Lord Karesh Swiftpaw

Race: Tabaxi
Class: Rogue (Swashbuckler) / Noble
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Gender: Male
Age: 34 years
Faction: Zhentarim (Undercover Agent) / Golden Prowl Trading Company (Public Front)
Titles: Lord of the Shifting Sands, Master of Whispered Deals, Shadow of the Silk Roads.

Height: 5’10” (178 cm)
Build: Lean and agile, with a predator’s grace.
Fur: Sleek, golden-tan with dark rosettes, reminiscent of a jaguar.
Eyes: Piercing green with vertical pupils, sharp and ever-watchful.
Clothing: Wears finely tailored dark leather clothing, accented with gold embroidery and silk scarves. Keeps a jewelled dagger visible as a statement of wealth and danger.
Aura: Carries the faint scent of exotic spices and sandalwood, with an undercurrent of danger.

AC: 16 (Leather Armour and Dexterity)
HP: 60
Speed: 40 ft
Abilities:
- STR: 10 (+0)
- DEX: 18 (+4)
- CON: 12 (+1)
- INT: 14 (+2)
- WIS: 12 (+1)
- CHA: 16 (+3)
Notable Skills:
- Stealth (+8)
- Persuasion (+6)
- Sleight of Hand (+7)
- Perception (+5)
- Insight (+5)
Saving Throws: DEX +6, CHA +5
Languages: Common, Tabaxi, Thieves’ Cant, Infernal.
Special Features:
- Feline Agility: Doubles movement speed temporarily.
- Rakish Audacity: Gains bonus initiative and doesn’t need advantage to sneak attack.
- Cunning Action: Can dash, disengage, or hide as a bonus action.
- Evasion: Avoids damage from area effects.

Traits:
- Charming and theatrical, thriving on risk and spectacle.
- Sharp-witted and calculating, with a flair for deception and negotiation.
- Values freedom and autonomy, but secretly craves recognition and power.
Ideal: Fortune favours the bold—risk is necessary to achieve greatness.
Flaw: Overconfidence leads him to underestimate enemies or take unnecessary risks.

Trade Manipulation - Uses the Golden Prowl Trading Company to secure trade routes and build influence.
Double-Dealing - Leverages his legitimate business as cover for smuggling and espionage.
Charm and Deception - Masks underhanded dealings with smooth words and dazzling performances.
Control Through Wealth - Gains leverage through debts, rare resources, and illicit goods.
Exploiting Chaos - Thrives during instability, turning turmoil into opportunity for personal gain.

Parents: Nomadic traders who vanished under mysterious circumstances.
Siblings: Younger sister, Sari Swiftpaw, missing for several years—rumoured to be connected to rival smugglers.
Close Allies: Appears friendly with Lady Laeral Silverhand but works closely with Lord Elias Verran on darker dealings. Trusted confidant of Lady Sylwen Viridia.
Romantic Prospects:
- Past Relationships: Left behind several lovers, often abruptly, to protect his secrets.
- Future Considerations: Seeks partners who match his ambition and willingness to take risks.
- Fears: Emotional entanglements revealing his vulnerabilities.

Exotic Trade Routes - Enthralled by tales of foreign lands and rare commodities.
Stories and Legends - Collects and spins stories, blending truth and fiction to entertain.
Art and Music - Enjoys performances and sponsors bards to enhance his reputation.
Wealth and Luxury - Flaunts his successes but uses them to mask more illicit ventures.
Adventure and Freedom - Romanticises exploration and independence, concealing calculated ambitions.

Family Disappearance - Changes the subject when questioned about his parents or sister.
Zhentarim - Denies connections to criminal organisations despite evidence.
Criminal Past - Covers up early years spent as a thief and smuggler.
Betrayals - Brushes off inquiries about broken alliances or former partners turned rivals.

Values Cunning Over Strength - Respects cleverness and strategy more than brute force.
Distrusts Paladins and Zealots - Considers them inflexible and incapable of subtlety.
Respects Rogues and Traders - Sees fellow risk-takers and manipulators as kindred spirits.
Looks Down on the Poor - Views poverty as a sign of weakness and lack of ambition.

Zhentarim Operative - Carries out low-level smuggling, spying, and sabotage for the Zhentarim.
Hidden Cache - Owns secret vaults filled with stolen goods, forged documents, and blackmail material.
Betrayed Allies - Previously betrayed a trusted partner to secure his current position; fears retribution.
Obsession with Sister’s Fate - Secretly funds agents to track down his missing sister, despite her possible betrayal.
Fear of Exposure - Constantly paranoid about being unmasked, leading to risky decisions.

🎲 The Mercenaries