![[DALL·E 2025-02-22 14.22.04 - A Ysoki (ratfolk) engineer and builder with wiry gray fur streaked with white around his snout and ears. He is stocky, with large, calloused hands sta.webp]] #### **Basic Information** - **Name:** Varrin Rattigan (sometimes called "Old Varrin" or "Stonepaw" by close family) - **Race/Species:** Ysoki - **Class/Profession:** Engineer & Builder - **Alignment/Morality:** Lawful Neutral - **Age:** Late 40s - **Gender & Pronouns:** He/Him - **Appearance:** Stocky for a Ysoki, with wiry gray fur streaked with white around his snout and ears. His large, calloused hands are always stained with sawdust and ink. Wears durable work clothes, often patched, with a heavy leather utility belt filled with tools. A pair of brass-framed spectacles sit on his snout, often pushed up when he's deep in thought. His tail is notably thicker than most, a sign of a well-fed and long-lived Ysoki. --- #### **Personality & Traits** - **Personality Summary:** Varrin is practical, disciplined, and deeply methodical. A lifetime of construction work has made him a perfectionist, with little patience for sloppy work or impractical designs. Though gruff on the surface, he has a deep affection for his family and fellow Ysoki, though he shows it through action rather than words. He believes that proper planning is the foundation of any lasting endeavor and dislikes improvisation. - **Strengths & Skills:** - Master architect and fortification expert - Strong knowledge of structural integrity and tunnel engineering - Skilled negotiator when it comes to securing materials and labor - Capable fighter with a reinforced builder’s hammer, though he prefers not to brawl - **Weaknesses & Flaws:** - Inflexible and resistant to rapid changes in plans - Distrusts magic-based construction, believing it to be unreliable - Can be blunt and dismissive of those who lack technical expertise - Holds a grudge against outsiders who have historically undervalued Ysoki craftsmanship - **Mannerisms & Speech Patterns:** - Speaks in clipped, efficient sentences, wasting no words when discussing work - When talking about construction or architecture, he can ramble for hours - Taps his claws against wood or stone when lost in thought - Grumbles under his breath but rarely shouts, preferring a sharp glare to make his point --- #### **Background & Story Role** - **Backstory Summary:** Born into a family of builders, Varrin has spent his life crafting structures for Ysoki communities, traveling caravans, and occasionally human settlements. He worked as a chief engineer for a wealthy merchant before a dispute over pay and recognition led him to strike out on his own. Over the years, he’s learned to be cautious about where he lends his expertise, preferring to build for those who appreciate the work. - **Current Motivations:** - Wants to construct a proper Ysoki warren in Rivermarch, ensuring a lasting legacy for his people - Hopes to establish a guild of Ysoki engineers and craftspeople - Seeks to protect Ysoki interests in the kingdom and prevent them from being treated as mere laborers - **Connections & Relationships:** - **[[Tybalt Rattigan]] (Nephew):** Deep respect for his ambition but wary of his political dealings - **[[Tessara Rattigan]] (Wife):** Longtime collaborator, though they argue frequently about practicality vs. innovation - **[[Finnick Rattigan]] (Nephew):** Thinks his scouting work is important but finds his lack of discipline frustrating - **[[Nella Rattigan]] (Niece):** Appreciates her diplomatic efforts but believes words alone won’t secure Ysoki interests - **[[Rynara Rattigan]] (Cousin):** Regards her information gathering as essential but dislikes how she operates in secrecy - **Factions or Allegiances:** - House Rattigan first and foremost - Open to alliances with any faction that values craftsmanship and Ysoki contributions - **Notable Items or Equipment:** - Reinforced sketchbook filled with blueprints, some dating back decades - A collapsible drafting table and set of specialized Ysoki-made measuring tools - A masterwork builder’s hammer that can double as a weapon - A simple but well-maintained silver ring, a keepsake from his first successful solo project --- #### **Additional Notes** - **Recurring Themes:** - The struggle between tradition and innovation - Seeking recognition for undervalued craftsmanship - The tension between independence and integration - **Player/GM Notes:** - Should be played as a pragmatic and experienced builder who prioritizes results over charm - Values those who respect hard work and skill, but holds deep grudges against those who exploit labor - His arc could involve learning to trust new methods, including magic, or overcoming his distrust of larger political systems