![[DALL·E 2025-03-16 19.19.50 - A sleek-furred Ysoki (ratfolk) woman with charcoal-gray fur and golden eyes, standing confidently in a bustling market. She wears a finely tailored da.webp]] #### **Basic Information** - **Name:** Liss Varrow - **Race/Species:** Ysoki (Ratfolk) - **Class/Profession:** Master Tailor & Underground Information Broker - **Alignment/Morality:** Neutral (Pragmatic & Business-Oriented) - **Age:** Late 20s (by Ysoki standards) - **Gender & Pronouns:** Female (She/Her) - **Appearance:** - Sleek charcoal-gray fur with lighter silver markings around her muzzle and ears. - Sharp, golden eyes that flick between assessing and dismissive. - Always dressed in well-fitted, practical clothing—dark leathers and layered fabrics that allow for both movement and style. - Wears a belt of tailor’s tools and a simple, well-maintained dagger tucked at her hip. - A single silver hoop in her left ear, rumored to be a token from a past debt—or a past love. --- #### **Personality & Traits** - **Personality Summary:** Liss is the kind of person who knows the value of time—and doesn’t waste it. Blunt, efficient, and sharp-witted, she speaks in a dry, clipped manner that suggests she’s always five steps ahead in a conversation. While she appears to only care about business, those who earn her trust see the fiercely loyal streak underneath. She enjoys a good gamble, a well-kept secret, and watching other people’s plans unfold from the sidelines. - **Strengths & Skills:** - **Master Tailor:** Knows fabrics, patterns, and techniques better than anyone in Rivermarch. Capable of crafting concealed weaponry into garments. - **Information Broker:** Deals in whispers as much as in stitches; keeps her ear to the ground and trades in secrets. - **Keen Observer:** Can size up a person’s status, wealth, and disposition at a glance. Knows when someone’s lying. - **Knife Work:** Prefers not to fight but can wield a dagger with quick precision when needed. - **Weaknesses & Flaws:** - **Distrustful:** Business is business, but personal trust is another thing entirely. She rarely lets people in. - **Avoids Direct Conflict:** Prefers to manipulate events from the background rather than take center stage. - **Holds a Grudge:** Doesn’t forgive easily—especially debts, be they financial or personal. - **Mannerisms & Speech Patterns:** - Talks fast when impatient, slow when amused. - Has a habit of flicking her ears when irritated. - Often mutters “Hells,” “Figures,” or “Not my problem” in exasperation. - Sighs frequently when dealing with nonsense. --- #### **Background & Story Role** - **Backstory Summary:** Liss wasn’t born into wealth, but she learned early that skill was worth more than sentiment. She built her reputation by offering quality work—first among traveling traders, then in Rivermarch’s growing market. Though tailoring is her official craft, it’s the conversations had over fittings, the passing words between merchants, and the careful notes in her ledgers that make her truly valuable. - **Current Motivations:** - Establishing herself as **the** premier tailor in Rivermarch. - Expanding her network of information—knowledge is power, after all. - Maintaining neutrality while keeping certain influential figures in her debt. - **Connections & Relationships:** - **[[Kressle]]:** A curiosity—Liss respects those who know what they want, even if she doesn’t quite understand them. - **[[Brinn]] & the Council:** Aware of their influence, but not one to entangle herself unless there’s profit. - **[[King Irovetti]]’s Influence:** Wary of Pitax’s reach, keeps tabs on their movements through merchant gossip. - **Factions or Allegiances:** - The **Merchant’s Guild (Loosely)**: She does business with them but keeps her independence. - The **Ysoki of Rivermarch**: Though she wasn’t raised there, she maintains strong ties with her people and ensures their voices are heard. - **Notable Items or Equipment:** - **Tailor’s Belt:** Holds thread, needles, and a few… unconventional tools. - **Stiletto Dagger:** A thin, concealed blade used more for quiet work than combat. - **Ledgers:** Two—one for clothing orders, another for debts owed and secrets traded. --- #### **Additional Notes** - **Recurring Themes:** - The fine line between business and friendship. - Observing the drama of others but never stepping too close. - The quiet power of knowing what everyone wants before they do. - **Player/GM Notes:** - Liss rarely engages in direct conflict—she’s a support character, dealing in knowledge and crafting rather than combat. - If she gives someone a warning, it’s worth listening to. - If she offers a deal, it’s fair—but never free.