# #### **Basic Information** - **Name:** Marius Rattigan - **Race/Species:** Ysoki (Ratfolk) - **Class/Profession:** Merchant Prince/Family Patriarch - **Alignment/Morality:** Lawful Neutral - **Age:** 47 - **Gender & Pronouns:** Male (He/Him) - **Appearance:** A distinguished Ysoki standing just over three feet tall, with a robust build that carries the weight of family responsibility with dignified bearing. His fur is a rich chestnut brown with distinctive silver streaks along his muzzle and around his eyes, giving him a naturally authoritative appearance that commands respect. His whiskers are meticulously groomed and slightly longer than average, adorned with tiny silver clips bearing the Rattigan family crest. His eyes are a deep amber that assess everything with the calculating precision of a born merchant. He dresses in finely tailored clothing that blends traditional Ysoki practicality with the opulence expected of his station—rich fabrics in House Rattigan's colors of deep purple and silver, with subtle embroidery depicting the family's commercial achievements. Multiple rings adorn his fingers, each representing a significant business venture or alliance. He carries himself with deliberate dignity, his movements measured and purposeful, conveying authority without unnecessary ostentation. A silver-headed walking stick accompanies him at all times—part symbol of office, part practical tool, and part concealed weapon for the rare occasions when diplomacy fails. #### **Personality & Traits** - **Personality Summary:** Marius embodies the traditional values of House Rattigan—a patriarch who balances commercial ambition with family responsibility. He approaches both business and family governance with methodical thoroughness, weighing each decision for its impact on the Rattigan legacy. To his family, he represents stability and continuity, maintaining the traditions that have made House Rattigan prosperous while cautiously embracing necessary adaptations. To business partners and rivals, he presents a carefully calibrated blend of Ysoki shrewdness and aristocratic formality that commands respect across cultural boundaries. His Ysoki heritage manifests in his meticulous attention to detail, his talent for identifying valuable opportunities others miss, and his fierce protection of what he considers his territory—both physical and commercial. Though capable of genuine warmth with family and close allies, he maintains a reserved demeanor in most interactions, believing that excessive familiarity undermines authority. Beneath his controlled exterior lies a complex individual balancing progressive commercial instincts with conservative social values, creating occasional tensions within his family and business relationships. - **Strengths & Skills:** - **Commercial Acumen** – Exceptional ability to identify profitable opportunities and manage complex trade networks - **Family Leadership** – Remarkable talent for balancing diverse family interests while maintaining overall unity - **Diplomatic Negotiation** – Skill at securing favorable terms while maintaining long-term relationships - **Resource Management** – Talent for optimizing the use of family assets and personnel - **Strategic Vision** – Ability to plan decades ahead for House Rattigan's continued prosperity - **Weaknesses & Flaws:** - **Traditionalism** – Sometimes resists beneficial innovations due to attachment to established methods - **Micromanagement** – Difficulty delegating important matters, creating occasional bottlenecks - **Cultural Insularity** – Subtle bias favoring Ysoki approaches over potentially valuable outside perspectives - **Familial Favoritism** – Tendency to favor certain family branches over others in assignments and opportunities - **Stubborn Pride** – Reluctance to admit mistakes or change course once committed to a decision - **Mannerisms & Speech Patterns:** - Speaks in measured, formal sentences with carefully chosen words that reveal little unintended information - Unconsciously adjusts his whisker clips when considering important business decisions - Maintains direct but not challenging eye contact during negotiations, a technique developed to project confidence - Taps his walking stick in a specific rhythm when impatient or displeased, a warning sign recognized by family members - Uses traditional Ysoki business metaphors that sometimes confuse non-Ysoki associates #### **Background & Story Role** - **Backstory Summary:** Born to the main branch of House Rattigan during a period of significant expansion, Marius was raised with both the privileges of Ysoki aristocracy and the practical education of a merchant family. From an early age, he showed natural aptitude for commerce and leadership, qualities his father—then patriarch of the house—carefully nurtured through increasingly responsible assignments. His defining challenge came when he assumed leadership of House Rattigan at a relatively young age following his father's unexpected death during trade negotiations. Taking control during this vulnerable transition period, he successfully defended the family's interests against opportunistic rivals while consolidating internal support through a combination of traditional values and pragmatic compromises. Under his leadership, House Rattigan has maintained its position as one of the most influential Ysoki merchant houses in the region, expanding their traditional focus on luxury goods to include strategic investments in infrastructure and emerging markets. Though his methods sometimes seem conservative compared to more progressive family members like his cousin Thia, his consistent results have maintained family unity and commercial success. His greatest ongoing challenge is balancing House Rattigan's traditional Ysoki identity with the necessity of cross-cultural commerce in an increasingly interconnected world. This tension manifests in his complex relationship with non-Ysoki associates like Whiskerwick Thistlefoot, whom he values for their connections while maintaining a certain cultural distance. - **Current Motivations:** - Securing House Rattigan's commercial interests against increasing competition - Maintaining family unity despite internal tensions between traditional and progressive factions - Expanding influence in human markets while preserving distinctive Ysoki business practices - Identifying and grooming a suitable successor to eventually assume family leadership - Establishing a lasting legacy that honors Rattigan traditions while adapting to changing times - **Connections & Relationships:** - **[[House Rattigan]]** – The extended family he leads with firm but generally fair governance - **[[Thia Rattigan]]** – His progressive cousin whose diplomatic initiatives he values but sometimes questions - **[[Whiskerwick “Whiskey” Thistlefoot]]** – Halfling information broker whose services he employs while maintaining cultural distance - **[[Issian Loyalists]]** – Political faction with whom he maintains cautious business relationships - **[[Orvin Malthis]]** and **[[Ilyana Daryov]]** – Human merchants with whom he has established mutually beneficial trade agreements - **Factions or Allegiances:** - **House Rattigan** – His primary identity and responsibility - **The Merchant Princes** – Informal association of influential trading families - **Rivermarch Commercial Council** – Formal organization where he represents Ysoki business interests - **Traditional Ysoki Cultural Association** – Group dedicated to preserving Ysoki heritage - **Notable Items or Equipment:** - **The Patriarch's Staff** – Silver-headed walking stick symbolizing his authority - **House Signet** – Ring bearing the Rattigan crest, used to seal official communications - **The Ledgers of Rattigan** – Historical records of family business dating back generations - **Collection of Trade Contracts** – Carefully preserved agreements with various partners - **Ceremonial Dagger** – Traditional Ysoki weapon used in formal business rituals #### **Additional Notes** - **Recurring Themes:** - The balance between tradition and necessary adaptation - Family unity amid diverse perspectives and ambitions - Cultural identity in a multicultural commercial environment - The weight of leadership and legacy - **Player/GM Notes:** - Can serve as a potential employer for commercially focused missions - Might become an ally for characters who demonstrate both business acumen and respect for tradition - Could provide access to Ysoki networks and resources for appropriate compensation - His conservative approach makes him predictable but occasionally inflexible - Despite his focus on commerce, deeply values family honor and will respond decisively to threats against it