom doesn’t **crumble from within** while Brinn tries to keep it from breaking under outside pressure. They work together, but often clash on **idealism vs. pragmatism**. Brinn believes in unity; Tybalt believes in **watching everyone carefully.** - **[[Gideon]]** – *Brilliant, dangerous, and just unpredictable enough to be a problem later.* Tybalt sees **the tactical mind beneath Gideon’s arcane obsession**, but **power changes people**—and Gideon is hungry for knowledge that might consume him. Tybalt **watches him warily**, playing the long game in case he needs to intervene. - **[[Borion Nightshade]]** – *A mage of principle—one of the few Tybalt actually trusts to be predictable.* They have **mutual respect**, though Borion’s reliance on **structure and tradition** sometimes frustrates Tybalt. The elf sees magic as something to be studied; Tybalt sees it as **another tool in the game of survival**. - **[[Tartuk]]** – *A snake in the council, but one Tybalt intends to keep coiled around his own arm.* **Dangerous.** Unchecked, Tartuk would **entrench his influence** until the kingdom belonged to him alone. Tybalt plays the game carefully, **balancing flattery with subtle opposition**—because if Tartuk ever decides **he doesn’t need the council anymore…** Rivermarch might have its first internal war. - **[[Kressle Crowe]] (The Bandit Queen)** – *Not an enemy. Not a friend. A problem waiting to be solved.* Kressle has reached out to Tybalt **more than once**, offering information and warnings. He knows better than to trust a bandit, but he also knows that **people like her don’t pick sides—they pick what keeps them alive.** The real question is **who she sees as the bigger threat: Rivermarch… or Pitax?** - **[[House Rattigan]] (Ysoki Caravan)** – *His family, his people, and his kingdom’s hidden eyes.* They’ve begun forming **[[The Undercroft Vigil]]**, a network of Ysoki spies, informants, and quiet enforcers watching Rivermarch **from beneath its streets**. To most, the Ysoki are simply **merchants, builders, and thieves**—but to Tybalt, they are **the kingdom’s best defense against the threats no one else sees coming.** - **[[Quinn]] (Investigator of Restov)** – *A trusted ally, but one who sees more than Tybalt would like.* They’ve worked together for years, and Quinn **knows how to dig into problems Tybalt would rather stay buried**. Despite their friendship, Quinn has a **stubborn streak of morality** that occasionally makes him *too honest* for his own good. Still, when Tybalt needs someone to uncover secrets—Quinn is the first name he calls. - **[[Pitax]] & [[Castruccio Irovetti]]** – *A tyrant, a liar, and a man who knows how to play the game.* Irovetti doesn’t need **swords to take Rivermarch**—he needs whispers, bribes, and slow corruption. **Tybalt is determined to be the one who stops him.** But if Pitax is watching… then so is Irovetti’s web of spies. The real question is: *Is Rivermarch already compromised?* - **Factions or Allegiances:** - **Rivermarch Council (Emissary & Diplomat).** - **The Ysoki Warrens of Rivermarch (Unofficial leader and protector).** - **The Undercroft Vigil (A secret Ysoki-run intelligence group).** - **Neutral with Kressle’s Bandit Network (For now).** - **At odds with King Irovetti’s Envoys.** - **Notable Items & Equipment:** - **Rapier – "Mercutio’s Fang"** – A **family heirloom**, crafted for speed and precision. - **Messenger Missive from Kressle** – A **single-use magical message** that could change everything… if he dares to use it. - **A network of informants (Ysoki & Rats alike).** - **Numerous concealed daggers, lockpicks, and hidden documents.** - **His coat—lined with concealed pockets, compartments, and a few surprises.** --- #### **Additional Notes** - **Recurring Themes:** - **"Power is a game of perception."** Tybalt doesn’t seek the throne, but he ensures the people who do are *manageable*. - **"Information is more valuable than gold."** Knowing the right secret at the right time can turn the tide of war. - **"Family first, always."** Whether it’s his **blood family or Rivermarch itself**, Tybalt will do whatever it takes to **protect his own**. - **"Allies and enemies are two sides of the same coin."** Kressle, Pitax, even Tartuk—everyone is a potential tool, for better or worse. - **Player/GM Notes:** - Tybalt’s **spy network and diplomatic efforts** will play a **massive role** in how Rivermarch navigates external threats. - He **thrives in roleplay-heavy encounters**—**gathering intelligence, exposing plots, and manipulating alliances.** - His **decisions impact the kingdom’s trade, security, and political stability**, making him a key figure in **Rivermarch’s survival.**